CRIZ BON APPETITE

Savoring The Best All Over Town…

HONG KONG FOOD CULTURE

Posted by Criz Lai On May - 30 - 2008

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Low Yat Plaza might be the best place to shop for computers as well as other electronic gadgets but where would you go for food then? I have found a great place hidden down at the basement of Low Yat Plaza. The place is called Hong Kong’s Food Culture. It is normally packed during lunch hours as the crispy roasted duck there tastes real great.

I was there to have lunch with my two friends and we ordered Curry Pork Rice (RM9.80), Fried Beef Nissin Noodles (RM9.80), Nissin Noodles with Egg set lunch (RM7.90), Roasted Duck Leg (RM9.50) and Steam Egg Custard with Honey Syrup @ Yellow Tan Tan (RM4). Overall with 5% Government Tax and 10% Service Charge, it came out to RM47.15 which was reasonable for KL standard.

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It might be confusing if you are not familiar with the interior floor map of the plaza. I would recommend that you go out of the building and move around until you see the restaurant name boldly being displayed. You can’t miss it as they do have a small stall outside selling some finger food and beverages.

HKFOODCULTUREMAP

Name: HONG KONG’S FOOD CULTURE
Address:
LG-18, Lower Ground Floor, Low Yat Plaza,
Off Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tel: 603-2141 6998
Opening Hours: 10.00am – 10.00pm
GPS: 3.143976, 101.710353

RATING:
Ambience: 7/10
(1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 8/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 8/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 7/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 8/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

SERI KEMBANGAN PAN MEE

Posted by Criz Lai On May - 29 - 2008

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I have tried so many different versions of Pan Mee from all over Malaysia but this is the first time I had come across this unique version. Normally, Pan Mee will come with minced pork, green sweet leaves, mushroom, black fungus, anchovies, etc but this stall along the rural area of Seri Kembangan served the Pan Mee differently and simple.

Other than the normal kneaded dough for the noodles, it comes with three other options such as spinach, purple sweet potato and pumpkin. Each bowl will come with lots of sweet leaves (Sauropus androgynus, sweet leaf bush, sayur cekur manis, sayur Sabah), deep fried stuffed fu chok (soy bean skin) with fish paste and some garlic oil, accompanied by crunchy anchovies and chili paste. This is one of the best chili pastes I have ever tasted as it was cooked along with blended dried shrimps. Each bowl only cost RM4 which is considered cheap. Here are the three special noodles (we did not order the original version at all). My recommendation – The Spinach Noodle

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It might be hard for those people from outstation to find this small coffee shop within the inner part of Seri Kembangan. The stall is situated in a village area and only locals will know how to find this place. Fortunately, I managed to get the address and search for a map that will lead you there. Happy hunting!

SKPANMEEMAP

Name: PO CHOI PAN MEE @ LIN CHIN COFFEE SHOP
Address: No.6 Jalan SK 5/2, 43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia.
Contact: 012-233 2498
Opening Hours: 7.00am – 3.00pm
GPS: 3.029634, 101.704302

RATING:
Ambience: 4/10
(1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 6/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 8/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 6/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 7/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

PETALING STREET (CHINATOWN) MA ZHI

Posted by Criz Lai On May - 28 - 2008

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Ma Zhi or steamed blended glutinous rice mixed with pounded peanuts, sesame and sugar is one of the tasty desserts available in Malaysia. Hot steaming glutinous rice is cut into small cubes and coated with a mixture of the three pounded ingredients mentioned above. Certain stalls, especially those in Penang will garnish the Ma Zhi with fried onions.

I have came across a stall down in Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown (Petaling Street) selling a different version. Madam Tang has been selling these yummy desserts for years there. The Ma Zhi comes in different colors and flavors. You can have it original (RM3.50/box) or you can have the mix flavors (RM5/box). The flavors available are apple, banana, grape, kiwi, lemon, lychee, mango, orange, pineapple, ribena, strawberry, black glutinous rice, or pandan. With so many flavors available, it is up to your luck to taste what are the mixed flavors.

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If you are in for a new experience, this is a must try if you are around that area. As for my personal preference, I somehow missed the Penang’s original version with fried onions as it is softer and warmer than the one in Chinatown.

Finding the stall would not be hard. Walk into Petaling Street, Chinatown’s main entrance from Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock (opposite Kota Raya) and you will reach a crossed junction. Hong Leong Bank is at the corner on your left. Turn left into the road (Jalan Hang Lekir) and you will see Madam Tang selling this delicacy on the left.

MAZHIMAP

Name: PETALING STREET (CHINATOWN) MA ZHI
Address:
Jalan Hang Lekir, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Opening Hours: 11.00am – 8.00pm
GPS: 3.144533, 101.697972

RATING:
Ambience: 4/10
(1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 5/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 5/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 6/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 7/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

SUPER LAI LAI BAK KUT TEH

Posted by Criz Lai On May - 21 - 2008

Please take note that the stall has ceased operation in 2008 and the present coffee house has been renamed as Yummy Cafe. What you get from the coffee house and whichever stalls that carry the same name were not the original.

