While most steamboat restaurants in Kepong operate in commercial areas, Popo Steamboat Cafe occupies a breezy, open space next to an industrial area. The location is pretty hidden from view and if not for their large signboards, you might not even realize their presence. It might be a little challenging for outsiders to find Popo, but I assure you the extra effort will be worth it.

Popo offers 8 types of soup: Superior Pork Bone soup, Szechuan Peppery soup, Teochew soup (served with fish slices), ABC, vegetarian, Peppery Piggy Stomach Soup (comes with 1 whole piece of pork stomach), clear and tom yum soup. All of the soups mentioned are chargeable (between RM7 and RM23) except for the clear soup which is provided free of charge.
Naturally, we opted for their signature one pork bone soup @ RM18.90. And like many other pork bone soups, Popo’s is also simmered for a long time. But they don’t add evaporated milk into the broth to achieve that milky white appearance and creamy texture.

The soup tastes wonderful even at the start, just add noodle and it’d be a good pork noodle! If you prefer a heavier/lighter tasting soup, just request for it while ordering. They will gladly adjust the amount of pork essence that goes into your pot.
Besides, if you come during the weekdays you will get a FREE serving of pork slices for. What’s the catch? You will need to order one of their homemade soups.

The steamboat set (2 pax @ RM17.90 each) here is slightly more expensive than the rest in town, but we were pleased to find that most of the processed food ingredients are of better quality. The white sausage is quite similar to the one we had in Taifeng too.
And of course a good steamboat meal wouldn’t be complete without great condiments to along with it. Popo keeps things simple by offering only red chili, green chili, soy sauce and fried onion oil. Ask them for the mixing proportions, I followed their recommendation and it was awesome.

For those dining as a couple, my suggestion is to get the half-portion steamboat set then top up with their 7 Treasure platter @ RM18.80. The platter consists of 7 different kinds of homemade meat balls and dim sum.
All of them are great especially the pork siew mai and prawn ball which tasted like ‘har gao’ sans the wrapper. So even if you decide not to get this platter, you should at least try the siew mai and prawn ball. Trust me, you won’t go wrong with them.

We also tried their fried sui gao (4pcs @ RM8.30, delicious), Hong Kong Fried Fish Skin @ RM7.80 (nicely seasoned, no fishy taste and crispy like a prawn cracker) and Fried “Drunken” Chicken Wings (3pcs @ RM8.80) – best enjoyed while still hot.
The chicken wings had a familiar “Nam Yue” taste, but we were surprised to learn that it was only marinated in Chinese wine and a secret spice. Among all the side dishes we had, I think the fried fish skin would be the top for its uniqueness.

There aren’t many steamboat restaurants in KL that let you enjoy your meal in an outdoor setting among coconut trees. That said, do expect some mosquitoes but not worry as the courteous owner will set up mosquito coils under the table to repel the nasty bloodsuckers.

Food wise, I think Popo is ahead of every steamboat restaurant (with similar price range) I have been in Kepong. Safe to say, they are now my new favorite in Kepong.

Popo Steamboat & BBQ Cafe 宝宝火锅

No. 12, Jalan 7/32A, TSI Business Park
Off 6.5 Mile Jalan Kepong, 52100 Kepong
Tel: 019-828 2118
Business hours: 5.30pm – 12am, closed on Mondays

The post Popo Steamboat Cafe – Open Air Steamboat Restaurant in Kepong appeared first on Malaysia Food & Travel Blog.

A little birdie told us that you can get authentic Hong Kong style Pineapple Bun (‘polo bao‘) at Grand Imperial. That aroused our curiosity because ‘polo bao’ is rarely served in the average dim sum joint.
So why would a ‘char chan teng’ staple be available in a classy restaurant such as Grand Imperial? The buns must be really good, otherwise they wouldn’t even bother to make it. Right? In fact, the more I think about it, the more sense it makes. It has got to be good.

