"Ipoh's Cendul Abang Kacak is all hype!" says Jessica

"How's your trip to Ipoh?" I ask Jessica. "Any delicious food to recommend?"

"We ate nasi kandar at Yong Suan." Jessica wipes her mouth with her fingers (pix above). "It was good but not great. Then we tried the Cendol Abang Kacak. His chendul is standard fare, nothing fantastic, all hype. For better cendul, go to Cendul Padang Ipoh at Jalan Tun Sambanthan."

I sip my Coke. "What else did you eat?"

"Bean sprouts chicken at Restoran Ong Kee. Cleanliness of this restaurant needs to be improved. They got a C grade for cleanliness." She shows a photo on the screen of her smartphone. "See? Actually, we wanted to go to Lou Wong, located opposite, but it was full, so we went to Ong Kee. The food from Ong Kee is okay. My only complaint is that the area is crawling with jaga kereta boys."

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Bunn Choon now operating in KL Chinatown

With the closure of the Imbi Market, Bunn Choon has shifted to Jalan Balai Polis in Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown. Drat! Its best-selling charcoal egg tart was sold out when I was there. Across the road, Four Points by Sheraton is under construction.  When this hotel is completed, this part of Chinatown will see a mini boom in business.

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On the trail of banana fritters in Klang Valley

(1) Hokkaido Ramen Sakura, Sunway Putra Mall, Kuala Lumpur 

Banana fritter in a Japanese restaurant? Yes, Hokkaido Ramen Sakura, a noodle restaurant, also serves banana katsu. Though not cheap (RM13.70) compared to roadside stuff, it comes with ice cream, caramel drizzle and a sprinkle of grounded nuts.  The banana is not fantastically crispy but the soft silky texture of the green tea ice cream and the crunchy nuts deliver multi mouth-feels in a haze of pleasant sweetness from the caramel syrup. Rating: 5/5

(2) Imbi Kuih Bakul, Jalan Melati, Kuala Lumpur 

This stall is operated by a husband-and-wife team beside Mei Sin Eating Shop. Though it is more famous for its sticky rice cake (kuih bakul goreng), which is sandwiched between two pieces of taro, it also offers banana fritters, sweet potato, yam and sesame balls. According to the fryer, after the bananas are coated with batter and fried for a while, they are lifted out of the boiling oil, coated a second time and re-fried. The result is super-crispy banana fritters.  Rating: 4/5  

(3) The Pisang Cheese, Jalan SS 5A/9, Petaling Jaya 

The Pisang Cheese is located in the Restoran Jamal Mohamed which is synonymous with a famous halal char kwey teow stall.  A yellow sign announces the different flavours of banana fritters available:  cheese, chocolate-cheese, latte-chocolate, salted caramel, cinnamon sugar and coffee caramel.   They are sold in boxes ranging from RM5 to RM7 each. All the flavours bring the humble banana fritter to a new level of taste. Closed on Monday. Rating: 4/5.

(4) Gerai Makanan Goreng, Jalan 21/11B, Petaling Jaya 

Manned by foreign women, this stall is housed in a small hawker centre in SEA Park. Its huge blue sign announces that banana fritter, curry puff, fried bean curd, fried popiah, cucur udang (prawn fritter) and kuih bakul are sold.  Most of the items cost only RM1 per piece. The use of pisang raja, regarded as the king of bananas, delivers a custard-like flavour when my gnashers sink into the banana fritter.  Rating: 3/5

(5)The Gorpis, Persiaran Mahogani, Petaling Jaya 

This stall is a canopy standing in a small field in Kota Damansara. The flavours available are like a laundry list. Here goes: cheese, cheese-chocolate, cheese-strawberry, cheese-white chocolate, cheese-cinnamon, cheese-blueberry, cheese-butterscotch, cheese-caramel, cheese-green tea and el plato. Prices range from RM8 to RM15 per box, and each box contains 8 pieces. I try a box of el plato, which comprises an assortment of flavours. The contrasting flavours almost make my tongue dance a jitterbug! Rating: 5/5   

(6)Wondermama, Avenue K, Kuala Lumpur 

Having outlets in Klang and Bangsar, Wondermama serves Malaysian fare and a sprinkling of international dishes. My “pisang de goreng” comes with ice cream, caramel sauce and marshmallow bits. Coated with sesame seed, the banana fritter is a meh in terms of crispiness. Luckily, the ice cream, which is of vanilla flavour, and the sweet caramel sauce salvage the situation. However, the mushy texture of the marshmallow doesn’t fit in this ensemble. Rating: 3.5/5

(7)SS2 Goreng Pisang, Sunway Putra Mall, Kuala Lumpur 

This is the branch of the noted truck that is parked daily under a tree in SS2, PJ. Fried white radish, fried yam cake, curry puff, spring roll, tapioca ball, mashed banana ball, banana popcorn and prawn fritter are sold together with a host of beverages.  For those who come in a group, they can go for the family set and combo set. I am impressed by the size of the golden-browned banana fritters, and am satisfied by their texture and taste. Rating: 5/5 

(8)Brickfields Pisang Goreng, Jalan Thambipillay, KL (pixs 3493 & 3494)

