Friday 19 June 2015

Kuala Terengganu Trip : Day 5


By day 5 I was still clearly enjoying my stay with my parents. No, I did not miss my office at all hah..hah..hah... Life in Kuala Terengganu is so idyllic and relaxing, my worries, stress and deadlines were so far away. I slept very well every night and even managed afternoon naps, something which I could never do (I am talking about weekends of course) over here in PJ no matter how tired I am. 



We were supposed to revisit Madam Bee's but instead mum and dad took us to Payang Serai for lunch. It turned out to be a feast as you will see in a bit.

This restaurant is located at the Terengganu Waterfront and specializes in halal Chinese and Thai food. It was a very hot day (as was every day, no rain at all). We were early and since it was also a weekday, we practically had the whole restaurant to ourselves. Since this restaurant is just by the waterfront, you have a nice view of boats chugging by.



So scenic isn't it?




Mum told me that this restaurant is very popular and it can get very crowded in the evenings and weekends. Mum and dad have dined here before with my uncle and friends. Many VIPs enjoy dining here too. I spotted these two photos proudly displayed on the wall.



Here's a closer look at the photo of the co-proprietor, Ms Angie, with the dignitaries of Terengganu at the official launching of the restaurant on 18th October 2008.


Angie is the lady in red dress on the right.

Once seated, we were handed the menu and Angie came by shortly after. She is a very friendly lady and she helped us make the selections. There are quite a number of items on the menu, some familiar and some not so familiar.

Like the Mongolian Chicken. What the heck is that? I do remember seeing a Mongolian Chicken on Mr Arthur Wee's blog and it did get me curious then. We took on some of Angie's recommendations and while waiting for our order, brother and I took a walk to look at the surroundings.

Being a plant lover, I couldn't help noticing this Rangoon Creeper.



My dad has one at home. The flowers are incredibly beautiful and hang down in clusters.



There's a playground just outside the restaurant but it was too hot for kids to play.



Let's get on to the food. Angie recommended the something something prawns (sorry I forget the name) but mum and I are no fans of prawns. We were not so keen but brother was. So Angie served us a small portion. 



Yes, that's bubbles you see, as this came with a lighted candle underneath and the gravy was boiling away. It was rather good. Very lemak and fragrant. I quite enjoyed it.



The fish came next. It was the Siakap Tiga Rasa, deep fried fish with sweet, salty and sour sauce. Yes, I loved this a lot. I always love deep fried fish with sweet and sour sauce. Can't go wrong with this one and it was done to perfection.



For vegetables, we had Nai Pak Choy stir fried with garlic and salt. This is an ordinary and simple dish but much enjoyed nevertheless.



Next was the much awaited and very mysterious Mongolian Chicken. Angie told us that the sauce is their proprietary recipe and I am waiting for my auntie to come back from New Zealand to interrogate and pry the recipe from her hah..hah..hah...



The chicken is deep fried and coated with this very creamy and delicious sauce. It was very good. I can't quite put a finger on the composition of the sauce. I am thinking mayonnaise could be a component. I shall experiment when I am in my mad scientist mood one day.



Of course we had to have another vegetable. I think most of you know this one. It is known as the four bean something something and usually has petai in it. But there's no petai in this one. And it is the first time I see cabbage in a dish like this. With this appetizing mixed vegetable, our vegetable quota for the day was fulfilled.



Mum placed a large order for this Chicken Feet Kerabu. We love this kerabu but don't make it at home because who the heck has the time to debone chicken feet? Yes, horrifying stories on the internet on how these are deboned notwithstanding, we enjoyed the chicken feet kerabu very much. My only comment is that I would prefer spring onions and coriander as garnishing instead of Chinese parsley.



There you have it, our 6 dishes. All M size except the chicken feet kerabu which was L.

Eh, hang on a second. That wasn't all. There is one more. It came much later because Angie forgot to process that order.



This was apparently the piece de resistance - the crispy Oyster Omelette (Oh Chien) which Angie claims cannot be found elsewhere. When we were placing our orders, I thought that 6 dishes were already more than ample but brother was very keen on the oysters. 



I have never seen anything like this before. It was so crispy and served with a sweetish sourish sauce. By this time, I was really bursting at the seams. But I managed to taste this very crispy and unique concoction. I'll have to say that I loved this and wished that it had come to the table sooner. But having said that, mum and brother said that they prefer Oh Chien in its original form.

So there you have it, 7 dishes for 4 adults. We surpassed our "normal" quota and I guess we were hard pressed not to let go of any of the delicious selections hah..hah..hah..

Oh I forgot to show you my drink. Apple juice with asam boi, something like the calamansi lime and asam boi drink. 



It was just OK for me as I prefer apple juice on its own. Calamansi juice is the better partner for asam boi. Mum and brother felt the same.

I wanted to pick up the tab but mum insisted that this was her treat (again!). Never argue with mum, right?



Total damage to mum's purse RM208.90. Thank you very much mummy and papa for the scrumptious treat. My top picks from the lunch were the Mongolian Chicken, Siakap Tiga Rasa, Crispy Oyster Omelette and Chicken Feet Kerabu.



So should you find your way to Kuala Terengganu, make it a point to go to Payang Serai for a big treat and say hello to Angie!

35 comments:

  1. Everything looks so so good. For a prawn fish like that here, they would use our freshwater udang galah but that would cost a bomb. Fish and chicken look really nice too. Would love to try the oyster omelette - different from the west side of the peninsula and from the one in Kuching too.

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    1. It was a great meal, at the end of it, we were really stuffed! I guess we overdid it but I enjoyed all the dishes. Keep this restaurant in mind if you ever go over to KT.

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  2. All the dishes look so so good.. The first prawn dish looks like "sap nai yau" gravy (wet butter), looks good, especially if it's still hot, not so "nau".. The Mongolian chicken sauce looks like curry powder with mayo? Please re-create the dish and cook it, then post in your blog, k? I'm interested in the Mongolian chicken.. Your last dish is really interesting.. I can't figure out what is it until I read your description.. Oh chien? Certainly doesn't look like the ones I had before, but it's unique, crispy, crunchy, not oily also.. Yummmzzz..

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    1. Louiz, I will experiment and will add on your guess of curry powder hee..hee.. Everything was good and I ate rice!

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  3. The flowers is so beautiful and all the foods looks good...

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    1. Yes, saw beautiful flowers and ate good food...

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  4. Eh, you can get Mongolian chicken in Penang too. In fact most of the zhu char places in Penang will have it. It looks quite similar with what you had! I don't know if it is really Mongolian or just the name is Mongolian, but it really is delicious la!

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    1. Ya kah? If I come over to Penang I must make it a point to eat the Mongolian Chicken to check if it tastes the same :)

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  5. I have made a note to dine at Payang Serai and look for Ms Angie! If I mention your name, sure got discount or free dessert right? Wakakaka

    I like that hanging Rangoon Creepers! They look lovely like a bouquet of bridal flowers all arranged naturally with buds, blooms & leaves. Just need to find the bride to hold it.... *hint *hint

    I always love to dine or sleep at water front cafe/hotels with ocean view. So this restaurant is ideal as I plan to visit Trengganu & Kelantan to complete my footprints in all the states of Bolehland. Just left 2 states.

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    1. TM, do make it a point to visit Terengganu. I may be biased because I was born and raised there and to me Terengganu is the most beautiful place in the world because my heart is still there. Sigh...

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  6. The Mongolian chicken sure looks yummy.

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  7. Hai sis, i dont even know that restaurant exist eventhough I i'm from that KT town myself. Maybe I am not frequently balik kampung too. However, can't wait to try the dishes u've tried and for sure i google the menu from your blog first before ordering. Can't wait to have our buka puasa there.

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    1. Hi Yuza! Yes, if you balik kampung, you must singgah Payang Serai. Gerenti you and your family will be very satisfied with the food. Selamat berbuka puasa!

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  8. That vege dish fried in belacan is called 'Four Heavenly Kings' (say tai teen wong). That Mongolian sauce looks a bit like butter sauce. To get that kind of frizzy bits in the egg, that egg was deep fried in a lot of oil, I think. No need to pick lah....your top picks include almost every dish....wakakaka! :D 7 dishes for 4 persons....that's really a lot but, for PH's family, not a problem!

