Jogoya Japanese Restaurant @ Starhill Gallery, KL [31st March 2010]

It was the 26th birthday of Michael, on the last day of March 2010. We decided to dine in Jogoya Restaurant to welcome Michael's 26th. Jogoya Restaurant which is located in Starhill Gallery, is not something new amongst those residing in Klang Valley. In fact, it has been in operation for years and is the first Japanese restaurant in Malaysia that offer a Japanese buffet dine-in style .

There are few session to be chosen from. The buffet lunch starts from 11.30am to 4.30pm, buffet dinner from 5pm to 930pm while the supper session starts at 9.40pm to 12 midnight. Since it was on the weekdays, we chose the supper session to avoid getting stuck in the KL traffic.

Jogoya Restaurant at Starhill Gallery

At the time of our visit, there was a promotion going on at Jogoya Restaurant for the supper session. For payment made with UOB credit card. each of the head charge from the same bill will be entitled to a 50% off.

Queuing up time during the supper session

We were granted the entry sharp at 9.40pm. First thing I did was to look for their fragrant coconut.

Coconut being stored in the refrigerator

Refreshing, sweet and fragrant coconut

For the food, Mei Kheng and I proceeded to the section that serve authentic Japanese dish, the sushi and sashimi corner.

The shell food corner

Sashimi salad
Chunks of sashimi being served with seaweed.

There are plenty of choices from the Sushi and Sashimi corner. But for me, I am just interested with the sashimi. This is where I can get loads of fresh salmon, octopus and tuna.

Slices of fresh sashimi

Variety of sushi

And what do we get from the Sushi and Sashimi Corner?

Only sashimi
The sashimi were alright, not at the best but enough to persuade me for a few more helpings.

Next, we headed to the Fried Corner. When I mentioned fried, it does mean that they do serve Tempura as well but with a wider choice of other variety fried stuff.

The Fried Corner

Choices of sauce for dipping

Nuggets, wan tan, satay and pandan chicken

One thing that I liked about Jogoya is their tempura that are freshly fried from the wok.

Shrimp tempura and other tempuras
Crispy and succulent. What else more can I ask from a tempura that are fresh from the wok?

Besides the food that are readily available for you, there are also certain food that you need to order before being served to your table. Upon seated, each table will be allocated with table clips and you will need to those clips into the allocated bowl of your desired dish to mark your order.

Just drop the clip to the allocated bowl of your desired food

I called it the Steamed and Vegetable Corner because this is the corner where it serves freshly stir-fried vegetables and steamed fish.

Steamed and Vegetable Corner

Only if I can taste the Alaskan crab

I ordered a steamed fish, flower crab and a stir fried vegetable from this corner.

Steamed Red Snapper fish
Fish was fresh as the meat were still juicy and did not smell fishy. The gravy were well flavoured too, blending in well to bring out the best of the fish.

Steamed Flower Crab
It was rather a let down. The meat was rough. Clearly the flower crab was not as fresh as it could be.

Stir-fried Lettuce
Time to balance the diet, so a plate of vegetable should do just right.

Just right beside the Steamed and Vegetable Corner, there are those food that are readily available namely stirred fried broccoli, scallops, prawns and jelly fish.

Some of the readily available food
Nothing to shout about, in fact some tasted way below average.

The exotic octopus shape alike
I did not try it as I find it too cute for my liking.

Jogoya Restaurant, even being a Japanese restaurant, they do serve other type of food as well. Just for those that do not really fancy Japanese food, don't worry, because they have a section that serve Chinese food.

Dim Sum corner
The all time favourite such as Siew Mai, Har Kow, Loh Mai Kai and Yu Mai are there for selection.

They do serve fried raddish cake, fried dumpling, steamed chicken feet and a few more to complete the selection.

Pick your choice

A fan of Chinese dessert? You will be more than happy, because they have a variety of Tong Sui for your selection.

Chinese Dessert aka Tong Sui
Namely a few, honey sea cocunut, ginkgo barley, and ginseng sea coconut.

Dim Sum tasted rather pathetic

Next, I moved on the Roasted Corner. This is the section where the roasted food can be found. They have teriyaki, roasted lamb, beef, chicken and even satay to meet your demand of the day.

The Roasted Corner

Just beside the Roasted Corner, they are food that are readily namely stir-fried salmon fish bone, grilled sweet corn and mushroom shaped fish paste.

Ready food beside the Roasted Corner

Some of the food that I took from the Roasted Corner

Just in case you had not enough of fish, there is another corner that serve stir-fried and even grilled fish. I named it as the Grilled Fish Corner. There were a few choices of fish to be cooked in the pre-described style. Just drop your clip and wait for it to be served to your table.

Grilled Fish Corner

Unagi
Soft, sweet and juicy.

One of my favourite corner in Jogoya is the Beverages and Fruits Corner. At this corner, you can find plenty of beverages ranging from fruit juice to Chinese tea. Surely there will be one that fit in to your choice.

Beverages and Fruits corner

Coffee machine

Not a fan of coffee? Don't worry, because they have a corner that offer a variety of tea. Just pick your personal favourite tea bag and off you go with the tea pot to enjoy your favourite tea. Self-service though.

Pick your own tea pot

For those that fancies cocktail, rejoice because the beverages corner do serve a few cocktails as well.

The cocktail that caught my attention
Tasted strong, sweet and sexy. The Pledge of Love, indeed.

Fruits Corner

Fruits are just fruits, and it should not be considered as desserts. In Jogoya Restaurant, they have their very own desserts corner. With plenty of choices ranging from konyaku jelly, mochi, cookies to cakes, it seriously give you a big headache.

The Desserts corner

I would like to try each of it but obviously, my stomach is nearing my capacity. Well, just a few of them and I shall reserve the rest on my next visit.

Mochi and Apple Pie

Desserts again? No, this is the Ice Cream corner. Oh well, another favourite corner of mine.

Haagen Dazs Ice Cream
I don't get to Haagen Dazs ice-cream all the time. Time for some the ice cream feast.

For those diet watcher, there is another New Zealand Natural corner that serve lower fat ice-cream.

New Zealand Natural ice cream

Not only they serve ice-cream, but there are pancakes that are freshly made to compliment with your ice cream. I likes!

Haagen Daz with pancake

New Zealand Natural ice cream
A scoop of chocolate and strawberry flavour to end my eating journey for the session.

Random faces on Michael's 26th

Happy 26th Birthday Michael
No cakes, but the coconut to represent 2 and 6!=)

I pretty much enjoyed the dining session. Ask me to choose my favourite corner, and I will choose the Beverages, Ice Cream, Sashimi and Desserts corner. Wait, the Steamed Fish and Stir Fried Vegetable is my favourite too. I guess almost each corner is my favourite too as each of the corner offer different type of food.

Each pax is priced at RM 78++ for buffet lunch and supper, and RM 88++ for buffet dinner respectively. No doubt, it is not a cheap buffet, but if you are person that craves for a lot of food especially Japanese, then this might well be your cup of buffet. Do check out from the website at http://www.jogoyarestaurants.com/pricing.html from time to time for their promotion.

Atmosphere: 7/10
Food: 6/10
Price: 6/10
Verdict: Not entirely a Japanese buffet as they have many types of other food as well.

Jogoya Japanese Restaurant
T3, Relish Floor
Starhill Gallery
181, Jalan Bukit Bintang
55100, Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Tel: +603 - 2142 1268
Fax: +603 - 2148 8171

Taipan Food Garden @ USJ 10, Subang Jaya

They claimed to be the largest food court in Taipan offering 5 star ambiance with coffee shop price. Even my uncle knew the existence, telling me that it offered a great ambiance with an area specially designed for couples.

How can I not checked it out since my house to Taipan is within 10 minutes of drive (minus the jam). Going alone will make it as though I'm very desperate. I put that visit on hold until a previous catch up session with Mei Mei and Nai Shan. The food court, named as Taipan Food Garden is located in USJ 10, directly opposite Mcdonald's.

Taipan Food Garden

First impression that it gave me were the "over do" landscaping within the premise. Whilst I understand that the theme should be based on "greens", but seeing too many fake plants everywhere really put me off. The wide span area was large though, offering 3 sections over 2 floors within the premise.

Aerial view from the second floor

The couple area is located at the second floor, offering the view of Taipan. Two dangling rattan chair and a table, and that makes up an area for a couple.

The couple table

Specially designed area for couples

Normal area on the second floor

Just right beside the couple area, they were a few tables available for a larger group. Still offered the view of Taipan, with the difference that it can fit in a larger group of up to 6 people.

Luminous table

We did not order any drinks since we bought some cold desserts from the roadside stall. We were glad that the workers there did not forced us to order some drinks and allowing us to enjoy the dessert as well.

Cold dessert from the street

There were a lot of food stalls offering local and western delicacies. However, we only opted for some finger food since none of us felt hungry.

Fried Potato Wedges (RM 4)
Mei Mei wanted some french fries badly, but after going around, this is the best version of "french fries" offered by the food court. No mild crisp on the outside and texture is hard within. Below average stuff.

Keropok Lekor (RM 4 per plate)
Freshly fried from the wok, and this gotta be our best finger food for the session.

Pan cake with fillings (RM 2.50 for half a pancake)
We ordered a strawberry and chocolate fillings. Not bad but not fantastic either, but since I love strawberry and chocolate, I'm the one that have the most of it.

We pay a visit to the washroom before heading home. I gotta admit that the washroom did impressed me with a very cheerful design.

Best landscaped food court toilet ever

The 3 white mouse

I can't really give my opinion on the food since we just had some finger food for the session. About the ambiance, it could have been better should they use more "real" plant than those fakey ones.

Fried potato wedges: 4/10
Keropok Lekor: 7.5/10
Pancake with fillings: 5.5/10

Atmosphere: 6/10
Price: 6/10
Verdict: Not really a garden after all, but the atmosphere is definitely better than most food court around.

Taipan Food Garden
2A-A, Jalan USJ 10/1B
47610, UEP
Subang Jaya
Selangor

GPS Coordinates: N3 02.897' E101 35.147'

Restoran Chuan 100% Klang Bak Kut Teh @ SS 14, Subang Jaya

It is well known among the Subang Folks that SS 14 is a place that are fills with Bak Kut Teh stalls. Some may have been there for years, whilst some may have only been there for months.

Located at the row of the SS 14 shoplots, this Restoran Chuan Bak Kut Teh complete the stretch of the Bak Kut Teh stalls. I have known the existence of this stall for some time but have yet to try it until I finally decided to.

Restoran Chuan 100 % Klang Bak Kut Teh

On my second visit, it was after the lunch hours. Better at this kinda of time because it offered a quieter ambiance to enjoy my Bak Kut Teh.

Besides Bak Kut Teh, they do serve other dish as well, namely Chicken Wine Soup and Steamed Fish Head. I have yet to try any of their specialties but would love to when there is a larger group of people.

Their specialties

The station to prepare BKT

A pot of Tau Pok

Oil Fritters (RM 1 per plate)
Extra snack during the BKT meal. Best to dip in the soup.

What's your flavour?
I'd always like to have both minced garlic and cili padi to go with my BKT. I'm not a fan of garlic until I try them with BKT, and yes, I'm addicted to garlic since.

I don't really need to wait long for my BKT to serve even it was during the peak hours of lunch or dinner time. At most 15 minutes, and a claypot of BKT will be served right on the table.

Restoran Chuan 100 % Klang BKT (RM 9 per pax)
The soup is not as thick as those being served in Klang. But I liked it this way, as the soup is clearer in taste but still offer adequate herbal taste accompanied by the appropriate sweetness. It is good to note that the soup were less oily as well.

This stall served the dry version BKT as well. For those that wondered what dry version is all about, the BKT ingredients are being stir fried instead of being served in the soup. You will find most of the dry version BKT consists of cuttlefish and ladyfingers.

Dry version BKT (RM 9 per pax)

The gravy is thick, well flavoured and coated the ingredients perfectly. You will have no complain if you are a fan of dry version BKT.

Unlike most BKT stalls practice, they don't chunk in the big bones to make up the BKT. The portion of their servings are very generous too. It's a standard practice for me to order 2 pax when I'm having it with my parents. 2 pax of BKT which inclusive of rice and drinks would not breach the RM 20 mark and it feed us full.

Atmosphere: 5/10

Food: 7/10 (non-halal)
Price: 8/10
Verdict: Decent Bak Kut Teh with a huge portion. Value for money!

Restoran Chuan 100% Klang Bak Kut Teh
66, Jalan 14/2
Subang Jaya
47500, Petaling Jaya
Selangor

GPS Coordinates: N3 04.366' E101 35.424'

Best Pick of Mum's Dish [Feb & Mar 2010]

It's a Sunday afternoon, but it doesn't really feel like a Sunday because the clouds were shedding the sun. I have yet to have my lunch, just feel like lazing in the house. Mum meanwhile has went out with dad, leaving me home alone.

I looked on to some of my unposted pictures and realized that I did snapped some of my mum's cooking. In fact, it has been a while since I last post about my mum's cooking. I suppose this is a good time for me to update the collection of my mum's favourite dish because when you are hungry, you tend to remember the taste of the food better.

Braised Pork with Egg
Pork belly was used together with hard boiled egg, and at times mum will slip in some tau foo. The gravy does has a mild hint of herbs and it is flavoured mainly by good grade soya sauce. Good with plain rice, and I'd always gulp in extra rice when mum prepares this.

I'm not really a person that fancies fish a lot. But since young, mum has always forced me to take more fish and keep telling me that "Eat more fish and you will be smarter". She still does that until now.

Steamed Tilapia Fish in Spicy Sauce
The correct term should be "chiong cheng". It is not as spicy as it suggested. I have never liked tilapia fish due to it's 'muddy' taste. But this is not an ordinary Tilapia fish. In contrast to the typical Tilapia fish, the meat are juicy and succulent, thanks to my Uncle who personally rear them using water from the mountain river.

You may refer it to as fried noodles or fried pasta. But anyway, it make it to my pick of the month.

Mum's Fried Pasta
Mum always put in extra ingredients when it comes to frying noodles. This time round, we had a very generous servings of fish paste fillets (those in golden brown colours). There were slices of mushrooms and pork fillets too.

Resemblance of fried Pan Mee
Think of Pan Mee, but the texture of the noodles is slightly thinner. Seriously I'm running out of words to describe the taste, but can you imagine every mouthful of the noodles is accompanied with the yummylicious fish fillets, mushroom and pork fillets? Hence, it gotta be my pick for the month.

Not a very good idea to blog about my Mum's cooking when I'm hungry. I can hear my stomach drumming loudly now. Alright, I need to go and get some food now