Thong Kee Cafe PJ 溏记海南茶室

When there are raving reviews from reliable sources and sufficient triggering "touch points" on social media, you go for it... whatever that means!

Here's one for the record - Thong Kee Kopitiam. This was at the Sea Park branch as we were heading into central PJ over the weekend.

As for me, it's embracing my Hainanese roots and putting this place to the test, you know, a fellow Hainanese checking up on our fellow Hainanese. Don't play play ah! :)

Sequence of events -

1. Get a table. Weekend crowds are mad. Ask around if you're able to share a table.
2. Walk over to "Order Counter" - only applicable on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.
3. Menu is largely available on the right side as you face the counter. All along, please bear in mind your table no.
4. Place your order, make payment, head back to your seat and wait to be served.

Here comes the plus points!

Food was promptly served, practically less than 2 mins after being seated. Impressed! Ordered the ultimate Ham, Egg and Cheese Croissant as I felt the Hainanese steam and toast bread can wait for our next trip. Haha!

RM7.90 for this piece of Heavenly Homemade Croissant. Take my monehhhhh~

An unassuming piece

All ye food enthusiasts, you'd know that in order for the cheese to appear as such, is to have the croissant at the right temperature. 

Do you feel my heart that's stopped beating just at the sight of these?

If you have not been here and thoughts of "Oh, what's there to shout about? It's just croissant with ham, egg and cheese! I can easily recreate this at home!"

Here's why you've got to hold onto THAT thought... primarily because, unless you are able to cook up an egg with perfect thickness, tenderness and taste that's equivalent to that of a tamago yet slightly firmer than scrambled eggs; you ain't got nothing on this piece of goodness.

Mr Wooi ordered this from another stall - RM6.50
Portion was just okay, chicken was too small although the meat falls off easily from the bone as we peel it apart with cutleries.

For many, it can be quite an unassuming corner lot of hawker fare. That's what I love about it! :)

The best way to wash down our meal was definitely with this Large cuppa 1+1. The drink is called "1+1", for us, done right with less ice, less sweet. Seriously, one of the best cuppas I've had in awhile. Foamy and just well done. Hainanese coffee tends to be lighter than usual on our tastebuds and stalls may sometimes over/under-brew it that has it a tinge of sourness. This was lighter than usual, yes, but also dances very well with my caffeinated tastebuds.

Mr Wooi upon his first sip, said it was GOOD. Coming from a non-coffee lover and someone who is generally "okay" with everything, it says a lot.

All in all, despite parking being sh*t, we are definitely coming back again!! Maybe to their other branches which are nearer to home :D

Please try if you haven't! Because I can guarantee, there's nowhere quite like the same. Let me know if you've tried :)

***

For more information:

Opening hours: 7:00am - 4:30pm; closed on Mondays
Address: 33, Jalan 21/1, Sea Park, 46300 Petaling Jaya
Branches: Sea Park, Glenmarie, Pandan Indah
Payment mode: Cash only
Service charge: N/A

The Fish Bowl Poké Shop @ Bandar Sunway

I'm back on my blogging mojo! This time round, with a Hawaiian-inspired bowl of goodness that has recently hit our neighbourhood - The Fish Bowl!

Occupying the same row of shoplots just outside the side gate of Sunway University; down the street alongside White, Orange (mann, now you know how long since I've left college), I'm happy to tell you... this is my kinda health food.

They call it a Poké Bowl, pronounced as "Poh-Kayh".

Not gonna bore you with what wikipedia or Eat Drink KL are gonna tell you.. To me, this is a bowl of wholesome goodness packed with bits of life choices.

Zoom in for more details

True to it's Hawaiian origins

Wide array of toppings, proteins, sides to go with your bowl

Our personal favourite is the Shoyu Salmon and...

...for me, Kaffir Lime Salmon :)

Some of personal favourite of sides to go with it includes mangoes, walnuts, avocado.

Mash em all up!!

This was during the recent Christmas promo where they had complimentary upsize and an additional premium side (: Salmon skin it is! This was also when I had the chance to try the Wasabi Mayo Salmon. Slightly pungent to my nostrils but done just right for wasabi lovers. Not so much for those who doesn't fancy wasabi...

Sauce wise, our all time favourite would be Lime Aioli and Garlic Sauce.

That's how they roll!

Overall verdict: 7/10

It is value for money when it comes to quality, but not so much for the quantity (i.e. portion). That is a compromise I'm willing to make when I'm craving for something healthy. It is light to my tummy yet flavourful to my tastebuds.

***

For more information:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefishbowl.my/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/thefishbowlmalaysia/

Opening hours: 10:30am to 10:00pm; Daily

Address: 77, Jalan PJS11/9, Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Contact: 03-5612-9992

Payment mode: Cash only

Service charge: N/A

Grandeur Cafe, Kota Kemuning

Kickstarting the Raya break with trying out another cafe in the hood - Grandeur Gallery Cafe at Kota Kemuning.

Looked up some cafes, dropped some comments to validate on the opening hours and voila!

Outlook of the cafe

Grandeur Cafe is located next to Sips and Bites but it occupies the floor above. Visibility of the cafe may not be as prominent because of this. Again, nowhere Waze nor Google Maps can't take you to. Just keep an eye out for the signage.

As you walk up the stairs

Menu and the cute deco

We were there about 1030-ish in the morning. Opening hours as per the world wide web is 11:30AM but we thought of just heading up to check it out, to see if they were open. True enough, they were! Will share more on the opening hours below.

Here at Grandeur, you ring the bell. LOL!

Pretty cosy setup, there are more seats behind me 

We were their first customers for the day so I had the liberty to go around snapping photos like some pro heh! Couples and families started walking in towards the late morning about 11ish.

I love cute deco 

Bar counter

How it works -

Get seated, they'll hand you a menu to look through and decide on your order. Once you've decided, head on over to the counter to place your order.

Note: Cash only for transactions below RM50

Pesto Pasta RM18 

Overall rating: 6/10

This was served with thinner version of fettuccine. Pesto paste was alright and as I would say the same for other pesto pastas, it lacked fragrance. Portion was good with a fair share of almond bits which gave a good bite to the pasta.

It came plainly as pasta, pesto and nuts. I wished it came with some grilled chicken slices. For the price of the pasta, I'd say its justifiable due to the portion but some meat would have been better.

Up close and personal 

A personal preference of mine would also to have it slightly more oily.

Grand Brekkie RM23

Overall rating: 8/10

Looks decent, tasted grand. Evidently as seen, it comes with toast and baked eggs with bacon, potatoes, sauteed mushrooms, sausage and a side of greens. All in all, it was breakfast well done!

He loved it better as compared to Sips and Bites, but of course, every eatery has their own differentiating factors. Baked eggs with bacon as pictured above lacked flavour, baked potatoes were good, sausage was of better quality and sauteed mushrooms were a lil too scarce lol

Well, there's no one perfect brekkie... :D

Baked eggs with bacon for me was good and I felt that the bacon gave slight flavour to the eggs. Maybe I'm not one who fancies heavy seasoning in my food to begin with.

Tiramisu with Rum and Kahlua RM14 

By word of mouth, I ordered this based on the recommendation by a friend.

Overall rating: 8/10

One of the better tiramisus I've tasted by far. Alcohol taste was just right and not too overpowering. Love how the cream doesn't feel as heavy as the calories I'm consuming too! Haha

If you're not a fan of alcoholic cakes like him, you might wanna consider trying out other cakes. Noticed that they've got yam cake on the menu, unfortunately it wasn't available today.

Opening hours

Monday to Friday 11:30AM to 6:30PM

Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays: 9:30AM to 6:30PM

Closed on Wednesdays

Address: Lot 22-2, Sinaran 2, Jalan Anggerik Vanilla BE31/BE, Kota Kemuning, 40460 Shah Alam
Credit Card Payment Facilities: RM50 and above
Wifi: Yes
Service Charge: N/A

GST: N/A

***

I'm definitely on a roll to try out the cafes in the hood!

Have a blessed Raya, everyone! Safe travels for those who're travelling! :)

Sips & Bites Cafe, Kota Kemuning

Sips & Bites Cafe - today's late lunch hideout in Shah Alam.

Truth is, the cafe fever hasn't been hitting Kota Kemuning very well in the past few years. Yes, there's been cafes popping up here and there but exceptionally good and memorable ones are merely a handful.

So, I am definitely glad KK is catching up with the wave! :) Next to this, one floor above is Grandeur Cafe.

