Puchong – 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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A Dragon Hotpot / Ann Cafe @ Bandar Puteri Puchong

September 6, 2022Posted in FoodTagged A Dragon Hotpot, Asian cuisine, Asian food, Chinese food, dining, eating, Featured, food, hotpot, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, pork, Puchong, restaurant reviewLeave a comment

What’s the best food to eat on a cold, windy evening?

If you answered hotpot, then great minds think alike! Nothing beats the warmth of a rich hearty soup, brought to a boil with slices of meat, vegetables, seafood, and other goodies within.

The Hubs and I thought it was the perfect time to try A Dragon Hotpot, a spot we pass by often while getting drive-through from the nearby McDonald’s.

The restaurant is located in a building on its own, complete with a patio where you can dine outdoors. It also shares a space with Ann Cafe, which serves drinks and desserts.

The interior is spacious, with peach pink walls, faux marble table tops and gaudy golden chairs. To the right is a bar counter where they serve drinks, and a fridge filled with alcoholic beverages + bottled Chinese teas.

Most hotpots I’ve been to offer buffet options or set menus. A Dragon Hotpot brings you the best of both worlds.

You get a bucket that you can fill with the items that you like. You can then bring it to the counter, and they’ll charge you by weight. I quite like this idea! With set menus, there are often ingredients that I don’t like (*vegetables* cough), while buffets encourage me to eat more than I should because I want to get my money’s worth – so this combined concept is just perfect.

Granted, there are some cons to the system. If you pick the processed stuff like meatballs, they tend to be quite heavy despite being cheap in price/value.

A Dragon Hotpot offers a good selection of the usual hotpot items: hotdogs, cocktail sausages, hams, tofu, fishballs, fresh vegetables, as well as mushrooms, seafood, and pork slices. If you prefer lamb or beef, they have pre-packed ones in the fridge that come at a standard price.

For carb lovers, you can choose from a variety of different noodles. These are not counted towards the weight of your food.

Once you’re done selecting your ingredients and weighing them, let the staff know what soup base you prefer. There were three available during our visit: mala (their signature; a very spicy soup filled with chillies, popular in the Szechuan region of China), tom yum, and pork bone broth.

We decided on the latter. It was served in a garish-looking pot which sported a dragon head on each end.

And here’s what we picked! Like a couple of kids, we left the greens out of our plates. 😛

The pork slices here are cut quite thickly, so they take a bit longer to cook. But it also gives you a more satisfying bite of meat. There are dipping sauces available at the counter, including favourites like soy sauce with garlic and chilli sauce.

The processed items tasted pretty standard. I like to get cheese tofu, which has a springy, bouncy texture embedded with creamy bits within. I also enjoy the bursting pork balls, which contain a savoury soup within. That aside, the pork slices were fresh and thick, but the Hubs didn’t enjoy it as much as he said the odour of pork was pretty strong.

The winner for both of us, though, was the soup. It was rich and hearty, and I was smacking my lips from the collagen, which left a slightly sticky residue.

Our meal for two came up to about RM60+. I wouldn’t call it super value for money, but our bellies were filled, the food was tasty, and it was still cheaper than a buffet, without the wastage. Didn’t manage to try any drinks from Ann Cafe, but I think this place warrants another visit.

A DRAGON HOTPOT

12-G, Jln Puteri 7/13A, Bandar Puteri, 47100 Puchong, Selangor

Phone: 03-8066 5839

Open daily 11.30AM – 12AM. Non-halal

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Bistro Monologue, Bandar Bukit Puchong

August 7, 2022Posted in FoodTagged cafe, eats, Featured, food, food review, fusion cuisine, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, pork, Puchong, restaurant review, Western foodLeave a comment

In Puchong, you’ll find most of the hip cafes clustered within the commercial areas of Bandar Puteri Puchong and Puchong Jaya. So I was surprised when I came across Bistro Monologue in Bandar Bukit Puchong, surrounded by car workshops, kopitiams, hardware stores, delivery centres, and the like. This unassuming spot has apparently been around for some time now, specializing in fusion (Asian and Western) cuisine.

20220729_142344 — Bistro Monologue is sandwiched between a COWAY service centre and an office/warehouse selling straps. They had the door propped open during our visit because the air conditioning was down.

The interior looks classy and cozy, with lots of wood and warm, ambient lighting. Tasteful art pieces adorn one side of the wall, and there is a small stage area at the back for weekend performances. It wasn’t too busy during our visit, and we were attended to quickly.

20220729_134852 — You can come here for tea time as they offer a good selection of cakes and desserts. A selection of cakes and desserts.

