Best Things to Eat (Noodles) in Pandan Indah

This is as good a time as any to finally write a summary of some of the better hawker food (noodles to be precise) you can find in my humble neighbourhood which I've been eating a lot of since the Movement Control Order (MCO) kicked in.

So, understand that when I say best things to eat in Pandan Indah, I actually mean good enough food you can find in this taman and not necessarily the best food if compared to other places beyond Pandan Indah.  Obviously this list is more relatable to the good folks of Pandan Indah...hee..hee! ^_~

#1 - Prawn Mee

Let's start with my top favourite noodle to eat.  You can find this prawn mee at Restoran San May King.  I like this prawn mee for their use of medium-to-large prawns (even though they've been halved lengthwise), very thinly sliced lean pork (the thinnest lean pork I've eaten in any prawn noodles) and freshly fried crispy shallots (made inhouse, not prepackaged and I always ask for extra) although the broth can be better but I can't complain.

It was only in the past year or so that I've been coming here for their prawn mee (where ingredients are plentiful) after my favourite prawn mee lady retired (well, they say learning discovering new eats never stops).  I had high hopes when a new specialist prawn noodle shop opened in our area recently but, unfortunately, that one failed miserably.

#2 - Curry Laksa


For curry laksa, it used to be a choice between two, one in Restoran Lok Zok Liu where the broth is thick, savoury and full of coconut milk taste but sans cockles.  It's not one you can eat very often as it's too flavourful and filling (+ there were also rumours about their cleanliness).  Not sure how far that is true though I did see them closed for a couple of days not long after they opened for business.  So, eat at your own peril!

The other choice for a lighter curry laksa can be found at Restoran Pandan Indah Pulau Ketam Seafood Steamboat (they share the premises with another restaurant, so it's a hawker-style set up in the day time and steamboat at night).  The broth of this one is much lighter and not as santan-y but still worthwhile (you can choose from many toppings)...but, sadly, the stall called it quits after the MCO.  Haiz...my search for another curry mee in my neighbourhood shall continue.

#3 - Shredded Chicken Kway Teow (or Kai See Hor Fun)

The kai see hor fun I eat is from the same shop where I have my prawn mee although it isn't typically a kai see hor fun but more like a noodle soup with ingredients similar to kai see hor fun (this one will have to do for now).  I have it with meehoon instead as their hor fun isn't quite the type I like.

There used to be a better kai see hor fun at Restoran Lucky 6 but the lady manning the stall has also decided to call it a day after the MCO.  The MCO may not have directly caused the two stall owners to close shop for lack of business but the lengthy downtime has caused many to rethink about what they want to do going forward.

But when you mention kai see hor fun, most would point you to the more well-known one here, a stall in Restoran New 2020.  They used to be good back in the day but the soup base and quality of their hor fun has since deteriorated drastically, not to mention the lack of ingredients.

#4 - Pork Noodles

When it comes to pork noodles, there's a popular one at HK Porky Noodle House if you want a fully-loaded option with all the works.  It's good but can be a little heavy in terms of flavour (so I eat this only when I'm very hungry).

So, for a lighter version (which also means less jelak), I've since found another pork noodles at the same shop of the now-closed curry mee stall which isn't too bad.  The standout is their delicious minced pork patties which have bits of tung choy (preserved vegetable) in them (and they're very generous with their porky ingredients).  Since this pork noodle isn't as heavy, I add on a (barely-cooked) egg and have it with yee mee.

Again, when you mention pork noodles, most would probably point you to a stall in Restoran New 2020.  That stall even have a picture of a famous Hong Kong food critic plasted at their stall but what most don't know is that the stall is shared by two separate entities.  The stall which has the Hong Kong food critic's approval is the one that operates Fridays to Sundays only while the rest of the week is manned by a different owner (although sometimes the timing can change so you'll need to recognise the guy in the picture but it makes no difference to me as I'm not keen on either).

#5 - Pork Ball (or Sam Kan Chong) Noodles

There used to be a decent sam kan chong noodles manned by a couple who retired and passed their recipe to someone else (who still occupies the same spot) but somehow it didn't taste the same anymore.  Luckily, the one I used to eat in Pandan Perdana decided to move his stall to my neighbourhood (to Kafe Cahaya Bulan to be exact).

