Damansara in Noe Valley serves inventive Malaysian fare with a cozy vibe, where spicy rendang and creative desserts make for a memorable dining experience.
"Damansara serves Malaysian fried chicken and Dungeness crab for brunch, known for its flavorful Malaysian cuisine." - Dianne de Guzman
"Chef Tracy Goh made a name for herself with pop-up laksa dinners back in 2012, her efforts culminating at her first permanent restaurant Damansara. Since then the restaurant has established itself on the edge of Noe Valley with inventive bubbly cocktails — such as the taman jaya of soju, coffee, and root beer — and deeply satisfying entrees including the vegan rendang rice plate and Dungeness crab served three ways." - Paolo Bicchieri, Becky Duffett
"On a warm Sunday night, vibrant jazz soaked the air inside Church Street’s Damansara, one of the city’s only landmarks for Malaysian cuisine. The meatless rendang plate — with saucy and spicy semi-dry jackfruit as the protein — is well worth the price, as was everything I gobbled down that evening. The dish is made with 24 spices, and the complex yet inviting flavor profile demonstrates intention and preparation, with a few scintillating high notes but an accessible, indulgent taste running through the plate. The mushroom sambal is a mellow complement, as is the fluffy coconut rice crowned with tomato and flanked by crisp, firm cucumber, both important textural balances to the at-times chewiness and sauciness of the rice and jackfruit. Missing out on the rest of the menu, though, would be a mistake. The loaded taro cake is a righteous, clever take on the timeless snacky dessert or dessert-y snack, with a deep barbecue-like richness and crackling fried shallots draped atop. The chendol ice plays somewhere in the realm of halo halo, arroz con leche, and shave ice. It’s a multi-textural sugary delight. Taking a bit of that musicality with me as I left, I can see why the Chronicle’s Soleil Ho described chef Tracy Goh’s food here as “the real deal.” With just a sampling of her cooking, I thought it a shame my stomach didn’t have room for an encore: I could’ve listened to that music all night." - Lauren Saria
"Those looking to find a restaurant where they can partake in a prosperity toss for the new year can head to Damansara. The prosperity salad serves up to six people and comes with raw salmon sashimi or vegan glass noodles, pomelo, fried wonton, pickled ginger, seaweed salad, daikon, plum and sesame dressing, and more." - Dianne de Guzman
"This Malaysian restaurant in cozy Noe Valley has a $45 Restaurant Week dinner deal running Wednesday through Sunday from 5 p.m. until sold out." - Lauren Saria