There are a couple of Ramly burger stalls in my housing area but all of them open and close as they wish. I don’t know about you but it’s always frustrating to me when a food stall is never open when it’s supposed to be. Luckily, I found a reliable burger stall in Sri Sinar that’s consistently open for dinner and supper.

E Burger is a family run burger stall and they also serve roti john besides the usual stuff. The husband mans the grill while the wife helps out with the rest.
Sometimes he’d be away to go back home to resupply his stocks of patties and cheese. That doesn’t stop the show though, as she will step in while waiting for him to return.

I don’t usually blog about a random burger stall but I was impressed by their attention to detail. Every burger they make is assembled with care and looks neat.
To further season the burger patties, a spray containing a liquid mixture of special seasoning and a dash of spice are added. The amount of sauces they put is just right to keep the burger moist without creating a slippery mess.

And this is just to show you the layers once you cut into his meticulously prepared burger – even for a street food cart. Pictured above is a daging double special with cheese @ RM6.20.

E Burger Roti / John Cheese Se-Kati

Jalan 15/38d, Taman Sri Sinar, 51200 KL
Business hours: 6pm to 12am daily
Tel: 017-364 7199 / 013-307 3712

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Whenever Hokkien Mee is mentioned, there are a handful of familiar names that usually come up. Some of the more established ones are Kim Lian Kee, Damansara Uptown and Ah Wah.
Having tried the former two, I thought I’d drop by Ah Wah to see how it fares with the others. Since this is reputed to be one of the best in PJ, my expectations was high.

To cut to the chase, the Hokkien Mee was just OK and we weren’t impressed. We also had a plate of beef hor fun and sad to say it was quite terrible.
After asking around the older generation who used to patronize Ah Wah in their younger days, I was told that the original team of cooks have either left or retired. So maybe that’s why the Hokkien Mee did not live up to the reputation.

But of course, the current head cook still retains the signature method of frying the Hokkien Mee in which high heat, made possible by a blower is used to sear the noodles for strong ‘wok hei’.
Despite the big flame and all, the ‘wok hei’ was weak and we felt that the use of charcoal stove with sparks flying is more of a showmanship to impress customers, which I can’t deny is highly entertaining.

All in all, Ah Wah’s Hokkien Mee is now decent at best. I’d still recommend it though, if what you are looking for is purely entertainment value.

Ah Wah Hokkien Mee 亚华福建炒面

Restoran Millennium Eighty Six
Jalan 20/22, Taman Paramount, 46300 Petaling Jaya
Tel: 016-251 2591
Business hours: 6pm – 1am

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Chan Home Recipe is a popular economy rice restaurant among those who work in PJ. The place gets really crowded during lunch hour and hundreds of office workers come to get fed. Besides economy rice, a Chinese nasi lemak stall operates at the side and they seem to coexist without any problem.

If you think it’s crazy for me to drive all the way here from Kepong just to have ‘chap fan’, you are not wrong. I was actually here for the nasi lemak which came highly recommended by a close friend.
In fact, he has been pestering me to try it since early this year. According to him, the fried chicken and ikan bilis would be deliciously worth my time. Well, he’s right.

There’s a set price for the number of dishes you pick, which varies according to the meat and vege options. For example, a plate of rice with one meat and one vege is RM6, while the same for an extra vege is RM7. I did the math and found that a piece of meat (no matter it’s chicken curry or fried chicken) is RM4. It’s reasonable I guess.
If you want to have the luxury of choice, do come early preferably before 1pm before the dishes run out. And if you are coming for the fried chicken, do know that they are freshly fried by batch so you might need to wait. Don’t worry it’s just going to be for a while.

Although it’s marketed as nasi lemak, the rice served is actually nasi kunyit by default. I am not sure if the real nasi lemak prepared with coconut milk is available and I didn’t ask either.
That said, I wasn’t really bothered and went with it since I like nasi kunyit anyway. My plate of rice as pictured above consisting of chicken curry, fried chicken, ikan bilis and cabbage cost a total of RM11.

The moment you tear the fried chicken apart, you know you are in for something special. The thin, crispy skin shatters like glass and melts away in your mouth – no kidding! Seasoning is also kept minimum so you’d be tasting the chicken’s fresh and natural flavor more than anything else.

As for the ikan bilis, it’s kind of sweet and savory so that doesn’t sit really well with me. I still prefer the spicy version.

Seeing that the nasi lemak stall at Chuan Lee has ceased operation, this could be a good alternative considering they are only less than 10 minutes away from each other. Soup and Chinese tea are provided FOC as well.

Chinese Nasi Lemak Stall

Restoran Chan Home Recipe (opposite 99 Speedmart)
Jalan 17/10, Seksyen 17, 46400 PJ
Business hours: 10am – 2pm

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Looks like night time is a better time to drop by Chun Kee to enjoy a bowl of Hakka Mee. The overall experience was a 180 degree change compared to our previous lunch visit. Everything felt different.

To start with, the person cooking the noodle is much friendlier and patient. He is noticeably more courteous towards the customers and doesn’t raise his voice when he is talking to others. More importantly, we didn’t feel like we waited at all since the noodle arrived within minutes.

Maybe because of that, the noodle came out tasting a lot better as well. It wasn’t as clumpy as I remembered and the flavor was simply delicious. I wolfed down the entire bowl in no time flat.
This is the quality that I’ve come to expect from their reputation, and they delivered. So if you need a Hakka Mee fix, come to Chun Kee during their 2nd shift.

Chun Kee Hakka Mee (Tai Bu Mee)

Jalan Sayur, Pudu, 55100 KL
Business hours: 6am – 3pm, 3pm – 10pm, closed on 1st and 15 of the lunar month

The post Chun Kee Hakka Mee @ Pudu – Revisited appeared first on Malaysia Food & Travel Blog.

I just came back from a short trip to Bangkok over the long weekend. Compared to our last trip we took about 3 years ago, this time we spent more time eating in restaurants instead of at street food stalls and food courts. After we checked into our hotel, we headed to Jae Koy for dinner.

If there’s anything you need to know about Jae Koey, it’s that their dishes are fiery hot. Among all the restaurants that we have eaten so far, I’d rate Jae Koy as the spiciest. So if you have a weak tolerance for spicy food, you should probably think again before deciding to eat here.

Anyway, the main reason we picked Jae Koy is none other than its authenticity. Most of the customers who frequent here are locals.
In fact, we were the only tourists at that time and the staff even spoke to us in Thai instinctively. Not to worry, their menu has English titles so even if there’s a language barrier, the good ol’ point and order still works.

Jae Koy is famous for their somtum. They’re proud of it and it shows considering they dedicated an entire page of the menu featuring different types of somtum.
Safe to say, you shouldn’t go home without trying it. We picked the Prawn Somtum (listed as Papaya Salad Prawns) @ ฿90 and as expected, it was the best tasting dish of the night.

