Malaysia Food

Location: N03 08.588 E101 41.917 Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur

Getting there: Along Jalan Sultan, just off Chinatown (aka Petaling Street).

Meal: Dinner

Also known as Jalan Sultan Hokkien Mee. This is quite a close contender to Ah Wa which I have tried. A strong contender for The Best Hokkien Mee in Klang Valley in my opinion. Price is a little on the touristy side since it is just off Chinatown. As I sat out in the outdoors along the pavement, lots of tourists are passing by waving their camera around shooting at whatever unusual items they see. However, not many tourist stop for a meal; possibly due to its dirty, greasy outlook.

I recalled the Hokkien Mee tasting better years ago as to when I had it for this round. I remember the fried pork fat being large, crunchy and generous and the gravy being thick and dark. It is still good, just not as good as before. Quality seems to have drop, either that or quantity; or is it price that went up.

Rating:
Food: 8/10
Service: 7/10
Value: 5/10

Remarks: RM20 for a Kung-Fu-Chow, Hokkien Mee and vegetable (no drinks). Claypot Low-Shui-Fun seems to be a popular as well.

Location: N03 08.790 E101 39.800 Damansara, Kuala Lumpur

Getting there: In Pusat Bandar Damansara, just behind KFC.

Meal: Lunch

Traditional Nasi Padang in the middle of a commercial – government complex. Instead of being served, it is self service. The keropok is left on the table, and does not seem popular.

However, the food is good and reasonable, considering its location. The green chilli pickle is very good. Lontong comes in 2 variations, non spicy with nangka and spicy. The beef jerkey is rather nice.

Ratings:
Food: 8/10
Service: 8/10
Value: 9/10

Remarks: Good, value for money nasi  padang in a prime area.

Location: N03 09.201 E101 41.785 Kuala Lumpur, WP

Getting there: Along Batu Road or now known as Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman. Between Sogo and Dataran Merdeka. The place is just beside the Coliseum Cinema. Coliseum Cafe & Hotel, 98-100, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur, Tel +603 26926270

Meal: Dinner

The place used to spot cowboy door in the good old days. These days, it is a full height door to keep cool air in and smog from the road just 5 feet away. The place is a restaurant, bar and hotel, all in one. Décor is spruced up compared to years ago, giving it a fresher look but still old. The electrical wiring on the walls have been cleaned up, fresh coat of paint and dusting of fixtures. However, fixtures, tables, chairs and even table cloth remains old, even with holes. The air is filled with smoked butter from their signature hot plate sizzling meals. It is like stepping in to a time machine just by sitting there; feel like… hymm… going back in time to the early 20th century.

Choices, choices… I was deciding between garlic bread or bread and butter. I had garlic bread and it was quite unique. It is a toast hainanese bread with cheese and garlic flakes. Quite an original presentation I must say; signs of the menu modernizing.

I ordered something which is often ordered in the bar, one of their bar signatures, fried ikan bilis. A simple dish but takes skill to get it just right. This place, with its long legacy behind them, has it just right. Nice crispy ikan bilis and a good blend of chilli, onion and lime.

The tables beside me ordered sizzling dishes… they have to be treated like babies, had to wear bibs or aprons to prevent butter and sauces from splashing on to them. But as a result, the restaurant will get a whiff of their trademark buttery smell. If you are unlucky, and if you do not choose your “feng shui” correctly, on the location you sit while you are being served, you will get the butter and gravy vapour blowing on to your face (they do shut the fan before they server… but there is still wind drift). I had a non sizzling lamb chop. Cost much less than a sizzling but essentially the same thing. I had a lemon juice, freshly squeezed, like the good old days, no flavouring.

Ratings:
Food: 8/10
Service: 8/10
Value: 8/10

Remarks: Waiters know the menu by numbers, tell them the numbers, they have been working there all their life to remember the numbers. Sadly, the non-halal stuff are removed, although they had separate kitchen for non-halal food. Sad to say, no more juicy pork chops. Depending on the popularity of sizzling meals, you may walk out smelling like dinner. You either love the place or hate it, nothing in between.

Location: N03 05.9951 E101 44.4862 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur

Getting there: Taman Yulek in Cheras, opposite Hau Kee Seafood Restaurant.

Meal: Breakfast

The restaurant seems to be the busiest place in the area, aside from the market near by and I thought of giving it a try. As I scanned the tables around and observe the favorite in the area, dim sum and wan tan mee seems to be the hot item.

When seated, there is hardly any service, I was sitting down for over 10 minutes observing the orders of other tables and general activity of the restaurant and got no attention at all, until the dim sum tray came over. Drinks person came when I was about to finish my meals! Dim sum is nothing to shout about; edible and not very presentable workmanship. The lui cha was not very good.

The wan tan mee boast being thought by a Hong Kong master. They seem to be taking the majority of the orders in the restaurant and a long queue for ‘ta pau’. I am not a fan of wan tan mee so I would not know how to rate it. The char siew was very good; it has a nice aroma, rather freshly roasted but rather lean and dry for my liking. Would prefer fattier cuts which is moist and tender. The taste, I would say, is very good; the art of making char siew must be one of the most important skills learned from their Hong Kong master.

Ratings:

Food: 6/10 (overall restaurant, 8/10 for wan tan mee)
Service: 2/10 (drinks and dim sum)
Value: 8/10 (wan tan mee)

Remarks: It seems, Hau Kee Seafood opposite is very popular when the sun sets.

Popular seafood opposite when the sun sets:

Location: N03 08.6666 E101 45.8019 Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, WP

Getting there: Head towards the Ampang Police Station, take a right at the light after that, pass Spectrum and to the end of the road, turn right and it is on the left. The place spots a whole row of yong tau foo shops, even before arriving at this shop.

Meal: Breakfast

Rating: After a long time not having the famous Ampang yong tau foo, I decided to head there to benchmark my taste buds to what seems to be the yong tau foo capital of Malaysia. I head to what seems to be the most popular one, Foong Foong. The place has an air of snob; when I sat down, someone came over and told me that I had to order at the counter, which I obediently obeyed. No choice of yong tau foo, only quantities. Sigh, what a choice. Once ordered, the person you ordered from at the desk will pick up their microphone and read your order over the PA system. When the kitchen is not sure, the kitchen will go on air and ‘announce’ back. It is interesting when there is an argument.

The strange thing is, although the quantity of yong tau foo is ordered at the counter, someone will go over to your table to take orders for drinks. I do not understand the dual system. The outdoor kitchen spots what seems to be an extended family at work, including young people.

In no time, my yong tau foo came. The tau foo (tofu) was very fresh, as though fresh out of the mold and it was very soft. The fillings of all the young tau foo was disappointing, rather plain and starchy. I was expecting meaty filling, especially for the premium they charge. The sauce, sigh, was diluted soya sauce. I then recall a number of places which has better young tau foo.

My benchmark of Ampang yong tau foo was reset to a lower level the moment I walked out; I now know places which have surpassed what was once the pride of Ampang.

Ratings:

Food: 6/10
Service: 4/10
Value: 7/10

Remarks: Not the best yong tau foo in KL. Popular probably because it is legendary “famous”.