Categories
Tourism Malaysia

Food Hunt along MRT Line

Many people might find it a bit tiresome of driving and waiting for a carpark in order to get a good place to fill up empty tummy.

With the Sungai Buloh – Kajang Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line in operation, both locals and tourists alike can have opportunity to spend less time for going on a food adventure.

Here’s a list of food gems that you can find along the MRT line; think Nasi Kandar, Dim Sum, Satay and more.

Along the 51km journey with a total of 31 stations, selected special dishes will be covered for this food hunting trip! Just take it as exercise if you need to walk to reach your desired locations.

Apart from food hunting, some of the routes covered include tourist spots, historical and cultural hubs, shopping paradise. It is time for you to plan ahead and spend your free time with like-minded friends or family members.

Surian Station

Hameediyah

After serving nasi kandar in Penang for more than a century, the legendary Hameediyah has now set its foot in Sunway Nexis, Kota Damansara, which is just a short walk away from the Surian MRT Station.

Operating since 1907, this famous nasi kandar is run by its 6th and 7th generation now, with all the recipes coming from their ancestors, bringing the herbs and spices over from Penang.

Highly recommended dishes include chicken kapitan, chicken curry, mutton curries, beef rendang, fish and sotong curry, all guaranteed to satisfy your taste buds. Top them with some vegetables and eggs as well.

Unit A-GF-01, Sunway Nexis
Jalan PJU 5/8, Kota Damansara
Tel: 03-6151 7766
Business hours: Mon (10am – 10pm), Tue – Sun (11am – 10pm)

Tips: Surian MRT Station is located in Dataran Sunway, Kota Damansara. Dataran Sunway is developing township located in Kota Damansara, Selangor. Notable landmarks located within the area are Sunway Giza Shopping Mall.

Phileo Damansara Station

Skippy Pizza (Non-halal)

Chicken or beef pizza is easily found anywhere. However, “Skippy Pizza” offers pork dishes where it serves a wide variety of pork pizzas and more.

“Skipping Kangaroo” is the theme for the restaurant, with Australian influence on its pizza recipes.

*Disclaimer: This eatery not halal-certified

Phileo Damansara I, 107 Block D, Jalan 16/11, Seksyen 16, 46350 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 10pm (Monday to Sunday)
Contact: 0192509347
http://www.skippyspizza.com/

Tips: Phileo Damansara MRT Station, located at Section 16 near to Eastin Hotel Phileo Damansara, a modern township nestled within PJ and Kuala Lumpur.

Muzium Negara Station

Commuters can get access to NU Sentral shopping centre via the linkway connecting to the MRT station and dine at one of the most famous halal Chinese restaurants called Dolly Dim Sum.

Dolly Dim Sum is a modern interpretation of a classic Chinese tea house, specialising in modern authentic dim sum. Top picks include Siew Mai Dumpling, Roasted BBQ Bun, Glutinous Rice Parcel “Loh Mai Gai”, Spicy Szechuan Dumpling, Egg Custard Bun, BBQ Chicken Cheong Fun, Chewy Meat Croquette, to name a few.

You will be surprised by the unique dining experience encompassing quality of ingredients, heartfelt service and an impeccable dining ambiance.

Address: LG.43, NU Sentral, No. 201 Jalan Tun Sambathan, 50470 Kuala Lumpur.
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Monday to Sunday)
Contact: 012-301 8161
http://dollydimsum.com/

Tips: Muzium Negara MRT Station, underground station located near to National Museum and connected to KL Sentral Main Terminal by a covered pedestrian walkway. KL Sentral is a main public transport hub for Kuala Lumpur. NU Sentral is linked with KL Sentral Main Terminal.

Pasar Seni Station

Cafe Old Market Square

Formerly known as Sin Seng Nam Kopitiam, it takes about a 10-minute walk from Pasar Seni Station to dine in this newly restored cafe, which has transformed to what it is today since it was taken over by its new owner in 2014.

Located at an incredibly well-preserved heritage building, Cafe Old Market Square will definitely bring old memories back to life as it did 80 years ago. Artwork and old photos of Kuala Lumpur adorn the walls of the cafe with the top floor of the building being turned into a gallery space that showcases old Kuala Lumpur.

Among the signature dishes are Hainanese coffee, half-boiled eggs, toasted bread with kaya and margarine. You still can see the dishes are served in old fashioned kopitiam cups and saucers.

Address: 2, Medan Pasar, City Centre, 50050 Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hours: 7am – 6pm (Monday to Saturday), Closed on Sunday
Contact: +60 16-964 9509
https://www.cafeoldmarketsquare.com/

Merchant’s Lane

When it comes to Instagrammable cafes in KL, no doubt Merchant’s Lane is on top of our list. What’s the best way to explain East Meets West? Merchant’s Lane. Tucked in off Chinatown, Merchant’s Lane has a strong Asian vibe with rattan chairs and rustic walls. Every corner screams picture-perfect. The entrance is a bit discreet so have fun hunting down Merchant’s Lane.

