Review: Little XiGong Restaurant (Sai Gong Tzai) @ Taman Kepong

**Non-Halal**


We have passed by this crowded restaurant a couple of times and was just wondering what's the fuss since the place was rather new. I just know why when the first review came in by Ivy. Her pictures really made me salivate and can't wait for the right occasion to bring my parents. We finally made it there and upon entering the restaurant, my mother declared "hey this is Sai Gong!".

The next thing we know, the guy who came to take our order was an all too familiar face. He confirmed that this shop belonged to the younger of 2 sons of Sai Kong (Kepong Baru). I guess the older son must be helming the wok at Sai Gong (Menjalara)! Knowing that we're in for a real treat!!!



At 7.00pm, the corner lot restaurant which also uses the space of the chicken rice shop called Popeye o.O was filled to the brim. Luckily we managed to secure a table at the 5 foot way in front of Popeye. We put in our oder and sad to say we waited about 40 minutes before dinner was served. Shouldn't gripe since it's peak hour plus the place is full.

First dish recommended was 3 Cups Chicken (RM33) but Little XiGong's version is totally different. There weren't any Thai basil but instead curry leaves were used. Not the usual taste of 3 Cups Chicken but this was good though. Everyone dug into the claypot with gusto.



We next have a wok-hei (breath of the wok) full of 4 Heavenly King (RM12) which on that day consisted of four angle beans, brinjals, ladiesfingers and long beans fried in sambal belacan. Our main issue was how come there isn't any petai (stink beans)? :p



The next order sighhh seems of be our standard order now to suit BoiBoi's love of Sweet & Sour Fish (RM33). Almost all our dai chow meals would have this dish >.< The garoupa was perfectly deep fried - crispy on the outside whilst the flesh inside remained moist and tender. Even though most places use not-so-fresh fish for deep frying but over here, it's fresh! The sweet and sour was balanced out all nicely in the tomato based gravy.



Can't resist to order the signature tofu dish (RM13) shown in the banner but not sure why they don't look the same when arrive on our table hehe. Anyway, everyone liked this... well cos it's deep fried obviously. The sifu chef in the family (the mother, not me!) claimed that the tofu was mashed up and mixed with meat, steamed before cutting into fingers. There are several uniqueness in this dish with one, the tofu fingers were dipped in a thickish batter before being deep fried. The batter was light and crispy... and one can hear the crunch as you bite onto them. Secondly, the sauce which made up of something lemony which I know it's not using fresh lemon but most likely prepared lemon sauce and the sauce was laid at the bottom of the plate instead of being poured all over the tofu. Thirdly, together with the sauce there's a mixture of raw onion slices and cucumber strips PLUS deep fried butterflied ermm some sort of ikan bilis. This was served with housemade chilli sauce on the side plates. Are you salivating yet?



We were keeping our fingers crossed when we ordered the crab dish as the man said not sure if the crabs have arrived urgggh and the thing is... he didn't come back to update us until we asked him after all our above dishes arrived. So happy when he said yes and the dish is coming soon!

Again we played safe by ordering the signature crab dish with a coconut milk gravy. We asked for 2 crabs (RM91). When it arrived on our table, everyone went oooo wahhhhh lol. Visually the crabs are very pleasing. Seems like a totally different interpretation of "lai yau" (buttermilk)... the gravy have a nice coconut milk fragrant where the curry leaves boosted it more. Then there's addition of onions and tomatoes which lighten up the gravy and giving it a slight tang. If you look at the plate closely, you'll noticed there's a small trail of chilli oil for the hot kick.



Everyone gave thumbs up to this crab dish. They have totally nailed it! There were ample gravy to be mopped up with mantou which we did not order as we're very full already by the time the crabs arrived. If we're returning, this would be on our must-have!

There were 6 adults plus BoiBoi, we have a pot of Chinese tea and 4 plates of rice and the total bill (shown below if you know how to read Mandarin) added up to RM177! Very reasonable I would say. I guess the next time, we are going to make our way here by 6.30pm and would keep our fingers crossed that food would arrive faster.




