Admittedly, Ruyi & Lyn is not the cheapest restaurant around. But for those looking for a new culinary experience and memories that will be cherished for a long time, then you don’t need to look any further. The restaurant presents more than just Instagram-worthy dishes. Each of them is a delectable play of Asian flavors.

Ruyi’s Sushi @ RM43 is the most iconic dish here and it probably single-handedly propelled the restaurant into the spotlight. I’d say it’s a must order for any first-timers, not just for its novelty value, but also for the chef’s originality, creativity and skill.

Meticulous presentation aside, each morsel is prepared in perfect bite size portions with authentic tastes of the dishes they represent. The nasi lemak, Hainanese chicken rice and mango sticky rice all taste exactly like how you’d expect but in the form of sushi. I liked the Hainanese chicken rice sushi the best as it managed to capture the essence of the dish beautifully.

Taizi’s Dish @ RM98 was highly recommended by the captain and it was spot on. It might not be obvious but it is actually a combination of two distinct ingredients: pan seared foie gras and caramelized watermelon.
What really made this dish shine is the multiple layers of texture that make every bite a treat. The foie gras was perfectly cooked too. It had a slightly crusty exterior, creating an almost glaze like glisten yet the inside was decadent with a buttery richness. Just delicious.

Does this look familiar to you? If yes, then you must have had a Squirrel Fish before. Here, it’s called Champagne Snow Fish Flower (RM148) and since only boneless fillets are used, you and your kids can enjoy it with a peace of mind.
The way of eating it is quite fun too, as it feels almost like having fish-flavored French Fries. That being said, the accompanying Moet champagne sauce is brilliant and really brings out the subtle flavor of the cod.

For something that’s kinder to the wallet, you could opt for their new lunch menu offerings which include Dim Joy (alternative Dim Sum) and casual mains.
Among the dozens of choices, the H H Wagyu Burger @ RM58 caught my eye the most because the price is actually quite attractive with everything considered. And instead of a bun, the burger features cheese baked rice patties that are obviously Korean-inspired.

The wagyu patty is seriously huge and filled with foie gras sauce in the center – talk about luxury! If you like your burger to be extremely juicy and tender, you won’t go wrong with this one. My only gripe was that the patty was a tad salty.

Captivating food is only part of the reason to drop by Ruyi & Lyn. The venue alone is worth checking out and you will feel like a star walking into the restaurant down a spot lit runway.
If you are planning for a special celebration or occasion soon, this is one of the places to consider. I am sure the room will be filled with oohs and aahs as the meal goes on. Lastly, do note that Ruyi & Lyn is a pork-free establishment.

RUYI & LYN

4th floor, Bangsar Shopping Centre,
59100 KL
Tel: 03-2083 0288
Business hours: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 2am daily

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Instead of playing it safe and replicating other cafes’ success, Thirdwave cafe at Nexus, Bangsar South is willing to experiment with new recipes that translate into unique and creative dishes. The menu is extensively diverse so you ought to find something you like.

A dozen of new dishes were introduced recently, and all of them look interesting and equally tempting. One of them is Jackie’s Bao @ RM23 in which its name is a play on the ingredient that sets it apart – jackfruit.

I thought it was a bold move that paid off, as their flavors compliment each other in harmony. The jackfruit taste is subtle but present which I think it’s the reason why this dish works. I highly recommend it unless you have a disdain for jackfruit.

The Duck, Waffle & Ice Cream @ RM35 might be too edgy for some but if you appreciate a good duck confit then you should seriously give this a try.
The meat is cooked nicely and it has a refined and shredded texture when you cut into it. As for the waffle and ice cream, I think they are alright. Personally I’d love for the ice cream to have a stronger bacon flavor as not to be overpowered by the duck’s saltiness.

If you don’t fancy duck but still want to have something with the waffle, you could opt for their Guilty Pleasure @ RM27. It’s also one of the best selling item here.
The unassuming looking chicken thigh was actually sous vided, so the flesh inside is not under-cooked nor overcooked and still remains juicy. Not to mention the skin is flaky and crispy too. As for the waffle, it’s served with a dollop of slightly spicy maple peanut butter spread. It was quite special.

For something hearty and delicious to share you won’t go wrong with the Love in Provence @ RM26. It’s a tomato-based seafood stew that encompasses a selection of fresh and perfectly cooked seafood like prawns, seabass, squid and blue mussel. Since the portion is large, it’s value for money.

Dessert wise you’d be spoilt for choice considering Thirdwave has its own in-house dessert team. Besides the usual slice cakes, you can also indulge in some of the prettiest looking treats and ice creams in town. We decided to try their homemade ice cream sandwich platter @ RM32, in which four flavors are served in smaller size.

Among all, we liked the Dark Chocolate & Rose and Pandan Kaya the most and should be on top of your list to try. That being said, if you are not in the mood for ice cream, do check out their Romeo & Juliet (Google it) – the presentation alone is reason enough to order them.

Thirdwave serves double espresso by default so you can expect nice and bold tasting coffee here. Price wise it’s standard cafe pricing so no complaints about that.

Lastly, don’t forget to check out Chillin’ 2016 Facebook Contest @ Nexus Bangsar South Campaign on Bangsar South Facebook Page and stand a chance to win RM300 worth of Nexus Gift Vouchers each week! The contest runs from 7 June 2016 to 1 July 2016.

Thirdwave Cafe

Unit 1.11, Nexus, Bangsar South,
Kampung Kerinchi, 59200 KL
Business hours: Mon – Thur (10am – 10.30pm), Fri – Sat (10am – 12am), Sun (10am – 10.30pm)
Tel: 03-2242 2126

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While most modern food trucks focus on Western dishes, Nyonya Cendol House in Kepong decided to serve traditional local dessert instead – cendol.