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    1. Oh...OK will remember that name now hee..hee... By now, you know I come from a family of big eaters :D

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  9. wah, your mum is so generous, it was like every meal there was her treat!! haha, but I guess she doesn't see you that often in a year?? furthermore one family all makan no kira who belanja also lah :)

    your mum sure knows all the great makan place.. this one looks good, I mean with the bonus seaview as well as the Rangoon Creper that you can admire and that I am so impressed that you know it's name while I will just call it "flower", hahaha!!! :p

    okay now let's look at the dishes.. I'm going to type everything in one comment as I am using my phone to spam you while commuting in the LRT, hehe!! with this, it's easier to compare whether your post is longer or my comment is longer!!! hahaha..

    the prawns!! hmm, me also not really fancy prawns, especially if prawns are not cooked alone.. my favorite prawn dish is very simple, just blanch it and the dip with soya sauce, simplest yet the nicest, of course the prawns have to be fresh enough.. this special prawns, maybe I'll just take one, because malas to shell, hehehehe..

    next the fish!! spot on, I guess what I thought is correct, you really love fried fish with gravy.. can see from the asam fish you had the previous day.. and frankly, I must say the same thing here, the gravy alone can make me eat the whole portion of rice!! :)

    the veggie, yes.. I always like veggie cooked this way, it will be more refreshing amidst all the heavy-flavor meat dishes, agree??

    Mongolian chicken?? I think I have heard, seen and even eaten this before, somewhere but I cannot recall whether it was in Msia or somewhere overseas.. the thick gravy is like some xxxxx and mayonnaise combination to me actually.. of course what is xxxxx?? you can't expect me who only tau makan to know right?? :p

    oh the "four heavenly kings", it looks a bit different from what we usually have here though.. we don't have the cabbage usually, though not everywhere gives petai since it's more expensive and not easily available I guess?? forgive me, because I don't eat petai.. :D

    the chicken feet kerabu, wow, sounds very appetizing already!! I can feel the crunchiness and sweetness and sourness and spiciness in my mouth now.. surely lots of tastes like a wave after another..

    ooh the oh-chien.. looks like the crispy type that I used to have in HK.. both the crispy and chewy types also I like actually..

    green apple juice with asamboi, that must be very refreshing.. hmm, I think it is nice also huh?? of course calamansi with asamboi or amble with asamboi also nice abs refreshing.. I guess the asamboi does the trick to enhance everything..

    so you had 7 dishes this round!! that's an achievement!! let's see if you will have even more in days to come, hihihihi~~

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    1. Wah ..comment nearly as long as blogpost lol..

      The food there nice la. Been there once.

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    2. I say, this SK punya commentary begitu panjang lebar!

      Yup, my mum is like that lah. She wants to give us lots of treats and we give her the pleasure of doing so. When she comes over to PJ, then me and my brothers turn to belanja pulak. I loved all the dishes at Payang Serai and will sure want to go there again next time. The 7 dishes was actually a bit too heavy lah hee..hee..next time we must pace ourselves maybe go there two or three visits to cover the dishes we want to eat.

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  10. Lots of good food, that's what holidays are for! haha. :)

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    1. Yen, holidays is the time to eat, be merry and get fat!

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  11. The Mongolian chicken looks like salted egg chicken

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    1. Libby, I agree but the taste is different.

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  12. The food looks fantastic, PH!! So sedap.. yes, the oyster omelette looks very crispy .. even bursting at seams, one must not miss a bite! Moms are moms..as long as their kids are happy, money is not a problem.. hahahaa...

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    1. Claire, I bet you are the same with your kids!

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  13. What a lovely feast! I have never seen such cripsy or-chien before. The best or-chien is from one particular stall in Malacca.
    7 dishes for 4 adults...next time wear sarong..!!! :)

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    1. hah..hah...me and my mum should take up your suggestion, Joyce!

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  14. Hi Phong Hong, thanks for sharing so much info on T'gganu and the places to eat. Once my hubby was there with some friends and came back telling me, he didn't get to try much food there. They never do 'homework' before visiting the state. Next time, I'll make sure he reads your posts first. Agree with you, never fight for the bill when ppl says they are treating. It's a form of respect and their pleasure to do so, that's how I see it.

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    1. Kimmy, I hope that you and your hubby get a chance to go to KT! Yes, it is a pleasure to give treats and if someone sincerely offers to pay, I let them do so. We often take turns to treat each other :)

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  15. What a yummy feast! Thanks for sharing this post. Have been thinking of visiting the east coast. Will remember this place if I do go to Trengganu. Very mouth-watering post!

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    1. Nancy, you must visit Terengganu! I hope that you can check out the makan places that I visited.

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  16. Kuala Terengganu sounds like a place to relax! You must be reluctant to return to KL.

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  17. I prefer the usual oh chien too because the crispy egg like this is too crispy until I don't think can taste the lovely taste of eggs.

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    1. You are like my mum and brother. For me, both are good and I will eat with gusto!

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