Dai Ban Noodles, Damansara Uptown

For one to proclaim its pork burger to be the best in town, the expectations of a marvelous, finger licking good burger would probably had set the standard for the particular restaurant. Dai Ban Noodles had a large red banner hanging in front of its restaurant claiming to be the best pork burger in town and that had gotten dad's attention.

 

Its interior were basic and nothing fancy. The variety of food were limited and therefore, saving our time going through the menu to scout for the best choice. Crowd wise - you can be sure to get seats without any reservations.



 

 

The Best Pork Burger

Did it live up to its name? Judging from the picture itself, I would have gauge that most of you had made your decision. Was it the best in town? Definitely not living up to its title. The first impression of the dish itself was a turn off with their lack of care to at least plate the burger and the wedges properly. The chili and mayo decorations were far fetch from neat.

 

The burger patty itself was average tasting, doesn't exactly give the burst of juicy patties in your mouth feeling.

 

Salted Egg Squid

The salted egg squid at least made it further than the pork burger. I am a fan of salted eggs, so anything with salted eggs makes its way to my list. The calamari was chewy with a crispy texture and the saltiness gives an extra oomph to the dish.

Fried Fish Cake

The fish cake was decently good without the excessive sodium taste which is often present in mass manufactured fish cake.

Would I return for a second round? I don't think I will. There wasn't much of a good impression for me to return for a round two.

 

-thevanillapudding-

Noble Mansion, Plaza 33

Expensive and exotic. That will be my two words description for Noble Mansion. Another favorites for Chinese wedding events and dinner gatherings, it would be a good idea to book a  table prior to dining there. 

Claypot Fish Slice with Onions

An expensive version of claypot fish slice where you can get it at half the price in some hawker stalls. However, taste wise, it was quite exquisite. The fish slice was sliced reasonably thick for that extra juiciness when cooked with onions. It was well seasoned and brought out the freshness of the fish slice.

Pumpkin Melon Soup

The soup itself was flavorful and addictive to taste. It was a rich combination of melon, pumpkin, dates and Chinese dried oyster.

Sze-Chuan Soup with Scallops

This was definitely one of the exotic dish of the night. The soup was a thick gooey red with condiments such as chilli and mushroom. It is spicy and sourish, a very typical flavor for Sze-Chuan inspired dishes. The taste itself was quite exotic and not everyone likes the taste of it, it is pretty much an acquired taste.

Pork Ribs

Pork Ribs

The pork ribs was the main highlight and my favorite dish of the night. The pork ribs was tender and juicy. It was served up with a rich sauce which was sweet with a tinge of sourness. The pork ribs was also fried to crisp on the exterior. It is an art to fry pork ribs without overcooking the internal flesh. Another touch that made this dish so special was the dates on the top of the pork ribs, it is definitely something different but yet so tastefully done.

Lamb Shank served with bread

Deep Fried Mantou

The lamb shank was a surpring take. I was surprised with their menu of Lamb Shank since it was a Chinese restaurant, Lamb Shank clearly doesn't goes down with Chinese food. And true to it, Noble Mansion should probably stick to what they prepare best - Chinese food. The lamb shank was mediocre and not as well seasoned as what a good western restaurant would prepare. The meat itself was not tender enough with the sauce just being average.

Soup

I'll admit I can't recall the name of this soup. Taste wise - I think its an acquired taste because my brothers disliked the soup since they claimed it had a funny taste but my parents loved it. The soup itself was pretty sourish, with some spiciness in it. Tasted like preserved vegetables soup though. I didn't exactly love it, neither did I hate it.

Double Boiled Fungus with Soya Milk

It's dessert time and it was undeniably good. Nothing beats a soothing hot soya milk together with soft chewy fungus for a Chinese dessert. Not even chinese pancakes!

Longan and Fungus Dessert

Another bowl for the sweet toothed. Sweet from the excessive longans and soft chewy fungus, this is another wonderful dessert to end the night.

