Clarissane reviews: Dubu Dubu Seoul Food @ Mid Valley Megamall

With everything Korean hitting our Malaysian shores these days, Korean food is of course never left out.

Barely a year old, a new Korean joint with a chic name – Dubu Dubu gives the popular Ko Hyang Korean Country Delights some competition.

Located in the LG concourse area of Mid Valley, this new place has commanded a great following for those foodies looking for a quick, no-frills and inexpensive Korean meal.

Even the food on display looked too enticing!

Typical Korean fare of Bibimbap, choose your preference of chicken or beef.. I of course chose the latter ;)
What is Korean food without beef :P

Mix it all up and enjoy!

All food comes with the usual three-sided Korean banchans, what I totally look forward to at every Korean meal!

The kim chi was good! Couldn’t resist a second helping :D

Another one of my all-time favourite: Spicy Kimchi Soup with Stewed Tofu and Beef served with brown rice. This was average I enjoyed the Bibimbap more.

But gotta give credits to the soft, tender and chewy texture of the beef slices!

Overall a pretty delicious dining experience with reasonable prices under RM20. Will definitely been on my list if I crave a quick, decent Korean meal. I think the sprouting of too many Ko Hyang joints have made their food standard deteriorate. Dubu Dubu would be a good alternative :)

Address:
Dubu Dubu Seoul Food,
LG-048 Lower Ground Floor,
Mid Valley Megamall.
Tel: 03-2287 8980

Map *here*

Clarissane reviews: Puchong Yong Tau Fu @ Batu 14

Perfects as a meal or even as a snack, a good yong tau fu (YTF) meal warrants delicious dumplings, stuffed eggplant and ladies fingers. Throw in white beancurd and fishballs with beancurd skins and voila, a complete meal!

I’ve discovered a new place in Puchong that serves really delicious YTF (personally, I feel it is apar to the famous Foong Foong one in Ampang which is good but nevertheless overrated). This place personally makes their own chilli dip from scratch which complements their YTF perfectly!

All items are prepared fresh from scratch. Pick and choose the items you want and they’ll make it on-the-spot! Guaranteed freshness :)

Huge and meaty pieces of fried-to-perfection YTF is heavenly to the palette!

At RM 1.20 a piece, definitely value for money. The size of each piece is comparatively bigger to other YTF joints that are smaller albeit priced between RM 0.80 to RM 1.00 a piece.

My absolute staple YTF dish! Heavenly to the mouth but bad for the waist :p

And of course, the white beancurd tofu. A real good protein booster!

So glad I’ve finally discovered a good alternative from the Ampang YTF. Now I don’t have to go through the distance, sweltering heat and parking for a good dose of ytf! :D

A few doors away from this place is another good YTF place called Kedai Mee Siew. Mee Siew’s ytf tastes just as good, if not better than this outlet that may get a bit too crowded during peak periods. Will save that for a next review!

Address:
Puchong Yong Tau Fu
Lot 105, Batu 14,
Jalan Besar,
Kampung Baru Puchong,
Selangor, Malaysia.
Opens 11am-9.30pm. Closed on Mondays.

Map *here*

Clarissane reviews: J Tean Kitchen @ SSTwo Mall

The hunt for the ultimate pork burger continues!

This time, it brought us to J Tean Kitchen in the quieter area of SS2 where the new mall is situated and is known for its “fusion” inspired Bak Kut Teh!

Spanning a pretty wide area at the corner of one part of the quiet mall, the place reminds me of a western-meet-chinese setting with its white furniture adorned with pretty hand-painted motifs.

The outdoor area makes you feel like you’re in an English garden.. perfect setting for good catch-up sessions over tea! ;)

Now comes the highlight of the day!

J-Tean’s Porky Bun, RM 16.90.

I gotta give a triple thumbs up for this!!

Something out of the ordinary, the deep-fried Mantau buns (Chinese buns) certainly lent a different taste that perfectly complemented the juicy, herb-infused pork patty. The home-made special sauce (with onions as its based) was delicious and went very well with the whole dish.

The potato wedges that accompanied the dish was also a clear winner: fried to perfection, it was sooo crispy and full of flavour. One of the best potato wedges I’ve tasted, puts those high-end restaurants to shame!

The burger could do with more vegetables but I wouldn’t complain since at RM 16.90 a pop, it’s really worth the price you’re paying. The burger itself is huge, we shared two burgers among three people and boy, were we stuffed!

Devouring the burger, spills out juicy, meaty whole pork goodness!

Absolutely mouth-watering!

The Pearl Milk Tea was a let-down though. Diluted and overly-sweet, the pearls texture was a major failure as well. Definitely passable if you asked me. I guess we’re too spoilt and used to the more commercialized bubble tea joints LOL

A side dish we decided to give a go was their Pork Patties, RM5.90.

