[Review] #KlookTries: Is Lemon Garden Cafe's Popular Seafood Buffet Worth It?

The seafood buffet at Lemon Garden Cafe in Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur has long been known as one of the best buffets in town. Those who have been here as kids may be washed over with a sense of nostalgia upon stepping into the hotel lobby which has managed to retain much of its classic charm over the years.

We recently revisited Lemon Garden in hopes of finding out whether their fresh seafood and other dishes are still as good as we remember them to be. Here's a review of our visit for those thinking wondering if it's worth a visit!

The interior of Lemon Garden Cafe went through a facelift and was re-designed by a Japanese studio back in 2017, which is why it may look a bit different from the childhood memories of those who have been here when they were younger. The new layout of the restaurant definitely makes it feel a lot more spacious, and the refreshed contemporary design gives it a sophisticated, elegant, and cosy vibe.

The restaurant has always been popular amongst families and it remains a family-friendly dining spot with its welcoming ambiance - we especially love the yellow light orbs and pendant lights that give the restaurant a warm charm! Besides the main indoor dining area, the restaurant also offers chic alfresco dining space and a garden terrace overlooking the scenic koi fish pond and water fountain. We chose to sit indoors, but if you'd prefer al fresco dining, the outdoor seating looks pretty cosy as well.

Lemon Garden Cafe's popular buffet features an extensive spread with over 60 different types of ala carte dishes from across the globe, including local and international favourites, many of which are prepared before your eyes by professional chefs manning the live cooking stations. This assures that your meals are prepared fresh and can be enjoyed warm. Feast on Chinese, Italian, Indian, Malay, Japanese, and Western specialties, all in one space.

We had the privilege of speaking to the head chef of Lemon Garden Cafe who introduced us to some of the star dishes at Lemon Garden! What we noticed was that the variety of cuisine at the buffet was pretty impressive, and dishes get replenished quickly - so you won't have to worry about leaving hungry. Keep reading for some recommended dishes to try out when you're there.

The seafood counter is undoubtedly the star section of the Lemon Garden buffet. Set in the middle of the buffet area, here is where you can pick fresh selections of seafood, sushi, and sashimi with the assistance of the friendly chefs on standby.

Watch them shuck fresh US oysters right before your eyes and pick out the freshest sashimi for you. The station hosts a repertoire of fresh delicacies such as scallops, mud crabs, shrimp cocktails, prawns, Norwegian salmon sashimi, ahi tuna sashimi, octopus sashimi, chilled lobsters, California rolls, and more.

For those who have a soft spot for Chinese dishes like us, the Chinese section at Lemon Garden will make you very happy. There's even a dedicated soup section lined with small bowls of double-boiled soup (usually 4 options daily!) which are also signature items at the restaurant. We tried the double-boiled chicken soup with old cucumber which really surprised us with its nourishing flavour and generous ingredients.

Other dishes you can expect at this section include roast chicken, roast duck, fried rice, prawns, steamed grouper fish, an assortment of vegetables, Hainanese chicken rice, yong chow fried rice, and other oriental specialties. They usually also serve dim sum, though we didn't see any on the day we were there.

The Noodle Station is a live cooking counter where the chef would expertly whip up noodle dishes for you - from curry noodles to nyonya laksa, wanton noodles and Ipoh hor fun. Your bowl of hot-of-the-stove noodles is completely customizable, with a variety of toppings (vegetables, meat, fishballs, tofu, taugeh, and more) and noodles for you to choose from.

Be satisfied by the fiery flavours of Malay and Indian dishes such as satay, chicken tikka, tandoori, kari ikan, and more. Lemon Garden is also a popular spot for Iftar (break fast) meals during Ramadan, and you can expect a wider selection of Malay dishes during the fasting month!

The Italian spread consists of a section with a pasta live cooking station and a section for pizza lovers (the pizzas are baked fresh the authentic way in the traditional wood-burning oven located right behind the counter!). Customize your own pasta dish by choosing from various pasta styles and sauces such as chicken bolognese, cream sauce, and Aglio Olio.

#KlookTip: top your pasta with cold cuts of your choice from the cold cut counter next to the Italian section! There were smoked salmon, smoked duck, and chicken pastrami on the day we visited.

Besides Italian fare, the Western section at Lemon Garden offers other Western dishes such as Australian beef flank steak, lamb stew, baked salmon, seabass fillet, roasted vegetables, salads (packed in individual jars to maintain freshness and for hygiene purposes!), cold cuts, and more.

The desserts section was our absolute favourite corner as kids! Although the iconic Lemon Garden chocolate fountain was unavailable when we visited due to hygiene concerns, we were informed that it'll be back once the pandemic situation improves (more reason to head back again!).

Save your tummy for indulgent sweet treats made by professional pastry dessert chefs, from mini tarts topped with fresh berries to ice cream, cakes, cream puffs, bubur cha cha, kek lapis, and fruits. Our favourite from the dessert section was definitely the mille-feuille, an old-school French pastry made with layers of crispy pastry and filled with creamy custard.

All-you-can-eat buffets are usually not cheap, but we'd say Lemon Garden's buffet lunch and dinner are pretty affordably priced, and especially if you're a fan of seafood, you'll definitely get to eat your money's worth! Just be sure to come with an empty stomach and a big appetite. *winks*

The buffet at Lemon Garden Cafe, Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur is available for lunch and dinner from Wednesday to Sunday at the following timings:

You are highly recommended to place your booking and reservation as soon as possible to secure your table as walk-ins are not guaranteed due to the popularity of the restaurant. Pssst, you can even book a luxurious staycation at Shangri-La Lumpur on Klook!