The 2nd episode which featured The Halal Food Blog Team aired on Suria on 1 July!
The team visited Royal Kublai Khan Steamboat Buffet and Seafood Restaurant for some steamboat and crabs. You can read our original review here!
In the mean time, enjoy the clip!
Tampilkan postingan dengan label Seafood. Tampilkan semua postingan
Tampilkan postingan dengan label Seafood. Tampilkan semua postingan
KL Sedap Part 6: Pepper Lunch
Rabu, 26 Juni 2013
Pepper Lunch is a very popular Japanese-style makan place that has been around for many years. The outlets in Singapore however are not certified Halal.
Well, luckily for us - the outlets in Malaysia are certified Halal!
So the concept is really simple but something that is still so attractive.
You get to cook your own food on a hotplate! I'm not talking about steamboat style or the kind of hotplate that is perpetually hot (like table BBQ). This kind of hotplate is heated up (to 260 degrees!!) so that you can cook the meat to your liking and then after awhile, the cooking stops as the heat stops as well.
If you like your meat medium rare, put it atop the vegetables to stop the cooking but if you're like me and you like it well done, leave it on the hotplate to cook through all the way to the end.
Check out this promotional video that also plays at the Pepper Lunch outlets. It's actually like an instructional video that shows how to cook the different menu items they have.
Looks good eh? Looks fun eh? Well it is!
It's always fun to play a part in cooking your food the way you like.
But they seem to have forgotten one item on the menu which also happens to be my favourite!
Let's take a look at how the expert does it...
Yummy! Absolutely mouth-watering I say...
So for those with a bigger appetite for meat (like me) then you should go for the Ribeye Steak.
It comes with a combo which includes rice and veggies so you get a balanced meal. Also includes a side of mashed potatoes (which isn't really anything special to be honest)
The meat is really really as tender as you would expect and of course, you are responsible for how well you meat is cooked so you can stop at medium rare or medium well if you'd like. I personally always go all the way for well done.
And yes - it really is as big as it looks in the photo.
For those who prefer something a little smaller, go for the Pepper Steak.
This is basically a smaller size piece of meat (which happens to be a Sirloin cut by the way) plus all the additional sides as well.
The meat is still tender and not too bad considering it's fast food.
But the serving is much smaller compared to the Ribeye so if you're hungry, we suggest you go big.
Plus, for the minimal price difference, you might as well top-up.
But a word of advice though...
.jpg)
You will have to add these two sauces to your meat while it's cooking on the hotplate.
Your initial instincts will be to taste them first which is fine because they don't taste too strong when you taste them on their own.
But when you start putting it on the meat, please don't overdo it!
Being the hero that I am, I went all out and thought to myself "the more the merrier".
That was a mistake! Too much will make your dish very very very very very salty so go slow okay!
No likey the meaty? No problem!
Pepper Lunch also offers alternatives which involves no beef or chicken at all. And one of them is the Seafood Aglio Olio for all you pasta lovers.
When we first saw it, our initial reaction was "Pasta on a hotplate is not a good idea" but we were willing to give it a try so that all our readers have a heads-up!
They give you a small dish of seasoning and olive oil which you are supposed to pour all over your pasta while it cooks on the hotplate and is probably supposed to keep it from burning.
Well it doesn't really burn but as you can see, it does tend to get a bit dry.
Maybe a little (or a lot) more olive oil would have been helpful?
Come to think of it, maybe you should think twice before having pasta on a hotplate.
Don't get us wrong. The taste itself was not too bad actually. But the dried up dish wasn't a hit.
So it's either you eat really fast before it dries up or maybe ask for extra olive oil.
PS don't bother asking for Tabasco sauce - they've never heard of it.
(Reminder - this is Japanese pasta not Italian pasta)
Adam's Verdict:
Ribeye Steak 4/5
Maryah's Verdict:
Ribeye Steak 4/5
Razali's Verdict:
Seafood Aglio Olio 3.5/5
Azim's Verdict:
Pepper Steak 4/5
Pepper Lunch is definitely worth a try if you're in Malaysia. Wonder if they will apply for Halal certification in SG in future maybe?
