3 Reasons Why We’re Going Back To Licky Chan & The Poke Guy

Just like you, we’re dying for a holiday where all we’ll do is check out the coolest cafes around and taste unique desserts in a foreign land. But with the travel ban currently still in place, we highly doubt that’s going to happen anytime soon. Luckily, thanks to the constant evolution of hip cafes in Kuala Lumpur, we can still have the luxury of playing tourist in our own turf and tasting local delights curated to suit our tastebuds.

Recently, we stumbled upon Licky Chan & The Poke Guy that’s opened by the same guys behind Joloko and located nearby. If you’re after a delectable scoop of ice cream, sorbet and soft serve or boozy cakes, consider your cravings sorted! Despite spending a few hours here, there’s something charming about the place that we can’t wait to go back for more. If you’re wondering who or what The Poke Guy is, then you’re in the same boat as us because it was only when we peeked through the window of this little space that we discovered it’s a tattoo studio housed under the same roof behind the ice cream bar. We’ve been dreaming about Licky Chan since our visit – and here are three reasons why:

Unconventional flavours of cow-to-cone ice cream

If you’re an ice cream lover who’s decided to hop on the vegan wagon, then you’re in for a treat. Made from non-refined sugar and natural ingredients, Licky Chan’s ice cream selection comprises dairy and vegan-friendly flavours that you never knew you wanted (before seeing them on the menu, that is!). The milk that’s used to produce the ice cream is directly sourced from cows that live in a farm in Pahang and are fed fresh grass every day. Even better: you have the option of choosing if you’d like to go for the alcohol-infused or alcohol-free flavours from the variety of ice cream, sorbet and soft serve offered at the bar.

‍Happy vibes all day, everyday

From the outside, this place looks like an old shophouse but don’t jump to the conclusion of what’s inside as the vibe and interior of this outlet are pretty unexpected. With social distancing still in place, our first concern was the amount of available places to sit. But as it turns out, this wasn’t a problem at all as there were multiple spots for us to park ourselves at in different corners of the café. Each spot had a different set-up, all of which contributed to the overall happy and cool vibe of Licky Chan, making it the perfect location to take a breather in, any time of the day!

Bring on the #OOTD shots!

Consider this your all-in-one place where you can get plenty of photos taken in different settings under one roof. From an old shophouse setting on the exterior to a vintage room setting on the upper floor that comes complete with traditional TV sets and a colourful ball pit where you can relive your childhood in, Licky Chan is filled with multiple backdrops where you can take exciting pictures at, not just for yourself but with your friends and family too. So go all out, bring a change of clothes and get ready to spend a few hours here like we did!

‍Check out the three flavours of ice cream that we tried, along with our verdict:

Beach, Please!

“Dreaming of sipping on a cool and refreshing mojito on the beach? Well, so did I, and the name of this ice cream caught my attention instantly as I was looking through the menu. Rich in Luxardo maraschino, watermelon and cucumber, Beach, Please! was an extremely refreshing treat after spending a long day in the KL heat and is just the scoop of sorbet you’d enjoy if you’re in the mood to chillax.” – Vasenta Selvanayagam, Digital Content Producer

Nirvana

“Made from almond milk, chai tea, cashew and turmeric, Nirvana is ideal for chai lovers as the taste of chai is pretty dominant in every little spoonful you take. For a second, I thought that I could taste a tinge of peanut butter in it too, making this vegan ice cream the best tea-time pick that I’ve had in a long time!” – Tan Guo Xiang, Photographer

Sweet Dreams Are Made Of Cheese

“Licky Chan doesn’t serve your basic batch of ice cream, so I was torn between ordering the Chocolate Concierge (made of 70% Malaysian single origin cacao, cold brew cacao husks and Dewar’s 12 Yrs), Pina Colada Soft Serve (made of Bacardi 4 Anos, pineapple, coconut and tonka bean) and In The Mood For Love (made of  macadamia, salted popcorn and dulce de leche) at first, but eventually settled for Sweet Dreams Are Made Of Cheese. If I wasn’t going for dinner after my visit here, I’d have ordered a second scoop as I loved the sweet and salty blend of five types of cheese (cream cheese, goat cheese, gorgonzola, mascarpone and parmesan) with blueberry, honey and walnut in this one. The chunky bits of gorgonzola were a welcome surprise – and so was the waffle cone!” – Yang Mei Ling, Chief Editor

‍ Licky Chan & The Poke Guy is located at 24 Jalan Yap Ah Shak, Chow Kit, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, and it’s open from Tuesday to Sunday (12pm to 12am). The first scoop of alcohol-free ice cream and sorbet is priced from RM9.80, while alcohol-laced ice cream and sorbet starts from RM14.80, and boozy soft serve starts from RM11.80. The homemade cones are gluten-free, vegan-friendly and FOC with your pick of ice cream. The Boozy Cakes go for RM138 and are good for 6-8 people (they also come with candles, a knife and a ‘Happy Birthday’ cake topper).