Little XiGong Restaurant

23, Jalan Development

Taman Kepong
52100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel No: +6 012-303 6645 or +6 012-303 4466

Ah Yee Curry Mee @ Kepong Baru

**Non-Halal**


One of our friend posted a photo of a plate of delicious looking curry chee cheung fun (flat rice noodles) not long ago and we asked him where that plate of chee cheung fun came from. He then described to us and since I'm familiar with Kepong Baru, it's quite easy for us to locate this Ah Yee Curry Mee. You can access this row of hawkers either on Jalan Kepong Baru (the main road) or Jalan Ambong Kiri 1. It's just next to Hoo Yee Kee Prawn Noodles. It's the same row as KTZ and Onn Kee Roast Duck just that Ah Yee Curry Mee is on the other side after the traffic light (coming from Kepong Baru side towards exit to Jalan Kepong).

Look for this signage... it's rather big facing the main road but there's a smaller one on Jalan Ambong Kiri 1 where parking is ample.



The place seems airy and bright, maybe because we were there very early before 8am hence the lights were all still switched on. Quite clean for hawker stalls standard. On the white board, there's a long list of offerings here ranging from chee cheung fun, curry noodles, prawn noodles, yong tau foo (stuffed beancurd & vegetables) etc together with the prices.



The small portion Curry Chee Cheung Fun is RM3.30 swimming on a light curry broth topped with pork meat and shitake mushroom strips in a brown sauce that I think is made from oyster sauce and soy sauce. I supposed this is the meat sauce you'll be given when one order the normal chee cheung fun. A sprinkling of chopped scallion/spring onions and deep fried shallots slices complete the dish.

Mine is a small portion with fu pei (deep fried beancurd sheet) costed RM4.10. The curry broth is light and not overly greasy with a nice subtle curry flavour. The meat sauce luckily melded well. Our only gripe is the smooth & slippery chee cheung fun is sliced a bit too wide.



Someone at the table had a bowl of Prawn Noodles (RM4.00 sorry no pic) which is rather lackluster when I tried a sip. There were only 2 medium sized prawn in there lamented that someone! So skip this.

I took a peek at our next table and saw that the Curry Noodles seems yummy, I guess that will have to wait till our next visit. We also found out that they used to operate from a corner coffee shop near by and shifted to the current location 2 years ago. Ahhh that explains why we can't find them at the coffee shop anymore :p


Ah Yee Curry Mee
Jalan Kepong Baru/Jalan Ambong Kiri 1
Kepong Baru
Opens for breakfast & lunch
Click here for map

Review: House of China @ Kepong

**Non-Halal**


It's always a headache whenever come to dinner time especially with the entire family in tow. Most of the time, we do not wish to travel far and the amount of eateries in Kepong these days is really mind boggling! So came one day the same question - where to eat??? Since I've read about House of China in the papers which served a rather interesting "squirrel" fish that I guess BoiBoi would love, so we decided to head there to give them a try.



House of China is located at the shoplots within the perimeter of Carrefour Kepong. It's quite easy to locate and it's the same row as the TCM hospital at the corner. When we enter the double shoplot, the entrance is adorned with various Chinese antique and decorative pieces and we were greeted by Chinese waitresses. Looks like everyone is of Chinese nationals including the man at the cashier counter and we were told that the chefs are one of them too. So now we know why the name and the dishes that they're serving here.

No doubt House of China doubled up as a Chinese antique and decorative store with a nice ambience with the play of lightings, it's sad to note that the tables and chairs for diners are of the ordinary tables and PVC wrapped chairs. It would have been complete if they have used matching tables and chairs at least.



A nice thick menu is a nice touch with menu in English, some with pictures especially for bananas like us. There is no problem placing our orders as the waitress who took down our order was utmost patient and willing to explained to us the dishes.



Bittergourd Stir-fry with Salted Egg Yolk (RM15) is always a firm favourite. The crunchy slight bitterness of the bittergourd coupled with creamy salty yolk combination is sheer brilliant!