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Bak Kut Teh is a popular Chinese soup in which contain meaty pork, simmer with many herbs and spices. This popular soup is taken with white rice or dark oil rice. There are quite a number of Bak Kut Teh stalls scattered all over Penang area. All of them have their own different recipes and thickness of the soup. The one that I like to frequent is situated in a corner coffee shop along Jalan Macalister. The stall is called Lai Lai Bak Kut Teh.

The reason we like to go there is that the owner is very generous with the soup as he will make sure that each clay pot he served will not be out of soup. We ordered our own selection of choice meat, a plate of boiled Cameron lettuce topped with a lot of meat floss, a plate of You Tiao (Yau Char Gwai or You Char Kway from the famous Penang shop) and four big bowls of white rice. Everything cost us only RM27.50 and the amount of meat in the clay pot could easily feed 3 adults. We managed to pack some back for lunch the next day. What I did with that is another story… haha. Could you believe that this portion is meant for only 2 persons?

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In fact, there are still many other options you can add into the Bak Kut Teh clay pot as shown in the photo.

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The shop is just opposite Red Rock Hotel. If you are driving down from Komtar into Jalan Macalister, you will see a petrol kiosk on your left. The shop is just right after that.

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Name: SUPER LAI LAI BAK KUT TEH (Opposite Red Rock Hotel)
Address: 97, Jalan Macalister, 10400 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 012-473 1471
Opening Hours: 6.00pm – 1.00am (Closed Thursday)
GPS: 5.416585, 100.323029

RATING:
Ambience: 6/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 810 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 8/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 7/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 7/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

E&O HOTEL SUNDAY BUFFET HI-TEA AT SARKIES CORNER

Posted by Criz Lai On May - 19 - 2008

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Where would you treat your family for lunch on a Sunday? You should try out Sarkies Corner Sunday Buffet Hi-Tea, located in Eastern & Oriental (E&O) Hotel. By paying just RM42++ (adults) or RM21++ (children), you could savor one of the most wonderful spread of buffet lines in Penang, ranging from local delicacies to international favorites.

You may want to know what are the choices of food available in Sarkies Corner? At one corner would be the appetizers which consist of greens, salads, cold cuts and at times sushi. You have the soup section as well. As for the main course, there are so many dishes that stood out amongst the best in Penang, namely the roasted duck, chicken, grilled fish, skewed BBQ chicken (satay), roti canai, curry fish head, etc.

The restaurant provided a generous amount of food and all of them are of quality. I was surprised that they have thick slices of grilled cod fish and salmon, which are considered expensive in the market. They even gave a curry fish head each for those who love this dish.

As for dessert, there would be the local kuih (desserts), fruits, choices of cakes, jellies ice creams and of course our local favorite, Ice Kacang (Shaved Ice). Coffee, tea and juices are free flow.

If you are in for quality food without worrying about your waist line, this would be the most ideal buffet hi-tea in town. Please make reservation days earlier before you go there as there will be large crowds. You can even reach there earlier before 11.30am to ensure a good sitting place. Here are some of the photos of the food that the restaurant was serving.

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I am sure everyone knows about the location of E&O Hotel, the oldest hotel in Penang. If you are not sure, you can refer to the map or ask any of the friendly Penangites and they would be glad to show you how to go there.

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Name: SARKIES CORNER, EASTERN & ORIENTAL HOTEL
Address: 10 Lebuh Farquhar, 10200 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-222 2000
Opening Hours: 12.00pm – 3.00pm

GPS: 5.423154, 100.336021

RATING:
Ambience: 9/10
(1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 8/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 8/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 9/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 7/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

SPICY POTATOES WITH ANCHOVY RECIPE

Posted by Criz Lai On May - 17 - 2008

If you are running out of ideas on what to cook for your next meal, you can try out this recipe. It is so simple to cook and appetizing that you may want to have it always. This is my own recipe and you can change the amount of ingredient used to suit your taste. Let’s try out my Spicy Potatoes With Anchovy recipe here.

SPICY POTATO WITH ANCHOVY

Ingredients:
150gms baby anchovy (ikan bilis) – wash and dry
6 pips of onions – blended
1 Tspn chili boh (chili paste) – add more if you want it more spicy
4 large potatoes – quarter and cut into slices
150gms tamarind juice (juice from 2 large lime plus 100gms water)
Salt and sugar to taste.
Some oil

Method of cooking:
Deep fry the potato slices in medium fire in a wok until they are cooked and slightly brown. Dish them out.

