KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 1 -- For 35-year-old bartender Sherwin Delgado, the Kota Raya Complex here means one thing - halo halo.

The colourful shaved ice dessert is the Filipino version of ais kacang, but with jackfruit, ube, flan and sweet beans instead of the usual red beans and corn.

"For me, if you want to try out halo halo, you should really try it at Kota Raya. There's one shop there that sells a really nice and big portion of halo halo for just RM12," Delgado told Malay Mail.

Delgado also swings by every month to grab his favourite snacks - Jack 'n Jill Chippy chips - and to send money home through one of the many remittance outlets in the mall.

He said Kota Raya is often the first place he recommends to new arrivals from the Philipp...