Korean – Eris Goes To

Fiery Fried Chicken – Choo Choo Chicken, Bandar Puteri Puchong

September 26, 2022Posted in FoodTagged Choo Choo Chicken, dining, eating, Featured, food, food blog, food review, foodie, fried chicken, Korean, Korean food, Malaysia, PuchongLeave a comment

Dropping in with a quick ‘mini’ review!

Formerly located at another spot in Bandar Puteri Puchong, Choo Choo Chicken dishes out casual Korean fusion fare, centered around fried chicken, plus offerings such as rice bowls, rice burgers, army stew, and even pasta. The Hubs and I came here for dinner on a weekend some time ago, and spent a nice, quiet evening chatting and watching K-pop videos while burning our tongues over bowls of spicy ramyeon.

The restaurant’s signature is their Korean fried chicken, with 7 different flavours to choose from including soy, creamy garlic, spicy, sweet, and crispy. They’re also known for their Rose Chicken, which is essentially boneless fried chicken paired with cheesy, creamy soup in a bread bowl. Good for sharing, but since it was just the two of us, we opted for individual dishes instead.

Pro tip when eating greasy food: order something like lemonade or a fizzy drink to help cut through the greasiness! I liked the glass mugs they were served in.

If you like sweet and spicy flavours, then their Spicy Ramyeon is a good call. The Hubs and I both ordered this, and were soon breathing fire from our mouths. The chicken had a nice texture: very crispy on the outside, thanks to the double-fry technique, and moist and juicy on the inside. The noodles were also cooked al dente, with plenty of springiness. The dish was topped with a smattering of Korean seaweed. It’s one of those unhealthy things that you crave whenever you want something spicy and carb loaded lol.

Prices are range from RM15++ and are standard for an establishment of its kind. But because the resto is pretty quiet most of the time, I think it’s a good choice for when you want to hang out over drinks and food, without having to worry about vacating your seat.

CHOO CHOO CHICKEN (PUCHONG BRANCH)

G12, Jalan Puteri 2/6, Bandar Puteri, 47100 Puchong, Selangor

Open daily: 10.30AM – 10PM

Website

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Casual Korean Cuisine @ DubuYo Mini, Pavilion Bukit Jalil

March 20, 2022Posted in FoodTagged dining, DubuYo, eating, eats, Featured, food, food blog, foodie, Korean, Korean food, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Pavilion Bukit Jalil, ramyeon, restaurant review, SelangorLeave a comment

Hey, guys! So I’m all better from COVID (yay)! There’s still a bit of a cough and phlegm + brain fog, but everything seems fine otherwise. Hopefully there won’t be any long-term side effects manifesting down the road.

More importantly, my appetite’s back–and after a week of steamed/bland/tasteless food while in recovery, I’m ready for something stronger. The Hubs and I ended up at DubuYo Mini, a casual Korean restaurant at Pavilion Bukit Jalil which serves up staples like bulgogi, jigae (stew), ramyeon, and Korean fried chicken.

An offshoot of the popular halal Korean chain DubuYo, DubuYo Mini offers a smaller selection of the main chain’s signature items. It’s also not a full-service restaurant, so everything is self-service. You make your orders at the counter, then collect your food once your number is called via electronic display.

The space boasts a cool, urban vibe, featuring loud colours that pop, as well as neon signs.

The menu is not as extensive as DubuYo, but still offers a good selection.

20220317_130223 — Thirst quenchers: Ginger Tea and Aloe Vera Punch

My recovering body still wanted something soupy, so I got the Seafood Soondubu Jigae (Spicy tofu stew) with cheese. The set came with rice and banchan (side dishes); in this case, kimchi, long beans, and beansprouts. The rice was excellent–there was some sort of sesame oil mixed into it, so it was flavourful and good to be eaten on its own. The jigae delivered a real kick plus the strong flavours that my tongue had been craving for over a week lol. It was spicy but comforting, and had a generous amount of seafood and tofu–solid bowl of jigae!

Hub’s Spicy Seafood Ramyeon also came in generous portions, and was served with banchan. He regretted the order a little because the soup was fiery. But the flavours were good; the soup was sour and slightly sweet. Ramyeon had a nice bouncy bite to it too.

All in all, a satisfying post-recovery meal!

PS: Front counter service is friendly.

DUBUYO MINI

Lot 1.10.00, Level 1, Pavilion Bukit Jalil, No. 2, Persiaran Jalil 8, Bandar Bukit Jalil 57000 Kuala Lumpur.

Opening hours: 10AM-10PM

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Korean Cheese Corn Dogs @ Kaiju Crunch, Lotus Extra Bukit Puchong

October 26, 2021Posted in FoodTagged corn dog, dining, eating, eats, Featured, food, food blog, food photography, food review, Korean, Korean food, Malaysia, Puchong, snacks, street foodLeave a comment

The Korean Wave, which started in the 2000s, has only grown stronger over the last two decades – thanks to cultural exports such as BTS and dramas like Crash Landing on You and more recently, Squid Game. Korean food has also become increasingly popular, with Korean fried chicken joints and BBQ restaurants opening up every other week.

One recent trend is the cheese corn dog, a hot street food item in South Korea. What makes it different from the American corn dog is the batter (the Korean version uses rice flour or yeasted dough rather than cornmeal), and although they both feature hot dog centres, Korean corn dogs typically include cheese and other ingredients such as fish cakes or rice cakes.

I get my K-corn dog fix from Kaiju Crunch, which opened not too long ago at Lotus Bukit Puchong. The name can be a bit of a misnomer, since Kaiju is a Japanese term for the giant monster genre (the brand mascot is also a Godzilla-looking monster), but I’d like to think it’s all in good fun. You can choose to have your corn dogs in the outlet, but seating is rather limited.

Took this pic some time ago, so the pandemic was still quite serious then – so I thought it was a nice gesture of them to have this ‘food bank’ for the needy.

KaijuCrunch offers eight flavours. Some of them have the same filling, but with different coatings. Their signatures are the Kaiju Sausage(RM8.70), which is the basic hotdog with batter, and the Original MozaSausage(RM9.80), which consists of hotdog + mozarella cheese with batter.

You can request for different sauces to go with your corn dog, including cheese, mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup or chilli sauce.

I mean, what can I say? Solid corndog. You get melty, stretchy Mozzarella cheese and hot dog on the inside, and a nice crispy batter on the outside. Best eaten hot, but if you must take away, you can pop it into the microwave and voila!

Another one I tried was the Ramyeon MozaSausage (RM10.90). The filling’s the same, but the fried noodle coating adds an extra layer of crunch.

Other items you can order include the Cornflake MozaSausage and Korean Spicy MozaSausage. If you like sweeter stuff, opt for the Honey Almond Cornflakes, or Mozacocoreo.

KaijuCrunch offers a small selection of drinks as well. I like their Choco Crumble Milk. It’s pretty sweet because of the honeycomb candy, but I like it that way. Else, go for drinks like the Strawberry Fizzy with Popping Boba, Lychee Fizzy or Korean Melon Milk for a more refreshing taste.

Gotta get that cheese stretch!

KaijuCrunch has another outlet in Batu Caves.

KAIJU CRUNCH

Lot G28. No. 1, 1, Jalan BP 7, Bandar Bukit Puchong 2, 47120 Puchong, Selangor

Opening hours: 10AM – 9.30PM

Review: Ticket To Korea, Setiawalk Puchong

April 12, 2021April 14, 2021Posted in FoodTagged Asian cuisine, Asian food, dining, eats, Featured, food blog, food blogger, food photography, food review, Korean, Korean food, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Puchong, restaurant review, Ticket to KoreaLeave a comment

Setiawalk Puchong has seen better days. Once the hottest hangout spot in Puchong, the place has been on a decline, especially in the last few years. There aren’t many restaurants left, but one that has been around since the mall’s inception is Ticket to Korea. Despite having been to Setiawalk many times, I have never thought to try them out — so a recent lunch date with my friend H was as good a time as any.

The restaurant’s interior is brightly lit by natural sunlight and the space feels cosy and welcoming. A young couple whom I assume to be the owners greeted us enthusiastically, and we were quickly given menus. Aside from authentic Korean fare the likes of bulgogi and pajeon (pancake), diners will also find popular fusion dishes like Korean-style pork ribs with cheese, hot plate cheesy corn, and kimchi quesadilla.

H ordered a bibimbap bowl, which came in a huge portion — I think it was good enough for two small eaters. It was beautifully presented, with generous heapings of vegetables, grilled pork belly, shredded cucumber, carrots and seaweed, topped off with a fried egg. It was delicious; the sweet and savoury sauce brought everything together really well.

Despite the sweltering heat outside, I went for the Kimchi Ramen (because I’m masochist that way lol).

The bowl looked fiery red when it came to the table; there were soft slices of tofu swimming within, and the soup’s colour contrasted nicely with the enoki mushrooms and spring onion garnish on top. The soup was the bomb. Some places cut corners and add more kimchi paste, which means you get watery, ‘flavoured’ soup — but with this, I could really taste the texture of fibrous, blended vegetables, and there was a good amount of kimchi within as well. It was thick and sour, perfect for whetting the appetite, and the slight viscosity meant that the soup clung to each strand of ramyeon for maximum flavour. Did I also mention that the pork slices were super tender and had a great ratio of lean and fat?

The owners kept popping by to our table to check if I was okay with the heat. The soup was rather spicy, but hey — what’s pleasure without a bit of pain? *wink wink

20210407_130253 — To wash everything down, a cold glass of coffee with condensed milk.

We had a nice surprise at the end, compliments of the house — ice cream, served on a cold stone plate. They were drizzled over with what tasted like honey, and cookie shavings. Definitely a sweet end to a satisfying meal.

There are lots of good things to say about our dining experience here: the service was impeccable, the dishes that we tried tasted excellent, and prices were not too steep (our meal for two came up to about RM60). I wouldn’t mind a return visit !

PS: They have another branch at Tropicana Avenue, PJ.

TICKET TO KOREA

C-8-1, Block C, Setiawalk, Persiaran Wawasan, Jalan Wawasan 1/1, Taman Wawasan, 47160 Puchong, Selangor

Opening hours: 12PM – 11PM (daily)

facebook.com/tickettokoreafinedining

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Meal for One: Gangnam 88 @ Setiawalk Puchong

December 26, 2020December 26, 2020Posted in FoodTagged dining, eats, Featured, food blog, foodie, Korean, Korean food, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Puchong, restaurant reviewLeave a comment

I can’t believe it has been three years since I last dined at Gangnam 88 at Setiawalk Puchong – I’m surprised the place is still surviving. It has nothing to do with their food, which is pretty decent – it’s just that Setiawalk is so dead these days, you’ll be hard-pressed to find restaurants that are still open. A far cry from its glory days when the place was thriving with restos and bars.

The decor and menu has not changed much since my last visit: it still looks bright, cheerful and warm, with lots of Korean-themed decor adorning the walls, and the customary K-pop videos playing on TV.

Most of the items they serve are meant for sharing, like the BBQ platters, Korean fried chicken, stews and such. For lunch, they have individual rice and noodle dishes, as well as lunch sets which come with refillable banchan (sides).

I had the Ramyeon with Cheese (RM16), which was served with the usual sides like pickled vegetables, kimchi, fishcakes and tofu. Ramyeon was a tad overcooked so the noodles were too soft, and the soup was too diluted, so it was a quite disappointing. Still, if you’re in the area and looking for Korean food, this is one of the only ones around aside from Ticket to Korea, and I think that they do serve some pretty decent BBQ.

GANGNAM 88 (PUCHONG)

I-2-G, Setiawalk, Persiaran Wawasan,, Pusat Bandar Puchong, 47160 Puchong, Selangor Darul Ehsan

Opening hours: 11AM – 12AM (daily)

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Review: Wing Wing @ Pavilion KL – Korean Fried Chicken From The UK

August 18, 2019February 19, 2021Posted in FoodTagged chicken wings, dining, eating, Featured, food, food blog, food photography, food review, foodie, fried chicken, fried chicken wings, Korean, Korean food, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Pavilion KL, places to eatLeave a comment

Update: This restaurant is permanently closed.