Pepper Lunch
Pavilion KL
168 Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Level 1, Lot 1.54
Tel: 60 3 21410228
Operating Hours:
10.30am til 10.30pm Daily
Well, luckily for us - the outlets in Malaysia are certified Halal!
So the concept is really simple but something that is still so attractive.
You get to cook your own food on a hotplate! I'm not talking about steamboat style or the kind of hotplate that is perpetually hot (like table BBQ). This kind of hotplate is heated up (to 260 degrees!!) so that you can cook the meat to your liking and then after awhile, the cooking stops as the heat stops as well.
If you like your meat medium rare, put it atop the vegetables to stop the cooking but if you're like me and you like it well done, leave it on the hotplate to cook through all the way to the end.
Check out this promotional video that also plays at the Pepper Lunch outlets. It's actually like an instructional video that shows how to cook the different menu items they have.
Looks good eh? Looks fun eh? Well it is!
It's always fun to play a part in cooking your food the way you like.
But they seem to have forgotten one item on the menu which also happens to be my favourite!
Let's take a look at how the expert does it...
Yummy! Absolutely mouth-watering I say...
 |
| Ribeye Steak (RM36.80) |
It comes with a combo which includes rice and veggies so you get a balanced meal. Also includes a side of mashed potatoes (which isn't really anything special to be honest)
The meat is really really as tender as you would expect and of course, you are responsible for how well you meat is cooked so you can stop at medium rare or medium well if you'd like. I personally always go all the way for well done.
And yes - it really is as big as it looks in the photo.
 |
| Pepper Steak (RM29.80) |
This is basically a smaller size piece of meat (which happens to be a Sirloin cut by the way) plus all the additional sides as well.
The meat is still tender and not too bad considering it's fast food.
But the serving is much smaller compared to the Ribeye so if you're hungry, we suggest you go big.
Plus, for the minimal price difference, you might as well top-up.
But a word of advice though...
.jpg)
You will have to add these two sauces to your meat while it's cooking on the hotplate.
Your initial instincts will be to taste them first which is fine because they don't taste too strong when you taste them on their own.
But when you start putting it on the meat, please don't overdo it!
Being the hero that I am, I went all out and thought to myself "the more the merrier".
That was a mistake! Too much will make your dish very very very very very salty so go slow okay!
 |
| Seafood Aglio Olio (RM18.80) |
Pepper Lunch also offers alternatives which involves no beef or chicken at all. And one of them is the Seafood Aglio Olio for all you pasta lovers.
When we first saw it, our initial reaction was "Pasta on a hotplate is not a good idea" but we were willing to give it a try so that all our readers have a heads-up!
They give you a small dish of seasoning and olive oil which you are supposed to pour all over your pasta while it cooks on the hotplate and is probably supposed to keep it from burning.
Well it doesn't really burn but as you can see, it does tend to get a bit dry.
Maybe a little (or a lot) more olive oil would have been helpful?
Come to think of it, maybe you should think twice before having pasta on a hotplate.
Don't get us wrong. The taste itself was not too bad actually. But the dried up dish wasn't a hit.
So it's either you eat really fast before it dries up or maybe ask for extra olive oil.
PS don't bother asking for Tabasco sauce - they've never heard of it.
(Reminder - this is Japanese pasta not Italian pasta)
Adam's Verdict:
Ribeye Steak 4/5
Maryah's Verdict:
Ribeye Steak 4/5
Razali's Verdict:
Seafood Aglio Olio 3.5/5
Azim's Verdict:
Pepper Steak 4/5
Pepper Lunch is definitely worth a try if you're in Malaysia. Wonder if they will apply for Halal certification in SG in future maybe?
Pavilion KL
168 Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Level 1, Lot 1.54
Tel: 60 3 21410228
Operating Hours:
10.30am til 10.30pm Daily
KL Sedap Part 4: Nasi Kandar Pelita
Rabu, 12 Juni 2013
My parents started driving up to KL for short trips since we were kids.
And the routine was almost always the same - leave the house at 6am, drive up to KL, makan Nasi Kandar and then finally check-in at the hotel.
We would literally drive straight to the Nasi Kandar and have lunch first. Kind of like a tradition.
Our Nasi Kandar place is actually Mohd Yaseen Nasi Kandar (along Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman) which my darling wife and I have had in a recent trip there.
But since her trip up to KL with a friend, she's been raving about the Nasi Kandar from Pelita.
I remember having it once but I can't really remember much.
And since our hotel this time was nearby a rather famous Pelita branch, Razali, Azim, my darling wife and myself decided to have a hearty lunch before heading out for shopping.
So what exactly is Nasi Kandar?
Apparently, Nasi Kandar actually originated from Penang and is basically mixed rice with an Indian influence. That means you'll get a wide spread of dishes including seafood (fish head, squid, crabs, prawns), meat (chicken, beef, mutton), vegetables and other assorted side dishes.
You'll normally also get a serving of veggie mix (normally cucumber, pineapple and carrot) as an accompaniment.
So far like normal right? But what makes Nasi Kandar unique?
Well just give the guy dishing out your food the 'word' and you'll find out.
Say 'kuah campur' and he'll put a little bit of each type of curry/gravy on display for you including the special 'kandar' gravy which is dark and tasty.
Don't worry he's not going to drown your rice in gravy until it becomes a soup.
But just how many types of gravy are we talking about here?
Well it's normally at least 5 types and mostly curry.
Crab curry, prawn curry, chicken curry, meat curry and Kandar gravy. If there's more then he'll put more.
So common things to have with your rice?
Chicken is a popular choice like fried chicken for example. They also have a special dish of chicken which is basically the chicken with the Kandar gravy. (RM6.00 per piece of chicken)
You can also have seafood. Prawns will cost between RM5.00-RM15.00 depending on size.
Squid will be about the same. And trust me - they have some pretty big prawns and squids.
You can even get a Fish Head (Curry) for about RM30.00.
The average price per plate for the servings above is about RM9.00.
And it may not look like much in the photos but believe you me that's a full meal right there.
For my Ayam Kandar though, it was a little different from what I usually have at the other Nasi Kandar place. It seems that here, they fry the chicken here first which mean they just put it in the gravy later.
This kinda makes the outer skin have that Kandar taste but the meat is completely clean.
Definitely a minus for me.
And apparently, Azim had the fish and he wasn't really impressed either.
Only the Fried Chicken seemed to be okay. Maybe because it was just simple.
And another thing. He may have put all the different curries and gravies for us but somehow it still turned out to be only a little bit of gravy on our plates. A case of stingy-with-the-gravy?
Normally at other (Pelita) outlets they apparently are a lot more generous and dish out the kuah the way it should be in Nasi Kandar.
We also decided to have the Sotong Goreng Tempura.
As this is only made to order, this would mean it was supposed to be fresh and hot and crispy but unfortunately this was not the case. I'm guessing it was sitting on the counter for awhile before the server finally picked it up and sent it to our table.
Anyways, don't expect much in the flavour department. The batter was completely tasteless.
But at least the squid itself was not overcooked.
Adam's Verdict:
Nasi Kandar 2.5/5 -- Sotong Goreng Tepung 2/5
Maryah's Verdict:
Nasi Kandar 2.5/5 -- Sotong Goreng Tepung 3/5
Razali's Verdict:
Nasi Kandar 2/5 -- Sotong Goreng Tepung 3/5
Azim's Verdict:
Nasi Kandar 2.5/5 -- Sotong Goreng Tepung 3/5
Pelita is actually a very famous Nasi Kandar chain in KL so I have no doubt that it's actually a nice place to have Nasi Kandar. Maybe we just went to the wrong outlet on the wrong day. Maybe next time other outlets might be better.
Oh. Any by the way. Avoid going during lunch hour unless you're okay with a large crowd.
Nasi Kandar Pelita
No 149 Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: +60 3 21625532
www.pelita.com.my
Operating Hours:
24 Hours Daily (Closed between 1pm til 2pm on Fridays)
And the routine was almost always the same - leave the house at 6am, drive up to KL, makan Nasi Kandar and then finally check-in at the hotel.
We would literally drive straight to the Nasi Kandar and have lunch first. Kind of like a tradition.
Our Nasi Kandar place is actually Mohd Yaseen Nasi Kandar (along Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman) which my darling wife and I have had in a recent trip there.
But since her trip up to KL with a friend, she's been raving about the Nasi Kandar from Pelita.
I remember having it once but I can't really remember much.
And since our hotel this time was nearby a rather famous Pelita branch, Razali, Azim, my darling wife and myself decided to have a hearty lunch before heading out for shopping.
So what exactly is Nasi Kandar?
Apparently, Nasi Kandar actually originated from Penang and is basically mixed rice with an Indian influence. That means you'll get a wide spread of dishes including seafood (fish head, squid, crabs, prawns), meat (chicken, beef, mutton), vegetables and other assorted side dishes.
You'll normally also get a serving of veggie mix (normally cucumber, pineapple and carrot) as an accompaniment.
So far like normal right? But what makes Nasi Kandar unique?
Well just give the guy dishing out your food the 'word' and you'll find out.
Say 'kuah campur' and he'll put a little bit of each type of curry/gravy on display for you including the special 'kandar' gravy which is dark and tasty.
Don't worry he's not going to drown your rice in gravy until it becomes a soup.
But just how many types of gravy are we talking about here?
Well it's normally at least 5 types and mostly curry.
Crab curry, prawn curry, chicken curry, meat curry and Kandar gravy. If there's more then he'll put more.
So common things to have with your rice?
Chicken is a popular choice like fried chicken for example. They also have a special dish of chicken which is basically the chicken with the Kandar gravy. (RM6.00 per piece of chicken)
You can also have seafood. Prawns will cost between RM5.00-RM15.00 depending on size.
Squid will be about the same. And trust me - they have some pretty big prawns and squids.
You can even get a Fish Head (Curry) for about RM30.00.
 |
| Nasi Kandar with Ayam Kandar, Ladyfingers and Salted Egg |
 |
| Nasi Kandar with Fried Chicken, Cabbage, Ladyfingers and Salted Egg |
And it may not look like much in the photos but believe you me that's a full meal right there.
For my Ayam Kandar though, it was a little different from what I usually have at the other Nasi Kandar place. It seems that here, they fry the chicken here first which mean they just put it in the gravy later.
This kinda makes the outer skin have that Kandar taste but the meat is completely clean.
Definitely a minus for me.
And apparently, Azim had the fish and he wasn't really impressed either.
Only the Fried Chicken seemed to be okay. Maybe because it was just simple.
And another thing. He may have put all the different curries and gravies for us but somehow it still turned out to be only a little bit of gravy on our plates. A case of stingy-with-the-gravy?
Normally at other (Pelita) outlets they apparently are a lot more generous and dish out the kuah the way it should be in Nasi Kandar.
 |
| Sotong Goreng Tepung (RM15.00) |
As this is only made to order, this would mean it was supposed to be fresh and hot and crispy but unfortunately this was not the case. I'm guessing it was sitting on the counter for awhile before the server finally picked it up and sent it to our table.
Anyways, don't expect much in the flavour department. The batter was completely tasteless.
But at least the squid itself was not overcooked.
Adam's Verdict:
Nasi Kandar 2.5/5 -- Sotong Goreng Tepung 2/5
Maryah's Verdict:
Nasi Kandar 2.5/5 -- Sotong Goreng Tepung 3/5
Razali's Verdict:
Nasi Kandar 2/5 -- Sotong Goreng Tepung 3/5
Azim's Verdict:
Nasi Kandar 2.5/5 -- Sotong Goreng Tepung 3/5
Pelita is actually a very famous Nasi Kandar chain in KL so I have no doubt that it's actually a nice place to have Nasi Kandar. Maybe we just went to the wrong outlet on the wrong day. Maybe next time other outlets might be better.
Oh. Any by the way. Avoid going during lunch hour unless you're okay with a large crowd.
No 149 Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: +60 3 21625532
www.pelita.com.my
Operating Hours:
24 Hours Daily (Closed between 1pm til 2pm on Fridays)
Royal Kublai Khan Steamboat Buffet & Seafood Restaurant
Rabu, 05 Juni 2013
Okay has anyone heard of Royal Kublai Khan Mongolian BBQ Restaurant?
That's right!! That's the one at Park Mall in Dhoby Ghaut and I'm pretty sure quite a few of you have been there before to sample their food.
Well, Royal Kublai Khan has decided to 'expand his empire' further (get it? get it?) and has now opened a 2nd outlet with a slightly different concept - STEAMBOAT!!
There's no Mongolian BBQ here but you can try some Mongolian-style Steamboat!
This is a great place for you to visit whether it's only 2 of you on a date or even if you're going for a big family celebration! For large groups, they actually have 2 steamboats for the large table so nobody is left out when it comes to the fun of cooking your food.
I actually took a liking to the Spicy Herbal broth. It kind of reminds me a little of Tom Yam but not too spicy.
But if you want to play it safe, you can always go for the Herbal Chicken.
Pricing is also really good value for money!
Adults eat at $19.80++ and children above 3 years eat at $12.80++.
Still not impressed? Maybe you will be when I tell you what you'll get for the price.
The steamboat gives you a choice of two types of stock.
You can have either the Spicy Herbal, Chicken Broth or you can have a Combo like above!!
And that's not all!
You also get Fresh Prawns, Sliced Fish, Tofu, Squid, Fishballs, loads of assorted veggies for all you veggie lovers and extra Yong Tau Foo-style stuff like Money Bags, Cheesy Tofu and Ngoh Hiang (Chicken Roll)!!
All of the stuff we had was really fresh (especially the seafood!) and with the wide variety, you're definitely going to be stuffing yourself with all the goodies.
But here's the kicker..
If you're not really a fan of steamboat - NO PROBLEM!
They also have a buffet spread of cooked food for all those of you who don't fancy (or might be too lazy) to cook your own food at the steamboat!
The cooked food spread includes fried rice and noodles, satay, vegetables, seafood like prawns and sweet and sour fish and also some chicken. Best news of all? They have crabs!! Black Pepper and Chilli Crab (complete with buns!) and this is all spread out for you to devour!
And if you're feeling thirsty, you get free flow of either Cold or Hot drinks!
All that for the price stated above! Tell me that's not value for money?
MEMANG BERBALOI! :P
Adam's Verdict:
Kublai Khan Steamboat Buffet 4/5
Azlan's Verdict:
Kublai Khan Steamboat Buffet 4/5
Okay lah to be honest it doesn't seem to have much 'Mongolian' involved when it comes to the steamboat here but it's still really good! If you're looking for the type where you have a table BBQ or a table grill then this is not for you. This is old-school steamboat!
It's great value for money and there's something for everyone to enjoy.
They also have an ala carte menu which we will be reviewing soon.
But please note the following!!
I can guarantee you I'll be bringing my family here soon for some steamboat!!
We were graciously given the opportunity to review Royal Kublai Khan with the team from Jus! which is a variety show that airs on Suria channel! It was a great experience and the team was really friendly.
Be sure to catch The Halal Food Blog Team on the 5th season of Jus!
The episode is scheduled to air on Monday, 1st July 2013 on Suria channel at 8.30pm!
Be sure to tune in and support!
