• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Thokohmakan

  • Home
  • What to Eat?
    • Bar
    • Bakery
    • BBQ
    • Brunch
    • Cafe
    • Chinese
    • Dessert
    • English
    • Fast Food
    • Food Court
    • French
    • Halal
    • Hawker Food
    • Indian
    • Indonesian
    • Italian
    • Japanese
    • Kopitiam
    • Korean
    • Malay
    • Mediterranean
    • Noodles
    • Nyonya
    • Pizza
    • Pork-free
    • Sarawakian
    • Scandinavian
    • Seafood
    • Spanish
    • Thai
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
    • Vietnamese
    • Western
  • Where to Eat?
    • Ara Damansara
    • Ampang
    • Bamboo Hills
    • Bandar Sri Damansara
    • Bandar Utama
    • Bangsar
    • Batu Caves
    • Brickfields
    • Bentong
    • Bukit Bintang
    • Bukit Damansara
    • Bukit Jalil
    • Bukit Tunku
    • Cheras
    • Chinatown
    • Chow Kit
    • Desa Parkcity
    • Happy Garden
    • Hartamas
    • Homemade
    • Imbi
    • Jinjang
    • Kampung Attap
    • Kampung Baru
    • Kepong
    • Klang
    • KL City Centre
    • Kota Damansara
    • Kota Kemuning
    • Mid Valley Megamall
    • Mont Kiara
    • OUG
    • Pekeliling
    • Petaling Jaya
    • Port Klang
    • Publika
    • Puchong
    • Pudu
    • Segambut
    • Setapak
    • Seri Kembangan
    • Setia Alam
    • Shah Alam
    • Sri Hartamas
    • Sri Petaling
    • Subang Jaya
    • Sungai Besi
    • Sungai Buloh
    • Sunway
    • Taman Melawati
    • The Exchange TRX
    • Titiwangsa
    • TTDI
    • Wangsa Maju
  • Travel
    • Bentong
    • Hong Kong
    • Ipoh
    • Johor
      • Desaru
      • Johor Bahru
    • Korea
      • Busan
      • Incheon
      • Jeju
      • Seoul
    • Penang
      • Georgetown
    • Taiwan
      • Chiayi
      • Taipei
    • Teluk Intan
    • Thailand
      • Chiang Mai
  • Michelin
    • Michelin Guide KL & Penang 2023
    • Michelin Guide KL & Penang 2024
    • Michelin Guide HK & Macau
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Instagram
  • Recipes – Cuisine & Dietary
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Chinese Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • French Recipes
    • Hawker Recipes
    • Indian Recipes
    • Indonesian Recipes
    • Italian Recipes
    • Japanese Recipes
    • Korean Recipes
    • Low FODMAP Recipes
    • Malay Recipes
    • Mediterranean Recipes
    • Nyonya Recipes
    • Peranakan Recipes
    • Sauce Recipes
    • Snack Recipes
    • Taiwanese Recipes
    • Thai Recipes
    • Vegan Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
    • Western Recipes
  • Recipe – Ingredients
    • Beef Recipes
    • Bread Recipes
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Egg Recipes
    • Noodle Recipes
    • Pork Recipes
    • Potato Recipes
    • Rice Recipes
    • Seafood Recipes
    • Tofu Recipes
  • Recipe – Methods
    • Baking Recipes
    • Easy Recipes
    • Frying Recipes
    • Pan Recipes
    • Pressure Cooker Recipes
    • Steam Recipes
    • Tagine Recipes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Stew Recipes
    • Stir-fry Recipes
  • About us

San Lou Pasta Bar, PJ

September 21, 2023 by thokohmakan

San Lou Pasta Bar

[Non-halal] Have you tried Hakka lei cha pasta? San Lou Pasta Bar 叁楼 is a hidden gem in Kelana Jaya serving handmade pasta with Chinese cooking influences. 

We found out about this place thanks to the wonderful recommendation by Eat Lokal.

[Dec 2023 UPDATE: We visited San Lou in Dec to check out their Christmas menu. Updates below]

San Lou Pasta Bar 叁楼 in Kelana Jaya

San Lou Pasta Bar

Located on the third floor of Menara Infiniti in Kelana Jaya, this humble pasta bar operates in a small space with only four tables available inside the restaurant. 