What differentiates this from other sam kan chong noodles is the inclusion of fried, crispy intestines (yummy yum yum).  The other is that it also comes with fish balls (which is uncommon for sam kan chong but good) besides the usual squarish pork balls and siew cheong (roasted sausages).  Although I have to say that this noodle is usually taken dry-style with kuey teow being the common noodle of choice, I've recently switched to the soup version with meehoon mee instead (which I prefer) as I find their kuey teow too gummy in texture.

#6 - Beef Ball Noodles

Restoran Yang Mooi is quite well-known in these parts for its good beef ball noodles and the best option is to have it dry (the minced pork topping is splendid) with beef balls.  Other options include ngau chap (mixed beef innards) and beef stew with radish.  They now come with a dry chilli condiment (like the ones served with pan mee) for you to amp up the flavours of your noodle even more.

#7 - Beef Noodles

There is another worthy contender for beef noodles in my neighbourhood at Chang Kitchen though this one offers a slightly different take and is more known for its ngau chap and ngau lam (beef brisket) than beef balls.  I don't like beef innards as much as I do pork innards.

So, I always have the same thing here...and that is lai fun (thick rice noodles), dry-style with lightly-cooked, tender sang nyuk (raw beef).  The soup base of this one is more herbal-like in taste which differs from the ching but beefy soup of the earlier beef ball noodles.  

#8 - Wantan Mee

For wantan mee, the best bet for the dry-style is the one from Restoran Little Sifu.  Since it's also a roasted meat shop, you can choose the protein you want with your noodles, be it char siew, siew yuk, roast or poached chicken.

But when it comes to wantan mee in soup, there's only one I go for and it's the one in Restoran Lucky 6.  I like to have it with added poached chicken.  The char siew may not seem like anything great with its lean and pinkish looks but I don't mind it this way when I'm having the soup version (on good days, the char siew might even come with a light smoky flavour).  The soup is very clear and so addictive (I'm sure there's some MSG in play...hee..hee...but who cares)! ^.^

#9 - Stir-Fried Noodles

Good stir-fried noodles are hard to come by in my neighbourhood coz almost all of them don't cut it.  Finding a fairly decent one at dinner time is non-existent.  The only one I patronise is one that sells in the mornings till lunch time at Restoran Fuji Chicken Rice.


They offer all the usual stir-fried noodle choices but my preferred dish here is Kong Fu Chow (Cantonese-style noodles) either ying yong (meehoon + kway teow) or yee mee.

#10 - Pan Mee

In comparison to the scarcity of stir-fried noodles, pan mee, on the other hand, is a dime a dozen here.  Pan mee stalls or shops are so plentiful here though many come and go rather quickly.  None of the pan mee tickles my fancy (at least the few I've tried) but, then again, I may be biased since it's one of my least favourite noodles.  There's a popular one at Restoran Kin Kin but when I do feel like eating pan mee, I'd eat the one operating from a truck at our Friday pasar malam.  I don't usually go for thick noodles (as I find them too doughy) but this one is nice enough for me to do so + it comes with a kick-ass chilli dip.

#11 - Fried 'Economy' Meehoon (or King Chai Mai Fun)

King Chai Mai Fun can be found in many coffee shops that serves it for breakfast but most are run-of-the-mill except for one shop that does it well.  This no name eatery (next to Restoran San May King) specialises in king chai mai fun that comes with a super spicy anchovy-based sambal.  This economy fried meehoon (or mee) ranks among the best I've tasted.  I've seen them fry it with the use of some kind of leaf underneath (the lady boss told me the name of the leaf once, she says the meehoon is more fragrant that way, but I can't remember what it's called already).  They're probably one of the few (if not the only one) who have not resumed dine-in since the MCO.