Royal Kublai Khan Steamboat & Seafood Restaurant
175 Bencoolen Street
#01-56 Burlington Square (facing La Salle)
Tel: 6836 2389
http://kublaikhanbbq.com/royalkublaikhan
Operating Hours:
11.30am til 10.00pm Daily
Steamboat Buffet starts at 5.30pm
That's right!! That's the one at Park Mall in Dhoby Ghaut and I'm pretty sure quite a few of you have been there before to sample their food.
Well, Royal Kublai Khan has decided to 'expand his empire' further (get it? get it?) and has now opened a 2nd outlet with a slightly different concept - STEAMBOAT!!
There's no Mongolian BBQ here but you can try some Mongolian-style Steamboat!
This is a great place for you to visit whether it's only 2 of you on a date or even if you're going for a big family celebration! For large groups, they actually have 2 steamboats for the large table so nobody is left out when it comes to the fun of cooking your food.
I actually took a liking to the Spicy Herbal broth. It kind of reminds me a little of Tom Yam but not too spicy.
But if you want to play it safe, you can always go for the Herbal Chicken.
Pricing is also really good value for money!
Adults eat at $19.80++ and children above 3 years eat at $12.80++.
Still not impressed? Maybe you will be when I tell you what you'll get for the price.
The steamboat gives you a choice of two types of stock.
You can have either the Spicy Herbal, Chicken Broth or you can have a Combo like above!!
 |
| Assorted Yong Tau Foo |
 |
| Sliced Beef, Sliced Chicken and Enoki Mushrooms |
 |
| Shellfish, Assorted Mushrroms & Vegetables |
 |
| Assorted Noodles |
You also get Fresh Prawns, Sliced Fish, Tofu, Squid, Fishballs, loads of assorted veggies for all you veggie lovers and extra Yong Tau Foo-style stuff like Money Bags, Cheesy Tofu and Ngoh Hiang (Chicken Roll)!!
All of the stuff we had was really fresh (especially the seafood!) and with the wide variety, you're definitely going to be stuffing yourself with all the goodies.
But here's the kicker..
If you're not really a fan of steamboat - NO PROBLEM!
They also have a buffet spread of cooked food for all those of you who don't fancy (or might be too lazy) to cook your own food at the steamboat!
The cooked food spread includes fried rice and noodles, satay, vegetables, seafood like prawns and sweet and sour fish and also some chicken. Best news of all? They have crabs!! Black Pepper and Chilli Crab (complete with buns!) and this is all spread out for you to devour!
And if you're feeling thirsty, you get free flow of either Cold or Hot drinks!
All that for the price stated above! Tell me that's not value for money?
MEMANG BERBALOI! :P
Adam's Verdict:
Kublai Khan Steamboat Buffet 4/5
Azlan's Verdict:
Kublai Khan Steamboat Buffet 4/5
Okay lah to be honest it doesn't seem to have much 'Mongolian' involved when it comes to the steamboat here but it's still really good! If you're looking for the type where you have a table BBQ or a table grill then this is not for you. This is old-school steamboat!
It's great value for money and there's something for everyone to enjoy.
They also have an ala carte menu which we will be reviewing soon.
But please note the following!!
- The Steamboat Buffet is for dinner and starts at 5.30pm
- They do cater for quite a few tour groups that come by so call and make reservations if needed!!
I can guarantee you I'll be bringing my family here soon for some steamboat!!
We were graciously given the opportunity to review Royal Kublai Khan with the team from Jus! which is a variety show that airs on Suria channel! It was a great experience and the team was really friendly.
Be sure to catch The Halal Food Blog Team on the 5th season of Jus!
The episode is scheduled to air on Monday, 1st July 2013 on Suria channel at 8.30pm!
Be sure to tune in and support!
175 Bencoolen Street
#01-56 Burlington Square (facing La Salle)
Tel: 6836 2389
http://kublaikhanbbq.com/royalkublaikhan
Operating Hours:
11.30am til 10.00pm Daily
Steamboat Buffet starts at 5.30pm
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