We could have picked to eat at Grand Imperial’s branch in Hartamas, One Utama or even Bangsar. But we picked the furthest one in Pinnacle Sunway which requires a 45-minutes drive. Why? Simply because we were also told that the ‘polo bao’ here is the best among all branches.

If you are raring to come for the buns, it’s important you know that they are only available on Sundays and public holidays. They are not listed on the menu either, so you will need to order them through the waiting staff. An order (RM11) comes in 3 mini pieces accompanied with 3 generous slabs of butter – one for each.
The ‘polo bao’ was authentic alright, sweet and crusty on the top just like how it’s supposed to be. My memory is a bit fuzzy, but if I compare it to those we had in Hong Kong the taste would be around 75% similar. Personally, I wouldn’t purposely drive all the way here again for it. Next time, any Grand Imperial branch would do.

The surprise of the meal went to the BBQ Pork Egg Noodle @ RM14.50 because it was unexpectedly good. The thin egg noodle was nicely cooked to a springy bite, tossed in an aromatic mix of lardy sauce and served with a side of the most delicious char siew.
The char siew had an intense honey flavor and the caramelisation was just heavenly. It felt like biting into pork candy, and an addictive one at that.

To save myself from repeating I am just going to say we enjoyed every single dim sum we tried. The ingredients were fresh and you could tell that a skillful chef was behind the creations. Steamed Prawn Dumpling @ RM11 – a must order.

Steamed “Siew Mai” with Prawn @ RM10.80 – the addition of mushroom bits was a nice touch.

Baked BBQ Pork Bun @ RM16.80 – highly recommended, only a limited quantity available though.

Steamed Pork Ribs with Chayote Melon & Black Bean Sauce @ RM8.90 – lovely flavor but I hated the horrible cut of spare ribs we got.

Shanghai “Xiao Loong Bao” @ RM8.30.

Baked BBQ Honey Chicken Wings @ RM8 (Sundays & PH only) – good alternative if they have run out char siew.

Steamed “Cheong Fun” with BBQ Pork @ RM10 – if you like the char siew you will definitely like this as well.

Chilled Pomelo Sago with Mango Cream @ RM8.50 – the only dessert we thought was worth trying. I can say with confidence that this is the best mango ‘sai mai lo’ I ever had in a restaurant.

Lastly, it’s important to note that Grand Imperial is not a dim sum centered restaurant which means they usually serve lunch and dinner meals only. So unless it’s a Sunday or public holiday, you can forget about coming here for early morning ‘yum cha’ .

Grand Imperial Restaurant

Pinnacle Annexe Bandar Sunway
Suite 1-01, First Floor, Pinnacle Annexe,
Persiaran Lagoon, Bandar Sunway
Tel: 03-5888 7222/7221
Business hours: Mon – Sat (11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm), Sun & PH (10am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm)

The post Pineapple Bun (Polo Bao) & Dim Sum @ Grand Imperial Pinnacle Sunway appeared first on Malaysia Food & Travel Blog.

While most people are still going gaga over half baked cheese tarts, we opted to have something more traditional – egg tarts. For that matter, Bunn Choon bakery at Petaling Street makes inarguably the best egg tarts in KL.
Before relocating to their current premise, Bunn Choon used to operate a stall in the Imbi morning market. As you may have known, the market has already been demolished to make way for new developments.

The egg tarts are baked fresh in batches, so you may need to wait a while for them to be ready and cooled down.

While waiting, you should definitely try their ‘char siew’ pie and blueberry cheese tarts. The ‘char siew’ pie was unexpectedly delicious, as the thin crust encased a BBQ pork filling so good that it could rival those you get in high end dim sum restaurants.

If you buy at least a dozen egg tarts, they will come in a beautiful box that’s also great as a gift. Besides traditional egg tart, green tea and charcoal sesame egg tarts are also available to cater to palate. If I remember correctly, the normal egg tarts are priced at RM1.70/pc while the fancier ones are RM1.90 each.