All in all, it was a great experience and I was pretty satisfied with most of the dishes. It was a rather different experience from your average Chinese restaurants. However, the price itself is enough to cost a bomb, prepare to fork out about RM 500 for the above meals.

-thevanillapudding-

Gelare @ The e-Curve

A friend of mine recommended Gelare for an authentic American waffle and I was glad I took his advice. Instead of cheap RM 3.00 waffles that you can get it from the stalls, this was an exceptional all American waffle. Located in The e-Curve, same row as Espresso Lab. it is a small shop decorated in black and settings.

Gelare serves an array of waffles with several type of ice cream and also coffee. It makes a good place for dessert, dates and meet up.

Original Waffle with Cookie and Cream Ice Cream 

The epitome of orgasmic waffle is here! The original flavored waffle was just as good. It was thick, crispy on the exterior and soft on the interior. The rich drizzle of maple syrup together with the rich creaminess of the cookie and cream ice cream is divine. It was so worth my RM 18! It was just that good, I'm not going to have waffles any other way anymore!

-thevanillapudding-

Harrods Cafe, KLCC

This visit was honestly a disaster. I mistaken Harrods Cafe a Harrods Restaurant when I had actually booked Harrods Restaurant instead! I didn't realize that there were two Harrods in KLCC and it was practically a bad day after that with the amount disaster happening.

The food at Harrods Cafe was another greatest disappointment. I've read reviews raving about both Harrods and clearly Harrods Cafe does not fit into the list. Perhaps its the name of Harrods that brings it to the top of the list, but I can tell the number of things that are disappointing.

The first and foremost, despite the ambience of a classic cafe in UK, Harrods's interiors were terribly stuffy and hot. It bored down to me if the air-conditioned was really on. I was sweating although I was wearing a sleeveless dress!

Chocolate Mint Brownie

The chocolate mint brownie was average in terms of taste. The brownie tasted a little dry to my liking. Despite the small piece, I found it hard to even eat through half of it!

Scones

Harrods scones were dimmed to die for and I beg to differ. I had tried better ones and this was clearly not what I had in mind. The SmokeHouse up in Cameron Highlands serves up a pretty damn good scones and the ones I had in Sydney Teahouse was another great one. These scones were hard and not as fluffy it should be. It was warm to touch and taste but failed badly in creating a memorable taste. It was served with jam and cream.

Fruit Flan

The Fruit Flan was the cake of the day and it wasn't a pleaser. It was a simple sponge cake with fruits and cream. Once again, its taste was mediocre and none of it was memorable.

Perhaps I am too picky but I was expecting something better, something memorable and something that would make me die to come back for round 2. But none of it done a great deal impressing me or my family.  

-thevanillapudding-

Pickle & Figs, TTDI

I love the name Pickle & Figs, it sounds very english in some ways. Pickle & Figs is located on the same row as the TTDI McDonalds and you would most probably missed it just by driving past it. Parking is a hassle during weekdays though. The interior of Pickle & Figs was kept to the minimal with wooden table, black plastic chair and sofas. But what I loved most was their choice of song, they played extremely good song covers which you can download it through 8tracks.com.

Classic Smoothie

One thing to note about Pickle & Figs was their signature beverages were mainly healthy smoothies made out from fresh fruits. I had their classic smoothie which was a combination of strawberries and several other fruits. Boy, it was delicious, rich and generous. Much to my delight, it was what I would deem a good smoothie.

Grilled Chicken Sandwich with grilled zucchini, cheese and eggs

Different from all the other cafe's menu, Pickle & Figs serves up an array of handmade sandwiches with the likes of salmon, beef and chicken. Wholemeal bread toasted with grilled chicken and an overload of cheese and eggs, it is something simple and filling. It was well seasoned and keeps you full for the rest of the day.

