Rumah Peranakan @ Taman Sea, PJ – Authentic Nyonya Cuisine
March 1, 2011 | 13,515 viewsWhat? No fancy titles, witty one liners, or trashy introduction? You know, sometimes when I’m completely high on cracks caffeine, I can write post spanning 1001 and words; endless ramblings that just drag on and on and on … that you wish Motormouth would just shut the hell up and get on with the food review.
Much like now. 🙂
Anyway, sorry lah, people. Just not in the groove today. Lately I have not been even writing that frequent. (Okay okay, of course I am setting myself standards against the past 2yrs + when you can read a new post almost every day, or every other day …. though I STILL get comments that how come I have all the time in the world to write at this pace; even now)
In 2 more days, Motormouth From Ipoh will be celebrating its 3rd year on the web. Amazing feat? Surprised even myself, for I had initial intention to write for 2 years at most, then the passion to write must have fizzled to sustain another year or so.
But then again, once you start on a project so close to one’s heart; pouring and squeezing every bit of your creative juices/imagination/passion into words and shots (okay, so they’re ugly …. and I don’t get funding for a DSLR, so don’t compare) … it’s just NOT easy to let go.
Honey Sotong – Crunchy, addictive pieces of deep fried batter-coated squids with sesame seeds in a sweet honey sauce. Trust me, your kids will fall head over heels for this …
I’ll probably sit down, lean back on my chair and put my thoughts into words come the 3rd year anniversary. Maybe, just maybe there is some truth behind the saying; that “Nothing in this world lasts forever … but cherish what you are doing/having now, for today’s a gift.”
Read on for the REAL food review; a restaurant serving commendable Nyonya fares in Taman Sea (and it’s not Seapark, go figure) in Petaling Jaya …..
Ayam Pongteh; been introduced to this dish from that Singaporean drama about the beautiful Nyonya cook (Little Nyonya, I think) not too long ago on TV. She was cooking some Babi Pongteh though, but Rumah Peranakan is PORK-free (not sure of Halal status, sorry).
Just a hop and a skip away from my place now; Rumah Peranakan is tucked hidden in the midst of a row of single-storey shophouses in Taman Sea near to Taman Megah. A turn or two away will lead you to the famous Fu Kua Restaurant, next to the equally interesting Siew Yok! (yes, with the exclamation mark).
Very decent ambience, almost impeccable when you think that this restaurant has been around for a few years now (according to my landlord, that is), and everything’s in place as well as spick & span. Interior design looks charming too; with tasteful decorations and ornaments adding a nuance of classic Baba/Nyonya setting reminiscence of the olden days.
Sambal Pucuk Paku (Wild Fern Shoots stir fried in spicy paste with dried shrimps)
Yes, you get the most authentic Nyonya dishes here; from Perut Ikan to Ayam Pongteh, and Ju Hu Char to many others this aged amnesiac failed to reckon.
This dinner took place slightly less than 3 months ago (when I first touched down in KL), so pardon the ignorance. However, the 3 dishes we had were good; especially the squids. The other dishes were screaming for attention too; since Nyonya food emphasizes on robust, delicate tastes with a dominantly spicy/sour flavour, the prospect of ordering the curry/asam dishes actually was rather inviting.
The meal came to about RM50/USD17 or so, for the three of us. Not cheap, but far from exorbitant I’d say. Given the quality of the cooking, the comfortable surroundings and the ample parking spaces in front of the shops. Just avoid this place when Taman Megah’s night market is on full steam ….. Tuesdays right?
And I love Sago Gula Melaka; just this one was not as memorable. Aside from the abundance of shaved ice and the palm sugar syrup used was actually passable; with a pleasant fragrance.
Maybe the next round then. IF I can manage to at least remember this place come dinner hours. Funny I had this almost foolproof plan to eat my way around Klang Valley like a bulldozing Motormouth that I was back in Ipoh.
