Motormouth From Ipoh – Asian Food & Travel Blog

Some steamed delights …. Siew Mai, Xiu Long Bao and Har Kao

Me being a traditional dimsum lover, orders the basic stuff whenever it’s my 1st time. And I’ve a lot of firsts. Hehe … Anyway, the baskets of dumplings came with shockingly humongous morsels of goodies, begging to be devoured. Compared to even Ipoh’s offerings, the sizes of these ‘little giants’ was impressive.

But when it come to the taste, erm, a ho-hum affair, at best. The XLB was horribly dry, and tasteless even with the vinegar and julienned ginger dipping. Prawn dumplings (Har Kau) and pork dumplings (Siew Mai) fared better, but still lacking in taste. It felt like we were chewing on flour, rather than full-flavoured, sweet, juicy meat.

Hong Kong Chee Cheong Fun

Not to confuse any foreigners, or out-of-towners, the Hong Kong CCF (chee cheong fun) is NOT an imported product, but rather, a type of rolled rice noodles stuffed with shrimps and char siew (BBQ pork meat). A staple of mine, I almost always order this simple dish whenever I’m in dimsum outlet, be it in Ipoh, Penang or KL.

Sad to say, the HK CCF here was below the mark. The fillings was lesser than generous, and the rice noodles reeking of an awkward ‘chemical‘ taste. Don’t ask me how to describe it, but there IS an annoyingly unpleasant taste.

The Doctor’s Nightmares ….

Luckily, when it comes to the fried stuff, all of which would frighten a health freak more than a busload of cockroaches, or swimming with the sharks, or even sitting through a whole session of Parliament, Hong Kee serves edible options.

Particularly tempting was the prawn rolls with crispy vermicelli (or was it?) – the upper left photo in the collage above. Crispy, oily, and yummy, they deserve a try if you happen to be here. The rest were mediocre, but not to say disappointing.

I lost the receipt, but the price was rather reasonable, around RM3 per plate/basket. Well worth the money as the portion’s not dainty. Kalah Ipoh punya dimsum …. But all in all, SIZE DOES NOT really matter, ain’t it?

Location : Hong Kee Tim Sum @ Jln Pandan Indah 4/3A, Pandan Indah, Kuala Lumpur. Various branches in other parts of KL and Selangor.

~~ LOONG SENG DIMSUM @ SS2, PETALING JAYA ~~

Go find the shop with lots tables outside, in case you’re lost …

But all’s not lost, my friend. Nope. As we were staying nearby Section 17, PJ (this was in August, therefore memories’ not so vague) we decided to venture to SS2 for dimsum on the last morning of our stay.

The Devils vs The Angels ??? (The Fried Goodies vs The Saintly Steamed Ones)

Based on direction from a friend, we were told to look out for tables lining up the street and corridor, among the mazes after mazes of restaurants and cafes in SS2. Of course, go in the morning, as at night, SS2 Murni still RULES the place, with endless rows of tables on the street.

Steamed La La (Clams) with Pork/Fish Meat

The crowd was reassuring, as wherever the crowd goes, the food’s gotta be good, no? Starting off with some usual Har Kau and Siew Mai, I chose some slightly different stuff as well. But breakfast at around 11am somehow limited my options greatly. Price to pay, for a late awakening?

The Pork/Fish/La La combination worked wonders, as the meat was fresh, devoid of unpleasant fishy taste, and packed with flavours. Steamed with simple broth, and with julienned carrots and chives added for taste, these babies looked AND tasted lovely.

Ol’ Yellow Goodness ….

The egg tarts in KL are slightly different from Ipoh dimsum outlet’s version, as the pastry is not of the flaky/crumbly type. But more to John King’s cookies-type of pastry. Offers a nice bite nevertheless, and the egg custard encircled within was fragrant, creamy, and light.

The Downs ….

Chinese Pancake (Woh Peng) and the Yong Tau Foo with Thai chilli sauce did not score too well in our books, the former a tad oilier than desirable, while the latter was already cold when the plate was placed on our table. Everyone abhors cold tofu, right?

