Let yourself be tempted by the delicious fish and chips from Lad & Fry

Lad & Fry currently serves only one undeniably delicious dish: English fish and chips. (Muhaimin Marwan @ FMT Lifestyle)

KUALA LUMPUR: Bread and butter. Bacon and eggs. Fish and chips. In the culinary world, there are many “romances” that have endured through the ages: two foods that pair so well together that it’s hard to think of one without the other.

Who would have thought that fried fish in batter and sliced ​​potatoes would make such a delicious combination? And how did this combination become so popular in the UK, where there are, by all estimates, over 10,500 fish and chip shops?

You can ponder these questions while enjoying the dish in question at Lad & Fry, a new restaurant at Wisma Cosway. The restaurant is the brainchild of Manchester native Tony Yeo Gray and Keith Koh, co-founder of Singapore restaurants Lad & Dad and Lad & Co.

His name is an extension of the Koh brand, although “fry” in this context is another word for a youngster (or a young fish), in keeping with the youthful connotations of “boy.”

Undecided eaters will probably have a soft spot for Lad & Fry, as it currently only serves one dish. No need to guess what it is!

This new restaurant is located near the entrance of Wisma Cosway on Jalan Raja Chulan. (Muhaimin Marwan @ FMT Lifestyle)

The restaurant serves the same fish and chips as its Singaporean counterparts, with a few tweaks to suit local tastes. Sea perch replaces haddock to ensure affordable prices, while soda batter replaces beer batter.

The restaurant is Muslim-friendly, and free of pork and lard. That said, if you’re looking to quench your thirst, the restaurant also hosts Alright Provisions, which sells craft beers from exotic locales like New Zealand and Hong Kong.

Eating Lad & Fry’s famous fish is a delight: its crispy, golden exterior hides tender, flaky flesh, whose warm flavor is enhanced by their homemade tartar sauce made with lemon and pickles.

The chips, made from Australian potatoes, are cooked to perfection, while the peas are infused with a delicious consistency and delectable sweetness.

Lad & Fry is currently offering a lunch menu featuring its signature dish with tartar sauce, mushy peas, unlimited lemonade and a side of corn or coleslaw.

Vintage charm is one of the restaurant’s strong points. According to Yeo Gray, his restaurant’s aesthetic is inspired by both the classic British greasy spoon diner and the quintessential Malaysian kopitiam.

It evokes a rustic vibe: even their music playlists are retro-inspired!

“Everyone has the comfort of home, and having a place to eat fish and chips in the middle of the city is great,” said co-founder Tony Yeo Gray. (Muhaimin Marwan @ FMT Lifestyle)

Lad & Fry has only been around for about two months but has already made a splash. Yeo Gray said lunchtimes were often full and dinners were also growing in number.

He attributes this popularity to the crispiness of their fish paste. “We’ve had customers come in and say, ‘Hey, this is like pisang goreng!’” jokes Yeo Gray, who is married to a Malaysian and has lived here for three years.

The cheerful Manchester native plans to expand the menu by adding other British specialties such as bangers and Scotch eggs. Fish and chips, of course, will be the heart and soul of the place, and he invites local diners to come and enjoy a hearty meal.

“We have one of the crispiest fish and chips around and the atmosphere is great. If you’re thinking back to your time back in the UK, studying or travelling, this is the perfect dish to remind you of your time there,” he concluded.

Boy and fried

Wisma Cosway,

88, Raja Chulan Street,

50200 Kuala Lumpur

Working hours:

12 p.m.-2 p.m., 5 p.m.-9 p.m. (Tuesday to Saturday)

For the location, Click hereFollow Lad & Fry on Instagram.