After waiting in line for 10 minutes, we got our egg tarts fresh out of the oven. We actually planned to enjoy it at home but the aroma was just too irresistible we had to savor it on the spot.
I think the pastry’s texture is self-explanatory by its appearance, and each bite you take shatters the crispy layers into thousand of flakes. Yet, it manages to hold together without crumbling. Suffice to say, it’s simply impressive.

Bunn Choon also sells a range of other pastries and biscuits. Since the Mid-Autumn festival is just around the corner, you can expect mooncakes to be available as well.

According to their Facebook updates, it seems that they have two other branches which open on Sundays only. One is at Jalan Imbi, while the other is in ICC Pudu. For the full gist, check out their Facebook page.

Bunn Choon 品泉

153, Jalan Petaling, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: 012-254 7625
Business hours: Mon – Fri (10.30am – 5pm), Sat (9am – 4pm)

The post Bunn Choon Egg Tarts 品泉 @ Petaling Street, KL appeared first on Malaysia Food & Travel Blog.

Do you know that Lonely Planet recently listed Ipoh as one of the best Asian destinations to visit in 2016? It’s high time that Ipoh finally gets the recognition it truly deserves. Eating is probably the best activity to do in the city – and boy there are plenty of things to eat and drink in Ipoh.
Bean sprout chicken rice, ‘kai see hor fun’, egg tarts, white coffee, hakka mee, curry mee, ABC, caramel custard, yong tau fu and the list goes on.
If you are visiting Ipoh for a ‘makan trip’ soon, I hope you are going with an empty stomach. Here’s a list of 20 must-try food stalls, coffee shops and restaurants to get you started.

HONG KEE CONFECTIONERY 鸿记饼家

Address: Kedai Kopi Weng Seng, Jalan Dato Onn Jaafar, 30300 Ipoh
Business hours: 7am – 2pm, closed on Fridays. Tel: 017-592 8303

Hong Kee makes one of the best egg tarts in town – known for having a crust with 48 crispy layers. It’s a family run business and they get up as early as 3am to bake their pastries and cakes which are delivered fresh to their stall in Weng Seng coffee shop.
Despite the immense popularity they enjoy, they remain down to earth and friendly towards their loyal customers who have supported them throughout these 40 years. So it’s no wonder they are able to sell more than 1000 pieces/day of egg tarts during weekends and public holidays.
Other specialties to try: Swiss Roll and Sachima (萨其马). Come as early as possible to avoid disappointments.

FOOK KEE FRIED NOODLES 福记炒粉

Address: Restoran Yu Yee, Lebuh 3, Kg Simee, 31400 Ipoh
Business hours: 1pm – 5.30pm, closed on Sundays. Tel: 016-546 1671

Kampung Simee is a Chinese village dotted with eateries and bakeries. Fook Kee is a hidden gem specializing in fried noodles cooked with prawn stock.
Waiting time could reach 45 minutes or more during peak hours (frequented by locals) so my suggestion is to place your order, then wander off to the nearby bakeries to shop for biscuits or enjoy a bowl of ABC at Fei Ma’s stall first. By the time you return, your fried noodles should be ready within minutes.

RESTORAN NASI KANDAR AYAM MERAH (NASI GANJA)

Address: Yong Suan Coffee Shop, 2, Jalan Yang Kalsom, 30250 Ipoh
Business hours: 9.30am – 6pm. Tel: 05-254 4314

Also known as ‘nasi ganja’ due to its addictiveness, the nasi kandar stall operating from Yong Suan coffee shop is inarguably the most popular in Ipoh. Don’t be put off by the long queue of customers, as they are only taking away.
For those who are planning to eat in, proceed to take a seat and you can order from the friendly waiters directly. Just tell them what dishes you fancy – either served separately or on your rice flooded with a mix of curry gravies. I always prefer the latter.
To give you an idea of their reasonable pricing, it’s RM16 for a plate with ayam goreng merah, fish curry, squid curry, salted egg, okra and a dollop of their signature mint chutney.

MING COURT HONG KONG TIM SUM 明阁香港点心

Address: 32, 34, 36, Jalan Leong Sin Nam, 30300 Ipoh
Business hours: 6am till finish. Tel: 05-255 7134

When it comes to dim sum, Ming Court is the prime choice for anyone who is Ipoh-mali. Recommended to reach before 7am to avoid the crowd for a more relaxed breakfast experience.

XIN QUAN FANG CURRY MEE 新泉芳咖喱面茶餐室

Address: 174, Jalan Sultan Iskandar (Hugh Low Street), 30000 Ipoh
Business hours: 7.30am till finish (1pm). Tel: 016-531 4193

Xin Quan Fang, fondly known as ‘ma ta liu curry mee’ to locals churns out some of the best Hainanese curry mee and bean sprouts in town. Get all the side dishes which include a combination of roast pork, prawns, char siew, stewed pork served in a separate bowl. They tend to sell out earlier than the official closing time, so morning is the best time to drop by.

FUNNY MOUNTAIN SOYA BEAN 奇峰豆腐花

Address: 49, Jalan Theatre, 30300 Ipoh
Business hours: 10.30am – 6pm, closed on Tuesdays. Tel: 012-516 1607

Funny Mountain’s tau fu fah and soya bean milk enjoy a legendary status in Ipoh. A first timer’s trip to Ipoh would have been vain without trying the silky smooth and refreshing tau fu fah, guaranteed to redefine your view of this ubiquitous dessert.

CHOONG KEE BIG TREE YONG TAU FU 忠记大树头炸料粉

Address: 1277 Jalan King, Taman Hoover, 31650 Ipoh
Business hours: 8.30am – 5.30pm, closed on Wednesdays

Also known as ‘Dai Shu Keok’ yong tau fu, Choong Kee operates like a mini factory constantly churning out freshly fried items which you can enjoy with koay teow soup or asam laksa. Fried turnip is a must-try here, as you can’t find it easily at other yong tau fu stalls outside Ipoh.

THEAN CHUN COFFEE SHOP 天津茶室

Address: 73, Jalan Bandar Timah, 30000 Ipoh
Business hours: 8am – 4pm, closed on Thursdays

‘Halls of Mirros’ is another name for Thean Chun – coined after the large mirrors hanging on the coffee shop’s wall. Their staple offerings you shouldn’t miss include caramel custard, chee cheong fun, ‘kai see hor fun’ and pork satay – the last being a rare sight in Ipoh nowadays.

TONG SUI KAI 糖水街

Address: Jalan Sultan Ekram, 30300 Ipoh
Business hours: 5.30pm – 1am (varies for each stall)

One of the most happening eating places in Ipoh after the sun sets. ‘Tong Sui Kai‘ is lined with dozens of food stalls mostly selling desserts (hence the name), snacks like rojak, boiled cockles and various noodles.
Every stall has their own unique rendition and presentation of Ipoh’s famed mixed fruits ABC, so there’s always a reason to revisit this bustling street.

FAMOUS HAKKA MEE 客家面

Address: Paris Coffee Shop, 164, Jalan Sultan Iskandar (Hugh Low Street), 30000 Ipoh
Business hours: 7.30am – 12pm

Besides minced meat, yong tau fu is also served in the Hakka Mee here – almost like a combo meal. One particular yong tau fu that stood out was the fried meat balls that have a hint of salted fish. Their homemade chilli sauce is delicious as well and improves the overall taste of the noodle.

LOKE WOOI KEE COFFEE SHOP 乐会居茶室

Address: No 28, Jalan Mustapha Al-Bakri, 30300 Ipoh
Business hours: 7am – 3pm

‘Hor Hee‘ is a Teochew noodle soup served with a mix of fish cakes, fish balls and fish dumplings. A dash of fried onion oil is added to the thick and flavorful soup to give it extra fragrance and aroma. It is a fast disappearing food in Ipoh – so you need to try it before it’s gone.
Loke Woi Kee coffee shop is your best (and most convenient) bet to enjoy this noodle. Even if you are not interested in having Hor Hee, the fruit rojak and ‘kai see sha hor fun’ here are delicious enough to make your visit worthwhile.

