I’ve always had a soft spot for desserts.
If you gave me the choice between another main course or dessert, I’d pick dessert almost every single time. Cakes, donuts, ice cream, cookies, pastries… I love them all.
There was a time when I went through a full-on donut phase. I bought donuts almost every single day. Breakfast? Donut. Afternoon snack? Another donut. I could easily finish an entire box in one day, then buy another the next.
Eventually, I had to tell myself, “Okay… enough.” Not because I’d stopped loving donuts, but because I started noticing that my daily donut habit wasn’t exactly doing my waistline any favours. 😂
These days, donuts are more of an occasional treat than an everyday craving. So when I came across Nareo on Instagram, I couldn’t help but stop scrolling. The donuts looked beautiful, the café had a cosy Korean-inspired vibe, and after going so long without one, it felt like the perfect excuse to treat myself again.
Since I was already in Kuala Lumpur that day looking for a dessert café, Nareo seemed like the perfect place to check out. Before we even arrived, I’d already decided exactly what I was going to order.
The Boston Cream Donut.
It was the whole reason I came to Nareo.
✅ About Nareo
Nareo is an artisan donut café in Taman Paramount, Petaling Jaya, specialising in handcrafted brioche-style donuts. Instead of offering dozens of flavours at once, the café keeps its selection small and carefully curated, focusing on quality over quantity.
Behind Nareo is founder Shih Sheng, who spent seven years honing his craft at Shortstop Coffee & Donuts in Melbourne, one of Australia’s well-known specialty donut cafés. He later brought everything he learned back to Malaysia, creating a café centred around handcrafted brioche donuts made with premium ingredients and thoughtfully developed flavours.
Alongside favourites like Boston Cream and Tiramisu, Nareo also introduces seasonal and limited-time flavours, giving regular customers something new to try throughout the year. The café also serves specialty coffee brewed using beans from Curate Coffee Roasters, alongside matcha and a small selection of sweet treats.
Perfect for a coffee break, an afternoon catch-up with friends, or simply treating yourself to dessert, Nareo offers a cosy space where you can slow down and enjoy the moment.
✅ First Impressions
The first thing I noticed about Nareo was how calm and inviting it felt.
The café isn’t very big, with fewer than ten tables inside, but that actually adds to its charm. Instead of feeling cramped, the space feels cosy and relaxed. Soft lighting, clean interiors, and warm wooden touches give it a simple Korean-inspired look.
Although it’s a relatively small café, it never felt overly busy during our visit. There was no long queue stretching outside, and the atmosphere stayed quiet enough for people to chat, work on their laptops, or simply enjoy their desserts without feeling rushed.
If you do happen to visit during a busier period, there’s also a small waiting area outside with chairs where you can sit comfortably while waiting for a table. I also noticed quite a few people taking photos there before heading in, which makes sense because the café has plenty of photogenic corners.
What left the biggest impression on me, though, wasn’t the café itself.
It was the staff.
The lady at the counter, who was Korean, greeted us with a warm smile and patiently explained each donut flavour on display. Since it was our first time there, we appreciated her recommendations. That friendly conversation instantly made us feel welcome before we’d even taken our first bite.
✅ The Menu & What We Ordered
One thing to keep in mind before visiting Nareo is that they don’t display a huge selection of donuts at any one time.
During our visit, there were about 6 flavours available, which fits the café’s concept of keeping a small, carefully curated menu rather than offering dozens of choices. Besides the donuts, they also serve coffee, matcha, and a few sweet treats like mochi.
Unfortunately, the one donut I’d been looking forward to the most had already sold out. The remaining flavours on display were Mandarin Yuzu, Apple Pie Brûlée, Tiramisu, Matcha, Hazelnut and Cookies & Cream.
I’ll admit… I was a little disappointed because that was the whole reason I wanted to visit in the first place. Thankfully, even with only a handful of flavours left, a few of them still looked too good to pass up.
🍩 What We Ordered
For our little dessert date, we picked:
Apple Pie Brulee Donut
Out of everything we ordered, this was easily my favourite.
Which is funny because I’m not even a big fan of apple pie.
The filling was generous, with soft apple pieces and just the right amount of cinnamon. It tasted warm, comforting, and most importantly, it wasn’t overly sweet. Every flavour complemented the others beautifully without any one ingredient overpowering the rest.
I also loved that it didn’t leave that heavy, sugary feeling afterwards. It was well put together, full of flavour, and honestly… I finished it wishing I’d ordered another one.
If I ever come back to Nareo, this would definitely be my first pick. It’s funny how the donut I almost overlooked ended up becoming the highlight of the afternoon.
