Late-night steamboat your way at Takumi, Kota Damansara

We all know the feeling. It's late, the stomach is complaining, and a heavy plate of rice is the last thing you want. That's exactly when our editor points people to Takumi Steamboat. Our editor describes it as a cheap hotpot, and a good choice for when you get hungry in the middle of the night, or when protein is all you're after.

The useful part is how you order. You pick from the sets, and the set you choose decides the protein you get. From there, you can leave out the rice, or any other starch, and eat more vegetables, chicken or other meat instead. Our editor likes having that choice, and it should suit anyone who wants a hot, filling meal without the carbs.

The photos our editor sent show what arrives. Each steel pot sits on its own burner, with a black tray of thinly sliced meat, a plate of leafy greens, and small bowls of chopped spring onion and what look like crispy shallots to stir into your sauce. On one table the broths run from bright orange tomato to a deep red and a creamy white, so everyone at the table can have their own.

That soup is where other diners get excited. Reviewers keep mentioning the tomato base as a favourite, and pepper pork bone, mala and tom yam all get praise too. They also like how fresh the ingredients are and how little the meal costs, and several say it's a comfortable place to bring family and friends, with friendly staff.

Takumi also runs a members' app, where you collect points when you pay and redeem them on later meals. A screenshot our editor sent shows the kind of reward you might unlock, including a free plate of meat and RM1 offers on vegetables, meat and steamboat items. Rewards depend on your member level, so check what's in your own account before you order.

So the plan is simple. Choose your soup, pick the set with the protein you want, swap the rice for more greens, and eat slowly while the rest of Kota Damansara goes to sleep.

🍽️ What to order

• A protein set with extra vegetables, our editor's way
• Tomato soup base, a favourite with reviewers
• Pepper pork bone soup, also praised by reviewers

💡 Good to know

• It opens for dinner and runs late, which makes it an easy supper stop
• Expect a short wait at the peak of dinner time, or come later
• It's one pot per person, so big eaters can simply add another set
• Get the app before you pay, so your meal earns points