Sinful burgers at a heavenly price.
The descriptions sound so delicious and the prices are so attractive that I wanted to order everything at Man Man Cafe, but luckily I was talked out of it. This cafe is the place for pig out foods like waffles, burgers and chicken nugs in a variety of textures – regular, popcorn and karaage.
Ambience & Amenities
Man Man Cafe has an industrial yet artful aesthetic. Scuffed grey concrete coexists with tasteful light fixtures and highly stylised art pieces on the walls. If you’re the bashful type who is self-conscious about eating in public, there’s a pretty private table in the back left corner that’s shielded by a blocky cubby unit. Although the downside is that this spot is next to where the toilets are.
The toilets are at the very back of the restaurant, behind a door with a pop art image of some panties around a woman’s ankles. Inside is a stark black paint job, broken up only by some white tile and more novelty pop art. There is a wide communal sink with good soap and proper paper towels to wash up. There are two toilet rooms, but only one was in service during our visit. It had a sitting-style toilet with toilet paper provided. Considering how nice the dining room is, the toilet room is depressing with the bleak colour and one bare dangling bulb to illuminate the cubicle.
Menu
Man Man Cafe’s menu consists of gluttonous western favourites, Japanese classics and sometimes a mix of the two. The menu is accessible via QR code, and it will be encouraged that you view it this way to minimise contact. When you first walk in, there will be small sheets with the QR code on a table at the entrance. There are different codes for the regular menu, the 3 pax set menu and their lunch sets. Water is free but you must request it from your server.
Click on menu pictures to enlarge
Lunch Set Menu: Buy a coffee & add on any main for RM5
3 Person Set Meal Menu: 3 Mains & 2 Sides for RM55
Food
Ordering my Thyme Cooler (RM12) was a mistake. I thought it would be more awesome than it actually was. The sliver of lemon that was chucked into this glass of soda water was minuscule, but the drink was still very sour. The thyme didn’t impart its flavour or even aromatise the soda much at all since thyme is most effective when it is heated.
The Dirty Mini Hash Brown (RM14) was a larger serving than I expected considering its price, the trendy ambience of the restaurant, and the fact that they have the word “mini” in their name. A biggish bowl of crispy tater tots is thrown together with bacon, cheese, queso sauce and the house special sauce. Judging from the taste, I’m guessing the special sauce is mayonnaise mixed with hot sauce. The pieces of bacon on this are sizeable and there is a goodly amount to the hash browns. I’m certain this is real bacon too, since there are other pork items on their menu, making this establishment non-halal. The cheese is sadly processed slices that have been melted, but it still results in the rewarding “stringy” effect when it’s still hot. This dish is a reasonable price for what could be a meal for someone who is not that hungry or just needs a snack.
The Dumb2 Beef Burger (RM20) is like a lazy teenager when they first wake up! It was messy, sloppy and could barely stand upright. While I was taking the photo, the top half of it slowly slid off and fell right over. It’s obvious that this is super messy and you will get this all over your fingers, face and plate. With a gentle press on the top bun, this becomes a manageable size for most mouths where you can get every ingredient in one bite. A decently thick beef patty is smothered in the same special sauce as above. You can barely see it through all the mess, but there is a hash brown in there, which elevates the overall burger by bringing a crisp factor and extra saltiness. This wasn’t as memorable as the Dirty Hash Browns, but it is very satisfying if you’re in the mood for a greasy burger.
Saturday Worthy?
Man Man Cafe is a great find in the glut of restaurants where it is located. The dishes are impressive value for how much you get, how enjoyable the space is, and how polite the servers are. A tasty burger this big and fries in a nice air-conditioned restaurant for only RM20 is unheard of nowadays.
Price for 2 Pax: RM50.60
Dumb2 Beef Burger: RM20.00
Dirty Mini Hash Brown: RM14.00
Thyme Cooler: RM12.00
10% Service: RM4.60
Mān Mān Cafe
27, ground floor, Jalan 5/62a, Bandar Menjalara, 52200 Kuala Lumpur
Tuesday to Friday, 11am – 9pm (Friday 10pm)
Saturday & Sunday, 9am – 10pm
Closed on Mondays
Alcohol Served: No
