AirAsia Opens a Restaurant Serving Airplane Meals in Kuala Lumpur

For many, airplane meals are known for being bland. However, AirAsia is confident that their in-flight dishes are so delicious you'll want to fly just to taste them – and they believe you'll also enjoy them just as much when you're on the ground.

On December 2, AirAsia launched Santan, a Kuala Lumpur restaurant offering the same menu served on their flights.

Santan, meaning coconut milk in Malay, is a key ingredient in many traditional Malaysian recipes.

Both on the plane and at the restaurant, you can enjoy iconic Malaysian dishes like nasi lemak, satay skewers, and beef rendang, along with regional favorites such as Chinese-Malaysian style chicken rice, Filipino chicken inasal, and Vietnamese pho.

AirAsia operates out of the low-cost terminal at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL).

The menu selections were crafted to showcase the airline’s routes, with ingredients like coffee, tea, spices, and produce sourced from across Southeast Asia.

A team of five chefs, along with a group of culinary students, were tasked with creating the restaurant's menu.

Unlike the limited menu available on flights, Santan's in-house offering is far more extensive, thanks to the lack of space restrictions found on airplanes.

Catherine Goh, Santan's general manager, expressed pride in expanding their in-flight offerings to new markets and supporting local and Southeast Asian suppliers while creating job opportunities through affordable franchising, as shared in a press release.

Although based in Kuala Lumpur, AirAsia is planning to take its Santan restaurant concept international, with future locations potentially in China and the United States, according to a representative from the airline.

In the meantime, customers in Kuala Lumpur can either dine at the restaurant in person or order their meals online for delivery.

Santan, Mid Valley City, Lumpur Street, 58000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 4M8G+58