Our second vegetable dish was this Stir-fry Paku Pakis with Belacan (RM12) (does the Chinese have such dish back home? *chuckle*). After a few bites, I find the fern shoots leave a slimy and numb sensation inside my mouth... my brother declared that this is not the usual fern shoots but Midin, a kind of wild ferns found only in Borneo Island or Sarawak! How did they got onto our plate? I've never tasted Midin before but since he has stayed in Sarawak for 2 years, I guess he could tell the difference. He said Midin leaves that sensation in the mouth. Hmmm, is it true?



Then we have this incredible melt-in-the-mouth Mui Choy Khau Yoke (RM35) (braised pork belly with preserved mustard cabbage). House of China's version have paper thin pork belly slices with the right balanced of tasty mui choy as some places have overly salty mui choy. I usually don't eat fatty parts where I removed them before eating but had a hard time doing that and succumbed to the entire fatty slices *gulp*. The only thing is there isn't much belly slices to go around.



The star of the day supposedly this Sweet & Sour "Squirrel" Fish (RM32). Tasted just like normal sweet and sour fish just that the body of a tilapia fish is scored into diamond shape pieces and the fins were placed strategically on the head, deep fried to create this conversational-piece of fish that looked like a squirrel. Guess whose favourite dish it was?



Sun Xin (Fairy) Chicken (RM28) is essentially a version of herbal chicken. Not sure of the herbs used but this tender and smooth chicken tasted slightly different from the usual herbal chicken, maybe because this is a drier version and not so soupy. I can't remember if we have half or whole chicken but I think it's half :p



Our only gripe about this place is their portion size. It's really kinda smallish for the price they charged. Hence we have to order an extra dish. We opted for a Dry Wok Fry Squid (RM22) which I think has a bit of Sichuan pepper corn that did not give a totally numbing effect but lend the squid quite fragrant.



There were 6 adults and one child with 5 bowls of white rice, a pot of Chinese tea, 2 glasses of warm water (RM1 each!!!) plus the dishes above costed us RM169.60.


House of China
33 Jalan Metro Perdana Timur 6,
Taman Usahawan Kepong,
Kepong Utara, Kuala Lumpur
Tel: +603-6259 9909
Business hours: Daily 11.00am to 10.00pm

Review: Onn Kee's Roast Duck

**Non-Halal**


I've blogged about Restaurant Sun Ming recently about their roast meats. The roast duck was so-so and I still think Restoran BBQ Kong Meng serves better roast duck in Cheras region. Since I grew up in Kepong, we were fed roast ducks from Onn Kee since young on special occasions. Those days, Onn Kee is amongst the first push cart stall that sells roast duck by the road side along Jalan Kepong Baru, where they're situated currently. I should know better when my primary school is just a skip and a hop away tee hee...

Anyway, we dropped by for lunch with my brother recently and I'm glad that the roast meats here are still going strong. Instead of push carts, the stalls have gotten permanent roof over their head now. Since it was around 1 o'clock, there were vast amount of choices available.

We opted for 1/4 roast duck, 1/4 sesame seeds roast duck and a plate of siu yoke (roast pork) and char siu (bbq pork) for 2 person. With 3 plates of rice and 2 cups of chrysanthemum tea, all these cost us RM47 only. Seems reasonable to me.



Price aside, the most important factor is the taste. At least the duck is flavourful, not bland at all. The sesame version have extra crunch on the skin which lend a nutty bite and taste. My favourite!



Whilst the glistening char siu stood out for not being sickly sweet, the siu yoke is just all right. Smooth with crispy skin but lacked the flavour of 5 spice powder and salt.



If you can read Chinese, you can see the prices. Click on the photo to view a larger pic.



Onn Kee's stall is located by the road side, a stone throw away from KTZ Kepong and don't get confused over another roast duck stall which is operating side-by-side. If you sit long enough, you'll be able to see which stall has more customers :p and they are opened for lunch till all roasts are finish around afternoon.


Onn Kee
Lot 209 Jalan Kepong Baru
52100 Kepong
Tel: 03 6258 5227 / 019 311 6616 / 012 619 6202

Map

Review: Siu Pai Kuat Meen @ Sixty Three Kopitiam

**Non-Halal**


My parents took me to Sixty Three Kopitiam for breakfast several times but of the few times I've been there, it's basically just normal kopitiam fare. There was once I waited rather long (more than 30 mins and I went over to remind them like twice) for my char siu (bbq pork) wantan meen (noodles) to arrive! Even though the wantan meen does tasted not bad but I shudder having to wait that long! Anyway, one weekend my mother urged recommended the siu pai kuat (bbq pork ribs) meen. Arrghh and she pointed it's from the same wantan meen stall.



Sighhh since my parents are ordering the siu pai kuat meen, I decided to give it a try. Wowzer, this time the waiting time is not long at all! Best part is I have no regret as the bbq pork ribs are really tender with some burnt bits. With the noodles done al dente, this plate of siu pai kuat meen is lips-smacking good! Can't recall how much is a plate but it's quite decent, most probably around RM5 or so. If you're around Kepong, it's worth coming by for a plate.



This kopitiam is located in the corner, the road before Thong Lung Sang Seafood Restaurant.


Sixty Three Kopitiam
Jalan Metro Perdana 2
Taman Usahawan, Kepong
Tel: +603-6250 2389
Map here

Review: Durian and Fruits Stall Along Jalan Kepong

Since it's durian season, I do not want to be left out in introducing one of our favourite stall. Just so not to be confused with the famous Jalan Mergastua or most commonly known as Lau Lin Kai (Durian Street) in Kepong Baru, this stall is actually right on Jalan Kepong near the pekan (small town area). It's located in front of Shell Station that has a Domino's Pizza outlet in it, opposite Kepong Police Station. There's a beautiful Al-amaniah Mosque next to Shell. Check if you can see the map here.



This stall is a seasonal stall that only opens during durian seasons and the operators are from Johore where the supplies of their durians and fruits are mainly from. You can find the current favourite Musang King also known as Fox King or in Cantonese is Mau San Wong. Apart from this species, there are the one time favourite D24. Other than these Tekar (Chuk Keok in Cantonese or translated in English is Legs of Bamboo), D2 and smaller kampung species are available too. Prices are rather current ranging from RM10 to RM12 which I can't recall exactly for the different species. There's always a crowd here.



For this particular stall, do go pick your durians after 4ish or best around 5 in the afternoon as thats when the fresh stocks arrive daily. On one Saturday afternoon, we arrived on time to witness them unloading the goodies from the lorry!





Other than durians, this stall also have a few varieties of tropical fruits on sale.

These mangosteens are really sweet and fresh as the shell is soft. The colour is of a nice vivid purple. To open a mangosteen, just press the middle part of the rounded body with two thumbs (you may score it with a knife to make it easier) and press further until it opened up. Rip apart the shell and you'll have the white parts stuck on the inner shell. Suck up the white flesh, mmmm sweet! Some larger segments have rather big seed, so just suck up the flesh and discard the seed but usually for the smaller ones, I just swallow them whole.



By the way, I was taught when I was young that to see how many white segments are there inside, just look at the raised ridges at the bottom that resemble a flower pattern. The number of the "petals" of the ridges corresponds with the number of segments. My BoiBoi was amazed when I showed him this ;-)



At this time of the year rambutans, pulasan (a family of rambutans but with shorter hairs) and dokong (a type of langsat) are also in season. So grab them all before the season is off!

Review: Thong Lung Sang Seafood Restaurant

**Non-Halal**


My mother suggested we eat here on Mother's Day as we ran late and can't afford to travel so far to eat Hokkien and Hock Chew food. She mentioned the name Lung Kee but the English signage stated Thong Lung Sang Seafood Restaurant. This restaurant started off as a dai chow near FRIM and shifted to current location sometime back. Business must have been really good when they now occupied 2 shoplots and they have loads of table on the 5 foot way and also at the empty space beside the shops.

The 5 of us have to sit outside since the air-cond section were for pre-booked tables. Luckily it wasn't a hot day that evening. We let mother to dictate the dishes and she came out with this 2 Styles Pork Ribs (RM32). One style have deep fried ribs coated with creamy mayo and the other is sweet sourish. Both are equally nice.



