Setia City Mall is far out from the city but here's one reason to make the trip. By Surekha Ragavan

Rama V is the perfect ‘date night’ Thai restaurant in KL and taking a more casual direction is its new sister outlet, Khao by Rama V. Set in Setia City Mall (a good distance  from the city), Khao is reminiscent of a generic Thai chain restaurant we see quite a lot of in malls – but its tie to the Rama V brand has proven a powerful tool to set them apart. Having only been open for two months now, Khao’s business is not wild but picking up faster than most other food outlets in the mall.

Chor ladda (RM11.90)

The biggest advantage eating at Khao is being served the same dishes you get at Rama V at a fraction of the price. The menu is almost identical to Rama V’s except for the addition of century egg wrapped with fish cake, an innovative appetiser by the head chef at Khao. Fans of their signature chor ladda (flower shaped dumplings) can get a plate at Khao for only RM11.90. These pretty purple dumplings are filled with minced chicken and peanut and best dipped in coconut milk for optimum taste; we daresay one of the best inventions by the Rama V brand.

Pomelo salad with peanuts, shrimp and shredded coconut (RM14.90)

Some of the dishes here include the pomelo salad with peanuts, shrimp and shredded coconut (a great lunch option), crispy rice cakes and the ubiquitous duck curry with lychee. The menu here is predictable but sometimes, this isn’t a bad thing for a Thai restaurant. It’s nice to constantly remind ourselves of the goodness of a creamy curry or tangy salad.

Century egg wrapped with fish cake (RM13.90)

The concept at Khao largely revolves around sets – a great option for the ravished. Each set comes with a main meat or curry dish, rice topped with fried egg, three small serve appetisers, a bowl of soup and fruit. At an average of RM22 each set, the meal is both value-for-money and wholesome with the grilled beef with butter set being a popular choice.

Grilled beef with butter set (RM22.90)

Getting to Setia City Mall might prove troublesome for those working in the city, but go by on a weekend if it’s easier. If you’re not familiar with Shah Alam roads, we suggest you bring along a GPS or map to avoid too much circling. A new Uniqlo will open at the mall soon should you need more of a push but really, you shouldn't.

For info on location, see venue listing.