vkeong loves good food, travel and photography!
Food and Drink
Food!!
Top Hat Restaurant @ Jalan Stonor, KL
Mar 22nd
If you have been to the KLCC Convention Centre or the Aquaria, most likely you would have parked at the adjoining outdoor car park. If you did, then you should have noticed Top Hat Restaurant before. It is located along Jalan Stonor, somewhere near the car park’s exit. I had always wondered about the restaurant but never really made a point to make a visit because it looked pricey. But after gathering positive feedbacks from friends who dined there before, we were finally convinced to try.
Set in a colonial bungalow that used to be a school in the past, the restaurant is filled with natural light from the side windows and oozes classical elegance. The menu that rotates every three months is a delightful blend of Western Dishes and Asian flavours, with the latter focused more on local Malaysian and distinctive Nyonya cuisines. Prices here are expectedly above average but not exorbitantly expensive.
Top Hats (Kuih Pai Tee) @ RM10 for half a dozen, a signature dish here that also matches the restaurant’s name. These bite-sized appetizers were prepared fresh and arrived at the table warm. The ‘hat’ was light but crispy and the shredded radish filling was surprisingly more delicious than anticipated considering it is vegetarian. They go very well with the homemade chili coriander sauce too, in fact a must for Pai Tee.
Burger Maut (Burger of Death) @ Semabok, Melaka
Mar 20th
I have rented rooms and houses at many different towns in Selangor, KL and Penang since I started to work. And everywhere I stayed, I made sure I found a good Ramly Burger stall nearby that I could rely on for a quick bite and I believe everyone has their favorites too. Even though I keep a list of those I like, it never crossed my mind to blog any of them, mainly because most of them never operate on a permanent basis.
Then I found out from a friend about Burger Maut at Semabok, Melaka which I think is worthy of a mention. I know you are wondering why his burgers are called the Burgers of Death. Me too. So I asked Abang Fuad (the seller). But not only he doesn’t know why, he did not come up with the name too! Apparently the catchy name was given by his loyal customers and it just stuck ever since. Interesting eh?
There are two things that make his burgers special: show of high flame that never fails to entertain and his signature burger ‘Convert‘, which is simply a burger that got converted into hot dog. How? Read on and find out.
Wantan Mee @ Chulia Street, Penang
Mar 17th
This is not the best Wantan Mee in Penang but it is good. Nameless and often referred as the ‘Wantan Mee in front of furniture shop at Chulia Street‘, the noodles here tastes slightly different from those in Klang Valley. The noodles are more more springy, tossed with light soy sauce hence the fairer appearance and has a stronger lard presence. Even the wantan dumplings look different too, they are so tightly wrapped.
We have always missed the noodle after we moved out of Penang because it used to be our favorite place for supper. Besides, you will find one of the best Penang Curry Mee here too.
The last time I ate here was five years ago and I am glad the taste did not change too much. The Wantan Mee is still as enjoyable as it used to be for me, except for the red char siew which is the type I frown upon now. The price did go up a bit though, how much exactly I can’t remember but it was definitely less than RM3. Penangites might complain but I am already accustomed to paying RM5 for a smaller portion of noodles prepared by foreigners in KL. So, I can’t really complain. In fact I feel hawker food is still cheap in Penang and sadly that fact depresses me in some ways.
Cafe Matchbox 1960s-Style Cha Chaan Teng @ Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Mar 12th
Tea culture in Hong Kong is very different from what we have in Malaysia. For us, we like to hang out at the 24 hours mamak stalls while the Hongkies enjoy it at their numerous of Cha Chaan Teng. Most of these establishments big or small serve similar kind of food, typically Hong Kong-style Western cuisine like macaroni, fried chicken wings, French toast etc. And they usually come in sets too.
Among the few that we went to in Hong Kong, Cafe Matchbox at Tsim Sha Tsui (Causeway Bay) is more memorable thanks to its unique menu and 1960s decor, complete with colored tiled walls, light fixtures and old-school Canto music playing in the background.
Here, pancakes are eaten all day instead of being just a breakfast and they come with various toppings including minced beef, honey, fried eggs, banana and walnut. One of the sets (tea or coffee included) here is a combo of two of their signature food – Floating Chicken Pie in Green Pea Soup and Banana Walnut Pancake for $HKD45. The chopped crunchy walnuts give a contrasting texture to the soft pancakes and the syrup and banana slices provide the sweet flavor. It tasted as good as it looked, more like a dessert actually.
