KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 9 -- When chef and restaurateur Ameer Alzalek started Leen's, he was selling hummus and traditional Syrian dishes at pop-ups and for home delivery during the pandemic.

A dedicated following formed, and by the end of 2022, Leen's had a brick-and-mortar home in TTDI.

A year later, S.A.J. Bistronomy, its sister restaurant, opened basically next door.

Then, in 2024, Leen's was awarded a Bib Gourmand by the Michelin Guide, a recognition it has held onto since.

After spending a decade in the industry, with stints at hotels in Penang and Langkawi, and at the now-closed Ember, Alzalek has become an established presence in four short years.

Alzalek seems incapable of sitting still and resting on his laurels; he was involved...