TAI SOO IPOH FAMOUS NO.1 DESSERT

Address: 24, Jalan Raja Musa Aziz, 30000 Ipoh
Business hours: 10.30am – 6pm, usually closed on Wednesdays

A perfect spot for tea break, Tai Soo is famous for a couple of things: Ais Kacang (ABC), tau fu fah (melt in your mouth soft) and soya bean milk.
Their tau fu fah can be ordered with different toppings like cendol, glass jelly and red beans. It is also recommended that you buy a bottle or two of their soya bean milk to bring home – it’s rich and absolutely delicious.

IPOH STADIUM FOOD COURT (MEDAN SELERA STADIUM)

Address: Kompleks Sukan Ipoh, 31400 Ipoh
Business hours: 6pm – midnight

After most of the coffee shops in town have closed, locals throng this food court adjacent to the stadium for dinner and supper.
Traditional Ipoh-style wan ton mee and smoky char koay teow are clearly the favorites here, as you can see them present on almost every table.
For drinks, try out the refreshing herbal drink (next to wan ton mee stal) and freshly blended fruit juices from Frankie’s stall on the far right.

ONN KEE / LOU WONG BEAN SPROUT CHICKEN

Address: Lou Wong 老黄芽菜鸡沙河粉 / Onn Kee 安记芽菜鸡沙河粉, Jalan Yau Tet Shin
Business hours: lunch and dinner till late

Probably what Ipoh is most famous for, beansprout chicken (nga choy kai) is commonly available – enjoyed either with rice or flat noodle. Side dishes are usually pork meat balls and stewed chicken feet. Onn Kee and Lou Wong are two of the oldest shops and both enjoy the same reputation for serving deliciously tender poached chicken.
My suggestion? Try both by ordering a quarter chicken at each restaurant to decide which suits your taste the best. But no matter which you end up eating at, it’s quite impossible for the meal to go wrong. Best of all, you can count both of them to be open for most of the time.

COWAN STREET AYAM TAUGE & KOITIAU 高温街芽菜鸡沙河粉

Address: 44, Jalan Raja Ekram, 30300 Ipoh
Business hours: Wed – Sun (7pm onwards). Tel: 012 5203 322 (Ah Meng)

If Lou Wong and Onn Kee are the to-go places for beansprout chicken rice, then Cowan Street’s Ayam Tauge & Koitiau would be the top choice for beansprout chicken hor fun.
Ordering is quick and simple. Just tell the number of portions and say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the side dishes such as the gizzards and chicken feet (highly recommended) when asked. The poached chicken here is out-of-this-world tender and even the lean breast meat is nice and juicy.

DEEN CT CORNER CENDOL

Address: 21B, Jalan Mustapha Al Bakri, 30300 Ipoh
Business hours: 11.30am – 6.30pm, closed on Fridays. Tel: 016-535 0351

Located just a stone’s throw away from Loke Wooi Kee and Tai Soo, Deen CT Corner serves an amazing bowl of cendol with the right balance of flavors.
Being able to customize your cendol is a plus here, as you can have it with any toppings of your choice – such as red beans only, or red beans with sweet corn. For a more filling experience, opt for the ‘pulut’ version which adds a spoonful of glutinous rice to keep you satiated longer.

NAM HEONG / NAM CHAU / SUN YUAN FOONG

Address: Nam Heong 南香 – 2, Jalan Bandar Timah / Nam Chau 南州 – 54, Jalan Bandar Timah / Sun Yuan Foong 新源丰 – 17, Jalan Bandar Timah
Business hours: 6am – 5pm

Fancy a cup of white coffee? Your options are endless in Ipoh. To maximize your time, drop by Jalan Bandar Timah where you will find a couple of coffee shops each serving up their own unique blend of white coffee brewed to perfection. Nam Heong, Nam Chau and Sun Yuan Foong are located within walking distance from each other and all of them are great in their own ways.
But if you only have limited time or stomach space, decision should be based on the food you want to eat. If you are hankering for egg tarts, go to Nam Heong. For toasts, you won’t go wrong at Sun Yuan Foong while Nam Chau is great for noodles like dry curry mee.

