Sakae Sushi @ Bangsar Village II

Rating:

• Food (1-10): 7.5
• Price (1-10): 7.5
  
• Environment (1-10): 8
  

28 February 2011: My 3rd visit to Japanese Restaurant in the month, Sakae Sushi. For those who knows me well, this is unusual because I'm not a Japanese food lover. I'm seriously influenced by the Hong Kong series on sushi.

Here comes the food...

• Kimuchi Ramen (RM12.90++) -> Ramen with teriyaki chicken, braised egg and assorted vegetables in kimuchi soup. Not bad, quite tasty and appetizing but I still prefer the Kaisen Ramen I had at Sushi Tei last week.
  
• Yakitori (RM7.90++) -> Skewered chicken grilled with teriyaki sauce. Chicken are tender and juicy. Teriyaki sauce taste just right with the grilled chicken. Recommended.
  
• Sakae Chawanmushi (RM3.90++) -> Steamed egg, chicken, crabmeat, vegetarian shark's fin and Japanese fish cake. Steamed egg is very smooth while other ingredients are quite tasty. Reasonable price. Worth a try.

• Smoked salmon with cheese (RM3.90++) -> Smoked salmon goes really well with cheese. Highly recommended!
  
• Jyo Unagi (RM5.90++) -> Premium river eel. Taste great!
  
• Salmon (1.90++) -> Normal.

Hot green tea there costs RM2++ per cup and it's self- refillable. I don't like the hot water dispenser there. It's not very user friendly. First timers tend to spill the hot water all over the table.

Here's the location and contact of Sakae Sushi @ Bangsar Village II ...
Address: 2F-26 / 27, 2nd Floor, Bangsar Village II, 2 Jalan Telawi 1, Bangsar Baru, 59100 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 603-2287 1535


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Chong Yuan Seafood Restaurant @ Pandan Indah

Rating:

• Food (1-10): 8
  
• Price (1-10): 8
  
• Environment (1-10): 6.5
  

22 February 2011: We went to Chong Yuan Seafood Restaurant (颂园海鲜饭店) again to try some other dishes that we had never tried there during previous visits. This is my second visit here this month.

Here's what we had this time...

• Steamed Red Snapper with Assam Sauce (亚三金凤) (RM19) -> Fish is fine, tender and fresh. Assam sauce is very tasty and appetizing. Very reasonable price. Highly recommended.
• Home Style Braised Streaky Pork with Preserved Vegetable (梅菜扣肉) (RM12++) -> Not bad. Tender but not too fat meat. Quite tasty but not the best I have ever had. Reasonable price. Recommended.
• Stir-fried Vegetables (RM7) -> Normal.

Here's the location, contact and info of Chong Yuan Seafood Restaurant:
Address: M4A/16, Jalan Pandan Indah 4/1, Pandan Indah, 55100 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-4296 2285
Business hours: 12pm-3pm (Lunch), 5.30pm-10pm (Dinner), Closed on Wednesdays.


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Here are the links to my previous posts on Chong Yuan Seafood Restaurant:

• 1 February 2011
• 20 January 2011
  

Sushi Tei @ The Gardens Mall, Mid Valley City

Rating:

• Food (1-10): 7.5
• Price (1-10): 7
  
• Environment (1-10): 8
  

21 February 2011: This is my second visit to a Japanese Restaurant in the past 1 week, seriously influenced by the Hong Kong series on sushi. Sushi Tei is located at Lower Ground floor of The Gardens Mall.


Here comes the food...

• Kaisen Ramen (RM26.80++) -> Assorted seafood ramen. Very tasty and appetizing soup, I think it's kimchi soup if not mistaken. It's the best kimchi soup and ramen I've ever had. Quite a lot of fresh seafood, prawns, squid, fish, etc... Quite pricey though...
• Egg Mayo (RM3.20++) -> Yummy yummy... I'm an egg lover. I like most egg-based food :D
• Tamago Maki (RM1.80++) -> Normal.

