A Mouthful of Indulgences

March 28th, 2007 • Related • Filed Under


Picture courtesy of matchstick

Some people “eat to live” while some “live to eat”. Guess which category do most Malaysians fall in?

Although we do not go to the extreme extent of eating until our health deteriorates, most of us do have a passion to satisfy our taste buds. Big or small, young or old, many Malaysians like me, know how to appreciate good food. This article is my tribute, also recommendations to you, to some of the best food I have ever had in the PJ/KL area.

  • Fish Head Curry
    Located at one of the many stalls at the Happy Food Court (next to Carrefour Kepong) in Metro Prima, Kepong, is one that sells what I reckon is the best fish head curry ever. Judging by the large number of people who are too busy digging into their bowls of curry, you will know that many others think it is one of the best too. Served in a claypot (which enhances the fragrance) is a large portion of fish, lady’s fingers, tau fu pok, brinjal and the mouth-watering curry sauce. If you are not too-big-a-fan of fish head, fret not because alongside the fish head are succulent chunks of fish meat that you can enjoy. Have this very fragrant (the smell itself is enough to make you hungry and no I am not exaggerating), not-too-spicy-but-spicy-enough curry with a plate of rice and you will want more!


Picture courtesy of Secret Recip

  • Noodle in Tom Yum Kung (Halal)
    If you usually go to Secret Recipe for their cakes, during your next visit, order yourself a bowl of noodle in Tom Yum Kung instead. I have to admit that I was rather disappointed with the first impression when my bowl of noodle was placed in front of me: it was not as delicious-looking as had been pictured in the menu. At the first sip of the soup, it tasted too spicy for my liking. I ordered a glass of water to help me go through this ordeal. However, after the first few bites and sips, I started to like it. My taste-buds got used to the spiciness and I realized that the soup was really good. Unlike some tom yum soups that are either too spicy or too sour, this one had the perfect balance (the first sip might be a shock though). Accompanying the rice noodle were fresh king prawns, herbs to give the soup a fragrant smell and a lot of mushrooms! Even my mother could not help but to have some of my tom yum soup! Needless to say, when I left, the bowl did not have even one drop of soup left in it!
  • Mix Grill Cheese Baked Curry
    There is a reason (or two) why Kim Gary Restaurant is the ‘in’ place to dine right now among the Chinese: the food. Offering a large variety of Hong Kong cuisine, and an even larger choice of set menus (value for money!), Kim Gary is also popular among the people because of its cheese-baked selections. One of them that have got me hooked is the mix grill cheese baked curry. Who would have thought that together, curry and cheese could spell Y-U-M-M-Y? The dish comes with a bowl covered with a layer of baked cheese. And underneath all that cheese are slices of grilled pork, beef, ham, a sausage and of course, the curry sauce. The meat have been infused with the curry and together with the cheese, they go delightfully with your plate of white rice. This choice is perfect for those who are not into spicy food but want to taste the curry all the same.


Picture courtesy of hobbesyeo

  • Steamboat (Halal)
    Steamboat is usually enjoyed by the Chinese but thanks to Restoran Nelayan Titiwangsa (for direction click HERE), the Muslims can now share in the joy of having steamboat too. The steamboat is one part of a 3-part buffet available for dinner at the restaurant. Diners are spoilt for choices as they are offered a huge range of steamboat items like seafood, meat and vegetables. Another plus side is that the food is always thoroughly cleaned before being placed on the buffet spread. Because it is a buffet, the items do run out fast (duh! we love to eat!) but the staff always makes sure that they are refilled. As for the steamboat soups, you can choose from chicken or ikan bilis stock, tom yum, or both. While waiting for your steamboat to boil, you can satisfy your appetite with already-cooked Malay cuisine (try the ikan bilis sambal with petai!) or have the chef barbeque you chicken or fish. Also, several types of local sauces like cencaluk and sambal belacan are provided to accompany your meal.
  • Lo Han Ko Drink (Halal)
    In our hot and humid weather, a cup of the famous Petaling Street Lo Han Ko drink is perfect to quench our thirst. I was first introduced to this drink when I was a little girl and many, many years later, I am still a fan of it. It is basically water boiled with a type of Chinese dried fruit called lo han ko and rock sugar. Then, thin shreds of winter melon and dried longan are added into it for that extra ‘oomph’. Do not be fooled by the simplicity of this drink because the sweetness of it makes you crave for more. It is addictive! Although this drink can be served hot, the popular stall located at the junction of Petaling Street, near Hong Leong Bank, chose to serve it icy cold. If you do not fancy traveling to Petaling Street for it, it is now also available at one of the kiosk on the lower ground of Mid Valley Megamall.


Picture courtesy of sjtoh

  • Crabs
    I love crabs. and if you do too, then head on down to De Foodland Restaurant at 25 & 27 Jalan 3/62B, Bandar Sri Menjalara, 52200 Kuala Lumpur because they make it the best. Also, I detest eating small mud crabs and those served in this restaurant are everything but small. De Foodland has the most choices of crabs that I have ever seen: from the ordinary steamed ones to crabs that are cooked in creamy mushroom sauce. Having tried a few types, I like the sweet and sour one best. The crabs come in a large plate with a lot of sauce which should be paired off with the restaurant’s bread. The bread’s outer layer is crunchy but the inside is soft, making it perfect to absorb the sauce. Okay, back to the crabs. Once you sink your teeth into the flesh of the crabs, you will get to taste a blend of flavors: the sauce and the crabs’ natural sweetness. Plus, because high quality crabs are used, the texture of the flesh remains chewy and nice.
  • Porridge
    If you do not mind eating at a road-side hawker stall with no air-conditioning or fan, for the sake of the good food, then you MUST give this a shot. This little stall located by Jalan Tun HS Lee (behind Wisma Hamzah, near the HSBC Headquarters) has been in business for many years and most of the time, you will have to wait for seats because they are usually fully occupied but trust me, it is worth the wait. I am not really into porridge but I would have this any time, any day. The best thing about this porridge is the texture. It is not too watery or too thick. And, the taste is indescribably nice! You can even eat it plain. However, I usually have it with fried pig intestines which are crispy when eaten alone, but soft and fragrant when soaked in the porridge for a while. If internal organs are not your cup of tea, then you can have it with fish slices or steamed chicken. The fish slices are served raw but you cook it by putting them into your piping hot bowl of porridge. That way, the natural flavor of the fish is preserved. The steamed chicken is served with a special home-made chili sauce that would taste great when mixed with your porridge. Yes, chili sauce and porridge! It only works with this stall though.

Finally, if you are planning to splurge on an expensive foie gras dining experience, I would say give it up for a more authentic and local experience. It is not always about fine dining. Roam around town; you will never know what hidden food haven you can find. Until then, bon appetit!

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