FEI MA MIXED FRUITS ABC 肥妈雪水档

Address: 224, Lebuh Raya 3, Kg Simee, Ipoh
Business hours: 1pm – 5pm, closed on Tuedays and Fridays

Fei Ma’s dessert stall is another hidden gem in Kampung Simee. If you had to leave Ipoh by evening which means you don’t get to eat at Tong Sui Kai, then this is the place to be since it’s open from lunch onward.
After compacting the shaved ice into shape by hand, Fei Ma starts garnishing each bowl with fruits (fresh, pickled and canned), a myriad of syrups, cendol, peanuts and jelly followed by a bath of sugar water.
Looking at the generous amount of fruits and tedious work that go into a bowl like this, it’s hard to believe that it costs only RM4.80. The moment you take a sip of the melted ice, you will know it’s truly something special. The combination of flavors from plum, lime and lemon makes this a refreshing treat that you can enjoy guilt-free.

KAFE YOON WAH 元华饮食阁雪花啤酒

Address: 7, Jalan Bijih Timah, 30000 Ipoh
Business hours: 6pm till midnight. Tel: 012-512 9980

If you are looking for a place to enjoy a (grown up) drink like the locals do, then head to Kafe Yoon Wah for snow beer. Notice the slushie-like content in the mug? Those are actually foam that becomes crystallized when come into contact with a frozen glass.
Yoon Wah is also an ideal place for dinner and they serve a good range of Chinese seafood and meat dishes to go along with the drinks.

THE DECK GASTRO BAR / YUK SOU HIN 玉寿轩

Address: WEIL Hotel, 292, Jalan Sultan Idris Shah, 30000 Ipoh
Business hours: The Deck Gastro Bar (5pm – 12am) / Yuk Sou Hin – Mon – Fri (10.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm), Weekends (8am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm)

Ipoh is not all about street food. Some of the most exquisite Chinese and Western dishes I ever had were at WEIL Hotel. Yuk Sou Hin is popular for their signature Smoked Duck with Lychee Wood and dim sum, while The Deck Gastro Bar is a rooftop bar to enjoy great food and cocktails with an awesome night view the city. Not to mention, live band too.

The post Top 20 ‘Must-Eat’ Places While In Ipoh – Best of Ipoh Food appeared first on Malaysia Food & Travel Blog.

Can’t believe it had been 10 years since the first time I came to Nam Heong. The coffee shop is busy as usual and customers still come for their freshly baked egg tarts, dim sum, white coffee and char koay teow.

Although Nam Heong has a number of outlets in shopping malls across Klang Valley, I haven’t been to any of them. So I wouldn’t know how the egg tarts match up against the original ones in Ipoh. But I am willing to bet they taste better here.

Usually there’s a long wait for the freshly baked egg tarts, but we were lucky to able to get our hands on them within minutes. Nam Heong’s egg tarts are actually as good as what you get at Hong Kee and their main difference lies in the tart shell.
As you can see Nam Heong’s egg tart crust is layered which contributes to that crispy and satisfying bite. It’s also a good idea to enjoy the tarts as soon as possible while they are still warm. Those that we took away and ate later that night just didn’t taste quite as awesome.

While we were here I looked up the comments online and some of them thought the quality of the white coffee here had dropped. To be honest, they tasted fine to me. I think the hot version should be ordered to fully appreciate the rich flavor.

The post Egg Tarts @ Nam Heong 南香茶餐室, Ipoh appeared first on Malaysia Food & Travel Blog.

There are not many places that serve dim sum at night in KL since it’s something people usually eat in the day. But for some reason there are a couple of restaurants in Kepong that open till late. The sad thing about this is that only one or two are actually worth your time, while the rest are just terrible.

