The first automated restaurant in KL was introduced in early February and needless to say, hype quickly surrounded it.
And when it comes to highly hyped up eateries, they almost always have a certain level of added pressure to perform beyond expectations.
At the very least, that was the degree of our expectations when we paid GREAT The Healthier Fast Food a visit recently.
Operating by a mobile ordering system, Great promised a pretty straightforward process of placing our orders via the WeChat app. True enough, it was a simple 2-minute process and we did not encounter any glitches or difficulties.
And we received our first round of orders in exactly 6 minutes.
It has to be said though: we visited on a weekday, right after the lunch hour crowd has left. The 6 minute wait time is of course an average waiting period for a moderately quiet day and it would naturally increase during peak hours and weekends.
That being said, considering how the process is automated, we would expect for our meals to be prepared quicker than average—that’s exactly what we got.
A 6 minute wait time is pretty impressive for any restaurant too.
Great is currently equipped with 12 food vaults and we foresee this being a bit of a problem on busier days but the seamless process of retrieving one’s meal as soon as it arrives allows for the 12 vaults to be sufficient as of now.
Great’s WeChat app also allows for customers to hit the Arrive button just before they head to the restaurant so that does away with customers taking up vault space for long periods of time.
As for the meals itself, they are plant-based fast food options.
Unlike traditional fast food options which are typically greasy and generally not quite as “photogenic”, we were pleasantly surprised that Great’s options look as good as it sounds.
The Passion Nestum XXL Burger (RM 26.9), as its name suggests, is one large burger. The burger bun is surprisingly not soggy even with the condiments within and the patty is flavourful without being too floury or oily. A passionfruit dressing is used in the burger and it worked well with the Nestum-coated patty. As for the fries, there was nothing artificial about it, as real potatoes are used.
Though nasi lemak is not fast food per se, it might be deemed one of the less healthier food options in Malaysia. Great’s alternative is the Nasi Lemak Bowl (RM15.9), which is a customisable rice bowl. We opted for millet as our base and honestly did not notice the absence of the coconut milk rice.
As someone who has tried numerous vegetarian nasi lemak options, this one fared pretty high with the addition of heartier ingredients such as the edamame, pumpkin seeds, broccoli and cauliflower. Those who enjoy spicier meals would also like the spicy “sambal” that the nasi lemak comes with. 
The Pizzafries (RM11.9) is an onion and dairy-free option and it has a unique lasagna and pizza-like flavour. Personally, I found it a tad bit too savoury but made with real potatoes, it’s still a healthier option which is in line with Great’s healthier fast food motto.
There’re definitely those who would prefer more indulgent fast food options despite dining here, and the Pizzafries are made for these very folks in mind.
Despite having a strong mushroom flavour, we found the Tempura Mushroom (RM10.9) to be extremely chewy and a little too rubbery for our liking. With the earlier options that we had, this was disappointing as it is too tough to enjoy.
We ended our meal on a sweeter note with Great’s range of “nice creams”. Made with only natural fruits and an assortment of nuts and seeds, they are no doubt healthy but at the same time, do not exactly resemble ice cream other than its texture.
The Very Beary Nice Cream (RM16.9) is made from frozen bananas and berries and the tangy aftertaste is perfect for those who aren’t into sweet desserts. The Great Cocoa Nice Cream (RM15.9) is perhaps the one “nice cream” that tastes like actual ice cream, or rather, gelato. It is chocolate-y with a strong banana flavour to it.
Meanwhile, the Golden Fruity Nice Cream (RM14.9) which comprises of frozen bananas and mangoes taste pretty much like frozen bananas and did not stand out as much as the other “nice creams” we tried.
Like any other restaurant, Great has its hits and misses but its concept isn’t glorified for it did live up to our expectations. It’s a pretty good option for those who are looking for healthier alternatives without sacrificing on flavour. However, with that being said, the concept is still fairly new and foreign to Malaysians and time will tell if it’s something that Malaysians would enjoy in the long run or if it’s a temporary novelty.
Judging from the few curious folks we saw, the concept intrigues both young and older folks. Those who didn’t have the app on their phone were even willing to download it.
That alone sounds promising and is a good sign for Great.
Great The Healthier Fast Food
Hours: 10am-10pm, daily
Address: Lot LG 328, Lower Ground Floor, 1 Utama Shopping Centre
Website: Great The Healthier Fast Food
Tel: 016-682 1752