#12 - Ginger Duck Noodles

This one is little bit unorthodox since it's not a noodle you'd usually find in stalls but I did uncover a decent tasting one in a halal restaurant (of all places) at Alanna's Kitchen (run by a Chinese).  The duck is super tender, the egg noodles soft and thick and the sauce, quite satisfactory...and, of course, lots of ginger! ;)

#13 - Assam Laksa

I've not come across stalls selling assam laksa (or at least I've not noticed any worthy ones) in most of the coffee shops I've been to.  So, if I happen to crave assam laksa (which isn't often at all), I get this from the pasar malam too but I've not had this since the MCO coz, for some reason, our pasar malam (except for a handful of stalls) have not resumed business (not sure why or if they're having a problem adhering to the strict SOP).

#14 - Char Kway Teow & Fish Ball Noodles

If you're wondering why I've not listed two of my favourite noodles, char kway teow or fish ball noodles yet, that's because (sadly) there are no decent ones here, not even near average ones... haiz! :'(

#15 - Kolok Mee & Hakka Mee

There's also a decent kolok mee (in Restoran New 2020 & 9898) and Hakka mee (in Restoran Chong Ko & Lucky 6) but I can't say I care for them much since they're languishing near the bottom of my list of favourite noodles to eat.  For some reason, I'm not a big fan of white-coloured noodles especially if it's without a soup base! >.<

If there are any good noodles I missed out, well, I guess I wasn't looking hard enough.  When it comes to neighbourhood eats, one is completely satisfied when one has found a decent enough one to eat (and won't bother looking further unless they close shop) as it's just a case of looking for a quick, hearty meal to satisfy one's hunger...and that's it.  I'm sure you have your preferred go-to stalls/shops too in your housing area for your favourite noodles. ^_~

Favourite Eats of 2019

It's a new year.....a new decade....and a new beginning!  Hi, I'm b...a..c....k!  Did you miss me?  You did?......aww, that's great. ^.^  No?...oh well. :'(

Anyway, I've returned to publish one of my round-up posts that I promised (in my farewell post) just because it has been habitually done every year since I first started this blog at the end of 2013.  And by that, I mean I've been putting out summaries of my favourite eats every year, so here comes my final one for food I ate in 2019.

Last year, being the final leg of my blogging journey, I've been eating notably at mostly familiar places, so there aren't that many new eats really.  So the 2019 list has been condensed into just one post unlike in previous years (where I needed three, sometimes four, separate posts to complete listing them)! O_o

Dai Cha Dim @ Pavilion

This place seems to offer many of the cha chaan teng delights we've come to know but the food also has a distinctive local taste.  The texture of their wonton noodles, the shrimp roe, soup wontons, luncheon meat and milk tea make them instinctively Hong Kong-influenced.

But the flavours of their char siew, Hakka char yoke (braised pork belly) and sweet & sour fish made me relate to their more local flavours.

Black Man Nasi Lemak @ Kepong


This nasi lemak stall (which started out as a roadside stall) deserves my affection as it's among the few Chinese nasi lemak stalls that can stand tall among the more favoured Malay-style nasi lemak.  From their signature lemongrass pork chop (which my husband had) and popular spicy pork sambal to their chicken rendang and curried potatoes (which I had), they're a must-try for non-halal nasi lemak fans.

I especially enjoyed their choy poh (preserved radish) sambal cooked with har mai (dried prawns).  Note that they've relocated and are now plying their business at No 34G Vista Magna Block E, Jalan Prima 1, Metro Prima Kepong (012-376 7574).

Maven Coffee Store @ Taman Shamelin Perkasa

By far the nearest coffee place to me that's worthy of a stopover for a good cup (or glass) of coffee..and that's exactly how it should be treated, not as a cafe serving hot food as they can only do so much without a proper kitchen.

So, stick with simple, well toasted sourdough sandwiches (beef, chicken ham or tuna egg) or adequately thick, creamy soups (pumpkin or mushroom) here and you should be sufficiently pleased.

Y E Traditional Dumplings @ Pandan Jaya

It's obvious from their name that they are a rice dumpling specialist.  For me, they aren't my top favourite place to get bak chang but still decent enough as the glutinous rice is well cooked for that really soft texture that I like.  I just wished they would use better quality salted egg yolks.