Tiramisu Donut
The Tiramisu Donut was… alright.
Not bad at all, but after trying the Apple Pie Donut, it just didn’t leave the same impression.
The filling was smooth and creamy, but I found myself wishing for a stronger coffee flavour to give it more of that classic tiramisu taste. It wasn’t disappointing, but it also wasn’t something I’d go out of my way to order again.
One thing I noticed about both donuts was the brioche dough itself.
It was soft when served, but the texture wasn’t quite what I personally look for in a donut. That’s entirely down to personal preference rather than the quality of the donut itself. If you enjoy a richer, more buttery brioche-style dough, you might appreciate it more than I did.
Dubai Chocolate Mochi
The Dubai Chocolate Mochi ended up becoming another favourite from our order.
This was actually recommended by the staff, and I’m so glad we decided to listen.
The chewy mochi had the familiar texture you’d expect, while the filling was rich, creamy, and packed with chocolate. It wasn’t overly sweet, which I really appreciated, and every bite felt nicely balanced.
At RM9 per box, I thought it was a fun little treat and something I’d happily order again alongside a coffee.
A Glass of Mocha
To go with our desserts, we also ordered a glass of Mocha.
The mocha was smooth and easy to enjoy, with just the right amount of sweetness. The chocolate and coffee flavours were well balanced without either one overpowering the other. It wasn’t the highlight of the afternoon, but it paired beautifully with the donuts and rounded out our little dessert date nicely.
If you’re planning to enjoy your donuts in the café, I’d say it’s a nice drink to order alongside them.
✅ Is Nareo Worth the Price?
Nareo isn’t the kind of place you’d visit if you’re simply looking for the cheapest donut in town.
The donuts are priced a little higher than what you’d find at most chain bakeries, but that’s to be expected from a café that focuses on handcrafted brioche donuts with premium fillings. During our visit, their signature donuts ranged from RM10 to RM13 each, while the Dubai Chocolate Mochi was RM9 per box. Including a cup of mocha, our little dessert date came to RM40.
Personally, I didn’t mind paying a little extra because I came expecting handcrafted donuts rather than a typical grab-and-go bakery experience.
Did every item completely impress me?
Not quite.
For me, the Apple Pie Donut and Dubai Chocolate Mochi easily justified the price, while the Tiramisu Donut was enjoyable but didn’t leave the same impression.
Overall, I thought the pricing was fair for what we ordered. Not every item became a new favourite, but I still left happy that I’d finally experienced Nareo for myself.
📍 Location & Opening Hours
Nareo is located in Taman Paramount, Petaling Jaya, along a row of shop lots that’s easy to find if you’re driving. The café sits in a quieter part of the neighbourhood, making it a pleasant spot to spend an afternoon with coffee and dessert.
Parking is generally available around the surrounding shop lots, although it can get a little busier during weekends and peak café hours. We didn’t have much trouble finding a spot during our visit, but arriving a little earlier is always a good idea if you’re planning to visit on a weekend.
📍 Nareo Donuts
30, Jalan 20/13,
Taman Paramount,
46300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
🕒 Opening Hours
Tuesday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Closed on Mondays
Official website: Nareo Donuts
(Opening hours may change during public holidays, so it’s always worth checking Nareo’s official Instagram before visiting.)
✅ Final Thoughts
I originally came for the Boston Cream Donut, so leaving without trying it was a little disappointing. At the same time, I’m glad it led me to discover the Apple Pie Brûlée Donut, which ended up being my favourite thing we ordered. The Dubai Chocolate Mochi was another pleasant surprise, and together with the warm service and cosy atmosphere, it made the visit a memorable one.
As for the donuts themselves, they didn’t completely win me over. While I enjoyed some flavours more than others, I realised that brioche-style donuts simply aren’t my personal preference. I tend to enjoy a lighter, fluffier texture, so the dough wasn’t quite what I’d expected. That’s entirely down to personal taste rather than the quality of the donuts themselves.
What Nareo does really well is its creativity. The flavours feel thoughtful and different from what you’d normally find at a typical donut shop, which is part of what makes the café stand out.
So, are they worth the hype?
I think that depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re curious about artisan donuts with unique flavours, Nareo is definitely worth trying at least once. For me, though, it didn’t quite live up to the hype I’d seen online.
Would I come back?
I wouldn’t rush back just for the donuts…
But if I finally get the chance to try that Boston Cream Donut, I’d happily give Nareo another visit. After all, custard-filled donuts have always been my favourite, and I’m still hoping it lives up to all the expectations I’ve built up in my head.
Wanderhoney Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Until my next dessert adventure,
Xx, Hani 🌻