Perennial favourite, immortalized in a song … “Char Shiao Pau”

Greasier than John Travolta’s hair in Grease … Dare to try me? =)

That “icing” on the “cake” made all the difference …

The rest of the dimsum fare were all satisfactory, the HK Chee Cheong Fun was a delight to discover, such smooth rolls of rice noodles outside of Ipoh, with shrimps and char siew bursting from within, and topped it all with the incomparable sambal.

A dimsum experience comparable to Ipoh’s. Did it touch my heart? YES, you can bet your bottom dollar Loong Seng did!

Location : Loong Seng Restaurant @ 50, Jln SS2/66, 47300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

But Hong Kee on the other hand …. well, probably deserves another chance. The fried glutinous rice supposed to be good, right?

TOKYO – Grilled Chicken thigh, tomatoes, chicken ham, oyster mushrooms, mozzarella, served with rolled pannekoek, and mashed potatoes (RM18.50)

Back to KL post again. Yes, I’m indecisive. Alternating between new and old photos, and Ipoh and KL food, somehow there’s an urge to recommend this place to everyone who’s a fan of pancakes, that is, IF you’ve never been to Paddington House of Pancakes before. Doubtful, if you’re staying in KL, as they have branches in most major shopping complexes.

A closer look at the TOKYO (that’s the name for the pancake, not the country it is from)

A highly recommended item, from KCA who had been there before, and lukimoto who was my dining companion for the evening. She being a food enthusiast herself, was raving about the rolled pannekoek, a type of Dutch pancake wrapping some lettuce (I think it was lettuce), more than the grilled chicken and ham, thus, made up her mind to order the TOKYO.

Hmm, the grilled chicken thigh was a tad dry, and the texture resembled chicken breast, topped with tomato paste and mozzarella cheese, which unfortunately was not as tasty as the description in the menu had me believed. The rolled pannekoek on the other hand, delivers a crunchy, and healthy alternative to the run-of-the-mill sides of salad or coleslaw.

MEXICAN DOUBLE BURGER – Double beef patties with lettuce, pineapple rings, guacamole, grilled cheddar, gherkins and fries (RM27.50)

First of all, the menu’s VERY extensive, covering practically anything and everything possibly created with pancakes, and then some. Needless to say, we were having a tough time making our decision, and sad to say, the waiter was NOT of much assistance.

But we pulled through, and picked the Mexican Double Burger, for the sake of appeasing the fast-food junkies in us,plus the gorgeous photo of the burger in the menu was enticing, though we did not expect to witness the same appetizing look in real form.

Serving’s HUMOUNGOUS. Some dishes are best for sharing, really.

Pleasantly surprised by the burger. Stacked to the sky, with two thick, juicy beef patties. Trust me, Carl’s JR, Wendy’s, Burger King, TGI Friday’s and even McDonald‘s burgers do not come close to these babies. Grilled to perfection, literally, and sandwiched between their famous soft, fluffy pancakes sprinkled with sesame seeds (to mimic Big Macs I suppose?). You can choose chicken over beef, but I see no reason for it, unless your religion forbids.

Two FAT, GREASY thumbs up for the burger, albeit none for the fries. They were a bit soggy, and lost the crisp, though thicker cut of potatoes were used.

Maple Baked Mixed Fruits (Peaches, Plum, Pineapple, Strawberries, Blueberries) & Ice Cream Oven-Baked Puff Pancakes (RM23.50)

Paddington’s running a promotion right now. For purchases of over RM50, you’re entitled to order ONE dessert pancake at 50% off!!! And trust me, their dessert pancakes cover a whole lotsa selections, and we cracked our heads trying to pick one. Of course, paying HALF-PRICE for a pancake sounds orgasmically-alluring, thus we tried to pick the most EXPENSIVE option available. Muahaha …

And we did not come out disappointed. Served warm in a pan, the pancake was soft, fluffy and crisp at the crust (think pizzas), with toppings of mixed fruits, and vanilla ice cream. For an extra RM5, you can opt for drizzles of fruit liquer. Suffice to say, the desserts ended our dinner on a high note.

Promotion of 50% off desserts with orders of over RM50, available on weekdays only

Location : Paddington House of Pancakes @ G20, Hartamas Shopping Centre, No 60, Jln Sri Hartamas 1, Kuala Lumpur.