If you are in healthier option of snacks and breakfast, Pickle & Figs might do a great job at it with its simple sandwiches and healthy smoothie. Price wise, you got to expect an average of RM 20, just like your average cafe.

-thevanillapudding-

Levain Boulangerie Patisserie, Kuala Lumpur

Levain Boulangerie Patisserie, also known as the "Stone Oven" bakery is located in Jalan Delima, Kuala Lumpur. Instead of being Melbourne inspired, Levain is more keen on serving up delectable and beautiful pastry. The ambience itself was charming and cosy, letting me reminisce the feeling of being in Paris - it is not quite there, but you just get a little nostalgic.

Pastries were arranged artfully on the array of trays in the corner of the shop. You will be spoilt for choice.

Peach Pastry

Flaky and buttery. And just right. Love the crunch to it with the softness of the peach.

Apple Danish

I am a fan of apples, herbs and cinnamon. At first glance, I knew I had to try out the apple danish. The apple danish was surprisingly mild in taste. It could have been better if they were more generous in terms of the filling.

Cappuccino

I am quite surprised with the quality of their coffee. I was expecting something rich and aromatic. However, it was relatively disappointing on my first sip, I didn't bother finishing my cappuccino. 

Tuna Croissant with Hash Brown

The croissant was flaky, buttery and rich but I though Yeast Boulangerie's serves up a better croissant. It was definitely more flavorful. The tuna was just canned tuna mixed with mayo, so I guess there's not much to offer on this platter either.

Levain Boulangerie - after much of the hype, I felt it was a tad too overrated. Perhaps its their "Stone Oven" competitive advantage place them on top of the list. However, the food was pretty much average tasting and left not much of a memory.

-thevanillapudding-

Oregi Restaurant, SS15

Those living or studying in Subang area would definitely heard of Oregi Restaurant. A popular restaurant for delicious and cheap Middle Eastern food, with a ShiSha service available too. Oregi will be unusually packed during dinner and after hours where all the youngsters are out for their usual chillout session.

Oregi Signature Drink

I can't really recall what was the exact name, but it is Oregi popular and signature drink. It was a mixture of soda, mint leaves and lime. It is delicious and pretty addictive, especially on a hot night.

Lemon Honey

Lime Juice

Fish in Herbed Oil and Tomato Coulis

Fish in herbed oil and tomato coulis

This was my favorite. The fish was baked to perfection and tenderness, the tomato coulis and the herbed oil was a great combination to bring out the taste of the fish. The seasoning on the fish was kept minimal, allowing the tomato coulis and herbed oil to show its beauty and taste.

Mushroom chicken

A typical grilled chicken with thick mushroom sauce. Taste wise, it was average and nothing to shout about.

Lamb Kabsa Rice

Lamb Kabsa Rice

The lamb kabsa rice was delicious with a two thumbs up. The lamb was seasoned generously and cooked to tenderness. The long rain rice was also well cooked. It was a great dish, something so simple but yet so addictive. The rice was especially addictive.

Fahsah Arabic Lamb Stew

Fahsah Arabic Lamb Stew

This was another mouth watering dish. The lamb stew was generally cooked till bits and was so good when mixed together with rice. It was a little spicy though. However, I do recommend it for first timer.

Araees

Araees

This was the highlight of the night. It is really a good munch on for a late night out with friends. Basically, araees are charcoal toasted Arabic Bread till it is crisp and then filled with a rich flavorful minced lamb kebab meat. It is served with a garlic dip but I thought it was delicious on its own. Definitely a two thumbs up.

Oregi would be a good place for a night out where your budget is tight and you're craving for something exotic. 

-thevanillapudding-

LOKL, Kuala Lumpur

LOKL, pronounced as Local. Apart from being an indie cafe, it is also a bed and breakfast hotel where backpackers can be seen lounging around. It was cosy with both internal and outdoor sitting area. On normal weekdays, it was filled with office workers getting a good hearty meal to fuel their remaining day in the office. Getting a seat within the air-conded premise was difficult, so my colleagues and I sat at the open air area. Pretty cosy with trees shading us from the sun.

