Ikea Swedish Cafe @ Ikea Cheras

I'm sure everyone is familiar with Ikea when it comes to getting some really nice, modern furniture & fittings to refurbish, redecorate or brighten up your home...and if you're familiar with Ikea, you'd be equally familiar with their cafes too.

I had a decorating project to do recently and found ourselves visiting Ikea quite a bit the past few months...and what do you do after loads of walking, browsing and buying?  Well, you eat, of course...and like everyone else most people, we'd eat at the nearest place available too and that would be the Ikea Swedish Cafe @ Ikea Cheras, the branch we were shopping in.

I've eaten at their cafe countless times, in fact each time I shop there, I'd end up wanting to eat at their cafe.  I started eating/shopping at their Damansara branch long before the Cheras branch nearer me opened. Actually, their food is quite ordinary (and some are mere processed food) but I enjoy comfort food once in a while...and my favourite dish here is none other than their signature dish of Swedish (Beef) Meatballs @ RM6.50 (this is the kids portion actually with 5 meatballs, hehe) with mashed potatoes (very smooth) & broccoli served with lingonberry jam.

The very first time I had this (back when their only branch was in Mutiara Damansara), I was apprehensive when I saw it served with lingonberry jam...I thought how would the sweet flavours go with something savoury.  That was the first time I learned that (sometimes) sweet and savoury flavours do go well together.

This is the more appropriate adult portion which have 15 meatballs (I think) but I once had that and found it too much for me, so I get the kids size (lol) + that way I've space to eat something else.  I noticed from their website (recently) that there's a size in between with 8 meatballs @ RM12 (not sure if that's available at the cafe though).  When they're super busy (which is like all the time), presentation takes a back seat.  It's just like getting food from a canteen, you queue and push your trays along, and they scoop/plonk whatever you want onto the plate.

The meatballs have a slightly dense texture...you can choose between beef or chicken meatballs + there's also an option for plant-based meatballs but I personally prefer beef...and rolling them in that luscious brown sauce (which was pretty delicious) and a little dip in the jam (which used to be a big dip when I wasn't refraining from sweet things) took them from mundane to good enough.  If I wasn't on a low-carb/low-sugar diet, I'll cart a jar of that lingonberry jam home.

My son also likes to eat their simple Fish & Chips @ RM12.90 served with a dollop of mayo and a wedge of lemon.  This I can see would be very popular with kids.....even the picky ones!

There was a time when I was having my usual and I caught a waft of something fragrant permitting through the air and realised that it was some delicious-looking, fragrant-smelling fried chicken wings that many were having.  This is the Fried Chicken Wings with Gochujang Sauce @ RM14.90 for 4 pcs (RM21.90 for 6 pcs). RM3.50 for a whole chicken wing (that includes the drummette) is a very good price if you ask me.

I know I wanted the fried chicken wings but wasn't particularly ecstatic when I learned it was served with gochujang sauce.  Luckily the sauce was served on the side but my fears were unfounded since it didn't taste anything like an authentic gochujang but closer towards a chilli sauce we're more familiar with.  The wings were piping hot and they were fragrant all right.  I'm happy! ^.^

The reason why I order a kids portion of meatballs is when I plan to have their Mushroom Soup @ RM4.90 and Garlic Bread @ RM3.90 (2 pcs).  Their mushroom soup is just nicely thick (of course it's not among some of the better mushroom soups I've had) but it's adequately satisfactory, finished with a dash of pepper (unfortunately, they only have white pepper packets available).

Their garlic bread is also not in the conventional form of a common baguette or bread roll but in slices (and I like that they use wholemeal bread).  Well toasted with butter and parsley with a fair amount of garlic taste, they're still crispy to the bite even though you find them abundantly in a tray and prepared ahead of time.  I think the sheer crowd makes this particular item move fast that they're regularly replenished (and thus able to stay crisp).

And to crown off all that is their unlimited refills of drinks (both hot and cold)...certainly a boon to some who get to enjoy free-flow drinks while resting their tired legs after all that shopping.  For cold drinks, you pay just RM2.50 to get an empty glass and for coffee (or tea), an empty coffee cup will be given...and what's even better, it's free if you're an Ikea member.

You have a wide variety of food and snacks to choose from such as mains of baked salmon, chicken chop, roast lamb, beef steak & ribs including beef wellington, pasta, sandwiches & salads), snacks like chicken lasagna, wontons, spring roll & more, desserts of pastries, cakes, apple pie, panna cotta, etc., even plant-based dishes and a kids menu, so there's something for everyone.

Probably their most famous pastry is their Curry Puffs @ RM7.80 for 6 pcs (or RM1.40 a pc) with a generous filling which is still a steal at today's prices (used to be RM1 a pc or RM5 for 6 when I first started eating them if I remember correctly).  Definitely one of my favourite curry puffs to have...and I've had it countless times (oops) coz I'm always tempted to buy them when I'm there.  The only thing that'll deter me from buying is the super long queue! >_<

My Personal Opinion

Although their food is nothing exceptional, I thought they did a more than decent job bearing in mind that the food is mass-prepared and cooked much like in a cafeteria or canteen.  The only downside is that you have to queue and get your own food...and the queue is always extremely long (luckily it moves along fairly quickly due to their large workforce).

I know some people don't like this canteen-like food...but I fine with it! ;)  It's comfort food for me which can be enjoyed in a clean and pleasant environment...after furniture browsing/shopping.  My favourites here are the Swedish meatballs, garlic bread, mushroom soup and (recently) the gochuang fried chicken wings.

Even if the food is not extra-ordinary, we can't complain about the prices.  C'mon, breakfast prices start from RM3.50 (you can even get a nasi lemak with fried chicken for just RM5.90)...now where can you get a hearty meal at such a reasonable price?  I can certainly see why the cafe is always so crowded coz it's so popular with families! ^_~

Ikea Swedish Cafe

Ikea Cheras

No 2A Jalan Cochrane

Taman Maluri

55100 Kuala Lumpur

Who Loves Fish Cake.....Besides Me?

One of my most favourite things to eat is fish cake (or fish paste)...which doesn't come as a surprise since I adore eating fish!  In my food outings, I've had the privilege of coming across (and eating) some really good fish cake.

When it comes to what constitutes a good fish cake, there are divided opinions...two schools of thought, if you may.  There are those who like them with a very springy texture while others prefer a more chewy, not too bouncy texture...I'm the latter.

One of my favourite fish cake comes from this shop, Yin Kee Fish Ball Noodles @ Jalan Pudu Ulu, specialising in fish ball noodles.  They obviously make their own fish balls and fish cake, both are by-products of their own-made fish paste...and they're both really good.

This fish cake is a cross between lightly springy and slightly chewy...and it's among one of the best fish cakes for me (I'd put this at the very top of my list).  We like to order this separately as a side snack.  The same fish cake is also cut into thin slices to be used in their fish ball noodles.

Another well-loved fish cake is the one from this yong tau foo/chee cheong fun shop, Yap Hup Kee @ Pudu.  It goes without saying that one of the best ways to use own-made fish paste is to make yong tau foo with it...and the fried fish cake is one of our favourite items (and also one of their costlier items) to order here.

I'm not sure if this qualifies as a 100% fish cake though as I feel it's far too tasty to be just fish paste alone. I've long suspected that there may be some pork in there.  The texture is more dense, not bouncy at all...and we absolutely love it (my family's favourite) irrespective if it's just fish or fish+pork! ;)

Next on the shortlist is one that will satisfy lovers of firm and bouncy fish cakes and it's the one from Ah Koong Restaurant @ Pudu.  It's a bit too bouncy (for me), a sign that the fish cake probably has too much flour in the mix though I don't mind eating it too.

I especially like the convenience of their vacuum-packed, ready-made ones that I can buy for use in some of my homecooked dishes.  It's something fast and easy to use that I rely on quite regularly at home.  I usually use them in a stir-fry with vegetables.

From a chee cheong fun stall located inside Kedai Makanan Red Leaf @ Jalan Loke Yew (now known as Piau Kee Kopitiam), I discovered another worthy fish cake.  I've not included this chee cheong fun stall in my reviews coz the taste is nothing worth mentioning but found that they were willing to make a fish cake for me on the spot.

So I grabbed the opportunity one day and took up their offer (and if I remember correctly, it cost me something like RM10).  The portion might look very little for the price coz it's pure fish paste + it deflated when it was served (by the way, it tasted terrific)! :O  I actually witnessed them taking a portion of pure fish paste and frying it in the wok where it puffed up looking like a 'real' fish cake before deflating (I'll let you in on a little secret/tip in my next post why this happened).

Straying a bit further from home to find another decent fish cake is the one in Tang Pin Kitchen @ SS2 PJ though we have not been there for a long time.  I remember their fish cake has a texture quite similar to Ah Koong's, maybe not as firm but still pretty springy.

There used to be one near me which offered a pretty good fish cake which we enjoyed (at dinner time) though the place has since closed but I'd mention it nonetheless since it deserved a place in my "fish cake list"...lol.

The texture is the springy type, but only slightly and certainly not overly bouncy, something along the lines of the ones in Tang Pin Kitchen.

And finally, closer to home, I've only found two choices, not great choices, but they'll have to do if I'm thinking of having fish cake.  One is from Tasty La La Noodles and the other, HoLiao Noodles, in my neigbourhood.

Perhaps I may have eaten some other good fish cakes which I can't remember but these were the five that stood out enough for me to remember...lol!  Yap Hup Kee (which my family loves) and Ah Koong (where I also buy their ready-made ones) are now the two places I frequent most for fish cakes although (personally) I think Yin Kee yields the best fish cake I've tasted so far but it's not a place I can eat regularly at as my family is not into fish ball noodles. :'(

Win Win Western Food @ Pandan Indah

Win Win Western Food @ Pandan Indah, which occupies two floors, opened in November last year to full crowds and long queues (something that only happens to one other restaurant here...Sushi Mentai).  From their Facebook, it would seem that they started out as a stall inside a coffee shop (Restoran Chong Wah Win Keong) in Taman Sri Gombak (and still operating) before embarking on opening their own restaurant here in Pandan Indah.

In the evenings, you'll see long queues (especially on weekends) but (fortunately) you don't have to wait that long as the queue moves pretty fast (a testament to how fast the staff and their kitchen work).  We've been here for lunch too and they still run a full house.

Seeing that they got their start from a stall set-up, you can pretty well expect what kind of western food is served here...localised western food and I started my taste test with the Combo Grilled Chicken & Pork @ RM28.80 coz I was greedy wanted to try both proteins in one go.  With the combo, you get one chicken chop and one pork chop + a sausage and fried egg served with a toasted/buttered bun, coleslaw and fries with a choice of black pepper or mushroom sauce.

I didn't know what to expect portion wise since this was my first time eating but was taken back by just how hearty the portion was.  Obviously I couldn't finish the whole lot and had to pack part of it home.  Due to its large portion size, I didn't hesitate to order that for my spouse when he dined here the first time (even my husband found the serving very filling).

On a subsequent visit, I cut down on my greediness and had the Grilled Chicken Chop @ RM16.80 with black pepper sauce which is my favourite sauce when it comes to eating steaks and chops.  I can see why they've such a huge following coz their black pepper sauce is very well made with just the right amount of savouriness and pepperiness.

Next, I tried the Grilled Chicken Chop @ RM16.80 but with mushroom sauce instead (that tasted a little garlicky).  No, I would stick to the black pepper sauce as it's clearly the winning sauce here.  In fact, it's among some of the better black pepper sauces I've had.

There's also the Sizzling Chicken Chop @ RM19.80 which is served on a hot plate instead.  The difference between this and the normal grilled chicken chop is that it's served with an extra fried egg, broccoli (instead of coleslaw) and onions.  I like how the black pepper sauce would sizzle underneath the hot plate thus caramelising and sweetening the onions.

They actually have many other styles of cooking the chicken chop (which I've not gotten round to nor would I want to as I still prefer my basic black pepper) like Marmalade Chicken Chop, Chicken Maryland, Thai Style Fried Chicken, Creamy Butter Grilled Chicken Chop, Creamy Butter Fried Chicken Chop, Mexican Chicken Chop and Special Pineapple Chicken with Cheese.

Moving on from the chicken chop, I tried their Sizzling Special Pork Chop @ RM25.80 with the ingredients being pretty similar to the sizzling chicken chop except this came with (1 1/2 pcs of) pork chop, an extra slice of ham (and cheese which I asked to be omitted).  I had this with my choice of black pepper sauce.

Both my husband and son prefer the Grilled Pork Chop @ RM18.80.  I've to say they butterfly (maybe even pound) their pork chop to a fairly thin slice so that it's more tender this way but, of course, it's still a little bit chewier than chicken chop (which is usually the case).

After having the chicken and pork chop so many times already, I decided to give the Grilled Salmon Steak @ RM26.80 a go.  It's ideal if you're a light eater though the salmon was a little on the dry side and a steak cut (not fillet) means you'll also have to deal with some bones + it's served with the same mushroom sauce which I thought didn't go together as well as if I've gotten a different sauce made for fish.  These reasons made the salmon less enjoyable and the fact that it costs more wasn't in its favour either. >_<

All their main dishes come with a standard piece of buttered and toasted bun, coleslaw (of which the mayo was surprisingly light, not gluggy like many can be) and crinkle-cut fries (nothing special but frozen, commercially bought fries).

 

If you like to have your protein with more carbs, you can order the Grilled Pork Chop with Tomato Spaghetti @ RM18.80 which my son did (there was an additional RM7 chargeable to change it to Aglio Olio Spaghetti).  The spaghetti here is just ordinary.

My son's sampling of the Fish & Chips @ RM18.80 also came in a very big portion.  We were stunned at how humongous the piece of fried fish was which occupied almost two-thirds of the plate...lol!  The younger generation will like this...it's those typical breaded frozen fish but this one is quite pleasant, not fishy at all.

For an equally fulfilling dish, you can have Fried Fish with Tomato Spaghetti too (with a notably smaller piece of fish) @ RM17.80 (changed to Aglio Olio for an additional RM7).  What I don't understand is this extra charge of RM7 to change from tomato to aglio olio...RM7 for just some additional garlic and chilli flakes? O_o Very strange.

For a side order to go along with your chops, Win Win's Mushroom Soup @ RM7.80 is a great choice! ;P  Not only was it tasty, I was surprised at just how thick and creamy the soup was although this was not the dark brownish type (from mushrooms) like other mushroom soups I've had but more whitish in colour (from the cream).  Even so, it was not cloying at all and was nicely seasoned.

It was among one of the better mushrooms soup (that's more cream-based) I've had.  Just a dash (more like many dashes) of black pepper to complete the enjoyment.  When I asked for black pepper during the first few visits, they gave me white pepper! O_o  This led me to think what western joint doesn't have black pepper...luckily they have since fixed that...lol.

Even when not having mushroom soup, I always add on a side order of Garlic Bread to share for only RM2 (which is a steal!).  The garlic bread here is very buttery and soft on the inside (the butter oozes out when you squeeze the bread) with the exterior well toasted making the sesame crusted bread fragrant and crisp. Absolutely delish.

I was here at lunch time once and decided to have something different and ordered the All Day Breakfast (Set B) @ RM18.50 instead.  It ended up to be a plate filled with processed food of sausage, ham and bacon (which was expected, what was I thinking! :D) together with scrambled eggs (which looked more like an omelette), coleslaw and bread.  Can't understand why they would want to present the bacon this way (rolled up like a flower?) when what was needed was to lay it flat so that it can get charred and crispy.  So, don't bother with this one.

My son have had many drinks here from Mango Tea to Peach Apricot Tea to Tropical Fruit Tea all @ RM6.50 to Three Musketeers @ RM7.90.  I stick to Apple Tea (Hot) @ RM4.50 which tastes like Chinese tea, unsweetened but nicer. ^_~

My Personal Opinion

I can see why the place is so popular and always packing in the crowds coz they did two key things right here and that is....1) they get a real good sear on their chops and 2) the black pepper sauce is good.  These, coupled with great portions and very reasonable prices, are the reasons why people keep coming back.

Since western food is agreeable with my restrictive diet as the main portion of the dish is meat-based (either chicken or pork), it's no surprise that this place has become a regular dinner venue for us.  Stick with either the chicken chop or pork chop (even better if it's served sizzling on a hot plate) and don't forget the mushroom soup and garlic bread too.  These are the best (and my favourite) things I've eaten here.  Be prepared to wait for a table though but the queue/crowd moves pretty fast, a testament that the kitchen and staff work at a fast pace.

My husband is a simple man and likes simple food like this, so this localised western food appeals to his palate.  We come here very often (as evidenced by the many photos..lol)....after all, my blood glucose readings after a meal here has always been good which makes this place test approved and very ideal for my current way of eating. ^_~

Win Win Western Food

45 Jalan Pandan Indah 4/6B

Pandan Indah

55100 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 014-365 8898

Dondang Sayang Coffee House @ Corus Hotel

It was a celebration of some sort and we received an invite from my brother-in-law to a makan gathering on National Day at Dondang Sayang Coffee House @ Corus Hotel.  Our go-to dining venue at Corus Hotel is usually Ming Palace but they were closed on a public holiday.

So, we decided to meet at the hotel's coffee house instead.  It has been a while since we last ate at their coffee house...our previous visits here were always for their high-tea buffets.  Since there was no buffet offered on that day, my brother-in-law made orders from their a la carte menu...and everything was ordered by the time my family and I arrived.

He ordered 7 individual plates of food (mainly local dishes) for the seven of us...but all for sharing...and all the plates arrived almost simultaneously.  The Biryani Lamb @ RM58.62 came served with a flavourful tri-coloured biryani rice accompanied by a very refreshing vegetable pickle (of pineapples, cucumber, carrot, onions & chillies) and crispy prawn crackers.

The lamb shank was adequately tender and full of flavour from being cooked in all the rich and aromatic spices.  The tri-coloured biryani rice was delicious as hidden within the centre of the perfectly cooked basmati rice was some sauce (presumably from the lamb shank) which made the rice even tastier.

This was followed by a dish of greens, the Caesars Salad @ RM22.41 that was made up of really fresh, crunchy romaine lettuce, sliced onions, cherry tomatoes, olives, hard boiled eggs and sliced ham served with caesar dressing, of course.

There was this sprinkling of Parmesan cheese on top but, luckily, this wasn't as pungent as some of the Parmesan cheese I've tasted before, so it ended up as a salad I enjoyed.  Only thing missing were some crispy croutons to bring that crunchy element to the dish.

Next was the Fried Mee Mamak @ RM24.13 garnished with a sunny side-up egg (that was executed well with a still oozy yolk), some crispy prawn crackers, some greens, a wedge of lime and a dip of bird's eye chillies in soy sauce.  I think there were some prawns in there too.

The mee mamak was fragrantly fried with egg bits and lots of vegetables (of choy sum, onions, tomatoes and taugeh).  The flavours turned out better than I expected and was really appetising with a squeeze of lime.  I'd even say loads better than many of the mee goreng I've had at mamak restaurants.  I really enjoyed this.

