Ireland's Potato

We are wandering around the megamall and suddenly crave for some snacks before heading for our next schedule, and we stumble upon this place. I'm always a big lover to potato and of course this place will never escape my sensitive radar, The Ireland's Potato. I just couldn't resist not to try it out.


Here is the entrance of the Ireland's Potato first outlet located in Midvalley Megamall. By the time of my writing, there are 3 outlets with the others located in Berjaya Times Square and Sunway Pyramid.


As you can guess, the main highlight of this outlet is Potatoes. It claimed they serves the original Irish Potato and knowing nothing about Irish Potato here, I just got to try it out. There are not much choice but a few choice of sauces to go with the potato, easily explaining that it's a snacking place. However, the price explain otherwise. Read on.


The dining area set-up is small, simple yet elegant. There are some limited comfy low chairs around the area for a long seat, but it's a snack place, where you wouldn't spend too much time in this place. At least it doesn't encourage you to do so.


The kitchen area is open-concept and you basically can see exactly how your food is being prepared, and if you notice, it's very clean as well. Small and functional, much better than other snacking outlet. A plus point from me.

We made our order and take a seat beside the kitchen for a better view of what you are going to eat. It's quite a long wait of about 15 minutes when the outlet is empty.


We are a little hungry, so I took up the set menu that's priced at RM15.90. Included in the menu set is a box of potato with sauce of choice, a box of chicken balls, and a cup of drinks. I'm actually a little surprise with the pricing, but as a blogger, I'm out to try everything. With that price, I set the expectations very high, but a little disappointed. Let's go to the chicken balls first, I'm not sure why it's in the menu in the first place. It's just a normal chicken ball that you can find anywhere. It's obviously not the highlight and no reason for you to eat chicken balls from this place, especially at that price. There are easily 15-20 balls in the box, and I still don't know why it's in the menu.

Let's move to the real deal, potatoes.


For the sauce, I made the choice of Honey Mustard because I have a thing with mustard, don't ask. Take a bite, and immediately you will notice the potatoes are different. It's not local grown and I think it's imported because it does taste different. Ironically rather than calling it a potatoes specialist, might as well call it french fries specialist, but they couldn't because they are from Irish, right? The honey mustard sauce is nice and you basically really need the sauce to finish up the potatoes. Not to say it's not good, but the potatoes fries are thick and it's a little dry. Sauce does compliment the fries nicely, but how is it overall? I rate it ok only, not fabulous. Possibly I set my expectations high, but for that price, they can't blame me.


Funny thing the outlet claimed everywhere they are originated from Irish, and there is this famous quote saying in Ireland, there are two things in the world that can't be joked, 1st is marriage and the 2nd is potato. Really? I did a more detailed search online and found out that this outlet is originally from Hong Kong. It's franchise out to Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and etc. So call Irish Potato, ptui. I hate it when they pretend to be something else. Just tell the truth, don't trick consumers into thinking they are eating Irish potatoes please, as it will only last a month of hip in the age of technology. Can you imagine you meet an Irish friend and tell him the proverb, and his surprising facial looks?

Overall, I think the pricing is ridiculous for snacking. You can basically get a full plate of spaghetti from nice western restaurant anywhere and it's only for the potatoes here and the ridiculous chicken balls? Crazy enough and I'm not sure how they are going to sustain their bussiness. However, the spread of the franchise in multiple countries suggest otherwise. Despite all that, it's a nice potato fries they have there. Just that I cannot agree on the pricing. Your choice.

Ireland's Potato
LG-211 The Gardens
Mid Valley City
Lingakaran Syed Putra
59200 Kuala Lumpur
Opening Time: 10.00am till 10.00pm
Website: http://www.irelandspotato.com.my/

The Delicious

It's been a while and I'm sure people staying in PJ or KL is well aware of the new casual dining outlet named The Delicious. I've heard of the name long time before I actually see one with my own eyes. Are they really good? We are going to find out now. Within a short frame of time, they have already expanded to five outlets concentrating in KL & Damansara area.


The Delicious, we took our choice at the outlet in Midvalley Megamall and this setting is their very original setting throughout all their outlets. A simple word of Delicious in light blue, comfortable waiting sofa with lots of pillow. In fact, those pillows are available throughout the entire dining hall, just grab one if you love to hug it, while waiting for your food. A smily attendant at the front desk ready to serve us. She gives us a good smile before we make our way into the hall. These kind of small details is making my dining experience.


This is the general layout of the dining place in The Delivious, clean wooden floor, wooden tables, wooden chairs, comfortable cushion and lots of sofa around the edge. Airy and simple decocation like the bird cage with lightings are great. It's casual dining, the lights are enough, open area and you will hear lots of chatting, comfortable for a long chat.


The bar set-up, nicely done. People love to see this kind of set-up in the dining area, seeing the people working & serving drinks, not as boring as walls all around. It might not be functional, but I'm buying the idea of the bar. Encourage you to drink as well, good concept. The light setting at the reception area caught my eyes. Again, small details, arrg ...


If you notice, all funitures in the Delicious are woods, airy space, soothe lightings, it's so green and environmental friendly.


We made our ordered and took a snap of my wife again. Girls, love to seat on the sofa with lots of pillow. It's functional, she grabbed two pillow and placed it to support her back. No wonder she also recommends me to try this place out.


Alright, importantly is this is a place for food, so how about that? First to come is the Grilled Chicken Burger priced at RM22.90. For this price, I doubt you can find something similar quality outside. Remember my post earlier in T.G.I. Friday's? I think they can close shop if you can get something like this in The Delicious. The fries are delicious, buns are crazy crispy and the vegetables are fresh. Chicken is well cooked and sauce are incredible. A little "over" reacted here, must be the ambience.


Then my wife ordered the Carbonara Spaghettini priced at RM23.90. It's crazy creamy served with musrooms, beef bacon and oregano. Look at the cheese pieces that they put there, crazy. I always don't understand how come the restaurant's spaghetti can be so nice, while the one we bought from groceries are not as good. It's smooth and delicious. Creamy sauce together with the beef bacon is good combination as well. I wallop every bit of the sauce that day.


Since we are there, we wanted to try out their drinks as well. So we ordered my wife's favourite, Root Beer Float priced at RM8.90. It's good, smooth & tasty. For RM8.90, worth every cents.


Then of course the free flow of water in glass, I love it.

The total dining experience set us back RM64.05 inlcuding service charge 10% and goverment tax 5%. It's cheap if you ask me! If you take the float root beer out of the equation, the dinner is easily within RM50.00. That's some money well spent for a good dining experience and a good ambience for catching up with friends. It's one of my favourite casual dining now on Western Food and they are living up to their name, the food is Delicious and I'm definitely coming back.

In fact, I ate in The Delicious again last weekend. This time at One Utama Shopping Mall instead. Will get it post up later.


An outdoor set-up for The Delicious at Midvalley. They open up till midnight, and as when I took this photograph, the clock shown 11.00pm. It's still fully packed, I think the round shaped seat must be very comfortable! Delicious!


The Delicious
Midvalley Megamall
Lot G(E)-011 & G-001,
Ground Floor, Mid Valley City,
Lingkaran Syed Putra,
59200 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2287 5770
Opening Time: 10.00am till 12.00am (open at 9.00am in Sat, Sun & PB and serve breakfast)
Website: http://www.delicious.com.my/
Outlet Location: http://www.delicious.com.my/#location

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen's Fried Chicken

Going around the Midvalley recently for a walk and getting bored with the food there, and notice this new franchise fast food opening near the basement escalator. The Popeye Louisiana Kitchen, the fast food fried chicken franchise orignated from Louisiana by Al Copeland in 1974. It's couting nearly 2,000 outlets worldwide and still adding, putting it 2nd biggest fried chicken chain in the world, after KFC, of course.



As we entered the restaurant, the colour that they are using is orange & red. You know those franchise outlet are using a simple branding method, is through colour. Like McDonald is using yellow, Shell is using yellow & red, KFC using red, and etc. Colour is a simple and people can easily recognise it from far away, a successful branding I would say. The place is clean, probably because it's still new though.



As we are lining up for our turn to order, we take a quick look at the menu, and surprise to found that the pricing is quite attractive. A chicken combo of two piece is less than RM10 and three pieces is less than RM12. That's almost same price with KFC, but is their fried chicken better than the finger-licking-good piece? Need to find out.

Popeyes also features sandwiches and rice bowl. That's some funny stuff, but nearly RM10 for a rice bowl without drink is a little expensive for me. No doubt that dig up the curiosity of Malaysian, because I see almost every diner group do have a bowl of those, not sure nice or not though.


My wife is not very hungry so we opted for a three piece combo set that cost us RM11.95. Reviewing the chicken, the first bite tell me that it's not bad, but is it as good as KFC? I'm a big lover for the hot & spicy, and I can easily say the hot & spicy from KFC is still the best. But Popeyes fried kitchen is good as well. The meat is juicy, tendered and the skin is crispy. Juicy? Yea, true. Juicy, not something common in other fast food outlet. I love the chicken, it's less oily and something better than KFC's original piece. I'm not sure who can come any nearer that quality friend chicken in town.


The combo set is serve with the coleslaw and mashed potato. Both are equally good, but some will still opt for coleslaw from KFC. As said, it's fast food chain, what quality you are expecting? It's all the same anyway, similar at least.


And finally the drink. Nothing to shout about, but a good "carbonated" drink. You know there are those restaurant that does not mix their carbonated drinks very well and it ended up weird tasting or tasteless or carbonateless drink? At least my first encounter here is ok =)

It's a total of different experience from KFC altogether. I would say most of the KFC outlet are old and run-down, so this place is very clean and new to me. Maybe that spark off some interest for me to continue visiting it. However, if you ask me frankly on the chicken, Colonel's secret recipe is still the best. No harm trying out other outlet though like Popeyes, I love more variety and I don't want to see them closing down leaving me with little choice in future.

A dining in megamall for less than RM13 for two person, that's a bargain deal anytime. If you have limited budget and opt for a cheap / quick bite, do try it out. Maybe you have other comment than me do. Let me know how the rice bowl taste also ok. Cheers.

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
Branch Outlet: Midvalley Mega Mall, TTDI, Sunway Pyramid, Wangsa Walk Mall, Klang Parade, The Curve, Selayang Mall, Mines Shopping Mall (adding fast!)
Website: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Popeyes/83578324063#!/pages/Popeyes/83578324063?v=wall

Madam Kwan's Restaurant

Being around in Malaysia meaning we are expose to lots of food, and one of the local Nasi Lemak is all time favourite. My post earlier of Senibong Nasi Lemak is too far? Then don't look any further, go to the nearest franchise of Madam Kwan's Restaurant.

I'm sure lots of people know the famous Nasi Lemak from Madam Kwan, it's one of their in-house specialty which is well known to all. The Nasi Lemak name is even printed on their signboard up front below.


I visited the branch out at Mid Valley when we are shopping running shoes. It's located at the central court just right at the back nearby the escalators. It's early in the morning, but you can see that the place is already packed with people! That's true Malaysian enjoying their Nasi Lemak early in the morning for breakfast or brumch, to be more exact.


Being a restaurant, there are lots of choice in Madam Kwan. It's not exactly a cheap place for food in Malaysia, but some of it is really good. I'm not that rich to savour Madam Kwan everytime, so I've only try out their Nasi Lemak and another specialy, the Curry Fish Head. It's fabulous as well. I passed on the rest because I can find something similar out there for much cheaper price. Maybe later when I got a big pay cheque =)


When waiting for our food, we do some candid shots. If you noticed, I tweaked the setting again this time, causing a twist of orange shadow at the back. The place is quite dark, I set the metering to spot to give my face a good lift while over exposing the background. It's still bad, I'm still working on the best setting.


Wanting to try something different this time, I ordered the Curry Laksa Mee priced at RM12.90. The bowl is big, the curry laksa is gravy thick and creamy. It looks very red & spicy, but it's not very bad. It's a little spcicy but not something that will make you sweat. The curry laksa gravy is addictive, you basically can't stop when start eating it. It's one of the best curry laksa mee in town, except the one from Ipoh =) If you have a bigger crowd, try out the Curry Fish Head, heaven like. Or else, stick to Curry Laksa Mee like me.

Note: the mint leaf is good, if you don't eat it, stick it into the soup and take it out after that. It does give some extra spice up the gravy.


The Madam Kwan's specialty Nasi Lemak priced at RM14.90. Sorry, the colour looks bad. Fragnant nasi lemak served with curry chicken, sambal ikan bilis, dried shrimp floss, and hard boiled egg. When lots of people said the Nasi Lemak in Madam Kwan is good, then it must be really good, earning the reputation.

The rice is very very delicious, and exceptional sambal ikan bilis and curry chicken. The sambal and curry is very good, complement nicely with the rice. The most special spice-on is the dried shrimp floss that's served together. Adding it into every spoon into your mouth boost up the sensation. Hard to describe, try it out yourself. I love it.

Everything is good, but in comparison with Senibong Nasi Lemak, it's different. Let's say Senibong Nasi Lemak is the kampung version of best Nasi Lemak, and the Madam Kwan served the KL style or premium Nasi Lemak in town. It's different, but a good credit to Senibong for being able to match the expensive Madam Kwan's quality.


Acar (Nyonya styled salad) that's served together with the Nasi Lemak and sambal for the Curry Laksa Mee. The sambal is good, I finished the whole thing with my curry laksa.


She always eat very slow, small mouth but big eyes. Took a candid shot when she finishing up my bowl of curry laksa. We always share our foods, that way we can enjoy more of each other's life =)


Glass of water is free flow. Truely generous for a premium restaurant that served spicy food. Normally they charge up on drinks to make you pay, consider a tax to make their food price attractive, but not Madam Kwan!


Madam Kwan is local franchise brand and it's spreading out 5 branches across famous shopping mall around Kuala Lumpur.

Overall, the dining experience in Madam Kwan's Restaurant has been exceptional to me. It has never failed to tickle my food sensation everytime I eat there. It's not a place that I eat everyday, mainly because of the expensive price tag, but no doubt it's the best in town. I consider this as premium food, although it only cost me less than 40 bucks for the lunch.

The Nasi Lemak is best and the Curry Laksa Mee is good as well. Double thumbs up to the quality of food and ambience. It's one of the place that I will bring my overseas friend for Malaysian food, where else can you go for a truly premium Malaysian dining experience? Cheers.

Madam Kwan's Restaurant
Opening Time: 10.00am till 10.00pm
Branch Outlet: Suria KLCC, Pavilion, Bangsar, Midvalley Mega Mall, and Empire Subang.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Madam-Kwans/114374851369

Nando's Peri Peri

This time I included a boring post of food from Nando's. Yes, it's a fast food franchise available in Malaysia. Yes, it's not as famous as KFC or McDonald or Pizza Hut. But of all fast food outlets, I voted Nando's as the most healthy fast food outlet, not taking Subway into consideration of course. I used to love the Kenny Rogers, but somehow I read about the gravvy sauce story and that keeps me away from it (occasionally)

I first come across the Nando's during my study in United Kingdom. As we all know, shops in UK don't normally open till late night like Malaysia, except Pubs and Disco. Britains only got 1 entertainment at night, drink beers and tequila! Of course there are also fine dining, but those price in pounds is far out of my reach during my student time. Having fast food outlet serving cheapest food there, obviously it become our favourite hang-out area. McDonald is like hawker place there and the only place that stood out with good ambience and higher class rating is the Nando's.



I got a crazy friend that love the Extra Hot Peri Peri taste from Nando's, so whenever we ask him to give idea what to have for dinner, you can guess the answer. It continues and I'm not sure since when my wife is addicted to it as well. If you haven't know this yet, chilies is proven to assist in reducing cholesterol that in return help in reducing changes of blood clots. Try to look around your friends that love hot & spicy food, they are normally very slim & fit. It's said to help in keeping the metabolism high as well when you are flaming our of your mouth.



Our favourite franchise outlet is in Midvalley. 99% of the time when we eat Nando's would be in Midvalley. We were around the mall for the movie Inception. We walked in without any reservation, and tickets were crazily sold out even after almost 2 months on the big screen. Jaw-dropping, so we crossed our fingers and lined up. When it's out turn, we noticed there are a few empty seats around the middle section and surprise to find such good seat not taken up. Later we found out that someone didn't collected their tickets and it's released for us. Such a good timing!



Off the rail a little, the Inception movie is very good, and no surprise why the tickets were sold-out even after 2 months. The plot is good and there is a review saying the movie is too smart for ordinary people like us. Seriously, I still don't understand the part why the guy passed away in 3rd layer of dream got into Leonardo's dream? It's like hell or something? Anyone?

Ok, back to the food blog =) The outlet in Midvalley just gone through a renovation (mid life facelift?) and it looks and feel much better for diners. Earlier, the place is a little run-down, but now it is still packed and messy. Too many customers, I guess. While waiting, we snapped shots again.


That's my new hair-cut and she is using her "unique" tilted technique that I teached ages ago. Not bad, must be the Canon S90 =) hehe ...


Here come the food. Our favourite and tolerable level is Hot Peri Peri only, and we normally take up half bird with peri chips and rice priced at RM23.90 for sharing. The peri fries is fabulous and rice is exceptionally delicious. The chicken is flame grilled and no gravy is served. The only sauce you have is peri peri. Take it up with the bird, and you will soon running out of water. Find out your own level, then you will enjoy it.

The menu itself is also very rich with information, such as all birds in Nando's is marinated in 24 hours to ensure the flavour is absorbed before flame grill it to perfection.


The four type of sauce on the table, tomato sauce, garlic peri peri, hot peri peri, and extra hot peri peri. My favourite, the hot peri peri. Good for health =)


Bottomless Iced Lemon Tea priced at RM5.90. It's noted no sharing is allow, but hell to it. We always order one glass and share. We assured the waitress that we won't refill over 3 times, works like charm =) hehe ...

As said, this fast food is one of the healthiest thing you can find out there. So if you are opting for some chickens and fast food for your family, why not consider Nando's? It's delicious and keep you guys healthy at the same time. A little pricy comparing to others, but it's much worth it without the fats & cholesterol. Pure protein and some blood pumping experience, works for me.

Other choice of food recommended is such as Espetada that won't fail to attract crowd's attention and Peri Platter for friends' feasting with hefty price.

Nando's
Opening Time: 10.00am till 10.00pm
Outlet Location: http://www.nandos.com.my/sections.html#Our%20Restaurants
Website: http://www.nandos.com.my/

Yuzu Japanese Restaurant @ The Gardens

Long overdue post. I just found back the receipt and putting in the final piece of puzzle for this post. It's actually a little celebration for my wife on her birthday. We decided to go for the Avatar movie in the GSC Signature at The Gardens Midvalley and have a good dinner as well.

After collected our tickets, we walk around and has strong desire for Japanese Food. So we go hunting at directory board and notice this particular shop, named Yuzu Japanese Restaurant. We visit Midvalley very frequent but never notice existence of this shop, funny. It's not something that we going to miss, so we take a peek of the restaurant. Nice setting and decided to give it a try.


A simple setting of the Yuzu tabletop with fire grill in the middle that's covered.


My wife, busy tapping her HTC, obviously still working on her birthday. Sigh, got to work harder so she can relax.


We ordered the Sashimi Gozen at RM48.00 for sharing. It's a very generous set and I estimated this particular set will easily cost RM70-80 if you order separately. It come with 5 types of shashimi, Matsutake Dobin Mushi, chawan mushi, white rice, marinated fried fish, other appetizers and fruit.


The shashimi that come with the set is very good. I never expect that we missed out this jewel in our japanese food venture earlier. The texture of the shashimi when served is just in the right temperature and sipping it into the wasabi provided is heaven like. The particular prawn is incredible as well. Try it to find out, I can't put it into words!


We ordered also the Salmon Kabuto Yaki at RM16.00. Needless to explain, it's good and a generous portion as well. It's definitely one of the highest quality of Salmon Kabuto Yaki that I've tried.


Having a bigger stomach, I add in the Salmon Skin Temaki at RM6.00 for myself. It's a little pricy comparing to other restaurant but it's good stuff.


We ordered also the Ebi Tempura at RM25.00. It's not one of the best ebi tempura around, but good enough for my tastebud. Possibly I will not order this in my next visit because the serving is a little small and they mix it with other tempura.


We wanted to throw in some meat, so we ordered the Wagyu Isshiyaki at RM55.00. Yuzu has the whole range of Wagyu from the cheapest of RM30 till RM500. This particular cheap version taste very good but don't expect it to be the same as the normal Wagyu that you paid RM200-300 outside. I should probably try out the more expensive version and let you know.


Free flow of green tea in the house.

The total bill come up to RM172.50 including 5% tax and 10% service charges. I would say it's a very reasonably price restaurant with good quality food. I would prefer to have fewer good dining like this, rather than spending RM40-50 on other cheap / fast japanese shop.

Overall, a very good japanese restaurant that I would recommend to everyone. Thumbs up and try it out. Let me know you rating after that so we can share. Cheers.

Yuzu Japanese Restaurant
T236, 3rd Floor, The Garden Mid Valley City,
Lingkaran Syed Putra, 59200 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2284 7663 / 03-2284 7763
Location Coordinate: N3 07.172 E101 40.582

Fong Lye Taiwan Restaurant @ The Gardens

Walking around the Midvalley for window shopping and craving for something different because we have been in Midvalley for lots of time and running out of idea what to eat. So finally decided to try out our luck in The Gardens hoping to find something different. Found this restaurant in the 3rd floor, a Taiwanese Cuisine.


The main entrance of the restaurant located at the 3rd floor of The Gardens.



The decoration is tastefully done up in modern setting and the waitress are very attentive. It's quite pack when we got there, and as you can see, family lunch =)


Our choice of the day, the Taiwan Glutinous Rice Sausage priced at RM9.90. I;ve never been to Taiwan but heard this is one the famous snacks in Taiwan. Tasted good and special with the glutinous rice.


We are quite full so ended up with the Mix Seafood & Meat Set Meal priced at RM29.80. As you can see, the portion is huge including a bowl of rice with pork sauce, stir-fried chicken with vege, and pot of seafood soup.

We finished up the meal with an Orange Yogurt priced at RM7.30 and the total bill came up to RM53.35. The food quality is ok and a good place to go if you are same like me, bored with the rest of the food in Midvalley. The choice of food there is quite huge range and there are definitely more foods that I would like to try, so I will be back.

Fong Lye Taiwan Restaurant @ The Gardens
Location Coordinate: N3 07.145 E101 40.545