Dining here can be a personable experience as San Lou 叁楼 is only operated by a couple – chef Stephen who cooks, and Jessica who manages the front of the house. 

San Lou Pasta Bar

Given the limited tables, reservations are highly recommended especially on the weekends.

Although we did not make any reservations, Jessica was kind enough to open a table for us outside for alfresco dining. Thankfully, the weather was quite cool that evening, so we didn’t mind it at all. 

Lovely service at San Lou Pasta Bar 叁楼 

Jessica was one of the most personable and hospitable people we’ve encountered for dinner service. 

We really enjoyed her detailed explanations of every dish, and how she went out of her way to make us (and other diners) feel comfortable.

San Lou serves homemade pasta with Chinese influence

San Lou Pasta Bar

With over 10 years of experience in the industry, Chef Stephen has cut his teeth by working in Basilico and Manhattan Bar in Singapore. 

Stephen makes his own pasta here – which includes the tagliatelle which is used for three dishes.

The specialty pasta served here with an Asian twist are the Hakka Lei Cha, Chilli Crab, and Earl Grey Smoke Soba. 

However, Stephen also does classic Italian dishes such as the Tuscan Pork Jowl (Bucatini tossed with pulled pork jowl and grated 24-month Grana Padana) and Carbonara (tagliatelle tossed with raw egg yolks, and accentuated with Pencetta).

Starting off well with the Eggplant Parmigiana 

San Lou Pasta Bar

San Lou offers a decent selection of antipasti – but we settled on the Naughty Eggplant Parmigiana (RM20).

This dish is an interesting take on the classic Italian Parmigiana as they are served as balls (reminding us of arancini) with eggplant, basil, and cheese wrapped in panko skin.

San Lou Pasta Bar

These were done very well as the panko skin was crispy, and the eggplant was cooked to a lovely soft texture, with a nice umami hit from the Grand Padano Cheese. The marinara sauce just had the right amount of tanginess. 

Lei Cha pasta is lovely

San Lou Pasta Bar

The Hakka Lei Cha (RM25) pasta here was a highlight for us. It is sort of an Asian take on Italian pesto, if we may say so. 

First, the handmade tagliatelle was cooked perfectly for a nice al-dente texture. 

San Lou Pasta Bar

The lei cha gravy was really fragrant with just the right amount of minty bite, and crunchiness from the nuts. The gravy is complimented by the soft tanginess of sun-dried tomatoes and preserved radish (choy poh), with bits of fried tofu for extra texture.

This was a fusion dish made well – as it really exemplifies the nuances of authentic Hakka lei cha through an Italian pasta dish.

Chilli Crab 

San Lou Pasta Bar

As for the Chilli Crab pasta (RM35), we liked that chef Stephen did not just toss some pasta in instant Chilli Crab sauce and call it a day. 

Instead, the gravy was very nuanced as it was made from scratch – with the right balance of sweetness and savouriness you’ll associate with the classic seafood dish. The soft-shell crab that came with it had a good crunch and we liked the addition of mantou on the plate.

San Lou Pasta Bar

Ming did find the gravy a bit too rich at first – and we really appreciated that Stephen was able to adjust the flavours to suit our palate. 

Dec 2023 visit – Lemon Yuzu Prawn and Burrata Tomato Salad

We checked out San Lou Pasta Bar in Dec to check out their Christmas special menu.

San Lou Pasta Bar

For starters this round, we tried the Lemon Yuzu Prawn (RM24). We enjoyed the crispy wonton skin containing a medley of flavours from prawns, yuzu kosho, lemon zest and vegetables. All the elements worked well together. 

San Lou Pasta Bar

A special for its Christmas menu is the Burrata Tomato Salad (RM38). The burrata was adequately creamy and blended well with the shaved tomato ice on top. 

Our favourite new item on the menu is the Seafood Risotto (RM46). Cooked with a generous amount of Parmesan and butter, the risotto was rich and creamy with enough savouriness from the fish broth base.

