Restoran Itik Salai Mastar @ Bandar Tasik Kesuma, Semenyih

What's cooking foodie fam!! Today I decided to share another spot - one of my hubby's favorite places, which I'd like to think is a hidden gem. So deep, that only the CHOSEN ONES were allowed to find this place hahaha!

Me and hubby bought a landed property in Semenyih few years back. But don't be fooled by the name; it's not the 'Semenyih' next to Kajang. This one is actually near the N9 border, in Mukim Beranang to be exact. And lucky enough, accessing this 'remote' area has enabled us to locate this wonderful eatery.

Restoran Itik Salai Mastar

As the name suggested, this place serves authentic N9 'masak lemak cili api' dishes; with all kinds of protein you can think of - chicken, beef, catfish (ikan keli) or duck. And the best part is, semua salai beb! Hubby loves this place so much, whenever we go there to check out our property (which we have rented out), he always wanted to stop by and eat up.

Smokey sensation! Everything was freshly prepared and smoked on a daily basis

You could easily miss this spot as it is located at a T-junction with traffic lights. But it's around 3km++ from the famous Tesco Semenyih, heading towards Bandar Tasik Kesuma. If you pay attention during your drive there, you'll notice the joint to be on your left hand side.

There are also other condiments that come along with the masak lemak cili api dishes like fried tempeh, fried tofu, ulam-ulaman and ikan kering.

Condiments - I choose you, tempeh!

And they also give out free flow of drinks; most of the time it's grape cordial. If you want plain water, just help yourself and get a glass.

Bang, nak kena topup air ni!!

If you like authentic N9 dishes and can stand the heat, this is the place for you. Hubby loves it so much because he said the food here reminded him of the food he used to have in his secondary school, Sekolah Menengah Sains Seremban (SASER).

Total damage:
Can't really recall the exact amount, but each set of meal (rice + fish/chicken/beef/duck + drinks) will cost around RM6.50 to RM7.00 per head. I say that's a fair deal.

So look it up and let me know what you think about the place. My hubby said he'll give this place a 10/10 in any given day, but I'll just give it a 8/10 - just to mess around with him hehe.

Selamat mencuba!

Eastern Crab @ Plaza Ampang City

My dear hubby has been craving for crabs since like, forever! We've been searching here and there for the best deal and taste, and ended up at Plaza Ampang City on 30 Aug 2017, where most bloggers recommended for the best Chinese-Muslim cuisine. I have to apologize though, not many photos were taken during our 'makan' session. So, without further ado, here's our verdict:

We started quite extravagantly, ordering all 3 most popular crab dishes (since our purpose of going there was to enjoy the crab anyway);

Kam Heong crab (RM50)

Salted Egg Yolk crab (RM50)

Singapore Chilli crab (RM50)

So yeah, the photos look tempting, yes? We were given a 'good' deal as well, where each crab were priced at a flat rate of RM50 per dish, despite their regular price of RM65 per dish.

Now here's the deal breaker, NONE of the crabs were fully cooked! My hubby was like, what the fishhh??? The Salted Egg Yolk crab had the nicest gravy among all, the Kam Heong was below par with the burnt and bitter spices. The Singapore Chilli crab had a so-so gravy that went quite okay-lah with the fried man tou. Oh and talking about the man tou, hubby wanted to also order the steamed ones, but the waitress die-die want to encourage us to order the fried ones, saying they're much better and all. I mean, they're quite okay to our liking, but what happens to serving what the customer wants though?

Fried man tou (RM4), 4pcs

And to top off this rather BAD experience, they managed to mess up hubby's iced longan (RM4.30/glass)! Like, seriously people. This post might sound like a rant, than an actual review hahaha! The water felt like it was not treated (macam amik air paip terus masuk dalam cawan, tambah longan 2-3 bijik). Bro!!! What-lahhhhhh... We ended up ordering 2 Hong Kong iced milk tea (RM3.30/glass). Luckily those drinks saved the day (or night). Me likey!

We brought along our 2yo++ son, so we ordered Prawn fried rice (RM10.90/dish) and small Hong Kong garlic kailan (RM12.00/dish). 

Overall, the visit left us a fade intention of ever coming back. The guy serving us did apologized at the end of the meal, after hubby informed him of our unpleasant experience. No discounts were given, by the way. 

Total damage:

RM187.80 + 10% service charge = RM206.60

Our recommendation, try it at your own risk! Other bloggers wrote quite a nice review of this place. Could be one of those days where they were having a bad business day, but we'll definitely gonna try out other places before coming back here. 

Cheerios!

Da On @ Pavilion | Fine Dining Korean Cuisine (authentic Korean cuisine)

The whole set of meal for 2 cost us around RM 50 per set. It came with marinated beef or chicken. 

Quite recently discover this place, which is a bit late I would say. Located at 6th floor in Pavillion, where are all the fine dining restaurants have been allocated. Open as early as 11.30am, you can hardly see any customer if you come that early. But that shouldn't be a problem at all. It is a large restaurant indeed with a nice classy ambiance to go your meal with. Since this is a fine dining restaurant, so better be prepare with them bills.

Radish kimchi

This kimchi cabbage is somehow the best I ever taste

I know how to make this!

Not a fan of bean sprout, I hope to see anchovies here.

Succulent piece of beef ribs, well marinated. This is the winner.

My all time favourite; kimchi jigae .This dish rocks!

It was empty when we reached there, maybe it was tad too early. 

The view from the escalator.

Our drinks.

Overall, I love to coming back here but on certain occasion because price is an issue here. Love the service and like other korean restaurant, they provide a small room for private occasion which is very convenient. 

