Old Classics @ Sek Yuen, Jalan Pudu

This is a place where my family often dine in when we have a large dinner group, a table of ten usually, or more. Classic - is the word to describe Sek Yuen, located at Jalan Pudu. A very typical chinese restaurant you often see in Hong Kong movies or series. It is a place I go to for homey food, and they are still using woods to cook the dishes.



Some of the signature dishes from Sek Yuen includes:

Guai Fah Qi (桂花翅) Not sure how to say it in English but I would put it as scrambled eggs with shark's fin. Not sure whether they use real or artificial ones but, darn this dish is good to go with just fresh lettuce cups, wrap it like a popiah and just stuff the whole thing in your mouth. Oh hell, delicious.


Pat Poh Duck (八宝鸭) - Eight Treasures Duck. The duck is stuffed with various ingredients including gingko nuts and mushrooms. Very 'herby' dish.

Kampung Chicken. Yummylicious to the max. Tender and juicy.

Steamed pork ribs.


Stir fried kangkung with beef. My first time eating this combination and it's really good!

A vegetarian dish. I forgot the name though :p

Beancurd skin :)

Steamed fish with ginger paste.

There are actually two Sek Yuen restaurants which are both just next doors to each other. One is air-conditioned and the other bigger one is without. Lovely, just lovely. Argh, it's been awhile since I've been there.

Sek Yuen
313 and 315, Jalan Pudu
Kuala Lumpur
Tel No: 03-92229457end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Janwa Thai Restaurant @ Bandar Menjalara Kepong

Usually as I head to Kepong, it's a headache to think of what and where to dine. Not that there's nothing to eat, there's a whole lot of it, but it's difficult to lay trust on them, worrying that the food will turn out not as expected.

Read about this restaurant in one of the flogger's blog, and heard from a friend saying there's one Thai food in Kepong is nice, thinking if it's this restaurant he's referring to, I decided to give it a try.

It was about 8.30pm when me and my 2 friends reach this corner lot restaurant situated behind the famous Pulau Ketam steamboat. As we were walking to the shop, there were three other families heading there for dinner as well, and the restaurant was packed. So, ok, I felt relieved, at least it won't be a disappointing dinner.

Illuminating decorations

As it was just a small restaurant, and it was crowded, it took quite some time before we were given the menu. Looking around at what others were eating, we settled on 4 dishes, at least we go for the traditional and basic ones. I'm sure if you were to try if it's authentic, you would go for those you've heard about.

Kangkung belacan RM8.00
(The belacan taste not strong enough though)

Fried & steamed fish in lime gravy RM28.00
(I liked this one a lot, fresh succulent meat in sourish sauce, yumm)

Ahh~ One must not forget, tomyam(seafood)! RM15.00
with squid, prawn, fish, oyster mushroom... The spiciness is perfect for me, just that it lacks a tad bit of OOmph in it.

Pandan Chicken RM2.00 per piece

This is awesome! Tender and juicy. Yummy!

As for the drinks, I had herbal tea and another friend had iced coffee. Kinda disappointed in the drinks. The coffee was tasteless. My herbal tea didn't taste like herbal tea. But the ice kacang was ok.

Ice Kacang RM3.80

I will be back again... want to try their fried rice and stir fried paku leaves.

Janwa Thai Restaurant 赞华泰式饭餐厅
No. 99G,
Jalan 5/62A,
Bandar Menjalara,
52200 Kepong, KL.
Tel: 03-62765658

Japanese Buffet @ Xenri D'Garden Terrace

Ever since I saw a well-praised posting about Xenri on Boo_licious' blog, I told myself I've got to try it. I've been to Xenri @ Old Klang Road twice, and the food was really fresh, and now that they have a second outlet - bigger and better I'm sure.

Xenri D'Garden Terrace is located on the second floor of Menara Hap Seng, ex MUI building, just opposite Shangri-La Hotel KL. There are other restaurants available over there, such as Elegant Inn, Nagomi Shabu Shabu, Oldtown, Dessert's Bar etc. The main reason I'm tempted to go there is the garden. Maybe it's just me, but dining in a place with a garden view fascinates me a lot.


There's a common area at Xenri D'Garden Terrace where the guests sits close to the buffet counters. If you prefer privacy/have a big group, they also have tatami rooms.


Food stuff like appetizers, sashimis, sushis, sukiyaki, pan fried items and drinks are placed at the buffet counters where self service is required. However, you place orders for tempura items, teppanyaki and noodles and it will be served to you at your table.

Appetizer section, nicely done.

Sukiyaki... best!

Shoooooo sheeeeeeee!!!

Oysters - well chilled, fresh and cold and yummy!!! Dad had 8 of these!

Love the sukiyaki here. The staff shabu-shabu the beef a la minute and serve with a hot sweet soup. Yum yum!

Teppanyaki beef - juicy and tender!

However, the green tea ice cream failed to make me satisfied. Though you can eat all you can with heaps of red bean, but it's too creamy which covered the green tea taste.

Mochi

Service was quick, the staff were quite well-trained to serve customers with a friendly attitude. As you walk to the washroom, you will pass by the kitchen, which you are able to look inside. Very clean.

As what I wrote in the comment form, there were a few points that I would like to highlight about. Green tea are taken by self service at the beverage counter, which I think should be better if refilled by the service staff, as it is the main drink which 90% of the guests will drink, they will need to walk a lot, up and down (few steps of stairs to the beverage counter) to refill it, and, there's no ICED green tea! I understand if they don't make chilled ones, well, at least there should be ice at the counter. And, the teh tarik from the coffee machine was DAMN sweet. With one cup of it I can add water to make two cups.

