I moved back here from the States about two years ago and from the moment my plane touched down I began the search for the perfect burger in KL. I craved a large juicy burger so tasty on it’s own that a sauce accompanying it would have been blasphemy. A fresh ground patty filled with meaty goodness grilled to medium-well perfection; the ultimate burger. Unfortunately this search was not an easy one. I endured many occasions of rubbery, dry, tasteless patties until one day I happened across Fogal Meat Market at Plaza Damas.
Fogal is an acronym for Fed on Grain and Love and this can accurately describe the meat available here. The cattle are shipped in from Australia live, fed on grains for a few months and are then sent off to a slaughterhouse. This way they are able to monitor the quality and freshness of the meat.
Owner, Cathy Appleby’s initial motive for opening up Fogal was the fact that she was having trouble finding western cuts of meat. Most supermarkets here offer pre-cut and packaged meat which makes it hard to find the specific cuts needed for certain dishes. At Fogal you can request for any type of cut; from a thick tenderloin steak for a barbecue to a butterflied leg of lamb for a roast. The butcher knows his meat and not only can he give you the cut you want, he can also tell you the best method for preparation. Need meat for stewing, sautéing, roasting, stir frying, broiling? You’ll find just what you are looking for. In addition to the butcher counter, Fogal also has a small restaurant area where you can enjoy a simple meal grilled to perfection.
"Fed on Grain and Love. Yeehaw!"
The meat here is thrown on the grill with no marinade or rubs; the only way to enjoy top quality cuts. The menu offers choices such as tender rib eye steaks, meaty bacon slices, petite lamb cutlets, spicy chorizo sausages, pork chops, lamb kebabs and more. Today however I’m here for the burger. There are four types to choose from: beef, pork, lamb and vegetarian. I go for the traditional beef burger as I believe you can only judge a burger joint by its most simple choice. There are optional toppings of egg, cheese and bacon to choose from and I pick cheese.
The burger arrives and immediately I take a bite. The verdict? The patty is very flavourful with chopped pieces of onions and bell peppers strewn throughout. It’s served on a whole wheat bun with lettuce, tomato, a slice of red beet, and a thick slab of cheese. The minute you pick it up you can’t put it back down. This is not only because it is heavenly but it’s so juicy that it can become quite messy and the best way to keep it all together is to not let go. The meat falls apart easily and this is how I can tell that it has been ground fresh and packed together without cheap fillers like breadcrumbs. This is one true chunky burger and you can pick two sides to accompany it. The choices are garden salad, steamed veggies, coleslaw, mashed potatoes, wedges, or fries. I would personally get a salad to balance out the meat and I also enjoy the wedges here as I find them deliciously salty and generously spiced.
Pair the burger with a creamy vanilla milkshake and its pure bliss! The milkshakes here are rich without being overly thick. They’re easy to slurp down and make for a satisfying gulp. The perfect end to this meal is by having a sticky date pudding. This is a heavy cake made with dates served warm topped with syrupy caramel and ice cream. Eating it alone with the caramel can be a bit sweet but once you mix it with the ice cream the flavours balance out making it a delicious treat. The feeling of warm cake and cold ice cream is refreshingly indulgent.
Apart from the must have burgers I would also recommend the meat sampler. This is a platter that can be shared with a few people as it contains a variety of grilled meats. You can pick your own meats straight from the butcher's case or you can go with the standard: two sausages, two kebabs, a rib eye, a lamb cutlet, strips of bacon, pork chops and a burger patty. This platter also comes with a choice of two sides making it a complete meal for two or more to enjoy.
Fogal is a no frills meat market and café. The food here has that simple dinner at home with the family quality. So if you’re a meat n’ potatoes kind of person this is one place you won’t want to miss!
More Photos To Drool On
Finish up with some sticky date pudding
I was quite excited when I discovered Fogal. Alas, the burger as with many of the steaks was not quite up to par. Somehow, Australian beef does not quite compare to good quality US beef.
As for burgers, the best I have eaten in KL (in a restaurant) were at Daily Grind and Hakka Republic.
by Chedet MyassSeptember 21, 2009 2:37AM
I was a bit disappointed at the range of cuts I found available at the counter as I didnt see anything that wasnt available at the better supermarkets like bsc and bangsar village. I had expected a much wider range for a dedicated meat market.
by asian-malaysianJune 17, 2008 5:38PM
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Foodster's Verdict
Fogal
Address:
Plaza Damas N-1-4 Jalan Sri Hartamas 1
50480 Kuala Lumpur Tel: 03 6201 3206
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I was quite excited when I discovered Fogal. Alas, the burger as with many of the steaks was not quite up to par. Somehow, Australian beef does not quite compare to good quality US beef.
As for burgers, the best I have eaten in KL (in a restaurant) were at Daily Grind and Hakka Republic.
by Chedet Myass September 21, 2009 2:37AM
I was a bit disappointed at the range of cuts I found available at the counter as I didnt see anything that wasnt available at the better supermarkets like bsc and bangsar village. I had expected a much wider range for a dedicated meat market.
by asian-malaysian June 17, 2008 5:38PM
You must be logged in to post comments