The Tom Yum Kung @ ฿100 is the cheapest (for restaurant) we have come across in Bangkok so far. The flavor will definitely not disappoint by Malaysian standards and you can’t really complain for the price.
However, I should also mention that this was the weakest tasting Tom Yum we had in the entire trip. To be clear, that’s not a complaint, just that there are other better Tom Yum in the city if you care to look for it.

You should also make it a point to try the cockles in Thailand – at least once, no matter at which food stall or restaurant. There’s no shortage of this shellfish here and as you can see, they are much larger than what you get back home.
The freshest cockles are briefly boiled, served bloodily juicy with a spicy (really spicy!) dip. A portion cost only ฿80, worth trying – as long as you don’t feel squeamish at the sight of bloody, half-cooked cockles.

In hindsight, I wouldn’t have ordered the Grilled River Prawns @ ฿220. Why? Because we went to a BBQ buffet the next day and had unlimited servings of it – superbly fresh too!
That being said, the grilled prawns were still great although not as satisfying as what we had at T&K Seafood.

Overall, the restaurant feels clean and it’s suitable for those looking for a good and reasonably priced meal. Jae Koy is open way past midnight so you can drop by for late dinner or supper after shopping at the night markets.

Getting here is also not an issue, as the nearest BTS Station (Ratchathewi) is only 350m away, 5 minutes max on foot.

Jae Koy Restaurant

362/2-3, Phetchaburi Road, Rajthevee, Bangkok
Tel: 08-1818-3625
Business hours: 5pm – 3am

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Sabah hawker foods are pretty rare in Klang Valley and one really needs to know where to find them. There’s a restaurant in SS3 called Ah Soon Kor where you can find three iconic Sabahan noodles under the same roof: Tuaran Mee, Beaufort Mee and Sang Nyuk Mee.

Besides Sabah noodles, Ah Soon Kor’s menu also features Rawang steamed fish, Vietnamese and Chinese ‘dai chao’ dishes. I thought it was peculiar for the restaurant to serve so many different cuisines, which even the boss acknowledged.
We had a brief chat after the meal and I was told that he will cut down the menu and put the focus back on Sabah food. That’s good to know. If you can only try one noodle, get the Tuaran Mee Goreng. I’d also suggest that you order a drier version because it’s a tad moist as it is.

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What makes it worthwhile is the noodle itself which is known for its springy texture and eggy aroma. It can only be found in Sabah and had to be air-flown all the way here. And contrary to its name, it’s not exactly ‘goreng-ed’ as in stir fried. The noodle is actually simmered in sauce to let the flavors develop.

Beaufort Mee tastes somewhat like a ‘wat tan hor’ without egg. The noodle is fried first to infuse ‘wok hei’ in it, served in a rich and gluey gravy that contains plenty of pork slices and choy-sum.
I never had the real thing in Beaufort before so I can’t comment on the authenticity, but it’s delicious alright. Kind of homey tasting too.

Compared to a couple of other Sang Nyuk Mee I had in KL, this would be one of the best. The soup is naturally sweet from the addition of fresh raw slices of pork and they taste soft and tender.

The only Vietnamese thing we had was the iced coffee. I liked it and the lemon barley is nice too.

Restaurant Ah Soon Kor

No. 42, Jalan SS 3/31
Taman Universiti, 47300 Petaling Jaya
Tel: 013-856 7669
Business hours: 11am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10.30pm, closed on alternate Mondays

The post Sabah Noodles @ Restaurant Ah Soon Kor, SS3 appeared first on Malaysia Food & Travel Blog.

At the beginning of Pudu‘s ‘wai sek kai’ is a popular fried chicken stall. The aroma of freshly fried chicken will hit you immediately as soon as you enter the street.

The stall’s name is ‘Sei Ngan Chye’ Winner’s Fried Chicken and there’s always a queue. Nothing goes to waste here, as any left over parts – as long as they are edible are also fried and sold. Example: chicken gizzard, feet, neck and carcass.

You can be guaranteed of the freshness here because they use fresh and not frozen chicken. Plus, the frying is done on the spot so the fried chicken always taste hot and crispy.
The only downside is that it might not be as hygienic as you would want it to be. But if you are fine with eating at any of the stalls along this street, you should do just fine here.

Most of the customers take away but we usually eat on the spot to savour the fried chicken at its best. The batter is nicely seasoned, not too salty like those you get at mamak stalls and the meat is always moist and tender. So you can definitely eat them on their own with just some chili sauce.

As tasty as the fried chicken might be, I wouldn’t go all the way out just to eat here. Recommended if you’re nearby though, we always buy a piece or two to share whenever we are around. Another food stall worthy of your time is the fried radish cake just further down the street.

Sei Ngan Chye Winner’s Fried Chicken

Pudu Wai Sek Kai (Glutton Street)
Off Jalan Pudu, Pudu, 55100 KL
Business hours: 5pm till late

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After some intensive search I finally found a Char Koay Teow (Malay style) stall that’s as good, if not better than Mie Cord‘s. Warung Atok operates at Seri Buluh restaurant and this is their first branch outside JB. They claim to sell 92% authentic northern style Char Kuey Teow. Why 92%? Beats me.

Warung Atok’s menu offers three varieties of CKT, each topped with a different assortment of seafood. The cheapest option (biasa) comes with the usual white prawns (sea type) and cockles @ RM5.50.
Appearance wise it looked promising and that was a good indication that it was going to be great. And as expected, it was delicious.
But what really impressed us was the quality of the prawns here. As far as CKT goes in KL, Warung Atok serves the freshest prawns we have had. They were cooked just right, easy to peel and succulent.

If your budget allows, I highly recommend that you go for the CKT with Udang Harimau CKT @ RM10.50. Besides being significantly larger and meatier than the white prawns, the tiger prawns also tasted sweeter with a firmer bite. I’d say the extra RM5 is worth paying for.

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Warung Atok Char Kuey Teow

Restoran Seri Buluh, Jalan PJU 7/16, Mutiara Damansara
Tel: 013-605 8190
Business hours: 6.30pm – 11.30pm, closed on Saturdays

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Baked Crab with Glass Noodle (pu ob woon sen) is commonly available in Bangkok‘s seafood restaurants. But there are not many food stalls that specialize in this dish alone. Khlong San is probably the best place to try this, as two popular stalls are located on the same street.
Since Somsak Pu Ob (the famous one, also our main choice) was not open, we had to change our plan to eat at Che Peak instead. Luckily it’s only a short walk away, like less than a minute.

Che Peak might not enjoy the same customer flow, but they are more frequented by locals than tourists. It’s a typical street stall where a dozen of tables are set up along the five foot way in front of the leather goods shops after they have closed.

Prices are clearly displayed on a mobile signboard but there’s no English translation available. But fret not because the owners are able to speak simple English and they will tell you what they have to offer. Two of the most popular seafood here are crab and prawn, while other options include mussel and cockle.

To prepare the woon sen, the pot is first layered with fatty pork slices (acts like lard), followed by ginger, seafood, glass noodle and loads of spring onions. It takes them about 10-15 minutes to cook an order from scratch.
By the time it’s ready, the glass noodle would have absorbed the pork’s melted fat and the seafood’s essence. Seasoning is kept to a minimum and they only use a secret blend of soy sauce and a pinch of peppercorns for extra flavor.