This park is parked under a tree outside Restoran One Sentral. Don’t be surprised if the hawker’s assistant greets you with sawadee ka when she’s in a good mood. She’s a Thai and together with her employer, they churn out top-notch fried delights like banana fritter, kuih bakul, sesame ball and curry puff. I try the sesame ball and banana fritter. The gooey moist inside of the banana fritter delights my palate. The sesame ball is filled with red beans. Rating: 3.5/5

(9) Pisang Goreng Alpha Angle, Jalan 3/27A, Kuala Lumpur 

This stall is often referred to as Pisang Goreng Alpha Angle because of its location next to a shopping mall. There’s more to banana fritters here. Keropok lekor that bursts with oceanic freshness, crispy fried bean curd and golden orbs of mashed sweet potato attract a steady stream of customers. Simple tables and chairs under shady trees allow customers to eat the snacks piping hot. I attack a box of chocolate pisang goreng. The sweetness appeals to my primal sugar instinct. Rating: 3/5. 

(10) Pisang Goreng SS15, Jalan SS15/3B, Subang Jaya (pix 2354)

Near opposite a KFC restaurant, this stall is operated by an elderly couple. All the usual fried snacks are sold such as banana fritter, fish fritter, mashed banana ball, sweet potato and more. The items are fresh from the wok bubbling with oil, and the banana fritter is the classic crispy exterior and soft-moist inside. The stall operates from 9 am to 6 pm. Rating: 3/5 

/end 

Village Restaurant in Rawang specializes in winter melon soup

One day, while passing Rawang, I stopped at Village Restaurant for lunch. Eating here was a surprising pleasant experience.  This compact restaurant is air-conditioned and its speciality is winter melon soup. The soup tastes pretty savoury and exudes depth of flavour.  The roast duck is also comparable to the best in KL.

Address:
Gerai MPS
Jalan Rawang
Rawang

/end

The Little Nyonya Cuisine at Pavilion-KL serves horrible chicken chop

I ate chicken chop at The Little Nyonya Cuisine in Bukit Bintang's Pavilion recently.  The ratio of chicken to batter was 40:60! Top pix shows the dish when it was served. Bottom pix is the amount of remaining batter after the chicken meat had been consumed. That will be my first and last visit there.

Fatty Loong Ice Kacang one of the best in Kuala Lumpur

At 1:00 pm, I call Fatty Loong’s mobile number, and he answers. “Wai?”

“Are you open for business today?”

“Yes, open until 11pm.”

I’m impressed that despite being busy, he still answers an unknown call.

His ais kacang is one of the best in town as the ingredients are perfectly balanced.

The stall is in a small hawker centre that once used to be famous for roast duck.

Address:

Jalan Kepong Baru/Jalan Antoi 3 junction
Kepong Baru

Kuala Lumpur
Closed on Tuesday

HP: 016-6061566

/end

Restoran The Best Hokkien Mee has either closed or shifted

This signboard says it all. What a pity I didn't get a chance to sample its fare.

/end

Fried durian sold at Jalan Alor in KL

Yesterday, while strolling along Kuala Lumpur's Jalan Alor, I saw this stall selling fried durian, apart from other snacks. It's located outside KK Supermart. I did not try because I prefer the fresh version.

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Villa Ju Bakery Cafe disallows photography so avoid it like the plague if you're a food blogger!

Food bloggers, you think you're doing a favour for Villa Ju Bakery Cafe (sells Korean desserts) in Solaris Mount Mont Kiara by doing a write-up on them? Avoid this spot like the plague as they disallow photography. Please see link below for an account of a writer's unpleasant experience:

http://www.malaysianflavours.com/2015/04/unpleasant-experience-at-villa-ju-bakery-cafe-nabe-bakery-solaris-mont-kiara.html

You might also want to skip out on Pyongyang Restaurant in Ampang, where photography is banned ala mode North Korean iron-fist administration.

http://eatdrinkkl.blogspot.my/2009/06/pyongyang-restaurant.html

From personal experience, I'd advise you to give a wide berth to Sunway Giza Mall like it's a leper colony. This mall does not permit photography!  Several years ago, when I was there, a security guard stopped me from taking photos and said the policy came from the mall's management.  A few years back, when I did a write-up on Fahrenheit 88 for New Straits Times, I had no problems with its security guards. One of them asked me why I was taking photos. When I explained it's for a newspaper write-up, they allowed me to continue my shooting.   Then later, I also did a write-up on Publika, and again no one stopped me from taking pixs.  So, what's so grand or fantastic about Sunway Giza that photography is not allowed?

/end

Attitude of staff and service at Lien Phat Vietnamese Bread House sucks big time but luckily its fare is decent

[Pixs copyright Ewe Paik Leong]

The service rendered by the staff of Lien Phat Vietnamese Bread  sucks big time. In particular, there's one guy and one gal in their early twenties --  wearing sullen expressions as if nursing hidden sorrows -- who swagger around and toss  menus on customers' tables.  I've eaten here twice and have experienced their stinky attitude on both occasions. And don't expect a "thank you" after you've paid your bill. The restaurant's saving grace is its decent food at reasonable prices.  Buy a takeaway baguette if you so fancy but I would not recommend a sit-down meal here.      

