Fusion bar sizzles in Bangsar

The warm and inviting interior of Haba. — Photos courtesy of Marwick Das

Someone once said never work for money, work for your passion.

That could not be more true in the case of Haba – the brainchild of a group of F&B owners, one of whom is Paul Dass, who also owns Locker & Loft.

Tucked behind the busy street of Jalan Bangsar lies Haba, a Japanese-Malaysian fusion bar that opened in June this year.

“We are a couple of Malaysians who are very passionate about Malaysian and Japanese cuisines, and what better way than to combine both and make that the theme of a bar,” said Paul about himself and good friend and Locker & Loft business partner Deepak Gill.

Just like the meaning of haba in Malay, the venue exudes a warmth that is both inviting and cosy, peppered with Japanese design elements.

Fans of Locker & Loft will notice the same familiar copper pipes running along the bar in Haba, which houses the pièce de resistance of this new joint – a self-built soda machine that dispenses the important ingredient in their signature drink, the highball.

“The Japanese are known for their highballs, other than sakes.

“Their highballs stand out because they use good quality soda water,” Paul explained.

Like a proper Japanese bar, Haba boasts a good selection of highballs, crafted with its homemade syrups, fruit purees and most importantly, good quality soda water.

We tried the Jameson and Gordon’s with Passionfruit, which did not disappoint.

Other than highballs, they are also famed for their Saketini – a Japanese take on the classic martini.

A fan of lychee, I thought this was one of the highlights, as it was different and refreshing yet not too sweet.

No prizes for guessing the base spirit for this clever little concoction!

If you are looking for a drink with more depth, try The Little Tart, consisting of white rum, Kahlua and blueberry puree, and peppered with espresso powder.

Perhaps that final touch is what lends it a slight umami taste.

Another standout cocktail was Rumput Limon, which could easily have been mistaken for a healthy juice as it comprised fresh apple juice, lemon juice, asam boi, vodka and Midori.

There are spheres around the venue – round mirrors with backlights adorn the walls, including the archway to the balcony.

“It is very much in line with the name of the bar, which means heat in Malay, but also what Japan is known as – the Land of the Rising Sun,” said Paul.

Truly, this is a great space for a catch-up with a few friends.

The lighting is soft and warm and the music is not too loud.

When it comes to their food menu, Haba has more than a few curated items.

It has a range of crowd favourite yakitori items, such as gizzard, beef bacon and shimeji, tofu and chicken with Japanese leek.

The broccoli yakitori was deceptively flavourful, as it is marinated with mirin and grilled to perfection.

The chicken with Japanese leek comprised chicken leg cuts and was juicy and tender, while the lamb chops yakitori was also perfectly cooked and well-marinated.

In terms of its tapas menu, the Beef Tataki was one of my favourites.

Although the cut of meat was thin, it was cooked just right (medium), tender, with a hint of truffle, served on a bed of young mango and ginger kerabu.

The sharp tang of kerabu lent the dish a balance that was just right.

If you are a little more than peckish, Haba serves a variety of main meals such as calzone and fragrant steamed fish, which is sourced from Paul’s very own aquaponic urban farm.

Haba is pork-free and also caters to the lunch crowd.

For lunch, it has three different lunch menus on rotation comprising items such as Smoked Duck Rice, Mackerel Fish Set, Chicken 68 Rice and Sliced Beef Rice and comes with a non-alcoholic beverage.

Also, if you are looking for a private room for a small party, Haba has a cosy room that can comfortably seat at least seven.

All in all, Haba is a welcome addition to Jalan Kemuja.

If anything, it is a labour of love for the owners who have turned their passion into reality, and that is something worth visiting.

Haba, No.42A, Jalan Kemuja, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur. Tel: [phone]. Opening hours: Noon to 3pm and 5pm to 1am daily, closed on Mondays.