"Chef Noom's Bangkok-rooted Thai tasting took a Michelin star within a year — RM600, hidden in TSLAW Tower; book to close a deal."
One Michelin star, earned in under a year. Two tasting menus, from RM600. A dining room tucked on the second floor of an office tower in Imbi, with no street presence at all. Chim is the Kuala Lumpur chapter of Bangkok's Chim by Siam Wisdom, and chef Thaninthorn 'Noom' Chantrawan cooks Thai food rooted in royal-era recipes rather than the standard canon. The Hoy Narom, a Hyogo oyster under a chilli granita, opens the meal. By 2026 it was one of only five starred restaurants in the Klang Valley.
The Kitchen
Chef Thaninthorn 'Noom' Chantrawan made his name in Bangkok, where Chim by Siam Wisdom has held a Michelin star for the better part of a decade. The Kuala Lumpur room is the second chapter, and it took its own star in the 2026 Malaysia guide within a year of opening, a place among only five starred restaurants in the Klang Valley. Noom cooks two seasonal tasting menus devised around historic Thai recipes rather than the familiar tom yum and green curry. The Lost Recipe is the clearest statement of intent: a fish soup that dates to King Rama II's reign and predates tom yum goong, rebuilt from the old texts. The Hoy Narom pairs a plump Hyogo oyster with a fiery chilli granita, ice against heat. The Goong Sarong wraps prawns in rice noodles and serves them beside a betel-leaf green papaya salad. The standard tasting runs RM600 per person and the Rattanakosin menu RM650, both before taxes and service. The room seats a small number a night, so each menu is cooked with care rather than at volume.
The Room
Chim hides on level two of TSLAW Tower on Jalan Kamuning, an office building you would never guess held a Michelin-starred kitchen. Inside, the room is small and contemporary, lit low and warm, with table settings that lean elegant rather than ornate. Sound stays quiet, since the room seats few and the pacing is unhurried, so you can talk across the table at normal volume. Tables are spaced for privacy, and a counter lets a few diners watch the kitchen. Dress is smart-casual, and most diners come dressed for an occasion. The unmarked, upstairs setting gives the place a private-club feel without the membership.
Best for Closing a Deal in Kuala Lumpur
Book Chim to close a deal because the hidden, quiet room does what a loud restaurant cannot. The office-tower location and small seat count mean no neighbouring table will overhear the terms, and the unhurried tasting gives you a full evening without a rushed turn. The cooking is genuinely impressive, a Michelin-starred take on Thai history, which signals you put thought into the meeting rather than defaulting to a hotel dining room. And the set menu removes the awkward dance of ordering, so the table stays on the conversation. Reserve two seats early in the week, take the standard tasting, and let the Hoy Narom break the ice. See more in our best KL restaurants to impress clients.
Not for
Skip Chim if you want familiar pad thai or a quick à la carte meal. It serves only set tasting menus of royal-era Thai dishes, the chilli runs real, and dinner runs long.
Frequently Asked
Is Chim by Chef Noom worth it?
Yes, if you want Thai food you cannot get elsewhere in Kuala Lumpur. Chef Thaninthorn 'Noom' Chantrawan brought the Chim by Siam Wisdom name from Bangkok and took a Michelin star within a year, one of only five starred restaurants in the Klang Valley. The menus are built on royal-era recipes rather than the standard canon. At RM600 a head it is a serious outlay, but the cooking and the rarity earn it. See the Kuala Lumpur dining guide for more.
How hard is it to book Chim by Chef Noom?
Fairly hard since the star landed. The room seats only a small number a night, so weekend dinner books two to three weeks out, while a Tuesday or Wednesday seat can open within the week. Reserve by phone or through the Chim site and confirm which tasting menu is running. The TSLAW Tower address is easy to miss, so allow time to find level two on your first visit.
What is the dress code at Chim by Chef Noom?
Smart-casual. There is no jacket rule, but most diners come dressed for an occasion in this small, quiet room, so collared shirts and dresses fit the mood. Shorts and athletic wear feel out of place. The unmarked office-tower setting is more private-club than hotel dining room, and the crowd dresses to match.
What is the average meal price at Chim by Chef Noom?
The standard tasting menu is RM600 per person and the Rattanakosin menu RM650, both before taxes and service. Wine or a non-alcoholic pairing adds to the bill, so a full dinner for two with drinks clears RM1,800. It sits at the top of Kuala Lumpur's fine-dining range, in line with its Michelin star and the small-room economics. There is no cheaper à la carte option.
Is Chim by Chef Noom good for closing a deal?
Yes, the hidden, quiet room is built for it. The office-tower location and small seat count mean no neighbouring table overhears the terms, the unhurried tasting gives you a full evening, and the Michelin-starred cooking signals you put thought into the meeting. The set menu also removes the ordering dance so the table stays on the conversation. Reserve two seats early in the week.
What should I order at Chim by Chef Noom?
The menu is a set tasting, so the choice is which one. Whichever you take, the dishes to watch for are The Lost Recipe, a fish soup predating tom yum goong rebuilt from King Rama II-era texts; the Hoy Narom, a Hyogo oyster under a chilli granita; and the Goong Sarong, prawns wrapped in rice noodles with a betel-leaf green papaya salad. Take the pairing to follow the chef's intent across the courses.