Food Explorer & Home Chef
During CNY, the trick is not to eat Chinese food. The wait and serving time begs patience and food quality is often not as good. We opted for Vietnamese at Song Ngu resto in New Ocean World Fine Food City, PJ. The large resto was …
After feasting non-stop on Chinese dishes for CNY, we always hunt for food from other cultures after a few days. In Malaysia, we are blessed to have so many choices. CNY 3rd day this year, we ended up at Indonesian resto Wartek in Ara Damansara …
The much anticipated Citarasa Nipah, the annual EQ Ramadan tradition, is back and the media had a chance for a sneak preview of food options from the days of rustic simplicity, and combine them with dishes that have evolved into Ramadan must-haves.
The dinner buffet offers a spread of food ranging from fresh crudites and herbs (ulam), accompanying traditional Malay dips and sambals, crackers, dried fried fish, a variety of local salads including green papaya salad (kerabu betik muda), pomelo salad (kerabu limau bali), Indonesian star gooseberry leaf salad (urap pucuk manis), young mango salad (kerabu mangga), young jackfruit salad (kerabu nangka), banana heart salad (kerabu jantung pisang) and fiddlehead fern salad (kerabu pucuk paku).
Also available are savoury Ramadan rice porridge (bubur lambuk), rendang tulang rusuk, briyani Batu Pahat with ayam masak merah, acar jelateh, freshly grilled fish, and a counter dedicated to Malay smoked meats (salai) which are then cooked in various styles.
My personal favourite was the gulai salai (smoked meats) station. This is somewhat new as last year it was just one dish in the buffet line, but this time, there’s a small station with selections include catfish salai, duck and beef salai in a rich, spicy gravy known as masak lemak chili api. There’s even huge Fresh River Prawns, but you gotta be fast and this finishes lightning fast!
Of course, I never miss the roast lamb, and the tulang rusuk rendang was excellent, especially accompanied by the lemang.
Dessert options are equally enticing, with a variety of local Malay kuih, iced desserts like cendol and ice kacang, and specially created durian crème brulee and durian pancakes. There is also be a selection of sweet dessert porridge known as bubur, and durian with coconut milk (serawa durian) served with glutinous rice and pandan bread.
Citarasa Nipah is perfect for corporate guests, and for gathering friends and family over the Ramadan season. The dinner buffet runs from 6 to 28 March 2025 from 6.30pm to 10.30pm every night. It is priced at RM238+ per adult, and RM114+ per child from 6 – 12 years old. An early bird special will run from 2 to 5 March and 29 to 30 March 2025 with a promotional price of RM198+ per adult. Group bookings of a minimum of ten persons can also enjoy the special price of RM198+.
EQ also brings back EQ Bazaar, a concept it premiered last year to great acclaim. As a brand-new alternative to Ramadan sit-downs, the Bazaar allows guests to browse an astounding array of street food stalls set in the plush comfort of the hotel’s function rooms. The ground-breaking concept was sold out for the month within the first four days of its launch, with many families lauding the free-tobrowse concept which allowed individuals to select their choice of foods and enjoy it at their own pace.
Expect street food favourites such as Malay rotisserie chicken (ayam golek), satay, grilled lamb, roti John, murtabak, roti canai, a variety of noodles, special bakso (Indonesian meatballs in soup), rice and dishes which include deep-fried beef in chilli (daging sambal ketuk), smoked duck in spicy coconut milk (itik salai cili padi), flower crabs in coconut milk (ketam masak lemak), chicken rice, fish head curry, and a variety of finger foods like local prawn fritters, fish crackers, fried banana fritters, spring rolls and samosas.
Drink and dessert options at EQ Bazaar include beverages served in large drink containers (air balang) which range from rose syrup with milk (sirap bandung), kalamansi lime and soy bean; an array of Malay desserts ranging from kuih to preserved fruit, sweet Malay-style porridges (bubur pulut hitam, bubur kacang hijau) and shaved ice desserts.
EQ Bazaar runs from 6 to 28 March 2025, and is priced at RM178+ per adult, and RM89+ per child from 6 – 12 years old. Group bookings of a minimum of 20 persons will enjoy the special rate of RM158+ per adult. The early bird promotion is also priced at RM158+ per adult, and can only be redeemed from 3 to 5 March 2025.
For reservations, call 03-2789 7777.
Add: EQ, Equatorial Plaza, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur.
Took me a while to find this place again as it’s been some years since I last visited. Leaving this here so I don’t forget next time I have a craving for yam rice. Operated by an old couple in Sungai Way in Kopitiam 16, …
I’ve come to really like this neighbourhood café called Little Days in Sea Park. On days when I’m late for lunch and the nearby coffeeshops are closed (around 2pm), I find myself here. Cozy air-cond café with timber benches and tables, menu offers simple Malaysian …
When you have a Japanese Omakase, each meal tells a story of tradition, culinary artistry and seasonal flavours. It is crafted with finesse in the hands of the chef.
Nestled within the Parkroyal Collection Kuala Lumpur in Bukit Bintang KL, Sushi Qubey welcomes diners to enter into a culinary journey that’s filled with the elegance – Omakase. It offers a Zen-inspired design, featuring wooden panels, soft grey walls and autumn-themed crimson leaves that beckon invitingly, enhanced by warm lighting. Both the general dining area and private rooms are available for reservations.
Each dish is expertly crafted to highlight the natural flavours of ingredients flown in directly from Japan. From the precise slicing of sashimi to the delicate seasoning of nigiri, every element is executed with intention. In addition to ocean delicacies and the freshest seasonal ingredients, there are also premium selections such as A5 Miyazaki Wagyu, Foie Gras Steak with Uni, and other exquisite surprises.
The curated omakase menus crafted by the chefs are available in four distinct sets to suit every taste. Whether for lunch or dinner, each set promises a unique tasting experience. The lunch omakase menu ranges from RM168 to RM328, while the dinner sets are priced between RM188 and RM468 per seating. For those seeking the extraordinary, the RM688 dinner menu offers a personalised bespoke experience.
Sushi Qubey also offers weekday Teishoku Lunch Sets for a casual midday meal. Starting at RM55, there are choices like the Grilled Hokke Set, Sashimi Set, Sashimi and Tempura Set, Nigiri Set, or the Qubey Gozen Set, perfect for two. A la carte add-ons are also available, featuring a selection of premium dishes.
Sake makes the perfect pairing, with the restaurant offering an extensive carafe menu. With premium options starting at just RM50 per 100ml, there is something to suit every palate and occasion.
We had the RM328 menu, with exquisite offerings such as engawa sushi, Japanese cockle (twice the size of ours!), seared foie gras tuna sushi, uni on raw tuna sushi and abalone steak with mash and truffle. As an added treat, our review included a Hairy crab sushi as that was in season. It was a most delightful lunch, ensconced from the city noise and crowd outside, as we sipped sake and savoured the curated menu. What’s great is that Sushi Queby is quite affordable, especially for those on a budget and trying omakase for the first time.
Add: Lot 7-9, Ground Floor, PARKROYAL COLLECTION KL, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. Hp: 010-3038899
I’m a sucker for fried chicken and having a case of FOMO after seeing other people posting about the quirky toilets at Chicken & Beer, of course gotta go try la! Bathed in an orange hue, the resto reminded me of American fast food diners, …
As we bid farewell to the Year of the Dragon, festivities of the Lunar New Year herald the way for the Year of the Snake. Honouring the traditions of Chinese New Year, Oversea Restaurant’s festive feast — a celebration of the rich heritage of Cantonese …
Tiger Beer welcomed the Year of the Snake in bold style with the launch of its ‘Together We Roar’ campaign at Pavilion Bukit Jalil recently. The event set the tone for a festive season and celebration with a vibrant lineup of experiences.
The atmosphere at Piazza, Pavilion Bukit Jalil was of pure excitement as consumers brought their pack to ‘Tiger Town’. Visitors enjoyed live performances, curated in partnership with Tǎng Píng, the popular Live Cafe Bar, along with immersive experiences that included music performances by popular artists 3P and Jeryl Lee, craft booths and interactive activities.
Attendees were put to the test with a series of activities in order to win exclusive Tiger merchandise.
“Each year, Tiger celebrates the courageous journey of progress and connection, recognising that the support of fellow tigers makes every milestone significant,” said Willemijn Sneep, Marketing Director of Heineken Malaysia Berhad. “This year, we are proud to offer experiences that honour these connections and inspire our consumers to celebrate those who uplift them along the way. We cannot wait to see how everyone roars together in the Year of the Snake.”
Adding to the excitement was the unveiling of the exclusive Tiger x atmos x ButNotReally collection. Members of the media were treated to an exclusive preview of what was in store for consumers.
The streetwear collaboration celebrates the shared journey of brands that defied the odds. Born on the streets of Asia in 1932, Tiger Beer built its reputation for bold refreshing lagers by breaking boundaries, while atmos, with its roots in Tokyo’s Ura-Harajuku backstreets, emerged as a global streetwear champion. ButNotReally is a homegrown brand that embodies the spirit of creativity, freedom and innovation. This partnership has resulted in a collection that honours their bold roots while pushing the future of fashion forward. The limited-edition pieces are available for purchase at participating atmos stores (Sunway Pyramid, Mid Valley Megamall, and Genting Sky Avenue).
Tiger invites consumers to join in on the digital activation by using Tiger’s ‘Add Yours’ template on Instagram Stories to post pictures of themselves and their crew over the years, reflecting on their shared progress and journey. By tagging @tigerbeermy on Instagram, participants stand to win an exclusive NFC pendant from Zero Degrees, which contains these photos, allowing them to carry these special moments with their pack wherever they go. Founded in 2020, Zero Degrees Jewelry has redefined urban and hip-hop jewelry in Kuala Lumpur with out of this world custom pieces, ready-to-wear collections.
EQ KL is once again bringing back the legendary dining icon in the form of an annual pop-up for one season in January 2025. Golden Phoenix, once Kuala Lumpur’s most famous Chinese restaurant, originally opened in the 1970s at the former Hotel Equatorial. It returns …