vkeong loves good food, travel and photography!
Puchong
Authentic Penang Nasi Kandar @ Restoran Kok Siong, Puchong
Oct 20th
The truth is that it is hard to find a decent Nasi Kandar in Klang Valley, at least one that could satisfy a Penangite’s craving. I can understand the lack of enthusiasm towards Nasi Kandar among KL people because I have to agree with them that it is more like an overpriced curry rice over here. It is also sad to know that the more popular Nasi Kandar chains like Pelita and Kayu are being used as yardsticks for our famous Penang Nasi Kandar, when in fact a hardcore Penang Nasi Kandar lover would gladly choose Kampong Melayu or Shariff‘s on any given day for the authenticty and affordability.
So when a colleague recommended me a Nasi Kandar at a coffee shop in Puchong that actually tastes like Penang’s, I jumped to try it. I never doubted his recommendation at all because besides him being a Penangite, he is one of the hardcore Nasi Kandar lovers I mentioned earlier. Turns the boss did not put up the word ‘Penang’ on his stall for nothing, his curry dishes do carry that unique spicy flavor of a true Penang Nasi Kandar. Well, of course it is not great as Kampong Melayu’s or Shariff’s. But given that you don’t need to travel all the way to Penang for the best ones, this particular stall at Restoran Kok Siong is probably the next best thing.
Restoran Yap Chuan Bak Kut Teh @ Puchong Utama
Sep 6th
I used to feel Yap Beng at Equine Park prepares better Bak Kut Teh even though they are actually a branch of Yap Chuan at Puchong. But a revisit to both after three years changed my mind, now it’s the other way round. Yap Chuan seems to be able to maintain the standards better while Yap Beng’s has dipped more and more over the years.
My taste buds have changed over the years too. I used to prefer Bak Kut Teh with dark stock that has strong herbal taste, probably because that is the only style available from where I come from (Penang) And Yap Beng’s is exactly like that, which explained my fondness towards them in the past.
But now I like those light colored ones with an even flavor of sweetness and herbs, liven up by suitable amount of Chinese wine. While Yap Chuan’s style is not exactly the one I described, it is still good enough in its own way. RM20 for a ‘dai guat’ (big bone) portion.
Classic Cuisine Restaurant @ Taman Meranti Jaya, Puchong
Jul 31st
Last week me and a few other friends were at Puchong to try out a new restaurant in Taman Meranti Jaya. The name of the said restaurant is Classic Cuisine – 京典名菜. Unlike the normal Puchong you would see while driving along the LDP highway, this area is quite serene and green due to its fairly remote location. Our choices of food that night were mostly signature dishes recommended by the captain. And the funny thing is, coincidentally most of they all came in clay pots too – something we only realized after all the food had arrived.
Red Wine and Hawthorn Berry Pork Ribs (红酒山楂骨) @ RM23 – nicely marinated, rich in taste but not overly sweet. Strawberry and orange bits are cleverly added not only for decoration purpose but also to give the dish a refreshing fruity flavor.
Fish Village Steamboat Restaurant @ Pusat Bandar Puchong
May 30th
A close friend brought me to his favorite restaurant for crabs in Puchong called Fish Village. It is actually a steamboat restaurant but they also serve various seafood dishes that are largely crab related. From what I see their steamboat sets are not too bad because pure seafood is given and the various add-ons like fish dumplings and live crabs are reasonably priced too.
La La Mee Hoon @ RM21 – Personally, I really like this. The noodles is nicely done to a springy texture and fully absorbed the sweet flavors of the clams. They do not stinge on the la la’s portion too, as you can see they are literally scattered all over the noodles. So, you are sure to taste them in each mouthful.
