JOHOR BAHRU, May 16 -- Stepping into Kira Dining, nestled in an unexpected corner of Johor Bahru - a car service centre, no less! - you are immediately struck by a sense of anticipation.

There's a deliberate playfulness to the space, shifting from wrenches to whisks, hinting at the culinary surprises that await.

For Chef Jacob Goy Ye Han, 31, this unconventional setting is part of the restaurant's charm. He says, "One of our biggest challenges is also what makes us unique: our location. What might initially seem unusual has become one of our strongest talking points, creating a dining atmosphere that surprises guests and sets us apart from typical restaurants."

Chef Jacob's journey to Kira Dining began in Bangkok, at Le Cordon Bleu Dus...