The spaghetti in the Seafood Aglio Olio @ RM24.13 was cooked al dente and tossed with ingredients of prawns, squid, green bell peppers, carrot, onions and served with a slice of buttered garlic baguette.

It was alright but probably my least favourite dish from here as it needed more chopped garlic and chilli flakes in the noodles for a punchier flavour.

Following after that was the Hainanese Chicken Rice @ RM28.44 which my brother-in-law said is a best seller here....and I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome.  For a more atas hotel version, the plating must be different lah! :D  The poached chicken was served with cucumber slices and tomato wedges, a soup that contained some silken tofu cubes with three dips of a fresh chilli paste, blended ginger and a not-so-common condiment of dark soy sauce.

Everything was respectably executed, the chicken tender and smooth, the rice sticky (I think there's some glutinous rice in there somewhere) and flavoured and both the chilli and ginger pastes were of very acceptable standards.  I was pleasantly surprised by the pretty commendable effort (for a hotel version) I've to say.

Next up was their rendition of Char Kuey Teow @ RM24.13, another highly popular hawker dish of kueh teow fried with prawns, egg, taugeh and chives served with a fried egg on top.

You'd find this plated up exactly like the earlier fried mee mamak with its prawn crackers, greens and fresh bird's eye chilli dip but minus the wedge of lime.

Our final dish was the Oxtail Rendang @ RM41.37 and it was super tender, flavourful and delicious.  I don't think I've had oxtail rendang before.  It's a little bit more unique that the more common beef rendang.

It was served with the same tasty tri-coloured rice, pickled vegetables and crispy prawn crackers...and the plating again was very similar to the earlier dish of biryani lamb).  The plating may seem a little old-school (and repetitive) but (hey) it evokes nostalgic moments in our past.  A bite of those three-coloured crackers with the yellow, green and red rims (which featured prominently in more than half the dishes here) brings back fond memories of eating it as a child.

For desserts, my sister-in-law picked some mooncakes @ RM36 each (since it was mooncake season!).....though we didn't eat them as desserts but as appetisers while waiting for our food to arrive...lol!

Of course I had to finish my meal with a Cafe Latte while others went with Teh Tarik, Fresh Orange Juice and a selection of ice cream.  The drinks here can be a little pricey (as would be expected in a hotel) but water is always available and refilled promptly as what you'd expect from a hotel's good service.

My Personal Opinion

This was the first time I've had eaten from their a la carte menu and I'd say I was pleasantly surprised at how successful they were at dishing up some hawker favourites.  Not only was I pleasantly surprised with the taste of the food, I was equally surprised that the prices weren't that upmarket (which I'm sure many, like me, will think they are seeing that it's a hotel coffee house).  I'd say the prices are within the range of some of the cafes and restaurants out there.  If I'm a guest at the hotel, I'd surely consider eating at the hotel coz the prices aren't that different from the nearby malls in the area.

If you're planning to hold a little celebration or get-together, this venue could possibly be a great choice since it's more quiet and not as hectic (as some overly popular cafes/restaurants)...but, most of all, you'll be eating in comfort amidst good service.  You can linger and chat for as long as you want (no-one's going to chase you off as there's plenty of space...lol....unlike some restaurants who would like to do so when they're packed). Less people also means less noise interference, so it's a place that encourages conversation with members of your dining party.

We stayed for more than 3 hours....food is always more enjoyable with good conversation.  If I had to pick a favourite, my top three would be the Fried Mee Mamak, Oxtail Rendang (with biryani) and Hainanese Chicken Rice.  Who knew that a hotel coffee house can be quite adapt at churning out good hawker fare.  If you're a tourist or hotel guest (or even a non-hotel guest), I think you'll be pretty pleased with their rendition of some hawker favourites! ^_~

Dondang Sayang Coffee House

Corus Hotel Kuala Lumpur

Jalan Ampang

50450 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-2161 8888