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Ying Ker Lou Chinese-Hakka Cuisine Tea Time Promotion @ Pavilion KL
Feb 24th
Ying Ker Lou – an expensive looking and award winning restaurant that claims to serve authentic and MSG free Chinese-Hakka cuisine. If it’s not for their tea time dim sum promotion, I don’t think I’d ever step in for a meal. But also thanks to the promotion, I wouldn’t have the desire to dine there anymore. But just to be clear, this post is only valid for reference if you intend to try their tea time promotion. Their “normal hour” food could paint a different story though.
I will start with the dim sum we liked most – Steamed Siew Mai with Prawns @ RM6. The compact texture is a rarity in Siew Mai, plus the prawns were fresh and intensely sweet so there was really nothing to fault with it.
Hakka Bamboo Shoot Dumplings @ RM5, the skin was way too chewy while the fillings tasted forgettable.
Las Vacas Meat & Steak Shop @ SS5, Kelana Jaya
Feb 22nd
My latest steak-adventure brought me to Las Vacas at SS5 Kelana Jaya, a meat shop cum steak joint that is enjoying a growing popularity among steak lovers recently. They even opened a branch at Mont Kiara not too long ago. So you could say the owners made a smart move by venturing into restaurant business.
While almost everyone is raving about their steaks, sadly my dining experience was marred by a rodent incident. I don’t know why but things like bad service and cleanliness issues seem to find me on their own lol. For example, Kin Kin Chili Pan Mee and that Soo Kee Sang Har Meen. Anyway, more about that later.
Basically there are four types of meat served here: Wagyu, Angus, Grain Fed and Grass Fed and three types of cuts: Ribeye, Striploin and Rump. We were not prepared to fork out for the premium meat just as yet since we were just testing the water. I had the Ribeye Angus @ RM28/100gm.
One thing I like about Las Vacas is the courteousness shown by the owners. They would engage you about your meat preferences and recommend accordingly along with the serving size. Then he would cut the meat at the counter and send it to the kitchen.
Lao Gang Restaurant @ Bandar Puteri Puchong
Feb 20th
Puchong used to be my playground for food hunting. But since returning from Singapore I rarely step into Puchong anymore. Last week when I went to Lao Gang Restaurant at Bandar Puteri Puchong, I can’t help but notice the number of new restaurants that have emerged.
I was quite surprised to find Tenji opening their second branch in Puchong too. I don’t know whether that is a blessing or curse lol. Anyway, the name “Lao Gang” (traslated directly to “Old Port”) is used as a theme for the dishes and restaurant decor, largely based on Pasir Panjang (a small town in Negeri Sembilan) in the olden days.
Butter, curry leaves and seasoning are heavily utilised at Lao Gang especially in their signature dishes. So be forewarned if you are not fond of any of the mentioned ingredients. Starting off with my favorite dish of the meal – Cod Fish with Soya Sauce on Sizzling Hot Plate @ RM225, which constituted 70% of our entire bill that night.
I know what you’re thinking but just let me clarify that there are 3 huge slices of cod there and each weighs half a kilo. Here, Cod Fish is priced at RM15/100g, so do the math and you get the price we were billed. Although not as fresh it could be (because the cod was frozen), this expensive dish was still delectable with the caramelized soya sauce being the perfect accompaniment. It almost tasted like Japanese Teriyaki Cod.
I had expected the Claypot Chicken and Yam @ RM15 to have an earthy taste but it was surprisingly creamy and buttery sweet. As odd as the flavor might sound, the appetizing gravy (thanks to the curry leaves) goes extremely well with rice. The chicken pieces were perfectly cooked to a tender too.
The Waterlily Tropicana, Contemporary Balinese Bistro @ Mutiara Tropicana
Feb 17th
We happened to be at The Waterlily Bistro at Mutiara Tropicana for our Valentine’s Day dinner. It was an unplanned one so we could count ourselves lucky for being able to even secure a table after a short wait.
This Balinese themed restaurant is owned by the same management of Ole Ole Bali and Bumbu Bali. If you have dined at any of the mentioned restaurants, expect their menus to be extremely familiar to the point they are like almost identical.
Nasi Campur @ RM33, a signature dish across all their branches may it be Bumbu Bali, Ole Ole Bali or Waterlily. This ultimate rice is a combination of Balinese Grilled Lemongrass Prawns, Squid, Fish, choice of Beef or Chicken Rendang, Sate Lilit served with beans salad, anchovy crackers, Sambel Terasi and Sambel Matah.
