It was the night after my actual birth date that my girlfriend, Farah, who just touched down in Kuala Lumpur International Airport in the beginning of March 2013 after approximately five months of being in Amsterdam, finally made it to meet me again at Berjaya Times Square. It was a simple yet meaningful dinner for my 21st birthday, with two of the most important humans in my life other than my family. Knowing that she craved badly for Korean food ever since she came back, the date was decided to be held at Dubu Dubu SEOUL Food.Oftentimes, I would look at the price before I place an order, especially when I dine in at places normally meant for special occasions. The night was rather different than usual. I picked Iced Citron Tea that cost me freaking RM6.90 although I was very clear that I could make one of my own at home. If by any chance I could return to the place again one day, I would love to try out their Citron Dubu and Dubu Dubu Bingsu because desserts made with Korean tofu seem unique.Iced Peach Tea at RM6.90? Their peach must be planted in somewhere special. Don and Farah claimed that it was good though.At Dubu Dubu SEOUL Food, they serve toppokki, the Korean rice cakes, with a choice of spicy sauce or cheese. Typically, I would prefer the latter one because you could hardly find Cheese Toppokki being served at all Korean restaurants in Malaysia. Still, we ended up getting ourselves a plate of Spicy Toppokki to share instead, and I would leave the Cheese Toppokki for my next visit.Don has always loved Korean marinated beef for the special sauce they commonly use. Thus, he had his Honey Garlic Bulgogi Beef Set, which the meat was grilled and infused with their Dubu Dubu honey garlic sauce, served together with a bowl of black rice and three side dishes, at RM20.90. You may always opt for chicken depending on your preference, and that's part of my plan!Farah and I coincidently chose Soondubu Jigae Set with Chicken as our meal of the night, which it was literally a mixture of chicken and silky smooth tofu cooked in hearty broth to extract its wholesome flavors, served piping hot and steaming with fabulous aromas. Similarly, it came with a bowl of black rice and three side dishes. At RM15.90 per set, I thought it's still within the acceptable range.

Before any misunderstanding is arose, all the prices stated above are subject to 10% service charge and government service tax. Meh!

My overall dining experience with Dubu Dubu SEOUL Food was really good, except that the staffs should be more attentive to the guests and well-trained. It's quite ridiculous when the staff walked away right after we asked for bill, instead of informing us about what we should do, merely because we had to pay at the counter. Nonetheless, I will be sure to return to any outlets of Dubu Dubu SEOUL Food again for more interesting delicacies. Wait for me!

My Blog: http://jcheerios.blogspot.com/2013/04/double-date-at-dubu-dubu-seoul-food.html

Based on my personal observation, part of the non-vegetarian Malaysian Chinese who believe in Buddhism (and perhaps Taoism, if I'm not mistaken) tend to practice abstinence from meat on the first and the fifteenth day of each lunar month. I admit that I, as a Buddhist who rarely practices what they normally do, have almost zero knowledge about the actual reason. Instead, I go for vegetarian meals whenever I wish to consume lesser meats, save cost in a way, or put myself on a vegetable diet once in a while. Apart from Fuguang Vegetarian Fast Food Restaurant that serves mixed rice at RM2, San Sann Vegetarian Restaurant in Kuchai Lama is now another favorite vegetarian place of mine.

I can't possibly provide you with an introduction about San Sann Vegetarian Restaurant, but the food selection is huge with good quality, from vegetarian mixed rice, to the typical Chinese single serving rice that will only be served at night (I'm not sure if they do in the afternoon, but they don't serve any of them in the morning) or noodles, to Nasi Lemak and Roti Canai. Believe it or not; this is probably the only vegetarian restaurant that I would be more than willing to come seven times a week, I swear.According to Don, the one who introduced this restaurant to me, some of the drinks served can be too sweet or tasteless from time to time, especially tea, coffee, and anything of such. Therefore, we often share a cup of Soya Bean without ice, and get a pack of Iced Coffee at another restaurant after meal.Assam Fish with Rice has always been one of Don's favorite dishes. Vegetarian fish fried together with okra, pineapples and tomatoes in Assam paste, it can sometimes be perfectly fine for a person who has a lower limit for spiciness like me, or overly hot and spicy. Nevertheless, our love for Assam Fish with Rice at San Sann Vegetarian Restaurant will never end, and the spicy food lovers should never miss this indeed.To every vegetarian restaurant I go, I must try their Fried Oyster Mushrooms with Special Sweet and Sour Sauce for my crazy love towards oyster mushrooms. The one served at San Sann Vegetarian Restaurant, however, was slightly too sweet for my liking, which is why I decided not to order this over here ever since.