Hot, refillable green tea here costs RM2++ per cup.

Here's the location and contact of Sushi Tei...
Address: LG-210, Lower Ground Floor, The Gardens Mall, Mid Valley City, Lingkaran Syed Putra, 59200 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-22827635


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Sushi Zen @ The Gardens Mall, Mid Valley City

Rating:

• Food (1-10): 7
  
• Price (1-10): 7.5
  
• Environment (1-10): 7.5
  

18 February 2011: Sushi Zen is located at Lower Ground floor of The Gardens Mall. First of all, I'm not a Japanese food lover, but due to the influence of a Hong Kong series on sushi that we've been watching recently, we are tempted to eat sushi.

Here's what we had...

• Yakiudon (RM8.80++) -> Not bad although I personally do not like udon. Taste a bit too sweet but definitely better than those in Sushi King.
• Unagi Sushi (RM3.80++) -> Unagi tastes good but the rice did not stick well. Almost half of the rice came off when I tried to lift it with chopsticks.
• Tamago Sushi (RM1.80++) -> Normal.
• Chawanmushi (RM4.80++) -> Steamed egg is fine and soft. Not bad.

Hot green tea there costs RM1++ per cup and it's refillable.

Here's the location and contact of Sushi Zen...
Address: LG K02, Lower Ground, The Gardens, Mid Valley City, Lingkaran Syed Putra, 59200 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-74923080



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Ming Kee Freshwater Turtle @ Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan

Rating:

• Food (1-10): 8
  
• Price (1-10): 8.5
  
• Environment (1-10): 6
  

15 February 2011: Kuala Pilah is famous for its freshwater turtle soup. Freshwater turtle is called "Labi-labi" in Bahasa Malaysia or "水鱼" in Chinese.


There are few stalls selling freshwater turtle in Kuala Pilah. The stalls are located in the food court next to Kuala Pilah market. Among the stalls, Ming Kee is claimed to serve better quality freshwater turtle.


Freshwater turtle soup is cooked with some herbs. One can choose to have the freshwater turtle with the herbal soup alone or eat with noodles. A bowl of freshwater turtle noodle (small) costs RM6. If you prefer stronger herbal taste, freshwater turtle soup is recommended. On the other hand, if you don't like soup with strong herbal taste, it's recommended to try the freshwater turtle noodle. Besides, it's more filling as well.

Here's the location of Ming Kee Freshwater Turtle/Labi-Labi Ming Kee/明记水鱼 @ Kuala Pilah...


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Santini Ristorante Italiano @ Suria KLCC

Rating:

• Food (1-10): 8
  
• Price (1-10): 7
  
• Environment (1-10): 8

14 February 2011: Santini is an Italian restaurant managed by Tai Thong Resources Bhd. It serves a delicious selection of Italian delicacies, from wood fire pizzas to crunchy salads, creamy pasta and grills. It is located at Ground Floor of Suria KLCC, facing the water fountain and park. Besides Suria KLCC, there's another branch of Santini in Tropicana City Mall.


Since it's on Valentine's day, we ordered their Valentine's set dinner, with prior reservation. The 5-courses set dinner costs RM108++ per person.

Here comes the food...

• Starter -> Love bread sticks with air-dried beef and smoked salmon roulade with ricotta and chervil. The bread sticks were too hard, especially for my newly de-braced teeth. However, the beef and salmon taste great.
• Pasta -> Lobster meat ravioli with saffron crustacean butter. I like this a lot.

• Baked cod fish with braised fennel and pink pepper sauce -> Fine an tender fish with tasty sauce. Nice!
• Roasted duck breast with balsamic, prunes, sweet potatoes and rucola -> The duck itself taste not bad but I don't really like the sauce. It's slightly sour and sweet. I'm not sure what sauce was that.

• Spicy chocolate with strawberry heart with pistachio gelato -> Looks appetizing and taste good. Chocolate is thick, smooth and creamy. Ice-cream is not chocolatie enough but goes well with pistachio. I like this!
• Complimentary take-away chocolate -> Looks lovely and taste great.
  