Shown above are the baked glass noodle with crab @ THB280 (~RM33) and with prawn @ THB220 (~RM26). You can’t really see the seafood underneath so let’s dig in to reveal them.

There isn’t much difference in how they overall flavor, except that the noodle in the crab version is slightly sweeter. In fact, it might taste a bit bland to us Malaysians since we are known to have strong taste buds.
Well, that’s where the savory and spicy dipping sauce comes in. A small dip of it goes a long way and will improve the experience instantly.

Although this is considered street food, the price is not street at all because of the quality of ingredients used. The crab itself is about 600gm while the prawns were jumbo sized and tasted extremely fresh. If you could only pick one, I’d say go for the prawn version mainly because crab is messier to enjoy.
For those who want to enjoy baked seafood with glass noodle without going to Bangkok, Senthai in Kepong serves a similar rendition; albeit with tweaks. Still, it’s delicious as hell.

** Note: Pu Ob Woon Sen = Crab with glass noodle, Goong Ob Woon Sen = Prawn with glass noodle

Che Pek Pu Ob Woon Sen

Next to World Leather Center (จังหวัด กรุงเทพมหานคร)
Thanon Charoen Rat Soi 1, Khlong San, Bangkok
Business hours: 5pm – 10pm, closed on public holidays

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As someone who has been staying in Kepong for most of my working life, it is my duty to introduce you, in my opinion, some of the best Kepong food stalls and restaurants to eat for lunch, breakfast and dinner.
If you don’t find your favorite(s) listed below, that’s probably because I have omitted them by purpose on the ground that they have been over-covered. Some examples are the queuing rojak stall, mamak under the tree, ‘wai sek kai’ nasi lemak and many others.

FAT YOONG RESTAURANT 肥仔炭烧叉烧云吞面

Address: Block C-G-5, Fortune Avenue, Jalan Metro Perdana 2, Kepong Entrepreneurs Park
Business hours: 6am till finish, closed on 1st and 15th day of the lunar calendar

Fat Yoong’s char siew is a thing of beauty, the caramelization at the edges is just spot on without being too little or overdone. That is what makes their char siew wantan mee so good.
Another thing I like about Fat Yoong is the effort he puts into assemble the noodles ensuring every plate that goes out look identical. Always opt for extra char siew here, it costs only an additional RM2.50 – worth every cent!

KIN HERBAL ROAST DUCK 坚记药材烧鸭

Address: H.L Yee Cafe, Jalan Mergastua. GPS Coordinates: N3 12.180 E101 38.667
Business hours: 5.30pm till midnight, closed on Sundays

Kin Herbal Roasted Duck opens exclusively for dinner, great for those who have a sudden craving for roast duck at night. Their Hakka Mee not only looks appetizing but comes with all the qualities that make it wonderful – springy well-cooked noodle, tossed in an awesome mix of sauces aromatic infused with fried shallot oil’s aroma.

SENTHAI & MOOKATA THAI STREET FOOD

Address: Unit 1-12 & 1-13, Plaza Menjalara, Bandar Menjalara
Business hours: 10.30am – 10.30pm

Although Kepong has its share of Thai restaurants, only a handful of them serve Thai street food. Senthai & Mookata is one of them, and probably the best one too.
Their Thai steamboat, grilled pork neck, claypot seafood glass noodles and Koay Teow Nam Tok are highly recommended. You will feel as though you are eating at a soi stall in Bangkok.

PAK THONG RESTAURANT 颜国泰生骨生面 (九仔)

Address: Kepong Baru Market, Jalan Ambong 3
Business hours: 11.30am till late

The owner of Pak Thong, Kau Kiah is very particular about the ingredients that he uses. So despite being a little pricier than the other restaurants of the same class, you definitely get what you pay for, and let me just say that it’s worth it. You must try their crabs (always huge) and clams in superior soup.

Penang Corner 槟岛之恋

Address: Jalan Kepong Baru
Business hour: 8am till finish, closed on alternate Mondays

Penang Corner is a personal favorite of mine for lunch, I come here at least once a week to have their Penang style white curry mee topped with fresh cockles. Besides curry mee, their koay teow th’ng (pork soup noodle) is delicious too.

ABC WITH GULA MELAKA

Address: Jalan Burung Bebarau, Taman Bukit Maluri. GPS Coordinates: N3 12 0.57 E101 38.004
Business Hours: 1.30pm to 9pm, off days not fixed

The ABC stall is manned by two elderly women: one prepares the drinks and desserts while the other helps out by taking orders and collecting money.
What you get for RM3 is a bowl of ABC with an intense gula melaka flavor. It’s really quite awesome. The shaved ice has a soft and silky smooth texture too which melts in your mouth.

AH KEONG ROAST DUCK 亚强烧鸭

Address: Jalan Wangsa Utama, Wangsa Permai
Business hours: 12pm – 5pm (or until finish), closed on Mondays

Ah Keong is an expert in roasting ducks and herbal salted roast duck (药材咸烧鸭) is his specialty. To ensure freshness, freshly slaughtered ducks are delivered to his house every day at dawn.
After hours of preparation, the ducks would be hung in traditional charcoal oven where they are roasted until the skin becomes crisp and golden brown, but not overly dry.

ROJAK SITI & CENDOL

Address: Jalan 1/62b, Taman Menjalara, Kepong
Business hours: 12pm – 6pm (closed on Fridays)

Rojak Siti has been been operating their nondescript food van around SMK Menjalara for 14 years now. The ingredients used for the rojak here are standard, but there is something special about their fried coconut.
It is simply delicious and imparted an aromatic coconut fragrance which elevated the rojak to a different level compared to the others.

SAN CHING SAN HOKKIEN MEE 新青山福建面茶餐室

Address: No.29, Jalan Metro Perdana Timur 3
Taman Usahawan Kepong, 52200

While San Ching San’s Hokkien Mee is pretty good on its own, the star has got to be the kick ass sambal chili. It has an appetizing flavor that I can’t put my hands on and we could not help adding it to each spoonful of noodle.
They also serve a handful of great side dishes and snacks that would go well with the noodles such as lala, chicken wings, fried pork and dumplings.

THE CHAMP KITCHEN 猪多宝

Address: No 19, Jln KIP 1, Taman Perindustrian KIP
Business hours: 11.30am – 9.30pm

Braised pork knuckle is the main reason why you should be eating at The Champ Kitchen. A large stainless steel pot is used to gently cook the boneless pork knuckles over 72 hours until they are melt-in-you-mouth tender.
The recipe used originated from Fujian, China which was handed down in the proprietor’s family since the late 1800’s.