The menu is pretty extensive, so you can take your pick from rice dishes (roast pork nasi lemak), pasta, burgers, pizza, and breakfast items (croissants, ciabattas).

Since the Hubs and I had a late breakfast, we opted for a few lighter dishes. I got the Soup of the Day (Mushroom – RM6.90), which came with a slice of buttered, toasted bread. I enjoyed the soup as it was creamy but not cloying, and had a good balance of flavours. I also liked the fact that it tasted like actual mushroom soup, with bits of chopped mushroom in it, instead of the ‘instant’ type a lot of establishments serve.

Their signature Raisin Pork roulade was not available, so we ordered a side dish of roast pork (RM9.90) to fulfill our pork quota lol. The version here reminds me of the pork served in European bistros; the skin is not super crunchy, it has a bit of chew to it, and a very strong odour. This might not be for everyone, especially if you’re not keen on gamey, meaty flavours. I still think it’s pretty good, though!

The Hubs had a 9-inch Mushroom Pesto Pizza (RM15.90), which came topped with pesto sauce, cherry tomatoes, onions, and mushrooms, with a layer of melted cheese.

To be perfectly honest – I don’t think the crust tasted like pizza at all; more like a crunchy dry bread or cracker. Again, I wouldn’t say it’s bad, it just didn’t taste like regular pizza, lol.

We enjoyed our light lunch at Bistro Monologue. While I wouldn’t call the food mind blowing, everything tastes fresh and homemade, service is friendly, and the environment is cozy. Prices are slightly above average, though, so probably not a lunch spot I’d go to often.

View the menu here: https://easyeat.ai/r/bistro-monologue/

BISTRO MONOLOGUE

16, Jln BP 7/11, Bandar Bukit, 47120 Puchong, Selangor.

Phone: 012-988 3669

Opening hours: (Sun-Weds) 8.30AM – 9PM, (Thurs – Sat) 8.30AM – 11.30PM

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Taiwanese Food @ Taipei Walker, IOI Rio Puchong

July 24, 2022Posted in FoodTagged dining, eating, eats, Featured, food, food photography, food review, foodie, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Puchong, Puchong food, restaurant review, Taiwanese, Taiwanese foodLeave a comment

IOI Rio Puchong is a new integrated development in Bandar Puteri Puchong, comprising commercial and residential buildings within an 80-acre plot of land. The office park and commercial lots opened to the public awhile ago with tenant anchor Jaya Grocer. There has since been new additions, including several pharmacies, a bakery, a pet shop, medical and aesthetic centres, and more.

One of the latest to open is Taipei Walker, a restaurant which specializes in Taiwanese cuisine. A friend who lives nearby posted her experience dining here recently and the food looked good, so the Hubs and I came for brunch over the weekend.

The restaurant is spacious and the decor is clean and simple, with a colourful poster depicting Taiwanese pop culture and attractions papered on one side of the wall. The front gets a lot of sunlight and appears bright and cheerful, and there are also booths at the back for those who prefer a bit more privacy.

You place your orders on a chit, then hand it to the wait staff when you’re ready. It took us awhile to decide as the menu is extensive, offering both rice and noodle dishes, as well as snacks.

Here’s what we ordered!

I decided not to go for the set meal and instead opted for the ala carte Oyster & Pork Intestine Mee Sua (RM11.90). While this is of course not comparable to Taipei’s famous Ay Chung at Ximending, the dish is pretty decent. The noodles were smooth and silky, making it easy to slurp up, and there was a generous amount of oysters and pork intestines in them as well. What I think they can improve on is the texture, as the broth was rather starchy.

The Hubs and I also got Garlic Sausage (RM10.90) to share. What I was not expecting was actual raw garlic piled onto the plate; I thought they were supposed to be garlic-flavoured sausages :P.

The sausages tasted like standard Taiwanese sausage; slightly sweet, and with bits of fat lending texture.

The Husband’s Onion Oil Dry Noodle Set (RM16.90) comprised of a generous portion of noodles tossed in onion oil, soup, and side dishes of braised egg, cabbage, and deep fried marinated pork cutlet with pickled vegetables.

Noodles were tasty; they had a chewy texture, while the onion oil was fragrant but surprisingly light, with just the slightest hint of sweetness. I also tried the Hub’s soup, which is a Chinese-style chicken soup with ginseng (albeit the cheaper kind), wolfberries, and Chinese red dates. I liked it a lot as it tasted homemade; like stuff my mom would boil at home.

The pork cutlet was good as well. Not wow, but tasty. Crispy on the outside, tender and soft on the inside. If you like pickled stuff, you’ll enjoy the briny, salty taste that has seeped into the meat.

I wish I could say good things about the Taipei Special Coffee I ordered. Unfortunately, it tasted exactly like 3-in-1 instant coffee. Not so special after all. It’s not bad, but RM7.90 for a drink that tastes like powdered coffee is a tad overpriced for me. The only plus point is that it’s served in a mini jug with ice, so you can pour it out without diluting your drink, and the portion is good enough for two to share.

Overall, we were satisfied with the quality of the food at Taipei Walker, despite the disappointing drink. They have a large selection of dishes to choose from, so I might try something else on my next visit!

(PS: Pictures of menu at the bottom, if you’re wondering what they offer.)

TAIPEI WALKER (IOI RIO PUCHONG)

OP-1F-03A 2, Rio Office Park, Persiaran Rio, Bandar Puteri Puchong, 47100 Puchong, Selangor

Opening hours: 11AM-2.30PM, 5.30PM – 11PM

Phone: +603 8603 8704 / +6016-966 8927

Taipei Walker Menu:

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Nyonya.love, Bandar Kinrara Puchong

July 16, 2022July 15, 2022Posted in FoodTagged dining, eating, eats, Featured, food, food review, foodie, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Malaysian food, Nyonya, Nyonya cuisine, Nyonya food, Peranakan, Puchong, restaurant review3 Comments

If there’s one cuisine I think best represents Malaysia’s storied history of immigration and assimilation, it’s Peranakan, or Nyonya, cuisine. The Peranakans (also called Straits Chinese) are descendants of early Chinese migrants who settled mostly in Malacca and Penang in Malaysia, parts of Indonesia, as well as Singapore in the late 18th to early 19th centuries. Many Peranakans intermarried with locals, adopting Malay customs as their own. As such, Nyonya cuisine is an interesting blend of Chinese influences and cooking techniques, paired with Malay ingredients and spices.

For those craving authentic Melaka-style Peranakan food, Nyonya.love at Bandar Kinrara dishes out popular favourites the likes of Ayam Pongteh, Nyonya Curry Laksa, Nasi Lemak, kueh, and more – served in a cozy and intimate setting that’s perfect for get togethers or casual hangouts. The fam and I were here for my aunt and uncle’s 50th anniversary wedding, and we got to try a wide variety of their specialities.

The restaurant’s interior is spacious, with tables adequately spaced to adhere to social distancing rules. The grey concrete walls and floors boast an ‘unfinished’ look which is the in thing these days, but it lends the space an air of elegance. The counter also features interestingly-shaped concrete nooks made to look like traditional Peranakan tiles. The industrial look is spruced up by cozy wood accents and lots of plants, while cute decorations – such as the colourful tiffin carriers at the counter – add character.

The aunts had ordered two platters of traditional Nyonya kueh for sharing. The vibrant colours of these assorted bite-sized snacks were as much a feast for the eyes as they were for the stomach. My favourites are the angku (‘tortoise cakes’ – glutinous rice snacks filled with mung bean paste) and kuih kosui (steamed rice cake made from tapioca flour and rice flour), as they have a chewy texture.

Once all the fam members had arrived, our meals were served. I had the Nyonya Curry Laksa, which came in a humongous portion. In hindsight, I should have shared this with someone else because although it was tasty, I struggled to finish the noodles. The curry is notably different from regular curry laksa – as you can tell, the curry was lighter in colour, creamy but not cloying, and I could taste the distinct blend of spices such as turmeric, lemongrass, onions, and shallots. The bowl also came with generous servings of fish balls, tofu pok, shrimp, and a dollop of sambal for that extra kick.

The Hubs and Pops both had Nasi Lemak Rendang Ayam. The coconut milk rice was tasty, but the star of the dish for me was the chicken rendang. The meat was fall-off-the-bone tender, and the rendang was rich and creamy.

Our mains alone were enough, but then the aunts also ordered some pai tee. These crispy snacks are shaped like top hats, with the crunchy shells holding braised jicama within. The contrast of textures makes it super addictive to munch on!

The Bro’s Curry Chicken with Roti Jala. Compared to the rendang, which has a thicker texture, the curry is more soupy and is more savoury.

Nyonya acar traces its roots to India, where the dish is known as achar (or literally, pickles). Pickling vegetables has long been a practice in ancient India, and with the spread of Indian culture via powerful Hindu-Buddhist kingdoms, the cuisine spread to Maritime Southeast Asia.

The version at Nyonya.love is very refreshing – there’s sliced cucumber, carrots, pineapple, and cabbage (?) in a sweet, sour, and savoury sauce, topped with sesame seeds. I think it’s perfect as an appetizer, as it really whets the appetite.

Rounding off the meal, we shared a bowl of cendol. Sweet, cold, and refreshing – what more could one ask for?

The restaurant also allowed us to cut the cakes we bought from Torte by Linda, which is located within the same building. Try their medovik (Russian Honey Cake) – it’s too die for!

20220703_185947 — Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary!

Aside from awesome Peranakan food, we were grateful for how accommodating the Nyonya.love team was as well in making our occasion a memorable one. 🙂 Definitely a recommend spot for when the craving for Peranakan cuisine kicks in!

NYONYA.LOVE

B-LG-5, Eight, Jalan BK 5a/3, Bandar Kinrara, 47180 Puchong, Selangor

Open: Tues – Sun (11.30AM – 7.30PM)

Hakka Cuisine@Fu Gua Thong, Bandar Puteri Puchong

June 27, 2022Posted in FoodTagged Asian cuisine, bittergourd, Chinese cuisine, Chinese food, dining, eating, eats, Featured, food, Fu Gua Thong, Malaysia, Puchong, restaurant reviewLeave a comment

Bitter gourd, or bitter melon, is a common ingredient in Chinese cuisine, often stir-fried with meat or eggs, or served in a soup. It has many purported health benefits, including reducing blood sugar levels, as well as aiding in weight loss. I think the latter is because it’s so bitter, you wouldn’t be able to finish the dish anyway. Eat less = lose weight = profit. (You can probably tell I don’t like bitter gourd very much, lol).

Jokes aside, there are people who enjoy the vegetable’s distinct flavour – so if you’re craving a nutritious and tasty(?) bitter gourd dish, head to Fu Gua Thong Restaurant in Bandar Puteri Puchong. Their signature bitter gourd soup, cooked with tender slices of pork, is a crowd puller, and while I won’t order this on my own volition, I’ve had it before with the fam and can attest that they cook it in a way that doesn’t make the bitterness pronounced.

Wait. So this isn’t a review about their bittergourd dish?

Well, for fellow bittergourd haters like me, a trip to Fu Gua Thong is still worth it for their Hakka cuisine, with dishes such as Deep Fried Hakka Style Pork (zha yuk), Yam and pork belly, stuffed tau fu pok, and stir-fried yam and abacus seed. The Hubs and I were here for dinner over the weekend, and even though we only ordered two dishes to share, they were both excellent and reasonably priced.

20220612_185500 — Typical Chinese restaurant vibe. There’s a small section selling snacks, pastries, and groceries at the front of the restaurant.

The stir-fried fish slices in ginger and onion came in a generous portion, swimming in a rich, and savoury sauce. The fish slices were fresh, thick, and firm,and the sauce made it an excellent accompaniment to rice. The ginger and onion not only gave it a nice flavour, but also masked any fishy odours the seafood might have had.

This is my favourite at Fu Gua Thong – Hakka fried pork! Thick slices of pork belly are marinated in nam yue (a fermented beancurd sauce – my dad hates the stuff, so we don’t have this often at family dinners), then deep fried to give it a crispy, crunchy exterior. The meat inside was fatty but not greasy. It was served with a side of chilli sauce, which accentuated the salty flavour.

20220612_190715 — Our simple but tasty meal for two!

So yeah. While Fu Gua Thong’s bittergourd dishes are sure to satisfy fans, they have many other dishes that are decent as well. Service wise, waiters appear harried and are not exactly welcoming, with curt/bordering on rude responses, but if you have zero expectations for service, this is a good place for the food.

FU GUA THONG (PUCHONG)

32, Jalan Puteri 2/4, Bandar Puteri, 47100 Puchong, Selangor

Opening hours: 11AM – 3.30PM, 5.30PM – 9.30PM (Daily)

PS: I hope you liked this post! Please consider supporting my blog via Patreon, so I can make more. Or buy me a cup of coffee on Paypal @erisgoesto

Roast Meats @ Chan Meng Kee, Bandar Puteri Puchong

June 26, 2022Posted in FoodTagged barbecued meat, Chan Meng Kee, Chinese food, dining, eating, Featured, food, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Malaysian food, Puchong, restaurant review, roast meatLeave a comment

The Chan Meng Kee brand, famed for its roasted meats, was started in 2008 by Chan Yoke Pui, a self-professed ‘charsiew fanatic’. The original restaurant in SS2, Petaling Jaya, quickly gained a loyal following, as patrons thronged the store for their dose of siew yuk (crispy roast pork), char siew (sweet barbecued pork), and roast chicken, served with their signature noodles or rice.

