Saturday, August 10, 2013

Upstairs Cafe, Subang Jaya SS12

Upstairs Cafe, checked. One phoodie completed off my phood list.

I got lost looking for this cafe, I keep thinking it's the Rakuzen side of subang, but it's actually just beside the hospital. Oopsie, I didn't know there were shops this side.

So, as named, Upstairs Cafe, it's... well... upstairs! It's at a two-storey shoplot area at Subang Jaya SS12 just next to the Sime Darby Medical Center.

You take the staircase up to the cafe which is located right above Restoran Bawang Merah. As you walk up, you can hear that there are motions, chatting and glass clinking. It was about 3pm when I went but still most of the tables were taken. A very cozy place with sofa seats, and even a few tables on the outside for smokers. The cafe is deco in red and white, it makes people feel very comfortable and just wanna sit down and enjoy a piece of cake the whole afternoon there.



What surprised me was, it's self-service, you order your phood at the cashier, pay, and then only the phood will be served to you. Well, I don't know how they remember who orders what or which table when they're busy. Because they did send the wrong pasta to me. Anyway, nice place, polite staffs, cheap phood, and a cake counter display for you to choose what you want for the day. There's a chalkboard where they list the phood available for the day: burgers, pasta, pies etc.

Seems like red velvet is a favorite there, because most of the tables ordered it. Most of the desserts look very tempting indeed. There were red velvet cake or red velvet cupcakes, creme brulee, quiche, brownie, cheesecake etc.

I ordered a carbonara with beef bacon (RM9.90), red velvet cake (RM8.00) and a hot latte (RM7.00). Total came up to RM24.90. No tax or service charge. (Well, not that there's none but nett price, if you know what I mean)


Carbonara was ok, not creamy enough. Don't have the 'cream' oomph there. Portion was small actually for me, but if you are having the pasta with dessert then it would be enough. Maybe that's why there's two slices of baguette that comes with the pasta. Well, just weird seeing that bread is served with pasta.


Red velvet is good. A tad too sweet for me but it's good. With the cream cheese just right. (Ignore the fact that it's all coloring)


Coffee is nice. Full stop.

Not bad, I wouldn't mind dropping by again with my friends. I noticed that most of the tables are bunch of teenagers, awe-ing at the cakes and then busy chit chatting with their friends over cakes and ice blended or coffees. Yummy.

Very good service, polite and helpful. Mostly guys, fluent English spoken. Seems like a great team inside. I hear them singing Raya songs inside the kitchen.


Upstairs Cafe
1st Floor, 12A,
Jalan SS12/1B, 
47500 Subang Jaya
Tel: 03-56119171

(If you come from Federal Highway, exit at Subang Jaya after you pass the Sunway bridge, keep left, and turn left at the Sime Darby Medical Center traffic light. You will see the SS12 row of shops on your right.)


Thursday, August 8, 2013

Beef Noodles @ Soo Kee Mee, Restoran Sun Huat Kee Taman Lucky Bangsar 大树头苏记牛肉河 (Now Permanently Closed)

Soo Kee has always been famed for their fried noodles, having their main shop at Jalan Imbi area.

As for me, my family and I always visit their youngest son Uncle Thompson's shop here in Taman Lucky, Bangsar. He used to open a stall in Paramount but now shifted here and have a stall inside Restoran Sun Huat Kee, Taman Lucky Bangsar.

Beef noodles, fresh waterprawn sang mee, black pepper udon, fried meehoon, stewed pork noodles etc... But his main recommended dish is the beef noodles and sang har noodle. Sang har noodle can be quite pricey because of the price of the prawns, huge waterprawns.

Partly it's because Uncle Thompson is our family friend, but otherwise, I still prefer his beef noodles than others that I have tasted so far. The beef is so tender and the gravy oh so good! But both the noodles are quite salty, the gravy is salty because the kuey teow is bland, but the sang har mee is quite salty so I suggest you can opt to request for less salty if you have a lighter taste bud.

Pricing of the sang har noodle is base on seasonal price whereby other noodles dishes are by per pax pricing, varies from RM9 - RM18.




 They have stir fried seasonal vege too. Subject to availability.






Soo Kee Noodles @ Restoran Sun Huat Kee
26, Jalan Ara Kiri 2,
Taman Lucky, Bangsar.
(It is same row as Papa Johns and Secret Recipe)
The coffee shop has other hawker food in the morning till afternoon, but Soo Kee stall opens at night 6pm - 10pm Mon - Sun)

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

The famed Kampachi buffet is back at Kampachi Plaza@Jaya 33

Ahh, my ever fave Japanese buffet to go for. It was sad for me when Equatorial Hotel closed for renovation thus I can't go for my favorite Japanese buffet in KL. Although there are many other buffets in KL but our all time favorite is still Kampachi nevertheless.

Do note that you might need to make one month advance booking to dine for the Sunday lunch buffet. I made my reservation beginning of July only to be told that the next available date is in August. Upon my arrival, the hostess had trouble searching for my name as, I supposed someone used my name and sat at my table because my name was already highlighted.

Walking in to the premise, I find that it is very spacious, the tables are mostly taken but unlike previously in Equatorial, it is not packed nor hard to walk. Spaces among the tables are wide and each section is easily accessed every corner. But do mind the steps and gaps on the floor. The restaurant is nicely designed and you can locate the beautiful bar, teppan counter, sushi counter easily. My dad says they can top up 20-30 more people easily.

Service was excellent. The hostess first put us at this rotating seating pod but due to my grandma's walking condition he alerted the manager and thus switched us to the main dining hall for a more comfortable seat. We were then asked for drinks and as we opted for green tea, they gave us 2 different pots of different green teas to try. I did not ask what, but my guess is normal green tea and the one with roasted rice or something like that. There were mocktails promotion which was very tempting actually, priced at RM15 per glass. And at the end of our meal, we were given comment card to be filled. Last order is at 2.30pm and they will go to each table to inform.

They have very sufficient manning whereby each and every used plate of ours were cleared almost immediately after we finished, which for me, I could have recycled the same plate again, but well, I guess not every customer think as I am. Teas and ice were refilled all the time for us. And very well, all smiles from them. Very good. Because service can definitely affect your return to the establishment.

 The seating pods that can be rotated for privacy. (But what privacy can you get inside actually hermmm?)


 I didn't notice actually until I saw their fb page, the sugidama (Sake-ball) right next to the kan-ba logo. As you walk in the entrance you will see their beautiful bar counter. Very nice.


 Fresh as always


 The sushi counter





 Teppan counter (beef, salmon, prawns) and sukiyaki counter at the corner.





 The japanese pancake counter. Hmm, no more Kampachi logo on the pancake though.





 Matcha ice cream with red bean is a must, must, must!


I have yet to try Iketeru, so as for now, Kampachi is still at our top list.

Kampachi Plaza@Jaya33's Sunday Buffet Lunch is priced at RM118++ for adults and RM68++ for kids.

Kampachi by Equatorial 
(Plaza 33 branch) the building next to Jaya 33
1st Floor, Plaza@Jaya 33,
1, Jalan Kemajuan, Seksyen 13,
46100 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor Darul Ehsan.
T: +603-79316938
F: +603-79318294
kampachi-jaya33@equatorial.com
www.kampachi.com.my

Mondays - Sundays 
12pm-3pm, 6pm-11pm