Address:
No. 23, Jalan Metro Perdana 7
Taman Usahawan, Kepong
Kuala Lumpur

/end

DC Comics Superheroes Cafe's drinks prices borders on ruthless cut-throat!

The prices of the drinks by themselves are already expensive. To rub salt to injury, they impose a 10% service charge despite being a self-service cafe.  Do you see the small print at the bottom of the menu board above? Pix below shows "SELF-SERVICE" at cash register.

Address:
DC Comics Superheroes
Second Floor
Sunway Putra Mall
Jalan Putra, KL

Must-try nasi kukus from Azul Authentic Nasi Kukus in Prima Selayang

While gallivanting in a new development called Prima Selayang recently, I stumbled upon Azul Authentic Nasi Kukus. As it was time for lunch and parking bays were aplenty, I decided to sample this restaurant's fare. Sitting in the smokingng section at the sidewalk, I ordered nasi kukus and A&W float.

The nasi kukus was served with chicken berempah, cabbage, crackers, a dollop of sambal and slices of cucumber. Gravy was already drizzled over the rice. The rice did not clump together and one bite into the chicken released a burst of full-bodied spicy aroma that was flavourful. Certainly, this is among the best nasi kukus in town. And cheap, too. The A&W float was a refreshing finish to my meal.

When I went to the counter to pay the bill, I met the restaurant's owner, Cik Nor Sa'adah Ghazali (pix above).

"Is your nasi kukus based on Kelantan recipe?"

She flashes a smile. "Yes, I'm from Malek Urai in Kelantan."

"What's your background?"

"I was a quantity surveyor, but I resigned to go into the food business. Our restaurant's still new but later we'll will be serving more lauk to go with the nasi kukus."

No wonder Kelantanese women are well-known for their entrepreneurial spirit. Before I left, she told me that the restaurant will be re-branded Saingkiter from Jan 1, 2016.

Address:
No. 47, Jalan PSB Prima Selayang
Km. 15, Jalan Rawang
68100 Batu Caves
Tel: 019-633 9005
[The restaurant stands opposite UiTM Medical Faculty Selayang Campus.]

Rating: 5/5


/end

Nothing earth-shattering about Ashley’s by Living Food in Bangsar except its price, rants Ah Pit-Poh

Ah Pit-Poh (pix below) and I linger outside Ashley’s in Bangsar to wait for an empty table.

Soon, we're seated in the sidewalk beside a bookshelf. I turn at the waist to look at the books. They're pure junk. A sign says you can take any book as long as you replace it with a book of your own.

A waitress hands us a humongous menu and a smaller one, and we browse the listings.

“Sheesh! So expensive!” Ah Pit-Poh hisses. “I’ll just take a Borneo laksa." She flicks her gaze at me. "Look at the copywriting crap on the menu items! They’re just using flowery words to jazz up the description of the Borneo laksa in an attempt to justify the price of RM33.” Looking up, she points to a paper sign pasted on a glass door (pix below). “Don’t forget the 10% service charge and 6% GST.” Ah Pit-Poh leans back on her chair. “This so-called Borneo laksa is just Sarawak laksa which I can get for around RM5 in a kopitiam!”

“But this is organic food -- supposed to be healthy.”

“Don’t be a gong-kia, Ewe.” Ah Pit-Poh waves a finger. “You aren't going to live longer just because you eat a few meals of organic food, are you?”

A waitress arrives and I order Genmai Lui Cha; Ah Pit-Poh, Borneo laksa.

While waiting, a waitress brings us what she terms “complimentary salads.” Ah Pit-Poh takes a bite and sneers. “What’s the big deal about these complimentary salads (pix below)? This is what I feed my pet guinea pig every morning!”

Our food is served in white bowls that stand about six inches tall!

Ah Pit-Poh looks inside the bowls. “Bloody chibai kia! The bowls are big but the portions are small!" She slurps a spoonful of her Borneo laksa and shakes her head. "I don’t care how healthy organic food is -– it’s not worth it.”

My first chomp on the luicha fails to impress me. The rice and veggie are bland and the soup tastes like burnt rice, which differs from the greeny version I’ve tasted elsewhere. The firm tofu has a slight nutty flavour.

Ah Pit-Poh and I eat silently. I gaze into her eyes which tell me this will be our first and last time here.

/end

KL Food Truck Feast lacks carnival atmosphere

Yesterday, I visited KL Food Truck Feast at Dataran Merdeka for the first time. As I strolled between the two rows of more than a dozen trucks, I could not feel any carnival atmosphere or excitement. Tables and chairs were also insufficient and some people were standing to wait for empty seats. Burgers, spaghettis and pastas were the most popular items sold. I ate a burger from Flaming Wheels and drank a coconut milk shake from Tropics K'lapa Station. Later, as I made my way to my car parked behind Coliseum Cafe amidst drizzle pattering down, I wondered, "Where is the nearest toilet for customers of the food trucks?" Held on the first and third Saturday of every month, this drab event needs buskers, music and gimmicks to hype it up.

/end