Besides, I would like to recommend their Vegetarian Nasi Lemak with finger licking good chicken, and extremely spicy sambal, a type of chili-based sauce popular in many of the Southeast Asian countries. Just a few days ago, when Don and I were at the restaurant, he mentioned that if it was my future mother-in-law who brought me here, she would highly recommend me their very own Roti Salad, which I'm still yet to try it out. It will happen soon, I guess!

My Blog: http://jcheerios.blogspot.com/2013/04/vegetarian-lunch-at-san-sann-vegetarian.html

Braving the sweltering heat in an afternoon, Don and I grabbed the opportunity to finally travel all the way to Kota Damansara for a cup of Ipoh White Coffee. It was my idea to bring him for a good shot, after having been there with my mum and eldest brother for not more than five times.

Although my mum claims it to be similar to Kedai Kopi Sin Yoon Loong in Ipoh, I am not sure about the fact. No details of it could be found on the internet, or in the restaurant itself, including its business hours. Nevertheless, it is best to go for breakfast as they usually end their businesses in the early afternoon.Their Iced Ipoh White Coffee may not be as thick as what Kedai Kopi Sin Yoon Loong has to offer, but it's definitely smooth and just fine to quench our thirst in the hot weather. Almost instantly, I felt as if the time tunnel had brought us back to our great moments in Ipoh.Since it was a lighter lunch for me, I ordered Crispy Popiah to share with my hungry man. Wrapped with a piece of soft, thin crepe, the Crispy Popiah was filled with different ingredients that I couldn't recognize any, with turnips acting as an important character in providing us with juicy texture of it. It is always best to be eaten entirely at one go!

By the way, the stall offers Seaweed Popiah as well.Don had a bowl of Noodles with Dry Chicken Curry. The noodles were literally soaked in curry with thick gravy. It was a little too spicy for my liking, but I am sure it would be almost or beyond perfect for any spicy food lovers. I guess it would be great to bring my dad for my next visit to SYL Ipoh White Coffee Restaurant, so as to introduce such delicacy to him.It's known as SYL Ipoh White Coffee Restaurant for a reason! If Egg Toast is popular in Kedai Kopi Sin Yoon Loong, the one served at SYL Ipoh White Coffee Restaurant should never be missed. Poke the egg yolk with a fork, watch it flow on the toast, cut the toast into smaller pieces and eat it aggressively; are you drooling now?

I wouldn't say if SYL Ipoh White Coffee Restaurant could beat Kedai Kopi Sin Yoon Loong or vice versa. If you are hoping to try out Ipoh White Coffee, yet you have no ample time to travel hours away from home for a cup of it, then beyond doubt, SYL Ipoh White Coffee Restaurant would be the perfect place for your craving. Remember that it is best to visit this restaurant before noon!

My Blog: http://jcheerios.blogspot.com/2013/04/light-lunch-at-syl-ipoh-white-coffee.html

Don and I were hunting for a place for steamboat on that very night when we decided to stick to our previously ruined original plan to visit Onepot in Kepong, where it's known for its paper grill steamboat, only to realize that it no longer exists. Therefore, we searched for Ssikkek Korean Grill BBQ Buffet to give it a try, and tadaaa, we got ourselves settled and ready for the amount of meats.

Started its operation by a Korean on 14th of July 2012, the name of the restaurant, Ssikkek Korean Grill BBQ Buffet, has stated the obvious. It is an air-conditioned barbecue buffet restaurant with casual atmosphere, serving some of which could be found in any other Korean barbecue restaurants of a certain level, such as Daorae Korean BBQ Restaurant. If you were to question about the price difference between lunch and dinner, it is related to the food selection available.

During lunch time, they only serve Sesame Beef, Soya Beef, Soya Chicken, Spicy Chicken, Soya Pork, Spicy Pork, Korean Pancake, Korean Glass Noodles, Kimchi (lettuce), Kimchi (radish), Kimchi (cucumber), Fish Cake, Crab Stick, Chicken Sausage, drinks, and desserts. Whereas during dinner time, they serve everything they have to offer during lunch time, and Wine Pork Belly, Pork Belly, Pork Shoulder, Pork Ribs, Beef Ribs, Seafood (prawns, clams, squids, octopuses), Rice Cake with Spicy Sauce, and Korean Sushi.

