S.Wine @ Tropicana City Mall

I've heard about this porky place since they first opened in Publika a couple of years back but haven't gotten round to visiting them until now.  I recently had dinner at their newer outlet, S.Wine @ Tropicana City Mall (opened in the later part of 2015), on a Saturday evening.

From the name, you know what it's all about here....which means you'll find oink featured in almost every dish on the menu.  For some, it'll be pure pork bliss...for others, don't venture into swine territory if you're looking for 'someone' other than Mr Piggy! ;D

Our first starter of the evening (for sharing) was the Roasted Potatoes with Bacon @ RM15 from their Grazing menu.  The bowl was filled with russet potatoes (with skins on) and bite-sized pork bacon roasted with garlic and rosemary.

As you can see, the bacon doesn't come in small bits but good bite-sized portions that were incredibly crisp and fragrant.  The flavour of rosemary through the roasted potatoes was up front and centre (more so if you consume the herb).  And if you chance upon the soft, mushy roasted garlic, what can I say, it's sweet and mellow.

If you've been following my blog for some time, you'll know that I absolutely adore mushrooms, so Mushroom Soup with Bacon @ RM18 is a common order for me.  But, then again, the decision was easy since there's only one other soup on the menu and that is Pea & Ham Soup @ RM15.

This soup is a recipe of blended mushrooms with bacon chunks served with a dollop of sour cream and a nicely toasted piece of ciabatta.  I would have preferred the soup to be served with a drizzle of cream rather than a dollop of sour cream as it brought a sourish hint to the soup (which I'd much rather not have).

The nicely thick and creamy soup was packed with tons of mushroom flavour and the chunky bites of mushroom and bacon made it even better.

For our mains, I went with the Pork Sausages with Sauerkraut Rosti @ RM28 described as grilled Italian sausages (I so like) served with sauerkraut rosti (I should have known better) and a dollop of sour cream.

I had a taste of the sour cream....yuck.....and proceeded to quickly scrape it off the rosti.  I can safely say (without a doubt) that I hate sour cream! >.<  On hindsight, I didn't need to scrape the sour cream off the rosti at all coz I didn't like the sauerkraut either.  What was I thinking!  What made me think that sauerkraut rosti could be any different as I've never liked sauerkraut (which I've eaten with German pork knuckles before).

That meant I was left with only the sausages as redemption.  Luckily, the sausages were the main star of the plate and they were fragrant and savoury (maybe just a tad too savoury as I took more bites).  The dish was crying out for some freshness (some greens) to cut through the saltiness.  Ironically, the receipt mentioned the dish as Arugula Sausage Rosti...so, my guess was that it used to be served with arugula (which I think is a mistake to take off...but then arugula is pretty expensive these days).

Our other main was the English Pressed Roast Pork with Crispy Skin @ RM38...what a beauty!  Visually stunning, this slow-roasted pressed pork belly was served with bacon boulangere.  A boulangere is simply cooked sliced onions (or potatoes) in a casserole.  This boulangere tasted of very thinly sliced potatoes (with some bacon slices in between, can't remember if there were any onions in the mix).  It was good....the boulangere, I mean ;)

We all know that a crackling that doesn't crackle isn't a cracker....but, no fears, this roast pork skin was absolutely crackling!  The skin was so crispy, it blew me away.  Top marks for the skin!

As for the roast pork, it was (of course) too fatty for me (obviously this wasn't my selection) but for lovers of fatty meat.  The texture of this one was incredibly soft (probably done sous vide) and there was no doubt that it was disintegrate-in-your-mouth tender.  The meat itself was rather bland in taste, so don't expect it to have the kind of savoury seasoning like our local "siew yoke" (roast pork).  Again, as you can see, it was devoid of any greens.  I think topping it off with some wild rocket or radish slices to offer some bitterness and freshness to the dish would have been welcomed.  Luckily, there was some red wine sauce to cut through the fattiness a bit but there just wasn't enough of it.

Fattiness of the pork belly aside, it was the overly piggy taste that I couldn't get around.  This has happened to me quite a few times now in other porky places that it has become apparent to me that these English-style pork doesn't seem to sit well with me.  I wonder if anyone has the same taste experience as me or is it just my overly delicate taste buds?  My family also doesn't seem to have this problem....and I certainly don't have this problem with Iberico pork.  Hmmm......

Iced Honey Lemon @ RM10

My Pineapple Juice @ RM12 (so good) offered a refreshing respite for me (from all the meat).

My Personal Opinion

You can certainly wine and dine on swine here but I would strongly recommend some salads to go with your mains, otherwise the meal may end up to be too much meat in one sitting.  Having said that, all their salads also come with some kind of meat...be it pork belly, pork neck, bacon, sausage or chicken....and costing as much as a main (this was the very reason why I didn't want to order a salad in the first place).  And since I didn't order any salads, I'm also not sure if the salads or more heavy on meat or greens.

