Before I get into the subject matter, let me start my cerita from the beginning. I was coming back from lunch when I passed by this banner.
It was outside BBQ Ma Eul Cup Bab, a restaurant I visited (only once) four years ago. Then I saw their lunch menu that they placed outside.
I thought the lunch sets were quite nice and I dropped by a few days later.
I was actually early. It was something like 11:40am when I walked in and the service staff showed me in. It was only while waiting for my food that I realized their operating hours are from 12:00pm to 12:00am.
I ordered the Kimchi Stew (just to taste another kimchi stew not cooked by me) and a mug of iced green tea. While waiting, I was entertained by K-pop groups on TV with their catchy songs and killer dance moves.
My kimchi jigae came with rice and 6 banchan. The tea was very diluted.
The kimchi jigae was pretty good but all you get is just lots of kimchi.
But I eventually found one or two small pieces of meat. From this meal, which was all right, I have decided that I don't need to try anymore kimchi jigae because the one at home got standard lah heh..heh...
Some days later, I returned wanting to eat Bibimbap. This time I made sure not to be too early but I was still early, arriving 10 minutes before opening time. The staff (a different one) told me that they only start at 12:00pm and turned me away. Oh well.
If the boss were there (or if I were the boss or the staff-in-charge) I am sure the early bird would have been seated and given the menu. After all, I was 10 minutes early. Had I showed up an hour or even half an hour early, I would understand.
Never mind. I go elsewhere since the food is not that outstanding to warrant coming back in 10 minutes time.
Oh yeah. I went to get me a bowl of porkie goodness at a place that opens early. I love eateries that open at 11:00am or earlier.
The trotters were superb! This is better than bibimbap (no, not sour grapes, please).
I couldn't resist getting something cooling too. This one is with mango.
Nice!
I tried the Taiwan Salted Fried Chicken earlier.
It was so good!
Crispy and crunchy and moist. Very tasty indeed and not too salty at all.
I couldn't help it. Sea coconut this time.
Well, Taiwanese food that I enjoy, finally.
I like that Taiwan braised pork plus salted vegetable rice. Waiting for Rice King, the Taiwan rice franchise to open here, still renovating.
ReplyDeleteWell, I can't wait to read your review once Rice King is operational! Hope that the food will be good.
DeleteYay! Finally a Taiwan cuisine eatery that got your approval. Your home cooked kimchi jigae is the best! Good to see you writing more in this month of dec.
ReplyDeleteYup, finally I can say that Taiwan food is good :)
DeleteI so jelly u can go out eat. I scaredery ket so I still don't dare eat outside. ๐
ReplyDeleteI noticed that more and more people are coming out to eat. Perhaps you are wise to continue to eat at home.
DeleteI've only had BBQ here (and it was pretty decent), so I don't know how the rest of the food taste like. If they have that rice balls dish with seaweed, perhaps you can try that. I think the set is still very reasonable for RM19 as you get a stew, rice, 5 banchan, 1 soup & drink.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I wonder if there's any relation between the Taiwanese and the Teochews...hah..hah! Teochew also make braised pork like that and the salted vegetable dish you like so much, I swear it looks exactly like that too. Since your partner likes to eat porridge, you should get him to take you to that place in Seapark that sells Teochew porridge and you can try the braised pork & salted vegetable to see if it's same same! ;) That Taiwanese fried chicken, they sell it as a street snack. If you like the coating on it (I think it's a mixture of plum & 5-spice powder, it can be too flavourful at times for me), they sprinkle that too on sweet potato fries too (if they have that here, you can give it a try).
Their set lunches are pretty good and reasonable priced. I saw the rice balls that you mentioned on the menu. I might try that one day.
DeleteMaybe the Taiwanese and Teochews have somehow borrowed from each other hence the similarities. The fried chicken coating (thankfully) did not have any plum flavor. Hmmm...I am not too sure if I detected 5-spice powder. Let me go and eat that again to confirm hee..hee..
Oh, you don't like plum flavour then? I'm almost certain that 5-spice and plum powder will be the two ingredients that get sprinkled on the sweet potato fries (I actually like the plum powder but the 5-spice can be too strong). Plum powder is probably not on the fried chicken (replaced with maybe paprika or some form of chilli powder like cayenne) although 5-spice is quite certain to be there as that is what gives Taiwanese fried chicken its distinctive flavour (maybe they used too little and you couldn't detect it). I'm sure you'll be having the fried chicken again (or want a good reason to have it again) just to confirm if the 5-spice is there...hah..hah! :D
DeleteI had plum powder on sweet potato fries at Monga Chicken and I thought it was awful >.< I have yet to go back to try the fried chicken again but I expect to go soon because I want to eat the dessert again hee..hee...
Deletethe food looks so good that I can imagine, I could not resist it:)
ReplyDeleteI love it that I can have a delicious meal and a nice dessert afterwards. So fulfiling!
DeleteWe had lots of delicious food in Taiwan. Everywhere we sent seemed super fresh. Have not tried any here in KL.
ReplyDeleteI hope that I will be able to visit Taiwan someday. I will definitely want to experience the street foods.
DeleteAh, so you went to try the Salted Fried Chicken. The dessert looks huge and satisfying.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's huge and the main meal itself is also huge. No problem for big eaters like us!
DeleteI like Taiwan desserts a lot! In fact I miss Taiwan food... they suit my taste buds...
ReplyDeleteThe desserts are very refreshing. I am now sort of addicted!
DeleteThe dessert... I want!
ReplyDeleteLOL! Very nice, Taiwan ais kacang :)
DeleteIf I am to choose I will go for Taiwanese. Hehe. Of course the one at home more standard. Kalah all those shop. Hehe
ReplyDeletehee..hee... I am blowing my own trumpet!
DeleteFinally it's verified tht your homemade kimchi got standard๐ U can open kimchi shop already la...the porky rice looks good!
ReplyDeleteYa lor, some more not paiseh to tell people. LOL!
DeleteI have eaten there 3 times and loved their BBQ and other authentic dishes. The bosses are very typical and polite Korean restauranteurs. They used to serve free coffee and ice cream at the counter which is a practice in Korea.. I am sure they would be furious if I relate to them about the staff turning you away. They lost one precious customer.
ReplyDeleteI must go in the evening to taste the BBQ. On weekends, they are very busy, with tables outside the restaurant.
DeleteThe pork trotter/knuckle (I assume, from the look of the bones) seem like very well braised, fall-off-the-bone type?
ReplyDeleteYes, braised till tender and fall off the bone. I love it!
Delete