• Red & White Wine (RM16++ per glass) -> On top of the Valentine's Day set dinner, we ordered 2 glasses of wine.
• Coffee -> I'm not a coffee lover. However, I think the coffee is not bad.

Overall, I enjoy this meal. Although it's a 5-course dinner, the portion of the food is just nice. Not too filling. Dining next to the water fountain and park also add some credits to this meal.

Here's location and contact of Santini Ristorante Italiano at Suria KLCC...
Address: Lot No. G45B, Ground Floor, Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2382 0329
Business Hours: 12noon-12midnight (Sunday-Thursday), 12noon-1am (Friday-Saturday & Eve of Public Holidays)


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Chengmai Thai Food @ Wakaf Bharu, Tumpat, Kelantan

Rating:

• Food (1-10): 8.5
  
• Price (1-10): 8
  
• Environment (1-10): 7
  

12 February 2011: Chengmai Thai Food is known as the best Thai restaurant in town. It is located quite deep inside a residential area called Kampung Kulim in Wakaf Bharu.


Chengmai Thai Food Restaurant uses traditional attap roof. Hence, even without air-cond, it's quite cooling dining there, under the attap roof. Here's what we had...

• Thai-style Steam Grouper Fish (RM30) -> Fresh grouper fish in very tasty and appetizing sauce. I almost couldn't stop eating this. Highly recommended.
  
• Pandan Leaves Chicken (RM20) -> 10 pieces of chicken wrapped in pandan leaves. Not the best I've ever had, but not bad. Reasonable price.
  
• Deep-fried Kangkung (RM8) -> It's my first time seeing and trying deep-fried kangkung. Great experience. Crispy and tasty while the kangkung is still fresh, not overcooked. Worth a try. Recommended.
  
• Seafood in Otak-otak (RM18) -> Various types of seafood (prawns, squid, crab, etc...) wrapped in tasty otak-otak. The otak-otak is slightly spicy but appetizing.
  
• Deep-fried Pork Knuckle (RM47) -> Very big portion. Pork is not very fresh, with kind of weird taste. Overpriced. However, I was told that this dish used to be very good on other days. I guess maybe they are running out of fresh pork due to the high demand during Chinese New Year.

In conclusion, Chengmai Thai Food is worth a visit. There are few others famous Thai restaurant nearby, such as Bangkok and Phuket but Chengmai is said to be the best.

Here's the location and details of Chengmai Thai Food Restaurant...
Address: No.107, Kampung Kulim, Wakaf Bharu, Tumpat, 16250 Kelantan.
Tel: 09-7190568
Business Hours: 6pm-12am




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Kedai Kopi Wah Mui @ Kota Bharu, Kelantan

Rating:

• Food (1-10): 8.5
  
• Price (1-10): 9.5
  
• Environment (1-10): 7
  

12 February 2011: Kedai Kopi Wah Mui (华美茶室) is a traditional Malaysian style of kopitiam. It has been operating in Kota Bharu for almost half a century. Although it's non air-conditioned, air ventilation in the kopitiam is good due to the high ceiling. This place is clean, comfortable and cozy. Besides, customers are also allowed to bring own food into the kopitiam. Most of the customers here are regulars. The price of the food and drinks here are economical too.


Here are what I had here for breakfast...

• Roti Kahwin (RM0.70) -> Toast bread with kaya and butter. Bread is perfectly-toasted, crispy and fluffy. Amount of kaya and butter spread on the bread is just nice, yummy!
  
• Half-boiled Eggs (RM1) -> Nicely done! The eggs are soft and smooth but not too watery.
  
• Kopi-O (RM1) -> Although I'm not a coffee lover, this is one of the best kopi-o I've ever had. Thick and aromatic. Not too sweet.

Although Kedai Kopi Wah Mui only serves simple food and drinks, they are of high quality at low price. Recommended for a comfortable, relaxing and economical breakfast or evening tea.