Although my dining experience didn't turn out all that well for me, I'm not going to pin the blame on the food or come to a conclusion about the food here.  I blame myself for possibly making the wrong choices where the dishes contained some ingredients that weren't to my liking to begin with.

But one thing I'm sure is the overly porky taste of the pork...at this place....and many other similar porky places that I'm weary of such places nowadays.  Am I destined not to enjoy this kind of pork?  But if you don't suffer from an overly piggy taste profile (like me), feel free to try out this place to see if you like it.  It's a place for people who loves meat, meat and more meat! ^_*

S.Wine
Lot G-39B & 39C Ground Floor
Tropicana City Mall
No 3 Jalan SS20/27
47400 Petaling Jaya
Selangor
Tel: 03-7710 0393

Revisit: Shinjiro @ Tropicana City Mall

I've enjoyed my previous feast of smoky, fragrant food on a stick at this place here so much that, four weeks later, I found myself back at Shinjiro Izakaya Yakitori @ Tropicana City Mall for more....this time bringing along my nephew for a celebratory 'exams are over' treat!

Why does food on a stick bring so much joy?  Is it the smoky, charred bits that lent such awesome fragrance?  Or is it the ease of eating something from a stick?  Maybe it's the intoxicating aroma of something grilling over an open charcoal flame. 

Whatever it is....I simply adore it! ;D  So, let's get straight to the new food on a stick I managed to try this time round.  They have a new menu...and, by that, I literally mean a new menu though the menu items remained basically the same.

First up, the Fillet Mackerel @ RM12.90 offered an absolutely nice grilled flavour to the otherwise soft and flaky flesh.  It may be overly charred for some but I had no complaints as it was perfectly smoky and free from any bitter taste.  Will definitely order this again.

Next came the Fillet + Asparagus @ RM6.90 comprising of 4 pieces of thin beef fillet seasoned with shio and wrapped around a stick of asparagus.  The beef was tender and the asparagus soft to the bite.  On the same plate, we were served the Crispy Tofu @ RM3.90 with bonito flakes (which we had before).  Preferably, these two skewers should have been served on different plates so that the flavours don't mingle as one was seasoned with shio while the other had teriyaki sauce on it....and, luckily, it didn't! :)

Next was a skewer I wanted to try but it was a bit of a mystery to me coz one blog described it as salmon with mentai while another referred to it as breast fillet with mentai.    I couldn't make it out, so I showed the pic to the server who confirmed that it was (Chicken) Breast Fillet x 2 @ RM5.90 a stick topped with lightly torched mentai (and they weren't stingy with the mentai), so if you're absolutely mental with mentai, like I am, you have to order this (hmm, I wonder if there are any other skewers that come with mentai).  [#Tip:  On hindsight, looking at the description in the menu as Breast Fillet, I probably wouldn't have ordered it (in the first place) since it's breast meat and definitely wouldn't have guessed it came with mentai.] 

On the same plate was the Squid @ RM8.90 with sweet and sour sauce.  This I wasn't liking so much as the squid was overcooked and chewy.  [#Note: Again, I tried to order the Squid Tentacles but they ran out of it (again).]

Then came one of my favourites of the night, the Chicken Liver @ RM4.90 doused in teriyaki sauce.  The chicken liver here is barely cooked, so you end up with a texture that's almost creamy and incredibly soft (rather similar to barely cooked pig liver).  So, be forewarned if you're not a fan of barely cooked stuff! ;D

The Thigh + Leek @ RM5.90 was nice and juicy as chicken thigh meat always is......

.....and so was the Thigh Teriyaki @ RM5.90 and Chicken Nugget @ RM5.90 that my nephew wanted.  The chicken nugget resembles minced chicken meatballs, so they would be popular with the young, but I found myself liking them too.

For a bit of vegetables, we ordered Leeks and (Fresh Shiitake) Mushrooms x 2 @ RM5.90 a stick but got only the mushrooms as they had run out of leeks too.

And here were the skewers we tried on our previous visit but ordered again.....

The Minced Beef Balls @ RM6.90, a request by my nephew, previously came with three meatballs but, this time, what we got were five smaller meatballs.  Taste wise, it was better this time as it wasn't as peppery.

The Salmon x 2 @ RM8.90 a stick was just as moist and tender as I remembered....yummy!

The Chicken Wings x 3 @ RM6.90 a stick, the best skewer for me on our last visit, were still as awesome as they were the first time I had them.  It's bonkers just how good they are!