But somewhere in the middle, the plan ran off the tracks ……
Okay, enough for tonight. I mean, I can be really, REALLY long-winded huh? 🙂
Rumah Peranakan Restaurant @ Taman Sea (remember it’s NOT Seapark)
Restaurant Peranakan House (pork-free)
No 4, SS23/11, Taman Sea,
47400 Petaling Jaya.
Selangor, Malaysia.
Tel : 603-7966 8553
Opens for lunch and dinner.
three years? somehow i thought u had been around for at least five years, considering the depth and breadth of your reviews! at any rate, happy anniversary! here’s to many more years of merry feasting and blogging in perak, the klang valley, and everywhere else! 😀
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
March 2nd, 2011 at 10:25 pm
Haha ….. depth and breadth?!!!
That’s a little too far fetched.
But thanks Sean. I can’t blog at your machine gun-rapid rate, but I’ll try to match.
[Reply]
Happy 3rd anniversary!! 🙂
[Reply]
Motorman!!!
Where’s the best place to buy char siew pau in Ipoh besides Foh San? Are they still good? They closed down their branch in PJ quite a while ago it was just too bad, liked that place very much. Is it too late to ask by the time you read this cuz I got people going to Ipoh this morning.
Thanks my dear 🙂 Yes, that was a ‘relatively’ short and sweet post but I ‘never-minded’ your long ones too
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
March 2nd, 2011 at 10:24 pm
Sorry!!!!
Yoke Fook Moon’s pau are the BEST in Ipoh.
To me lah… at least.
[Reply]
Who ever complained that your posts are too long winded/ not nice to read ah? Please do continue in your own personal style. 🙂
.. and more importantly, HAPPY BLOG BIRTHDAY (in advance)!
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
March 2nd, 2011 at 10:24 pm
Thanks J! Pity we can’t bump heads at Brotzeit soon enough.
[Reply]
J the chocoholic Reply:
March 4th, 2011 at 9:29 am
What to do? You are too busy to hang out with me. *sob*
😛
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
March 6th, 2011 at 12:23 pm
Excuse me!?!! Says who eh …. YOU are the one who’s always preoccupied with something. Hehe …
Okay, let’s makan but gotta pick a weekday I guess.
3rd year? Happy anniversary. do continue blogging with passion. rest and relax once a while. i don’t think anyone can even write everyday provided they are full time bloggers. hahaha…
anyway, talking about baba nyonya food, i have been Melaka’s baba nyonya restaurant but i forgot the name. The ayam pongteh to me is very sweet.
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
March 2nd, 2011 at 10:23 pm
Thanks LiLian. Maybe fine time for me to rethink about this blogging thing.
Ayam pongteh can be slightly sweet since they cook with a bean sauce, and with palm sugar it seems.
[Reply]
happy blog-anniversary in advance 🙂
do write more. we love ur way in writing
[Reply]
the ayam pongteh looks really delish! i watched little nyonya and loved the drama!
[Reply]
Pork-free nyonya food not so fun eh? 😛
When is the 3rd Anniversary celebration? Congrats!
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
March 2nd, 2011 at 10:11 pm
No celebration lah …. nothing much to shout about anyway, many bloggers have breached the 5 years, even 10 years mark.
I am but an old newbie.
[Reply]
Obviously you guys haven’t taken good nyonya food. Come to my houselah…hahaha..just kidding. My grandma makes the best nyonya food…but sadly she is too old and weak now to cook. She is 81. Hmmm…. we love her perut ikan, jiuhu char, gulai tumis,chai buey , inchi kabin etc..People from Penang will understand. Peranakan food from Malacca is way way below
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
March 2nd, 2011 at 10:03 pm
Hey, this will definitely irritate the Malaccan readers!
Let’s not compare, but of course if you ask any true blue Malaccan, or even Penangite, home-cooked fares would be BEST.
Nothing comes close.
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
February 3rd, 2013 at 12:54 am
Well, it’s obvious they susanlee is just like the proverbial katak dibawah tempurung or ostrich with the head stuffed under the sand, unfortunately..!