What is a Korean restaurant without their typical Korean alcoholic beverages? Definitely, they have Soju at RM16 per bottle, Makgeoli (contains 7% alcohol) at RM16 per bottle, Hite Beer at RM10 per can, and soft drinks at RM3.50 per can. With the prices stated, an additional amount should be paid if you order any of these. Unfortunately, they do not offer Shik Hae, a traditional Korean sweet rice drink.We were greeted with a smile by a waitress before entering the restaurant. As soon as Don and I were seated, the staffs immediately prepared all the necessary materials, including a non-stick grill pan, cooking tongs, scissors for the meats, dishes, and utensils. Here at Ssikkek Korean Grill BBQ Buffet, oil is never needed, because the pork could easily provide you with more than enough oil. Seeing that we did not know how to start off, the waitress approached us and voluntarily cooked for us a piece of Pork Belly as a demonstration. When we attempted to cook some Spicy Pork and Soya Chicken, the boss snatched away my cooking tong and showed us the correct way to cook them. Being violent is the key!Cooked and uncooked foods were both served during our visit, and they are served every single day and night. Unfortunately, although it was merely a few minutes past 8pm, the Korean Rice Cake was left with merely two pieces and a small piece of Korean Fish Cake. I guess they were mostly taken by the working adults who came earlier than us. Darn!

By the way, most of the cooked foods were cold. I didn't mind that. I believe some of you do not mind consuming cold food. Still, I think it is my responsibility to warn you in advance, as I review the restaurant.

Don loved the Marinated Beef Ribs so much that he could not stop getting more of them until his stomach was bloated. According to him (I don't eat beef, for your information), he overcooked the Sesame Beef and Soya Beef so he didn't quite like them. Ahah!

I felt exactly like a chef as I grilled my Pork Belly and fried the meat. Surprisingly, they were all perfectly done! I loved how tender and juicy the outcomes were, but the amount of fat was also directly proportional to them.Just like what we do when we dine in at a Korean barbecue restaurant, once the meat is grilled, wrap it with a piece of lettuce, add some spicy sauce and sesame oil, and stuff it into your big mouth. We did. It was heavenly great. Yuuummmmmmm!

The food selection may seem to be limited; in my personal opinion, it is very affordable if you are a meat eater for the tagline "EAT ALL YOU CAN". It would be a heaven to you. Definitely, it could be a waste if you aren't. When I looked through the bill, I was pretty surprised by the fact that no tax was charged at all. It is worth a try, I would say!

Nevertheless, I guess I would visit only once every few months. I felt sinful. :|

Price per Adult: RM 19.90 nett (lunch), RM 39.90 nett (dinner)
Price per Child: RM 14.90 nett (lunch), RM 24.90 nett (dinner)

My Blog: http://jcheerios.blogspot.com/2013/03/dinner-at-ssikkek-korean-grill-bbq.html

As the title suggests, I was one of the lucky ones who got invited by OpenRice Malaysia for an exclusive free food tasting session, namely MakanVenture, on the 20th of March at Chang Rai Thai Food Restaurant, Cheras. We, including the other OpenRicers (members of OpenRice), were given a great opportunity to savor some of their signature dishes, and try some new Thai dishes that are yet to be included in the menu.

Anyway, brace yourself, delicious Thai delicacies are coming!

P/S: The comments given below are wholly based on originality, and they are of my personal opinions, and Don's.Thai Papaya Salad was the first dish served approximately 10 minutes before the clock struck eight. It's probably the first ever Thai salad that I thought was deliciously yummy, with peanuts that I didn't quite prefer, despite almost being killed by its spiciness. The papayas used were indeed crispy, yet my tongue was burning right after a mouthful of it. Eventually, I gave up and let Don finish it for me instead.Thai Style Fish Maw in Claypot was the second dish of the night. I never had fish maws for my dislike for them since forever, even though it's one of the most important dishes served every Chinese New Year, but I'm sure I enjoyed the other seafood available in the clay pot. Everything was cooked to perfection, fresh, huge, and juicy!You can't call it a Thai cuisine without green curry and tom yam. We had Thai Style Green Curry Chicken in Claypot and Thai Seafood Tom Yam Soup, served in two huge clay pots, and they pretty much occupied our table before more delicacies were brought from the kitchen. They may seem to be very spicy, but photos can be deceiving.