The Chicken Skin x 5 @ RM4.90 a stick, on the other hand, wasn't as good this time round.  I guess it depends on how the grilling is executed to render the skin crispy (like the two sticks at the far end) coz, when not properly done, it's just chewy, gelatinous skin...yikes!!  We ordered 5 sticks and got one stick foc (which we didn't know we would get)....double yikes!!  Too much skin in one sitting! >.<  Those into healthy eating will certainly feel squeamish looking at this pic...kekeke! :D

We also had an order of Shinjiro Fried Rice @ RM16.90 which came with small, crispy fried baby shrimps and a poached egg (unfortunately overcooked) in a flavourful rice with crunchy bits, sesame seeds and scallion.  This was definitely better than the Unagi Rice we had the last time we were here.

We wrapped up our dinner with a dessert of Mochi @ RM13.90 that featured 5 pieces of flavoured mochi with different fillings and cut up fruits of strawberry, mango, blueberry and kiwi.

My Personal Opinion

My opinion has not changed....the sticks of food were still as impressive!  And I've added a few more amazing skewers to my list.

And what 'sweetened' this meal even more....a 25% discount offered by offpeak.my that I discovered only recently.  I got RM50 knocked off from my bill this time.....sweet! ;)  Make your booking through offpeak for your preferred dining meal time between 2 - 6 pm, available Mondays to Sundays.  What better time than now to try Shinjiro before the offer is gone....go, go now!! ;D

Update:  I was told the restaurant has since closed (yet another one that didn't make it past its first year which I'm not sure why as I loved their skewers!)

Shinjiro Izakaya Yakitori
Lot G-06 Tropicana City Mall
3 Jalan SS20/27
47400 Petaling Jaya
Selangor
Tel: 03-7732 2986

Shinjiro @ Tropicana City Mall

I've been craving for a 'meal on a stick' for quite a while now....and I don't mean 'satay'! :D  After checking out a few of such places from online food blogs, I settled on the newly opened (less than 2 months old) Shinjiro Izakaya Yakitori @ Tropicana City Mall.

There seems to be a common trend of what looks like patterned waves and clouds showcased throughout the restaurant's decor.  You can find it on the walls, ceiling and floor. 

Interesting boards adorned one side of the wall depicting the 'Land of the Rising Sun' with its characteristic pagodas and bridges (and I've seen these boards change to a different picture and look in other blogs).  The aptly designed tables revealed a compartment underneath the table top where you'd find the menu and order chits.

As you step into the restaurant, you'll be greeted with a glass enclosure where all the grilling action, over a charcoal flame, takes place.  This ensures you won't leave the place smelling of yakitori! ;)  Look, he even managed a smile for me when I snapped the photo.

As the name implies, it's a casual place for after work drinks and small bites, basically food on a stick, although they do offer rice bowls and noodles too for a more fulfilling meal.  If you're not familiar with the individual skewers, you can opt for the Skewer Sets with predetermined skewers that include some of their more popular ones.  I didn't go for that as I wanted to pick my own selection of favourites.

After making our orders, this bowl of complimentary Edamame landed on our table.  I liked that these green soybeans came lightly sprinkled with salt.  This was served chilled (unlike other places where it's usually served at room temperature), so expect a little bit of water condensation at the bottom of the bowl.

Then, came the onslaught of skewers one after another.  The skewers come with 7 types of sauces...sweet and sour, chilli, garlic chilli, salsa, teriyaki, sesame pistachio and shio (sea salt and pepper).  You can choose your own sauces if you have a preference, otherwise leave it in the able hands of the chef to pair each one with his recommended sauce.

First up, from the Seafood Section, you have a choice of Salmon, Fillet Mackerel, whole Pacific Saury, Tuna, Shrimp, Scallop, Squid, Squid Tentacles and Pregnant Fish.

The Salmon @ RM8.90 was cooked just right, with a pink centre, for a fresh and tender bite.  Simply divine!

The Shrimp @ RM8.90, you can taste the smoky flavour when you suck on the shrimp head and shells.

If you're wondering why there aren't any Squid Tentacles in my blog post, it wasn't because I didn't order, it was because there weren't any left! T_T

From the Beef Section, there's Sirloin, Fillet + Enoki, Fillet + Asparagus, Minced Beef Ball, Tripe, Liver and Lungs on offer in the menu.

I went with the Sirloin @ RM8.90 which was absolutely tender and juicy with just a bit of seasoning to bring out its full flavour.

The meat was cooked to medium judging by the pinkish centre.  The Sirloin turned out to be one of my top favourites...you have to order this, it was outstanding!

We tried the Minced Beef Balls @ RM6.90 made up of three succulent meat balls on a stick sitting on teriyaki sauce for a nice balance of savoury and sweet.  This was equally decent and would have been better if they hadn't been too heavy handed with the pepper.