Address: No, 150 Jalan Petaling. Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 10.30pm, Closed on Wednesday
Contact: +603-2022 1736
https://www.facebook.com/merchantslane

Tips: Pasar Seni MRT Station situated in Pasar Seni (Central Market), a few minutes away from Petaling Street (Chinatown). Central Market is now a landmark for Malaysian culture and heritage.

Merdeka Station

VCR Cafe

It takes about a 11-minute walk from Merdeka station to VCR cafe, which is located just next to Swiss Garden Residence along Jalan Galloway. VCR cafe is easily recognised for its all-black exterior, where old architecture meets the modern twist.

It is well-frequented by coffee drinkers and brunch lovers for its perfectly brewed coffee. VCR is an ideal place for breakfast, lunch, brunch or even dinner! Guests can also complement their choice of caffeine with delicious homemade cakes and pastries.

Some of the other must-try food include French toash, consisting of berries compote, mocha sauce, chocolate biscuit crumble, pumpkin seed, and a scoop of espresso ice cream while the fluffy potato waffle is a savoury delight of mushrooms, chervil, and perfectly poached eggs. Other favourate menu include soft shell crab burger and Scandinavian breakfast.

Address: 2, Jalan Galloway, Bukit Bintang, 50150 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hours: 8.30am – 11pm (Monday – Sunday)
Contact: +603-2110 2330
https://vcr.my/

Tips: Merdeka MRT Station situated in proposed Merdeka PNB 118, the tallest building in Malaysia, to build next to Stadium Merdeka in Jalan Hang Jebat, Kuala Lumpur.

Bukit Bintang Station

Feeka Coffee Roasters

It is housed in an old heritage shop lot in Changkat Bukit Bintang while bearing some contemporary elements. Feeka is inspired by the Swedish social philosophy, “fika”, which means to take a break.

Apart from serving specialty coffee, Feeka is a charming little café that offers a wide range of food choices such as Sweedish Meatballs, Spicy Ragu Pasta, Roasted Vege Burger, Chinken Banh Mi and etc. It is the perfect spot for you to spend your time with your loved ones or close friends.

Address: 19, Jalan Mesui, Bukit Bintang, 50200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 8am – 11pm (Monday – Sunday)
Contact: +603-2110 4599
www.facebook.com/feekacoffeeroasters

Restaurant Wong Ah Wah, Jalan Alor

One of the most famous spots for food is Jalan Alor, just a 15-minute walk from the station.

Jalan Alor is famous for its wide variety of street food and many foreigners or travelers will flock into this area for food hunting, especially dining night time.

The street is packed with different types of stir fried dishes ranging from seafood, Thai food, Vietnamese food and Chinese variety. One of the highly recommended restaurants is Restaurant Wong Ah Wah. Some of the popular dishes include fried oyster egg, chicken wings and roast pork dark noodles.

*Disclaimer: This eatery not halal-certified/Muslim-owned but halal ingredients are used.

Address: 16, Jalan Alor, Bukit Bintang, 50200 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur.
Opening Hours: 5.30pm to 12am
Contact: +603-2144 2463

Tips: The station is named after Bukit Bintang district, a shopping hub in Kuala Lumpur. The area has long been Kuala Lumpur’s most prominent retail belt that is home to many landmark shopping centres, al-fresco cafés, swanky bars, night markets, as well as hawker-type eateries. This area is popular among tourists and locals, especially among the youths. Some of the famous shopping malls include Pavillion shopping mall, Berjaya Times Squares, Fahrenheit 88 and Lot 10 shopping mall.

Cochrane Station

Peel Road Nasi Lemak

Have you ever tried mixed-rice style nasi lemak? With choices like sotong, lucheon meat, chicken rendang and a number of stir fried vegetables, it allows you to scoop your own dishes and be as creative as you wish.

This stall is located right at Peel Road and it is within walking distance from Cochrane station. With the development of the MyTown Shopping Mall and IKEA, this area has gone through massive transformation in recent years. The stall is open for dinner daily and you can see huge crowd from 6pm onwards.

*Disclaimer: This eatery not halal-certified

Address: 96, Jalan Peel, 50400 Kuala Lumpur.
Opening Hours: 4pm – 8pm daily

Tips: The IKEA furniture store and MyTown Shopping Mall are in its vicinity. Sunway Velocity is connected with this station as well.

Taman Connaught Station

Night Market Taman Connaught

With the construction of new Taman Connaught MRT, you can now get to your favourite Taman Connaught night market easily. The night market is around 2km long, and opens every Wednesday. with over 700 stalls selling everything from street food and flowers to cuddly toys, books and clothes. Some of the famous snacks here are fried chicken, smelly tofu, pancakes, dim sum, sausage, to name a few. Just remember to bring some tissue!

Tips: Taman Connaught MRT Station located right in front of Cheras Sentral, a retail outlet that offers a huge variety of products and services.

Stadium Kajang Station

Medan Satay Kajang

Kajang is known as the ‘Satay Town’ since the 1960s and is famous among tourists and locals alike. Medan Satay Kajang is located within close distance to the Stadium Kajang MRT.

Sate Kajang Haji Samurai said to be one of the best. You can spend your time eating a variety of satay as supper while chatting with friends. Some of the favourite satay meat including rabbit, tripe, fish apart from classic choices like beef and chicken. Don’t forget to combine it with heavenly thick peanut sauce (kuah kacang) and nasi impit! This is one satay-eating experience you wouldn’t want to miss!

Address: Medan Sate Kajang, Gerai No. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 7 Jalan Kelab, 43000 Kajang, Selangor Darul Ehsan.
Opening Hours: 10.30am – 12:30am (Monday to Thursday), 4pm – 1am (Friday), 10.30am – 1am (Saturday Sunday)
Contact: +6013-330 3269
https://satekajang.com.my/

Categories
Tourism Malaysia

IN CHOCOLATE HEAVEN

A long, long time ago, the Mayans were believed to have first discovered cocoa, which they considered as a sacred treat. Nowadays, chocolates are still considered precious delights. They certainly make wonderful treats during festive seasons and who would ever say no to a chocolate souvenir! Yup, chocolates are some of the popular things tourists buy as souvenirs to bring home. Malaysia certainly has its own home-grown chocolate brands, but besides that, while you are here in Malaysia, why not indulge in something more chocolate-y? Perhaps a tea-time treat at a chocolate café…or a tour of a chocolate factory?

Malaysian chocolate flavours

Typically, you can always count on the standard flavours of chocolates such as white, milk and dark (with various percentages of cocoa). The chocolate experience is a bit novel in Malaysia, though, as Malaysian chocolatiers have taken chocolate-making a step further by infusing local flavours into their creations.

For instance, you find many chocolate brands in local shops, with unique flavours that you cannot find elsewhere. Try mango chocolates…or for those who love the King of Fruits, there are many durian chocolate selections…these are popular flavours among tourists. How about Gula Melaka chocolates and Teh Tarik chocolates? Well, we leave it to you to taste!

Here are some Malaysia-brand chocolates you may wish to bring home as souvenirs, which can be easily found in most supermarkets and shopping malls: Beryl’s, Camior, Daiana, Fidani, Hoko, Vochelle and many more.

Chocolate Cafés

Chocolate cafes are booming fast, almost overtaking those trendy cafes and their coffees! Well, it’s a blessing for all chocolate lovers, then. If you want to really savour your chocolate indulgence, make a visit to MyTown Shopping Centre in Cheras, where you will find chocolate decadence at The Dark Gallery (https://thedarkgallery.com). Reading the menu list itself will make you drool, but if you are overwhelmed by the choices, it’s wise to go with the tasting platter that combines their best chocolate pastries, ice creams and hot chocolates.

The pretty décor of Nayuta Chocolatasia (http://www.nayuta.com.my), meanwhile, will remind you very much of the Far East. The café, located within Isetan Japan Store in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, prides itself in the high quality of cacao beans cultivated right here in the Southeast Asian region, namely Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia and of course, Malaysia. They call themselves the “chocolate label produced by Asian people to suit the Asian taste palate” for milky, caramel-infused and soft textured chocolate. Spend an afternoon here to sample their delicate 8g bonbons with typical Asian ganache such as lime, pineapple and yuzu, or delight in a huge bar of chocolate with cashew nuts, dried mango and caramelised coconuts. With all that sweetness in your mouth and the artful décor, you will want to daintily sip that cup of hot chocolate!

Chocolate Museum

Looking for more? Apart from the trendy cafes, some established chocolate manufacturers have also introduced a specialty concept-store known as the chocolate museum.

One of these chocolate museums that the public can visit for free is the Chocolate Museum by Fidani (www.chocolatemuseum.my)   at Kota Damansara. Apart from the boutique shop selling more than 100 chocolate brands, the premise is well-equipped with a large gallery full of informative facts and displays about the art and science of chocolate-making. Learn about the history of cacao beans, the farming process and how it is transformed from bean to bar. They also have a live-kitchen demo by a chef on the makings of chocolates.

Another worth-visiting museum is the Beryl’s Chocolate Museum (www.berylschocolate.com.my), about 20 kilometres from the city centre. The museum is well-laid out with informative chocolate displays on history, chocolate facts and more. You’ll also be able to purchase all sorts of chocolate flavours from the Beryl’s brand.

Chocolate Cupid

For the serious chocolate lover, head over to the heart of Bangsar, where the Chocolate Concierge (www.chocconcierge.com) will be most happy to match you with the right chocolate that you’ve been craving for, selected from their large selection of chocolate flavours and recipes. And if your chocolate urge is still not satisfied, they’ll even custom-make the chocolate for you, of course, with a low minimum order. With passion-driven care for chocolates and bean origin, Chocolate Concierge is mighty serious about their bean-to-bar process, and it’s no surprise that they’ve been featured in the Michelin food guide as a rising chocolatier. Try the soft filling chocolate morsels with hints of cappuccino, strawberry, or wasabi, and their hand piped truffles. Or for something truly local, go for the freshly-made Pahang Origin Dark chocolate with cocoa nibs.