Here's a good one to note -

Outlook of Sips & Bites

The thing with shoplots in KK is that its hidden in nooks and corners, often camouflaged in between other not so prominent shops. A pity, I'd say. Maybe due to the uniformity of shoplots as per the development plan of Paramount. The developer himself must be one OCD fella. LOL
Then again, no place is unlocatable by Waze/ Google Maps these day, huh? ;)

Interior of Sips & Bites

Point to note, we were out for a late lunch at 1600hours+ and this was the situation that greeted us. Full house with one table of four left by the door, as if anticipating our arrival, heh. Even the smoking area outside was fully occupied! Looks like the crazy weather ain't stopping people from taking a puff while having sips & bites ;)

Another side of the cafe taken when I was done with my meal

Full blast air conditioned, we felt like ants hiding in a comfortable nest. Because the tables were arranged quite closely to each other, the atmosphere is definitely drowning with chatter especially those having some loud conversations going on.

Self service corner and baby chairs

Yes, self service but the staff were super alert and came quick like the wind to offer assistance where required. The owners were present too, hosting some friends at one of the tables. :) Service level is definitely better than other cafes I've been.

Big breakfast RM20 (excluding GST)

Overall rating: 7/10

Fluffy scrambled eggs paired with a slice of toast, sauteed mushroomms, pan fried tomato, bacon slices, sausages (quality one!), baked beans were mighty fine, hitting all the right notes on our tastebuds. As for the hashbrown, I felt it lacked taste despite the skin being crispy. It felt soggy and disappointing as soon as I took a bite.

Portion is okay for a lady's appetite (definitely not referring to those petite eaters -.-) but guys would find it not too filling. Well, you could always order an additional side to go with your meal :)

Smoked Salmon Carbonara RM18 (excluding GST)

Overall rating: 7/10

This is Carbonara done right! Looks a lil like aglio olio yet has a hint of milk/ creaminess. It is served generously in portion, good amount of sauteed mushrooms, cheese powder and 2 slices of "smoked salmon". Actually overall as a dish it was good, but the supposedly smoked salmon was a bit not on point? Haha, it tasted good for my tastebuds nonetheless.

For those who are not so fond of fish because of the fishyness that comes with it, I'd suggest for you to try other pasta dishes instead. This came with a slight hint of fishy taste but to me, it was bearable and alright, mainly because I love fish to begin with.

 Photo ops

 More photo ops

Banana and Berries Waffle RM18 (excluding GST)

Overall rating: 6/10

We've tasted better and fluffier waffles but for a neighbourhood cafe as compared to if we were to drive to our favourite Waffle World @ One Utama, this does the job.

Waffles are thin yet crispy on the outside. Toppings of fruits (strawberries, berries and caramelised banana OMG) were fresh. I must give credit where it's due and the CARAMELISED BANANA WAS SO GOOD! Love the right amount of maple syrup and chocolate sauce too!

Not too shabby, Sips & Bites ;)

Opening hours

Address: Lot 24-1, Sinaran 2, Jalan Anggerik Vanilla BE31/BE, Kota Kemuning, 40460 Shah Alam
Credit Card Payment Facilities: RM50 and above
Wifi: Yes
Service Charge: N/A
GST: Yes

*****

Can you believe 6 months just flew by in the snap of fingers? Felt like it was just a month back that I wrote my last post. So many things have changed since my last post, actually.

Good kinda changes, I'd say. ;)

That's all for now. Till the next time, toodles!

Tar Chong Mix Rice 大众什饭 @ Kota Kemuning

What's the most common question asked when you put a bunch of hungry Malaysians together?

"Eh what to eat ah?" or "What to have for breakfast/ brunch/ lunch/ dinner?"

Sometimes, life is a great combination of the finer things and simplest things. I'mma be sharing about Tar Chong Mix Rice @ Kota Kemuning! Simple and in fact, normal.

Outlook of Tar Chong Mix Rice

Crazy load variety of dishes!

Crowd on a weekend evening

RM12 for what we got

What I love most about this Tar Chong mix rice set up is that there's this dessert stall selling traditional dessert drinks ("tong sui") in a variety of peanut paste, red bean, green bean, etc.

It comes in quite a portion at a fairly reasonable price, ranging between RM2.60 to RM3 depending on your choice of dessert.

Also, do note that besides red bean and green bean, other desserts varies according to the day of the week.

Here's a delicious savoury bowl of peanut paste!

Next time if you can't figure out what to eat in Kota Kemuning, instead of hopping into one of the many cafes available, perhaps a tone down to your meal would be good! :)

Address:

15, Jalan Anggerik Vanilla P 31/P

Kota Kemuning

40460 Shah Alam

Selangor Darul Ehsan