From the Poultry Section, you have a wide selection of Thigh + Leeks, Thigh Teriyaki, Breast Fillet, Chicken Nugget, Wings, Skin, Gizzard, Liver, Heart, Back End (eww), Duck Breast and Quail Eggs.

The Chicken Wings @ RM6.90 gets you two pieces of the wingette, butterflied and grilled to perfection.  They managed to get the skin so crispy while the meat remained tender.  It was so, so good that we immediately ordered a second serving.

The wings, seasoned with just shio, were perfectly seasoned (though some may find it to be over salted but I think not) with a smoky, fragrant and crisp skin....hands down the best skewer of the night for me!

The Chicken Skin @ RM4.90 was downright crunchy and immensely fragrant.  This took the longest time to arrive and was the last skewer to be served.  One bite...and we knew we wanted more!  Who can resist sticks of crispy chicken skin, right?

The server told us that it would be at least a 20 minutes wait....so, we ordered two more sticks (and it was worth the wait).  If you want to try this, make sure you order enough the first time round, so that you don't have to wait for your re-orders ;)

Of course, whenever I see quail eggs on the menu, they call out to me.  This is the Quail Eggs @ RM4.90...cute and delicious as always!

As usual, we should round off our meal with some compulsory vegetables for a bit of balance.  Under the Vegetables Section, you have Mushrooms, Sweet Potato, Sweet Corn, Okra, Leek, Tomato and Crispy Tofu.

We chose the Sweet Potato @ RM5.90 and, when it arrived, it was unlike those with a deep orange flesh that we're more used to as these are Japanese sweet potatoes which have a purplish (or reddish) skin with white flesh which turns golden (yellow) when cooked.  They were served with a bit of melted butter (maybe I'll ask them to omit the butter the next time) and were sweet and just soft enough....I liked them...heaps!

We also ordered Okra @ RM3.90 which came charred and nicely soft.  It was simple but appetising.

Next was the Crispy Tofu @ RM3.90...I'm sorry but this qualified as vegetables since it's listed in the vegetables section! :p  It featured three cubes of totally crispy tofu served with bonito flakes and teriyaki sauce. 

I noticed that most of the skewers came with either shio or teriyaki, no complaints there as I liked most of them with just shio (and not drowning in sauce) to let the food speak for itself.  Anyway, you can't go wrong with shio and teriyaki, two of the more popular flavourings.  It was an interesting sight to see the chef season his skewers...he sprinkles the shio onto his skewers from a distance. 

And if you find an oddly shaped ceramic vase on the table (with no flowers), that's because it's meant as a vessel for your discarded/used sticks....how handy :)

Besides just having skewers of awesomeness (which I don't mind at all), we also ordered the Mix Tempura @ RM18.90 to try.  The tempura mix consisted of two pieces of prawn, squid and sweet potato each.  This tempura was different from the usual tempura batter as it was coated in crushed bean curd pieces before being deep fried that offered a super crunchy texture to the tempura.  Great eaten with the sesame pistachio sauce to give it a bit of saltiness.  Anything crunchy always get our seal of approval!

For our last fulfilling dish, we went with a bowl of Unagi Rice @ RM28.90.  What came threw us off a bit as we were expecting just unagi and rice (like all the usual ones we've had) but this one was made with egg and lots of vegetables (broccoli, lotus root, cauliflower, red and green capsicum, mushrooms and onions).  Of course, there were unagi in it too but in tiny chunks.

There was quite a fair amount of gravy in this rice bowl, although flavourful, we found the pepper taste a bit too overpowering.  Also, we would have appreciated if the description of this dish was more detailed (to highlight the abundant vegetables) so that we could make a discerning choice if we wanted this version with vegetables.

Green Tea is @ RM3.90 and Water @ RM1.90 and both are refillable.

My Personal Opinion

It was a very good meal on a stick I've had in a long while.  I came off totally satisfied with my dining experience here.  Shinjiro is affiliated to Torii, also a yakitori specialist, but this one comes with a more acceptable price tag.

My top picks are......hmmm, it's difficult to narrow down my top picks coz I liked almost every skewer that I had but the few you shouldn't miss would be the sirloin, chicken wings, chicken skin and salmon...for now.....till I try all the other sticks as well ;)

The highlight at Shinjiro is definitely their skewers and that is what I'll stick to when I return (and I foresee myself returning again and again).  In fact, I'm so pleased with this 'meal on a stick', I'm on the hunt for more of such meals! ;D

Update:  I was told the restaurant has since closed (yet another one that didn't make it past its first year which I'm not sure why as I loved their skewers!)

Shinjiro Izakaya Yakitori
Lot G-06 Tropicana City Mall
3 Jalan SS20/27
47400 Petaling Jaya
Selangor
Tel: 03-7732 2986