Fuiyoh or Haiyaa? A Taste of Uncle Roger’s Fried Rice in Kuala Lumpur

September 15, 2025 Not Your Typical Tourist

My husband is not what I’d call a devoted fan of comedian Nigel Ng, but he does watch his videos for a good laugh, and perhaps to annoy me since I am not his biggest fan. On our last trip home to Kuala Lumpur, I planned a surprise visit to his new restaurant, FUIYOH! IT’S UNCLE ROGER, at Pavilion KL. While I find the “putting people down for a laugh” humor a bit much to rake up views at their expenses, I was curious to see if the food lived up to the persona’s high standards.

We visited on New Year’s Eve in 2024, before the lunch rush, and were surprised to find no long queue like the ones I had seen on social media since their September 2024 launch. The restaurant was full, but we were able to get a table right away.

We ordered one of the fried rice dishes from the menu—I believe it was the Special Fried Rice—which came with a side of “secret sambal” and their “King of Flavour Cabbages.” For a self-proclaimed fried rice “guru” who talks so much about the importance of ‘wok hei,’ I was expecting the restaurant to walk the talk. While Uncle Roger is not the one doing the cooking, it’s still his brand, so getting his brand right is the right thing to do.

The verdict? It wasn’t a bad fried rice, but it certainly didn’t deliver the powerful ‘wok hei’ he so often talks about. The flavor was decent, but it felt more like a novelty than a truly great meal. Even the sambal was just so-so for me and lacked the punch you’d expect from a good sambal. Honestly, for a price close to RM 20, you’re better off spending your money at a local “tai chow” (big fry) stall, where you’ll find a much more flavorful and authentic fried rice for a fraction of the cost. Any decent “tai chow” can whip up a better fried rice easily, without the fanfare.

I did like their drink container, which I brought back to Bangkok as a souvenir. I was even tempted by the “niece/nephew” T-shirt for a laugh, but we ended up just keeping the cup.

Ultimately, the fried rice was more of a “haiyaa” than a “fuiyoh.” It’s clear that Uncle Roger is smart enough to be milking his popularity by trying his hand as a restaurateur. For those who haven’t been, it’s a fun, one-time experience for the novelty and a social media post. But for us, considering the price and the quality, it’s not a place we’d be back to.

FUIYOH! IT’S UNCLE ROGER RESTAURANT DETAILS: