If you’re a fan of Nigel Ng, better known as Uncle Roger, then you’ve probably seen his hilarious critiques of Western chefs attempting Asian dishes.
His witty takedowns of food atrocities like Jamie Oliver’s fried rice have earned him a massive following.
So, when he opened his first restaurant, FUIYOH! It’s Uncle Roger at Pavilion Elite in Bukit Bintang, we knew we had to see if the food lived up to his roasting standards.
Here’s how it went from our perspective.
The Experience: Long Queue, Uncle Roger Vibes
We headed to the restaurant last Monday (23 September), and in true Malaysian fashion, it was raining. Typical.
But the weather wasn’t enough to deter us, and neither was the hour-long queue.
We arrived at 6:20 pm, and by the time we were seated, it was 7:40 pm. Long? Yes. But this is Uncle Roger’s restaurant, after all, and we were willing to wait.
As soon as we stepped inside, we were hit with Uncle Roger’s signature aesthetic. Orange everywhere. From the walls to the plates, even the seats gave off classic kopitiam vibes.
There was a cute LED display on the ceiling and a mini stage with an Uncle Roger cutout.
Now that we were in, it was time to taste the food.
The Menu: Paying for the Brand?
We went with the restaurant’s recommendations and ordered a mix of fried rice and noodles:
- Egg fry rice with garlic shrimp: RM34
- Special fry rice (Spicy): RM18
- Special fry rice with crispy sunny side up: RM24
- Kimchi fried rice with pan-seared salmon: RM36
- Egg fry noodle: RM17
- Stir-fry cabbage lah: RM16
- Haiya pickled cucumbers: RM9
- Uncle Roger’s Favourite (3x): RM32.70
- Passionista: RM9.90
After adding service tax, our total bill came to RM228.05. It’s definitely on the pricier side, but then again, this is Pavilion Elite. We expected a premium.
The Food: Was It FUIYOH or Haiya?
Egg Fry Noodles: 1/5 ⭐
Our first dish, the Egg Fry Noodles, arrived at 8:10 pm – about 20 minutes after we ordered. On first glance, it looked pretty good, served with cucumbers, cabbage, carrots, and lime. But don’t expect any protein here – there’s no meat or egg.
Unfortunately, the flavour didn’t live up to the presentation. It was bland, slightly sour, and seemed like it was missing the right seasoning. For RM17, it was a big letdown. We’ve had better noodles from roadside stalls.
Special Fry Rice & Special Fry Rice with Crispy Sunny Side Up: 3/5 ⭐
Next up were the Special Fry Rice and the Special Fry Rice with Crispy Sunny Side Up. Visually, they both looked promising.
The crispy egg with runny yolk sitting atop the fried rice made for an Instagram-worthy dish. But again, when it came to flavour, it fell short.
The belacan on the side was oddly sweet, and without it, the rice lacked that punch you’d expect from a dish with ‘special’ in the name. Adding chilli oil helped, but overall, it wasn’t anything to shout about.
Egg Fry Rice with Garlic Shrimp: 2/5⭐
Then came the Egg Fry Rice with Garlic Shrimp, which featured three decently sized shrimp on top. As expected, the shrimp were fresh, but the fried rice tasted almost identical to the previous ones.
Kimchi Fried Rice with Pan-Seared Salmon: 3/5 ⭐
The final dish, Kimchi Fried Rice with Pan-Seared Salmon, was the most distinct in terms of flavour.
It had a smoky, burnt taste, though not quite the wok hei we hoped for. The salmon, layered with mayo, was a saving grace, adding a rich, creamy texture that complemented the rice.
Haiya Pickled Cucumbers & Stir-Fry Cabbage Lah: 3/5 ⭐
The sides were a mixed bag.
We surprisingly enjoyed the Haiya Pickled Cucumbers – simple, refreshing, and packed with flavour.
The Stir-Fry Cabbage Lah, on the other hand, looked pale and tasted just okay.
Final Thoughts: More Hype Than Flavour
If you’re thinking about dining at FUIYOH! It’s Uncle Roger, be prepared to pay for more than just the food.
The atmosphere, the branding, and the location all contribute to the price. But as for the food itself? We’d say it was just average, with a few dishes missing the mark entirely – looking at you, Egg Fry Noodles.
Is it worth trying for the novelty? Maybe. If you’re a die-hard Uncle Roger fan, you might enjoy the themed decor and the chance to say you’ve eaten at his restaurant.
But for us, the food didn’t live up to the hype, especially when you factor in the price.
Would we go back? Honestly, no. While it was fun to experience once, we’d probably stick to watching Uncle Roger on YouTube instead of queuing up for his fried rice again.
FUIYOH! It’s Uncle Roger
Address: Pavilion Elite, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 10 am – 10 pm daily
Watch our review here on TikTok.
And this:
