If you’ve yet to make your Christmas preparations, let this be a reminder for you to get started. Whether your Christmas dinner poultry of choice happens to be chicken or turkey (or even pork!), here are some of the best restaurants in KL and Selangor to order from for the festive season.
The end of the year is often celebrated with a sense of warm finality as we come together to write the remaining few pages in this final chapter to conclusion. A big part of that of course, can be credited to both the Christmas and New Year holidays that dominate December with glad tidings and merry reunions, with the comforts of hearth and home bringing family and friends together to reconnect and recollect on past triumphs and tribulations.
Typically, as tradition would dictate, much of this coming together would take place over a generously prepared dinner table, sporting a cornucopia of classic Christmas treats ranging from sweet delights such as pudding and gingerbread cookies, to the obligatory centrepiece of every Yuletide dinner – roasted poultry chock-full with stuffing, and served alongside brown gravy and a tart dollop of cranberry sauce. But have you ever wondered where the Christmas tradition of a festive poultry dish began?
The historical record points to England for this longstanding practice, with the infamous Tudor regent King Henry VIII being credited with its popularity among blue bloods in his kingdom when he popularised the consumption of turkey for Christmas lunch. As the birds were not native to England and had to be brought in from the New World (meaning the Americas), serving turkey for the holidays was often regarded as being a status symbol to signify a well-heeled host. A good thing it caught on when it did too, given how a pickled boar’s head was considered to be the protein of choice for Christmas meals up until the Middle Ages.
As one can imagine, preparing a Christmas turkey (or chicken) requires extensive preparation, with the cooking process demanding hours of work in the kitchen. That’s before taking into account the sides that come along with it as well. Mercifully, convenience is at hand with several restaurants and eateries across KL and Selangor offering your choice of Christmas turkeys, chickens, and even hams, for your delectation. But be sure to plan ahead, so you don’t wind up empty-handed!
Feature and hero image credit: Kaboompics.com/Pexels, Monstera Production/Pexels
Restaurants offering takeaway Christmas turkey or roast chicken in KL and Selangor
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Boasting a firm reputation for pork and poultry dishes since its inception under the Mr Ho’s Fine Foods brand in 2007, The Butcher’s Table continues to remain a popular option for families looking to tuck into crisp roast pork or artisanal sausages. For Christmas, a speciality menu comprised of classics ranging from a delectably prepared hunk of gammon ham to their beloved English roast pork with an enviable crackling crust and of course, a whole roasted turkey brimming with sealed-in flavour, can all be had as part of your festive feast.
Prices start from RM128 for mains. Pre-orders are required.
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Another longstanding legacy name to offer a truly heartwarming Christmas feast is Dave’s Deli, whose roast chicken recipe has kept them in business since the 1990s out of a kiosk in Bangsar Shopping Centre. While the business may have grown by leaps and bounds since then, the flavours that they are best remembered by through generations remain relatively unchanged, especially when referring to their signature ‘Magic Gravy’. Three Christmas feast options are up on offer this year, each catering to a specific serving size depending on how many guests you’re expecting.
Prices start from RM128 for mains. Pre-order 3 days in advance.
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Casual brunch fiends know that in this space, botanical + co is perhaps one of the de facto names to have perfected the formula at the dawn of the Instagram flatlay. A testament to that success can clearly be seen in their continued staying power, with multiple outlets across the Klang Valley catering to subscribers of spirited weekend gatherings over coffee and choice breakfast foods. But you’ll be remiss not to peruse their Christmas menu selections, for all manner of bounties such as a whole roasted turkey for a classic nativity dinner, or a baked salmon filet for those who prefer a lighter bite.
Prices start from RM380 for mains. Pre-order 2 days in advance.