LIEONG KEE BAE GOOD TEH 良記早市肉骨茶

Address: 19, Jalan Development, Taman Kepong
Business hours: 6am – 2pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm, closed on Mondays

It’s important to note that the style of Bak Kut Teh here might not appeal to everyone – especially those who have a particular liking for Klang style BKT. The soup here is clear with a very faint herbal flavor, extremely garlicky and tastes quite sweet.
Pork tendon is Lieong Kee’s specialty and I can’t recommend it enough. Make no mistake though the pork tendon here does not come from the knuckle but from the loin section. Because of that they are slightly meaty with a crunchy texture – just imagine biting into a thick slice of bacon.

YELLOW THAI FOOD TRUCK

Jalan Vista Mutiara, Off Jalan Kepong
Business hours: 2pm to 6pm (sometimes 8pm, until finish) Closed on Sunday

This bright yellow food truck operating under the Vista Mutiara apartment is a hit with the Kepong folks for their Thai street food offering.
Some of the food are prepared fresh, while the rest are pre-prepared and packed in plastic containers. Recommended items include seafood tomyam bihun, mango sticky rice and duck noodle.

FOOK LOONG CHICKEN RICE 福龙鸡饭

Address: M Two, 2, Jalan Burung Pucung, Taman Bukit Maluri
Business hours: 8am till finish. Closed according to coffee shop schedule

What’s really good here is their top notch roast pork (siu yuk) and char siew. The siu yuk’s crackling is simply amazing and the seasoning is just spot on without being overly salty.
The char siew on the other hand, had that delicious tender bite encompassed in a jelly-like exterior. A serving of chicken rice (drumstick) and ‘char siew siu yuk’ rice came to a reasonable total of RM12.90.

HAPPY CITY STEAMBOAT RESTAURANT 快乐城海鲜火锅

Address: Jalan Metro Perdana Timur 2, Kepong Entrepreneurs Park
Business hours: 5pm – 1am

My favorite soup base at Happy City is their Drunken Pot. It derives the flavor and sweetness from the various Chinese herbs used to cook it like goji berry and Chinese dates.
Seafood like red snapper, clam and tiger prawn are extremely fresh because they are picked out of the tanks alive. Quality definitely comes first here.

DOUBLE SEVEN NIGHT ‘DAI CHAO’ 孖柒夜市大炒

Address: Restoran Double Seven, Jalan 3/36, Taman Sri Bintang
Business hours: 5.30pm – 11pm

Double Seven’s dai chao stall has been our go-to place for whenever we feel like having a proper meal, yet won’t put a dent in the wallet. The Fish Head Curry here is a favorite of mine and it’s also available in Toman fish slices.
For RM20 you get a generous serving with loads of vege thrown in, so much so that you don’t even need to order a separate vege dish. Other recommended dishes include lemon chicken, salted egg squid and kangkung belacan.

TOP KITCHEN PENANG CHAR KOAY TEOW 红厨

Address: Jalan Burung Bebarau, Taman Bukit Maluri. GPS Coordinates: N3 12 0.57 E101 38.004
Business Hours: 3:30pm to 9:30 pm, closed on Sundays

Top Kitchen is manned by a team of family who hails from Butterworth. The CKT here is every bit as good as you’d expect from a good one – fried plate by plate, uses lard, full of ‘wok hei’, sufficiently spicy, aromatic and comes with fresh and firm prawns.

BIG TREE TRADITIONAL YONG TAU FU 大树下古早味家乡酿豆腐

Address: Jalan Development, Taman Kepong. Refer here for Google map location
Business hours: 8am – 3pm, closed on Sundays

A rather hidden Yong Tau Fu restaurant that needs a bit of exploring to find. The big tree provides shade and a peaceful eating experience. The meat paste in the yong tau fu stuffed to the brim and is also mixed with salted fish for extra depth of flavor. Delicious.

HONG HONG IPOH CHICKEN RICE 鸿鸿(正)怡保芽菜鸡饭

Address: No.3-56A, Jalan Desa 2/1, Taman Desa Aman Puri
Business hours: 10.30am to 9.30pm, closed on every alternate Thursday

Ipoh style bean sprout chicken rice and koay teow are Hong Hong’s signature dishes. The poached chicken is well-cooked without traces of blood yet silky smooth and tender. Their pork meat balls taste great with a nice bouncy texture while the soup is sweet with a hint of herbal fragrance.

TAKE EAT EASY BAKERY CAFE

Address: Ground Floor-2, Wisma Fiamma, No.20, Jalan 7A/62A, Bandar Menjalara
Business hours: 8.30am to 10.30pm

Take Eat Easy is the most gorgeous looking bakery cum cafe in Kepong and can even rival those in down town KL. Their fruit juices are freshly squeezed upon order and are given a novel and playful twist – they are served in light bulbs! It might seem gimmicky but the juices actually taste great, pure and fresh because it’s placed in an icy water bath to keep it cold.

NORWAY SALMON FISH HEAD NOODLES 挪威三文鱼头米粉

Address: No 7 Jalan Jambu Seri Delima (behind Brem Mall)
Business hours: 8am – 4pm

Everything from the soup to the noodles and fried fish head were great, well-seasoned with minimal MSG, savory tasting yet not too salty. The price has gone up slightly since my first visit, but the portion is still being maintained. The other flavors available here such as curry, clear soup and sour and spicy are pretty good too.

Part two is coming soon and I shall include another 20 recommended Kepong food and restaurants.

The post 20 Best Restaurants & Food to Eat in Kepong – Part 1 appeared first on Malaysia Food & Travel Blog.

Mixed Fruits Ice Kacang 什果冰 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

The post Fei Ma Mixed Fruits ABC 肥妈雪水档 @ Kampung Simee, Ipoh appeared first on Malaysia Food & Travel Blog.

Huai Khwang is one of the many districts in Bangkok located at the east of the city centre. Accessible by MRT, Huai Khwang is not only a hot spot for food, it is also notorious for having a high concentration of massage parlors offering ‘soapy’ services.
While you’re here, it’s not surprising to bump into scantily clad ladies who are either shopping for clothes or having a meal. But since this is a food blog, I shall leave that to your own imagination.
For those who prefer to eat at sit down restaurants, you have a couple of options that locals actually frequent. One of them is called Sirichai and they are known for serving good Pork Leg Rice (Khao Kha Moo), Kuay Jap and grilled chicken.

The Pork Leg Rice @ THB60 is a signature dish here and you can’t go home without trying it. The generous potion of stewed pork laid on the rice is fork-tender and the sauce is simply delicious. If you can’t have enough of it, the pork leg is also available (without rice) from THB100 onwards.

Sirichai’s Kuay Jap Nam Sai (pork noodle rolls) @ THB40 is another dish I’d recommend trying unless you are uncomfortable with eating pork innards.
The bowl is not entirely filled with offal though, as pork meat and crispy pork belly are also included. It’s pretty similar, in fact, essentially the same thing you get in Malaysia which we usually refer to as ‘Koay Zhap’ or ‘Koay Teow Kia’.

We also had a Tom Yum Seafood @ THB150 which exceeded our expectations by a long shot. It might look spicy but the level of heat is just right to let you enjoy the flavors that come through.
The seafood was exceptionally fresh too because there’s a fresh market at the end of the street which makes it easy to source for quality ingredients.