To make a judgement call on Malaccan peranakan food as so-called ‘way…below’ exposes her ignorance. And just her silly arrogance as so pro-Penang style food..
Who says Penang nyonya food is nicer than the Malaccan/Singaporean variety??
She obviously has no taste buds for the southern peranakan variety of Pongteh, gerang asam, kuah Lada, itek Tim, tai bak, itek/ ayam/ Babi sioh, nyonya chap Chye, pai tee, Kueh Chang plus a multitude more, including of course the piece de resistance Babi or ayam buah keluak!
The latter dish has no Penang peranakan rival or even equivalent. They just don’t know how to or cannot make it properly…:-/
Susan is invited to Singapore or Malacca to savor these true-blue peranakan dishes, at her own expense, of course. She obviously never had the privilege to enjoy the authentically simple but deliciously exquisite styles of ikan/ayam tempra, udang Assam, udang lemak nenas and sambal belacan peranakan.
I have also tried authentic northern/penang variety but sorry to say, all of them just just cannot begin to compare with the mouth-watering dishes mentioned above…
Alvin.
[Reply]
Motorman.. I didn’t get the pau it was too late but I got the usual favourites, salted chicken baked in paper from that shop you know and the kaya puff from Sin Eng Heong, their kaya is getting way too sweet. I can feel a toothache just biting into it!
Ok, is that Yoke Fook Moon pau located near that Equatorial hotel downtown Ipoh. I remember eating pau in that shop and it was fantastic.
Btw, are you not a full time salaried blogger? I am a full time day trader and blog groupie haha..
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
March 3rd, 2011 at 10:53 pm
Excelsior Hotel in Ipoh. 🙂
No Equatorial here lah, too low profile city to deserve one?
I definitely am not a full time blogger, let alone a salaried one. I wonder anyone would want to hire someone with a lunatic background like yours truly.
[Reply]
Oh selamat hari jadi blog! Mari kita selebrate
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
March 3rd, 2011 at 10:52 pm
Hehe …. how lah to celebrate? You always teaching ….
[Reply]
Happy 3rd Bloggerversary! Jom kita pergi makan siew yok! soon 😉
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
March 3rd, 2011 at 10:50 pm
Yeah, let’s do that. Then Fu Kua next to it, to reduce the guilt?
[Reply]
J the chocoholic Reply:
March 4th, 2011 at 9:28 am
Yay. Come let’s go together gether n celebrate? 🙂
(hee hee hee. Shameless self inviting)
[Reply]
Three years to come… that’s great and an amazing feat. Not something we achieve every day. My third anniversary (of a different sort) is coming up soon too. Hehe. 🙂
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
March 3rd, 2011 at 10:46 pm
Hehe. Congrats on that one. I’m sure that will be more memorable than this space on the blogosphere.
[Reply]
Congrats! Btw, so far I still could find any restaurants serving sayur paku in Penang yet, if you find any, pls share.
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
March 6th, 2011 at 12:24 pm
I am sure there is. You can ask CK’s expert opinion. Teik Seng (TekSen? Tekken?) maybe, since they whip up a pretty good sambal kangkung.
[Reply]
I am now back home after studies in UK and loving all the food in KL. Aiyoh, so long time never had proper makan lah in London 🙁
Anyway, you want nyonya food? I tried some nyonya places but they seem not so good as remembered and also got too much msg which makes me throat itch so I thought it best to learn to cook your own (I cook in London because food is mega expense there) so I went to cooking school in KL and now I can cook perfect inchi kabin and ayam pongteh and other dishes. At home some more. Family so impressed also! No more shuey chai comments!!! 😀
[Reply]
[…] a name, eh?) commenced. Half-expected this restaurant to be filled to the brim (judging from that Rumah Peranakan dinner way back in December), was pleasantly surprised that we could easily find a vacant table in the […]