Malaysia
Singapore
Thailand
I’ve actually tried Arimau Nasi Lemak in Kota Damansara before and had a pretty good time there, so when I visited the newly-opened Hextar World at Empire City recently, I didn’t expect to see that familiar tiger logo staring back at me again. Same bold branding, same orange colour scheme, but with a completely different direction this time. That’s how I ended up at Arimau Beta.
Here, the spotlight is on spicy chilli noodle berlauk — a pan mee-style noodle bowl where you can load things up with various Malay-inspired lauk and toppings. It’s not something you see every day, which immediately made me curious. They still have other comforting staples too like nasi lemak, laksa, curry mee, and those classic kopitiam drinks that somehow always hit better during lunch hour. Is this technically a kopitiam? I honestly don’t know anymore, but the vibes are there.
One thing I noticed almost immediately was how welcoming the staff were. Service was warm, attentive, and just easygoing overall. I arrived around 11am on a weekday and thought the place would stay quiet since Hextar World is still slowly filling up with tenants, but the moment the clock hit 12pm, office workers started pouring in out of nowhere. Within minutes, the whole restaurant felt alive. Safe to say, that made me even more excited to see what everyone was rushing in for.
What to order at Arimau Beta
I drove all the way here, so there was no way I was leaving without trying their signature Spicy Chilli Noodle. I went with the Ayam Balado version, priced at RM17.50, and the bowl arrived looking way more loaded than I expected.
At first glance, it already looked promising — noodles coated in chilli oil, topped with minced chicken, sambal, ikan bilis, aromatics, an onsen egg, and a huge piece of fried chicken drenched in sambal berlado. On the side came pickled cucumber slices, roasted peanuts, and extra crispy anchovies. Definitely not a sad-looking noodle bowl.
Even before properly mixing everything together, the first bite already packed a punch. Spicy, savoury, slightly smoky from the chilli oil — the flavours came in strong straight away, but in a very addictive way.
Mixing in the egg yolk is highly recommended because it smooths everything out nicely, especially since the noodles can get a little starchy after a while. I’m usually the type to ignore the lime wedge in noodle dishes, but here? Squeezing it over the bowl completely changed the game. Suddenly everything tasted brighter, sharper, and even more addictive.
The fried chicken honestly surprised me too. Crispy outside, juicy inside, and properly seasoned all the way through instead of just depending on the sambal for flavour. You can tell some care went into the preparation. The best part might’ve been those little crispy bits of marinade stuck underneath the chicken that soaked up all the sauce at the bottom of the bowl. Absolute flavour bomb.
Ole Ayam Gepuk: We tried Malaysia’s 1st pistachio ayam gepuk
Of course, we also had to try the nasi lemak since it’s still very much part of the Arimau identity. We started with the Nasi Lemak Ayam Berempah & Sambal Kerang (RM19.90), and for the portion plus 2 proteins, the price honestly felt pretty reasonable considering the location.
The plate had everything you’d expect from a satisfying nasi lemak, with a few extras thrown in. Alongside the usual sambal, peanuts, anchovies, and egg, there was also a bergedil and some stir-fried cabbage — the kind of sides you’d normally spot at nasi campur or nasi kandar stalls.
The green coconut rice was fragrant, creamy, and nicely seasoned without going overboard on the santan. The ayam berempah was properly crispy and well-marinated, while the sambal leaned slightly tangy, which I personally enjoyed, though I can see some people preferring it sweeter.
As for the sambal kerang, that one genuinely impressed me. The cockles were juicy, addictive, and thankfully free from that overly fishy aftertaste that sometimes ruins the whole thing.
If you prefer your nasi lemak with more kick, go for the Nasi Lemak Ayam Balado (RM14.90). The sambal berlado here was seriously one of the better versions I’ve had at a restaurant lately — spicy, savoury, rich with umami, and dangerously easy to keep eating.
For drinks, the Lychee Lemonade Soda (RM8.50) was refreshing and great for cutting through all the spice, while the Iced Kopi Butter (RM6.50) was thick, kaw, yet smooth.
Who Arimau Beta is best for
Arimau Beta is an easy recommendation for people who love pan mee, nasi lemak, and anything involving sambal berlado. If spicy, savoury comfort food is your thing, there’s a high chance you’ll enjoy eating here. The menu also has enough variety for groups, especially when everyone wants something slightly different without straying too far from local flavours.
How to get there?
Arimau Beta is located on the lower ground floor of Hextar World at Empire City, right beside the ice rink. Driving is probably the easiest option for now, especially since the mall is still expanding and public transport access isn’t the most straightforward yet. Parking was surprisingly painless too, with rates that felt pretty reasonable.
Do we recommend Arimau Beta?
Honestly, yes. The food delivered, the service was genuinely attentive, and the pricing didn’t feel over the top despite being inside a newer mall. The Spicy Chilli Noodle alone is worth trying at least once.
If there’s one small downside, it’s probably the ambience. Hextar World’s main appeal comes from its open, outdoor-inspired layout, so Arimau Beta’s corner can feel a little tucked away and dim compared to the brighter parts of the mall. But once the food arrives, that quickly becomes the least important thing on your mind.
People also read:
