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Korea Day 2 Itinerary (Seoul) - Travel Blog

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Day 1 was tiring, no doubt. After a night of sitting on a plane, listening to several children shouting their lungs out and babies crying as if the plane was about to crash, it can really be exhausting. Until today, I still wonder why are infants allowed on board - especially on a night flight. Anyway, moving on that, for those of you whom are interested in day 1, here is the link Korea Itinerary Day 1

Waking up in the morning, as energised as I was excited. I felt the pulse of life, seeping through my skin. We showered, plan our route on a physical map (yes, this is bloody important) and proceed on out. 


Our itinerary of the day was fairly simple - visit Seoul Tower and Bukchon Village. It may seem fairly simple but I assure you, we took the hard route out. 


The look on his face. I bet he loved his job.

Anyway, the day started with a train ride to the nearest station, followed by breakfast at Taco Bell. Yes. Taco Bell, you’ve heard that right. Taco fucking Bell. You might be wondering, why fast food on the second day of the trip? Well, frankly speaking, I’ve always wanted to know what Taco Bell taste like. And after several countries, this is the first time I’ve stumbled across one and I just had to go for it. 


As we plan to eat a whole lot more, we opt for the set meal that costed merely KRW5500, and shared. 

I would say this, but the photos looks amazing. Well, technically, I know that but I still had a pinch of hope left that it would be as good. 


When it was served, it came in one piece - which was rather surprising as the photo showed 2. Anyway, figured out that it would be different and I proceed to cut the damned thing in half. Poured some hot salsa provided and had my first bite. 

Honestly, not that bad. Whether or not I would go back, no. But for a first try, definitely. Or perhaps when I’m drunk or high, this would be good. The taco shell was nice and warm, while the inner fillings were somewhat generous (fast food benchmark). What really made it great was simply the sauce, a pretty decent one at that. Drinks are refillable and they offered a sort of Korean soda, which I quite enjoy. 


Next up, Line Friend’s Store. I’ve heard about them after I’d purchased my flight ticket, and fortunately they opened a month before my arrival. Pretty lucky I would say. Now I’m not exactly a big fan of Line or Line merchandise, but I would admit that it is cute to say the least. 

*Nearest station: Itaewon (Maroon line)


They pretty much have everything here, from t-shirts to shoes, balloons to thumbdrive, it’s all available here at a hefty price. I assume most girls would love this place as they were the only one that kept coming in and out. Guys, well, you’re pretty much the photographer here as they literally take photo at every available corner. 


To be fair, I did not flush the first time I came here. I simply did not understand how or where to press to flush the damned thing. At least have one button in English that says flush! 

It is also quite a huge store, with 3 stories in total - the highest being the cafe and toilet. 



Being somewhat attracted to the bear, I opted for their ice cream, which costs me KRW5000 per serving. That is bloody expensive, but well, it’s cute. So yeah. Take my money. Take it, and go. 

To be fair, I’d expected worst for the ice cream. Little that I know that the cream was absolutely delicious. It’s rich, subtlety sweet and smooth. A pretty damn good one at that. The ice cream also doesn’t melt as quickly, which gave us enough time to take photos. 


Moving on, we’ve decided to walk from where we were to Seoul Tower. We did not intend to take the taxi or bus simply because this was a way of travel that we enjoy. Breeze walking along the streets of Seoul - I mean, why not right? 


Of course, we stumbled across a few things here and there. Some shops and cafes that we simply had no time to visit. If I am to return, I will definitely pay them a visit. 


Finally, the first flight of stairs before getting on the route to Seoul Tower. Mind you, this does not lead to Seoul Tower directly, but more of getting into the park that leads us there. Even going to the cable car, you’ll need to climb this, unless of course you came from the other way round.


For those who enjoy a walk, I highly recommend that you come through here. Not sure about other seasons, but in Spring, you’ll be able to see a series of cherry blossoms, which is beautiful.


After a good 1 hour 30minutes climb, or more, I can’t recall, we’ve finally reach the top. Right before the entrance, there were plenty of tour bus, those lazy shits but yeah, plenty of them and even regular public bus, where you can ride to return back down. 

There will be plenty of tourists, so do not expect it to be an empty place where you can take photos anywhere. 


Even for this photo of the “love lock tree”, we had to wait in line. 

From here, you can opt to go up the Seoul Tower, or just linger around at the base. It is fairly huge, so we decided to just lay around and spend the money on food. The cost is roughly KRW7000-8000 to get up, but any meal spent on N Seoul Tower’s fine restaurant will allow you a ticket up. 


First thing’s first, Churros with Ice Cream. This delicious concoction of milk ice cream, strawberries and churros is only KRW5000, definitely worth the price! Though I’d still prefer the churros in Myeongdong, this wasn’t bad either. 


After that, lunch. There are several restaurants available, though not a lot, we went for N Burger, the same shop that sold us the ice cream churros. I opted for the classic beef burger with a side of beer, because that is what life is all about. I’m not gonna come here and have my side of fries and Coke, that’s for sure. 


In any case, the burger is good to say the least. Each and every element was cooked to perfection, but the combination is fairly simple. You can pretty much find this sort of burger everywhere else, but perhaps not done as nicely as N Burger. All and all, it still tasted good. The beer however, tasted a lot like water, but due to the weather and the mood, it’s all good. 


After lunch, we’ve decided to give Seoul Tower a final tour, just to see if we’ve missed out anything important. Once that was done, we took the bus down as we wish not to waste more time. The journey took 10 minutes to the station we intended to go. 


Entering Bukchon Hanok Village.

*Nearest station: Anguk (Orange line)


We then took the train and head on down to Bukchon Hanok Village. Where almost everyone had their Instagram photos taken here. But, there’s a catch. The most popular street isn’t exactly easy to find. In fact, we couldn’t find it even after searching frantically for 2 hours. We soon gave up and head back to Myeongdong. 


Our second arrival at Myeongdong allowed us to try out more food, those that we’ve failed to try on the first night. Of course, this was the day that we actually stepped in the beauty shops, scouting for prices and what to buy. 

The night ended with more food, and minor shopping of seaweed and some hand cream. We tend headed back home and rest for the night. 


Korea Day 2

9am - Left AirBnB to Taco Bell
9.30am - Breakfast at Taco Bell
10am - Left to Line Friend's Store
11.30am - Left to Seoul Tower (by walking)
1.30pm - Arrival at Seoul Tower
3pm - Left Seoul Tower to Bukchon Hanok Village
5pm - Left Bukchon Hanok Village to Myeongdong
5.40pm - Arrival at Myeongdong
9pm - Left Myeongdong back to AirBnB

*Disclaimer: All photos are taken with my Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge without any further editing. 

Eat Mor Paradise Steamboat @ Damansara Uptown, PJ

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Celebration comes in all sorts of shape and sizes. Steamboat, is definitely one of the most commonly used method of celebration in Malaysia. Featuring Eat Mor Paradise, a surprisingly huge restaurant with spacious seating located along the LDP/NKVE highway, in Damansara Uptown. You can easily spot the restaurant if you're coming from Subang using the NKVE through the Damansara toll. 



Look at that feast! The beauty of various elements, coming together in a hot boiling pot of soup - ahhh, life.  

Just pay attention to the humongous red sign above. 


This pork skewer comes from one of the special order menu, where they prepare it fresh upon putting the numbered clip in a bowl. It is also one I highly recommend getting as it is both juicy, succulent and packed full of flavour. The meat is also tender and literally melted in my mouth. Absolutely delicious and definitely worth seconds.


Chicken and Beef satay, both marinated and grilled beautifully, ensuring that the meat is both tender and juicy. Flavours were pretty good, and it came in just the right portion. 


Taiwanese sausages - a savoury treat to say the least.


Freshly grilled bak kwa - loads of flavour and undeniably tender. Loved it!


Pork Rice - a savoury concoction of minced pork meat braised in dark gravy and served with rice. 


Fresh cuts of meat! Definitely worth stacking up upon. 


For those who enjoy your daily dose of fibre, you're in luck. Eat Mor Paradise offers a wide and diverse range of vegetables, mushrooms, tofu and beancurd. All of them are sorted fresh on a daily basis. 


There's also an abundance of seafood items available. Items such as crabs, prawns, mussels, clams, fish and bamboo clams are some of the more popular picks. 


To begin, they offer 4 different types of soup - Clear, Chicken, Herbal and tomyam. Personally, I really enjoyed the tomyam as it is both spicy and sour, yet salty enough to flavour my meat, seafood and vegetables. Of course, the soup will get sweeter overtime with all the ingredients used, so the longer you cook the better it tastes.

As for the vegetables and meat, they're really fresh and are constantly being replenished. So do not worry if they were to run out. The slices of meat also takes no more than 15 seconds to cook, which is great. 

As for the sauces, you're in for a treat. There are more than 10 different types of sauces with more than 5 different types of condiments. Simply mix and match your favourite sauce, or follow some of the recipes recommended by them and enjoy. 

Overall, if you're looking for a place of celebration or you're stuck on LDP, then head on over to Eat More Paradise for a hearty meal of steamboat!

Address:

36A & 38A, Jalan SS21/62, Damansara Utama, 47400 PJ. 

Operating hours: Daily 5pm - 12am

Tel: 03-7733 9033

Korea Day 3 Itinerary (Seoul) - Travel Blog

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Another day in Seoul, and this is one of my favourites. For those who are interested in day 2, here is the link for it Korea Day 2. Today is a day dedicated to mountain hiking, a sport that I fell in love with ever since my climb in Three Sisters, Sydney. So without further ado, here's how it went. 


We planned this even before booking the tickets, as it's something that I thoroughly enjoy. I would say that we were fairly adventurous, without preparing anything and just eager to hike. We literally went with pairs of Nike, which is not recommended at any cost. 

We also thought that the use of the hiking stick was pointless, and thus proceed with pride without them. Little did we know.... 


Anyway, the day started off at a bakery - a bloody famous one at that. They can be found throughout Seoul, and could be annoying at times. Paris Baguette, a French stereotypical name for a bakery that offers a variety of breads and pastry. Bought some bread for breakfast cause we needed the energy, and also we had no time to prepare. Though I would highly recommend eating something else. 


Look at the amount of hikers on board! We look so unprepared!

We hopped on the train and headed to Gireum Station (Exit 3), and proceed to take Bus 143. The bus will take you directly to the base of Mount Bukhansan and if you do not know whether or not you've arrived, no worries, just follow the old folks. Yes, there will be plenty of them going for a hike, some older than you can imagine. 

There's also a electronic sign on the bus, so you can just follow that. Upon arrival, you'll be greeted with plenty of old folks in full-on hiking gear, ready with their sticks and everything. Do not look down on them as they might pass you faster than scream 'wtf'. Anyway, be prepared to be humiliated countless times as Koreans do take their hiking seriously. No joke. 


Be reminded that Mount Bukhansan has several starting point, ours is just one of the many - or perhaps the most commonly used one.


Here comes the next part - getting a stick. If you've not prep that in your itinerary, then I highly suggest you to get one now. It's not gonna cost a lot - mostly priced at KRW5000 per stick on average. The stick isn't necessary going up, but it truly helps coming back down - that is if you plan to hike to the peak. 

Also, I recommend bringing some warm food such as Kimbab or toppoki, kept in a container or aluminium foil. Bread too is alright, but I personally think that the former are better. Also, if you enjoy drinking, do bring a bottle of Soju or Makgeoli to celebrate when you reach the peak. 

Tissues - wet and dry are important as there will not be any when you go up. A bladder check is also recommended - especially if you plan on taking a shit. There will not be any toilet, or rather, civilised toilet above ground. What you'll find is several huts with a hole dug, and that's where both your poop and pee will go. Technically, I could see the previous person's shit right below. It is disgusting, but I would say it's part of the experience. 

So the basics apart, you should head to the tourist counter, where you can purchase a map for only KRW1000. It's a good buy and it does help in terms of setting the course. Phone signals will be weak so do not rely on them so much. The counter lady, or at least the one we encountered, could speak a little English, where she recommends us to hike the 3rd or 4th tallest peak - not the main one as we aren't prepared. 

The journey was expected to last 3 hours and 30 minutes, including decline but it took us well over 5 hours due to our freshness and lack of proper gear. So without further ado, here is a long list of photos!


We were headed for Daeseongun Gate, which is 3.0KM away. Do not be fooled by the number, it's actually a pretty long journey. 


Watch out for forest fire - a cute sign. 


The beginning was very easy. It's merely steps of stones one after another so we were fairly confident about it. Here is a photo of us proving how easy it was.


Drinkable water nearing the first pit stop - a temple. 


Beginning to ponder why on earth did we do this.


Arrival of the first temple stop. 


A beautiful sanctuary indeed. The place was peaceful and quiet, with plenty of other hikers gathered to rest. There's hot tea and water for you to drink, along with free food. Yes, free!


It's vegetarian, but this bowl of noodles really helped us regained some energy. The light kimchi broth was both sour and flavourful. 


The journey continues with more stairs. 


Look at these people, sitting at one edge of the rocks as if it's nothing. 


Some friendly uncles asked us if we wanted to take a photo, which was really kind of them. For some reason they were really friendly, and even asked where we're from, then proceed onto taking more photos. They even cheered us on which was really something haha. 


Arrival of the first gate - Deoseongmun Gate. 


The weather here was really pleasant - though a little cold. The wind was also strong and my hands were pretty much freezing. The beginning of the hike was a little warm as there were little wind, but at higher altitude, things start to shift. 


Here was where it got really bad. I really wanted to pee but there wasn't any toilet around. Thankfully, there was a toilet after the first gate. This temple is past the second gate, so technically, there wasn't any toilet from the first temple till here. So good luck to those who have weak bladder. 


On top of the second gate, estimated to be 1km away from the peak.


Finally. The top! The peak that we were going for is called Yeoseongbong Peak - which is 727m high. 


After spending a good 30 minutes freezing on top, we finally decide to get the hell down. After all, it's gonna be dark soon and I do not wish to be stuck up here when the sun sets. 


Her trusty stick. 


At the base of the mountain, on the other side.


More sakura.


Even after getting down, we were required to walk at least 30 minutes to the nearest bus stop - followed by another 15 minutes bus ride to the nearest train station. 


For dinner, we had some dakgalbi.  I can't recall where this was located, but it was fairly delicious. 


That would be all for day 3! Hope you guys look forward to day 4!

Carlsberg Smooth Draught - New Product Launch @ Carlsberg Factory, Shah Alam

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If you're the kind of person that enjoys a drink or two without trying to get drunk, Carlsberg latest's product might just be the right drink for you. Dubbed the "Carlsberg Smooth Draught", it is a great way to get fresh and tap-like features, all packed within a bottle. The drink is not only smooth and easy to drink, but has a nice carbonation that gives it that refreshing sensation. 


Carlsberg, because why not?



The Carlsberg team, 


Carlsberg Draught comes in only 1 size at the moment - 580ml bottle with a 4.8% alcoholic volume. It is also available in coffee shops, food courts, hawker centers, Chinese restaurants and selected supermarket. 


Not only did I enjoy the drink, I find that it pairs really well with a wide range of easily accessible snacks. 


Carlsberg Smooth Draught's bottle design too was designed to be a little more ergonomic and modern. It felt really good in hand and somehow subtly encouraged me to drink it by the bottle. 


I don't know where they find this guy, but his chicken wings was fucking amazing. Yes. It was good that I practically had 3-4 plates, each with about 4 wings (x2). Of course, Carlberg's latest Smooth Draught too helped by constantly refreshing my tastebuds, giving it a light palate and craving to have more!


The amazing crowd at an awesome party. Though a little hot, a cool beer goes a long way. 


Our table! It was a great party indeed, with awesome food and of course, amazing beer. So what are you waiting for? Head on to your nearest restaurant or supermarket and get one today. For more information, visit www.smoothdraught.com

Sip and Spin Laundry Cafe @ Evolve Mall, Ara Damansara PJ

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Ever wondered if there is a place where you can do your laundry, and not be bored at the same time? No bored per se, but at least have your tummy filled while waiting for the laundry to be complete? Well, there's a place for that now; located in Evolve Mall, Ara Damansara, Sip and Spin brings in a whole new concept of dining, and washing, under one roof. It may sound weird but I personally think that it's a great start.


The entrance.


Washing machine and dryers held at the back of the cafe. Simply pop in your clothes and enjoy a cup of coffee while waiting.


Inside, it's a chill and relaxing place with warm lightings and an abundance of natural light. There's free wifi and a wide range of drinks for you to savour from. 


Iced chocolate - a rich and sweet drink, perfect for a hot sunny afternoon.


Mocha, with an oddly drawn image on top. Looks a little like Mozart eh?


A simple green tea latte, though the bubbles may not look pretty, it does have decent flavour.


American Breakfast - RM10.90

A simple and straight-forwarded dish. The American Breakfast comes with a side of delicious omelette topped with a slice of cheese, baked beans, toasts with butter, 2 types of sausages and a side of salad. It's simple, affordable and fairly delicious.


Sunny Side Up - RM10.90

Another variant to the American Breakfast, but with sunny side up instead.


Aglio Olio - RM8.90

For its price, Sip and Spin's Aglio Olio is well above the rest. It packs in a good amount of flavour with limited ingredients, though 2 strips of capsicum is kinda cute. If you're looking for a quick fix while washing your clothes, this is definitely worth going for. 


Chicken Cumin Rice - RM9.90

If there's anything I would highly recommend - it would be this dish. Not only is it priced extremely cheap, the portion and taste certainly does feel way above it. The chicken was tender and packed with a good amount of flavour from the sauce and marination, as well as the rice with almond slices and raisins. Combining these two gave a pretty Mediterranean style flavoru profile which I simply enjoy.


Nutella Waffles

For dessert, a simple homemade-style waffle with plenty of Nutella and two scoops of vanilla ice cream. What's not to love?

Overall, though it may not be a place for fancy dining or anything like that, it is still a pretty decent place for everything else. The food is cheap and tasty, while doing your laundry here is both comfortable and convenient. 

Address:

D-1-3, Block D, Pacific Place, Jln PJU 1A/4A, Ara Damansara, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Malaysia

Operating hours: Daily 9am - 10.30pm

Tel: 012-2708353

Bites Bakery Cafe (The Best Bakery in Puchong) @ Bandar Puteri, Puchong

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Finding a good bakery is indeed difficult these days, even more so when we're looking for a great one. Fortunately, there's Bites Bakery Cafe. Located across Giant Hypermarket, across the road in Bandar Puteri, Puchong, this cozy little bakery is a great place to chill, relax and have awesome breads and pastries. Plus, they have one thing that every other bakery out there does not - dim sum!


This was what I meant - dim sum baskets with bite size breads and pastries. How cute is that?


Dim Sum mini bun with its respective price. Customers simply have to choose the size of the basket they would like and throw in as much as they desire. Each bun is like a mini replica of the real thing you'll find elsewhere, except at this portion, you'll be able to try a whole lot more flavours.


Look at this awesome array.


My pick of the day.


There are a wide variety of dim sum mini buns available, each with its own unique flavour. Like the two photos above - green tea and, ham and cheese bun. There's also a Nutella with banana bun, doughnuts, cheese filled bun, tuna and the lists goes on. 


Apart from that of course, Bites Bakery Cafe too offer a good selection of regular sized breads, made fresh daily. Each piece is crafted to perfection, with premium ingredients and excellent workmanship. Flavour and texture both go hand in hand at Bites Bakery Cafe, so rest assured. 


My favourite sausage bun. It has a nice chew to the bread itself, with added crusted texture on the outside and cheese on the inside, giving it a blend of depth and dimension. 


Here are more breads! 


Had a bit of hands on at the back of the kitchen. I guess it's pretty fun to make your own bread. 


Each booth comes with your its own 'hut', which is fairly amazing.


All and all, if you're looking for a place to get some bread for your kids to school, or spouse to work, Bites Bakery Cafe is the best option you'll have. Apart from the freshness of the bread, you'll get a wide variety alongside a stunningly new concept of 'dim sum' mini buns, which is a great way to try out different flavours.

Address:

26 & 28, Jalan Puteri 2/2, Bandar Puteri Puchong, 47100 Puchong

Operating hours: Daily 9am - 1am

Tel: 03-8069 1318

Korea Day 4 Itinerary (Nami Island 남이섬 종합휴양지, Seoul) - Travel Blog

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Coming on to the fourth day of our trip and we planned on heading to Nami Island. I've never been here before but apparently, it is where one of the Korean drama was filmed. I do not know what significance it plays hey, worth the shot of visiting. 


This was right after our trip to Mount Bukhansan, where our legs were jelly and breath was heavy. Regardless, it was a holiday and well, everyone knows that the body will endure such pain and agony just for the sake of travelling. So without further ado, we packed our bags and left early in the morning. 


The first thing you'll need to know is the timing for the ITX train. You'll need to get to Cheongyanni Station and proceed over to the ITX machine. ITX is what people might call a bullet train, or something of that sort as it brings you directly to the station of Nami, where you'll need to take a bus and head towards the ferry dock. 

The ITX timing runs on a hourly basis, so pretty much there's only one train every hour with limited seats. However, if you do not mind standing for approximately 30 minutes, then you can opt for the Non-assigned seats. 

The fare costs KRW8000 per person and per trip. So a round trip would be KRW16,000 (RM58+/-). Unfortunately, we didn't know about the timing and also do not wish to wait for the next ITX, hence we took the standard train instead.


The standard train will take approximately 45minutes to an hour, and there's pretty much no chance you'll seat. Koreans are very good in snatching those damned seats, and the elderly do not budge either. So yeah, prepare to stand your way. 


Arrival at Gapyeong station. 


At this point, I think I should point out that once after our arrival, we bought a return train (ITX) straight back to Cheongyanni because we were afraid that the seats would sell out. That may be a slight mistake as I did regret what I've done, but then again, would never really know whether or not it truly was a mistake. 

Our arrival at Gapyeong was around 12-ish in the afternoon and we bought the return at 6.40pm. The problem is, we didn't know that Nami was that huge and we wanted to explore a whole lot more. Technically, we were only able to visit a few places, and had no choice but to forgo the rest due to time limitation. We also did not wish to burn the tickets, though it wasn't as pricey. 

Anyway, to those who plan on staying a bit longer, do not buy a return so quickly, or even if you do, buy one that is later at night. 

Another problem would be the fact that the entire thing works in a cycle. Upon arrival, there's an information counter for tourists right outside the station. There, you'll be given a map on how to get around Nami and its adjacent attractions. 



As the above photo shows, there is a station after Gapyeong that enables you to return home. Hence, you do not actually have to buy the return ticket at Gapyeong. But for the sake of being 'kiasu', we went for it. 

There were other places like Petite France, which we had to skip due to time restrictions as well. 


Once you're done with the information counter, head on down to the bus stop and wait for your bus. Mind you, they only come every hour. So the timing as to be accurate. 

Unfortunately for us, we missed it, and the worst part is we only missed it by 2 minutes or so. With no other options and time left, we went for the taxi instead. It costs us KRW4500 to get from where we were to the Rail Bike, which is about 10 minutes away by car. 


Arrival at the Rail Bike, where we were recruited by 2 other Malaysians in order to join forces in the 4 person cart. As the couples' route have already been sold out, we went with it as it does save quite a good amount of money. If I'm not mistaken, the price for the 2 of us was KRW17,500, which was pretty good I'll say. 

Apparently, there were also 2 different routes, which I'm not too sure about. Regardless, we went ahead!


The journey itself is said to be 7km long, but to be honest, it didn't feel as long as that. The journey, along with the weather and scenery, were absolutely amazing. Whether or not you cycle slowly, or quickly, the entire experience was memorable. 

A small tip, take the last cart if possible. It allows you to cycle as slow as you like without the people behind you pressuring to go faster. 


After a good 30 - 40 minutes run, we've arrived at the first pit stop. Unfortunately, it was also our last pitstop because we had to do a U-turn after this. 


The entire journey was capped at almost 2 hours. A relatively short time for something so amazing. Would have loved to go a little further and explore but that was it. For those who enjoy both cycling and overviewing a stunning scene, this is definitely worth going for. 


Next up, we took a free shuttle bus from the Rail Bike to the docks. The free shuttle bus ticket can be collected at the Korea Tourists Association office in KL, Malaysia. It enables you a day of free bus along with plenty of other coupons and vouchers. 


Entry Visa, a fairly fancy name for 2 piece of paper. For foreigners, you'll get a discount of KRW2000, making the price of the ticket to be only KRW8000 each. Do remember to show your passport. 


Look at the amount of humans here. Do not worry, even at this point, we were able to fit in the ferry, despite those China tourist pushing us back and such. Yes, they are ruthless, more so than the Koreans themselves. They will push you, or scoop you to the corner at every chance. If you are kind, let them pass, if not, do stand your ground. 


The ferry comes every 30 minutes, and the journey is about 10 minutes away. So yeah, they're gonna be going back and forth. For those who are a lot wealthier and too lazy to wait, you can opt for the flying fox zip line. It travels really quickly but it costs a massive KRW33,000 per person. The duration of which you'll be spending on air is less than a minute - I heard. But from the looks of things, everyone seemed to enjoy it very much. If you have such cash to spare, do it!


Touchdown, with plenty of tourists. 


The first thing I should mention is the fact that Nami Island is huge. It may not look like it in the map provided but yes, it is indeed huge. There are so many spots where one can take photos of, at the same time, enjoy the freshness of the air. I personally enjoyed this place very much, without the need of the Korea drama's influence. 

For those who aren't a fan of taking photos, then there might be nothing much for you. But for those who do, this place is simply amazing. 


Lamb sausage - KRW3000. Had to try it, they smell amazing. In fact, they tasted absolutely delicious too.


Pao - KRW1000. A soft bun with fillings inside. Simple but delicious.


Fish cake - KRW2500. Fairly good, but not recommended.


Sundubu Jjigae - KRW10,000. A decent meal with good amount of flavours, rice and side dishes. They are refillable so please, do go all out. 


Souvenir shop. Plenty of Nami Island's mascot and its merchandise for sale. Apparently, it's a snowman. I do not know why, but yeah. Cute. 


Customary ice cream as dessert - KRW2500.

After we were done with all that, we went on walking aimlessly, hoping to explore more of Nami Island. Hence, here is a compilation of photos around the area. 


That is all. There were several other more spots that we couldn't cover due to time restriction. But as far as it went, I was fairly happy with the result. I do wish we could've stayed like an hour or two more. 


The agonizing pain you get when you're so close to boarding the ferry, but the idiot decides to close on you. Allowing you to be the first of the next batch. Why!


It's all his fault. Look at that guilty face of his. 


It's time to leave. 


Took the bus 33-5 to return to Gapyeong Station. 


Our ITX tickets. 


Good bye Nami Island, good bye Gapyeong Station.


Seated ITX. The journey back was relatively quick - approximately 30 minutes. The train was both comfortable and clean, which was great!


Odd looking apartments. They're like stacks of stapler bullets piled upon each other. 


After Nami Island, we headed down to Konkuk University to visit John for dinner. He promised to bring us out for fried chicken and beer, two of which I adore. 

The station is Konkuk University and this vibrant street is located just a few blocks away. About a 5 minutes walk would have brought you here. If you're looking for food, then there's no better place than this. They have a variety of restaurants to choose from; bar, pubs, bbq places, dakgalbi, beer and chicken, steamboat and even street food. Pretty much anything related to food, you can find them here. 

*Nearest station: Konkuk University


I have no idea what this place is called as it is in Korean, but I would say one thing, it's definitely worth the visit. 

*update. The place is called Mattacco Chicken and it's located in Konkuk University Street. 


Starters of crackers and radish. You know what, the radish is fucking amazing. I went on and refilled for a total of 4 times, as they were absolutely addictive. It's sweet, sour and packed full of flavour. It's also crunchy, which gives it that lovely addictive sensation. Unfortunately, this appetizer is only found is most fried chicken restaurants. Regular Korean restaurant usually serve other appetizers. 


Since we can't speak Korean, John ordered two sets for us - Sweet Chilli and regular, both of them were deboned. I could simply toss the entire chicken in my mouth - which is highly recommended by the way. Not only were the flavours on point, the juiciness and texture of the fried chicken were superb! Hell, I could eat this all day. Served alongside a glass of beer and the world suddenly felt like a better place for a moment. 

The peace and serenity felt inside your mouth, where the taste of the chicken worked brilliantly with the refreshingly cold beer - perfect. 


Because we were greedy, we went for round 2. Yes, but instead of beer and chicken, we opted for something a little more....traditional.


Pork stew with soju! If there's any Korean food I miss more than the fried chicken, it would have to be this. The broth was rich and packed with a good depth of flavour. Alongside tender-soft pork knuckles that tasted absolutely divine. Until today, I could still remember the smell and taste of the stew. 

I do not know if this is the best around the area, but it certainly was good. There may be more authentic one elsewhere, but this was a lot better than I've expected. 

As for the soju, we went for the grapefruit flavour - which was surprisingly mild and sweet. I'd expect it to be a lot stronger but for some reason, it felt like a light and fizzy beverage. Still taste good with the stew though. 


Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. I could have this all day! The shop is located right across the beer and chicken restaurant, just another 2 minutes walk down the road. There's also a requirement in this restaurant that may be odd to us tourists, is the fact that you have to order two sets for 3 people, and not just 1. So do keep that in mind. 

Overall, it was a great day. I enjoyed Nami Island and the Rail Bike very much and I do wish to return. As for dinner at Konkuk University, lovely! In fact, I went back there another 2 times ahead!

Korea Day 4

9.30am - Left AirBnB to Cheongyanni Station
10.30am - Arrival at Cheongyanni Station
10.30am - Left to Gapyeong
11.30am - Arrival at Gapyeong
12pm - Left Gapyeong to Rail Bike
12.15pm - Arrival at Rail Bike
1.45pm - Left Rail Bike to Ferry Dock to Nami Island
2pm - Arrival at Ferry Dock to Nami Island
5pm - Left Nami Island to Gapyeong Station
5.30pm - Arrival at Gapyeong Station
6.40pm - Left Gapyeong with ITX 
7.30pm - Arrival at Konkuk University
10pm - Left Konkuk University back to AirBnB

*Disclaimer: All photos are taken with my Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge without any further editing.

Jekyll and Hyde (Revisit) @ Empire Damansara, PJCC, PJ

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Getting a good heart attack can never be easier with Jekyll and Hyde's latest buffet introduction. Yes, you've heard that right. For all you carnivores out there, this post is dedicated directly at you. Fancy a feast of ribs with your bare hands? Love the succulent and tender cut of the pork shoulder? Can't get enough of both crispiness and flavour from the pork knuckle? Well, with only RM65, you can enjoy a buffet of the trio - served with roasted vegetables and fries. 


Ladies and gentlemen, this is the wrong way of eating. The right way is of course, to eat it with your bare hands. 


Featuring a hearty feast of meat (and vegetables)! This platter is fully refillable, from the slabs of pork shoulders, to the cuts of rib and of course, crispy pork knuckles as well. The roasted carrot and pumpkin too, along with the cherry tomatoes and fries, are refillable as well. 

Of course we understand, that the vegetables there are merely to make yourself feel better - the aim is the countless amount of pork available! 


Beginning with this glistening pork shoulder that is roasted to tender perfection. It is also seasoned to perfection, with a good caramelization on the crust, along with a naturally sweet and juicy interior. Cutting through this slab of pork shoulder is not only easy, it's pleasurable!


Followed by racks of juicy and tender-soft ribs, glazed with BBQ sauce. It's sweet, it's sinful and of course, it's undeniably delicious. Have one and have it all, that's the motto! It is also recommended to eat with hands as it will give it a richer and more enjoyable experience.


And there's the pork knuckle in all its glory. Encrusted in a beautifully done, crispy and crunchy skin. Beneath that glorious crust is chunks of juicy, tender and finger-licking worthy meat. The ratio of fat to meat is at a good 50/50, so for those who can't take the fat, you can opt for just the flesh. In any case, they're both delicious and definitely worth the go!


Of course, to make yourself feel a little healthier, there are accompanied roasted vegetables on the side. To be fair, the vegetables are done pretty well, with a good amount of smokiness and char on the skin, while still maintaining its bite internally. The cherry tomatoes too were delicious as it pops with its natural juices once bitten. 


My personal creation of a pork shoulder burger with pork ribs and roasted vegetables in the middle. Because cholesterol and arteries clogging are the latest trend of 2016.


For those who are a little more conservative, there is also a delicious plate of foie gras risotto, packed with a good amount of mushroomy flavour, and a luxurious slab of grilled foie gras. Delicious, absolutely delicious! 


Overall, the platter of meat was absolutely divine. Costing merely RM65, both the food and the option to refill were great. However, there's only two timeslot available for the buffet, 6pm-8pm and 8pm-10pm. You can come anytime in between, by you'll end by either 8pm or 10pm. Reservations are recommended, so do remember to book in advance. 

Also, there's another promotion going on for those who order the buffet platter. RM10 for a pint of Carlsberg! How awesome is that? Beer and pork - oh god, the perfect combination. 

Address:

 G18 & G19, Empire Damansara, 47820 Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Operating hours: Tues - Sun 11am - 11pm

Tel: 0177580005


Rokko Japanese Grill Dining (Zomato) @ Le Apple Boutique Hotel, KL

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I have always been a fan of Japanese culture (no, not the weird part) and their food. For one, their sense of space and ambiance is really soothing, that is if you exclude the hectic lifestyle the working adults have there. While their food is fairly plain, it packs in a whole lot of flavour naturally, from the fresh ingredients to the unique method used to make such dishes. Hence, it is without a doubt that Japanese cuisine is my top 3 favourite.


Located in the city center, right beside of Avenue K, Rokko Japanese Grill Dining is a casual dining place with much to offer.


With a dark and cozy set up, along with a variety of imported Japanese Sake, it certainly is quite easy to feel immersed in this place.


Starting off with a serving of fresh salad with homemade sesame sauce. Pretty decent - nothing too fancy.


Lovely edamame, one with the stalks still on. Cooked and seasoned perfectly.


Marinated jelly fish. Lovely indeed.


The one that I've been waiting for a long time. Fresh air-flown sashimi! By far, this is one of the best and freshest sashimis that I've had. The salmon, along with the tuna and yellowtail were naturally sweet and soft. It was cut a little too thick, but who could complain about receiving more? Served with freshly grated horseradish.


Next up, a platter of hand-rolled nigiri. Unlike most places, the rice used here was fairly little - clumped together like a small rice ball. By doing so, whatever is placed on top will feel a whole lot larger, giving it an impression of a huge portion. Having said that, the sushi were pretty good, as the rice was both fluffy and the toppings were fresh.


Followed by some maki, where there were 3 different flavours served in pairs. Pretty good, though I'd still take the sushi and sashimi anytime.


No, this is not a blob of goo. Instead, it's a pretty damn good serving of teriyaki chicken. With flavours that excite alongside meat so tender, having merely one will be a sin. This comes highly recommended!


Another popular dish that comprises of beef and onions. This teppan-style beef slices has a great depth of flavour, while some may consider it salty, it is without a doubt, a perfect compliment to rice. 


This my friend, is what I really love about Rokko Japanese Grill Dining. The mackerel was cooked to perfection - with skin so crisp they break upon impact while the flesh is both flaky and moist. It's lightly seasoned with salt, allowing it to draw the natural flavours of the mackerel. Lovely! Absolutely lovely!


Garlic fried rice, because there isn't one Japanese restaurant without them. Cooked with a good amount of smokiness from the wok, this humble bowl of fried rice has a good depth of flavour, while having a good load of garlic and eggs as well.


To finish, a gorgeous scoop of matcha ice cream - a great way to end a meal, or perhaps, a feast. 


Of course, not forgetting our beverage of the day. Hennesy Black Label. Because why not?

In conclusion, the meal was absolutely fantastic. From the starters all the way till the dessert, everything was nicely portion, presented and of course, executed. To make things even better, the team from Zomato were really friendly and accommodative. So by any chance, do check them out for their latest reviews, or recommendations around the area at https://www.zomato.com/.

Address:

Le Apple Boutique Hotel Ground Floor, 160, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, 50450

Operating hours: Daily 6am - 10.30am, 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 11pm.

Tel: 03-2181 6557


Rokko Japanese Grill Restaurant Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato 

Xenri Japanese Cuisine @ Jalan Kelang Lama, KL

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The majority of Malaysians have always been a fan of Japanese food. Whenever there is a need to celebrate an occasion, or perhaps enjoy a healthy dinner - Japanese would definitely be in the top 3 list. Having said that, a good Fine Dining Japanese Restaurant that excels in "Kaiseki" is indeed quite rare here in KL. For those who are unaware, the term "Kaiseki" represents a traditional multi-course dinner that showcases a variety of the chef's skills.  

Fortunately, there's Xenri Japanese Cuisine, celebrating their 13th anniversary with a Kaiseki theme. Using fresh, premium and ultimately exclusive ingredients to prepare a series of dishes not only to please your tongue, but eyes as well. So without further ado, here are some of the best picks!


Starting off with a simple yet undeniably beautifully plated, creamy deep fried prawns. Served alongside a concoction of edamame and gingko, crispy rice net, scented chilli and 3 luscious, creamy and huge prawns. The result is nothing less than a mouth watering appetizer. 


Next up, a dish fit for a king. Huge imported oysters topped with edible flowers, organic apple and Bainiku cubed jelly - a premium and luxurious product indeed. Ultimately, it all boils down to it being fresh, which is did not disappoint. 


One of my personal favourites - Seared Bluefin Tuna with Avocado in Grapefruit. This vibrant and refreshing concoction of premium bluefin tuna, coupled together with cubes of avocado and grapefruits was truly wonderful. The fruits really helped in lightening the richness of the tuna, which created a nice contrast and balance of flavours.


Kicking it up a notch, the Snow Crab wrapped in sliced avocado, topped with caviar, edible flower and crisp followed by a tomato reduction sauce. The flavour was complex, but pleasant and enjoyable as well. The saltiness of the caviar really gave it that depth while the snow crab and avocado soaks up all that lovely flavour from the sauce. 


Aburi Hokkaido Mukimi Hotate, a gorgeous blend of imported giant Japanese scallops pan-seared to perfection, topped with caviar, scented chilli, fried baby sardine cracker and finished in a pool of purple sea urchin glaze. The dish was traditionally served raw but for the sake of most Malaysians, it was done otherwise. Lovely flavours, firm and bouncy texture - a great blend to say the least. 


If eating gold isn't luxurious enough - what is? This compilation of various seafood in one is second to none in terms of flavour, texture and presentation. Not only does it look visually stunning, it tasted absolutely amazing as well. It's rich yet light, allowing a subtle but scented aroma to permeate through, providing a lasting impression in your mouth - absolutely lovely!

All and all, if you're talking about the quality, taste and consistency of Xenri Japanese Japanese Cuisine, they've nailed it all. Not only does most of the dishes look absolutely amazing, they taste of similar qualities as well. So if you're looking for a place to wine and dine - Xenri Japanese Cuisine is definitely the place for you. 

Address:

Wisma Elken, Jalan Kelang Lama, 58000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Operating hours: 
Mon - Sat, 12pm - 10.30pm
Sun, 12pm - 2.30pm, 6pm - 10.30pm

Tel: 03-7783 8118


Xenri Japanese Cuisine (Part 2) @ Jalan Kelang Lama, KL

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If you've never had "Kaiseki" before, then you ought to try it this time! "Kaiseki" is a Japanese term used to describe a multi-course dinner that showcases a chef's true talent through the display of food and of course, his skills in making them. Technically speaking, it is not everyday that you'll find a Japanese restaurant offering such a theme, so for those who are interested, do give it a try!


A compilation of some of the food we had. 


Kicking things off with a generous portion of Butter Poached Brittany Blue Lobster. The presentation may look a little bland and ordinary, but trust me, it all lies within the freshness and method of execution of the lobster. Beautifully coloured and packed full of natural sweetness, this piece of lobster tail is definitely something to die for. 


If you're a fan of scallops, then this serving of Aburi Hokkaido Mukimi Hotate will definitely do you justice. Not only was the premium imported scallops delicious, the texture was done quite perfectly as well. This dish was traditionally meant to be served raw, but here, they've lightly seared it.


Fans of cod fish will indeed love this dish as their generous chunk of black cod fillet is not only fresh, it's also packed full of natural sweetness. Poached with fish stock to tender perfection and laid on a bed of Garland Chrysanthemum puree, served with jelly and Nameko Mushrooms, this dish is a must -have for anyone that enjoys fish!


This may look similar to a chicken liver pâté, which is not that far off from what it actually is - Smoked Duck Mousse. The duck is smoked for 24 hours before proceeding to deboning, mixing with cream and various seasoning then steamed to created into this masterpiece. Visually, it looks absolutely stunning while the taste might take a little getting used to. In any case, it is undeniably unique and by having several bites, I somehow got hooked on to it. 


A gorgeous slab of A5 Wagyu Beef prepared in a Sous Vide method. Lightly seasoned with salt and pepper. It is submerged in a controlled environment at 57.5°c, cooking out for 40 minutes to ensure that the flavours are well absorbed. The meat is also tender enough that it literally melts in your mouth. 

It is then lightly seared on each side till medium, giving that nice caramelisation that helps enriches the flavour. Finished with a coating of chia seeds, stir-fried brussel sprouts and in-house garlic cream cheese sauce on the side. 

The sauce is a chef special and is done by double boiling cream cheese that has been set in room temperature, freshly blended garlic paste and mix with some salt and pepper. Delicious - absolutely delicious. 


Last but not least, Warabi Mochi as dessert to finish. Yes, these little bombs of joy are a great palate cleanser, and definitely a great way to end a splendorous meal. It may be small in size, but it packs a whole lot of kick in them.  

Overall, Xenri Japanese Cuisine has portrayed a great sense of execution in all their dishes. Not only were they cooked beautifully, they were plated with utmost finesse. Certainly worth the money and dining experience. So if you're in the mood for some fine Japanese food, why don't you head on to Xenri today?

Address:

Wisma Elken, Jalan Kelang Lama, 58000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Operating hours: 
Mon - Sat, 12pm - 10.30pm
Sun, 12pm - 2.30pm, 6pm - 10.30pm

Tel: 03-7783 8118


Sky360 Rooftop Ramadhan Buffet @ One City Mall, USJ21

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The festive season of Ramadhan is on its way, and you know what that means? FOOD! Yes, the love of food has brought us all together under one roof - that is the Sky360 Rooftop (no pun intended). So without further ado, let us see what have they got to offer!


Of course I had to start off with some cakes right? I mean, who wouldn't? Not only do they look stunning, they are well packed with flavour as well. Creamy, rich and undeniably luscious, these cakes are truly worth saving up your stomach for. 


Another one of my favourite starter item - mussels. They also have fresh prawns that were fairly large, mix in with a little cocktail sauce and enjoy the cholesterol within. 


A wide range of salad - for those who are planning to keep in shape. From the standard western starters to something a little more mediterranean, they have it all. Fresh vegetables or pre-mixed salad, they were absolutely delicious. There were also more than 8 different types of dressing available. 


Snacks.


Roast lamb anyone? Done with lovely herbs and a side of roasted vegetables and baby potatoes.


Some beef!


Roasted duck, roasted chicken and steamed chicken.


Briyani and some asam? 


Loved the freshly grilled fish. You can either take the already cooled version or go for the piping hot ones by the grill - I'm definitely all for the latter. Tender, succulent, sweet and crisp - lovely!


Even better? Grilled crabs! Packed full of flavour and flesh so tender, you'll wanna crack another piece.


Because what is life without desserts right?


Ice kacang too!


A small compilation of some of the available dishes. 

In a nutshell, they have over 27 different categories with almost, if not more than 100 different type of dishes. From the traditional Malay Platters such as Ulam and Pasembor, to continental delights such as Teppanyaki, pizza, and premix salad, they have it all. 

Well cooked in smaller portion to ensure quality and taste are maintained constantly while the refilling is fairly quick as well. Not to worry, there are enough for everyone. 


the Buka Selera Buffet by Sky360 is available from 6th June - 5th July 2016; from 7pm - 10.30pm every day. The price is RM128 per adult with a promo of Buy 10 Free 1. Children below 12 years old and senior citizen above 60 gets 50% off, while child below 3 years old eat for free. 

Reservations are available through phone 03-51150 9887 and email sky360@miceatonecity.com

Address:

Sky360, Level R (rooftop), e-City Hotel @ One City, Jalan USJ 21/5, 47650 Subang Jaya, Selangor.

Operating hours (for Ramadhan buffet): Daily (6th June - 5th July), 7pm - 10.30pm.

Tel: 03-5115 9887

Email: sky360@miceatonecity.com



Awesome Selection of Wine with Amazing Spanish Inspired Tapas @ Bacchus Wine Bar, KL

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Wine lovers rejoice for Bacchus is home to a good selection of wine. Be it affordable, or luxurious for collectors - they have it all. Located along Jalan Doraisamy, Bacchus is a pretty casual place with a cozy ambiance internally, while the outdoor seating area allows for a smoke. They are also a Spanish inspired tapas house, where the pairing of your glass of wine and some light snacks goes hand in hand. So for those of you who are in search of these elements, do feel free to head over to Bacchus Wine Bar today!


CEO Wine, one of the brands that is brought in by Bacchus Wine Bar. 


For those who are interested, Bacchus is actually named after the Roman God of Wine. With that, they aim to not only offer premium and luxurious wine for collectors, but affordable ones for everyone else to enjoy as well. Who ever said that wine can only be indulged by the wealthy right?


The best part of them all, Bacchus Wine Bar is offering happy hour promotion from 3pm - 9pm daily! Yes, even on the weekends! You can now enjoy 2 glasses of wine for RM25 only. That would only be RM12.50 per glass! 

Now what better way to sip on a glass of wine if it isn't served alongside some tapas. Tiny bite size pieces that is guilt-free and delicious! Fortunately, at Bacchus, that wouldn't be a problem as this Spanish inspired wine bar has much to offer. 


Signature Pork Belly

Small in size but big in flavour. Bacchus Wine Bar's Signature Pork Belly packs in a whole lot of flavour, and that is without adding additional salt to the already-smoked pork belly. It's rich, succulent and velvety. The meat is also incredibly tender! Alongside the broth on the side, a perfect serving to have with the croutons on the side. 


Garlic Prawns

For those who are interested in a dish that is a little more empowering, than this humble serving of Garlic Prawns would be the perfect choice. It is a simple appetizer that consists of prawns, garlic and olive oil - that's it. An inspiration drawn from the Spanish dish of Gambas Al Ajillo.


Dory with Squid Ink

These chunks of dory may look a little boring, but the texture and flavour of the dish are absolutely delightful. The dory has a nice sear on the outside, which gave it that nice, thin and crisp layer. Internally, the flesh is incredibly moist, flaky and bouncy, which will definitely be a joy to have. Served with a homemade squid ink sauce on the side, which helps enriches the flavour of the dory by giving it that extra depth, this unassuming dish isn't so boring after all. 


Chorizo

Sausages anyone? This serving of Chorizo is done two ways - baked and fried. On the left, pretty standard, baked. But on the right, that's where things get a little more interesting. The texture of the chorizo is altered by the frying process, giving it a fairly odd and unique texture - similar to a popcorn chicken or some sort. It also envelopes in your mouth a whole lot better, providing flavour to every possible corner on your palate. 


3 Way Bruschetta

Finally, something a little lighter and cleaner. Bacchus Wine Bar's 3 Way Bruschetta is a great way to enjoy multiple flavours and texture on a single plate. You'll get the Creamy Mushroom (which is not in this photo), Mango Chicken and fresh tomatoes. It's light, it's addictive and you'll most probably order another!


All and all, if you're looking for a place to chill out, relax, have a glass of wine and some light snacks, Bacchus might be the perfect place for you. With prices set as one of the lowest in town, you can now frequent there more often - let's not forget the RM25 for 2 glasses of wine happy hour promo!

Address:

52, Jalan Doraisamy, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Operating hours:
Mon - Thurs: 12pm - 12am
Fri: 12pm - 2am
Sat: 5pm - 2am

Tel:  012-330 7712

Okonomi 2016 New Menu Launch @ Publika, KL

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Okonomi is a Japanese restaurant that offers customizable sushi rolls - similar to Subway. Apart from that, they've also recently introduced a wide range of ala carte items for those who aren't in the mood for some sushi rolls. So without further ado, let's see what do they have apart from their amazing sushi rolls!


Our feast of the day.



Mango Prawn Salad - RM20.90

Starting off fresh with a balance of sweet and tangy mango prawn salad. It's your conventional salad but with a little twist - mango and prawns. Plump, juicy and coated with ebiko, this bowl of salad was quite the starter if I must say so. Also, the mango dressing too was delicious.


Complimentary Spicy Mentaiko Pasta

Yes, every customer will get a plate of complimentary spicy mentaiko pasta that is well packed with flavour. The noodles were cooked al-dante, which somehow made it similar to fried beehun for some reason. In any case, the dish is still addictive with all the mentaiko and asparagus. A word of warning, it is quite spicy indeed.


Soft Shell Crab - RM28.90

Crispy, juicy and undeniably addictive. These little nitbits of joy will certainly turn a frown around. Don't forget to squeeze the lemon in to help lift the flavours!


Tamago Mentaiyaki - RM12.90

Beautiful cubes of tamago (egg) and topped with mentai sauce and additional mentaiko on top. It was slightly sweet which wasn't what I really like, but for those who are into sweeter eggs, this should do it just right. On the other hand, I did enjoy the texture, which was fairly odd due to its shape. 


Kani Fumi Harumaki - RM12.90

A glorious wrap of vegetables, Hokkaido crab meat, Japanese cucumber and served with additional mentaiko on top and roasted sesame sauce on the side. I personally felt that this was fairly Vietnamese due to the rice wrap, but of course, the dish itself was enjoyable with the generous amount of crab meat. 


Baked Lobster Avocado - RM18.90

This was actually one of my favourite dish due to the uniqueness of presentation and fllavour. The lobsters were baked together with cubed avocados in a light cream sauce. It is then topped with parmesan cheese, tobiko, togarashi, and mentaiko on top before being flambeed once more. The dish itself was subtle yet rich, and the texture worked really well with the rice beneath. 


Chicken Gratin - RM18.90

This was something out of the ordinary. The chicken gratin may have no resemblance to a Japanese cuisine but it was absolutely delicious. The chicken was not only cooked to tender perfection, but the skin itself had a nice crisp to it. The homemade cream sauce was also a great compliment to the dish, though it felt a bit like carbonara with rice. All and all, this dish was another one of my favourite. 


Of course, being at Okonomi, you can't miss out the customizable sushi roll. This was the chef's own creation with their signature spicy mentaiko sauce. I absolutely loved the sauce, even when I first came here a year ago. Beautifully done and presented, Okonomi's sushi roll is certainly one worth going for. 


All and all, Okonomi itself has more to offer than just sushi rolls. Their extensive ala carte menu too is commendable, with most of the dishes that I've tried to be really good. Fresh ingredients, made upon order and the thought put into those dishes, you can expect a fairly good meal out of Okonomi.

Address:

A4-G2-02 Solaris Dutamas, No.1 Jalan Dutamas,  Publika KL.

Operation Hours: 10am-11pm daily 


Taste of Europe - Eu-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry @ Berjaya Times Square Hotel, KL

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Wine, beer, cheese and chocolate lovers rejoice! Taste of Europe celebrates its 15th anniversary this year at the Berjaya Times Square Hotel in KL. It is a signature event held by the EUMcci (Eu-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry) and is traditionally held in the month of May in conjunction with the celebration of Europe Day.


Georgian wine selection by Eurasia Trading Sdn Bhd. Visit them at www.eurasia.my or call 012-603 4883 for more information.


To those that are unaware of what Taste of Europe is. It is basically an event where they showcase European food and produce that includes wine, beer, cheese, chocolate and many more. There are 24 exhibitors this round and they come from various parts of Europe - 14 countries in total. Among those who are participating are Belgium, France, Denmark, Georgia, Italy and the Netherlands. 


Even though the event was meant to gather European suppliers and their local distributors together, members of the public are given the chance to sample some of the food and drinks on display. 


Guests can also watch live cooking demonstrations and even participate in a few lucky draws, with the grand prize being a pair of flight tickets to a European destination sponsored by Etihad Airways. 


Onto some of the vendors! This is by The Food Studio Sdn Bhd. From the looks of it, there were only 2 bottles of wine available - both of which I did not try. For more information, you can log on to www.the-food-studio.com


Next up, Italian Fine Food Trading Sdn Bhd. They offer a wide variety of imported Italian goodies like cheese, tomato sauce, olives and coffee as well. The owner was really friendly and requested more photos to be taken. Also, pretty damn good cheese I must say. 


Lifestyle magazine anyone?


This booth was one of my favourite as they brought in a shit load of Belgian beers. As you can see from the photo above, there are so many colours, each with their own respective artwork as well. Each bottle also has its own unique flavour, with some being slightly sweet and the other being strong. Simply pick your favourite profile and enjoy!

For those who are interested, you can find them at Bruxale Connection Sdn Bhd or at their FB page at https://www.facebook.com/BelgiumBeersKL/?fref=ts


The day was getting a little late and I was feeling a little hungry. Seeing as they were providing quite a sufficient amount of samples (and dear me do they smelled good), I went for several portions. I'm sorry, I just had to. 


Chicken Picatta - I do not know what exactly does that mean but I do know that it was absolutely delicious. Chicken was incredibly tender and packed full of flavour. I too happened to love mushroom and they gave me quite a lot of them beneath the chicken. 

I believe this booth was held by Berjaya Culinary school. Apart from the chicken, they also have these!


Crabmeat salad! Nothing too fancy - just healthy.


After feasting for a little bit, I continued my journey in search of random European products. This booth caught my eye with the extensive range of snacks brought in from the UK. They are known as theBigBox and you can find out more about them here https://www.facebook.com/TheBigBoxAsia/?fref=ts


I don't remember exactly which booth was this from, but the pesto was absolutely delicious! Apparently you can get it from a bottle. As for the products, 


There were quite a number wine booth as well, ranging from being affordable to incredibly luxurious.  

Provence Honey with their 100% pure & raw lavender honey. Wasn't able to try this one but it look really interesting. 


For those who are unaware, this is Kalacs. A Hungarian bread that is mostly sweet and shaped like a cone. It can be eaten on its own, or with a series of dips. They're available at Publika Dutamas - known as Secret 009!


Yummy balls anyone? I bet you'll love some balls!


This bottle of soda was fairly addictive. It is quite similar to Esprit, but less sweet and a little more fizzy. The promo price was really affordable but I was way too lazy to carry it while taking photos. Anyway, if you saw this anywhere, I urge you to try it out!


This was the stall with the most cheese and bottled olives I've seen in this event. I wasn't able to try all the cheese available, but I did nib on some and they were delightful. I believe I've tried the buffalo mozzarella and it was just heavenly. So soft, so chewy and so flavourful. 

To those who are interested, you can find them at Bottega Mediterranea Sdn Bhd, 03-2070 4222 or by email at marcom@bottegamediterranea.com.


Emborg cheese anyone? I think they're quite popular now as you can find them in all major supermarket shelves. The last photo is a plate of cheese cracker with some blue cheese and my god does it smell. But the taste was very rich and engulfing that it really needs time to get used to.


More wines from San Tatiana Trading. Didn't get to try them out but for those who are interested, you can contact them at 012-2971318 or email at tatianachoy@gmail.com.


More cheese? Greek feta cheese!


I never knew Hoegaarden had a Rose flavour but it did taste fairly light. Not too strong with an underlying sweetness - lovely, for those who wish to savour their drink. If you wish to get in bulk (which I highly recommend), you can contact them at Luen Heng F&B Sdn Bhd, 03-9173 0398 or at www.luenheng.com. They also have a long list of imported beers and wine that can be seen from their website. 


A huge block of cheese! Because why not?


More cheese and cracker by Pikzern Marketing Sdn Bhd. For orders, you can contact them at 03-7845 2258 or 017-0081 3652. Email at michaellim@pikzern.com or visit their website at www.pikzern.com.


Because what is life without wine? 


This was also one of my favourite exhibitors as they allowed us to try out the Avruga caviar and smoked salmon - both of which were delicious. They also had a potato salad with cured herring which was an absolute delight. 


More beers to finish!


I like how the girl is smiling and the dude showing that face of his. 


And finally, a welcome speech by Mr Roberto Benetello, Chairman of the EUMCCI along with its lucky draw and prize giving ceremony. Unfortunately, I didn't win anything. After all, the pair of flight tickets to Europe seemed nice. 

All and all, the event itself was a blast. Most of the people there were very friendly, though some were quite intimidating, everything was great. From the choices of food to drinks - excellent! Particularly liked the fact that we're given the opportunity to try them out! 

For those who are interested, Taste of Europe will be back next year at roughly the same date! Log on to http://www.eumcci.com/ to find out more and to mark your calenders!

Dark and Twisted Cafe @ Evolve Mall, PJ

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If you're looking for a casual and cozy place with an extensive menu that doesn't harm your wallet, then Dark and Twisted Cafe might be the place for you. It's located in Evolve Mall, Ara Damansara, one of the newer malls to be established in the area. Also, getting to Dark and Twisted wouldn't be difficult as it's at the center of the mall, right across Ten Years Restaurant. 


The design of the menu is quite interesting as a line is drawn on the Tropic of Capricon, which is the lower half of the Earth's southern hemisphere. By doing so, they'll get a series of influence from various countries along with some of their distinct specialties and flavour. Things like big breakfast from Australia, chutney from South America and so on. 

So without further ado, let's see what they have to offer. 


Mushroom and Cheese Omelette - RM15.20

Starting things off with the simple yet delicious serving of mushroom and cheese omelette, which by the way, is done absolutely beautifully. The omelette has a nice edge while still maintaining an incredibly moist interior. 

The cheese too was nicely portion as it wasn't too rich nor light. Abundance of grilled oyster and button mushroom can be found within the omelette which gave it the flavour and character it needs. Perfectly seasoned and served with a side of salad and fruits salsa. 


The Grand Breakfast - RM18.90

The Grand Breakfast consists of a sourdough toast that was nicely buttered, two eggs of your choice (be it scrambled or sunny side up), grilled smoked lamb sausage, oyster and button mushroom, fresh garden salad with cherry tomatoes and homemade vinaigrette. 

The dish itself is what you'll expect of a hearty big breakfast that is nicely seasoned and presented. Everything was done perfectly definitely well worth the try. 


Eggs in Hell - RM17.90

This among so many, was my favourite. Similar to baked eggs or shakshuka, this serving of Eggs in Hell was done exactly the way I liked it. It's rich with tomato that comes in several level of spiciness, The eggs on top alongside a generous amount of luscious feta cheese really helped enriched the flavour of the dish. 

The croutons on the side too was nicely toasted with clarified butter and having them together was absolutely delightful. 


Baked Salmon Fillet 

Moving away from the brunch menu, they also offer baked salmon fillet as one of their mains. To begin, the skin was incredibly crispy and well seasoned, after all, there is a layer of citrus marinate between the skin and the fish itself. Furthermore, the salmon was also flaky and fresh, which was a joy to have. Cooked to tender perfection, this slab of salmon fillet is definitely the best there is. Served alongside grilled mushrooms and a side of mixed greens. 



Grilled 1/4 Chicken

For those who don't fancy the salmon as much, you can opt for the grilled quarter chicken instead. It's nicely marinated with paprika which gives it that depth of flavour that many would enjoy. The flesh is also incredibly succulent as well. Though I must say, having just one isn't enough and they should have a half-chicken option!


Bread and Butter Pudding - RM9.90 (with drink)

For dessert, a humble serving of bread and butter pudding served in a mug. Pretty cute. You might be wondering, what on earth are those black bits - black beans? toasted kidney beans? No. They're charcoaled raisins and the reason of them being in there is simply to give it that nice smoky bite. 

The bread and butter pudding too was incredibly well balanced as it wasn't too sweet nor bland. If you want it a little sweeter, just add on the milk provided. The pudding itself too was light and fluffy, hence ordering two of this isn't a sin. All and all, the dessert is undeniably delicious and definitely comes highly recommended!

In conclusion, Dark and Twisted Cafe truly does have more than meets the eye. The cafe itself is also spacious with a generous seating capacity and wifi. Service was incredibly friendly and quick, which was pleasant as well. This is the first part of the review as there were more dishes that I've tried. So look forward to that!

Address: 

Ground Floor, Evolve Concept Mall, Pacific Place @ Ara Damansara, Jalan PJU 1A/4, Ara Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor 47301

Operating hours; Daily 10am - 10pm

Kazoku-Ai - MODERN TEPPANYAKI KITCHEN @ Jalan Klang Lama, KL

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If you've yet to hear about Kazoku-Ai, then you're truly missing out. They are known as one of the best teppanyaki places in KL, if not the entire Klang Valley. Using only premium and fresh ingredients, you'll definitely be able to taste the difference in quality from Kazoku-ai. 

The name "Kazoku-ai" simply means "Family Love", where the dishes and environment are designed to encourage family and friends to gather, relax and enjoy each other's company, with good food and drinks. Eventhough Kazoku-Ai is a teppanyaki themed restaurant, they too offer a wide array of various other dishes that are fresh, delicious and affordable.

So without further ado, let's jump in to see what have they got to offer!


Our feast of the day.


Salmon Carpaccio

Starting with a gorgeous plate of Salmon Carpaccio, where the fresh slices of salmon are laid on a bed of oiled-based soy sauce. It is then topped carefully with thin slices of chilli, one on each slice, followed by a bouquet of salad with shredded radish and a generous spoonful of tobiko. The result is a fresh and vibrant way to enjoy sashimi with a twist - both in terms of flavour and texture. This also works great as an appetizer!


Hokkaido Scallops

Next up, 5 large pieces of whole scallops served alongside capsicum and finely sliced fried burdock. It may not look like much but each piece of scallop is well packed with flavour and the bounciness of it is delightful. Another premium appetizer worth going for.


Gindara Saikyu Yaki

Moving on to something a little more solid. This serving of marinated white cod is beautifully pan-fried to perfection, ensuring that the flesh is both flaky and tender while maintaining most of its natural sweetness. It is then served with a julienne of leek alongside mixed greens. The dish itself may look simple, but the flavours and texture are absolutely stunning.


Jumbo Tiger King Prawns

For those who crave prawns, this serving of Jumbo Tiger King Prawns will definitely do justice. Firstly, it's huge - almost an arm length at minimum. Secondly, it's done quite simply with garlic and wafu butter sauce, which gives it that added layer of depth without compromising the natural flavours of the jumbo tiger king prawns. Lovely!

*The current promotion priced these delicious Jumbo Tiger King Prawns at RM75++ per pair. So get it while it's still cheap!


Surimi Ika

Those that enjoy grilled squid like myself will definitely look forward to this. Not only is the squid fresh, it is grilled to absolute perfection. Not chewy, not rubbery, only pure bliss. The flavours are great and the provided dipping sauces complimented it well as well. One being spicy while the other is sweet.


Kazoku-Ai Fire Crab

If there's anything that you'll have to order, it is this. The signature Kazoku-Ai Fire Crab. Heck, it is even named after the restaurant, what more do you want? This dish was specially designed by Kazoku-Ai and there isn't anywhere else in the world that does it this way. 

Hence, you most likely have not tried crab this way if you have not been to Kazoku-Ai. 


The method of preparation is fairly straight-forward. Live crab, alcohol, teppan, and a heck of a skilled chef. The key is is in the freshness of the crab, that will give most of the flavours and joy. Next, timing, the crab has to be cooked to perfection to avoid any unpleasant texture, which can be a joy-kill if you're hoping for something this divine. 

The result is a simple but royal-worthy dish that is guaranteed to excite. The tender-soft flesh of the crab coupled with the natural sweet and used of alcohol will leave you craving for more - at least I know I did. All and all, this dish is a must-order and I'll guarantee you that you will not regret it.

*Kazoku-Ai Fire Crab requires booking in advance. It is crucial as these live crabs comes in limited quantity. Not to mention that they're all alive and will die if no one orders them. 


Signature Maki

Seafood isn't the only thing you can look forward to in Kazoku-Ai as their humble series of Maki is absolutely delicious as well. The Signature Maki, being one of the most popular, comprises of tiger prawns at the core, unagi, avocado topped with cashew nut sauce. 

The flavours without a doubt, is tasty but the texture is well above the top. Lovely crunch from the tiger prawns wrapped with fluffy rice and topped with slices of creamy avocado - delightful! The cashew nut sauce too gives the dish that character it needs.


Salmon Cheese Maki

Combining two amazing things in one - salmon and cheese, these little nitbits are indeed flavour-packed. Another thing to note is that these are only sold in limited quantities. After all, the core of the Maki is filled with crispy salmon skin, which comes from the whole salmon ordered for sashimi. So once that is used, it's officially off the menu. But always remember to ask as this is definitely worth going for.


Imperial Fried Rice

You have not experience luxury until you've tried this. Known as the Imperial Fried Rice, it is covered wholly with tobiko, with the fried rice done to smoky perfection at the bottom. In addition to that, there is a random treasure at the bottom of the bowl. Be it a giant scallop, or perhaps prawn, you will not know. Only by digging you'll find out. 

In terms of flavour - this dish is spot on. The richness and smokiness of the fried rice works really well with the subtle yet salty edge of the tobiko. The texture of having these two together too is commendable, with the tobiko bursting at every bite. If you're a fan of both garlic fried rice and tobiko, this dish is definitely worth going for.


New Zealand Lamb Cutlets

Lamb lovers rejoice! These little bite-size cutlets are well packed with flavour, with a slight gamey taste that I simply enjoy. Pink on the inside, they're incredibly tender and juicy as well. If that's not enough, there's also a side of homemade wasabi cream sauce with chilli padi to compliment, giving that added layer of flavour.


Chilled Australian Tenderloin

Last but not least, my favourite - beef! I simply can't live without them, no matter how much I have to defy my own religion. Anyway, Kazoku-Ai's Chilled Australian Tenderloin is definitely a dish worth getting gout over. 

It can be done according to how you like it (but please don't order it well-done). As seen from the photo above, it's done in cubes that fit nicely in one mouthful. In short, it's tender, juicy and seasoned to perfection! 


All and all, if you enjoy having quality and premium Japanese food, or simply gourmet teppanyaki at that, then Kazoku-Ai is one restaurant worth visiting. The price may be a little steep, but the quality and result do justify its cost. 

Furthermore, Kazoku-Ai also offer award-winning Sake for enthusiasts and regular Sake for those who simply wants to drink a glass or two. Request for a recommendation if you do not know what you like and I'm sure they are more than willing to help.


