NINJA JOE - DARING TO BE DIFFERENT

Ninja Joe is not just another fast food outlet. No, not really!

At Ninja Joe, they serve Pork Burgers. Yes, really!

By chance I strolled past this outlet after watching Shrek Forever After and almost instantaneously their bright red banner caught my attention. Full marks to the proprietor of Ninja Joe for daring to be different. 

Pork Burger is not a new innovation though in most countries it is more common to find hamburgers filled with a patty of ground beef. I was first introduced to Pork Burgers in Hong Kong many years ago and had it again during my trip to Bangkok end of last year. In our country though fast food outlets serving non-halal meat is unheard of, until now.

At Ninja Joe, one can select from six different flavours.

And interestingly the average price of a Pork Burger here decreases exponentially with the number of burgers purchased. Pay RM5.50 for 1 burger or RM9.90 for 2 burgers or RM12.90 for 3 burgers or RM23.90 for 6 burgers.

Though simple in appearance and nothing extraordinary (in taste), Ninja Joe does provide us Malaysians with an additional option (when craving for a burger).

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Kedai Makanan Ninja Joe

Address: LG-18, Tropicana City Mall, No.3, Jalan SS20/27, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Contact number: N/A.

Reservation: Not required.

Opening hours: 11.00am - 10.00pm.

Cuisine: Fast Food (non Halal)
Must order: N/A

Must not order: N/A
Budget for 4 pax: RM32 (with fries and drinks)
My verdict: 2 stars

THE UMA - AUTHENTICALLY BALINESE

On a day when a continuous flow of tributes are heaped upon truly deserving moms and moms-to-be, we headed to The Uma to celebrate this occassion. Having not made prior reservations, we were pleasantly surprised to find a vacant table in this cosy restaurant. The Uma occupies two floors. While the ground floor is more contemporary, the first floor is more inviting - diners are invited to sit and dine on the tatami floor while immersing themselves in a culture unique to the Balinese.

The Balinese love their pork. Babi Guling (Roast Suckling Pork) is probably one of their better known delicacies. While many other Balinese restaurants in the Valley claim to offer a unique Balinese experience, The Uma walks the talk by serving authentic pork dishes in addition to poultry and seafood. Understandably they do not serve beef here, since the majority of Balinese people are practitioners of Hindu-Dharma, a fusion of Hinduism and Buddhism.

At The Uma, they promote their Nasi Ratus - a reasonably priced set meal that consists of a main dish, four side vegetable/salad dishes, a stick of fish satay, two accompanying dips and rice. While the side dishes stay consistent across all sets, the rice (four or five different varieties) is carefully selected to blend in with the main dish. We wisely decided to share 3 sets of Nasi Ratus amongst six people as each serving is fairly substantial and definitely too much for one person of my size to handle.

Talking to the proprietor, I can expect that it wont be long before Babi Guling, Es Campur and other Balinese favourites end up being regular features on their menu.

Sate Celeng Asem (RM11.00 for half dozen) - Pork satay. A delicious change to chicken, beef and lamb which we are accustomed to. Grilled with pork fat too for added flavour.

Nasi Ratus Be Celeng Base Manis / Babi Kecap Manis (RM22.00) - Stewed pork in sweet sauce. A unique experience for those who have not set foot on Bali. Highly recommended.

Nasi Ratus Bebek Megoreng (RM25.00) - Crispy Fried Donald. Well marinated in an assortment of spices and deep-fried until the skin is crispy. Loved the Black-eyed Pea rice that accompanied the duck.

Nasi Ratus Lempet Be Tongkong (RM20.00) - Grilled Tuna ala Otak-Otak. Creamy and delicious. My personal favourite.

Calon Be Celeng (RM5.00) - Spicy Pork Balls in clear soup. I failed to taste the spice. Was quite salty too. Forgettable. 

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The Uma

Address: 7-G & 7-1, Jalan PJU 5/21, The Strand, Kota Damansara, 47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Contact number: 603-61422771.

GPS coordinates: N3 09.283 E101 35.541.
Reservation: Recommended.

Opening hours: 12.00 - 3.00pm (Lunch), 6.00 - 10.00pm (Dinner). Closed on Tuesdays.

Cuisine: Balinese (non Halal)
Must order: Be Celeng Base Manis, Lempet Be Tongkong, Bebek Megoreng.

