Review: Darabif Burgers @ Wisma Cosway

We were in Wisma Cosway during ramadhan and Capt'n Hook saw this spanking new Darabif Burgers right at the highly visibility corner of Jalan Raja Chulan and Jalan Pinang. It was four in the afternoon and he decided to have a "snack" of burger *roll eyes* after looking at the buntings. See the power of delicious looking photos!



Darabif is not new to me as I've seen their frozen products like sausages and burgers in the supermarket and now they have this modern looking burger joint right in the middle of the city.



He opted for the Malaysian Moo set which is essentially a beef burger with an egg wrap, topped with a slice of cheese and shredded cabbage. I think there's a squeeze of an orangey sauce too. The RM8.88 set came with fries and coleslaw and a cup of soft drink.



I took a couple of bites and I have to say it's not too shabby but I can't pinpoint the certain lack of oomph that we generally get from the street burger stalls. Perhaps it's not sloppy enough hehe... the fries are all right too but seriously the lump of coleslaw not only look unappetising but tasted one too. The cabbage and carrot tasted dry and lifeless that we left them untouched after a teeny bite.





While Capt'n Hook was devouring his burger, I attacked the ABC (Air Batu Campur ) with Durian (RM3.95), a shaved ice concoction with jelly, red bean, sweet corn etc drizzled with syrup. As I dig in slowly by the sides instead of mixing everything up, I find something is not right about it. I asked Capt'n Hook to try some and he seems to agree with me. There's something sourish in there. As I try the elements one by one... ahhhh then I found the culprit - the durian puree!



The durian puree has turned bad definitely. I brought it to the counter and told the staff to stop serving the durian ABC as it has turn bad. The guy gave me this puzzled look and he took the bowl into the kitchen. From my seat, I saw the entire crew crowding around the bowl of ABC, not sure what went on there (I did not expect them to taste the durian puree since it's fasting month) but seriously there is no single word of apology right from the time I returned the bowl of ABC to the point we left. Again not being petty here, not only they did not apologise, there was no offer of replacement or anything like that. A simple word of 'sorry' would suffice and replacement to us is not necessary but could have been sweet.

Sighhhh, our country is seriously lacking in the service department just like our experience in The Cream & Fudge Factory. We can have the world class food but having a third class service ethics would certainly mar the experience no matter how great the food is! It's time for the service industry to buck up!


Darabif Burgers
Wisma Cosway
LOT G13, G14 & G16, Ground Floor, Wisma Cosway,
N0 88, Jalan Raja Chulan,
50200 Kuala Lumpur

Review: Ramen Ton Chan

**Non-Halal**




Does Ton Chan rang a bell to you?? Yes, there used to be one outlet over at The Curve but it has shut. I've been there but the food and service were both terrible. Not sure what went wrong over there when the fact that Ramen Ton Chan had stood strong over the years at Wisma Cosway just like it's sister restaurant, Tosaya.



Ton Chan is a simple no fuss restaurant. It's clean and well patronise by the Japanese community. Their specialty is ramen but of course they have other items as well. They made their own ramen using pure ingredients without any preservatives hence their ramen are bouncier, firmer and chewier. They have reasonable price set lunches and dinner. Lunch hours are usually packed with office workers around here.

On that evening we were there, there was this special set dinner which consisted of a bowl of braised pork ramen, assorted sashimi, a side salad, 2 slices of watermelon and a dessert of tutti fruiti ice-cream (no pics). This set was priced at RM25 but since I requested for fresh ramen, an extra RM1 was charged which is fine with me. The texture of the ramen even after soaking in the hot soup was springy right till the last bite! The braised pork which the waitress said "khau yuk" in Cantonese tasted blissful with the right amount of fatty layers (not too much) in between the lean. I drank up the soup till nothing was left in the bowl heh and did not have any after effect of msg, no thirst at all which is superb!



There is a 10% service charge imposed.


Ramen Ton Chan
Lot 1.18-1.21, 1st Floor
Wisma Cosway
Jalan Raja Chulan
Tel: 603-2148 9389
Opening hours: Mon - Sat 12.00pm - 2.30pm; 6.00pm - 10.00pm
Closed on Sunday and Public Holiday

Technorati Tags: japanese food

Review: Reunion Dinner at Hakka Restaurant

**Non-Halal**

Today's the fourth day of the lunar new year. I hope all is well with everyone... had a safe drive home, merry makings, happily feasting away etc...