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As the name would suggest, Maria’s SteakCafe has long held a close association with the city’s most eminent steakhouses since its inception, built upon their perfectly seared slices of premium cuts that have garnered such great fanfare. While that continues to be the case to this very day, the restaurant is also keeping pace with tradition by serving up a Christmas feast for the ages that you can order right now. Hallmark menu staples such as their prized 1.5kg Tomahawk and Angus Beef Wellington with Foie Gras can all be brought home to share, perfect with a select bottle from your pantry’s very best.
Prices start from RM850 for mains. Pre-orders are required.
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If you want Christmas done right, consider referring to the experts at The Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur. Hailing from the same lineage of hotels that also happen to operate the stunning property at Ten Trinity Square in London, which has been known to assume a Christmas transformation of truly wonderous proportions, its Kuala Lumpur counterpart is also set to debut similarly impressive festive cheer to your doorstep by way of its new Christmas mealtime items. A delicious Chestnut Smoked Chicken with croissant bread stuffing will complete any festive table setting, while Wood Fire Prime Ribs easily serve a hearty dinner centrepiece.
Prices start from RM168 for mains. Pre-order 2 days ahead.
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A familiar sight, if you’re seeking refuge in comfort meals prepared to perfection, Red Kettle is not quite the neighbourhood secret it once was when it opened back in 2015. The dream of three friends who had aspired to evoke a measure of Sydney’s brunch culture on local shores became a household success upon opening its doors in The Starling Mall, especially given their insistence on perfecting not just Continental fare, but local standards too. Come Yuletide season, your choice of takeaway mains are decidedly pork-centric, whether it be a bacon-wrapped pork shoulder Oink Roll, or a lip-smacking slow-roasted tender Pork Knuckle.
Prices start from RM49.90 for mains. Pre-orders are encouraged.
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Several spots across town have been best known to offer a medley of Christmas classics for takeaway if you’re hoping to set up a festive feast without mucking up your own kitchen. But if you happen to find yourself in a real pinch and require the true convenience of a grab-and-go holiday dinner just as you clock off from work in the city centre, rest assured that the people at the Japanese department store ISETAN have got your back. Pre-order ahead and your roasted whole turkey, complete with pork and chestnut stuffing as well as cranberry and brown sauce, will be ready to collect at their KLCC outlet between the 21st to 31st of December, 2024.
Prices start at RM399, pre-orders required.
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If you’ve encountered a corner of Plaza Damansara that is often teeming with packed tables over the weekend, congratulations; you have stumbled upon the much-adored Huckleberry Cafe. The fanfare is well-deserved when considering the wealth of sweet and savoury delights that continue to attract returning faces, prepared with care and commitment to consistent quality. That same attention to detail extends to their curated Christmas menu for 2024, where your choice of Roasted Turkey with Sage and Thyme, Brown Sugar-Brined Roast Chicken, or a log of Beef Wellington can be enjoyed with equally luscious sides including luxuriously creamy truffle mash and even a novel serving of Potato Dauphinios.
Prices start from RM390 for mains. Pre-orders are required.
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As for those who don’t live within the immediate proximity of the downtown Kuala Lumpur area but want to pick up your Christmas feast along with your weekly bundle of groceries, consider dropping by The Grocer’s Kitchen at Ben’s International Grocers for your Yuletide entrees. A considerable wealth of meats is available for your selection, from a staple recipe of roasted chicken with stuffing and accompanying sides, to a tender cut of charbroiled tomahawk steak, and even a rack of oven-baked lamb ribs.
Prices start from RM118 for mains. Pre-orders are required.
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Longstanding Damansara Kim favourite Table & Apron is well-accustomed with packed tables and extensive reservation lists, owing to its approach to producing reliably wholesome dishes that are best enjoyed in a group setting. Naturally, there has never been a more appropriate setting to enjoy their dishes than over the Christmas dinner table, especially given the long-awaited debut of their festive offerings. Pick between their signature roast chicken or a roll of roast porchetta, served with bespoke sauces.
Prices start from RM158 for mains. Pre-order 2 days in advance.