Besides their signature dumplings, they offer a variety of rice dishes, noodles, porridge, dessert and side dishes for your main meals.  What got me on board were their more unique dishes (compared to other places) with a homemade taste.  I especially like their rather ching fish ball noodles and sang yue (snakehead/haruan) porridge but it's their side dishes, like Ah Ma taufu, fried chicken wings and meat rolls, that cemented me as a fan.

Kuey Teow Soup @ Soon Lee Coffee Shop, PJ Old Town


If you don't already know what you should order here, just look around at the tables and you'll know instinctively what you should be eating + it's obviously the busiest stall in this coffee shop.  This bowl of kuey teow soup is a cross between kai see hor fun (shredded chicken kuey teow) and fish ball noodles with the addition of pork slices.

What makes this bowl of noodles top-notch is the gorgeous-tasting broth (so comforting and yummy) and I (of course) adore the fact that it's made more fragrant with not one but two of the condiments I hold most dear (hehe!)...crispy (and insanely fresh) fried pork lard and garlic.

Rise & Shine by Tapestry @ Jalan Kamunting

You won't mind waking up to this sunshine-filled cafe which will charm you with its ambience, food and service.  Get yourself some bangers, salt beef, sarsi-glazed beef bacon or mushrooms...and crown that with a beautifully poached egg to start your day.  It's worth your while to rise and shine to a cup of coffee here.

Chui Lau Sinn @ Taman Maluri

There aren't many good fried Hokkien mee in my area (or I've not found them yet).  The ones that I used to frequent, their standards have dropped since they tasked it to their foreign workers to do the cooking.  So I googled and found this place serving good Hokkien mee and other fried noodles that are pleasantly tasty enough.

But the best thing here is still the fried Hokkien mee which offers a not-too-wet and not-too-dry consistency...and a surprisingly good, full of wok hei fried cabbage on the side too.

Fish Ball Noodles @ Red Leaf, Jalan Loke Yew


This coffee shop houses my current top pick for prawn noodles...and that's what I always have when I come here.  But on a very rare occasion that I did not, I stumbled upon a good fish ball noodle accidentally.

Coz this one came with excellent fish skin wantans (one of my favourite things to eat) but do note that this is not a standard ingredient in their bowl of fish ball noodles (just like elsewhere), so remember to specifically ask for the fish skin wantans as add-ons.

Emily's Steakhouse @ Jalan Sultan Ismail

A new entrant that will compete for your 'affection' in the steakhouse market is Emily's with its relatively small menu that's completely steak-focussed with limited options of other proteins.


But the affordably-priced steaks and generously-sized portions (including the sides of chips, peas & salad) more than make up for it.  Have it with their signature homemade black pepper sauce or, better still, in their rich creamy pepper sauce (my preferred choice).

HK Porky Noodle House @ Pandan Indah


This pork noodle gets the nod for its plentiful porky liew like their thickly-cut, properly-cooked and slightly-still-bloody liver, twice-as-long intestines (compared to elsewhere) and big-sized chunks of minced pork.

But, most of all, for the inclusion of pig stomach (which is among one of my favourite pork innards) and the choice of mixian noodles (both of which you don't usually find in other pork noodles) even though the cloudy broth may not be among my most-adored as it's a bit too robustly-flavoured for me.  I prefer the seafood version with prawns and squid as the broth has a hint of sweetness and lightness to it.

So, that's it.....my very short & sweet list (though there's nothing sweet really...hehe!).  As you can see, most of them are conveniently located near me.  It only goes to show people are usually drawn to or choose places that are geographically convenient for them. ^_*

*If you wish to check out some of my previous memorable eats throughout my food journey (though some are sadly not with us anymore), you can find them listed in Blog Categories under My Favourites.

Favourite 'Budget Eats' of 2018

Since announcing my retirement and acknowledging that I will be blogging less frequently, I've come to realise something I've always suspected to be true...and that is...pageviews are directly related to how frequent one put out blogposts.  I know that for a fact now as I've seen my daily visit stats drop drastically (by half) of what it used to be now that I'm writing only one (maybe two) posts a week.  That's to be expected and it makes complete sense...coz why would one need to visit my blog if there are no new posts to read...haha! :P  Oh well, if it drops any further, that could be just the motivation I need to stop writing altogether. ^_~

Anyway, let's get back to my post for today.  Budget eats nowadays are confined mostly to food you'd find in coffee shops or some modern food courts in shopping malls.  Something most of us will be looking forward to in 2019 with rising costs of living.  Here's a round up (in chronological order) of some of my favourite budget eats in 2018.