Comfortable, plush sofa … But if you’re dining, prepare for a bad back!

Initially planned to dine at Sushi Zanmai, but our pursue came to a halt somewhere halfway there, (it is located at the top floor of The Gardens, and walking all the way from Midvalley, that is quite a journey). Countless escalators to be transcended more, we surrendered to our hunger pangs, and the crowd at Rak Thai caught our eyes.

Let’s hope there’s no birds’ droppings!

Of all the visits to The Gardens lower ground floor (where the REAL action’s at, food-wise that is), I never paid much attention to Rak Thai, as the place was quite deserted on weekdays. Situated next to SBread, and Big Apple Donuts, and opposite Nyonya Colors, the patronage level seems to pale in comparison to other offerings, such as Din Tai Fung, for example.

But that evening, the restaurant was fully packed, and as soon as we sighted an empty table for 4, we rammed and bulldozed through every obstacles, and jumped into the seats. Muahaha …. The usherer was probably scratching his head, wondering “What’s up with these barbarians?!!”

Pandan Lemongrass Drink (Rm2.50), Thai Iced Coffee (Rm3.90)

Beverages section is your usual suspects, from fruit juices to their “authentic” Thai tea and coffee, as well as the strange sounding Pandan Lemongrass drink. Surprisingly, the drink was pretty good, typical pandan-flavoured water with a stalk of lemongrass (as stirrer, I supposed?). Definitely NOT my choice, as I’ve absolutely no lurve for lemongrass. Hehe …. The Thai Iced Coffee was my choice, nothing special, but loved the milky caffeine boost. Oh, they serve Vietnamese Drip Coffee as well. Talk about influence from neighbouring countries!

Som Tam, or Papaya Salad (Rm4.90)

Thai food aficionados would attest to their famous tangy salad, in particular the mango or papaya salad. The portion may be small, but served its purpose as an appetizer, with its saliva-inducing sour and spicy flavours. Oh, careful as there ARE bits and pieces of bird’s eye chilli implanted within the mash of humble-looking young papaya strips, raw long beans, and peanuts. Piquant, tangy, and appetizing, this was a positive sign of things to come.

Tom Yam Kung (RM10.90)

Yes, we are predictable. But what’s Thai food without its ***star attraction***, the sweat-inducing Tom Yam soup. Two varieties are served, one with chicken, the other with seafood. When the large bowl arrived, I was stunned as the broth was clear, without any signs of murky tomyam paste, and the soup was brimming with ingredients. Albeit of the inedible species, namely lemongrass, kaffir lime, galangal, chillis and what-nots. Of course, 2 medium-sized prawns, oyster mushrooms, and chicken meat (or was there any?) were thrown in for good measure. But the clear tom yam broth may be misleading, as the full flavour of the spicy and sour concoction pulled through, and definitely on par with (or even surpass) the tomyam soup we normally have in Malaysia.

Pineapple Fried Rice (RM12.90)

Belacan Fried Rice (RM11.90)

Routinely, we would have ordered white rice to pair with the tomyam soup, but no intentions to stuff ourselves with meagre rice (no love lost, ok?), we opted for two version of fried rice; the Pineapple Fried Rice, and the Belacan (pungent/fermented shrimp paste) Fried Rice. Both were delicious in their own rights, the former shone with its sweet and sour pineapple cubes and fluffy rice fried to perfection, served in a hollow pineapple half. The latter on the other hand, was slightly disappointing presentation-wise, but scored with its strong flavours, coming from the belacan and the various ingredients used, eg. shrimps, eggs, kangkung (water convolvulus … gee, vulgar sounding vege eh?) and crab sticks.

BBQ Chicken Khao San Style (RM12.90)

Khao San is a backpacker’s paradise, a road buzzing with activities in Bangkok, Thailand. But I did not realize their BBQ Chicken is to-die-for though. The barbecued whole boneless chicken thigh was served on a bed of lettuce, and a simple Thai chilli sauce for dipping. A tad dry for my dining companions, but I found the meat to be juicy enough, and retained much of the taste of the meat, with a smoky finish. Not highly recommended, but satiate the carnivorous appetite.

Mango Sticky Rice (RM5.90)

Tub Tim Krob (RM4.90)

Desserts came in the form of Mango Sticky Rice and Tub Tim Krob. Throughout my trip to Bangkok aeons ago (gee, wont’ someone PLEASE invite me along to Bangkok again? I’m on the brink of desperation!), one of my favourite street food was the mango sticky rice. Yup, nothing else came close, though the beef noodles fared pretty well in my books too. The version served at Rak Thai was abyssmal, a tiny, sloppy chunk of glutinous rice drenched with coconut milk, and half a mango, that’s screaming “I’m a Local Malaysian Product!”. Not as sweet as the ones I’ve had in Bangkok.

Tub Tim Krob is famous Thai dessert, which is essentially water chestnut with tapioca coating, dyed in dark red. Chewy, crunchy beads, served with jackfruit strips, and shaved ice. Refreshing, but slightly pricey for a small bowl.

They have NO signboards, just a simple banner

“Ahem, pray we dun sneeze … or our cover’s blown!”

Pose with human mannequins and run your itchy fingers all over the “statues”?

Join the crowd (it’s a Monday, mind you!) and queue for sickly sweet indulgences, nightmare for the diabetic souls ….

Or find requiem by tucking yourself in a corner, watching gluttons smearing their faces with sauces and relish, and satiate your hollow stomach, begging for rations … ?

Unlimited relish, dipping sauces, bottomless soft drinks – What more can you ask for?

Walking around in circle in Pavilion, I found myself drawn to various eateries, and even Food Republic. But, luncheon alone is not so acceptable in our country, unless you deviate your attention from the prying eyes, who may be wondering what’s the monster next table’s up to, ordering a meal fit for a crowd, and yet dining alone.

Crisp, freshly fried and hot French fries, showing some “skins” ….

Restaurants in Pavilion are a dime a dozen. From the posh Japanese outlet (Kampachi), Chinese fine dining (Silk Road) and steak house (Angus), to mid-range varieties such as Tony Roma’s, Madam Kwan’s, and Crystal Jade, you’re bound to find something that suits your palate and mood, on any given day.

However, fast food options are lacking, other than Nando’s, KFC, and Carl’s Jr, there’s basically nothing much to feed the junkie souls/teenagers/students. Food Republic may be a viable option, with the amazing array of culinary delights, but I seldom choose food courts, due to endless unfavourable experiences.

(=P) … Even the burger’s sticking out its tongue? Teasing poor, lonely me?

After much deliberation, I decided to park my derriere in Carl’s Jr, my second visit to the outlet here, in Pavilion. (The 1st outing was aeons ago, but I wasnt a blogger yet, therefore no pics, sorry!). Still remember the Chili Cheeseburger was pretty interesting (not necessarily delish, but interesting nevertheless!), while the Guacamole beefburger was forgettable.

In case you didn’t know, the “fast-food” here is a wee different from your usual McD, and Burger King. A full set for one, will set you back at around RM20-RM30/set, depending on your choice. Of course, the basic Cheeseburger set is slightly cheaper. Just slightly.

Western Bacon Cheeseburger – RM20.50 (Medium)

This time around, I opted for the Western Bacon Cheeseburger set, which came with regular fries and a medium-sized empty paper cup. Of course, I made a mistake. A small set costs less, around RM18 (before tax), but I accidentally pointed to the medium set, additional RM1.50 for a few more sticks of fries, and a larger cup. Why I felt stupid was because the drink’s refillable. Why on earth would I need a bigger cup? (Unless you’re a lazybum who can’t be bother to refill your cup, OR you prefer drinking from giant-sized cups, fine … )

Tastewise? The bacons were crispy, and the beef patty was good. Juicy, and flavourful. Unlike the previous visit. And the cheese was oozing out, PLUS there’s a whole fried onion rings sandwiched between the buns. It IS filling, don’t let my picture fools you. The fries on the other hand, were just heavenly. With bits of potato skins intact, and lightly salted, eat them with the salsa relish from the sauces counter. Addictive stuff. (Though it all adds up on the waist). Drinks choices include soft drinks, and iced lemon tea. Drink to your heart’s content … Or til your bladder can’t hold.