They'll do the grilling for you

That's my prime beef on the grill and it costs me RM95

Ojingeo Gui RM70 (cuttlefish)

And this is what you get...  But, trust me, the portion is small but it was soo good

 Total bill for that day was RM302 (2 persons)

Watermelon juice RM16.00
Ice Coffee RM12.00
Beef RM95.00
Cuttlefish RM70.00
Kimchi jigae with rice set for 2 RM66

service charge 10% = RM 25.90
GST = RM 17.09

Rate: 9/10

Kung Jung @ PNB Park, Korean Restaurant

I love having my lunch here because I can have all my favourite dishes in 1 set. My lunch set include rice, 6 plates of banchans, kimchi jigae and a selection of either beef or chicken grill. Not just that, at the end of the course you can choose either to have coffee or tea and altogether will cost you for only RM38.00 (exclude tax and service charge). Kung Jung is now become my favourite korean dining after Koryo Won. I used to go to Koryo Won frequently back then. Banchan selection for lunch is less than the dinner time but do not worry because they are refillable.

Super duper love the kimchi jigae and the combination with banchans (korean mashed potato, anchovies, kimchi cabbage, fishcake, beansprout). But these banchans will not be the same everyday where sometimes I couldn't find anchovies the next time I came which they would replace it with another thing, like spinach etc.

I got introduced this restaurant to my friend, whose husband is a Korean. So we had lunch together and the husband actually like this place (he tried ginger chicken with herbs), and he said the foods here is authentic (considering that he's a korean).

How to get here?

I usually take train and stop at Ampang Park station. Then I will walk from the station to PNB building cause it is not that far. I would say around 100-200 meters. If I drive, I will park in the building itself but have to bare with the high parking rate as we know rate around KLCC area is ridiculously expensive.

Not sure about the operating days. But they open during lunch and dinner but close from 2.30pm to 6pm. As far as I know, they don't serve pork, and on top of that, they have Halal certificates and quite a number of Muslims customer dine here.

Ramadhan Buffet Me'nate @ Starpac

It's Ramadhan,so we decided to try out few places and so after made a quick survey, most of the people in the crowd wanted to go to this place. Booked table for 18 pax and we were lucky cause there were still a few tables left. The waiter ask if we would like to pre order our dinner since there were too many of us. We decided to order 2 short ribs set and 1 whole chicken set. The fact that this restaurant has praying room for both males and females, makes everything easy especially during this fasting month.
At first, I think that these foods that we ordered will not be sufficient but it was the other way round. The short rib set was a bit bland for me. The meat was tender though. We were actually relieved that we didn't picked the wagyu ribs.
The rice that came together with the ribs was nothing to shout about. I don't know whether the temperature was not right or the food? Cause the air conditioning is literally on top of the foods so the meals in front of us was pretty much cold.  Each of the set will get a complimentary bubur lambuk and kuih muih. Not to mention that we also entitled for free flow drinks and of course you have to get it yourself at the drinks counter cause it's a self service. The chicken set was surprisingly a satisfaction. Chicken was perfectly marinated and tender, juicy meat that fall off the bone! Altogether the experience was good and the total bill roughly around rm700++. We got a 10% discount though.

The Manna @ Plaza Damas

Been eying this place since it opened last year. From what I heard from staff who is working in one of the shops in Plaza Damas, the food here is quite good. Upon entering this premise, well I can say that it is a small restaurant indeed. 7 tables inside and a few outside of the shop. There was a "halal meat" plus " no pork" sticker hanging on the glass door. Not many choices in the menu but I think they are pretty much enough to sooth my crave. I bought beef bulgogi which cost me around Rm15++. All time favourite menu if I go to korean restaurant. There were also korean ramyun and kimchi jigaeh. For each meal, will serve with rice , soup and 3 banchan (side dish). Overall I love this korean restaurant and will definitely come again to try other dishes. Located at Plaza Damas just behind the Canteen restaurant. The operating hours is from 10am to 11pm Monday to Saturday. Close on Sunday.

Hammam Bistro @ Publika

 I decided to try the Hammam bistro cause I can't seems to resist the Moroccan food. I'm dying to try the food here so after I had my spa session at Hammam, my husband and I chose a table and placed our order. Well I can say that I'm impressed with the decor and ambiance and I can tell that the owner really takes the dining experience seriously cause I felt like I'm in Morocco!.

You don't really need to worry about the availability of the table because there's always plenty of place to sit. When I came, there was only a couple having their dinner, not to say that the place wasn't doing good in business, but I personally think that not many people know about it. I believe it has it's own crowd cause a lot of  people  not really familiar with Moroccan food.

Fresh flowers on the table... I couldn't ask more.

the so called dipping

Lamb Tagine with Prunes (RM45.00) ~ I know right...it's damn expensive for a portion like this!

Tagine Chicken (RM45.00) serve with bread

Tagine Chicken

Saute Mushroom

Overall the quality of the food was good which the saute mushrooms being the top of my list cause it is super good.... I know right???? it's just mushrooms saute with olive oil and garlic. 

The bread was good too cause it tastes different from other bread that I've taste before... and the dipping per se, being effortlessly delicious. 

I know the Tagine chicken should be the star of the dish, but I'm not a big fan though. But the Lamb Tagine on the other hand kept me licking my fingers cause it was superb. The meat was so tender and you can effortlessly run your knife through it. 

About the price, enough said, EXPENSIVE... but hey... once in a blue moon.  

P/S: Don't forget to try their baklava. I even brought back 10 pcs of em'.