Purple Cane Tea Restaurant @ Gardens, Mid Valley

Like how Nasi Lemak and many other dishes that was created to satisfy humans by being eaten, Tea was instructed by mankind to be drunk. Well, try telling Purple Cane that, who have incorporated tea in whatever way possible into their chinese cuisine.

Something that is definitely not new and in actual fact it has been around for years, the Garden outlet has definitely given Purple Cane, a new refreshed image and turned the dusty idea to wow the public again.

There were some blurred images of their classic dishes in my mind; so i was definitely looking forward to see if the flavours remain a memory or bought back to reality.


The classy decor and the easy access of a shopping centre said it all, unlike their outlet in the Chinese Assembly Hall which was a maze to find; hidden in an ugly white building. Purple Cane is here to do some serious business.

Tea has been incorporated in many ways in their dishes, from being used in marination, the cooking process to just putting some in the sauce, the result were subtle and for some; faintly noticeable.

The stuffed Yau Char Kuey with a sweet honey sauce was ordered as a starter but was decently sized to go around a table of 10.

One of the first dishes that suddenly flashed back infront of me like a dream; Boxing Chicken. Chicken drummets shaped like a fist, with a sweet dark sticky sauce was eagerly in everyone's hands. The side yau char kuey suddenly felt like an afterthought.

Apparently one of their famed and signature dish, this was definitely new to me. The smoked duck was de-boned, served with lettuce leaves for wrap, thin pancakes to wrap and condiments like sweet sauce that people would recognise from eating Peking Duck. So many ways of eating it, yet one simple smoked duck with tea leaves.

A hiccup in the middle of the meal, a strawberry fish. Tasted more like strawberry jam as opposed to fresh strawberries, the fish meat tasted fresh and the meaty texture evident. Pity the sauce but then again, had my little cousins scavenging for the sweet familiar sauce that they find in their sandwiches.

What surprised me, is that the next few dishes were technically vegetarian. Are we really starting to eat healthier or am i just wondering a bit too much?

Salted egg yolk with bittergourd. Looks like my "diet" is out of the window. Taste good but the same as any other place that offers this dish. I wonder where the tea came in.

The mixed vegetable again came laden with yau char kuey. Now i am seriously pondering whether there had abit too many leftovers and they were using it generously as a decor item. The lotus roots were crunchy, the mushrooms were of quality and baby corn was a favourite among the little ones.

Now this is one of my most loved dish when we use to frequent their outlet in the Chinese Assembly Hall. The deep fried oyster mushrooms done kung po style. Totally scrumptious and suddenly the taste buds all came back to me.

Finishing off with their speciality tau fu that comes in 1 size. Whether you are a table of 2 or 10, this is only size you will get which slightly bigger then your shallow rice bowl. Tasted great and the gravy was gladly being slurped up with the tea infused rice.

Address and contact details:

Lot LG206, Lower Ground Floor,
The Gardens, Mid Valley City,
Tel: 03-22836090

Verdict: 3.5 stars out of 5 stars. The food is lovely and priced reasonably when compared with the other F&B outlets that offer chinese cuisine. The memories that it bought back definitely warrants coming back, and for those Halal readers, THIS IS HALAL! Another warning, please call and book a table if you come in a crowd bigger then 8 or 9, so you can have the coveted table at the back which fits you all.


PS: Will be off to Bangkok on Tuesday right up to Friday, have fun going through my archives and till i come back with lots of Thai food.

Ciao ciao