Bandar Menjalara used to have about five to six dim sum restaurants but only half of them managed to survive until now. Among them, Eden Dim Sum City is our favorite because their dim sum tastes a lot better than the rest. It’s definitely not as good as Jin Xuan though, that’s for sure.

A couple of items that Eden does right are: Siu Mai (both premium and normal version), Lala Mai, Char Siew Puff, Snow Crab Stick (imitation type) dim sum and fried carrot cake. The rest are pretty run of the mill standard that neither impress nor disappoint.

While the taste of the dim sum filling is generally good and made with fresh ingredients, the wrapper breaks too easily when you try to pick it up with your chopsticks.
If you are a serious dim sum connoisseur that would be a big problem. For us, it’s more of an annoyance since we only drop by when we have a sudden craving for dim sum after dark.
FYI, Eden Dim Sum city also has a branch in Bandar Bukit Tinggi, Klang.

The post Eden Dim Sum City 伊甸点心城 @ Bandar Menjalara, Kepong appeared first on Malaysia Food & Travel Blog.

Foo Hing Dim Sum House in Bandar Puteri Puchong is mainly known for their Macau style Portuguese egg tarts. But they are certainly more than a one-trick pony, as their dim sum are also pretty good and affordable.
Like most dim sum restaurants in town, Foo Hing is also also especially packed during weekends. Despite that, service was quick, efficient and more importantly polite.

At first glance, Foo Hing’s Portuguese egg tarts (RM2.30/pc) seem like the real deal. The tart shell is very crisp with nice layers and the glossy creme brulee sheen on the surface of the egg custard.
Compared to the original one I had in Macau, I have to say it’s close but not exactly right. Nevertheless, it’s delicious and will triumph those you find in the normal bakeries any day.

Dim sum wise I feel the flavors are a bit muted so do opt for those with heavier seasonings if you have a strong palate. But of course to be fair, you can’t expect The Ming Room‘s quality here because of the price difference. Har Gaw @ RM6.

Siew Mai @ RM5.50.

Portuguese Style Steamed Squid @ RM6.

Pork Balls with Crab @ RM5.50.

Overall, Foo Hing is a decent place for a no-frills suburban dim sum meal. If we were given a choice to choose again, we would have our dim sum at Jin Xuan then walk over here to take away the Portuguese egg tarts.

The post Foo Hing Dim Sum House @ Bandar Puteri Puchong appeared first on Malaysia Food & Travel Blog.

Let me begin by saying that authentic dim sum should not be pork free. Although not every dish in dim sum restaurants contains pork, the iconic ones such as char siu bao and siu mai are traditionally made with pork. So when you substitute the main ingredient with something else like chicken, you have distorted the intended tasted.
But since we live in a multi-racial country where everyone loves dim sum, there is a demand for halal and pork free dim sum restaurants, especially in KL. Among them, Oriental Chinese Cuisine in Pullman Kuala Lumpur Bangsar is one the few good ones which I would recommend.

Steamed Caviar Siu Mai @ RM16 – perfect size with a nice proportion of meat to prawn and tasted very close to the real thing. The dumpling was skillfully prepared too, held itself well in one piece and the skin did not slip around or break when lifted with chopsticks. Every dim sum we had also shared the same workmanship.

Dried Scallop Siu Mai @ RM16 – basically identical as the previous siu mai but topped with additional shredded dried scallops for a touch of luxury. Some other toppings you can find on their siu mai include mini abalone, tobiko lobster and even foie gras.

Fresh Prawn Siu Mai @ RM15 – for those who could not get have enough of prawns. A gorgeous sweetness was imparted by the full sized prawn which gave it a boost of flavor.

Spicy Chicken Szechuan Dumpling @ RM10 – surprisingly lower in price compared to the rest, yet still equally good. Personally, I would have preferred it more if it was spicier – but then kids might not be able to handle it.

Green Tea Bun with Salted Egg Yolk Custard Cream @ RM12 – we have always had a weak spot for ‘lao sa bao’ so it’s one thing we never fail to order. What makes the ‘lao sa bao’ here different from the rest is that the bun is green tea flavored.
The rich and creamy salted egg yolk custard filled the bun to the edges and oozed out beautifully when we took a bite. Flavor wise it was excellent but if I were to nitpick, the custard missing that ‘sandy’ texture which gives the bun its name.

Crispy Seafood Roll with Cheese @ RM15 – there were huge chunks of succulent prawns wrapped under the crispy vermicelli and made a gratifying crack as the outer layers shatter with each bite.

Cheung Fun with Yu Zha Gui @ RM12 – also known as ‘zha leung’. From what I notice this is rarely offered in the local dim sum restaurants, so it’s definitely worth a try.
I highly suggest that you eat this as soon as it’s served because the fried cruller will soak up the soy sauce when left too long and get over salty. Also, don’t forget a dip into the chili oil for the complete experience.

Signature Pearl Glutinous Rice wrapped with Lotus Leaf @ RM15 – a smaller variant of ‘loh mai gai’ but this one contains salted egg yolk and duck instead. It might seem like a filler but the rice was flavorful even on its own.

Preserved Vegetables with Roasted Duck Bun @ RM12 – as simple as it looks, I think you will enjoy the bun’s texture and savory filling. The top of the bun is soft and slightly chewy but the bottom is nicely browned and crispy.

Chilled Durian Pancake @ RM22 – extremely creamy with a strong taste of durian (Musang King), this would be the perfect dessert for any durian lover.

Before we left I also went through their ala carte menu. I found the prices are more than reasonable for a hotel restaurant considering a serving of Curry Tiger Grouper Head in Claypot with steamed buns cost only RM58. That’s on par with some of the normal Chinese restaurants in the city. Based on the positive experience we had with the dim sum, I think we will be back soon to try the Chinese dishes.

The post Dim Sum @ Oriental Chinese Cuisine, Pullman Kuala Lumpur Bangsar appeared first on Malaysia Food & Travel Blog.

If you love Hong Kong culture then you have a big reason to rejoice. Honolulu Cafe (檀岛香港茶餐厅), known for their delicious egg tarts and award-winning coffee and milk tea, are opening up their first outlet soon in Malaysia at Sunway Pyramid.

Widely recognized as the pioneer in Hong Kong’s ‘cha chan teng’ culture, Honolulu Cafe will also be the first authentic Hong Kong style cafe in Malaysia. Their opening date has been set on the 13th October (Friday), so mark your calendar!

To ensure that patrons get to enjoy the authenticity of their pastries, noodle, dim sum, traditional wok dishes and beverages, Honolulu Cafe Malaysia has imported most of the crucial kitchen equipment from Hong Kong.
Even the team of head chefs who are stationed here are highly experienced chefs and have worked for the cafe in Hong Kong for decades. It is apparent that the Malaysian franchisee is taking this venture seriously.

Honolulu Cafe’s signature egg tarts have 192 layers of thin and crispy puff pastry filled with smooth and aromatic egg custard. Best of all, it’s made with lard as well for that extra depth of flavor.

We were fortunate enough to be invited to the back of the kitchen to witness the entire egg tart making process. And I have to say it made us appreciate the egg tarts even more when we tasted it.
Although we already sort of knew that it was not easy to make an egg tart, it still managed to surprise us on how much work actually goes into it. Even more so considering the entire process is hand-made, except for the dough mixing part.

Because of that, only a limited number of egg tarts can be produced daily, which is around 1000 pieces. And as of now, take away is not available for the egg tarts, so you can only enjoy them in the restaurant as dine in customers. That said, you will be pleased to know that the egg tarts are affordably priced at RM2.95/pc, which is a lot cheaper than what you would get in Hong Kong.

Polo Bun is another must try here and it’s also priced at RM2.95/pc. Drinks wise they are only RM4.90 each for a large cup as you have seen earlier. I think you would agree that the prices are more than fair considering it’s located in a shopping mall.

The post Honolulu Cafe Authentic Hong Kong Cafe Opening Soon in Sunway Pyramid appeared first on Malaysia Food & Travel Blog.