D'Laksa @ Aeon Maluri

Ok, ok, so they use canned sardines (!) but even then they still tasted better than some popular food chains that specialise in assam laksa.  I like it coz the broth isn't too sour.

The Fish Bowl @ Pavilion


Many of us have grown to love poke bowls for its fresh ingredients and light taste that's both appetising and healthy.

Boon Signature Roast Pork @ Damansara Jaya


The siew yuk here is melt-in-the-mouth tender (a term more often used to describe char siew than siew yuk) with a super crunchy skin.  Though it isn't one of my favourite siew yuk because of the overly soft texture and strong hint of black pepper, the place still got on the list because of its Iberico siew yuk that I liked for the leaner cut, tender texture and flavour of the meat (though some will probably disagree at this even being considered a cheap eat...kekeke!).

Red Leaf @ Jalan Loke Yew


This prawn mee is a great find for all prawn mee lovers.  The sweet-tasting broth and fresh, good-sized, sweet sea prawns set them apart from all other prawn mee stalls.  But this shop also turned up two surprises in the form of Penang char kway teow and fried rice that's full of wok hei.

Mak's Chee @ Pavilion Elite


If you love fragrant dry prawn roe, then you must try the noodles here tossed with just that...absolutely umami-licioius! ;)  While you're at it, don't forget the reassuringly fresh, firm, juicy and sweet-tasting sea prawn wontons.  But the gem turned out to be their Cursory Rice which ended up to be the single most satisfying carb-loaded comfort dish I ate this year (you'll be glad to know that the latest version, instead of just plain rice, has the rice tossed in pork lard, soy sauce and chopped spring onions...mmm, even better).

Malaysia Boleh! @ Shoppes at Four Seasons Place


It's my favoured modern food court in the city.  Why?  Well, because it houses my no. 1 favourite curry laksa (that moved here from Imbi), that's why.  Besides that, it also offers various other yummy eats (in a clean and comfortable environment) like fried Hokkien mee, Ipoh bean sprout chicken rice, Penang fried carrot cake, char kway teow, Penang fried oyster and more.

Liang Sandwich Bar @ Sunway Velocity


I didn't think I would enjoy this snack as chain-style restaurants and food don't usually appeal to me...but I did.  The scallion pancake (or sandwich as it's called) is a different take on our traditional roti canai...better-tasting and less greasy.  It comes with various fillings (and sauces) but I only like the basic scallion one....nothing else.

Madras Lane @ Petaling Street


I purposely came here to try the third stall's (from the entrance) curry mee after learning that theirs made it to Lonely Planet's Ultimate Eatlist at number 2...and it was certainly decent, just not my number 1.  The yong tau foo turned out to be more than satisfying too.

Spag & Ju's @ Sunway Velocity


This place was the coming together of two food trucks each specialising in spaghetti and juices.  A humble and value-for-money meal of chicken chop (with either spaghetti or mashed potatoes in black pepper sauce) done right is what you should go for here (in fact, it's the only thing you should go for here).

Keng Nam Hai @ Kepong


It was the hua diao lala beehoon that first enticed me here.  Thick beehoon, fresh lala, flavourful broth with hints of rice wine and ginger....so good!  And then I discovered that they also have one of the best tasting curry mee, certainly a worth adversary to my no. 1 favourite. ^_~

These were just some of the cheap eats I ate in 2018 (you can check out my previous cheap eats list in 2017 here).  With ever increasing prices slowly creeping up on us, any budget eats are surely welcome in 2019.

Favourite 'Good Eats' of 2018

It's been a week since my last post...have you missed me? ;)  No?!!  Well, as I bid farewell to 2018 and say hello to 2019, it's customary for me to do a round up post of some of my favourite good eats of 2018.  You can check out my previous 2017 list here.