There’s a new Korean fried chicken joint in town – and it’s now my new favourite place for fried chicken! Hailing from the UK, Wing Wing enters the arena with an outlet in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, dishing out fresh, juicy fried chicken with some pretty interesting flavours.

Already a cult favourite in its homeland, Wing Wing is a fusion of edgy London street culture, the pop of Asian spice and the European passion for pure quality ingredients. The outlet on Pavilion KL’s sixth floor is bright and cheerful, with funky colours, patterns and decor geared towards youth.

There are currently three flavours available on the menu – the conventional soy garlic, spicy and something rather unusual – liquorice. Licquorice is an ancient Mediterranean herb used in food and medicine for thousands of years. You might have seen it in the form of candy in the UK, where it is quite popular. You can opt to order the standard wings and drummettes (set of six, 12 or 18), or drumsticks (3, 6 or 9 pieces). Each set can be upgraded to include fries and bottomless drink.

Now I’ve had my fair share of Korean fried chicken, and different places do it differently. Wing Wing’s appeal lies in the chicken’s freshness, as the meat is delivered to the outlet each morning, then marinated, battered and hand-brushed with premium ingredients ie French flour and natural spices, before they are deep fried to order. The hand brushing technique creates a thin layer of coating over the basic marination, so you get a thin, crackly and almost transparent crust that envelops the juicy meat within. While all the flavours are great, I personally like the licquorice because it has this great, herbal-like flavour with a sweet aftertaste. The spicy will satisfy spice lovers as it packs quite a punch.

If you prefer something healthier (ahem), opt for the salad which comes with generous chunks of boneless chicken meat on a bed of lettuce and dressing.

For a hearty bite to-go, Wing Wing also offers chicken wraps – a tortilla stuffed full with fried chicken strips and vegetables.

Another one of their signature items is the Chicken Katsu Bao – an interesting fusion of Asian flavours. There’s the lightly fried Chinese mantao bun, paired with tender crispy chicken within and a hefty dollop of kimchi slaw. The flavours are well balanced, with the slight sweetness/savoury flavour of the chicken + the tangy, sourness/creaminess of the kimchi slaw.

Got a sweet tooth? Fret not – Wing Wing offers a couple of dessert items as well, such as the Hot Bao Nuts (stuffed with ingredients such as Banana Caramel; Pineapple, etc.) and ice cream sundaes.

Prices for the chicken items start from RM15.90 onwards.

WING WING MALAYSIA

Lot 6.01.01, Level 6, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Phone: 03-21103525

Business hours: 10AM – 10PM (daily)

*Photos not watermarked courtesy of Wing Wing Malaysia/Suppagood PR

Review: Two Pesos Hotpot @ Bandar Puchong Jaya, Puchong

June 23, 2019Posted in FoodTagged Army Stew, Asian cuisine, Asian food, dining, eating, Featured, food, food photography, food review, hotpot, Korean, Korean food, Malaysia, Malaysian food, Puchong, restaurant review, steamboat, Taiwanese food, Two Pesos3 Comments

It was a scorching hot day but that didn’t stop C and I from having hotpot for lunch at Two Pesos, a hotpot specialist restaurant in Bandar Puchong Jaya, Puchong. While the brand was founded by a Taiwanese couple, the story goes that they met and got married in Boracay, hence the resto’s Filipino-sounding name.

The resto’s interior is cheerful and decked out in bright orange, with a fuss-free design that resembles a canteen. The interior was air conditioned, so we could enjoy our food in comfort.

While most hotpot restos adopt an ‘all-you-can-eat’ concept, orders at Two Pesos are by set – which is good in a way because you won’t over-indulge. Their signature is the milky seafood pot, and they also offer hotpot/BBQ sets where the meat is grilled over a stone plate, which gives you that beautiful sear and flavour. There are plenty of different sets to choose from, such as Japanese Sukiyaki, Hua Diao Chicken, Basu Spicy Pot, Mongolian Herbs Pot, Supreme Tajine Seafood Hotpot, and more.