Location : Carl’s JR @ Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, on Lower Ground Floor. Next to KFC, Pizza Hut, and Nando’s. Easy to find, no worries. If you’re lost, go eat sand. I mean, go ask the kind staff at the help desk on ground floor. Or get a directory.

Question : What do you do after a full meal, when your belly’s weighing you down?

Go jump from this height. Kidding.

Watch and savour the camaraderie of people dancing, prancing around, and drums a-beating, feeling the beats from all over the world ….

It so happened on that day, the Malaysian Drum Festival was kicking in full force. Teams from all over the world were performing, ala street style, entertaining the casual shoppers, and curious on-lookers. (Btw, the event ended on Aug 2nd at Stadium Merdeka). Amazing performances, mind you. These guys (and gals) are professionals, beating their drums with such passion and flair, hundreds were watching, clapping, and some foreigners were eagerly dancing along, basking in the sense of festivity.

What a befitting way, to end my solemn, lonely and long-overdue soul-searching that Monday afternoon. Sometimes, walking around aimlessly IS therapeutic after all ….

P/S : I’ll be gone to Cameron Highlands over the weekend, followed by another round of KL visit-cum-work-cum-food tour (!!) until Wednesday. Staying near Jln Universiti, PJ area. Any recommendations for good food? 😉

Izzi Restaurant – The building’s architecture and design definitely stood out among the shops along Jln Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur

Bruschetta – Baked Pizza Dough with Fresh Tomato Red Onion, Basil and Pesto Sauce ( RM10.80, >>> RM3.78)

I myself am not a Citibank credit card holder, therefore I dragged a pitiful (and willing) soul along. Yup, somebody with the aforementioned card, and willing to stuff oneself crazy (orders up to RM100+) and not lament about it. Muahaha …..

Ordering was a breeze, as in contrast to most outings, this time, we HAVE TO order the most expensive dishes, throwing caution to the wind, all the while calculating the amount ordered so that the total exceeds RM100. How cool is that? =)

The Bruschetta I had in mind was the one with baguette type of bread, toasted well and served with some salsa toppings, or cheese, or bacon and whatnots. But the one served here utilises pizza dough, with toppings of sour and tangy relish comprising of tomato/basil/pesto sauce. The dough was baked, not toasted, therefore slightly chewy, but the sauce was good. But we did not manage to finish the whole portion, as stuffing one’s stomach with bread before the mains just did not sound appealing, no?

BBQ Chicken Salad – Variety of greens with BBQ chicken, drizzled with Izzi Ranch Dressing (RM19.80 >>> RM6.93)

Though I was tempted to skip all appetizers and go with the meat (the carnivore in me in full form that particular day), somehow the salad selection looked tempting, with Greek salad, Caesar’s salad, Grilled chicken salad and BBQ Chicken salad being listed.

We chose the BBQ Chicken Salad, as Rule 101 = Choosing the recommended item, listed way up high on the menu, somehow decreases the possibility of ordering something lacklustre.

Aiya … Mediocre only. The ranch dressing sauce did not seem to complement the salad well, though the hearty portion made up for it. Devouring the tortilla strip, romaine lettuce strips, corn riblet and mozzarella cheese suddenly made me felt less guilt on over-indulging. Hehe ….

Spicy Italian Sausage Linguine – Linguine pasta tossed with red/green peppers, Italian lamb sausage, with Italian herbs paste (RM22.80 >>> RM7.98)

The Spicy Italian Sausage Linguine is deemed a new item on the menu, and the prospect of linguine with peppers, onions and Italian LAMB sausages sounded like a winner, no? Truthfully, how often do you find lamb sausages being served? However, the dish was a disappointment, the pasta not cooked al dente, and the lamb sausages slices were a tad too saltish to my liking.

(Beef n’ Izzi Pizza – Smoked beef, salami, spicy beef, Italian sausage, with Izzi spicy sauce RM34.80 >>> RM12.18)

Sigh, after an onslaught of meagre offerings, Izzi redeemed herself once the pizza was served. Generously garnished with various types of beef, and sausages, the pizza was a tantalising treat to the senses. They serve pizzas in two sizes, regular (6″) and large (8″). The regular portion was sufficient for two, eight slices of cheesy (albeit slightly oily) goodness, with yummy beef salami and smoked beef, smothered with spicy Izzi sauce, quite alike BBQ dressing. I had the lion’s share, all 5 pieces in succession. 😉

Deep fried calamari with Bangkok sauce and Izzi dressing sauce (RM16.80 >>> RM5.88)

The waiter missed our order of the deep fried calamari, and had to be reminded not once, not twice but THRICE. Imagine waiting for an appetizer/snack after the mains had been polished off. But we patiently awaited, keeping our fingers crossed for a snack so common, it’s typically hard to cook this wrong. Or we assumed.

After about 10 minutes of wait (post-mains), the snacks arrived. All 8-9 pieces of soggy, salty, and utter-disgraceful squid rings. C’mon?! Even Malay warung or Mamak outlets can fry these better. Wondering what the “Bangkok sauce” was? It’s the Thai Chilli sauce. Nothing more, nothing less. We were struggling to finish the whole plate. And yet, we did not succeed.

The meal came to around RM40 after discount. Very, very reasonable, considering the portions were all large enough to serve at least 3 pax. They serve set lunches weekdays, for RM12.99, you get a starter, a main, and a dessert. Perfect for a quick lunch, if you’re working around the area. They provide valet parking service for customers as well.

The Citibank 65% discount offer is valid until the end of August 2008. Do drop by before the promotion ends in less than a month.

Location : Izzi Restaurant @ 44-2A, 44-3A, 44-4AJln. Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.

Delivery No: 1-300-88-5555, Reservation : 03-2141 5808, Events/Functions No: 03-2141 4111.

Website : http://izzipizza.com/my/

For other takes on Izzi : 3 Meals, masak-masak, Honey Star, Pasankia

Kissaten ~ Translated to Cafe, in Japanese

Ho-mu Menyu- …. (Gee, the basic lesson in katakana* [thanks, Camemberu!] kinda helped)

Putting aside my Johor experience (food-wise, mostly), let me skip forward to a cafe situated in Jaya One (a commercial centre, but populated with so many food outlets, the place is a foodie’s wet dream come true, really); Kissaten Coffee and Restaurant.

Either embrace the zen-like modern ambience, tailored for yuppies (and youngsters, obviously)

OR bask in the sunlight, and immense heat, while dining al fresco … oh, you can puff away, suicidal one!!!

Various bloggers’ reviews on this outlet had an agreeable outcome; the desserts are must-tries, while the food may fall into either one of two categories, HIT, or MISS.

Cucumber Lychee (RM9.90)

Amnesiac ol’ me, had no recollection of recommended beverages. The only lady waitressing on that afternoon did not provide much assistance either, heavily pushing for the yoghurt drinks, and nothing else. Simple query from yours truly on the difference between Milk Tea (RM5.90) and ROYAL Milk Tea (RM6.90) subsequently led to the aforementioned waitress scratching her head, and mumbling of nothings. Obviously, staff training is still lacking, and creates room for improvement. I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed on this one.

Btw, the cucumber lychee drink is a BIG no-no. Diluted cucumber juice, too much ice, and none of the supposedly present lychee flavour (completely destroyed my hope for a bite of a lychee fruit or two …). At RM9.90 per glass, I paid premium price for a meagre thirst-quencher. Gimme good old Milk Tea anyday !!! 🙂

Char Siew Pizza (RM24.90)

The Char Siew Pizza (BBQ Pork Pizza) on the other hand, exceeded all of my expectations! Highly raved and commended by floggers alike, the pizza reminded me of Japanese pizza (Okonomiyaki), albeit with a twist. The presence of PORK!!! (oh, completely awaken the porky beast in me … muahahha)

Generously baked with cheese, and garnished with scallions, the combination of mayonaisse and sweet, okonomiyaki sauce (not sure of the REAL name for this, but there is a picture of the sauce HERE, in my Korean pancake post, in the last photo) works wonders. I was practically tearing away at the pizza, oblivious to my surroundings, and threw my table etiquette out the window for this one. Yup, trust me, this is THAT good !!!! The Char Siew is nothing like the Chinese Wantan Mee or Char Siew Rice type, but instead devoid of fatty portion, and less fragrant/decadent.