What makes the cendol here special is that they also serve it with real fruit toppings like durian, mango, jackfruit and etc. You can still get the original with red beans but that would pretty much defeat the purpose of coming here.

We tried the mango cendol @ RM6 first to gauge how good it was, and we were not a bit disappointed. The cendol ‘worms’ are really fresh, soft and wriggly with a nice pandan fragrance.
If you pay attention to how the cendol is prepared, you will notice the generous amount of coconut milk and gula melaka they put into it. Despite that, it’s not cloying and doesn’t overwhelm your palate. So you can still taste the fruit’s natural sweetness and flavor.

Also, they must have a penchant for selecting good fruits, as the mango was fully ripe, incredibly sweet and juicy.

Happy with what we had, we proceeded to order the durian cendol too. For RM8, you get a chunk of real D24 frozen durian flesh and not those artificial or syrupy ones. Verdict? It was delicious and even better than what we had in Shah Alam.

For those who want to give this unique cendol a try, simply look for Public Bank in Kepong as they are parked right next to it. After that you can walk over to Moossy Mobile Cafe for their coffee made with beans harvested from Chiang Mai highlands. Both trucks are just a stone’s throw away from each other.

Nyonya Cendol House – Traditional Cendol

Next to Public Bank Kepong
Laman Rimbunan, 52100 Kepong, KL
Business hours: 11am – 6pm

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Gyu-Kaku has been one of the yakiniku restaurants I wanted to try ever since they opened in KL. When I learnt that they are having a buffet promotion, I knew it was the best time to finally give it a try.
The buffet is not excessively expensive considering it’s priced at RM75.90++ per pax. However, do note that they impose a time limit of 90 minutes. It may sound short but based on our experience it’s actually more than enough time to let you enjoy the buffet.

If your budget allows, you could opt to top up RM30 to have unlimited Wagyu beef included in the buffet too. Personally, I think it’s worth paying for since it’s Wagyu we’re talking about here.
There are more than 50 dishes included in the ala carte menu and almost half of them are meat and seafood based items. Some cooked dishes such as gyoza, tempura and fried squid are also available but I wouldn’t care too much about them.

One good thing about this buffet is that they are sensible in the amount of meat to serve in your orders. The standard serving for beef seems to be 4 slices, while the vegetables are portioned according to the number of diners present.
Among all, our favorites were the Australian beef tongue and King Harami. The Wagyu beef’s quality was top notch too with nice marbling. If grilled properly without overcooking the center, they are tender and melt in your mouth delicious.

Great meat aside, the seafood is equally enjoyable as well. The shrimp and salmon foil were so good that we had seconds.

Dessert wise, the choices are less since they are limited to the usual ice cream (3 flavors) and pudding. Fortunately, all of them were wonderful especially the milk pudding which I highly recommend.
As far as buffet goes, Gyu-Kaku is definitely doing it right. So to all the meat lovers out there, this is the place to be without having to break the bank.

Gyu-Kaku All You Can Eat Buffet

Block D3-G3-Unit 3, Publika, KL
Tel: 03-6211 5446

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Tao Chinese Cuisine is InterContinental Hotel KL‘s signature restaurant and it has a reputation of serving some of the best pork-free dim sum in town.
What better way to try them out than indulging in their all you can eat dim sum promotion? Priced at RM78 nett per person, the buffet is only available in the weekends and public holidays.
It’s ala carte style so you will be ordering off the dim sum menu which includes selection of various steamed and deep fried dim sum, congee, rice noodle and snacks. In total, there are 49 items to choose from. With that said, I feel the overall quality of the dim sum here is just alright.

Lets start with the better ones first. Steamed Crystal Prawn Dumpling (Har Gao) was probably the best dim sum we had that day at Tao. It was also the only item we bothered to ask for seconds.

Steamed Rice Noodle Roll with Prawns – the prawns were big and succulent but the soy sauce was a tad bland. Fortunately, the dried shrimp chili paste made up for it.

Deep Fried Seafood Dumplings – nicely executed so complaints.

Mini Egg Tarts – warm and oven fresh with a nice buttery fragrance. My only gripe was that the custard filling could be a bit sweeter.

Baked BBQ Chicken Puff Pastry – the crust was rightfully crumbly and melts in your mouth. The BBQ chicken filling was forgettable though.

Crispy Salmon Skin with Salted Egg Yolk – this was delicious and worth trying.

Deep fried Baby Octopus with Spice Salt – flavor was spot on but the octopus lacked the crunch to make it great.

And now for the lacklustre stuff. Steamed Chicken Siew Mai with Mushroom – underseasoned and the texture doesn’t taste like siew mai’s at all. Some may say ‘oh because it’s not prepared with pork’ but I know that some pork free dim sum could still be good.

Steamed Chicken ‘Xiao Long Bao’ – bland to the point of almost being tasteless.

Steamed Boneless Chicken Wings in Black Bean Sauce – it had a foul chicken smell, I took a bite and sent it back.

Steamed Diced Chicken with Mushroom – the chili oil tasted odd with a sourish flavor, maybe they were a bit heavy handed with the vinegar.

Steamed Custard Bun – the custard filling solidified and was not runny as expected, which is a shame considering the custard tasted pretty good.

From what I could see, it seems that Tao has difficulties recreating the taste and texture of dim sum which are supposed to be made with pork. That could explain why the tastier things we had were seafood based.
So if you ask me if the buffet is worth going for, I’d say no. For dim sum buffet, Celestial Court of Sheraton Imperial is still my top recommendation. Thus far, it’s simply unbeatable both in terms of taste and value.

All You Can Eat Dim Sum @ Tao Chinese Cuisine

Valid on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays
From 11:30 am to 2:30pm (till 31 July 2016)
RM78 nett per person, RM40 nett per child (6-10 years old)
InterContinental Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2782 6128

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Half baked (Hanjyuku) cheese tart is the latest fad in town, even the normal bakeries are offering it now to catch up with the trend.
Tokyo Secret in Ikano Power Centre started it all and their business flourished through word-of-mouth publicity. Even I was convinced to give it a try after many of my friends sang praises of it.