Almost every table in the restaurant had a serving of boiled cockles. We took that as a cue that is should be good – and it was!
A portion like this cost THB100 and they were a lot bigger than what we had at Jae Koy. The tangy green chili dip was probably what made all the difference. It wasn’t just spicy without any other taste.

To look for this place, simply follow the road leading into the night market from the famous Ganesh (Elephant God) shrine. You can also use Noi Seafood as a landmark since they are just next to each other.

Sirichai Pork Leg Rice ศิริชัย

Pracha Songkhro Rd, Din Daeng, Bangkok
Business hours: 4pm – 6am

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Now that Nam Chau coffee shop has opened up a branch in Sunway Nexis, you no longer need to travel all the way to Ipoh for their dry curry mee and toasts.
To ensure the authenticity of taste, Nam Chau White Coffee is retaining the recipes for their noodles. In short, pork is served.

Dry Curry Mee @ RM12.90 is undoubtedly the main reason to visit Nam Chau because they are known to serve one of the best dry curry mee in Ipoh.
The rich and aromatic curry gravy is prepared exactly the same way by the proprietor, then transported to this outlet. It’s not as hot as it looks and you can definitely taste the spices being used.

The Chicken Hor Fun Soup (Kai See Hor Fun) @ RM9.90 is as good as it looks. When it arrived on our table with that glossy prawn flavored oil on top, we knew it was the real deal.

If you have been looking for a decent Northern style Lam Mee (RM10.90), maybe you want to give Nam Chau’s version a shot. It’s not perfect, as I prefer mine to have a stronger prawn flavor but it does the job. The chili paste is spot on though with the right combination of spiciness and tanginess.

A variety of traditional toasts is also offered on the menu. Pictured above is their Telur Goyang @ RM5.50 which is basically a pair of soft boiled egg served on toast with margarine.
One thing that sets Nam Chau’s toast apart is the unique crumbly texture that almost melts in your mouth. Try it and you will know what I mean.

The Kaya Butter Toast @ RM4.50 is simply wonderful. The toast is crunchy and light, the kaya is silky smooth and they are not stingy with the butter. What’s there not to like?

For a more filling snack, you can opt for their signature sandwich Egg In A Hole @ RM6.90. It’s simply an egg and ham sandwich with a heart shaped hollowed out center.
Taste wise it’s exactly like how you’d imagine. Cute nevertheless and may be something you want to add to your Instagram collection.

Fried Dumplings @ RM4.90 is reasonably priced and deserves a try. In fact, the quality is similar to what you get at a good yong tau fu stall.

And of course, white coffee is a must at any Ipoh-style kopitiam. Their white coffee tastes truly ‘kao’ and the serving size is significantly larger than what you get at other major kopitiam chains. They also sell the premix version which I should have bought in hindsight because I have never seen them being sold in KL other than here.

Here’s the full menu – short and sweet. I like the fact that they are focusing on what they do best, and not trying to do everything by offering things like nasi lemak, chicken chop and ABC. Click on it to view the full size.

NAM CHAU WHITE COFFEE 南洲

B-GF-10, Sunway Nexis No 1
Jalan PJU S/1, Kota Damansara, 47810 PJ
Business hours: 9am – 6pm, closed on Mondays
Tel: 03-6151 1323

The post Nam Chau White Coffee 南洲 @ Sunway Nexis appeared first on Malaysia Food & Travel Blog.

Do you know that Lonely Planet recently listed Ipoh as one of the best Asian destinations to visit in 2016? It’s high time that Ipoh finally gets the recognition it truly deserves. Eating is probably the best activity to do in the city – and boy there are plenty of things to eat and drink in Ipoh.
Bean sprout chicken rice, ‘kai see hor fun’, egg tarts, white coffee, hakka mee, curry mee, ABC, caramel custard, yong tau fu and the list goes on.
If you are visiting Ipoh for a ‘makan trip’ soon, I hope you are going on an empty stomach. Here’s a list of 20 must-try food stalls, coffee shops and restaurants to get you started.

HONG KEE CONFECTIONARY 鸿记饼家

Address: Kedai Kopi Weng Seng, Jalan Dato Onn Jaafar, 30300 Ipoh
Business hours: 7am – 2pm, closed on Fridays. Tel: 017-592 8303

Hong Kee makes one of the best egg tarts in town – known for having a crust with 48 crispy layers. It’s a family run business and they get up as early as 3am to bake their pastries and cakes which are delivered fresh to their stall in Weng Seng coffee shop.
Despite the immense popularity they enjoy, they remain down to earth and friendly towards their loyal customers who have supported them throughout these 40 years. So it’s no wonder they are able to sell more than 1000 pieces/day of egg tarts during weekends and public holidays.
Other specialties to try: Swiss Roll and Sachima (萨其马). Come as early as possible to avoid disappointments.

FOOK KEE FRIED NOODLES 福记炒粉

Address: Restoran Yu Yee, Lebuh 3, Kg Simee, 31400 Ipoh
Business hours: 1pm – 5.30pm, closed on Sundays. Tel: 016-546 1671

Kampung Simee is a Chinese village dotted with eateries and bakeries. Fook Kee is a hidden gem specializing in fried noodles cooked with prawn stock.
Waiting time could reach 45 minutes or more during peak hours (frequented by locals) so my suggestion is to place your order, then wander off to the nearby bakeries to shop for biscuits or enjoy a bowl of ABC at Fei Ma’s stall first. By the time you return, your fried noodles should be ready soon.

RESTORAN NASI KANDAR AYAM MERAH (NASI GANJA)

Address: Yong Suan Coffee Shop, 2, Jalan Yang Kalsom, 30250 Ipoh
Business hours: 9.30am – 6pm. Tel: 05-254 4314

Also known as ‘nasi ganja’ due to its addictiveness, the nasi kandar stall operating from Yong Suan coffee shop is inarguably the most popular in Ipoh. Don’t be put off by the long queue of customers, as they are only taking away.
For those who are planning to eat in, proceed to take a seat and you can order from the friendly waiters directly. Just tell them what dishes you fancy – either served separately or on your rice flooded with a mix of curry gravies. I always prefer the latter.
To give you an idea of their reasonable pricing, it’s RM16 for a plate with ayam goreng merah, fish curry, squid curry, salted egg, okra and a dollop of their signature mint chutney.

MING COURT HONG KONG TIM SUM 明阁香港点心

Address: 32, 34, 36, Jalan Leong Sin Nam, 30300 Ipoh
Business hours: 6am till finish. Tel: 05-255 7134

When it comes to dim sum, Ming Court is the prime choice for anyone who is Ipoh-mali. Recommended to reach before 7am to avoid the crowd for a more relaxed breakfast experience.