San Lou Pasta Bar

However, chef Stephen had a secret ingredient to add acidity to cut through the heaviness.

The fusion theme continues as chef uses the Chinese-style of braising to cook the Kambing Stew Rigatoni (RM33). 

San Lou Pasta Bar

Braised for four hours with Asian spices – the lamb chunks are fork-tender with earthy flavours that reminded us of Malay-Indian lamb stews. This is balanced with pomegranate seeds and a Parmesan crisp for that requisite touch of Italia. 

Summary 

We love small businesses like San Lou Pasta Bar, and we can see Stephen go far given his ingenuity in crafting such interesting dishes, and Jessica’s amazing hospitality. We’ll return for the Carbonara and Tuscan Pork Jowl next. 

San Lou Pasta Bar
Address: No. 3-3, Menara Infiniti, Jalan SS 6/3a, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Hours: 4.30 pm-10.30 pm (Closed on Wednesday)
Phone: 011-1092 0938

Follow us on Instagram

Follow us on Instagram for the latest food adventures and recipes.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ThoKoh Makan (@thokohmakan)

More recommendations

  • What to eat in PJ?
  • Mon Kee Fish Head Noodles
Moon Kee Fish Head Noodles, PJ
  • Fifty Tales in Seapark PJ

Fifty Tales Sea Park PJ

Related Posts

  • Seong Ying Chai, ChinatownSeong Ying Chai, Chinatown
  • Fried sui kow 水饺 [Recipe]Fried sui kow 水饺 [Recipe]
  • Clams in Superior Soup [Recipe]Clams in Superior Soup [Recipe]

Filed Under: Chinese, Italian, Noodles, Petaling Jaya, Seafood

Previous Post: « Bakeyard Café, Subang Jaya
Next Post: Fade by SB, PJ »

Primary Sidebar

  • Cold Brew, Underscore Coffee
  • Bichii Coffee, Sungai Buloh
  • Chorizo broccoli aglio olio [Recipe]
  • Ritz-Carlton Afternoon Tea, KL
  • Shokudo Japanese Curry Rice, Paramount Garden PJ

Recent Posts

  • Mittoappu Wagyu Steakhouse TRX
  • Since Then Bangsar
  • Kee Heong Bak Kut Teh, Klang
  • What to eat in Teluk Intan
  • Chao Zhou Fang PJ

Who are we?

Thokoh makan profile

Hi, we are Max and Ming. Welcome to our food blog! We enjoy travelling and checking out new food and restaurants. We are based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. We also share recipes here.

So who is Thokoh Makan?

ThoKoh
noun. 1. an amalgamation of our family names.
2. an homonym (sounds alike) of the Malay word tokoh, which means leader or notable figure

Makan
verb. 1. to eat (translated from Malay) 

ThoKoh Makan
noun. 1. a blog dedicated to good food in Malaysia and beyond.