Wizards at Tribeca @ Jalan Imbi

A magical place (that's in disguise as a beautiful cafe ^_~) for great coffees and some good foie gras.  You'd want to sit...and linger.

Two Hands Restaurant @ Qliq Damansara 

Rest assured that you'll be in capable hands here.  This has to go down as one of the most memorable and enjoyable (new) dining experience I had last year...and it also happened to be my first tomahawk experience.  Now, who wouldn't want to eat this more often but we all know how expensive they can be (prices are even scarier if they're wagyu tomahawks...let's not even go there)! :P


But the one here is at least affordably-priced and of a good quality for the price paid too.  Respectably executed.  Beautifully seared.  Awesome taste.  I'm drooling over this stunningly succulent piece of meat as I'm writing this.  Just look at that....how can anyone resist that? ^o^


But they aren't just about the tomahawk here....their other dishes like parmesan cauliflower, fried calamari, salted egg custard prawns, soy glazed chicken wings and grilled Portuguese chicken & dirty rice are worthy of mention too.

Bonta Bonta, J's Gate Dining @ Lot 10 Shopping Centre


If eel rice bowls is your weakness (as it is mine), this place offers irreproachably tender-sweet unagi with a smoky finish for one of the best value unagi you're going to find.

Curious Kitchen @ Tropicana Avenue

Satisfy your curiosity with an Iberico pork-focussed menu with some tasty starters and sides.  Finish on a sweet note with the decadent Chocolate Mousse and Lemon Meringue Pie.  Plus you'll be glad to know that kids eat for free here.

BBQ Ma Eul Cup Bab @ Damansara Uptown

A great venue for family dinners, if you can stand the heat, that won't burn a hole in your pocket.  Choose from pork to chicken to beef to seafood and indulge in a hot sizzling 'affair'.  Must not forget an order of the Spicy Rice Balls...and guess what?  You don't really have to make them into balls! :P

Skive @ Bangsar

Skive is a worthy destination if you intend to play hooky...haha! :D  Portions here are build to feed an army (ok-lah, maybe not quite an army) but certainly big enough for two, maybe even three....like this immensely fragrant, evenly browned Whole Spring Ayam Berempah.  Bring your appetite, people.


Plus there are various house-made breads, home-made cakes and house-churned ice cream for those times in-between...washed down with coffees, tea or even sodas.

Bait @ Bangsar


This was the most impressive Seafood Aglio-Olio I've had with super fresh seafood and kitchen-made pasta (there's nothing like freshly made pasta).  I took the bait.....you would too.  This was my other favourite meal of 2018. ^.^

Delirium Cafe @ Suria KLCC


The place really beckons you to sit and relax with a beer in hand.  I guess if you're a beer drinker, you may be in a state of delirium after a couple of imported Belgium craft beers.  But I wouldn't know (since I don't drink beer) but the lunch sets are pretty delirious too, especially the Skillet Beef Aglio Olio.

Eatomo @ Bangsar

One of my favourite go-to places for simple, fuss-free and very affordable Japanese food.  Simply put, I've enjoyed almost everything I've eaten here...from comforting and hearty rice bowls of beef tongue, mentai-seared tamago and unagi to mentaiko fries to butter-garlic clams.

Steaks & Lobsters @ Desa Sri Hartamas


Always a good choice for steaks (and sometimes lobsters too) but, if you have the cash to splash, get the wagyu instead.  And not to mention, all sides are absolutely delicious...and refillable...which is a rarity! ^_~

Maven Coffee Store @ Taman Shamelin Perkasa

This final destination sneaked into the list, not because of its splendid food, but because of its splendid coffees that's nearest to me where parking is plenty and free.

The list isn't long (as my makan escapades have slowed down considerably the past year since I met up with my makan gang a lot less)....and some were repeated places (of course) which I enjoyed eating repeatedly nonetheless.  And, for the first time, there will be no separate sweet eats list as I'm trying (or hoping) to 'extract' my sweet tooth...perhaps not entirely sugarless but at least a sugar less diet....kekeke! ^_~