XIN QUAN FANG CURRY MEE 新泉芳咖喱面茶餐室

Address: 174, Jalan Sultan Iskandar (Hugh Low Street), 30000 Ipoh
Business hours: 7.30am till finish (1pm). Tel: 016-531 4193

Xin Quan Fang, fondly known as ‘ma ta liu curry mee’ to locals churns out some of the best Hainanese curry mee and bean sprouts in town. Get all the side dishes which include a combination of roast pork, prawns, char siew, stewed pork served in a separate bowl. They tend to sell out earlier than the official closing time, so morning is the best time to drop by.

FUNNY MOUNTAIN SOYA BEAN 奇峰豆腐花

Address: 49, Jalan Theatre, 30300 Ipoh
Business hours: 10.30am – 6pm, closed on Tuesdays. Tel: 012-516 1607

Funny Mountain’s tau fu fah and soya bean milk enjoy a legendary status in Ipoh. A first timer’s trip to Ipoh would have been vain without trying the silky smooth and refreshing tau fu fah, guaranteed to redefine your view of this ubiquitous dessert.

CHOONG KEE BIG TREE YONG TAU FU 忠记大树头炸料粉

Address: 1277 Jalan King, Taman Hoover, 31650 Ipoh
Business hours: 8.30am – 5.30pm, closed on Wednesdays

Also known as ‘Dai Shu Keok’ yong tau fu, Choong Kee operates like a mini factory constantly churning out freshly fried items which you can enjoy with koay teow soup or asam laksa. Fried turnip is a must-try here, as you can’t find it easily at other yong tau fu stalls outside Ipoh.

THEAN CHUN COFFEE SHOP 天津茶室

Address: 73, Jalan Bandar Timah, 30000 Ipoh
Business hours: 8am – 4pm, closed on Thursdays

‘Halls of Mirros’ is another name for Thean Chun – coined after the large mirrors hanging on the coffee shop’s wall. Their staple offerings you shouldn’t miss include caramel custard, chee cheong fun, ‘kai see hor fun’ and pork satay – the last being a rare sight in Ipoh nowadays.

TONG SUI KAI 糖水街

Address: Jalan Sultan Ekram, 30300 Ipoh
Business hours: 5.30pm – 1am (varies for each stall)

One of the most happening eating places in Ipoh after the sun sets. ‘Tong Sui Kai‘ is lined with dozens of food stalls mostly selling desserts (hence the name), snacks like rojak, boiled cockles and various noodles.
Every stall has their own unique rendition and presentation of Ipoh’s famed mixed fruits ABC, so there’s always a reason to revisit this bustling street.

FAMOUS HAKKA MEE 客家面

Address: Paris Coffee Shop, 164, Jalan Sultan Iskandar (Hugh Low Street), 30000 Ipoh
Business hours: 7.30am – 12pm

Besides minced meat, yong tau fu is also served in the Hakka Mee here – almost like a combo meal. One particular yong tau fu that stood out was the fried meat balls that have a hint of salted fish. Their homemade chilli sauce is delicious as well and improves the overall taste of the noodle.

LOKE WOOI KEE COFFEE SHOP 乐会居茶室

Address: No 28, Jalan Mustapha Al-Bakri, 30300 Ipoh
Business hours: 7am – 3pm

‘Hor Hee‘ is a Teochew noodle soup served with a mix of fish cakes, fish balls and fish dumplings. A dash of fried onion oil is added to the thick and flavorful soup to give it extra fragrance and aroma. It is a fast disappearing food in Ipoh – so you need to try it before it’s gone.
Loke Woi Kee coffee shop is your best (and most convenient) bet to enjoy this noodle. Even if you are not interested in having Hor Hee, the fruit rojak and ‘kai see sha hor fun’ here are delicious enough to make your visit worthwhile.

TAI SOO IPOH FAMOUS NO.1 DESSERT

Address: 24, Jalan Raja Musa Aziz, 30000 Ipoh
Business hours: 10.30am – 6pm, usually closed on Wednesdays

A perfect spot for tea break, Tai Soo is famous for a couple of things: Ais Kacang (ABC), tau fu fah (melt in your mouth soft) and soya bean milk. Their tau fu fah can be ordered with different toppings like cendol, glass jelly and red beans. It is also recommended that you buy a bottle or two of their soya bean milk to bring home – it’s rich and absolutely delicious.

IPOH STADIUM FOOD COURT (MEDAN SELERA STADIUM)

Address: Kompleks Sukan Ipoh, 31400 Ipoh
Business hours: 6pm – midnight

After most of the coffee shops in town have closed, locals throng this food court adjacent to the stadium for dinner and supper.
Traditional Ipoh-style wan ton mee and smoky char koay teow are clearly the favorites here, as you can see them present on almost every table. For drinks, try out the refreshing herbal drink (next to wan ton mee stal) and freshly blended fruit juices from Frankie’s stall on the far right.

ONN KEE / LOU WONG BEAN SPROUT CHICKEN

Address: Lou Wong 老黄芽菜鸡沙河粉 / Onn Kee 安记芽菜鸡沙河粉, Jalan Yau Tet Shin
Business hours: lunch and dinner till late

Probably what Ipoh is most famous for, beansprout chicken (nga choy kai) is commonly available – enjoyed either with rice or flat noodle. Side dishes available typically include pork meat balls and stewed chicken feet. Onn Kee and Lou Wong are two of the oldest shops and both enjoy the same reputation for serving deliciously tender poached chicken.
My suggestion? Try both by ordering a quarter chicken at each restaurant to decide which suits your taste the best. But no matter which you end up eating at, it’s quite impossible for the meal to go wrong. Best of all, you can count of them to be open for most of the time.

COWAN STREET AYAM TAUGE & KOITIAU 高温街芽菜鸡沙河粉

Address: 44, Jalan Raja Ekram, 30300 Ipoh
Business hours: Wed – Sun (7pm onwards). Tel: 012 5203 322 (Ah Meng)

If Lou Wong and Onn Kee are the to-go places for beansprout chicken rice, then Cowan Street’s Ayam Tauge & Koitiau would be the top choice for beansprout chicken hor fun.
Ordering is quick and simple. Just tell the number of portions and say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the side dishes such as the gizzards and chicken feet (highly recommended) when asked. The poached chicken here is out-of-this-world tender and even the lean breast meat is nice and juicy.

DEEN CT CORNER CENDOL

Address: 21B, Jalan Mustapha Al Bakri, 30300 Ipoh
Business hours: 11.30am – 6.30pm, closed on Fridays. Tel: 016-535 0351

Located just a stone’s throw away from Loke Wooi Kee and Tai Soo, Deen CT Corner serves an amazing bowl of cendol with the right balance of flavors.
Being able to customize your cendol is a plus here, as you can have it with any toppings of your choice – such as red beans only, or red beans with sweet corn. For a more filling experience, opt for the ‘pulut’ version which adds a spoonful of glutinous rice to keep you satiated longer.

