Sunday 20 November 2011

Meng Kee Char Siu @ Glenmarie

The famous char siu from Jalan Alor now has a branch at Glenmarie! Today's post is a tapau (take-away) version but still good nonetheless hehe ^_^
   
Char Siu Rice
  • Rice was fluffy and sufficiently oily - good.
  • Char siu is the fatty and caramelised kind. Very good as it is full of flavour and burnt carmelised bits.
  • The usual chicken rice sort of chilli sauce was good as well.
     
If you like the really caramelised kind, then this is the bomb for you =) Better go early though as it gets quite packed during lunch and on weekends, the char siu runs out especially early.
  
Apart from char siu, this places also serves other roast meats such as roast chicken, Chinese sausages, steamed chicken, innards and wantan mee.
 
PawPoints: 5 Paws
Pawket: Dough
  

Restoran Meng Kee Char Siew
20 Jalan Pekedai U1/36
Hicom Glenmarie Industrial Park
Shah Alam
Tel: 019 379 3629
Mon - Sat: 7.30am - 11am (Wantan Mee), 9am - Out of Stock (Char Siew)

Saturday 19 November 2011

Saffron @ Sri Hartamas, KL

My family have been coming to this quaint little restaurant tucked in the residential neighbourhood of Taman Sri Hartamas for more than a decade now. It is owned by three Punjabi siblings who want to share their mother's delicious home-cooked food with the masses. Usually you'll be able to see one of the owners, Billy Dhillon, manning the restaurant.
  
Menu
  
Meat dishes
   
The menu consists of a few pieces of yellow paper binded together. I didn't take a picture of all the dishes listed in the menu, just a couple of pictures to share what sort of food you can expect at Saffron.
  
Friday and Saturday Specials
  
Complimentary Papadum + Mint Sauce
   
The complimentary papadums go really well with the refreshing mint sauce and is a great appetiser to share.
  
Machi Terivali (RM 12.75)
   
This dish is a spicy fish curry which is great with white rice. It is quite aromatic with lots of herbs and spices in the curry, making it unlike the usual mamak fish curry found everywhere with their signature pungent curry powder smell and taste. I can't remember if there is one or two pieces of fish but the serving is quite small so you might consider ordering an additional serving if you've got a large party.
  
Maharajah Baingen (RM 8.70)
   
This is a yummy eggplant dish stir-fried over high heat in a garam masala sauce. The eggplant fully absorbs the spices and flavour of the sauce with soft, mushy insides and firm, slightly charred skin - the makings of a good eggplant dish.
  
Saag Aloo (RM 9.30)
   
The Saag Aloo consists of chopped spinach and small potato pieces (the potato pieces are hidden in the above picture). It tastes somewhat like a Chinese dish with spices but is good nonetheless.
   
Achari Chicken (RM 13.50)
   
This is one very spicy chicken dish. Served dry without much curry sauce, the chicken pieces pack a punch with the various aromatic spices fully absorbed in the meat. 
  
I have tried all the chicken dishes featured in the menu above and all of them are exceptional - you wouldn't go wrong ordering them. The main thing is to determine which level of spiciness you can take =P
  
2 sets Bhatura (RM 3.50 per portion)
   
This fluffy deep-fried bread is a house specialty and a must-order. Goes even better with the curry than rice.
  
Mutton Briyani (RM 13.50)
    
The Mutton Briyani we ordered is a 'Friday & Saturday Special'. The mutton pieces are extremely tender and the green masala sauce it is cooked in fully permeates the fluffy rice. It comes with pickled vegetables which provide a crunchy and sweetish refreshing contrast to the mutton.
   
PawPoints: 4 Paws
Pawket: Tomato
  
Saffron
5 Jalan Sri Hartamas 7
Taman Sri Hartamas
Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 6201 1375
Mon - Sat: 12pm - 2.30pm, 6.15pm - 10pm

Tuesday 15 November 2011

Persia Restaurant @ Jalan Ampang, KL

Always wanted to try Iranian food so here's our first visit to Persia Restaurant. Didn't look very tempting when we reached cause it looked more like a cafe with mediocre food but this just goes to show that one should never judge a book by its cover =P
  
Shop Front
      
Restaurant Interior
     
Iranian Style Wallpaper
       
Iranian Tea for 2 (RM 6)
   
Tastes like Teh-O Panas =D Okla, not that bad but it's just average. I prefer the Apple Tea from Ahmet's =)
  
Kashk'e Badinjan (RM 8)
     
This is some mashed eggplant dip mixed with fermented whey (similar to sour cream) and a splash of olive oil. Came with some sort of super flat pita bread as a starter. It would probably have tasted a lot better with some salt...
   
Homus (RM 7)
   
Another starter consisting of mashed chickpea spread blended with tahini (sesame paste), olive oil, lemon juice, salt and garlic. The lovely decorative patterns on top of the spread are sprinkled cumin and some Middle Eastern herb named Za'atar. Tasted slightly better than the eggplant dip but don't think I'll order it ever again =.= Some of my friends love it though so I'm the picky one...as usual.
   
Saffron Rice
   
Fluffy basmati rice, it goes extremely well with the kebabs below. We were supposed to mix butter into the rice as is traditional practice but somehow we didn't. I expect it would only be more fragrant when paired with the kebabs.
    
Special Kebab Set (RM 50)
      
T-B: Beef, Chicken, Lamb
   
The kebabs were grilled nice and juicy - the best was the lamb as it was very aromatic. The chicken was good too as it retained sufficient moisture and hence was succulent. The beef was average in comparison to the others.
  
Forgot to take a picture of the bowl of curry sauce but it was a very good accompaniment to the rice and kebabs. It's unlike Indian curry and Malay curry, and the sauce is rather thin in texture as opposed to thick, grainy types but it was really good.
  
This is a good place to start experimenting with Iranian cuisine but according to my Iranian colleagues, there's another restaurant they prefer, also in the heart of KL. Coming up next! =D
  
PawPoints: 4 Paws
Pawket: Tomato

   
Persia Restaurant
The Ampang Walk
G-11 Ground Floor
218 Jalan Ampang
Tel: 2164 4454
Daily: 11am - 11pm

Monday 7 November 2011

Village Park Nasi Lemak @ Damansara Uptown, PJ

Located at Uptown in DU, this place serves one of the best nasi lemak I've tasted. It is impossible to get a parking spot here on weekdays so I would recommend visiting Village Park on weekends instead. Even then, the restaurant is full with a long line of queuing hungry customers.
 
Menu
        
Nasi Lemak Ayam Goreng (RM 8)
   
There are many side dishes to choose from but what makes them famous is the Ayam Goreng Rempah. The chicken is coated with a variety of spices and deep fried to a crisp texture with moist succulent flesh within.
   
My favourite combo is the fried chicken with a side of Ayam Rendang gravy. The sambal is quite good too, a little spicier than most and not sweet (I dislike sweet sambal =.=). The coconut cream infused rice is fluffy and piping hot which adds to the overall aroma of the dish. My only complaint is too little ikan bilis (deep fried anchovies) and the small portion of rice relative to the chicken and sambal =P
  
PawPoints: 5 Paws 
Pawket: Dough
  
Village Park Restaurant
5 Jalan SS21/37
Damansara Utama
Tel: 7710 7860
Mon - Sat: 7am - 8pm
Sun & Public Holidays: 7am - 6pm

Tuesday 1 November 2011

Sin Leong Huat @ Subang Hi-Tech

Located deep in the heart of Kampung Subang (waaaaaaaaaaay down the road from USJ 3A), Sin Leong Huat is a typical Chinese restaurant where one can enjoy cheap and hearty fare served in a jiffy.
  
Stir Fried Four Vegetables in Sambal
    
This is a common dish but I love it so much - brinjal, bitter gourd, long bean and four-angled bean stir-fried in spicy sambal. It goes superbly well with rice.
  
Pork Ribs
   
The Pork Ribs are a must order! I envisioned it to be tough and difficult to scrape the meat off the bones as is typical of ribs but this one came with such tender meat that it was just falling off the bone. The portion was huge with lots of succulent meat with a good balance between lean and fat. The sauce added to the juiciness of the ribs.
  
Butter Prawns (Small - RM 25)
    
Bad choice to order the Butter Prawns as the owner took the opportunity to squeeze us dry. A handful of prawns for RM 25? O.O To their credit, it was yummy with crisp batter and still juicy meat.
  
PawPoints: 3 Paws
Pawket: Onion
  
Restoran Sin Leong Huat
21 - 23 Jalan Nilam 1/2
Subang Hi-Tech
Tel: 5638 8812
Daily: 10am - 3pm, 5.30pm - 10.30pm