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For a foodie, few things sting more than seeing your favourite restaurant closes its doors for good. For fans of Oriental Cravings, it seemed their prayers had finally been answered with news of the eatery’s reopening on 15 Mar 2025 — only for their hopes to be dashed once again.
The original Oriental Cravings, once nestled in 1 Utama, was a haven for comforting local delights like Braised Yee Mee and Fried Yam Cake. For 17 and a half years, it served up dishes that became core childhood memories for many. But on 7 Sep 2021, the restaurant announced its closure, marking the end of an era.
Enter 23-year-old Kimberly Chew, a longtime fan of the original restaurant, who missed its flavours so much that she sought to recreate them in a new eatery: The Oriental Cravings, now open in Damansara Kim.
Upon hearing about the launch, fans of the OG Oriental Cravings — many mistaking it for the actual revival of their beloved makan spot — received the announcement with excitement. After all, the menu bore a resemblance to the original, further fuelling the confusion.
The mix-up escalated when Malay Mail published an article on 16 Mar 2025, titled “…The Oriental Cravings at PJ Damansara Kim marks the return of an old favourite…”— a headline that seemingly implied the original restaurant had been resurrected.
After 4 years of silence, the original Oriental Cravings took to social media to set the record straight. In a heartfelt post, they clarified that they had no affiliation with the new restaurant, the Chew family, or their group of eateries.
They also graciously acknowledged the flood of congratulatory messages they had received regarding the supposed “reopening.”
It seemed like an innocent mix-up — until netizens unearthed questionable claims. A now-deleted Instagram post from The Oriental Cravings allegedly stated, “they’re back,” implying a link to the OG eatery. One user even claimed the owner confirmed they were the same restaurant.
Despite that, The Oriental Cravings’ soft opening was a success. If you’re craving the taste of nostalgia, a visit might just hit the spot — real deal or not.
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