NAM HEONG / NAM CHAU / SUN YUAN FOONG

Address: Nam Heong 南香 – 2, Jalan Bandar Timah / Nam Chau 南州 – 54, Jalan Bandar Timah / Sun Yuan Foong 新源丰 – 17， Jalan Bandar Timah
Business hours: 6am – 5pm

Fancy a cup of white coffee? Your options are endless in Ipoh. To maximize your time, drop by Jalan Bandar Timah where you will find a couple of coffee shops each serving up their own unique blend of white coffee brewed to perfection. Nam Heong, Nam Chau and Sun Yuan Foong are located within walking distance from each other and all of them are great in their own ways.
But if you only have limited time or stomach space, decision will be made based on the food you want to eat. If you are hankering for egg tarts, go to Nam Heong. For toasts, you won’t go wrong at Sun Yuan Foong while Nam Chau is great for noodles like dry curry mee.

FEI MA MIXED FRUITS ABC 肥妈雪水档

Address: 224, Lebuh Raya 3, Kg Simee, Ipoh
Business hours: 1pm – 5pm, closed on Tuedays and Fridays

Fei Ma’s dessert stall is another hidden gem in Kampung Simee. If you had to leave Ipoh by evening which means you don’t get to eat at Tong Sui Kai, then this is the place to be since it’s open from lunch onwards. 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.
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. 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.

KAFE YOON WAH 元华饮食阁雪花啤酒

Address: 7, Jalan Bijih Timah, 30000 Ipoh
Business hours: 6pm till midnight. Tel: 012-512 9980

If you are looking for a place to enjoy a (grown up) drink like the locals do, then head to Kafe Yoon Wah for snow beer. Notice the slushie-like content in the mug? Those are actually foam that becomes crystallized when come into contact with a frozen glass.
Yoon Wah is also an ideal place for dinner and they serve a good range of Chinese seafood and meat dishes to go along with the drinks.

THE DECK GASTRO BAR / YUK SOU HIN

Address: WEIL Hotel, 292, Jalan Sultan Idris Shah, 30000 Ipoh
Business hours: The Deck Gastro Bar (5pm – 12am) / Yuk Sou Hin – Mon – Fri (10.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm), Weekends (8am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm)

Ipoh is not all about street food. Some of the most exquisite Chinese and Western dishes I ever had were at WEIL Hotel. Yuk Sou Hin is popular for their signature Smoked Duck with Lychee Wood and dim sum, while The Deck Gastro Bar is a rooftop bar to enjoy great food and cocktails with an awesome night view the city.

The post Top 20 ‘Must-Eat’ Places While In Ipoh – Best of Ipoh Food appeared first on Malaysia Food & Travel Blog.

Pudu continues to amaze me with its delightful offering of unique food. This time, it’s char koay teow with salted egg located at the far end section of ‘wai sek kai’.

The current owner, Madam Wong took over the stall from an old lady back in the year 2000. She started off by selling drinks and ABC with her husband and it was only until a few years ago she decided to branch out into selling fried noodles. “Adapt or die”, that’s what she told me.
It’s also worth mentioning that the salted egg she uses goes through a steaming process then flattened into bits, which is why it’s also called ‘golden sand’.

Basically, there are two versions of salted egg fried koay teow available. By default, two spoonfuls of salted egg are added into the wok for a quick stir fry right before the noodle is done. That way, the salted egg melts completely and the flavor and aroma get absorbed into the noodle.
I had the other version which is shown in the photo above. The same amount of salted egg is spooned over the noodle for extra texture. And as usual, it also comes with a good handful of fresh seafood like prawns and cockles – all cooked just right.

Fried Salted Egg Kuey Teow

Business hours: 6pm – 11.30pm, closed on Mondays
Tel: 012-255 2433

The post Salted Egg Char Koay Teow @ Pudu ‘Wai Sek Kai’ appeared first on Malaysia Food & Travel Blog.

When clients, colleagues or superiors from overseas make a visit to KL, Jalan Alor is usually one of the first places to bring them to experience the local food scene.
It sounds touristy, but you can’t deny the location is convenient due to its close proximity to the hotels in Bukit Bintang. It’s within walking distance and they can return to the comfort of their hotel room in minutes.

I have entertained a fair share of business associates at Jalan Alor and my choice of restaurant is usually between Wong Ah Wah or Sai Woo.
If your intention is for your guests to have variety, then Sai Woo would be a better option because they offer hawker food on top of their a la carte offerings.

Like most of the restaurants along Jalan Alor, Sai Woo’s menu also comes with photos to ease the ordering process. And if you think the dishes would be expensive because this is a tourist area, you’d be surprised that the prices are surprisingly sensible and the portions are fairly large too.

BBQ chicken wings (RM3/pc) are our favorite and we never missed ordering it. They might not be in the same league as Wong Ah Wah’s, but it’s really a matter of personal preference. I thought they were great, evenly grilled with a nice chili sauce.

A small serving of La La Clams in Superior Soup is only RM18 and the amount of clams you get is pretty amazing for the price. Moreover, in the heart of KL. The clams are fresh, clean and as you can see, still plump so they were not the frozen type.
Our only gripe was that the soup tasted a tad mild in heat. Maybe they toned down the heat significantly to cater to the tourists, you don’t see a lot of ginger in it.

Stir-Fried Squid with Fragrant Spicy Sauce @ RM25 is one of the signature dishes of Sai Woo. It’s really more like a Nyonya Cili Garam Sotong but with the spiciness toned down as well. Still delicious, nonetheless.

Grilled fish is a hit of miss here depending on the fish you pick. We were bored with the usual stingray so we opted for the Banana Leaf Grilled Sole Fish @ RM6/100g.
The fish pitcured above is approximately 500g which cost RM30. It sure packed a lot of meat and could be shared among four comfortably.

Noodle wise you won’t go wrong with their Mamak Mee Goreng with Seafood (small) @ RM12. It’s not exactly like what the mamak stalls churn out, as this is more like a Chinese style of preparation. So you can expect it to be slightly wetter and sweeter in flavor. But we love it. In fact, this is the type of mee goreng I grew up eating at Chinese restaurants in Penang. The taste is quite similar.

I wouldn’t go as far as to say that Sai Woo’s food is amazing or authentic because the flavor has obviously been tweaked to appeal to tourists who make up the majority of the customers. But it’s definitely good enough as an introductory restaurant to Malaysian food.

Restoran Sai Woo

No 51-55, Jalan Alor, 50200 KL
Business hours: 3pm – 2am
Tel: 016-335 0703 / 016-205 3353

The post Restoran Sai Woo @ Jalan Alor, KL appeared first on Malaysia Food & Travel Blog.

Whenever I stumble upon a food stall that serves fresh and good food at reasonable prices, I make it a personal mission of mine to help promote their business.
I have always believed that it’s in everyone’s best interest that F&B operators could sustain their businesses, in fact the longer the better.

Golden Sweet Home is one of the largest coffee shops in Bandar Menjalara which spans across three shop lots. It is popular with the nearby office workers so they are busiest during breakfast and lunch hours. At night, only a couple of stalls are open and Sam’s Yong Tu Fu is our favorite.