The moment you step into the store, you will be greeted with a tempting aroma of freshly baked cheese tarts. The smell alone gives you a good clue to how good the tarts are going to be. You may opt to dine in but there are only a couple of tables available.

Anyway, I am not going to argue with the fact that the cheese tart is delicious, because it is! The cheese filling is luscious like a flowing lava with a nice balance of sweet and tartness. The unassuming looking crust is firm but soft to bite and melts in your mouth – for me it’s perfect.
Price is probably the only drawback of Tokyo Secret’s cheese tart. It costs RM7.90 a piece so it’s certainly not something I’d classify as affordable. Fortunately they don’t impose any minimum purchase quantity so you could opt to buy 1 just for the sake of trying if you want. I hope I am right about that though.
Tokyo Secret’s Hanjyuku Cheese Tarts are also available in 1 Utama Shopping Centre, their 3rd outlet will be opening in Genting Highland’s Sky Avenue soon.

Tokyo Secret Hanjyuku Cheese Tart

G23, IPC Shopping Centre
47800 Petaling Jaya
Business hours: 10am – 10pm

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Ngiu Chap Wong had a humble beginning as a hawker stall in Damansara Perdana. They are well known for their Kota Kinabalu style beef noodles and mixed beef, fondly known as ‘Ngiu Chap’ by the locals. So that’s how their name came about.

The owners take great pride in their MSG-free food and they insist on using only Australian beef in their dishes. Taking those into account, I find the menu reasonably priced, moreover considering it’s Hartamas.

For something savory, it’d be hard to go wrong with the Fried Beef Hor Fun @ RM14. The flavorsome gravy is rich tasting but not gluggy, while the beef are sliced to the right thickness and cooked to tender perfection.

The lady boss highly recommended us to try their pot stickers (5 pcs @ RM5) and it was spot on delicious, value for money too! I am just going to parrot her in recommending the same too.

And of course we didn’t leave without try their signature beef noodle. The Mixed Beef Noodle @ RM12 is topped with handmade beef balls, sliced beef, tendon and tripe by default. Compared to other beef noodles, the soup here looks light but that doesn’t mean it lacked in flavor.

Ngiu Chap Wong also offers a range of non-beef related dishes, one of them being the Alaskan Cod in premium soy sauce @ RM20. The portion size is unexpectedly large, so it’s best shared by two or more people.
Overall, the fish is understandably inferior to black cod in both taste and texture. But you should know it would have cost triple and maybe even more if it was a black cod of that size.

All in all, the meal was satisfyingly good and I like that their food is unpretentious, just straightforward and prepared with quality in mind. The overall experience was also made more memorable by the friendly and warm service rendered.

Ngiu Chap Wong

Block P-1-3, Plaza Damas
50480, Sri Hartamas
Tel: 012-238 0009
Business hours: 11am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 9.30pm (Closed on Mondays)

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Saisaki is a Japanese buffet restaurant that has lost the plot. I vaguely remember my first visit here about 10 years ago and at that time, it was the top Japanese buffet in KL that people look forward to eating at.
Now, it’s a totally different story. My company held a team lunch here recently and although I came with zero expectations, the food still managed to disappoint.

Among the dozens of horrible things I tried before giving up, these were the ones I found to be edible: salmon sashimi, soft shell crab tempura, teppanyaki, fruits and ice cream. The rest of the sashimi was just not fresh, looked like someone chopped them up in anger and tasted chewy.
As for the cooked dishes, they are either overseasoned to the point of being too sweet or salty. Such a cheap tactic to mask the subpar ingredients used to prepare them. Even the chili crab was deep fried before being cooked in the sauce – it tasted damn weird.
Unagi kabayaki is supposed to be a selling point considering it’s rare in Japanese buffets nowadays. But it was a huge let down for being rubbery and sugary.

Conclusion: if you need a reason to hate Japanese food, just come to Saisaki for a meal. One thing they definitely got it right is calling themselves the Grand Father of Japanese Buffets.
Because that’s exactly what they are: old, living on past glory and in need of serious revamps. That said, maybe they are not bothered since they still enjoy a steady stream of walk in customers.

Saisaki Japanese Buffet

Wisma UOA II, Jalan Pinang, 50450 KL

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Sin Hiap Kee looks like any unassuming kopitiam at first, but it’s more than meets the eye. What’s popular here are Indian-style curries interestingly prepared by a Chinese couple. There’s one thing you should consider before eating here though, that is their price is similar, and maybe even higher than the Nasi Kandar chains.

Although the coffee shop starts operating at 7am, the curry dishes are only available from 12pm onwards. Even before that, customers could be seen sitting around just waiting for them to come out of the kitchen.

If you come in a group, you can opt to have your chosen dishes served ala carte style – easier to share among your friends and family. Either that, or you can have it the normal “chap fan” style.

Fish head curry is the signature dish here so it should be on top of your priority list to try. The moment you order it, the lady boss will ask whether you want the cheap or expensive option: mackerel or red snapper. The whole red snapper head costs RM75, it’s way over our lunch budget so we settled for the mackerel slice instead @ RM14.

We enjoyed Chili Lala @ RM9 the most, it’s delicious and the cooking style is quite unique.

The Squid Curry is unexpectedly pricey, in fact more expensive than the fish at RM18 per portion. Fortunately it’s tasty enough to warrant the price tag. Mutton curry (RM9) was the only dish we didn’t fancy. It’s spicy alright but the curry somehow lacks aroma and tasted a little flat.

There are also a couple of fried dishes – chicken, prawn, fish egg and crispy sunny side up.