Cheesy, savoury goodness. Beats Pizza Hut’s best offering on anyday!!!

Ume Chicken Roll Set (RM15 – Promo price)

Currently, Kissaten is running a promotion for certain set lunches. Did I mention they serve various Japanese rice and noodles dishes, as well as bento sets? Most set lunches are in the realm of RM20+, and they’re holding special discount for certain sets. Do ask for assistance (though from the same “reliable” lady I mentioned earlier … hehe =P)

Ume Chicken Roll set came with white rice, miso soup, chawan mushi, and pickled Japanese cucumbers. The rolls may look small on the menu, or from my pic, but trust me, the batter-fried rolls of chicken thighs are very filling in their own rights. But wait, NO sauce provided??!!! Fortunately, the meat is tender and juicy, although fried until golden brown. But a plate of mayo, or katsu sauce would suffice, in my opinion. The steamed egg (Chawan mushi) was very, very smooth, until the point of slightly watery. But I like mine this way, so no qualms.

Pumpkin Cream and Vanilla Ice Cream (Rm9.90)

Desserts galore!!!! Limited choices, and again, the untrained mind (the waitress) continuously denied me of my initial plan to order the highly prized Rich Choco Pudding (RM7.90), purpotedly sinful, and velvety-goodness (according to various floggers). She kept questioning our picks, and recommended the cheese cake and cheese pudding instead. OK, fine.

The Pumpkin Cream + Vanilla Ice Cream was creamy and smooth. No strong pumpkin flavour, but a rather bland, and mild sweet broth, when combined with the vanilla ice-cream, made a lasting impression on our sweet palate. Just remember to finish this quick, before the whole dollop of ice cream melts and turns into a mash of diluted, sweet tong-sui.

Cheese Cake (RM7.90)

Since she insisted on the cake, we obliged. But regretted soon after. Don’t get me wrong. The texture was nice, not too soft or spongy (unlike Secret Recipe’s current offerings). But our only gripe was the somewhat mild cheese flavour. Not as cheesy as I’d prefer.

Location : Kissaten Coffee and Restaurant, L12A-1-1, Palm Square, Jaya One, Jalan Universiti, Petaling Jaya. Tel : 03-79541990.

For second opinions, hop over to :

masak-masak, Sweets for my Sweet Tooth, Shell Food Station, ling239, Kissaten’s own blog

Tough to make a decision, we gauge the number of patrons, as obviously, the more the merrier, right? (And render the shop more trustworthy in terms of quality and popularity). However, that did not work, as all 3 outlets were packed, and counting the number of heads was not a feasible choice, given the blazing hot sun outside, and jam-packed seating area.

Step two, trust our instincts and spied on the food being served. Pretty tough as well, as all yong tau foo looked the same from afar, no matter how hard you squint.

Last resort? Ini-Mini-Myni-Mo!!! A-ha! Ampang Homeland Yong Tau Foo it is! Bearing the moniker AMPANG HOMELAND somehow sounded reassuring, right? Let’s see ….

Fried Dumplings (Sui Kau)

They serve a variety of dishes, aside from the famed YTF, such as assam fish, pork with preserved vege, pandan chicken wings, and pork with vinegar. The fried dumplings were nothing special, though dipped in their homemade special chilli and sweet sauce, the taste was somewhat enhanced. The fillings was scarce, and the outer layer was not crispy enough.

Their special sauces, bottled and ready to be savoured

Mixed plate of Yong Tau Foo

And ladies and gentlemen, the **STARS** of the day. 10 pieces of their signature stuffed fishpaste, in all their glories, served with some spoonful of soup. Sad to say, nothing impressive. You can have them with rice, if you wish. The fishpaste was not what we expected, and the portion was skimpy, to say the least. The saving grace came in the form of the dipping sauces, yet again. Total : RM11.50 for the meal, including 2 drinks.

Later that same day, Tummythoz who’s from Ampang, informed me that the third shop, named Foong Foong (or something like that) IS the shop to visit for REAL, delicious YTF. But only YTF is served, no extra dishes unlike the other two counterparts, or challengers.

Location : No. 622-C, Jalan Merdeka, Kg Baru Ampang, 68000 Ampang, Selangor. Tel : 03-42924712.