where and what to eat lah?

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While Hong Kong style char chan teng (茶餐厅) and kopitiams have won the hearts of many young patrons, while I, personally not a fan of such sprawling trends. Not because I'm not young anymore, but more of paying a premium price for decent or most of the time, lousy foods. At least, not until I found out about Tsim Tung Restaurant, located at Pandan Indah and established since 2004 as part of the member of Restoran Oversea Group.


Like your typical cafes with simple designs and mediocre service by all the young workers that don't really care much. Surprisingly, instead of having young hippy crowd, the patrons seems to be mainly consist of adults and family people. I was here once many years back and didn't return ever since till I've heard that it has changed for the better. Let's see...


Water cress honey with lemon in a jug (RM 5.20), refreshing drink for the warm weather.


Original bubble milk tea (RM 4.50), rather disappointing. Too much ice and the pearls were like the frozen kind.


The only reason why I'm back at Tsim Tung is for the Japanese style pork rib with soup noodle (RM 9.80), or known as soft bone pork cartilage noodle (猪软骨面). Two pieces of long hours stewed till absolutely tender soft bone pork cartilage that are fully absorbed with flavors - it was divine biting into it!


You can tell it was cooked for long hours when the soft bone literally melts in your mouth like a gel form. Not to mention for the ladies, it is packed with collagen. The soup was clear yet tasteful and complemented well with the noodles and the flavorful pork pieces.


Japanese style pork rib rice (RM 9.20), equally nice with the extra gravy for the rice except for...it only came in one miserable piece?!? The noodles version has two of these though, better value for money!


Hot and spicy pork dices fried rice (RM 9.50), it was seductively kissed with wok hei that it was simply a dream to eat it.


Fish fillet with rice noodle in fresh tomato soup (RM 8.90), a refreshing combination of light flavors that ranges from sweet to tangy sourish, the soup was actually quite addictive.


Pork chop burger in Macau style (RM 6.50), it wasn't great overall but the fries were a different story.

Cheese baked pork chop with fried rice (RM 12.90), a typical HK-style cheese baked dish with lightly fried rice, fried pork chops, tomato-based sauce and cheese.


The portions were actually quite generous and big.


A bowl of fries, I know I know...weird isn't it. But this fries somehow reminded me of the fries I had in the Burger King from UK. Served piping hot and crispy golden brown with a buttery layer on the outside, not bad at all for cheap fries.


Hong Kong polo bun slabbed with kaya and a slice of frozen butter (RM 2), a little small and nothing fancy but at least it was served warm.


XO sauce seafood fried rice (RM 11.90), filled with wok hei and fresh succulent prawns. The "fried department" seems to be a safe choice apart from my favorite soft bone pork cartilage noodle.


Grilled pork chops with jumbo hot dog in red wine sauce (RM 19.80), not one of the best pork chop but hey, I'm not complaining for the price I've paid for and the huge portions enough for a ravenous tummy.

Verdict: By far, this is one the few cafe-like restaurant that I'm willing to return back, especially for the soft bone pork cartilage noodle! Overall, Tsim Tung has improved over the years in offering edible yet tasty HK-style food with a great value for money.


Address:
22-28, Jalan Pandan Indah 4/6,
Pandan Indah,
55100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-4295 1896
Business Hours: Opens daily from 11am - 1am
Pork Free: No
Taste:
Value:
GPS: 3.130360, 101.755403
Map:

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Market Hall is a fairly new restaurant opened on the Feb 13, 2011 and located at Level 6 in Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur. Situated by the corner together with the likes of Din Tai Fung, Wong Kok Char Chan Teng and TGI Fridays's.


The Market Hall with its sister bar, Bedroom which is just next door are apparently from the same successful brainchild behind TGI Fridays's, Italiannies, The Apartment, Laundry, Malones, Teh Tarik Place and The Republic Bar.


Inspired based on a market hall concept with shelves stacked with imported condiments, an open kitchen area and surrounded by wooden butcher-block prep lookalike tables. This open designed floor plan exhibits a cozy and homely atmosphere that makes you feel comfortable right away.


Freshness is the primary aspect here, from incorporating fresh locally farmed daily ingredients to freshly handmade pasta dough.


With the open kitchen area, it allows you to experience a true culinary adventure by watching the chefs preparing every single dish, listens to the sounds of the kitchen and smells the aromas that take you on a journey.


Their menu is quite comprehensive and even if you don't feel like having anything from the menu, you will still be able to customize your food according to your tastes and the available ingredients.

Complimentary breadsticks with salsa for start. It was light, fluffy, crispy thin crusted yet soft inside and made fresh from their pizza dough. Something different from the usual bread baskets with butter or olive oil and a nice way to kick-start our tummies.


For drink, we had the Meditation (RM 12.50) detox juice concoctions made from pineapple, maple syrup, mint leaves, fresh ginger and spring water - rejuvenating indeed!


Ruby salad (RM 16.90), beetroot salad with goat cheese, olives and watercress. This refreshingly different yet tasty salad presented an amazing combination of flavors - sweetness from the dressing, saltiness from goat cheese and olives and earthiness from the beetroot and watercress.

