Food Explorer & Home Chef
I just found out Ayam Brand sardines and mackerel, a staple in Malaysian kitchens, has apparently been around for over 130 years! Surprise, surprise, during a media drop recently, I received some goodies, i.e. Ayam Brand sardines and Ayam Brand’s Spicy Tomato Paste. Beyond the …
Once a while, it’s nice to explore my own city. We discovered Lo and Behold, along Petaling Street, serving crowd pleasers like tacos, pastas, fried chicken and soft serve. The mural on the wall and quirky posters foretell the fun, laid back vibe here. Bright …
It was a late lunch for us at Ren Ren Noodles, which became even later as it was extremely busy that weekend, and service was slow and took a very long time for the food to arrive. On the verge of hangry pangs, redemption came in the form of ramen-style noodles, but make it Chinese. Each strand was coated with gravy and oil, and further heartily heaped with crispy lardy bits. In my books, that’s a plus point already.
The sticky-glazed grilled pork belly was gorgeous, a cross between char siew (bbq pork) and tong poh yoke (braised pork belly), if you will. Sweetish, tender and taste-worthy, it certainly made a good first impression. There is a generous layer of fat though, so if you are adverse to flavourful fat, this is not for you.
The Gula Melaka minced pork was more of the same, but meat in minced form – pretty tasty composition, though on the oily side. It reminded me of Jjajangmyeon, especially since you’re supposed to mix everything together to get the full experience and hearty mouthful.
The combo no one knew could work – mapo tofu with noodles was a delicious mash-up, complete with spicy chilli paste and tofu and minced pork. The star of it all was the handmade pulled noodles, firm, springy, good bite to it, without a hint of sogginess. Similar to wantan mee, but thicker, but not as thick as pan mee noodles.
The nasi lemak with pork curry was not bad, but paled in comparison to the well-executed noodles.
Round 2: Wednesday nights from 6pm to 9pm is 50% off noodles, so it’s super popular and a bit of a wait getting a table. We waited around 25 mins, not too bad considering the growing crowd. Once seated, we took about 5 minutes to order and then, it was another long wait of 30mins. I really hope on week days the service is better.
We had duck meat noodles , as they ran out of duck leg. A bit disappointed that the duck skin was not really crispy, and the meat was just OK, some pieces quite boney, nothing to shout about. The noodles were a bit on the sweetish side, noted my friend, but I thought they still tasted quite good. The pork chop was a good decent size and the noodles, more savoury.
The beef noodle soup was above average, with robust soup and tender chunks of beef, some tendon as well. The Japanese Unagi noodles was commendable as well. Can’t really go wrong if you’ve got the noodle part right.
Prices are slightly higher than the average mall noodles, starting from RM16.80 for mapo noodles to RM28.80 for Unagi noodles, but it’s a good bowl of carbs worth the calories. They also have rice bowls with similar toppings, with lamb brisket topping the list at RM39.80.
Run by the same people behind the former Superfine cafe, you can expect the same care and quality given to the food served here.
Add: Lot 01-02, Seventeen Mall, 998, Jalan 17/38, Petaling Jaya. call: 03-76257715
Come get A Taste of Macau at Yun House, Four Seasons KL it celebrates its 7th anniversary. The exclusive four-hands dining experience combines the talents of chef Anthony Ho from Zi Yat Heen, the one-starred Michelin restaurant at Four Seasons Macau with in-house chef Jimmy …
The Anchor Pastry Challenge 2025 celebrated Malaysia’s most promising young pastry chefs by offering them a platform to showcase creativity and technical mastery. Organised by Anchor Food Professionals Malaysia & Brunei, 5 finalists each in the Bread & Viennoiserie, and Cake categories, baked their hearts out …
Launched offically in Malaysia last April, Speyburn Single Malt Scotch Whisky held its first exclusive masterclass under the new distributorship of Fortier Wines & Spirits Sdn Bhd.
The masterclass was led by Paul Warathep Chandeeraj, International Brand Ambassador for International Beverage. Paul captivated guests with his engaging, approachable presentation style, taking attendees through a guided tasting of three Speyburn expressions: the 10 Years Old, 15 Years Old, and 18 Years Old.
Born in Thailand and raised in the UK, Paul joined International Beverage in 2012 where he managed trade relations in London. His deepening passion for whisky eventually led him back to Asia in 2015, where he now champions the brand across the region. With over a decade of experience and a gift for storytelling, Paul has played a key role in educating both trade professionals and consumers about the art of premium spirits.
A quintessential Speyside single malt, Speyburn is crafted in Speyside, Scotland, using traditional methods, natural resources, and an intuitive touch that delivers distinctive character in every drop. The distillery, nestled in a lush valley just outside Rothes, has been producing whisky since November 1, 1897, originally founded to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Locally known as “The Gibbet”, the distillery lies beneath the hill of Cnoc na Croiche, or “Hillock of the Gibbet”, a nod to its storied past.
We tried:
SPEYBURN 10 YEARS OLD, abv 40%
Aged in a combination of American oak, ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, the pale gold with amber highlights offers a fresh and clean first whiff with citrusy hints of lemon. Medium-bodied with notes of toffee and butterscotch surfaces later, and the finish is long and sweet. This is a crowd-pleaser that goes down easy as dinner drinks or just catching up with friends for a night cap.
SPEYBURN 15 YEARS OLD abv 46%
A richer tone, amber hued whisky that’s released annually in just 3,500 limited cases. Matured in American and Spanish oak casks, it gives a rich aroma of dark chocolate, raisins, citrus, and vanilla with layers of orange, toffee, vanilla, and leather with a warming, spiced finish. This was a lovely rendition with just the right mouth-feel, and probably my favourite. Can see myself getting familiar and being firm friends with this Speyside offering.
SPEYBURN 18 YEARS OLD, abv 46%
Aged in both American and Spanish oak for 18 years, it has a deep golden hue that gives off notes of sweet toffee, sugared almonds, tropical fruit, with a hint of smoke and candied apples. It carries a palate of creamy dark chocolate, gentle oak spice, and citrus, leading to a long, smoky finish. Love the hint of smokiness and classy full-bodied whisky.
Held at Curious Kitchen, Petaling Jaya, curated dishes such as cured meats and olives enhanced the masterclass experience. A strong start indeed for Speyburn’s presence in Malaysia.
New York based restaurant Benihana hit the ground running, opening on the 4th floor in KLCC recently and already attracting crowds for its exciting teppanyaki shows! The Japanese-influenced Benihara has been dazzling guests around the world for decades, transforming a simple meal into an exciting …
Father’s Day is that one time you can have beef with dad! Available exclusively on June 14 and 15, Maria’s SteakCafe’s Father’s Day Set Menu showcases premium steaks, comforting classics, and decadent desserts in a specially curated four-course meal. The set menu features premium steaks …
Japan’s largest Shabu Shabu restaurant chain brand, Shabu-Yo, launched its 7th Malaysian outlet at 1 Utama shopping mall, Petaling Jaya. Shabu-Yo is turning up the heat on hotpot dining with its simmering brothers and fresh ingredients, taking Japanese hotpot to new heights across the Klang Valley.
“Shabu-Yo has officially made its mark on the directory board of 1 Utama Shopping Centre. As one of the most prominent lifestyle destinations in the Klang Valley, 1 Utama is the ideal location for our latest branch, with its fantastic location and anyone can easily spend an entire day. In addition, the community has a deep appreciation and love for Japanese culture and food,” said Managing Director of Skylark Malaysia Nishioka Hidekazu who officiated the opening.
Media members had fun creating our own sauces to go with the meat. The pork, lamb and wagyu beef tasted fresh and of premium quality, cooked in seconds and went beautifully with the other ingredients such as Japanese vegetables and mushrooms.
We chose mala and yuzu soups, and while they tasted a little bland initially, the soups became rich and flavourful after having all the ingredients dunked in. We also enjoyed the soft serve and ice dessert. Too full for the waffle, saving it for the next round!
Shabu-Yo brings the essence of Japan’s culinary tradition to life with its authentic hot pot experience. The restaurant prides itself on serving high-quality ingredients, including premium Australian Wagyu beef, pork, and chicken. Diners can also enjoy a variety of fresh, crunchy vegetables, all cooked the in-house tasty broth. The highlight has to be the sauce bar, offering around 30 different options, allowing customers to customise their own sauces.
The menu centres around their most popular promotion, the ‘All-You-Can-Eat’ pork course, starting from RM39.90++ per adult or child. The course features unlimited refills of pork, a variety of fresh vegetables, an array of beverage options, and side dishes such as takoyaki and crispy fried karaage. Dining durations for lunch and dinner are set at 90 minutes and 120 minutes.
The restaurant offers a diverse selection of five courses, each with varying prices for weekdays and weekends. The available courses include:
1. Pork and chicken
2. Beef, pork, and chicken
3. Australian wagyu, pork, and chicken
Add: LG105 – LG106, SHABU-YO, 1 Utama Shopping Centre, 1, Lebuh Bandar Utama, Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya
Fresh from his Melbourne stint at Attica, touted to be one of the best restaurants Down Under, chef Daniel Kong from Kuching, together with 2 other partners – his brother and fellow chef Woon Ming – set up Vagabond KL in Desa Sri Hartamas, KL. …