Today, Chan Meng Kee has two other branches – one in Da Men Mall USJ, and another in Puchong, the latter of which I visited for lunch with the fam. The store is simple but comfortable, with basic tables and chairs, floor to ceiling windows that afford plenty of natural sunlight, and air conditioning. Diners can also see the chefs chopping up the meats through a glass window next to the kitchen.

Our food did not take long to arrive. The Hubs ordered the siew yuk, which came in generous portions atop a bed of cucumbers. The rice was also topped with two slices of sweet liver sausage. The pork was well seasoned, with crunchy, crackly skin, and a nice balance between the lean and fat. The liver sausage was superb – basted in a sweet, caramel-like sauce, the sausage casing was chewy on the outside, with bits of fat within the sausage that lent it a unique texture. It was so good I ordered a separate plate!

20220606_134526 — Liver sausage is a rarer menu item compared to the usual trio of roasties – chicken, siew yuk, and char siew.

Chan Meng Kee does roast duck as well. I like that they gave me the thigh part; there was a lot of meat, and it was easy to eat. The blend of textures and flavours – crispy skin, the melt-in-your-mouth layer of fat underneath it, the slightly gamey duck meat seasoned with herbs and spices – came together perfectly. While I still prefer the roast duck from Soon Lok, Chan Meng Kee can probably give it a run for its money.

Aside from roast items, the restaurant also offers dishes such as poached chicken, curry laksa, shrimp wontons, and more. Prices are reasonable for the setting, ranging around RM10-RM15 for single plates.

CHAN MENG KEE (PUCHONG)

No.1-GF, Jalan Puteri 1/4, Bandar Puteri, 47100 Puchong, Selangor

Opening hours: 9AM – 3.30PM, 5PM – 8.30PM (closed Wednesdays)

PS: I hope you liked this post! Please consider supporting my blog via Patreon, so I can make more. Or buy me a cup of coffee on Paypal @erisgoesto

Budget Eats: Soru Station Puchong

June 18, 2022Posted in FoodTagged budget eats, eats, Featured, food, food blog, foodie, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Puchong, Soru Station, Western foodLeave a comment

With food prices increasing, even noodles and rice at your neighbourhood chap fan stall or kopitiam can be quite pricey, what more cuisine like Western food.

But there are still some good options – if you know where to look.

Newly opened in The Wharf at Taman Tasik Prima is Soru Station, which serves affordable local and Western fare. With humble beginnings as a food truck, business did so well that they opened a few physical branches, the latest being this outlet in Puchong.

The Hubs and I came here for a quick lunch. Despite being peak hour, the restaurant was not too crowded. The space wasn’t fancy, but it is well ventilated, clean, and comfortable. We made our orders by scanning the QR code menu at our table, then proceeded to the cashier for payment (you can also choose to pay online).

Our orders were served quickly. Hubs had the Beef Burger (RM9), served with a side of mashed potato. Like many Malay-style burgers, the burger was extremely messy; slathered in a variety of sauces such as tomato, chilli, cheese, and finally a large helping of gravy.

The sauces can be a tad overpowering, but I could still taste the seasonings used in the patty, which was thick and juicy. It reminded me of Otai burgers, actually. Our only qualm was that the dish was a little cold – the patty was probably heated up very quickly on the grill, but everything else wasn’t. Still, for the price, I think it’s good value.

I went for the nasi lemak ayam crispy (RM8). Again, portions were generous. The rice was good; with hints of ginger and turmeric – but I was a little disappointed with the chicken. It was fried well with a crispy texture, but it was very bland. It didn’t even have the natural flavour of the chicken, which was very odd. The skin had no flavour whatsoever. The saving grace was the sweet and savoury sambal, which went well with the rice (I also used it as a sauce for the chicken). So yeah, some hits and misses. But all in all, I wouldn’t complain, given the price point.

Most of the dishes are priced around RM7 to RM12; and the portions are filling. I wasn’t expecting anything super, so the food was decent enough for me. Service and environment is good as well – so all in all, value for money!

SORU STATION (PUCHONG)

No 8/1, Prima Bizwalk Business Centre, Jalan Tasik Prima 6/2, Taman Tasik Prima, 47150 Puchong, Selangor

Opening hours: 12PM – 12AM (closed Mondays)

https://www.sorustation.com/

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