Address:

3A-G, 3rd Mile Square, 151, Jalan Klang Lama, Pusat Dagangan 3rd Mile Square, 58100 Kuala Lumpur

Operating Hours: Tuesday - Sunday | 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 10.30pm

Tel: 03-7983 1919

Amaze K Cafe @ Sunway Damansara, PJ

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Remember back in then we had a variety of delightful hawker food at our disposal? Those that we grew up enjoying without the fuss of premium ingredients, visually stunning presentation and of course, the taste of luxury itself. However, all that has changed and we expect a lot more from restaurants these days. Fortunately, Amaze K Cafe brings us back to the simple past with the said elements, ensuring we as adults would still love it!


If that's not a feast, I don't know what is. 



Traditional Hainanese Chicken Chop - RM16.50

Kicking things off with the signature traditional Hainanese chicken chop. Visually, it looks absolutely stunning with a generous chunk of chicken thigh fried to crispy perfection, dause with their own homemade tangy Hainanese sauce packed-filled with onions and carrots, crispy fries and salad on the side. Good flavour, lovely texture and a meal worth going for.


Smoked Duck Spaghetti - RM13.50

Next up, a classic serving of Smoked Duck Spaghetti ala aglio olio. Spaghetti is done to al-dante perfection while being lightly fried with a series of dried chilli, olives, herbs, salt and pepper. On top of that, generous slices of smoked duck are given as well. As a whole, it's a fairly simple and tasty dish that most people would enjoy.


Fish Head Noodles - RM12.50

This may look like it's out of place, but to my surprise, it's actually pretty good. As I've mentioned previously, Amaze K Cafe offers a wide variety of dishes that are used to growing up with. Fish Head Noodles is without a doubt, one of those dishes. 

Starting with the broth, you'll find a fairly rich and milky one with a good heap of seasoning inside. To compliment, they also added a wide variety of vegetables and chilli paste to give it that added flavour and texture, alongside slices of fish paste and of course, the crispy fish head itself. 


Signature Sang Har Noodle - RM21.50

Right after that, we had a shot at their Signature Sang Har Noodle which comes with several pieces of glorious lobsters cooked to perfection. It's sweet, it's bouncy and it's undeniably scrumptious. The noodles are also semi-soaked in the gravy, which gives it a slightly denser bite compared to most. Good flavour, lovely texture and a heck of a lobster. 


Vietnamese Chicken Chop - RM15.50

For those who enjoys eating rice, this dish might be the one for you. The slab of chicken thigh is not only grilled to tender perfection, it's also well marinated with a sweet and savoury sauce. Topped with fresh red onions and served with some salad on the side, this dish is a definite must try.


Minced Chicken on Toast - RM10.50

Last but not least, a take on the classic toasts with minced chicken topping. This dish, though may be the simplest of them all, was my absolute favourite. The flavours are well developed and the dish itself is easy to eat. Lovely flavour, a good play on texture and absolutely delicious!


Oh, I found this drink to be pretty interesting. Though it's just soda water. 


All and all, if you're a fan of local food, then Amaze K Cafe is worth considering. Not to mention the chill and relaxing ambiance, coupled with free wifi, one can simply stay here for hours and have their work done. Also, they serve pretty good coffee as well! 


Address: 

23, Jalan PJU 3/44, Sunway Damansara, Petaling Jaya 
(Use Waze or Google Maps)

Operating Hours: 
Mon - Fri 10:30 am - 9:30 pm
Sat & Sun 9.30am - 8.30pm

Tel: 03-77337657

Chakri Palace - Ramadhan Buffet @ KLCC, KL

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If you're a fan of Thai food and you just have that sudden craving to feast on it during this festive Ramadan season, then you're in luck. Chakri Palace in KLCC is a stunning Thai restaurant that is offering it's amazing Ramadan buka-puasa menu at an incredibly reasonable price. So without further ado, let's see what they have to offer.


Starting strong with a series of fresh Mieng Kam - a sort of Thai appetizer that is a DIY type, with various toppings placed within the leaf. 


More appetizers to choose from!


Of course, what good will a Thai restaurant be if there aren't any tom yam around? At CHakri Palace, you'll be greeted with two - both white and red alongside a series of toppings to accompany with. Noodles are also available to make your own bowl of tom yam noodles. Delicious!


Lovely ikan bakar grilled to tender perfection. Loved the robust flavours and flakiness of the flesh.


Love chicken and beef satay.


Before anything else, I should start by saying that this dish was my absolute favourite. It simply is steamed fish with lime and chilli, but the freshness of the fish alongside the tangy and spicy profile absolutely excites me. It's soft, flaky and packed full of flavour - definitely worth going for seconds. In fact, I refilled 3 times in total.


Some rice and noodles, you know, just for the carbs.


Some vegetables - stir fried beancurd with Thai basil leaves and fresh chilli while the one at the bottom ix basically mixed vegetables. Both of which were cooked beautifully.


Meat lovers rejoice! Here we have a series of meat. From the amazingly awesome beef rendang, to the prawn and butter sauce and finally, massaman curry. Good flavour, vibrant colors and one hell of a dish. 


For desserts, you'll be exposed to 9 different types per session. Personally, I found the desserts to be a little too sweet for my liking, but everyone else enjoyed it really much. My favourite was the mango sticky rice, fruits and red ruby. Though the latter was still tad bit sweet. 


My first take!


All and all, if you're a big eater and you love Thai food, Chakri Palace is definitely a place worth visiting. Although the choices may not be as astonishing as most hotel buffets, at least each dish is cooked beautifully. It is after all, quality over quantity. So if you're planning to break your fast, or simply enjoy the essence of Royal Thai Cuisine, then head on down to Chakri Palace or simply call in to place your reservation today!

Chakri Palace 2016 Ramadan Buffet - RM91.90 per person

Children (6-12 yo) / Senior Citizen - RM47.90 per person

The buffet is divided to 3 different menus, each happening on different days of the week. For the first menu, it'll be Monday and Tuesday, second being Wednesday and Thursday while the third being Friday all the way till Sunday

The menu consists of several variations, not entirely different with most of the key components shared throughout the week. So just pop in and enjoy. The one I had was the first menu, available on Monday and Tuesday. 

There's also an early bird discount of RM20nett from the 10th of May - 9 of June 2016 and Citibank credit card holders are entitled to 15% discount



Address: 

Lot 417B, Level 4, Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur City Center, 50088 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Operating hours: Daily 10am - 10pm

Tel: 016 2277 182 / 03 2382 7788 / 03 2382 0887 (reservations)

Dark and Twisted Cafe (Part 2) @ Evolve Mall, PJ

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If you've not read about the first part, here is the link Dark and Twisted Part 1. Previously I've covered a few breakfast items and mains, along with one dessert. As for this blogpost, it will be those that I've left out! So without further ado, let see what they have to offer.


The Grand-er Breakfast - RM19.50

First up, the Grand-er Breakfast. In my part 1, you'll find a Grand Breakfast, one that only has one sausage, a sourdough toast, eggs of your choice, sauteed mushrooms and a side of mixed greens. This one on the other hand, has two smoky lamb sausages, an egg of your choice, buttery mashed potatoes, buttered grilled sourdough medallions, sauteed mushrooms and fresh garden salad. 

It's fairly similar to the first one, but with a small change here and there. Everything is nicely cooked and seasoned to perfection. The elements within the dish are also nicely balanced, with the saltiness from the sausage, creaminess from the mash potatoes, richness from the egg, starch from the medallions and freshness from the greens. 


Eggs in Basket - RM16.90

Personally, I find this a different interpretation of an eggs benedict. It has all the elements and the concept is fairly similar - eggs on toasts, with beef/turkey bacon strips. This dish is fairly simple, but the joy of breaking those yolks and allowing them to flow out and coat the buttered toast is absolutely delightful. 

The dish itself is also nicely seasoned, so no worries about that there. Overall, it's pretty good. 


Tropical Fruit Salad - RM5.40

A refreshing blend of watercress, pineapple, cherry tomatoes, mango and cashew nuts.  It's simple, it's vibrant and ultimately, it's a pretty damn good salad.


Watermelon Ceviche - RM5.40

Instead of watermelon cubes, they've done it in slices. Not that it is a bad thing, but it does take time to get used to since regular Watermelon Ceviche are done in cubes. Regardless, they still taste pretty amazing as the watermelon is packed with sweetness and liquid. The feta cheese also gave the salad an added richness while the dressing gave it that tangy taste profile to bind things together. 


 Pineapple Carpaccio - RM5.40

Thought it might look fairly boring, this plate of salad is actually quiet addictive. It is after all, done with pineapple and watercress, you simply can't go wrong with that. What made this dish even more appealing was the dressing. It's fresh, it's creamy and it's give the dish an added layer of flavour and depth. 


Battered Prawns - RM23.40

For mains, the Battered Prawns is one definitely worth going for. Not only are the prawns incredibly fresh, they are battered at just the right ratio to make it light and crisp. It is also seasoned with various spices, making it slightly spicy (if you can't tolerate, very spicy) and addictive. 

The additional mango dip on the side is perfect in countering the heat from the prawns, giving it a more balanced taste profile. Fresh garden salad with cubed mangoes, and sauteed mushrooms on the side are great as well.


Tropical Fruit Parfait - RM8.10

Finally, desserts. Here we have a gorgeous cup of tropical fruit parfait. One that is packed with nuts, yogurt, and chunks of papaya, mango, pineapple and orange. It's sweet, simple and certainly a great way to end a meal. Lovely!

Overall, everything was done really nicely. It's difficult to choose which was better, part 1 or part 2, but I believe they both have their own unique sense of taste and presentation. I particularly enjoyed the The Grander Breakfast, Watermelon Ceviche, Battered Prawns and of course, the Tropical Fruit Parfait. So if you've any of those that you're craving, do drop by Dark and Twisted Cafe in Evolve Mall, Ara Damansara today!


Address: 

Ground Floor, Evolve Concept Mall, Pacific Place @ Ara Damansara, Jalan PJU 1A/4, Ara Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor 47301

Operating hours; Daily 10am - 10pm

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