We also have a 2 Styles Homemade Tofu (RM22) which is their signature dish. The middle portion have a thick slab of smooth homemade eggy tofu, deep fried and topped with a mince meat sauce. The pieces of tofu surrounding this are battered and deep fried mashed tofu, I gathered have pieces of fish paste mixed inside. This dish was BoiBoi's fave.



We picked a Stir-Fried Sweet Potato Shoots in Sambal Belachan and it was delivered full of wok-hei (breath of a wok). Good stuff here!



Lastly a firm favourite, Cheung Tzing Fei Chau (Steamed Tilapia in Bean Sauce, RM22). The sauce here is made extra fragrant with the usage of deep fried lard pieces! Do I need to elaborate further?!



My mother said they specialised in lala dishes here but it's too bad they were all sold out. Next time, perhaps. All in I paid RM94.10 for all the dishes with 3 bowls of rice and a pot of King Tea (Char Wong). Seems reasonable to me and now I understand why the place is jam packed.

Thong Lung Sang Seafood Restaurant
B-G-17 Jalan Metro Perdana 1,
Taman Usahawan Kepong,
52100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: (+6012) 2312138; (+603) 6259 4816
Business Hours: 11.30am to 12 midnight
Map

And So They're...

...actually going thru the green beans picking and sieving out the bad ones whilst yakking away!

LOL so did any of you guessed correctly?


Technorati Tags: dessert + snack

Review: KTZ @ Kepong Baru

**Non-Halal**

Strange that I never wrote about KTZ (kei tuck sek in Cantonese or also known as Fruitti Stall) all these while as I've been visiting here since errmmm I can't even remember, perhaps since their opening :p



Their first branch in Kepong Baru remained my favourite even though they have air-cond locations. Somehow nothing beats the fume and dust from the main road and the heat under the zinc roof to enjoy snacks and desserts here heh! Another plus point is the snack counter where all their available snacks are on display and all you need to do is point at what you want. The snacks will be fried and presented to you later on. This really beat reading off the menu! Visual treats can be rather devasting to the waistlines hehe... a lot of times we tend to eat with our eyes :p We used to come here for breakfast but nowadays they open late in the afternoon and closes late. A stone throw from here is where One Noodle located.



This visit we did not order any deep fried snacks since it was quite late. Just needed a bite since we did not have dinner. We just have a plate of chee cheung fun (rice noodle rolls) and steamed radish cake. I loved the chee cheung fun with button mushroom slices in between top with morsels of sesame seeds here. They're slippery smooth and sauces are served on the side separately on sauce plates.



Radish cake is rather plain but there are large chunks of radish in there with hints of dried shrimps. This cake is served as the same sauces as chee cheung fun. The chilli sauce goes rather well here.



Each time I'm here, I will have a bowl of Peanut Soup - without fail! Their consistency and quality seems to have maintained over the years. I liked the fragrant and creamy part without feeling too jelak (stuffed). Their tong shui (sweet soup) here are not sickly sweet, just nice for my tastebud. I remember there was once Capt'n Hook and I ermm when we were younger... we just ordered bowls after bowls of tong shui and in the end, I had 3 bowls stacked up on my side and he had 4 in one sitting!



The other hard to resist item is their Mango Lo... if they're doing it right, there will be a layer of mango puree with sago pearls at bottom followed by very fine shaved ice. Another layer of mango puree with sago pearls then top with a mound of shaved ice. Large chunk of sweet Philippines mango cubes are arranged around the bowl followed by a generous topping of mango puree and sago pearls. If you do not have this many layers when you scoop in, do ask them why hehe... They do have other fruit flavours like kiwi, strawberry, honeydew, red bean etc but I find the mango the best.



Can't find the receipt but if you squint hard, you might be able to see the prices here (click the pic to enlarge).



I'm ending this post with this photo... what do you think the staff are doing there???




KTZ Kepong Baru
66 Jalan 7 (It's actually on Jalan Kepong Baru)
Kepong Baru,
52100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 603-6252 9451
Opening Hours: 4pm - 1am


Technorati Tags: dessert + snack