Overall, I can’t say we didn’t enjoy the food because most of the dishes we had were delicious. But safe to say we won’t be regulars at these prices. Lastly, we had no issue whatsoever with the lady boss who is said to be temperamental. She was friendly to us throughout the meal.

Restoran Sin Hiap Kee

32 Lorong Brunei Selatan
55100 Pudu, Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2148 9557
Business hours: 7am – 7pm, closed on Sundays & Public Holidays

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For a start, A • Toast Breakfast & Juice Bar does not look like it belongs in Pudu at all. Even though they are relatively new, the social media is abuzz with this quaint little cafe thanks to their ever-photogenic toasts and sandwiches.

Looking at A • Toast’s menu, it’s obvious that sandwiches are the bread and butter of their business. Almost everything is made to order for freshness purpose and even the breads are baked fresh daily.
There are four types of bread available: white, wholemeal, black sesame and bamboo charcoal. Each sandwich has its unique pairing of bread and ingredients which are well-thought of by the owner.

The difference between the Regular and Deluxe version of Bamboo Charcoal Toast Sandwich (with scrambled egg & cheese) is that the latter comes with extra chicken floss @ RM9.30.

While the sandwich appears like it’s generously loaded with toppings, the chicken floss is only on the outside; inside there’s barely any of it. That said, we can’t deny that it’s a wicked sandwich. It’s tasty on its own so there’s no need for excessive condiments to perk up the flavor.

The Grilled Chicken Sandwich Open Sandwich @ RM12.90 should be open faced. However since we were taking away (it was near closing time) it was packed like a regular sandwich instead.
After being refrigerated for a few hours it still managed to taste good – though not as savory as the bamboo charcoal’s. The amount of filling was more than satisfactory so the price didn’t bother me.

A • Toast’s pure (without added sugar) and freshly made juices are no doubt delightful. But the same couldn’t be said for their coffee – it’s not terrible, just drinkable. Better top a few bucks and get the juice instead.

A • Toast – Breakfast & Juice Bar

291 Jalan Pudu, 55200 Kuala Lumpur
Business hours: Mon – Fri (6am – 3pm), Sat & Sun (9am – 3pm)
Tel: 013-277 5654

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I hardly step into kopitiam chains anymore. They have become more of a meeting place for business or friends. But I was so impressed by the cendol at Nyonya Cendol Cafe that I had to drop by their sister restaurant in Equine Park. It’s called Seremban Station Hainan Coffee and the premise was occupied by Hailam Kopitiam previously.

First impression: the menu is vast and features close to a hundred dishes to choose from. Besides an extensive selection of local delicacies you will also find a range of Asian, Western and Hainanese cuisine. For first timers, the chef recommended menu might be a better place to start.
The Penang Prawn Mee @ RM8.90 is not bad at all considering it’s pork free. From what we were told, the noodle is cooked to order with their homemade prawn paste mixed with chicken stock. The resulting broth is dark red broth, rich yet smooth with a strong flavor leaning towards spicy.

Aromatic, spicy enough and surprisingly even carried sufficient ‘wok hei’ with it, the Sambal Seafood Fried Rice @ RM12.50 is definitely worth the try. Just add a sunny side up and extra of sambal on the side and it’d be perfect.

The SS Mamak Mee Goreng @ RM9.50 didn’t taste quite as expected but in a good way. I like that they didn’t use the usual yellow mee so it was devoid of any ‘alkaline’ taste. Although tasty, it was a tad greasy than it needed to be – perhaps due to the amount of sauce used.

I can’t help but feel that the Hainanese Chicken Chop @ RM13.90 is a steal. The portion is so large (whole chicken thigh) that you could share it with someone else. Not to mention the chicken was fresh, tender and juicy too. If you want value for money, this is the dish to order.

And of course Nyonya Cendol @ RM4.90 is on the menu. However, it had more gula melaka and less (or not as thick) coconut milk so it tasted a bit different compared to the one we had in Summit USJ. Regardless, the cendol was still awesome and better than any other I have had in KL.

If you happen to be around and looking for a affordable place to have breakfast or supper, do check out their breakfast & supper promotion. A variety of dishes are priced less than RM10, some even less than RM3 eg. nasi lemak, fried mee hoon and Tom Yam Mee Siam. Simply top up RM2 for drinks!

Seremban Station Hainan Coffee

No.1, Jalan Equine 9E,
Taman Equine, 43300 Seri Kembangan
Tel: 03-8959 3131
Business hours: 8.30am – 11.30pm

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**Note: List will be updated periodically**

Here are six tried and tested Char Koay Teow stalls located in KL and PJ to satisfy your fix. For Malays, Char Koay Teow usually means the lightly fried version in gravy, in which the sauce plays a more important role than ‘wok hei’. High quality and fresh ingredients aside, every hawker has their own unique blend of soy sauce that distinguishes their Char Koay Teow from the rest.

SISTERS PLACE Char Koay Teow

Sisters Place Restaurant, Unit D-01-02, Block D, Pacific Place Ara Damansara
Business hours: 9am – 11pm daily. Closed on alternate Mondays

Sisters Place, a kopitiam-like restaurant at Pacific Place in Ara Damansara is your next destination if you are serious about satisfying your craving for Penang Char Koay Teow. As a bonus, the Curry Mee is great too!
Personally, I’d rate the Char Koay Teow here a 8/10, which is already a very high score to give. And just for the record, I am also being extremely nitpicky here. The larger than average portion and generous amount of fresh seafood given in the special version is more than sufficient to justify the price. And lest I forget to mention, Sisters Place is a pork free establishment so there’s no lard used in the noodles.