Tomato Soup

This is a classic case of tomato soup, definitely not canned soup. The broth was rich, thick and chunky. It was well seasoned enough for you to want to finish the whole bowl. Definitely not the watery tomato soup you get from other restaurants in town.

Tea

Latte

Refreshingly rich and aromatic, the coffee is as good as it looks.

Quiche

My colleague ordered it and he said it was pretty good, not too rich but just decent enough to satisfy your stomach.

Rosemary Chicken Thigh Panini with Salad

Firstly, it wasn't a panini. They should probably reconsider renaming it. The chicken thigh was well seasoned with rosemary, it wasn't overpowering but subtle enough to bring out the flavor of the chicken.

Spicy Lemongrass Beef with Salad

Coated with a layer of batter and seasoned with lemongrass and chilli, it was something different. Spicy but nonetheless makes up a good meal.

Apple Crumble

The apple crumble was good. Finger licking good in this case, though I did not used my fingers. It was served in a small ramekin and definitely just out from the oven. It crumbly with a generous amount of warm apples. Two thumbs up.

I had the set lunch which was priced at RM 30 inclusive of a drink, soup, main course and dessert. I thought it was pretty decent. I am quite happy and satisfied with their food. It wasn't great, but good enough for round two.

On a side note, the waiters here are really friendly and go all out to make your day. Definitely another plus point!

-thevanillapudding-

YouMiQi Cuisine @ Old Klang Road

The name itself pretty exotic, doesn't it? This isn't your typical Chinese restaurant such as with the likes of Oversea Restaurant. It offers something more exotic, a Chinese Shunde-style cuisine where you won't get it anywhere else. It is definitely an eye opener for first timer. It is easy to miss out this restaurant as its location is no where strategic, other than a small two story building tucked away before the Valenza budget hotel. Parking can be difficult and seatings can be even more difficult without a booking. 

Homemade Chilli 

Unlike your typical chilli served in Chinese restaurant, YouMiQi serves up chopped chili in a slightly sour base. It's watery and seem like a harmless seasoning, however, a word of caution - it can be quite spicy! 

Rice Noodles

Fascinating isn't it? Most of us will know it as "chee cheong fun". The rice noodles was thin and surprisingly chewy. There was not much seasoning to it, where soy sauce act as the main seasoning. It wasn't too bad, despite its blandness.

Stir Fried Clams

The clams were stir fried with a micture of onions, shallots, carrots and bittergourd. The bittergourd taste was quite strong though and the sauce was salty.

Herbal Chicken

This taste like the herbal sauce chicken my mom prepares every week. Nothing to rave about.

Water Spinach with Pork Slice

This was quite good. Instead of using milk for the soup, YouMiQi uses rice water. It was surprisingly addictive despite its lack of taste. The pork slice was a wonderful addition to the soup.

Wax Rice

Wax Rice

This is definitely a must try. It is so wonderfully seasoned and prepared that you can't help but going in for the second round. But it doesn't do well with those who have digestive problem because its generally quite oily and heavily seasoned with lard. So, you can imagine the amount of grease.

Pan Fried Fish Slice

Pan Fried Fish Slice

Another simple delicacy with wonderful seasoning. Fish was sliced to bite size and pan fried till the exterior was crispy and the internal flesh was soft and juicy.

Handmade Pork Balls with Preserved Vegetables

Another orgasmic dish - pork balls. First of all, you don't say no to pork balls. Second of all, what beats handmade pork balls? Well seasoned and juicy, that's what you need in a pork ball. Seasoned with preserved vegetables, that's a pretty well combination. Definitely a must try.

YouMiQi Cuisine sets the bar pretty high and you will want to come back for another round, but after you give your wallet a break. The price itself is not cheap. However, it would be an eye opener and a taste bud opener.

-thevanillapudding-