Contact us at thokohmakan@gmail.com

Archives

  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • October 2019

Categories

  • 2019 top new restaurants/cafes
  • 2020 Top Meals
  • 2021 Top Meals
  • 2022 Top Meals
  • 2023 Top Meals
  • 2024 Top Meals
  • Aman Suria
  • American
  • Ampang
  • Ara Damansara
  • Art Installation
  • Artisanal
  • Bakery
  • Baking Recipes
  • Balik Pulau
  • Bamboo Hills
  • Bandar Sri Damansara
  • Bandar Utama
  • Bangsar
  • Bangsar Shopping Centre
  • Bangsar South
  • Bar
  • Batu Caves
  • BBQ
  • Beef
  • Beef Recipes
  • Bentong
  • Bistro
  • Bread Recipes
  • Breakfast
  • Breakfast Recipes
  • Brickfields
  • Brunch
  • Buffet
  • Bukit Bintang
  • Bukit Damansara
  • Bukit Gasing
  • Bukit Jalil
  • Bukit Tunku
  • Burger
  • Burmese
  • Busan
  • Cafe
  • Cake
  • Cheras
  • Chiang Mai
  • Chiayi
  • Chicken Recipes
  • Chinatown
  • Chinese
  • Chinese New Year recipes
  • Chinese Recipes
  • Chocolate
  • Chow Kit
  • Coffee
  • Damansara Jaya
  • Damansara Kim
  • Damansara Perdana
  • Damansara Utama
  • Dang Wangi
  • Deli
  • Delivery
  • Desa Parkcity
  • Desaru
  • Dessert
  • Dessert Recipes
  • Easy Recipes
  • Egg Recipes
  • English
  • Fast Food
  • Fine dining
  • Food Court
  • French
  • French Recipes
  • Frying Recipes
  • Georgetown
  • Grocer
  • Gwangjang Market
  • Halal
  • Happy Garden
  • Hartamas
  • Hawker Food
  • Hawker Recipes
  • Hiking
  • Home Baker
  • Homebaker
  • Homemade
  • Hong Kong
  • hor fun
  • Hotel
  • Ice-Cream
  • Imbi
  • Incheon
  • Indian
  • Indian Recipes
  • Indonesian
  • Indonesian Recipes
  • Ipoh
  • Italian
  • Italian Recipes
  • Japanese
  • Japanese Recipes
  • Jeju
  • Jinjang
  • Johor
  • Johor Bahru
  • Kampung Attap
  • Kampung Baru
  • Kampung Penchala
  • Kedah
  • Kepong
  • KL City Centre
  • Klang
  • Kopitiam
  • Korea
  • Korean
  • Korean Recipes
  • Kota Damansara
  • Kota Kemuning
  • Listicle
  • Low FODMAP Recipes
  • Malay
  • Malay Recipes
  • Marketplace
  • Matcha
  • Mediterranean
  • Mediterranean Recipes
  • Mexican
  • Michelin
  • Michelin Guide HK & Macau
  • Michelin Guide KL & Penang 2023
  • Michelin Guide KL & Penang 2024
  • Mid Valley Megamall
  • Middle East
  • Mont Kiara
  • Mutiara Damansara
  • MyTown
  • Nature
  • Noodle Recipes
  • Noodles
  • Nyonya
  • Nyonya Recipes
  • Old Klang Road
  • One Utama
  • OUG
  • Pan Recipes
  • Pandan Perdana
  • Pasta
  • Pavilion Damansara Heights
  • Pekeliling
  • Penang
  • Peranakan Recipes
  • Petaling Jaya
  • Pizza
  • Pork
  • Pork Recipes
  • Pork-free
  • Port Klang
  • Potato Recipes
  • Pressure Cooker Recipes
  • Publika
  • Puchong
  • Pudu
  • Ramen
  • Recipes
  • Rice Recipes
  • Roaster
  • Sarawakian
  • Sauce Recipes
  • Scandinavian
  • Seafood
  • Seafood Recipes
  • Segambut
  • Sentul
  • Seoul
  • Seri Kembangan
  • Setapak
  • Setia Alam
  • Shah Alam
  • Shopping
  • Side Dish Recipes
  • Singapore
  • Snack Recipes
  • Solaris Dutamas
  • Soup Recipes
  • Spanish
  • Sri Hartamas
  • Sri Petaling
  • Sri Rampai
  • SS2
  • Steam Recipes
  • Stew Recipes
  • Stir-fry Recipes
  • Subang Jaya
  • Sungai Besi
  • Sungai Buloh
  • Sunway
  • Sushi Kaiseki Omakase
  • Tagine Recipes
  • Taipei
  • Taiwan
  • Taiwanese Recipes
  • Taman Desa
  • Taman Gembira
  • Taman Melawati
  • Tapas
  • Teluk Intan
  • Thai
  • Thai Recipes
  • Thailand
  • The Exchange TRX
  • Titiwangsa
  • Tofu Recipes
  • Tropicana
  • Tropicana Gardens Mall
  • TTDI
  • Uncategorized
  • Vegan
  • Vegan Recipes
  • Vegetable Recipes
  • Vegetarian
  • Vegetarian Recipes
  • Vietnamese
  • Wangsa Maju
  • Western
  • Western Recipes
  • Yong Peng

Copyright © 2025 Thokohmakan on the Foodie Pro Theme

Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy