Cheesecake in KL: Birch DC Mall, The Tokyo Restaurant @ Isetan The Japan Store

Cheesecake.
Plain, flavoured, baked or chilled, everyone I know enjoys a good cheesecake every now and then.

There was once the craze for jiggly, soft Japanese cheesecake. Now it seems that the spike of interest is centred around the burnt cheesecake, an adaption of sorts (or copy) from the famous version at La Vina, a tapas bar in San Sebastian, Spain. Many had proclaimed it to be the best cheesecake ever.

I’m super particular about my cheesecake, so much so that I’ve enjoyed very few cheesecakes in KL.

Artisan Roast Coffee is popular for their cheesecake squares but no, I didn’t like any of them. I’m not enamoured of the Purple Monkey ones either.
Uncle Tetsu’s? Ok la. The Hanjuku Cheesecake from Lavender Bakery was not bad though. Light and airy, with a creamy souffle texture it was delicately cheesy but not cloying.

I’ll love to recommend my favourite cake shop Swich Cafe, but they haven’t made any that I like. Even the salted caramel apple cheesecake from another favourite bakery of mine, Kenny Hills Bakers wasn’t to my taste.

However, the durian cheesecake at Charlie Cafe is excellent. Not merely because of the durian I assure you, but for the perfect balance of richness and flavour yet remained not overly cloying. Instead of predictable digestive crust, Debra added almond nibs for a nuttier bite.

So where else can one get a good cheesecake in KL?

In keeping with the trend, I had to check out the “best cheesecake in KL” as raved about by many of my friends.
Apparently, this is the ultimate cheesecake now. And it seemed too that people are starting to appreciate ‘char‘ on their cakes? LOL! 😀

1. The “best” cheesecake in KL @ The Tokyo Restaurant, Isetan the Japan Store. RM18++.

Just to be clear, this was never advertised as ‘burnt‘, but just a cheesecake.

It was however, an undeniably decadent cheese cake with pretty intriguing textures throughout – a soft centre that was semisolid and creamy, an outer layer resembling the texture of baked cheesecakes, slightly solidified and lastly there’s the outside ‘char’, which imparts a hint of smokiness.

Based on what I’ve read about it on their site, it is made with Danish cream cheese and baked in a special humidity controlled oven, which explains a lot about the “tri-texture ” – getting the bottom and top to set while keeping the centre mousse-like.

2. Huckleberry Burnt Cheesecake (RM16++)

Priced at slightly cheaper is this burnt cheesecake by Birch at DC Mall.

Proudly proclaimed as ‘inspired by one of Spain’s iconic dessert’, this can be purchased whole or by slice.
Its multi-textured layers were described as ‘brulee crust, spongy walls, creamy centre’.

My verdict?
The one at Tokyo Restaurant aced overall for both taste and texture though this wasn’t exactly bad if you can’t be zipping over to Lot 10 for a slice of cake.
This version is made with French cheese and lacked the overall luscious mouthfeel compared to the Tokyo Restaurant’s.

NOTE: This is available at their sister bakery – Huckleberry Food & Fare, Plaza Damansara as well. 

So, where else can we get those luscious, ‘burnt‘ cheesecake? So far I’ve found two outlets as below.
Do let me know if there are any others!

1. The Tokyo Restaurant
   The Table, Level 4
   ISETAN The Japan Store KL
   Lot 10 Shopping Mall
   Jalan Bukit Bintang,
   Kuala Lumpur
   Mon – Sun, 11 am – 11 pm

2. Birch @ Damansara City Mall
Jalan Damanlela, Damansara
50490 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
03-2011 5966
PS: It is sold at their sister bakery – Huckleberry Food & Fare, Plaza Damansara as well.