FRANKIE CHAR KOAY TEOW

Restoran Four Eight (8888), Jalan PJU 8/5C, Bandar Damansara Perdana, Petaling Jaya
Business hours: 10am – 3pm (until finish). Off days not fixed – usually Monday

When asked if he’s the nephew of Ah Leng (the famous Char Koay Teow seller in Penang), Frankie said yes. He’s from Penang too and could speak a number of languages including English. The large CKT here is really large and could be quite filling, so no complaints there.
Looking at the charred but not burnt surface of the noodles you could tell that it had a nice smoky aroma. And even though the taste is different from Ah Leng’s, I think it’s good that his CKT here has its own uniqueness.
The ingredients used by Frankie are also slightly higher in quality and plentiful as noticed in the larger than usual prawns. Aside from being a tad salty, the CKT was absolutely delicious and deep in flavour. In fact, I’d rank this higher than many already well-known Char Koay Teow stalls in PJ.

TOP KITCHEN PENANG CHAR KOAY TEOW

Jalan Burung Bebarau, Taman Bukit Maluri, Kepong
Business Hours: 3:30pm to 9:30 pm. Closed on Sunday.

Top Kitchen is manned by a team of family who hails from Butterworth and they used to operate a restaurant at Bandar Menjalara. However, due to the stress of managing a restaurant, the boss who is also the main cook decided to relocate to Taman Bukit Maluri and operate a hawker stall instead.
The Char Koay Teow here is every bit as good as you’d expect from a good CKT (RM4.50 for small, RM5.50 for big) – fried plate by plate, uses lard, full of ‘wok hei’, spicy, aromatic and comes with fresh, firm prawns.

CHUAN LEE Char Koay Teow

Chuan Lee Restaurant, 5, Jalan Bukit 11/2, Petaling Jaya
Business hours: breakfast and lunch (around 2pm), closed on Wed/Thur once a month

The best quality of the Char Koay Teow at Chuan Lee is its incredible ‘wok hei’. It translates into aroma that you can smell and taste. The skillful heat and wok control the uncle exerts while frying the noodle is apparent.
If the wok gets any hotter, or, if the noodle stays in it any longer, it would have been burnt. FYI, he does not entertain requests for additional toppings except for eggs. A small plate costs RM6 and the serving size is just right.

LAU WAN KUETIAU GORENG

No. 13, Selera Wawasan, Jalan SS3/33, Taman University
Business hours: 5pm – 10pm. Closed every Tuesday

Lau Wan serves pork-free Penang-style Char Koay Teow. Apparently, his char koay teow is so good that it recently won The Star People’s Food Awards for the best Char Koay Teow category. In fact, it beat the runner-up by almost double the votes.
Lau Wan’s style of CKT is pretty much his own and I can’t relate it to any that I have tried before. Since his food is catered to mostly Malays and their tastebuds, you will find that his prawns are unshelled and pre-fried in a garlic bits for the added aroma.

Mie Cord Char Koay Teow

Lot 2995, Kg Sungai Penchala, Jalan Damansara
Business hours: 5pm – 3am. Closed on alternate Sundays

Mie Cord’s Char Koay Teow is slightly on the sweet side with a touch of spiciness – just enough to create some depth in an otherwise rather cloying tasting noodle. For RM5.50, I certainly wouldn’t complain about the reasonable amount of seafood as well, as every mouthful is accompanied by either a cockle or prawn.
Depending on your appetite and budget, there are 3 versions of Char Koay Teow here: normal @ RM4.50, big @ RM5.50 or special @ RM10. If you are wondering, the special version simply comes with extra prawns, cockles and a sunny side up so you are just paying for more toppings.

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Have you noticed there’s always a buzz of activity at the open air hawker centre along Jalan Imbi? It’s right next to the Honda showroom directly opposite Win Heng Seng coffee shop. Well I did every time we drove past that road. Last weekend, we decided to drop by and see what the fuss is about.

Although we reached there way before dinner time, we noticed a queue already forming at one of the few open stalls. Then it hit me that it is actually the famous Nyonya Kuih stall in Imbi. So we were lucky to have arrived early to catch them before the queue got any longer.

The Nyonya Kuih stall is run by a friendly old couple assisted by their son. They sell 6 and only 6 items – yam cake, sago layered cake, kuih talam, kuih lapis, talam kacang merah and red bean soup.
Each slice of Nyonya cake is priced at RM1.10 while a bowl of red bean soup is RM2. Most people take away but you can also enjoy the cakes on the spot; though you should know they only have 2 tables set up.

Also, you should know that the waiting time could stretch. This is due to some customers may take away up to 50 pieces and most of the work is done by the old lady. In our case, it took us 20 minutes to reach our turn despite being 5th in the queue. So, do the math.

But hey I am not complaining because I enjoyed watching them work while waiting. And when we finally sat down with the Nyonya kuih right in front of us, I thought the wait was nothing to be bothered about.

We tried everything they had to offer and man, I gotta say, the kuih was awesome especially the steamed yam cake. It’s so soft and smooth, simply comfort food at its best. Kuih talam was nice as well, it had a really creamy texture with a rich pandan and coconut flavor. We loved all of it.

When I approached the uncle and asked why they only sell 5 trays of Nyonya kuih when they could obviously sell more, I got a cheeky reply. “We start making the kuih from scratch since 6am, if we do any more we are gonna die”. Uhh, let’s hope that stays as a joke for a long, long time to come.

Lastly, do note that they are only open three days a week. Details are as follows.

Imbi Nyonya Kuih 娘惹糕

Next to Honda showroom
193 & 195, Jalan Imbi
Bukit Bintang, 55100 KL
Business hours: 5.30pm till finish (usually within 2-3 hours), open on Wed, Thurs and Saturdays only.

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It’s about time everyone’s favorite appam gets an upgrade. At Hoppers Kuala Lumpur, these traditional pancakes are garnished with various local ingredients for an elevated experience.
Now I did have my share of skepticism before coming here. I thought it’d be a pretentious affair and Hoppers’ appams are only out to attract Instagrammers. Well, I am glad I was wrong.

Since Hoppers’ premise used to be lawyer’s office, the style and setting are emblematic of its past. Expect to see rack lined with law books, table number slipped in a law publication and menu printed on envelopes.

Currently, Hoppers offer 7 types of appam; 4 are sweet while the rest are savoury ones. From what I understand, the menu would change every fortnight. Clever move, as it will definitely help to pull new customers and keep the regulars returning for more.
But I hope the Gula Melaka Hopper (with dessicated coconut poached in coconut milk, RM8) will remain available at all times. The combination is outright simple yet so effective. It’s so damn sedap and that’s all I can say about it.

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At first, I was told they have run out of mangoes. But lady luck was on my side and within 2 minutes of ordering, somehow the kitchen managed to get it. So we gladly switched from the Milo ganache appam to this.
Among the 3 appams we had, this was our second favorite. It has diced mangoes, toasted black sesame, edible flowers and coconut milk. Don’t be liberal with the coconut milk though, as it would make the appam too sweet to enjoy. RM9 per serving.

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The nasi lemak inspired savoury appam @ RM13 would be hard to resist. Hit or miss, it is still a respectable rendition of our beloved national dish.
Personally, I thought the chicken rendang was delicious on its own and everything else was spot on. But when eaten with appam, they didn’t work out together as great as it would seem. Having said that, I would still recommend it because of the uniqueness.

Overall, a must-visit for appam and dessert lovers. I predict they will be a huge success swarmed with tourists and customers soon. So, make your way here as fast as possible before the crowd starts flooding in.

Hoppers Kuala Lumpur

76 Jalan Pudu, 55100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 012-477 6604
Business hours: Tue – Fri (12pm – 9pm), Sat & Sun (11am – 9pm), closed on Mondays

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Streat Thai is one of the busiest restaurants in Jaya One for a good number of reasons. While its pork free menu may not please everyone, it certainly appeals to most diners. Food is affordably priced and not to mention the atmosphere is always lively and vibrant.

Also, they don’t believe in substituting ingredients for the sake of being a pork free establishment. For example, you will definitely not find ‘moo ping’ made with chicken – they’d rather omit it from the menu completely. Bold decision, but an appreciated one.

Streat Thai’s concept is akin to a food court made of individual stalls that specializes in different Thai street food. Each stall is manned by a Thai chef brought in all the way from Thailand to ensure authenticity.

Our absolute favorite that night has got to be their signature Fried Chicken Wings @ RM17.90. The wings have a crunchy crisp skin that locks in an aromatic blend of flavors that’s distinctively Thai.

If you read about the tom yam porridge that went popular in Bangkok recently, you can actually have it here. From what I was told, the chef purposely went back to Thailand to learn the dish so he could bring it to us. Compared to what I have looked up online, this Tom Yum Clear Porridge with Chicken @ RM14.90 looks like a decent rendition.
Flavor wise, only those who have had the real thing in Thailand would be able to judge fairly. Personally, I find it alright mainly because I have never been a fan of porridge. All I can say is that it tastes like a porridge cooked with a tom yam base.

The other tom yam porridge we had fared better though, mainly because it’s cooked with seafood instead of chicken. Tom yam and seafood have always been the best pairing so I am not entirely surprised.
For RM21.90, the Tom Yum Creamy Porridge comes with a generous portion of fresh seafood including sea prawns, a whole squid, salmon slices and minced chicken as well.
If you are feeling creative, you can customize your own porridge by selecting the porridge base, meat, seafood and other toppings. As long as you can afford it, the sky’s the limit!

Back to something more familiar: delicious Tom Yum Noodles @ RM15.90. Although I consider myself to have a high tolerance for spicy food, this is punishingly hot. So before you decide to stir in all the chili paste into the soup, better think again.

Streat Thai’s Braised Beef Noodles @ RM11.90 is a satisfying bowl of beefy goodness. The dark broth is the result of being cooked for more than 10 hours resulting in a naturally deep and rich flavor. I don’t have much to say about the beef balls, but the sliced beef, man those are super tender. Overall, great stuff and worthy of the price.

When it comes to dessert, I can safely say that you won’t go wrong with any of the above: Coconut Ice Cream with Sticky Rice @ RM10.90, Mango with Sticky Rice @ RM9.90 and Red Ruby with Coconut Milk @ RM6.90. The latter two are kind of common, so if you only have capacity for one dessert only, go for the coconut ice cream.

Coconut smoothie @ RM8.90 is wonderful but appearance wise it’s a bit of a let down. We were expecting it to be served in a glass like how it’s shown on the menu.

What we had was only a fraction of their menu items. There are plenty of other ala carte dishes suitable for family-style dining like steamed fish, curries and stir fries. Basically whatever you expect from a normal Thai restaurant, you can expect the same here.

Before we left, I took a look at their lunch menu and it offers great options at hard-to-beat prices. Definitely worth checking if you are working in the area. I can only wish we have a Stret Thai equivalent near my office in Bukit Bintang.

** This was an invited tasting **

Streat Thai

100.G.001, Block D, The School, Jaya One
Jalan Universiti, Seksyen 13, 46200 Petaling Jaya
Tel: 012-907 3581 / 03-7496 1297
Business hours: 11.30am – 10pm

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Chili’s Fajita Fiesta promotion is now on! This limited time only menu features five all new sizzling fajitas, a new appetizer and dessert.
Imagine fresh succulent prawns, juicy rib eye and tender chicken slices on a bed of caramelized red onion rings and garlic tomatoes.

All the fajitas are served with warm flour tortillas and comes with your choice of toppings, served in a boat shaped bowl. For seafood lovers, you won’t go wrong with the Roasted Prawn Fajitas @ RM43.95.
It’s recommended that you pair it with the Rice & Black Bean Boat which includes cilantro rice, black beans and corn salsa topped with crumbled feta cheese.

