SEMENYIH, May 10 -- It's hard to guess what weather we'd experience on any given day, even with constantly updated forecasts. One minute it's dark and stormy; the next it's super sunny and as hot as the Sahara.

When it leans towards the latter, we relish a chilled main dish to cool off with. This, surprisingly, isn't all that common even with our equatorial climate.

Which is why the Hiyashi Chuka at Rakuki Coffee in Semenyih is such a lifesaver, a boon for our parched throats and dulled palates alike.

Rakuki's Hiyashi Chuka doesn't veer far from the Japanese original: cold noodles that are topped with thinly sliced cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes and chicken ham as well as ribbons of omelette. A small jug of homemade dressing arrives alon...