What I like most about Sam’s yong tau fu is that the items are prepared fresh. It’s definitely not one of those places where they prefry the yong tau fu and then refry to order.
You pick the ingredients you want, put them on a plate and they will be stuffed with meat paste for frying or boiling. And if you hung around to watch, you’d know that they are not stingy with the meat paste. They put in more than a tablespoon of it, which makes each piece appear plump and full.

Lobak, Taiwanese sausage and meat balls are also available. The usual stuff cost RM1.20/pc while the rest range between RM2 and RM2.50 each.

Among all the items, we like Sam’s brinjal, ‘you tiao’, chili, lobak and Taiwanese sausage the most. They are always our picks when we have dinner here.

So far, we have never been disappointed by Sam’s yong tau fu but if there’s anything they could improve on, it might be the soup which tastes kind of light. Not necessarily a bad thing though, at least it’s not loaded with MSG.

Sam’s Yong Tau Fu

Golden Sweet Home Restaurant, Jalan 9/62A
Bandar Menjalara, 52200 Kepong
Business hours: 4.30pm – 10.30pm, Closed every alternate Tuesdays
Tel: 010-305 0590

The post Sam’s Yong Tau Fu @ Golden Sweet Home, Kepong appeared first on Malaysia Food & Travel Blog.

Fook Kee (福记炒粉) is probably the most popular fried noodle stall in Kampung Simee. We stumbled upon them by accident after buying our egg tarts and kaya puffs from Quin Kee bakery to eat at the coffee shop they are operating from.

While enjoying our pastries, we noticed that orders kept pouring in and the aroma of the fried noodles was simply irrepressible. Naturally, the first thing we did was to Google about this place.
Surprisingly, no one has blogged or even mentioned about this fried noodle. So we were confident that we have unearthed a hidden gem.

However, when we tried to order, we were told that we had to wait at least 45 minutes due to the backlog of order. Just look at the number of plates lining up waiting to be fried.
We thought of leaving then, but eventually, we decided to wait because we knew we would regret the decision for going home without trying. To kill time, we went to have ABC at Fei Ma’s dessert stall just a few doors away.

What makes Fook Kee’s noodle special is that prawn stock is added to the wok while frying. That extra step infuses a rich and robust flavor into the noodle which gives it that unique savory taste.
Since prawn stock is a vital element in the noodles, they will stop serving as soon as it runs out. From what I was told, they prepare three pots of prawn stocks using 30kg of prawn shell daily. That’s a lot!

We tried two out of their six options: ‘Jin Hiong Mai’ (煎香米) and ‘Chao Kap Dai’ (炒及底) @ RM5 and RM5.50 respectively. The crowd’s favorite – ‘Jin Hiong Mai’ is a fried vermicelli noodle dish with gravy, while ‘Chao Kap Dai’ is a fried noodle with all the ingredients available at their stall such as pork slices, prawns and fish cakes. Both are equally delicious in their own right.

The next time you are visiting Kampung Simee, do make it a point to have lunch here. You can also call the number below to pre-order your food.

Fook Kee Fried Noodle (福记炒粉)

Restoran Yu Yee, Lebuh 3, Kg Simee, 31400 Ipoh
Business hours: 1pm – 5.30pm, closed on Sundays
Tel: 016-546 1671

The post Fook Kee Fried Noodle @ Kampung Simee, Ipoh appeared first on Malaysia Food & Travel Blog.

Tong Sui Kai (Dessert Street) is one of the most happening eating places in Ipoh after the sun sets. The street is lined with dozens of food stalls mostly selling desserts (hence the name), snacks like rojak, boiled cockles and various noodles. There’s also a small section at the end dedicated to Malay food.

Most of the people who come here are for Ipoh’s famed mixed fruits ABC. Every stall has its own unique rendition and presentation and there are dozens of them, that alone is a reason to return for more.

Based on the tip given by a local, we tried stall 27 and 28. Both stalls seem to be owned by the same family so they don’t have any problem with us ordering from them. The reason I say this is because that there are unspoken seating rules you need to abide to.
For example, if you are ordering from stall A which sells mainly desserts and beverages, stall B which sells food might not let you sit at their tables. To avoid any possible scenario of getting sneered, better ask first before you take a seat.

Besides mixed fruits ABC, another dessert you should try is 云头浪 or also known as Aiyu Jelly. It’s light and refreshing and more importantly, not as sugary compared to the ABC so you can enjoy it guilt free.

For those not interested in ABC, HK style sago dessert can be found at stall 38 – Hong Kong Sago Lolo. From what I surveyed, they are the only stall that serves this. Pictured above are the Rainbow Lolo and Mango Lolo.

TONG SUI KAI 糖水街

Address: Jalan Sultan Ekram, 30300 Ipoh
Business hours: 5.30pm – 1am (varies for each stall)

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TTDI is a hot spot for food trucks in KL. All of them start serving from evening onward and that’s also the best time to drop by. Mak Chick Yunai is the 3rd food truck we have tried in the neighborhood after Cowboys and La Famiglia. I am glad to say that none of them disappointed.

Before Mak Chick Yunai started, Mak Chick (the owner) used to operate a burger stand somewhere in Damansara Uptown. Due to some issues with the local authority, she decided to venture into food truck business instead with a new and improved menu.
Just like the name suggests, they specialize in real local street food paired with fried chicken. Think fried chicken burger, nasi lemak with ayam goreng berempah and fried chicken chop with black pepper and cheese sauce. The menu also consists of a couple of other beef options and snacks.

The Burger Mak Chick Gunung Berapi @ RM15 is what most people come for. It’s stacked with double fried chicken patties, double the cheese and drizzled with mayonnaise, cheese, chili and black pepper sauce.

As far as fried chicken burger goes, this is definitely the bomb. Although it feels like a sauce overload, the fried chicken patty remains crunchy (for most of the part) throughout because it’s blanketed by a layer of cheese that prevents the sauces from seeping in too quickly. If the size is too big you can still pick from 10 different kinds of burger they have ranging from RM7 to RM12.

Mak Chick kept telling us her homemade nasi lemak is good and she sold us on it. We tried the Nasi Le Mak Chicken Berempah @ RM6 and the flavor of combo was just great. We liked everything about it, the rich and spicy sambal, fluffy rice and juicy ayam berempah. Best of all, the chicken is served boneless which makes eating a whole lot easier and more enjoyable too.

For RM7, I’d say the Mak Chicken Chop is value for money considering the same thing costs more at the Western food stalls. Worth ordering if you feel like having a satisfying meaty meal. Taste wise it’s similar to the fried chicken burger’s patty since they share the same seasoning.

As you can see, Mak Chick Yunai’s food is not exactly healthy. But if you are already gonna eat something like fast food, better do it right and eat here instead. Mak Chick Yunai’s food truck is hard to miss, just keep a lookout for the cheerful and wacky chicken sign along Lorong Rahim Kajai 14.

Mak Chick Yunai

Business hours: 7pm – 1.30am, off days not fixed.
Tel: 017-606 5797

The post Mak Chick Yunai Food Truck @ TTDI appeared first on Malaysia Food & Travel Blog.