The fajita arrives steamy, sizzling hot and that creates a real buzz at the table. Presentation wise it was lovely, packed with vibrant ingredients that just screams fresh and make you want to tuck in immediately.
The sea prawns are cooked just right, firm with a snappy bite. There’s also a handful bits of beef chorizo thrown in to add a savory taste and texture to the mix.

This is the Ribeye Fajitas with Queso Fundido @ RM64.95 and it’s as delicious as it looks. The tender sliced ribeye steak is smothered in warm garlic queso fundido (melted cheese), citrus chile sauce, fresh cilantro and roasted jalapeno for that briny kick. Medium is the preferred doneness so try not to settle for anything above that.

For the ribeye fajita, we opted for the Avocado Boat since it’s the only other option. It’s a colorful mix of sliced avocado, pico de gallo (Mexican chopped salad) and beef bacon bits sprinkled with lots of cilantro.

It’s a bit messy, but the fajita is sure tasty and fun to eat. We enjoyed both the prawn and ribeye fajitas and it felt like having a surf and turf if you mix both together. Each bite is just bursting with summer flavor and will make you want to say delicioso!

Chili’s is best visited with friends and family for an intimate gathering. Instead of ordering invidual appetizers, it’s a better idea to get the Triple Dipper @ RM34.20 which combines 3 of your favorites.
We had the Chicken Crispers (tender and moist coated in a golden batter), Wings Over Buffalo (flavorful with a spicy edge) and Spiced Breaded Onion Rings (new and improved with crispy exterior).

If you are hankering for something American then their world-famous burgers will fit the bill. In fact, Chili’s initially started out as a burger joint. So you can rest assured that their classic American burgers are fit for a king. The restaurant manager recommended us his favorite – Mushroom-Swiss Burger @ RM30.75, cooked medium and it did not disappoint at all.

As for dessert, we decided to go for the new Chocolate Bread Pudding @ RM24.95. It’s a good alternative to their famous Molten Lava Cake, as both share most of the great qualities, except that the chocolate bread pudding has a softer texture. It also has a hint of cinnamon which makes it wonderful comforting treat.

And to wash that all down – Watermelon Lemonade @ RM14.95 and Virgin Pomegranate Mojito @ RM14.95. Both are non-alcoholic, refreshing and were quite frankly amazing. They could be a tad sweet but the blend of flavor is just too delicious to pass up.

Chili’s Fajista Fiesta menu is available from 29th August to 23rd October 2016. Chili’s is a Tex-Mex restaurant serving Southwestern-inspired and classic American flavors, with a hint of Mexican. This was an invited tasting at Chili’s, Citta Mall.

Chili’s Citta

G-01 & G-02, Ground Floor
Citta Mall, Jalan PJU 1A/48, 47301 PJ
Business hours: Sun – Thurs (11am – 11pm), Fri & Sat (11am – 12am)
FB: https://www.facebook.com/ChilisMalaysia
IG: https://www.instagram.com/chilismy/

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While I was still working in PJ, me and my office mates would take away HOMI’s chicken curry puffs if we had lunch in SS2. Then, we could enjoy it over a cup of coffee in the pantry for tea break – it’s almost like a routine.

There’s nothing not to like about HOMI’s extra large chicken curry puff. The crispy and flaky pastry encases chunks of intensely flavored chicken curry pieces and potatoes. It might be a little oily but that’s understandable since you can’t really cook a proper curry without oil.

It has been a few years since I last had their curry puff, so I think the price has definitely increased to today’s RM2.50/pc. I also recall it used to have a piece of hard boiled egg making it a filling snack. But seems to me that it has been omitted.

FYI, HOMI has also recently shifted their stall from Hock Seng Two to Restoran WDS recently. Their kiosk in Mid Valley is still operating as usual.

HOMI Chicken Curry Puff

Restoran WDS, Jalan SS 2/6
47300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Business hours: 6.30am – 5.30pm

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Torii has always been a yakitori restaurant equipped with a well-stocked bar emphasizing on Japanese single malt whiskies. Recently, their menu has been expanded to include a succulent range of premium Japanese steaks, along with a full line of sides to accompany the meat.

There are 5 new steaks available, classified into Matsusaka, Kobe Zabuton A5, Kobe Sirloin A4, Kobe Sirloin A3 and Kobe Sirloin F1. Naturally, the higher the number, the higher the grade. Each steak is served in 100gm portion with edible flowers and cooked to medium rare by default.

We started with the Kobe Sirloin A3 @ RM150. Seasoning is kept to a minimum, using salt and pepper only as not to detract from the natural sweetness of the meat. A rich and truffle infused sauce is served separately for dipping.
Some people (me included) might think it’s sacrilegious to put sauce on steak, especially when it’s a highly prized Kobe. But the sauce was really well made and I felt it elevated the steak. So I did half with and half without sauce for the best of both worlds.

The Kobe Sirloin A4 @ RM180 is noticeably more marbled. Slicing through the steak reveals layers of glistening fat permeating the meat. The flavor is amazingly rich with an almost buttery texture. It was simply gratifying.

As for the Kobe Zabuton A5 @ RM250, it’s extremely well marbled, in fact a tad too marbled for my liking because I like a bit of chew. For those who like that melt-in-your-mouth sensation, you definitely won’t be disappointed with this.

Every steak we had was topped with pan-seared foie gras @ RM29. It’s completely optional and you can choose a couple of other sides to go on your steak like truffle or scallop.
For sharing, the recommended items (from top to bottom) are: Heritage Salad @ RM15, Sauteed Spinach @ RM25 and Egg Yolk Croquettes @ RM19.

Even if this was an invited meal, we were genuinely blown away by the steaks at Torii. The bottom line is, if you are looking for an indulgent meaty treat where quality is paramount and price is secondary, then Torii has got to be on your list.
Currently, they are also running a introductory promo where you get a free 100gm Matsusaka steak worth RM310 with purchase of any whisky bottle worth RM1,000. For purchase of any whisky bottle worth RM500, you get a free 100gm Kobe Sirloin A3 worth RM150 instead. This promo will last for a limited time only so grab it while it’s still available.

Torii Batai

Lot 8-6, Jalan Batai, Damansara Heights, 50490 KL
Tel: 03-2011 3798 / 019-203 7093
Business hours: 11.30am – 2.30pm (Weekdays only), 5pm till late daily

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Alpacasso, or Arpakasso are alpaca plushies that were originally prizes of UFO catchers in Japan. If you don’t know what a UFO catcher is, it’s a type of arcade machine which you play by operating a claw crane to catch cuddly toys.

The cuteness of Alpacasso captured the hearts of Japanese and it has become so popular that you can buy them directly online. Now you can find this adorable character at the Alpacasso Cafe in Mid Valley.

Opened only a week ago, Alpacasso Cafe is a pop up cafe serving food and drinks shaped like the character. The menu is schedule to rotate every 3 months – so there’s always new things to try in this charming and quaint cafe.

Every dish is designed to be photographed, so expect to see a flood of posts about Alpacasso Cafe in Instagram and Facebook really soon.
Our favorite has got to be the Fluffy Alpacasso Pancakes @ RM25.80. It was soft and fluffy and the sweetness from the white sauce (with macadamia nuts) was just right. We also enjoyed the fruits which were fresh and juicy, especially the sweet melon.

The Alpacasso Curry Island @ RM26.80 is one of their signature dishes. It’s a Japanese chicken curry served with rice shaped like an Alpacasso’s face and salad.
Our only gripe was the measly amount of chicken meat in the curry, which we felt there could definitely have been more of it. Otherwise, it’s quite delicious and filling too.

The priciest item on the menu is the White Alpacasso Beef Burger @ RM29.80. The dense and compact beef patty is prepared in Japanese style so it’s glazed with teriyaki sauce. Taste wise, it won’t necessarily blow you away but it does the job.

For dessert, the Cotton Candy Alpaccasoda (face and ear are made with edible rice cracker) @ RM24.80 is a must – if you love playing with food.

After pouring the half a cup of soda water through the cotton candy into the glass below, use the straw to fold the rest of the cotton candy into it. The cotton candy will melt away and sweeten up the drink which has a salted lime base. Do note that this requires about 10 to 15 minutes to prepare.

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As for drinks, we had the Alpacasso Latte @ RM14.80 and Garden Fresh Smoothie (fresh spinach, apple, banana blended with orange juice, coconut water and honey) @ RM17.80.

To look for Alpacasso Cafe, simply proceed to AEON’s toy and baby section and you will see it as soon as you enter the store through the North Court entrance. Besides food and drinks, you can also buy Japanese character merchandises like plush toys, stationaries, throw pillows and figurines here.

Alpacasso Cafe

F15 ANISTA 1st Floor, AEON Mid Valley Megamall
Tel: 03-2284 4800
Business hours: 10am – 10pm
Facebook: www.facebook.com/anista.tokyo.my

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Mixed Fruits Ice Kacang 肥妈雪水档 is one of the things that’s uniquely Ipoh. If you have one and only one shot at this dessert in Ipoh, I highly recommend Fei Ma‘s stall in Kampung Simee. It’s quite different compared to those sold by the stalls at the town’s famous ‘tong sui kai’.

Moreover, you don’t need to wait till evening to enjoy this, as Fei Ma is open from noon onwards. What better time to enjoy a bowl of icy cold dessert than a hot afternoon, right?

Fei Ma has been operating her stall outside her house for more than 20 years. They heavily rely on the commercial ice trucks to supply them the ice blocks used in their business.
So if for some reason the ice truck doesn’t come, they will be forced to close early, or not do business at all.

When that happens (which happened to us), fret not because the uncle will ride out of the village on his bike to buy ice. Notice how he’s still using a cleaver to chop the block of ice into smaller chunks to fit into the ice shaver.

Based on my observation, the ice shaver’s blades are extremely sharp because the shaved ice it churns out are really soft and snowy, those melt in your mouth type.

After compacting the shaved ice into shape by hand, Fei Ma starts garnishing each bowl with fruits (fresh, pickled and canned), a myriad of syrups, cendol, peanuts and jelly followed by a bath of sugar water. It’s a time consuming process which you can’t hurry.
Fei Ma is a down to earth and friendly lady and she will answer every question you throw at her. She doesn’t mind sharing the ingredients used for her creations, as she firmly believes that it’s the heart that matters more.

Mango is the last fruit to go on top and they are freshly cut.

Looking at the generous amount of fruits and tedious work that go into a bowl like this, it’s hard to believe that it costs only RM4.80. It might appear simple too, but there’s much more to it than simply arranging fruits on top on a bowl of ice.
The moment you take a sip of the melted ice, you will know it’s truly something special. The combination of flavors from plum, lime and lemon makes this a refreshing treat that you can enjoy guilt-free.
On top of that, the carefully selected fruits are sufficiently ripe and taste great. Among all, the mango has got to be the star, it’s soft and moist throughout and wonderfully sweet and aromatic. Her home pickled papaya slices are awesome too, they give a tangy crunch in every bite.

Besides Mixed Fruits ABC, Fei Ma also sells the normal ice kacang with gula melaka and other drinks prepared using cordials.

FEI MA MIXED FRUITS ABC 肥妈雪水档

224, Lebuh Raya 3, Kampung Simee, Ipoh
Business hours: 1pm – 5pm, closed on Tuesdays and Fridays

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