How Caesar Salad Is Done Across KL Restaurants

Here’s how the Caesar started, and from café to café it stays familiar, yet each spot offers a quiet twist of crunch and character.

“Salads are overpriced and overrated.” It’s one of those takes people jump on without much thought, and I did too. That is, until recently, as you’ve likely gathered by now. It wasn’t just the simple medley of greens, croutons, a whole egg, lime, and that oh-so-luscious dressing, but how this unassuming bowl was exactly as the health-conscious crowd promised—delicious.

How it was tossed about

Fascinatingly, it was in Mexico where the Caesar salad first took root. In 1924, Restaurante Caesar’s founded by Italian immigrant Caesar Cardini, drew Americans across the borders as a welcome reprieve from Prohibition. It’s believed that on the lively Fourth of July, midst service peak and with the menu beginning to thin out, Caesar had improvised with what remained in the kitchen. Before a hungry, half-drunk crowd a guéridon trolley, laden with ingredients and a large wooden bowl, entered. And that’s when the Caesar sprang to life.

Theatrics by your tableside to top it all off? It’s hard to not get caught up in the drizzling and the tossing. In a curious turn, however, while Caesar is credited with inventing the salad, some believe his brother Alex Cardini brought it to completion by incorporating anchovies as well as Dijon mustard to the original dressing, a combination that has since become the Caesar as we know it.

Even now, the question of authorship remains unresolved. But the Caesar’s roots are, without question, in Tijuana.

The Caesar worth seeking

1. Ben’s

Ben’s by day, Bakar by night, but when it comes to the Caesar, it’s the former we turn to. This restaurant is where East winks at West, much like the culturally blended Peri Peri Satay of Southern Africa, Mexico’s Melting Nachos, New York Strip Steak, and fittingly, the Traditional Caesar Salad of Tijuana, Mexico.

To start, crisped chicken bacon bits bring a savoury counterpoint to cool romaine, as a whole poached egg slips in. True to the original recipe, anchovies are blended into the dressing, sharpening its creaminess with salty-savoury depth. Then, crowning the green mountain are garlic toast pieces, with parmesan grated over to finish. If it’s a classic you’re after, you’ll find it here at Ben’s.

Booking: Ben’s
IG: @thebiggroup

2. Botanico + Co.

More than just all-day dining, Botanica+Co. is where you can settle in—slow meals, simple people-watching, and a gentle breath of green. Think an unpretentious atmosphere whilst whole foods are brought to life over an open-fire oven and fresh produce is handled using natural methods.

Fittingly, Botanica+Co. at Bamboo Hills frames the moment just right, as the Kale & Romaine Caesar Salad arrives at the table. What sets their Caesar apart? The crunchy kale. Sliced thin, along with the romaine lettuce, crisp turkey bacon adds a smoky edge for the otherwise light meal. Croutons are then scattered in before housemade roasted garlic Caesar dressing coats the leafy base. It’s at Botanica+Co. where their green aisle comes alive with crunch and variety.

Booking: botanica.com
IG: @botanica.co.my

3. RaRa Coffee

RaRa Coffee is that cozy corner where even time slows, making room for the quiet moments that matter. Think good food, pleasant coffee, and conversations that stretch a little longer. A pet-friendly concept is a welcoming start, but throw in an Asian fusion menu, and it’s an easy regular to visit.

On top of that, the new menu alone makes it well worth a pop-by. For instance, their Caesar Wrap trades the bowl for a grab-and-go wrap. Imagine a salad that moves with you, when sitting down isn’t the point—healthy, easy, and mess-free. Pickled onion and salad are folded with garlic bread bits, then topped with fried chicken thigh and thin parmesan tuile, for a final layer of flavour and contrast.

Booking: raracoffee
IG: @ra_ra_coffee | Instagram

4. Oomph!

Oomph! Indeed. This Brew & Bread sibling at Megah Rise, PJ is often seen with long queues and a cake lineup just as extensive. Boasting some greens, groovy lights, and industrial-style interiors, Oomph! has just enough character in its setting for guests to fit right in.

This may reflect a personal preference, but the Caesar Salad with Hand-Battered Fried Chicken is a solid choice for a Caesar fix. Perhaps it’s the hand-battered touch and its airy coating, or the precise balance of dressing that ties the salad together, but this Caesar is one you’ll want to order every visit. And that says a lot for something done so simply, yet so well.

Booking: oomphkl
IG: @oomph.kl

Dressed to the end

In the end, what emerges across these spots are their own subtle spins on the Caesar. Sticking close to the classic, each offering its own take, seen in RaRa Coffee’s wrap to Botanica + Co.’s kale crunch. The differences aren’t loud, just enough to show how even a classic can carry its own quiet identity, something only noticed by Caesar regulars.

Opening image: Caesar salad
Photography: Sergei Starostin | Pexels