Chicken roulade (RM 28.90), ginger and chili béchamel stuffed tender chicken breast on garden greens and spring onion pesto. The tender chicken breast mingled nicely with the intense flavors of the aromatic ginger, lemon and pesto; making this a truly wonderful dish!


Winter risotto (RM 28.90), slow roasted assorted mushrooms risotto with truffle oil and fresh herbs. It was silky smooth, rustic and warmly satisfying.


For side dish, we had the sauteed wild mushrooms with onion (RM 6.90).


Tagliatelle pasta with fresh salmon tossed in vodka, citrus zest and mascarpone cream sauce (RM 32.90). Some says that fresh pasta is like placing a silk scarf across your tongue in texture while offering a rich, flavorful, and savory vessel for sauces, oils and ingredients to rest upon.


Signature pizza (RM 34.90) made from wood fire oven with no tomato, no mozzarella cheese...but with smoked salmon, avocado, cream cheese, capers, fresh dill and baby spinach. It was nice and the crust tasted very much like the breadstick. It was a tad too much for two person and we felt a little dry after few slices. Otherwise, it'll be great for sharing.


Paella (RM 28.90), spicy Spanish rice with fresh clams and chicken. The clams were fresh and very much alive minutes before being scooped out. There is something about paella that I really enjoy - the richness, the flavor and the golden yellow saffron infused rice. But somehow, something was amiss and lacking here. I couldn't tell what was lacking, not enough of saffron maybe...

For dessert, chocolate and mascarpone tart with orange salad and Grand Marnier syrup (RM 12.90). Well, despite looking rather splendid and colorful, the tart was quite hard, really hard.


We were there twice in separate occasions and the restaurant seems to be doing quite well with a decent crowd most of the time. The only downside was... we felt very thirsty hours after we got home each time. Not sure why, hope it has nothing to do with the MSG.

Verdict: Relaxed atmosphere to sit for hours and coupled with variety of wonderful food, unique taste pairings, presentation and execution of the food which makes it truly different from the rest.


Address:
Lot 6.01.03 & 6.01.04, Level 6,
Pavilion KL Shopping Mall,
No. 168, Jalan Bukit Bintang,
55100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2141 9622
Business Hours: Opens daily from 10am - 12am
Pork Free: Yes
Taste:
Value:
GPS: 3.148743, 101.714429
Map:

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I never really had any Irish food before and for all that I know about Irish are probably their pubs, stouts and beers. Pubs claiming to be Irish in this city have an iffy relationship with anything close to what can be seen as authentically Irish – Malones isn't any different but it plays to the current aesthetic of the gastropub trend.


The word drunkard Irish man surely did not come out of no where. I'm sure there is more than just drinking in Malones.


Eating out in a restaurant bar no longer means the dreaded microwaved frozen foods and cardboard chips. They are probably a restaurant posing as a pub more than a pub with a restaurant.


Established since 2009, Malones offers a delightful menu filled with an array of pork free authentic Irish specialties. Going pork free in an Irish bar is a bold move but the selections available look sound and currently serving 4 different locations - the Suria KLCC, Sooka Sentral, Pavilion KL and The Curve.


Irish stew (RM 24.90), a famous traditional Irish dish with tender stewed lamb, potatoes, carrots, onions, parsley and served with mashed potatoes and slices of tuscan bread. And of course, the Irish are famous for their stew and the other variation was the Guinness beef stew (RM 28.90). Chunks of tender lamb and fresh vegetables slowly stewed, served and eaten with a smile.

Sausages on colcannon and Guinness onion gravy (RM 28.90), grilled beef and chicken jumbo sausages and steamed veal bratwurst sausage served with onion gravy and colcannon (mashed potatoes with cabbage). The sausages weren't quite what we'd been expecting; definitely skipping this next time.


Beer battered fish and chips (RM 21.90), dory fillet dipped in beer batter, golden-fried to perfection and served with fries and tartar sauce. The fish was fresh, while you can taste the slight hops from the beer in the crispy batter.


Just like the days in UK, malt vinegar on hot battered fish and chips is probably one of the world's best accompaniment. And if only they wrapped it in a newspaper, it will be the "Icon of England".


Wicklow lamb (RM 39.80), rack of lamb marinated with balsamic vinegar, seared and roasted to perfection and served with crunchy French beans, new potatoes and basil dressing. What a wicked delight it was!


Pan fried gaelic steak (RM 49.90), seared 280g sirloin steam served with fries and broccolis.


The gaelic sauce was creamy and rather different from the normal steak sauce; it could be the Irish whiskey.


Beef burger (RM 24.90), juicy 200g beef patty topped with beef bacon strips, cheddar cheese, fresh lettuce, tomatoes, pickle slices and served with fries. It looked good but expensive for something common like this.

Verdict: Might not be the best Irish food but definitely a nice relaxing place for a decent good Irish experience dinner with boozing atmosphere flowing freely into late night. With 4 branches up-to-date, who needs the Irish's luck now?


Address:
Lot C3.02.00, Level 3,
Pavilion KL Shopping Mall,
No. 168, Jalan Bukit Bintang,
55100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2141 6310
Business Hours: Opens daily from 10am - 12am
Pork Free: Yes
Taste:
Value:
GPS: 3.1492897, 101.712155
Map:

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