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I think it’s safe to say that every Malaysian grows up drinking MILO. In fact, this chocolate malt beverage is so popular there is a chant in a game inspired by the drink itself, ‘MILO Ais’. So, when I came across Daughter’s Kitchen located in Sungai Buloh, a restaurant known for its MILO Ais Kepal, I knew it was my calling from the chocolate gods.
Daughter’s Kitchen is opened by 4 sisters who taught themselves to cook, and come from a family who loves cooking. While they do have a wide selection of Malay and Western cuisine, I was more intrigued by their icy desserts.
What I tried at Daughter’s Kitchen
Daughter’s Kitchen serves up a colourful array of desserts ranging from variations of Ais Kepal, Ais Kacang and Cendol, ensuring there’s something for everyone to enjoy in the infamous Malaysian heat. My eyes zeroed in on the MILO Ais Kepal (RM4.90)— this was the sweet treat that drove the restaurant’s popularity back in 2018.
Boy, this glistening, heavenly-looking MILO Ais Kepal will change the way you have MILO forever. Just the very sight of it took my breath away. Finely-grated ice is first shaped into a ball before it gets a generous coating of a thickened MILO mixture (which I later discovered was condensed milk) and sprinkled with chopped peanuts at the top.
I dug into the ais kepal with gusto. The sauce dripped lusciously and when I scraped the surface, it revealed the exposed shaved ice that’s coloured dark brown under the MILO sauce. I was so surprised at how rich and luscious the MILO was— it reminded me of chocolate truffles but in a liquid form.
Don’t let its chocolate-topped appearance fool you, it actually wasn’t very sweet. The addition of peanuts was a brilliant idea as it gave it a faint nutty taste.
Even when the shaved ice melted, it tasted delicious. The liquid reminded me of the MILO drink which was distributed by the MILO van on sports day. This MILO Ais Kepal was nothing short of amazing. According to Ain, the lady who runs Daughter’s Kitchen, this sweet treat cost only RM1.90 back in 2018.
MILO Ais Kepal inhaled, I knew I had to try one more dessert— the ABC Pacak (RM5.90). Once again when the dessert arrived on the table, the sight of it blew my mind. It looked like it just came out from an actual unicorn.
The giant mountain of shaved ice was drizzled in every colour imaginable— I counted and yes, all the colours of the rainbow. Underneath the heap of ice was a smorgasbord of ingredients: red bean, cincau, cream corn and peanuts.
I felt like a kid at a fun fair as I scooped out the shaved iced, making sure to get every colour in my spoon. Just like the MILO Ais Kepal, the shaved ice sits beautifully before melting onto your tongue, sending cooling sensations throughout your body.
At the top, a tiny hole is left and you can use the straw to drink the melted ais kacang. How ingenious! This was another aspect of the dessert which I thoroughly enjoyed. Sipping on melted shaved ice mixed with the delicious cincau was such a treat that reminded me of my childhood days in Penang. Just make sure to eat the shaved ice quickly otherwise it would melt into a huge rainbow puddle.
There is another ABC Pacak on the menu, however, that serves 5 people. I simply cannot guess how tall it can be— possibly the Everest of ais kacangs.
Final thoughts
I left Daughter’s Kitchen impressed and slightly ashamed— how have I been missing out on their MILO Ais Kepal for 29 years?
Honestly folks, forget that Korean bingsu and make your way to Sungai Buloh. At just RM4.90, the desserts at Daughter’s Kitchen will really give you a run for your money. I know for a fact that I will be back, now that their desserts have forever been imprinted on my taste buds.
Expected damage: RM5 – RM10 per pax
