Ocean Shabu Shabu @ Sri Petaling

During the first few days of Chinese New Year, the roads around KL are very quiet. This is the only time where we experience smooth journey from one hot spot to another. But another difficulty arises when finding for food! Most Chinese restaurants are closed, and everyone flocks to here- Ocean Shabu Shabu, the only restaurant opened along Jalan Radin Bagus, Sri Petaling. 

This Hong Kong styled Shabu Shabu restaurant is famous for its colorful meat balls. Looking at its appearance, I'd wish to try but at the same time wonder what makes the balls looks blue and orange. 

Left: Thai Tom Yam Broth (Half) @ RM 7.50 (泰国冬炎汤半份)

Right: White Fungus Papaya Broth (Half) @ RM5.00 (木瓜雪耳汤半份)

From the hot steaming broth,  the tom yam soup base of Thai style is really spicy and excites me very much. That's really good for those who love spiciness! As for the clear white fungus papaya broth, we're served with a generous amount of white fungus in the soup, which makes it flavours like a mild herbal soup. 

   #1 Pork Loin @ RM16.00 (特级猪肉片)

The raw pork looks good and tastes even better when it is simmered in the soup for 15 to 20 seconds and then eaten immediately! The quality of the pork is not bad, and most importantly it is fresh enough to savour my taste. 

 #2 Drunken Chicken @ RM16.00 (花凋醉鸡)

The chicken slices are marinated in a mixture of wine and goji berries. After cooking them in the broth, the meat is unexpectedly firm yet tender when chewed. The texture is good but I can barely taste the wine absorbed in the chicken. 

 #3 Mixed Mushroom @ RM16.00 (有机什蘑菇 )

After all the meat foodstuff, we also order a platter of mixed mushroom for more vitamins and minerals! My favourite button mushroom is there too :) 

#4 Four Seasons Meat Ball @ RM12.00 (四宝丸)

Each piece of meat balls costs RM1. These special meat balls are all homemade with crunchy texture. However, the size is too small to fill my belly.

#5 Yam @ RM5.00 (炸芋头)

With the flourishing business around the festive season, which restaurant doesn't grab this golden opportunity for a price hike? From the bill, there's an additional item: 

"CNY Charge : 10% of the subtotal"

If you spend RM100 there during Chinese New Year, then you'll be charged an extra RM10 because these waiters and waitresses serve you during the public holidays. 

Verdict:
1. The overall taste is just so-so, perhaps it's due to the huge crowd during the festive season.
2. The foodstuff are fairly fresh, due to the public holidays I think.
3. The white fungus papaya soup base is really a clear soup that satisfies me very much!

Ocean Shabu Shabu 
47, Jalan Radin Bagus, 
Bandar Baru Seri Petaling, 
57000 Kuala Lumpur.
Contact: 603-9058 2889
Website: www.oceanshabushabu.com.my

Disclaimer: Photos taken with Samsung Galaxy S Plus

Daorae Korean BBQ @ Sri Petaling

Happy Lunar New Year of Dragon!

According to my family tradition, a Reunion Dinner (团员饭) is a must during the Lunar New Year's Eve (除夕夜) although we stay at KL and don't celebrate the night with my Grandmother. Without any miss, my Mama cooks a full 8-course Chinese meal for the family and we'd spend the whole night together.

However, there's a slight change this year--- Mama doesn't cook at all , since she is busy preparing for prayers at night (Although she does the same each year). And we head outside for our reunion session. Frankly, I'm surprised that my Dad chose a Korean BBQ Restaurant for a typical Chinese reunion dinner!

In Daorae, besides the normal sitting area, they also have a dining area with tatami style, and obviously you will need to take off your shoe before entering the area. For a perfectly comfortable dining, each table is equipped with a white long exhaust chute, which can be pulled down to be as close as possible to the BBQ area to suck the smoke. 

Here's the cosy area you can sit while waiting to be seated. The traditional furniture set amazes me upon entering the restaurant. To complement with the Korean theme, this waiting area is also equipped with Korean magazines :)

 #1 Salmon Yee Sang

Being a part of the conservative family, Prosperity Toss is a must for us but sadly, Daorae doesn't provide any. They are, nevertheless, kind enough to allow us bringing in Yee Sang from another restaurant to dine here. Well, I'm quite satisfied with their services because most restaurants usually don't allow any outside food. 

Brought from an ordinary Chinese restaurant around my house, of course the quality may not be as promising as those offered at hotels. But a simple Yee Sang is good enough for a small family like mine, because every year we have the same purpose that is to get together once again and welcome the new year!

 #2 Dolsot Bibimbab @ RM20

A rich layering of fresh, seasoned vegetables, and crab sticks, is served in steaming hot stone bowl over a bed of steamed rice topped with a fried egg, and served with Korean chilli paste. The condiment is served in a separate plate and you can mix them according to your preference. 

In other restaurants, the waiter would perform the mixing for us but here we have to do it by ourselves. I love the steaming hot rice that satisfies my empty stomach but it would have a greater taste if the chilli paste can be sweeter and more spicy. 

 #3 Pa-jeon @ RM25

This delicate savory pancake comprising of fresh seafood in batter topped with spring onions is my all-time favourite! I personally enjoy dipping this Korean pancake into the mixture of soy sauce and vinegar with chopped spring onions. Without this condiment, you can taste an original taste of seafood especially the baby shrimps and chopped clams. 

#4  Dderk-bokgi @ RM30 

Just like us Chinese, Koreans have their own version of Nian Gao as well. This platter of stir-fried traditional Korean rice cake in hot spicy chilli sauce works best as an ultimate snack or even a meal for a light eater!

Along with the chopped cabbage, onions and eggs, we happily stuff our belly with this spicy goddess.  Slobbered with spicy chilli paste, I have a good time with the soft yet chewy rice cakes. Despite of its fiery red presentation, the sauce is over-sweetened in my opinion.

#5 Kimchi-Jeon-Gol @ RM55 

Another popular meal during Chinese New Year is a hot pot, stuffed with a vast variety of ingredients. Hence we opt for a spicy combination of pork, kimchi, tofu and Korean noodles simmered in a rich kimchi soup served in a cast iron pot.

Looking back at its price, this hot soup can reasonably serve up to 3 persons or even 5 ladies because the ingredients used can easily fill up your stomach! 

When the Korean noodles are completely cooked, you can compare the amount of noodles alone with FOUR (4) packets of Maggi noodles! Note that it has not include other materials in the broth.

A sumptuous and hearty serving of tummy-warming concoction; and not too spicy too!

 #6 Vegetarian Chawan Mushi 

Apart from this tasty steamed egg, some Korean side dishes (Ban Chan) are served to perk up our appetite before the meats come into play. However, the banchan served for us that night is very limited. Only 4-5 varieties, I feel this is much lesser as compared to other Korean restaurants. Moreover they only refill the banchan upon request.

#7 Fruit Slices
This plate of watermelon slices are complimentary dessert as an endnote for the dinner.

#8 Korean Barley Juice

Apart from the Korean Green Tea served throughout the meal, we are given a glass of Korean Barley Juice at the end of the meal as well. To my surprise, this is definitely not the Sikhye, a traditional Korean beverage made with barley malt powder and rice. But its taste is sweet and cold, just like the barley malt!

We also ordered two bowls of Steamed Rice @ RM5 each,

summing up the bill to RM154 including service tax, and an additional RM48 for the Prosperity Toss. 

Therefore, the pre-Chinese New Year dinner only costs RM202 for 5 pax! 

Verdict:

1. All in all, the dinner is acceptable for me although the taste is mediocre.

2. A spacious, nice ambiance is a right deal for my family.

3. I don't know bout other Daorae franchises around Malaysia, but this one at Sri Petaling has a huge room of improvement on the services.

Daorae Korean BBQ Restaurant

21-1, Jalan Radin Anum, 

Bandar Baru Seri Petaling,

57000 Kuala Lumpur.

Contact: 603-9057 3617