Here's the location and details of Kedai Kopi Wah Mui...
Address: 3925, Jalan Sultanah Zainab, 15000 Kota Bharu, Kelantan.
Business Hours: 7:30am-8pm (Saturday-Thursday), 7:30am-12pm (Friday).


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Yati Ayam Percik @ Kota Bharu, Kelantan

Rating:

• Food (1-10): 8
  
• Price (1-10): 7
  
• Environment (1-10): 6.5

11 February 2011: Yati Ayam Percik is known as the best ayam percik in Kota Bharu. It is a specially marinated chicken roasted on charcoal flame. When done, a creamy percik sauce is poured lavishly over the chicken.

The ayam percik is sold at RM10 for 1 panggang, which consists of a piece of chicken thigh and a piece of chicken breast.

After trying Yati Ayam Percik, the comment I can give is that it's undeniably good. The chicken is juicy and tasty. Percik sauce is well-absorbed into the chicken. It's recommended to eat the ayam percik with rice. If you want to eat the ayam percik by itself, it might taste a bit too salty.

Yati Ayam Percik is located at 847, Jalan Long Yunus, 15200 Kota Bharu, Kelantan.


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Restaurant 59 Thai Food @ Kota Bharu, Kelantan

Rating:

• Food (1-10): 7
  
• Price (1-10): 8
  
• Environment (1-10): 6.5
  

10 February 2011: It was quite late at night when we arrived at Kota Bharu. Hence, my bf brought me to a Thai Restaurant nearby. Restaurant 59 Thai Food serves Thai food, as well as, Korean Steamboat and BBQ. Although it's an air-conditioned restaurant, many people still smoke in the restaurant.


Here are the dishes we had...

• Eel Fried Phat Phet (RM12) -> Phat Phet is a spicy Thai style of frying. Really quite spicy indeed. Each small piece of eel comes with a piece of bone, causing it a bit difficult to eat. However, this dish is worth a try.
  
• Fried Kangkong with Belacan (RM8) -> Again, hot and spicy.
  
• Tomyam Soup (RM15) -> Finally, still hot and spicy. I personally do not really like the addition of ginger into the soup.

After the meal, I do not have much comment. I can only say my mouth, throat and stomach were burning.

Here's the location of Restaurant 59 Thai Food...


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Sin Long Hong Restaurant @ Sungai Petani, Kedah

Rating:

• Food (1-10): 8
  
• Price (1-10): 7.5
• Environment (1-10): 7.5
  

7 February 2011: I had a Chinese New Year gathering dinner with my relatives in Sungai Petani. We made reservation for 3 tables in Sin Long Hong Restaurant (新龙凤冷气酒家).


We ordered the Chinese New Year set meal at RM288 per table, which consists of the dishes below:

• Lou Sang (七彩鱼生) -> Normal.
  
• Shark's Fin with Fish Maw (鱼飘鱼翅) -> Quite tasty.
  
• Kampung Chicken with Herbs (六味村鸡) -> Chicken is fresh and fine. However, the taste of herbs did not really absorb well into the chicken.
  
• Mushrooms and Abalone (灵菇汤鲍) -> Taste good.
  
• Curry Pork Ribs (加哩排骨) -> Delicious curry. Soft and tender mini baos.
  
• Prawns with Pepper and Salt (椒盐虾碌) -> Satisfactory.
  
• Steamed Promfret with Assam Sauce (酱蒸银鲳) -> Best dish of the day. Fresh, fine and solid fish. Assam sauce is very tasty and appetizing.
• Longan with Agar-agar (龙眼菜燕) -> Normal.

In conclusion, this is a very enjoyable meal. Overall, I'm satisfied with the dishes. My father specifically mentioned to come back for the Steamed Promfret with Assam Sauce again.

