Having tried Menya Hanabi (in KL) and Kajiken, I have to say this came as a wonderful surprise. Kokoro is now my favourite mazesoba joint. The whole wheat noodles, thicker than ramen but thinner than udon, are perfectly sized with a nice bite. They also make for a great vessel to transport all of Kokoro’s secret minced pork sauce in every mouthful.
Toppings wise, there’s a good amount of spring onions, seaweed and freshly grated garlic, that when mixed with the egg and pork produces a delicious, umami sauce. But don’t miss out on the housemade kombu vinegar on the side, which adds a nice zing!
Given the price tag, we were expecting firm, flaky fish fillet with this curry. While it was disappointing to get somewhat mushy fish in its place, gotta say the gravy was delightfully rich and buttery.
Got this with #BurppleBeyond’s 1-for-1!
Favourite part of an Indian meal is bread! This stuffed kulcha with a choice of potato, onions or cheese (we went with potato) was wonderfully warm, holding a nice creamy layer of potatoes within. Must-have to scoop up gravies!
Despite its upscale setting, Tandoor serves up familiar and approachable Indian dishes like this lamb — the gravy was tasty and it came with tender shank and goodness-filled bones.
Served as part of the lunch set or a la carte (still a steal), the fish soup condenses intense oceanic flavours in every mouthful. And while you might think that gets a bit cloying, its mild tanginess keeps you going at it.
The soup is served with a side of croutons, cheese and a super tasty Thousand Island-like sauce to help thicken the soup to your liking.
Looking back on that moment when the staff offered us deer pate, I now kind of regret not taking him up on it. The chicken version was excellent. While it appears deceptively grainy, the spread was smooth, rich and creamy.
Despite the affordable prices, this French joint doesn’t skimp on feeding you bread and butter, so you can be sure to mop all that deliciously piquant pate up. It also comes with a kickass onion jam that helps the dish along.
In place of Souper Tang in Mid Valley is now Awa Mee Bar by the same group. I found myself a fan of the new concept — al dente noodles, deeply flavoured soup and a variety of toppings!
The seafood broth is a touch lighter than the umami pork soup, but tasty nonetheless, and comes with tons of prawns, clams and mini meat dumplings. That alone feels like a meal, but brace your tummy for noodles.
The spicy version is laced in a mild, ma la-like chilli oil, minced pork and deep fried things (enoki and beancurd skin). Worth a try!
While the pizzas were surprisingly delicious, this came slightly underwhelming. The flavour’s decent, having peppered enough garlic and cheese onto the plate, but surely this portion doesn’t warrant its price tag. Come for just the pizzas please.
What a pleasant pie this one was. Portobello, mozzarella, (kinda sad) rocket leaves and a good dash of truffle oil on crisp, thick crust. Would be happy to return for a no-frills pizza lunch!
New casual pizza eatery here in Mid Valley, and apparently Times Square too.
For the price it’s offered at, the pizza’s great for an easy meal. That smoky, lightly charred crust is surprisingly well done, with tasty enough beef pepperoni and meat strips toppings to boot. And if you’re one for heavier flavours, they’ve got a Tobasco-esque housemade hot sauce with a good kick!
Nestled in a classy alcove just beyond the new Sushi Ryu, Bar Shake is definitely one to look out for especially if you were a fan of Osamu Kinugawa back in his Damansara Perdana days.
Made for the opening gig, this Sakura Sake was a superbly interesting blend of the fragrant floral scent with smooth sake. Detected a hint of salt too, which adds a savouriness — a welcome change from your usual sweet cocktails.
Steven’s ckt scores high on the wok hei scale, and isn’t so greasy that it leaves you feeling sick after a wolfing down a full plate. Also love that he uses fresh, fat cockles and prawns.
