KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 26 -- Fresh off a Michelin Selected nod for Terra Dining, Chef Chong Yu Cheng has opened Esca, calling it a "real-life experiment in breaking rules."

"There was always an idea, though not concrete, to have something more free and casual," Chong explains, "where the food doesn't have to be as elaborate and thought out as Terra, where it needs to fit a bigger picture."

He adds that the decision was also pragmatic: "There was also the thought of diversifying income streams, the numbers (volume of diners) in fine dining aren't really there."

Named after the Latin word for 'food', Esca reflects a growing trend of casual offshoots from fine dining establishments.

These spots aim to draw diners in without the pretence or f...