On the menu it was described so well I had high expectations of this dish. When it arrived, I was a bit disappointed. It was too oily and the wasabi mayo on the top definitely spoilt the taste.

J-Tean is also known for their Pork Knuckle, Porky Pie and the Curry Ribs with Spaghetti that I've yet to give a go! Definitely warrants a repeat visit!

Address:
J Tean Kitchen
Lot G58, SSTwo Mall,
No. 40, Jalan SS2/72,
46300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Map *here*

Wils reviews: Sarawak Laksa @ Chong Choon Cafe, Kuching

One of the many things I’ve learnt about Sarawakians is that they absolutely adore their food. Almost everyone I know from that part of East Malaysia can’t live without enticing, quality food even for a day. Having made quite a number of friends from Kuching here in Kuala Lumpur, I get to see first hand about their enthusiasm with their local food.

One Sarawakian dish that I see they can’t take their eye off for one second is none other than Sarawak Laksa. They are so peculiar at the difference in taste at different locations, that they know everything from the ingredients involved to the texture of the noodles and soup that goes into their mouths.

Looking at the picture above, you can see why the rave is insurmountable. Recently while I was at Kuching, some local friends brought me to this neighbourhood coffee shop called Chong Choon Cafe, where they have been regular visitors for a large number of years, to let me have a taste of what all the hype was about. Priced at RM3.50 and being decently large in portion, it is relatively cheaper than the average bowl of noodles we get here in KL coffee shops. Presented in a nicely organised manner, one would salivate instantaneously.

Personally, I thought it tasted terrific. Not only does it not taste spicy, the noodles were in the right texture by not being too soggy. The soup, so rich in a sour-ish yet spicy flavour, bodes well with the belacan provided. A satisfying meal and experience. Highlight of my trip there. Period. I’d highly recommend anyone who happen to stop by to give this a go. Located not too far from the city centre and being one of the most famous coffee shops in town, its easily accessible even by foot.

Address:
Chong Choon Cafe
Lot 121, Section 3,
Jalan Abell,
93100 Kuching,
Sarawak

Map *here*

Wils reviews: Bing! Coffee @ Padungan Road, Kuching

Tired of the mainstream coffeehouse chains such as Starbucks and Coffee Bean? Caring to try something different and in the vicinity of the Sarawak capital? Introducing Bing! Coffee, where java fixes are made, massive selection of fine gourmet coffee, a long line of homemade pastries and salivating snacks.

You won’t miss it because almost everyone in Kuching knows about this highly raved spot. From checking in to sit back to take a breather, sipping on a fine cuppa to simply looking for a WI-FI spot, you will not feel out of place one bit.

What you will first notice is the cosy ambience and simple interior design, with the freezing air conditioning that makes you want to daze the day away especially when coming from a scorching outdoor.Tidy and clean to the core is another trait you will take notice, something hard to find in most of the coffeehouse outlets these days.

I was there in the afternoon with some local friends after strolling along the lake and garden so it comes to no surprise that I had my eye on something chilled to quench that thirst and heat anxiety. Thought I gave the Iced Caramel Macchiato a try since I’m a pretty huge fan of the one sold at Starbucks and to my surprise, it tasted better because of the right caramelised flavour to espresso ratio toped by whipped cream with honey. At slightly above RM11.00, its a cheaper alternative to its direct competitors too.

 

A classy and contemporary coffeehouse as such would not be complete without a signature dessert. The Brownie with Whipped Cream and Chocolate Sauce fits the bill in that department. What I loved most was that the hot chocolate sauce covering the brownie have the same essence of flavour and that it wasn’t too sweet. When taking a bite accompanied with the whipped cream, I was in cloud nine.

Impressed by its signature dessert, I was not satisfied to leave before trying its adoringly looking Chocolate Muffin. As you can see, it is indeed a good-looker but what comes from the inside might disappoint you a little depending on your taste bud's preferences. I found that it lacked a bit of sugar and the chocolaty flavour that was suppose to keep me wanting more was non-existent. On the other hand, it does come in a pretty big price tag too at RM6.00.

Despite it being the only minor disappointment, I was thoroughly pleased for the most part with my experience there. Confined in an ambience as such with unrivalled cleanliness, friendly baristas and quenching brews and mouth watering desserts, there’s really not much you can ask for. In some ways, it is an upgrade from the likes of Starbucks and Coffee Bean not only on the basis of those factors but also especially when money is of the essence.

Address:
84, Jalan Padungan
93100 Kuching, Sarawak
Malaysia

Map *here*