  1. Leave about 6 Tspn of oil in the wok and with low fire sauté the anchovy until they are fragrant and golden in color. Dish them out.
  2. Again with low fire, put in the blended onions. Stir for about 5 minutes then add in the chili paste. Saute until you get the pungent smell.
  3. Add in the tamarind juice. Cook until thicken.
  4. Add in pinch of salt (not too much as some anchovy can be salty) and some sugar to taste.
  5. Put in the pre-fried anchovy and potato slices and stir thoroughly.
  6. Serve with rice while it is hot to maintain the crunchiness of the anchovy.
  7. Garnish with some tomatoes and celery leaves (optional).

(Serves: 3-4)

YOU CAN CHECK HERE FOR MORE RECIPES.

SIN TAI TUNG SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

Posted by Criz Lai On May - 16 - 2008

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Many people would just ignore this restaurant as it looks rather old and unimpressive but not the regulars. If you are near that area with your family, you can consider dropping by this restaurant aka coffee shop for dinner. Do try to be there earlier as most of the time the shop would be rather packed. As in most restaurants, the captain would make recommendation and take your orders but here they do provide menu too. That was something I did not expect to see. Most of the food in the menu are Cantonese dishes and contain lots of ginger, rice wine and vinegar. So, if you are not sure of the right combination for your meal, just leave it to the captain (Auntie) to recommend.

The food there can be considered tasty and has a touch of Mummy’s home cook food taste. My friend and I decided to try out the place after seeing that there was quite a crowd each time I passed by that area. We ordered Mapo Tofu, Kong Po Chicken with Cashew Nuts and a plate of Stir Fried Brocolli with Roasted Pork. We did not expect to see the amount of the dishes so much that it could have had fed 3 persons. I made a blunder this time as I changed the tofu from Crabmeat Tofu to Mapo Tofu as this dish combined with the Kong Po contained too much of sourness from the vinegar it has. But, both of us managed to finish up all the dishes with additional order of rice. Overall, we paid RM29.10 for the food with no discount of 10sen at all! I wondered why some restaurant owners are so money faced… haha 😛

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You just can’t miss the shop as it is just next to the tallest UMNO Building (Menara UMNO) in Penang. The shop is located just at the junction of Jalan Zainal Abidin and Jalan Macalister.

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Name:
SIN TAI TUNG SEAFOOD RESTAURANT (Opposite Menara UMNO)
Address: 130 Jalan Macalister, 10400 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-2271745, 012-480 1428 (Mr. Ng Kok Beng)
Opening Hours:
5.00pm – 10.00pm, 1.00pm – 10.00 pm (Sunday)
(Closed Tuesday)
GPS: 5.416061, 100.324895

RATING:
Ambience: 5/10
(1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 8/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 7/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 7/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 7/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

HONG KONG TANG YUEN

Posted by Criz Lai On May - 15 - 2008

NOTE: Shifted to New Lane shop house (opposite Sunway Hotel Georgetown)

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I thought other than the famous stall down in the town area selling Tang Yuan, there were no other stalls selling this yummy dessert, other than on some auspicious occasions. CK Lam from What2See pointed out that there is another stall down at Perak Road area. This stall is selling Hong Kong Tang Yuan, much cheaper than the ones we get from HK Wong Kok Restaurant.

Each bowl of Tang Yuan comes with two filled Tang Yuan (Peanut & Black Sesame) some smaller Tang Yuan and gingko nuts. You can opt for different soup base such as ginger, kooi hua, soy beans or red beans. All the soups are not too sweet. It is suitable for elderly people and children. The filling for the Tang Yuan is blended very fine, so is the red beans for the soup.

The pricing is very reasonable as each bowl cost only RM2.50. Other than serving Tang Yuan, there have a few varieties of Jelly for you to choose from. The shop is close on Monday and Friday. On Friday, you can get them at the Pasar Malam (Night Market) just opposite the stall as early as 6.30pm.

We ordered two bowls of the Tang Yuan with soy beans and red beans soup base. Here is how they look like.

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Finding the stall might be a bit troublesome if you do not know the location well. If you are traveling through Jalan Dato Keramat into Jalan Perak, drive straight pass the Jalan P. Ramlee traffic light, straight again at the Sum Sun Primary School, Jalan Free School traffic light. As you pass the traffic light, you will see the Bomba HQ on your left. Move ahead about 400m and you will see another traffic light. The stall is in front of Kafe Aik Hwa right before the traffic light on your left. Parking might be a problem if you are driving a car but you can always try parking at the lane before the stall.

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TANGYUENMAP

Name: HONG KONG TANG YUEN @ KAFE AIK HWA
Address: Perak Road, Penang, Malaysia
Contact: 019-476 3618 (Toh), 012-594 9892 (Ch’ng)
Opening Hours: 7.00pm – 11.00pm
(Closed on Monday and Friday at Pasar Malam)
GPS: 5.399784, 100.315164

RATING:
Ambience: 6/10
(1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 6/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 7/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 7/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 7/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

ORIENTAL CHICKEN MUSHROOM HOR FUN

Posted by Criz Lai On May - 13 - 2008

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This is one type of hawker food that you would not find anywhere else in Penang – the Oriental Chicken Mushroom Hor Fun. The stall has been operating there for two generations ever since it moved over from Jalan Siam. Most of the patrons are regulars as the stall is way out of the view from the main road. You can either order it dry or soup with Hor Fun, Bee Hoon or Mee. Both will come topped with yummy, tender juicy chicken meat, mushrooms and wood fungus.

What make this dish unique is that the boneless chicken meat cubes, mushrooms, wood fungus are stewed until all the herbs and spices had gone right into the meat. One bite and you will taste the mild herby taste of Dong Quai (Chinese Angelica or Female Ginseng), a traditional herb used in some Chinese dishes for strengthening the blood circulation, gynecological ailments, fatigue, mild anemia and high blood pressure. Women should know better how this herb will help. 😛

Price wise, a small bowl will cost RM3.00 and a big one RM3.50. Here are the two big bowl of the Hor Fun that we had ordered. If you plan to eat something heavier such as dinner, Tuck Sai Café does provide ala carte dishes with rice. The dishes are quite tasty but the pricing for the food and drinks could be pricey a bit.

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If you are moving from town area along Jalan Dato Keramat towards Greenlane / Air Itam, you will see the Dato Keramat Police Headquarters at the traffic light. Drive further about 800m and you will see a big Nasi Kandar shop on your left. Turn into the road, Jalan Singapura (next to the road, same stretch as the Nasi Kandar shop is Honolulu Bistro & Café – formerly an old cinema) and turn right into Jalan Bukom. The stall is prominently located on the ground floor of the Sri Pelangi Apartment on the right.

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Name:
ORIENTAL CHICKEN MUSHROOM HOR FUN @ TUCK SAI CAFE
Address:
Ground Floor, Sri Pelangi Apartment, Jalan Bukom, Penang, Malaysia.
Opening Hours: 6.00pm – 11.00pm (Close Sunday & Monday)
GPS: 5.411768, 100.319059

RATING:
Ambience: 6/10
(1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 6/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 8/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 6/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 6/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

ARIRANG KOREAN RESTAURANT

Posted by Criz Lai On May - 12 - 2008

Note: This restaurant has ceased its operation.

NOTE: Arirang Korean Restaurant has ceased operation. In its place is another Korean Restaurant by the name of Sa Rang Chae Korean Restaurant.

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Korean food is totally different compared with Japanese or Chinese food. The food uses a lot of garlic, chili paste, sesame oil, salt, soy sauce, sugar, ginger and fermented soy paste.

Usually kimchi (fermented/pickled vegetables) are served at the beginning of each meal accompanied by salad. In fact, the Koreans consumed a lot of vegetables with most meat dishes eaten wrapped in fresh greens. Most of their food are taken either deep fried, BBQ or in stews.

There are many Korean restaurants in the Pulau Tikus / Gurney Drive area. So far, the one with a quiet and good ambience is the Arirang Korean Restaurant in New Bob Centre. If you are in for a change of diet and try out the new experience, you can drop in there. Recently, I had a family dinner at the restaurant and that was quiet an experience for me and the family. Here are the dishes what we had ordered.

Kimchi & Salad:

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Main Dishes and Side Orders:

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As for pricing, you can judge for yourself if it is within or beyond your means to spend on a family outing. I had the meal with 4 adults and two children. The total cost for all the meals including green tea (Korean green tea has a mild coffee taste in it) was RM217.80, inclusive government and service taxes which came up to RM19.80.

Here is the breakdown of the food pricing: Samgyupsal (13 pcs plain fatty pork belly slices just to BBQ) RM21, 10pcs thick skinned Dumplings RM12, BBQ Pork Ribs with salad RM29, Haemul Pajean (flour based seafood omelette) RM20, Bulgoki (sweetened beef slices stew with glass noodles and vegetables) RM50, Seafood Stew RM60.

The restaurant is located right at the corner shoplot of New Bob Centre, directly opposite Penang Chinese Primary School (Peng Hwa). You won’t miss it at all.

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Name: ARIRANG KOREAN RESTAURANT

Address:

11-G-1 & 2, New Bob Centre, Jalan Gottlieb, 10350 Penang, Malaysia.

Contact: 604-2268518, 6016-467 2203 (Park Won Chan)

Opening Hours:

12.00pm – 3.00pm, 6.00pm – 10.30pm (Sunday Dinner only)

GPS: 5.432649, 100.302150

RATING:

Ambience: 7/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)

Food Choices: 7/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)

Taste: 5/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

Pricing: 9/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)

Service: 7/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

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