I had this reunion dinner with Capt'n Hook's family at Hakka Restaurant. I didn't realised that they were established since 1956 as stated in the paper napkins even though I've been following them around in the city from the now Chuai Heng at Jalan Raja Chulan to the former bungalow that Yasmin Restoran (darn I so missed the Malay fare here) used to occupy at Jalan Kia Peng. Now their latest shift is back to Jalan Raja Chulan ermmm which is actually just a stone throw away from their Kia Peng place. You'll need to go in via Jalan Kia Peng and drive on pass Menara HLA, then when you see Borneo Baruk Club, you need to slow down and keep left. Hakka Restaurant entrance is right after the club. Parking is limited here so you either pay RM5 to the jockey or exit the restaurant and drive round to park at the carpark next to their old place.



Since the outstation brother-in-law and his family didn't manage to make it back this year, so it was only a small affair with 4 adults and my boiboi. It was full house that night and I see them turning away walk-in patrons. Luckily we made advanced reservation weeks back.

We started off with half a portion of Salmon Yue Sang (raw fish RM38).



Here's us tossing away for prosperity and good health...



I loved these Beancurd Skin Parcels with HK Choy Sum and Mushrooms (RM28). This is a vegetarian dish as the beancurd skin parcels contained mushrooms and gosh I can't really recall what's inside cos I was too tired to bother what I ate :p but the combination was great. The choy sum was young and crunchy.



Sweet and Sour Fish Fillet (RM21) was ordered for my boiboi. Lucky for this dish especially the sweetish and sourish ketchup sauce, my boiboi managed to have some food down his system. What I like is the thick slices of fish, at least can taste the freshness and flesh. The way it's done here is very old school as the dish is topped with cucumber and tomato strips that are pickled lightly in vinegar and some sugar, just like how my mom did with hers.



Next we have a very high rated Kampung Chicken in Rice Wine Soup (RM45). The soup is thick with loads of chopped ginger swimming inside devoid of black fungus, totally different from the version I usually cook. Capt'n Hook enjoyed the soup till the very last drop. Certainly warmed up our body as the temperature inside the air-con area is rather cold.

Right after this, our dish came to a halt, we waited for more than 20 minutes and still no sign of our Harm Darn Har (Prawns Coated with Salted Egg Yolks RM50). After countless reminder, the prawns finally arrived. This version is something new to us. The prawns were deep fried with some salted egg yolks encrusted on them but it's kinda dry and not creamy like those we normally have. Other than this, there were bits of yolks fried with red chili padi scattered all over. Thumbs down by everyone.



The last item we have was just a simple Lotus Paste Chinese Pancake (RM10) which also took ages to arrive. This is my fave dessert but Hakka's version is extremely oily and the pastry is soaked with oil. The combination of pastry and lotus paste is not even as well with too much paste. The pieces went limp when lifted up with our chopsticks. Should have sticked with their yummilicious Peanut Soup!



I know it's a Hakka restaurant but we did not order anything Hakka cos it's tough to finish their signature Fatt Choy Hoe Si (Pork Knuckles with Dried Oysters and Fatt Choy) or deep fried knuckle with so few of us. The other dishes that I liked are their Crispy Roast Chicken, Lap Mei Farn (Waxed Meat Rice) and their signature tofu dish.

Our bill came up to RM229.34 after adding in the rice, tea and towels plus 5% Government Tax and another 5% Service Charge.


Hakka Restaurant
No. 90 Jalan Raja Chulan
50200 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 603-2143 1907


BTW, this is a short plug... those flying MAS to destinations like China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan will enjoy special Chinese menu during this Chinese New Year period. Passengers will get to enjoy cuisines like pan fried silver cod served with soya sauce glace, yong chow fried rice with crab meat and diced scallops, stir-fried noodles with chicken and julienne vegetables, steamed red garoupa ‘yuh siang’ style, BBQ chicken pau and Chinese congee with shredded dried scallops, depending on the actual meal cycles applicable on each flight.


Technorati Tags: chinese food + malaysian food