Here's the location and contact Sin Long Hong Restaurant:
Address: No. 320, Lorong 9, Taman Bandar Baru, 08000, Sungai Petani, Kedah.
Tel: 04-4413880


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Pinang Fisherman Wharf @ Sunshine Square, Penang

Rating:

• Food (1-10): 7.5
  
• Price (1-10): 7.5
  
• Environment (1-10): 8
  

6 February 2011: My parents and I were looking for a place to have a quick Chinese New Year dinner. That's when my father recalled that he saw a new Chinese Restaurant in Sunshine Square, which is Pinang Fisherman Wharf (东海渔村). It's an air-conditioned and cozy Chinese Restaurant specializing in seafood.


Here's what we had...

• Seafood and Bean Curd in Claypot (海鲜豆腐煲) (RM27++) -> Variety of fresh and tasty seafood, such us fish slices, fish maw, scallops, prawns, etc... Reasonable price. Highly recommended.
  
• Duck with Plum Sauce (梅子鸭) (RM22++) -> Duck itself is tasteless and slightly too dry. However, it taste just nice when eaten with the plum sauce.
  
• Spinach with Soup (上汤苋菜) (RM10++) -> Huge portion. Fresh spinach. Tasty soup. Reasonable price.
  
• Fried Teochew Noodle (潮州面条) (RM8++) -> I personally do not like the texture of the noodle, too soft.

In conclusion, I think Pinang Fisherman Wharf serves good quality food at reasonable price. I will go again when there's a chance to try other dishes.

Here's the location and details of Pinang Fisherman Wharf...
Address: Level 2, Annex Building, Sunshine Square, No. 1, Jalan Mayang Pasir, 11950 Penang.
Tel: 04-6411777
Daily Business Hours: 11.30am-3pm, 5.30pm-11pm


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Chong Yuan Seafood Restaurant @ Pandan Indah

Rating:

• Food (1-10): 8
  
• Price (1-10): 8
  
• Environment (1-10): 6.5
  

1 February 2011: Chong Yuan Seafood Restaurant (颂园海鲜饭店) has recently become one of my favourite eating-out place in Pandan Indah. The food is generally good at reasonable price so it's always fully occupied. The only short-coming is the waiting time due to the number of customers waiting in the queue.

Here's what we ordered...

• Braised Pork Knuckle (横财就手) (RM25) -> Very big portion. Fine, tender and tasty meat. Value of money. Highly recommended especially during Chinese New Year.
• Steamed Fish with Ginger (姜茸皖鱼) (RM18) -> I personally do not like this type of fish, a lot of bones. Picking the bones is a tiring task, causing me not being able to enjoy the food.
• Stir-fried Kangkung (RM7) -> Normal.

Here's the location, contact and info of Chong Yuan Seafood Restaurant:
Address: M4A/16, Jalan Pandan Indah 4/1, Pandan Indah, 55100 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-4296 2285
Business hours: 12pm-3pm (Lunch), 5.30pm-10pm (Dinner), Closed on Wednesdays.


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Link to my previous post on Chong Yuan Seafood Restaurant:

• 20 January 2011
  

Yum Yum Curry House @ Pandan Indah

Rating:

• Food (1-10): 7
  
• Price (1-10): 7.5
  
• Environment (1-10): 7
  

1 February 2011: Yum Yum Curry House (海港城加哩鱼头饭店) is a relatively new air-conditioned restaurant in Pandan Indah. I've been there for more than three times and it's normally not fully occupied. Hence, the service is quite fast.

We ordered...

• Fish head curry (RM26) -> Grouper fish head in thick and tasty curry. Best dish in this restaurant so far. Worth a try.
  
• Steamed tauhu with onion oil (RM6) -> Tauhu is served cold. What a disappointment. Based on past experience, I expect this dish to be served hot.
  
• Stir-fried vege (RM10) -> Normal.

After a few visits to this restaurant, I found that the only dish that I would recommend is fish head curry. The rest are average.

However, the price is reasonable and waiting time is short. If you are looking for a comfortable, clean and decent place for a quick meal, this place is worth a try.

Here's the location and contact of Yum Yum Curry House...
Address: 15, Jalan Pandan Indah 4/10, Pandan Indah, 55100 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 012-3828670


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