Felt like something salty and sour, so we went for the Korean Army Stew (Budae Jjigae) instead. For those not familiar with this dish, it’s a relatively ‘new’ invention created after the Korean war, when food was scarce and people used any surplus food they could get from US army bases, chucking them together to make a stew. Primary ingredients include ham, sausages and spam, mixed with Korean ingredients such as kimchi and gochujang (bean paste).

The version at Two Pesos had sausages and the usual hotpot items such as crab meat sticks, fish balls, tofu, beancurd sheets, enoki mushrooms, corn and vegetables like cabbage and carrots. Of course, you can’t run away from the kimchi and gochujang mix, which gives the soup it’s intense red colouring and spicy, sour taste, as well as chewy teokbokki (rice cakes). It was also topped with a block of instant noodles.

The set came with a choice of meat – either pork, Australian beef or fish. We went for the pork slices which were just the right thickness and fresh. Only had to cook it for awhile in the bubbling soup to achieve the perfect tenderness. Also included was a choice of carb – ie rice, instant noodles or yee mee (fried dried noodles).

Overall the flavour was pretty good, although I still prefer the one from Gangnam 88. For RM20.90 per set, the price was reasonable but I wished they had more ingredients instead of just a few pieces of fishballs/crabsticks, and less cabbage.

Ordered boneless fried chicken as a side. Again, portion was not very large and it costs RM8.90 – but the flavour was good with a crunchy exterior and moist insides.

TWO PESOS

16, Jalan Kenari 8, Bandar Puchong Jaya, 47100 Puchong, Selangor

Opening hours: 12PM – 11PM (Daily)

2pesos.com.my

Review – Ki:m Fresh Korean Seaweed @ 3 Damansara (Formerly Tropicana City Mall)

December 4, 2018February 1, 2021Posted in FoodTagged dining, eating, Featured, food photography, food review, Korean, Korean food, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Petaling Jaya, restaurant review, tropicana City Mall2 Comments

You know you haven’t been to a mall for the longest time when you return and find that they don’t even call it by the old name anymore lol.

I used to go to Tropicana City Mall fairly often, because it was close to my old work place. Haven’t been back since I left the company. They call it 3 Damansara now. Most of the old tenants are still there, like Kim Fresh Korean Seaweed, a kiosk on the Lower Ground Floor that sells Korean food and snacks.

C, Kel and I were here for an event and we stopped by for a late lunch. The place is a simple open space with limited seating, a small kitchen, and a front counter selling roasted seaweed.

We ordered several dishes to share. Our appetiser consisted of kimbap (or gimbap) – rice rolls wrapped in seaweed, stuffed with various ingredients such as pickles, egg, vegetables and ham, and sliced into bite-sized pieces. It is quite similar to the Japanese sushi roll. The gimbap was a tasty starter, and the accompanying kimchi banchan (side dish) gave it a sour/spicy kick.

Spicy ramyeon was extremely spicy. Topped with a fried egg and roasted seaweed, the fiery sauce coated each strand of al dente noodle, and the seasoning was flavourful, but it had us gulping down cups of water. It’s the type of heat that doesn’t feel that hot at first, but eventually has you crying and your sinuses running. If you can’t handle the heat, it’s best to go for the non-spicy option.

My favourite was the boneless sweet and sour Korean fried chicken. Apart from not having to deal with bones, the chicken was also fresh – moist on the inside, crunchy and sticky sweet on the outside. Highly addictive! I suggest getting it with rice so you don’t feel overwhelmed by the strong flavour. I can see myself coming back here just to have this.

Also bought seaweed, which came in a pack of four large sheets (RM4.50). The seaweed is lightly salted and roasted with sesame for extra fragrance and flavour.

K:IM FRESH KOREAN SEAWEED

LG, K12, 3 Damansara, 3, Jalan SS 20/27, Damansara Intan, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor