The much anticipated Citarasa Nipah, the annual EQ Ramadan tradition, is back and the media had a chance for a sneak preview of food options from the days of rustic simplicity, and combine them with dishes that have evolved into Ramadan must-haves.

The dinner buffet offers a spread of food ranging from fresh crudites and herbs (ulam), accompanying traditional Malay dips and sambals, crackers, dried fried fish, a variety of local salads including green papaya salad (kerabu betik muda), pomelo salad (kerabu limau bali), Indonesian star gooseberry leaf salad (urap pucuk manis), young mango salad (kerabu mangga), young jackfruit salad (kerabu nangka), banana heart salad (kerabu jantung pisang) and fiddlehead fern salad (kerabu pucuk paku).

Also available are savoury Ramadan rice porridge (bubur lambuk), rendang tulang rusuk, briyani Batu Pahat with ayam masak merah, acar jelateh, freshly grilled fish, and a counter dedicated to Malay smoked meats (salai) which are then cooked in various styles.

My personal favourite was the gulai salai (smoked meats) station. This is somewhat new as last year it was just one dish in the buffet line, but this time, there’s a small station with selections include catfish salai, duck and beef salai in a rich, spicy gravy known as masak lemak chili api. There’s even huge Fresh River Prawns, but you gotta be fast and this finishes lightning fast!

Of course, I never miss the roast lamb, and the tulang rusuk rendang was excellent, especially accompanied by the lemang.

Dessert options are equally enticing, with a variety of local Malay kuih, iced desserts like cendol and ice kacang, and specially created durian crème brulee and durian pancakes. There is also be a selection of sweet dessert porridge known as bubur, and durian with coconut milk (serawa durian) served with glutinous rice and pandan bread.

Citarasa Nipah is perfect for corporate guests, and for gathering friends and family over the Ramadan season. The dinner buffet runs from 6 to 28 March 2025 from 6.30pm to 10.30pm every night. It is priced at RM238+ per adult, and RM114+ per child from 6 – 12 years old. An early bird special will run from 2 to 5 March and 29 to 30 March 2025 with a promotional price of RM198+ per adult. Group bookings of a minimum of ten persons can also enjoy the special price of RM198+.

EQ also brings back EQ Bazaar, a concept it premiered last year to great acclaim. As a brand-new alternative to Ramadan sit-downs, the Bazaar allows guests to browse an astounding array of street food stalls set in the plush comfort of the hotel’s function rooms. The ground-breaking concept was sold out for the month within the first four days of its launch, with many families lauding the free-tobrowse concept which allowed individuals to select their choice of foods and enjoy it at their own pace.

Expect street food favourites such as Malay rotisserie chicken (ayam golek), satay, grilled lamb, roti John, murtabak, roti canai, a variety of noodles, special bakso (Indonesian meatballs in soup), rice and dishes which include deep-fried beef in chilli (daging sambal ketuk), smoked duck in spicy coconut milk (itik salai cili padi), flower crabs in coconut milk (ketam masak lemak), chicken rice, fish head curry, and a variety of finger foods like local prawn fritters, fish crackers, fried banana fritters, spring rolls and samosas.

Drink and dessert options at EQ Bazaar include beverages served in large drink containers (air balang) which range from rose syrup with milk (sirap bandung), kalamansi lime and soy bean; an array of Malay desserts ranging from kuih to preserved fruit, sweet Malay-style porridges (bubur pulut hitam, bubur kacang hijau) and shaved ice desserts.

EQ Bazaar runs from 6 to 28 March 2025, and is priced at RM178+ per adult, and RM89+ per child from 6 – 12 years old. Group bookings of a minimum of 20 persons will enjoy the special rate of RM158+ per adult. The early bird promotion is also priced at RM158+ per adult, and can only be redeemed from 3 to 5 March 2025.

For reservations, call 03-2789 7777.

Add: EQ, Equatorial Plaza, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur.