Hainanese Chicken Rice Balls @ Kedai Kopi Chung Wah, Melaka

I was debating between eating at Chung Wah Hainanese Chicken Rice and Hoe Kee Chicken Rice but during our last visit, we had the latter so this time we decided to go with Chung Wah as the waiting line is usually extremely long and we thought it indicated better food =P

Relatively short line on a working day

Although the shop entrance where the queue is is quite large, for some unknown reason the owner decided to barricade more than half of the entrance with miscellaneous boxes, chairs and stuff. There was only a small space about a person's width for entering and exiting the shop and with the queue starting immediately at the shop entrance, it was really a hassle to make way for exiting guests and more often than not, everyone was just left feeling squashed. They probably blocked half of the entrance to control the crowd but I wonder if they thought about their customers' convenience. Not a very good first impression indeed > . >

Interior

The interior of the shop is quite small comparatively even though it spans two shop lots and coupled with the inefficiency of the staff, hence you see the long queue outside. When it came to our turn, no one told us where to go so we waited around for a bit (we had expected the staff to show us to a table like in Hoe Kee) and suddenly the people behind us started walking towards the empty tables! So we rushed off to nab an empty table...

The staff did not take the order from customers who arrived first (God knows what their logic is) and were extremely unorganised, grouchy and forgetful hmmpf. There was no menu and they did not ask what we wanted, just asked how many persons we had in our group and slouched off.

Chef incessantly chopping chicken

Homemade chilli sauce

Their homemade chilli sauce is quite unique with an unusual colour of creamy orange and red, and it definitely packs a punch.

Chicken rice balls

It seems that the standard order would be 5 rice balls per person but you can ask for extra. The rice balls are smaller than Hoe Kee's but are more moist and hence holds its shape much better. It is also more flavourful (you can taste chicken stock) and did not break apart when I cut it in half so it remained essentially a rice ball and not chicken rice, if you know what I mean.

Steamed chicken

This is the standard portion for 2 pax (not sure if you can order extra as no one seemed to do so - they just ate whatever was given by the staff). The steamed chicken is extremely smooth and firm and has more bite to it (the kind which presumably had lots of exercise when it was still clucking around). However I was not impressed with the three measly pieces of cucumber > . >

There was no soup even on weekdays and the shop did not seem too hygienic to me. No doubt the chicken rice is sufficiently good but I have since concluded that the long line outside the shop is not because of its fame but rather because the staff are inadequate and slow. One visit is more than enough for me and the next time I return to Melaka, I will definitely head to Hoe Kee.

PawPoints: 3 Paws
Pawket: Dough


Kedai Kopi Chung Wah

18 Jalan Hang Jebat
Melaka

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BellyGood @ Sunway Mentari, PJ

I have been to BellyGood several years before when it was operating under a different name and have been wanting to revisit but because it is located at Sunway Mentari, I rarely had an opportunity to do so. However I had been craving for pork schnitzels and once I found out BellyGood does serve it, I wasted no time in dragging JS there d^_^b

         

Two cute piggies

         

Tiger Beer

         

Soup of the Day (RM 9.80)

     
The soup of the day which was mushroom soup came with lots of black pepper - just the way we like it - but may be too overwhelming for some. It has a thin consistency with little salt and therefore tasted quite homemade. The soup came with a slice of crisp buttered garlic bread which was fragrant and well toasted. There were also lots of garlic bits on it.
         

Trio Platter (RM 29.90)

     
This platter consisted of a chorizo sausage, pork belly and pork ribs with a side of coleslaw and mashed potatoes. The meat of the chorizo sausage was very moist but it is not as firm and as grilled as I prefer it to be. The pork ribs, funnily enough, tasted a little bit like Chinese cooking which I guess means that cinnamon and 5 spice was added to the marinade? Not too sure if that's the case but that's what I thought it tasted like. The pork belly was very tender and really good. It also had a hint of Chinese flavour so perhaps that came from the gravy...
       
The coleslaw and mashed potatoes had a homemade taste to it and were very nicely done.
        

Grilled Pork Medallions (RM 25.90)

     
As can be seen from the picture, the pork medallions (probably two combined pieces) were absolutely huge. Its breaded coating which tasted like KFC seasoning was crisp and remained so even with a ladling of thick and creamy mushroom gravy. The meat which was pounded thinly remained moist and it was just absolutely yummy.
   
Overall I would say BellyGood is an absolute steal with its yummy fare and affordable pricing. The owner is really friendly too and loves connecting with his customers. We'll be back! =D
   
   
PawPoints: 4 Paws
Pawket: Tomato
         
       
BellyGood

20 Jalan PJS 8/18
Dataran Mentari
Bandar Sunway
Tel: 03 5630 1699
Daily: 11am - 11pm

Dave's Bistro Bar & Grill @ 1 Utama, PJ

Dave's Bistro Bar Grill is one of the pioneers (to my knowledge) of non-halal eatery in shopping malls and I think this has greatly encouraged a drastic increase in porky establishments popping up across the city <thumbs-up>
  
The food served here is mostly Italian comfort food such as pasta and pizza topped with lots of pork, so it's not surprising that this restaurant is actually part of the Dave's Deli Group which served my first love - Shepherd's Pie...haha...anyway on with the review =)

   

Dave's Bistro Bar Grill

        

Oink :D

     
There are lots of piggy decorative items in the restaurant which further emphasize its specialty...
     

Salad with Pork Belly Shavings

This was yummy with lots of crunchy pork belly shavings and croutons. The ratio of salad leaves to meat was good too (as in high meat ratio...I'm a meat-eater =D). The sauce was also tangy with sufficient flavour to coat the leaves.

Bacon and Mushroom Bruschetta

Toasted baguette with bacon, mushrooms and tomatoes piled on top...always a fail-safe combination =P

Ham Pizza

This Ham Pizza is a must-try according to my friend. The dough is fluffy and very crispy, the cheese base is absolutely cheesy with succulent ham and juicy pineapples. Very yummy indeed =)

Close-up of the Ham Pizza

See the abundance of ham and pineapples? =D

Spaghetti Bolognaise with Smoked Pork Sausage and Peppers

The tomato sauce was rich and gave a robust flavour to the al dente spaghetti, juicy pork sausages and red capsicum. It is quite a large portion (I couldn't even finish it even though my favourite is pasta) so small eaters had better share it =P

Overall, Dave's serves good food albeit a little pricey but I would definitely return to sample new dishes and for the usual favourites. And most importantly, it's a porky place =D Think they still have the lunch / teatime promo at 50% for pastas so do take advantage of the offer.

PawPoints: 4 Paws

Pawket: Tomato

Dave's Bistro Bar & Grill
Lot G209, Ground Floor
The Promenade
One Utama Shopping Centre
Tel: 03 7725 4017
Daily: 10am - 10pm

KHAO by Rama V Fine Thai Cuisine @ Setia City Mall, Shah Alam

Good news for all you Thai food lovers out there! Were you drooling over my post on Rama V yet lamenting its high price tag? No worries now as they have two sister restaurants that offer slightly more affordable Thai fare of superb quality d^_^b  One of them is Fa-Ying at Paradigm Mall and the other is Khao at Setia City Mall.

      

         

Khao

         

Kai Hor Bai Toey + Gaeng Deang Ta-Lay (RM 26.90)

   
This set comes with appetizers, tom yum soup, red curry seafood, pandan chicken, a fried egg and fruits. As you can see the portion is really big and is so totally worth it.
   
The rice is mixed with red husked grains and topped with a sunny side up egg although that can be overcooked sometimes.
   
The appetizers given were fried spring roll, deep fried prawn fishcake and young mango salad. Both the spring roll and prawn fishcake were absolutely crispy, in particular the fishcake. However, all appetizers were average and nothing special.

       

Red Curry Seafood

     
The Red Curry Seafood tasted really good and the chefs did not skimp on the seafood. As you can see from the picture below, there are prawns, squid, fish and mussels and lots of vegetables too. This dish alone would fill you right up and warm your tummy on a rainy day. The creamy curry was thick and fragrant with coconut milk but it was not super spicy.

        

See the generous amount of seafood?

          

Cool flame

     
I like how the flame burns bright blue from the oil contained in a ceramic soup spoon.
       

Pandan Chicken

   
The Pandan Chicken was extremely good, very moist and tender and fragrant - see our review of Rama V for more raves on the Pandan Chicken =D

       

Chicken Tom Yum

     
I wanted the clear tom yum but they only offered Chicken Tom Yum for the set. The fiery red soup was sour and spicy and hit all the right notes and the chefs were also generous with chicken pieces and oyster mushrooms.

       

Gaeng Kaew Wan Kai + Pra Dang Sam Ros (RM 24.90)

   
This set came with the same appetizers, tom yum and fruits but the main dishes were green curry chicken and red snapper fillet.

       

Green Curry Chicken

   
I like the green curry here as it does not have the overpowering smell I dislike (only one other restaurant serves it like that which is Chakri Palace). It also had plenty of chicken and vegetables and the gravy is just to die for =P

      

Red Snapper Fillet

   
The Red Snapper Fillet totally did not disappoint (see the generous portion? ^_^) and was cooked to the same level of perfection as Rama V - read our raves here. This still remains my favourite dish of all and I highly recommend you try it =)
   
All in all, if you want a quality meal to the standard of Rama V but don't wish to pay an exorbitant price, hurry to KHAO instead and enjoy their awesome set meals!!! This sister restaurant definitely doesn't stinge on quality or quantity. I'd love to return even though Setia City Mall is miles away. To the genius owners of Rama V, please set up another branch at MidValley or 1 Utama ^_^
   
 
     

PawPoints: 5 Paws
Pawket: Tomato
        
http://khao.com.my/
          
        
KHAO by Rama V

LG21, Setia City Mall
Tel: 03 3358 3159
Daily: 10am - 10pm

Lucky Chicken Rice @ Pasar Besar Seremban, Seremban

Not being in the mood for the famous beef noodles, I opted for my perennial favourite - chicken rice - instead. After all, how wrong can one go with chicken rice, right?

Stall

Good thing there were still chicken and pork left after the morning market crowd.

Chicken and Siu Yuk Rice (RM 5)

I had my go-to order which is chicken and siu yuk - in this case, steamed chicken as they do not serve roasted chicken.

Chicken and Siu Yuk Combo

• Oiled rice was average. Soup was forgettable.
• Chilli sauce was quite good with enough kick to it.
• Steamed chicken was slightly dry but the ginger and soy sauce made it much tastier.
• Siu yuk was average with a mix of soggy and crispy skin.

Overall not too bad but I guess there are plenty of other choices at the market.


PawPoints: 2 Paws
Pawket: Dough


Lucky Chicken Rice

Stall 751, Pasar Besar Seremban

J Tean Kitchen @ SStwo Mall, PJ

J Tean Kitchen serves some unique Chinese fusion dishes and its signature dish is its fusion Dry Bak-Kut-Teh and Porky Pie. It's located in the totally deserted SStwo Mall although its plus point would be ample parking.

The J-Ribs (RM 38.90)

The ribs are quite huge and really quite good. The well marinated meat is super tender and falls off the bones so effortlessly. This is apparently due to pre-stewing the meat prior to baking it. It is served with a small portion of coleslaw and potato wedges as well as char siu sauce. Both the coleslaw and potato wedges were really good and comparable to Western restaurants. The char siu sauce tasted good too but the meat itself has plenty of flavour so I left most of the sauce in its container.

Complimentary dessert

Complimentary desserts are always welcome and the one served at J Tean that day happened to be a refreshing chrysanthemum tea jelly. Definitely no complaints there =D

Nice meal but quite pricey for a dish even though it's ribs. I love the chairs and tables there but it really is a shame about its location. I'm sure there would be more patrons if only it was located somewhere more popular.



PawPoints: 3 Paws
Pawket: Olive


J Tean Kitchen

Lot G-58, Ground Floor
SStwo Mall
Tel: 03 7954 0819
Daily: 10am - 10pm

En Ginza Cafe @ Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur

En Ginza Cafe is a bakery cum cafe on Pavilion's Tokyo Street. Their breads and pastries look super yummy but we've always had other yummier stuff to eat when we visit Pavilion. We did manage to snack there one afternoon so here's a short review on En Ginza Cafe =)

        

          

Green Tea Latte

   
Love the design and it was pretty milky too!

      

Pumpkin Soup

   
The pumpkin soup was really thick, creamy and comforting. The bread was thick and yummy with the soup but there was just too much bread. I didn't like how the insides of the bread bowl got all soggy with the soup but I guess that's to be expected. Also, there was not enough soup to really savour the bread with but I wouldn't mind ordering it again =)

       

Overall not a bad first visit...would love to try out their other stuff.

     

    

    

PawPoints: 3 Paws

Pawket: Dough

 
   
En Ginza Cafe

P6.24.1A Tokyo Street
Level 6 Pavilion
Tel: 03 2148 0369
Daily: 10am - 10pm

Moon Palace Revisit @ Bandar Puteri Puchong

Moon Palace Restaurant in Puchong is consistently the top weekly post on our blog...are there really so many unique visitors searching for Moon Palace or is their management so free to continuously click on the link? =P Either case, we both found the food at Moon Palace really good at a cheaper price than other restaurants so we returned for another meal. A few of our friends did tell us though that they did not enjoy the food there so perhaps it depends on your luck.
   
One of our visits was during Chinese New Year where we had the set meal for RM 368++.

      

Yee Sang

   
The Yee Sang is really fresh and they were very generous with the amount of raw salmon. There was no greasiness to the ingredients or slightly stale smell that is sometimes present in the Yee Sang served at other places. All in all, a yummy and refreshing dish with just the right amount of oil and honey.

     

Seafood and Crabmeat Soup

   
The thick soup had tons of seafood which made the price of the set menu more than worth it. The portion was quite big too for us to have seconds.

      

Butter Prawns

   
Even though it was a Chinese New Year set menu, the dishes were not prepared in advance. This Butter Prawns dish was deep fried moments before it was served and the prawns were extremely hot. The prawns were really fresh and tasted sweet and the deep-fried shreds of batter were extremely crunchy and flavourful due to the addition of curry leaves. Too bad the quantity of prawns was quite little =(

       

Tong Po Meat

   
I was never a big fan of these sort of braised meat but this was quite good - super tender fatty meat well flavoured by the dark caramelised gravy. Steamed buns were also included for us to mop up the sauce.

     

Blanched Bok Choy in Herbal Soup

   
The vegetable dish was very light on the tastebuds and I like the addition of wolfberries in the gravy / soup as it lent its sweetness to the dish.

     

Steamed Fish in Soy Sauce with Ginger and Wood Ear Fungus

   
Very fresh, firm fish. The inclusion of wood ear fungus was unique but I much prefer parsley instead =P The soy sauce based sauce was a little oily though.

     

Glutinous Rice with Chinese Preserved Sausage

   
Perfectly steamed glutinous rice with lots of preserved Chinese sausages and liver. Yummy but I wonder why they served it in such a big dish.

     

Mini Longevity Buns

   
Soft mini buns with warm lotus paste filling - what more can I say about buns?

    

Iced Sea Coconut and Longan 

   
Sweet syrupy dessert with lots of bouncy longans and sea coconut. I like that there are bits of ice in the dessert which makes it so satisfyingly chilled.
 
No matter what others say, I still think Moon Palace is really good and will definitely return for special occasions.
 
 
PawPoints: 4 Paws
Pawket: Cheese
         
       
Moon Palace Restaurant
1st Floor, Tower 2 @PFCC
Bandar Puteri Puchong
Tel: 03 8063 8122
Daily: 11am - 11pm

Coffee Chemistry @ First Subang Mall, Subang Jaya

Coffee Chemistry is located in First Subang Mall, a relatively dead shopping mall from what I remember...not sure if much has changed since then. The cafe, on the other hand, is quite a cosy little place with a pleasant owner and modern looking decor. 

       

          

Cappuccino

        

Warm and Iced Water

   
Nothing special about this but why the difference in size? 

      

Classic Roasted Lamb Shoulder (RM 26.90)

   
The roasted lamb shoulder with mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables drenched in black pepper sauce sure looks good but JS thought the lamb a bit chewy and would have preferred more vegetables instead.

       

Grilled Salmon Steak (RM 26.90)

   
Did not try the grilled salmon so no comment. It does look appetizing though with lots of freshly steamed vegetables and aromatic butter lemon sauce.

       

Seafood Pasta (RM 21.90)

   
I'm so predictable huh? Of course the Seafood Pasta is mine =P I didn't expect the dish to come with so much seafood considering the price but it did with double of everything - mussel, squid and prawns. Seafood was quite fresh and the cream sauce was not cloying at all. I liked it so much that I polished off everything even though I was actually really full even before I started eating.

      

Brownies & Ice-Cream (RM 9.50)

     
The brownie was really good and chocolatey and yet surprisingly cheap. A generous scoop of vanilla ice-cream was provided as well including a drizzle of chocolate sauce. Really the perfect dessert to end a meal d^_^b
   
I came to Coffee Chemistry not expecting much but it certainly surpassed my expectations with its good food and cheap price. I'd definitely return if only it weren't located at First Subang Mall cause there's nothing else to do there...
   
   
PawPoints: 3 Paws
Pawket: Tomato
          
Coffee Chemistry
G22 - G23, Ground Floor
First Subang Mall
Tel: 03 5612 2299
Daily: 10am - 10.30pm