Overall, it's a good experience to dine there. The food is good. Will definitely be back again.

Price: RM55++
(When I called up they had 20% discount offer, so it was RM50.60nett, not sure when the promotion ends.)

Xenri D'Garden Terrace
Lot No 2-04,
Second Floor,
Podium Block of Menara Hap Seng,
Jalan P. Ramlee,
50250 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-20786688

My Fave BKT @ Dragon View, Puchong

My favorite bak kut teh restaurant. Yes, FAVE as in FAVORITE. Most FAVORITE. FAVORITEST. Whatever you call it :P Piping hot soup with tender pork ribs, served with mushrooms and fuchuks. That's what I called YUMMY. "Tambah soup" is a MUST here, because the soup doesn't have too herby taste, yet it's boiled long enough to be very flavorful. Top of the list to go when it's a rainy day.

Along with bak kut teh, one would not miss out ordering the steamed fish head, yau char kwai and the shop's signature tofu. Everytime I'm there, these are the few dishes that we order and no other.

Ginger paste steamed fish head (RM20)

Bak kut teh for three (RM8 per pax) is enough for 5.

Dragon View's signature deep fried tofu, served with sweet chili sauce (RM8)

Some green veges for fiber (RM8)

The best and crunchiest yau char kwai I've ever eaten (RM1.60)

And oh! Not forgetting the rice (RM1.20). It's superbly delicious even on it's own. Mum said they use fragrant rice, that's why it's so fluffly and nice. I thought they used pandan leave or something because it's really fragrant and just amazingly delicious.



For 5 person, with the soup all dried up into the stomach, rice bowl cleaned till it shimmers, the total bill came up to RM78 only!

Restoran Dragon View
Pusat Bandar Puchong,
Jalan Bandar 3,
Off Jalan Puchong,
47100 Puchong, Selangor
Tel: 03-58911129

(It's located directly behind Tesco. Corner lot of a row of shop lots)

Opens everyday
Lunch: 11am - 3pm
Dinner: 5.30pm - 9.30pm

Classic Banana Bundt Cake

A keeper :D

Recipe from: Ellen Einstein adapted in Dorie Greenspan's Baking From My Home To Yours

Ingredients: Makes 1 Bundt Cake

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature.
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs, preferably at room temperature
• About 4 very ripe bananas, mashed (you should have 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 cups)
• 1 cup sour cream or plain yogurt (I only had 1/2 a cup of sour cream so I used that plus 1/2 cup of whole milk)

Center a rack in the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Generously butter a 9- to 10-inch (12 cup) Bundt pan. (If you use a silicone Bundt pan there’s no need to butter it.) Don’t place the pan on a baking sheet - you want the oven’s heat to circulate through the Bundt’s inner tube.

Whisk the flour, baking soda and salt together.

Working with a stand mixer, preferably fitted with a paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, beat the butter until creamy. Add the sugar and beat at medium speed until pale and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla, then add the eggs one at a time, beating for about 1 minute after each egg goes in. Reduce the mixer speed to low and mix in the bananas. Finally, mix in half the dry ingredients (don’t be disturbed when the batter curdles), all the sour cream and then the rest of the flour mixture. Scrape the batter into the pan, rap the pan on the counter to debubble the batter and smooth the top.

Bake for 65 to 75 minutes, or until a thin knife inserted deep into the center of the cake comes out clean. Check the cake after about 30 minutes - if it is browning too quickly, cover it loosely with a foil tent. Transfer the cake to a rack and cool for 10 minutes before unmolding onto the rack to cool to room temperature.

One Night Vegetarian @ Vegipai, Taman Desa

My uncle claims that the food at this meat free restaurant in Taman Desa is good, so off we went to try it. I'm always fascinated with vegetarian food, especially those 'imitated meat'.

There are a variety of food served at Vegipai, be it local or western. They have a la carte menu and also set menu for 2, 4 or 6 with preset food choice.

Simple interior

Mum & I had bubur cha cha. Quite good.

Bro's cincau milk (if I'm not mistaken)

Deep fried mushroom for snacking

Bro's 'fish burger' made from tofu I think. He said it was nice, really taste like fish.

Mum and I had plain rice with these two dishes: Guai Fa Qi (Egg with Vegetarian Shark's Fin & Homemade Tofu) - too wet for my liking but the tofu was good!

and...

Nutritious Pot (Similar to Bak Kut Teh) I was fascinated with this seeing a big picture of this on the wall, but the taste is so so only. Nice if you want a hot and light soup on a rainy day.

Really looks like meat huh? Taste like meat too!

Dad ordered Bittergourd Noodles. Filled with veges, veges and more veges!

Spotted 'wu tao kao yuk' (stewed pork belly with yam) on the menu, wanted to order to see how the vegetarian style taste like, but unfortunately it must be booked 1 day earlier to eat it.

The tastes of the food were pretty okay, more towards the 'light' side, suitable if you want to 'cleanse' your stomach a bit. Meanwhile they also have dishes like curry laksa, assam laksa, nasi lemak, pasta, fried rice etc. Uncle said one of the fried rice is nice, but can't remember which one is it. Will try if we go again :)

Cafe Vegipai
37A, Jalan Desa Bakti,
Taman Desa,
58100 KL
Tel: 03-79828184