Must not order: Calon Be Celeng
Budget for 4 pax: RM60 (sharing) or RM100 (individual sets)
My verdict: 4 stars

SUSHI ZANMAI - A WORK OF ART

Pay a visit to Sushi Zanmai to appreciate how the art of sushi-making has evolved outside of Japan.

Sushi Zanmai has 4 outlets in the Klang Valley @ 1 Utama, Gardens Mid Valley, Sunway Pyramid and Low Yat Plaza

Sushi likely originated in Japan in the form of Nigiri sushi which is sushi rice balls topped (typically) with a slice of seafood or tamago (sweet egg), or the Maki sushi which is sushi rice with one or more fillings (of cucumber, crab meat, unagi etc) wrapped in nori (seaweed) and rolled into a cylindrical form with the help of a bamboo mat before being sliced into several bite-size rolls.

Since its modest beginnings, sushi-making has now evolved into a work of art with fancy names like Spider Maki, Caterpillar Maki, Wasabillar Maki and many others. I read that this designer sushi revolution actually took place outside of Japan and was initially engineered to entice the foreign palate. 

These days, it is not uncommon to find many contemporary Japanese restaurants in Malaysia like Sushi Zanmai carrying such designer sushi pieces on their menu. However at Sushi Zanmai, not only are the designer sushi prepared here yummilicious, they are attractively priced too at only RM12.80 per plate.

Wasabillar Maki (RM12.80) - a sushi roll filled with salmon and crispy chips, and topped with wasabi coated roe, with a splash of mayo.

Crunchy Salmon Maki (RM12.80) - a sushi roll filled with omelette, topped with pan fried salmon slices, edamame and a sprinkling of black sesame seeds.

Spider Maki (RM12.80) - a sushi roll filled with soft shell crab and roe, topped with avocado slices, with a splash of spicy mayo.

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Sushi Zanmai Restaurant

Address: SK9A, 2nd Floor Highstreet, 1 Utama Shopping Centre, Bandar Utama.
Contact number: 03-7724 2030

Reservation: Not required

Opening hours: 10.00am - 10.00pm (Sun - Thu), 10.00am - 10.30pm (Fri - Sat)
Cuisine: Japanese (Pork Free)
Must order: Any of their Maki

Must not order: N/A
Budget for 4 pax: RM80
My verdict: 3 stars

HUNTING FOR THE BEST ICE-KACANG IN THE VALLEY

ICE-KACANG

Stall @ Taman Bahagia al-fresco food court

Jalan SS2/1, Petaling Jaya.

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I have yet to discover an ice-kacang stall in town that I can crown as being the best in the Klang Valley. Those that I have come across, either lacks one or two key ingredients, or is way too sweet or too bland, or the ice too hard.

I recently discovered this humble drinks stall which also doubles up selling reasonably good ice-kacang. Part of a muhibbah group of street vendors plying their trade in the Taman Bahagia al-fresco food court, this stall opens from dusk till past midnight.

Boasting eight ingredients excluding the ice, all the key ingredients were there except for .................. a double scoop of ice cream.

The eight ingredients:

a. red beans b. nutmeg c. corn d. jelly balls

e. atap chi f. cendol g. grass jelly h. peanuts

Sigh! Yet another pretender!

If anyone happens to know The Best and most complete ice-kacang in the Valley, do share.

CHAR-MED BY HOKKIEN CHAR

If you have been good boys and girls throughout the week, watching your carbohydrate-sugar-salt-oil intake, and would like a little treat during the weekends, go check-out this famous hokkien char restaurant located in Paramount Garden. Hokkien cooking in general, tends to be somewhat oily and salty, so don't step in here and expect anything different.

Famous for its Fried Hokkien Mee (福建面) and Fried Lala (炒啦啦), Restoran Mei Yen has been operating in its present location for the past 20 years. The place can get very crowded during the peak hours, so avoid dropping in between 1930 - 2100 if you dislike waiting too long for your food. Their noodles are served in three sizes, and are priced at RM8, RM10 and RM13 for small, medium and large respectively.

I personally find that the chef here has a Jekyl and Hyde-like personality. Catch him on his good days and the Fried Hokkien Mee will have very good wok hei, with just the right amount of dark soya sauce sufficiently wrapping around each strand of noodle, and served with generous amounts of fried pork lard. However on his not-so-good days, the Fried Hokkien Mee can be a tad too saucy (watery) and the fried pork lard nowhere to be found. Similarly the Fried Lala can be thick, spicy and full of kick one day, and watery and tasteless the next.

The real gem in their menu in my honest opinion is their Fish Head Beehoon Soup (鱼头米). Here the soup (non-milky version) is strongly flavoured with lots of ginger slices and chopped garlic, and garnished with generous amounts of chinese coriander. Sufficient slices of fried fish pieces are added to finish off the dish.

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Restoran Mei Yen

Address: No.39, Jalan 20/7, Paramount Garden, PJ.
Contact number: N/A
Reservation: 1st come 1st served
Opening hours: 1830-0200 (Daily)
Cuisine: Chinese (Non Halal)
Must order: Fish Head Beehoon Soup (鱼头米), Fried Hokkien Mee (福建面)
Must not order: N/A
Budget for 4 pax: RM30
My verdict: 2 stars

CORN FED CHICKEN

Corn fed chickens are raised like conventional chickens with the only difference being their diet which contains a high level of corn. Because of their healthy and highly nutritious diet, the corn fed chickens have a characteristic bright yellow skin and succulent flesh.

Kee Kee Bentong Chicken Rice is one chicken rice outlet in Petaling Jaya that serves corn fed chickens. Both steamed and roasted chicken are available, although it is the steamed variety that is more popular with the diners. The chicken meat is juicy and springy, a sign of freshness.

This outlet is also well-known for their home-made soup, which is full of flavour as it is boiled from generous amounts of chicken bones and chicken feet complemented with generous amounts of ingredients. The variety of soup changes daily, and can include Watercress soup (西阳采汤), Lotus root soup (莲藕汤), ABC soup (carrot, onion and potato soup) and others.

Regular customers usually make a bee-line to the soup pot immediately after placing their orders. A second helping of soup amongst diners is not uncommon.

An order of bean sprouts garnished with cut chillies and chopped spring onions completes the chicken rice meal. For those who are interested, chicken spare parts like intestines, gizzards and chicken feet are also available for order.

For fans of chicken rice, you'll thank me for highlighting this place.

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Kee Kee Bentong Chicken Rice

Address: Restoran Yat Yeh Hing, No.33, Jalan SS4D/2, People's Park, Petaling Jaya (across the road from Restoran Loong Foong)
Contact number: N/A
Reservation: Not required
Opening hours: 10.30-1430 (Daily)
Cuisine: Chinese (Non Halal)
Must order: N/A
Must not order: N/A
Budget for 4 pax: RM25
My verdict: 4 stars

CRAVING FOR MOM'S COOKING?

If like me, you have those days when you suddenly have a craving for Mom's dishes, for eg Stewed Pork with Yam, Steamed Egg or Double boiled Lotus Root Soup, but then realise she lives in another State, Restoran Kong Sai is probably the place for you.

Just like Mom, Restoran Kong Sai does not bother with fancy appearances, and serves them just the way I like them, simple yet tasty. One glance at their pictorial menu on the wall, and you will reminisce to how closely they resemble those dishes that Mom used to whip up. They do not have a very extensive selection, but they have enough to appease your craving until your next balik kampung trip.

Steam chicken is one of their best sellers. The chicken meat is perfectly tender and goes very well with the special sesame oil/ginger/spring onion dip just the way Mom used to prepare it. Come early to avoid disappointment as this is usually the first dish to sell out !

Other dishes worth mentioning include their variety of Steamed Soups, Pig stomach with Pepper Corn Soup, Stewed Pork with Yam and Tofu Puffs with Minced Pork/Fish.

One last advice, do go early as the place will be crowded by 7.00pm most evenings, and free parking too would be scarce by then.

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Restoran Kong Sai

Address: Section 20/22, Paramount, Petaling Jaya.
Contact number: N/A
Reservation: Not required
Opening hours: 18.00-22.00 (Daily except on Sundays)
Cuisine: Chinese (Non Halal)
Must order: Steamed Chicken, Curry Pork Ribs
Must not order: Steamed Fish
Budget for 4 pax: RM30
My verdict: 3 stars