Thai Style Green Curry Chicken was one of my favorite dishes of the night. Every part of the chicken that came together with the green curry was so soft and tender. By the look of it, I knew it was good in such a way before I ate it. Most importantly, it came with eggplants! Chicken, eggplants, and curry always make the most perfect combination. Yum!

On the other hand, Don and I merely had a teeny-weeny bit of Thai Seafood Tom Yam Soup that came with generous amount of abalone mushrooms, prawns, and some other seafood. I couldn't quite remember anything about this particular dish, but Don, the picky guy, immediately nodded his head when I asked if it's recommendable.Among the 20 OpenRicers who joined the event, Don was the only one who had two bowls of rice because of their Thai Style Prawn with Cream. The prawns were huge enough to satisfy a prawn lover like me. I'm glad that peeling off the shells was not difficult for me, as well as Don who is always too lazy to take that job.This was probably the one and the only dish Don and I couldn't really comment on. I could barely tell that the fried ring was made of minced fishes and prawns, when it's more than what I had tasted. Don had the Otak-otak or some sort of pancake, but he could no longer recall anything about it.Apparently, Chang Rai Thai Food Restaurant is known for its Steamed Fish with Lemon. Don didn't quite like the fact that it's cooked together with bird's eye chilies. He thought it could have been perfect without them. Personally, however, I thought it's worth the popularity due to its special spicy and sour taste. According to the boss, you may always opt for the other fish types depending on your preference.

P/S: Unfortunately, only 8 photos are allowed to be uploaded per review. Therefore, some of the remaining dishes will be explained in purely words.

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Most Malaysian Chinese can't have a meal without vegetables, I suppose, or are they the healthier Malaysian Chinese? Fried Kangkung appeared to be ordinary, with some bird's eye chilies to make it more flavorful. I don't usually prefer to have Fried Kai Lan. Surprisingly, the one served at Chang Rai Thai Food Restaurant tempted me that night with crispy stems.

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No, it's not the end yet. Honestly, Thai Style Chicken Feet Salad and BBQ Pork Neck were rather fresh to me. Prior to joining this MakanVenture, I didn't know that chicken feet could be served cold, and how pork neck would look like. Don even thought that pork neck was some kind of pork internal.

Seemingly, you have to be a professional foodie in order to enjoy and judge a plate of Thai Style Chicken Feet Salad. It's said by one of the experienced OpenRicers that the preparation of a dish like this is never easy and requires skills, although the result may not be expensive. As for BBQ Pork Neck, the name literally tells you everything about the dish. Still, you need to, and you must give it a try to fully understand how being in the heaven is like. Mind you, it's heavenly, wonderfully, and finger-licking good!

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As usual, Thai Mango Salad came with sour, young sliced mangoes. I can never stand sourness! I couldn't help myself but to wrinkle up my face, and I refused to take in any mouthful of it ever since. Nevertheless, if you are entirely fine with sour dishes, this may be yet another recommendable plate of Thai Mango Salad. For your information, Don preferred Thai Mango Salad to Thai Papaya Salad.Last but not least, it was the Glass Noodle Crab in Claypot! The crab was huge and juicy, with most of its remaining sauce being absorbed by the glass noodles. It could have been really perfect if the coriander leaves, known as the smelly vegetables by me and Don, weren't mixed together with everything in the clay pot.

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Before the closing ceremony was held, we had their very own dessert made of coconuts and sweet corns. I thought it's a must to be ordered as and when you drop by Chang Rai Thai Food Restaurant. Its taste was special, with a mixture of saltiness and sweetness, notwithstanding its unappetizing look from the photo taken.

As the event came to an end, the boss, or the mastermind behind Chang Rai Thai Food Restaurant, was finally invited for a brief introduction about the restaurant. Don and I agreed that her smile captured in the photo was indeed beautiful. Noticeably, the dishes mentioned above aren't the only ones available at Chang Rai Thai Food Restaurant. You may always ask for extra recommendations from the boss should you drop by at the restaurant, because they have more than what we were offered that night.

My Blog: http://jcheerios.blogspot.com/2013/03/dinner-with-openricers-at-chang-rai.html

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