T-Bowl Concept Restaurant

Forgotten Food & Drinks · 2008–2015

Published

T-Bowl at Queensbay Mall opened in 2008 as the first outlet of Malaysia’s bathroom-themed restaurant brand. Inside the third-floor dining room, diners sat on toilet bowls at washbasin- or bath-style tables, surrounded by urinals, shower fittings, rubber ducks and bathroom-themed mascots. Some food, drinks and desserts arrived in miniature toilet-, urinal- or bath-shaped crockery. The outlet was renovated in 2012, introduced another menu in January 2013 and later closed, probably in 2015.

History

Inside the third-floor dining room, diners sat on toilet bowls at washbasin- or bath-style tables, surrounded by urinals, shower fittings, rubber ducks and bathroom-themed mascots. Some food, drinks and desserts arrived in miniature toilet-, urinal- or bath-shaped crockery.

History

The outlet was renovated in 2012, introduced another menu in January 2013 and later closed, probably in 2015.

Significance

At T-Bowl, the restaurant itself became part of the entertainment. Sitting on a toilet seat, eating from novelty crockery and photographing the surroundings made an ordinary meal into something visitors could laugh about and share. The Queensbay outlet helped popularise toilet-themed dining in Malaysia through a local restaurant brand that later expanded to other cities. Although toilet-themed dining had already appeared elsewhere in Asia, T-Bowl became a distinctive example of Malaysia's themed restaurant culture.

Queensbay Timeline

- The first T-Bowl opened on 18 February 2008 on Queensbay Mall’s third floor, at units 3F-43/43A/45. - The outlet was renovated in June 2012 and introduced another menu in January 2013. - A retrospective account dates its closure to 2015; a historical listing and the current mall directory confirm that it is closed but do not establish the exact date or reason.

How the Theme Worked

- The renovated interior included toiletries embedded in tables and bathroom-themed mascots. - The menu ranged across Asian and Western dishes, drinks and desserts. - Novelty serving vessels included miniature toilet, urinal and bath shapes.

Documented Expansion

- A second T-Bowl outlet was reported at Sungei Wang Plaza in Kuala Lumpur in 2009. - Sunway REIT recorded T-Bowl among new Sunway Pyramid tenants during the quarter ending 30 September 2010. - Later records document branches in Johor Bahru and Melaka. - The documented closure applies to the Queensbay outlet and does not establish a chain-wide closure date.

Key facts

**Region:** Malaysia **Associated With:** T-Bowl - Malaysian restaurant brand **Defining Feature:** Bathroom-themed dining with toilet-bowl seats and novelty crockery **Status:** Closed - probably in 2015

Region

Malaysia

Associated With

T-Bowl - Malaysian restaurant brand

Defining Feature

Bathroom-themed dining with toilet-bowl seats and novelty crockery

Status

Closed - probably in 2015

Primary Records

- **Queensbay Mall Directory** - **Sunway REIT — First Quarter FY2011 Report (30 September 2010), p. 9**

Image Sources

- **Image 1** - **Image 2** - **Image 3**

Rights Notice

Images are included for historical and archival reference. Rights holders may contact Forgotten Archive through the publishing account to request a credit correction or removal.

Gallery

Mall-facing restaurant entrance with an illuminated T-Bowl logo, illustrated window panels, white toilet-shaped seats, glass tables and a reception counter. A Now Eating watermark appears at upper right, with Queensbay Mall location text and coordinates along the bottom.
Source
Credit

www.noweating.com

Licence

Historical Ephemera

Displayed for commentary, criticism, research and historical documentation where permitted by applicable law. No permission for reuse is granted.

Caption

T-Bowl’s Queensbay storefront reveals toilet seats and glass dining tables, January 2013.

White ceramic toilet seats with red cushions beside a glass-topped dining table.
Source
Credit

www.noweating.com

Licence

Historical Ephemera

Displayed for commentary, criticism, research and historical documentation where permitted by applicable law. No permission for reuse is granted.

Caption

White ceramic toilet seats with red cushions beside a glass-topped dining table.

T-Bowl menu and plush mascots from the renovated Queensbay presentation, January 2013.
Source
Credit

Photographer uncredited; published by Now Eating.

Licence

Historical Ephemera

Displayed for commentary, criticism, research and historical documentation where permitted by applicable law. No permission for reuse is granted.

Caption

T-Bowl menu and plush mascots from the renovated Queensbay presentation, January 2013.