Kafe Vietnam Express - Enticing Vietnamese Treats

Greetings, everyone :)
I hope that all of you are doing well.
Right now, I am currently busy with my preparation for graduation. (I'll be graduating this month)
But, I still make some free time to sample good food. Hehehe :D

Did someone say FOOD???

For this month's entry, I would like to talk about Kafe Vietnam Express. This cafe specializes in Vietnamese cuisine. Craving for Vietnamese Spring Rolls, Authentic Vietnamese Beef Pho and Vietnamese Coffee? Kafe Vietnam Express is the right place to satisfy your cravings.

This cafe is a subsidiary of Kafe Vietnam.
[Please note that Kafe Vietnam Express and Kafe Vietnam are DIFFERENT from each other]
However, Kafe Vietnam is unsuitable for Muslims because they serve pork in their dishes.

Don't fret though, Kafe Vietnam Express is PORK-FREE and Muslim-friendly since their ingredients are all from Halal-certified sources. Yay~!!!

Kafe Vietnam Express, Berjaya Times Square

The ambiance of the spacious cafe is bright and lively. The lighting is even decorated in straw hats to give the customers a traditional feel when dining in this cafe. Decorative pictures hung on the walls and over the drinks counter. As for the seating areas, there are two of them; inside and outside of the restaurant.

 Seating area outside the restaurant

 View from the outer seating area

 Seating area inside the cafe

Drinks counter.

The payment counter is beside the drink counter

Now let's check out the FOOD!

As mentioned earlier, Kafe Vietnam Express specializes in Vietnamese cuisine ranging from salads, rice dishes, noodle dishes including authentic Vietnamese Pho, baguettes, spring rolls (fried and fresh versions), seafood dishes, scrumptious desserts and beverages. Apart from these delicious dishes, Kafe Vietnam Express also serves classic Vietnamese Coffee; both hot and cold.

All dishes at Kafe Vietnam Express is Pork-Free and Alcohol-Free (Muslim-friendly) :)

At Kafe Vietnam Express, you must fill in the order form to place an order.
Simply refer at the menu given and write down the code and the quantity of the food (and/or drink) of your choice)
Next, press the buzzer provided on your table to notify the waiter/waitress and give your order form to him/her. Your food and drinks will be served to you when they're ready.
Cutlery is already provided on each table.

 You can even check out the menu beforehand at the display

The menu

 Order sheet

You must fill in this form to place an order.

Cutlery is provided at each table

(Chopsticks, forks and spoons)

So, what have I ordered?

Goi Cuon Tom

(Prawn Fresh Spring Rolls)

Succulent prawns with rice noodles, a medley of fresh salads (lettuce, spring onion and sweet basil) wrapped in rice paper and served with a special sauce that consisted of fish sauce, soy sauce, fried shallots, chili bits and crushed peanuts. A tangy chili dipping sauce is also served on the side.

 The sweet basil makes this dish fragrant. I think this dish is interesting because of the contrasting flavour profiles; sweetness from the prawns and sweet basil melded together with fresh notes from the veggies and the sauce wraps up this dish with sweet, salty and spicy notes. Even the contrasting textures between the components of this dish gives a pleasant mouth feel; softness from the noodles, crunch from the veggies and crushed peanuts.

 I would recommend that you should eat this dish with the sauce because the special sauce makes all the flavours pop.

Cha Gio Tom Cua

(Crab, Prawn and Minced Chicken Fried Spring Rolls)

Spring rolls that are stuffed with crab meat, prawns and minced chicken and fried to perfection. I really LOVE this dish because of its abundance of savoury meaty filling and its crispy fried exterior.

This is definitely my favourite dish.

 Pho Bo Dac Biet

(Supreme Beef Clear Soup with Kuey Teow)

Beef lovers will surely love this dish; supreme beef toppings (beef slices, beef balls and beef tendons) in clear beef broth with kuey teow  (flat rice noodles) and garnished with onion slices and spring onions.

The beef broth is clear but very rich and full of flavour. It is perfectly seasoned and I can really taste the beef in the broth. It's not spicy so no worries. The beef slices are tender, the tendons are still firm to the bite and the beef balls are juicy. The noodles are springy and absorbed the savoury flavour of the broth. The sliced onions add sweetness and extra crunch to the dish. 

Condiments for Pho Bo Dac Biet

 (lettuce, sweet basil, beansprouts and a slice of lime) 

Chili sauce is also provided for extra heat.

If you want to enjoy a bowl of Pho,

you mix the veggie condiments into your bowl of Pho while the broth is piping hot. 

Just add the veggies as much as you want. 

You can squeeze a bit of lime juice and add chili sauce to suit your taste.

*However, I only added the lime juice since I'm not a huge fan of veggies. 

But I truly enjoyed this dish. :)

As for beverages, Kafe Vietnam Express offer a wide selection of specialty Vietnamese beverages particularly Vietnamese coffee. Be it hot, iced, with milk or with sugar, you can select according to your own preferences. If you're unsure about your choices, you can ask the waiter/waitress for friendly suggestions and recommendations.

Cafe Sua Da

(Vietnamese Ice Coffee with milk)

Honestly I'm not a coffee person but I'm excited to give this a try.

A concoction of coffee and milk, this strong beverage is sure to keep you awake.

I can really taste the coffee since the milk does not overpower the coffee.

For coffee lovers, I'm sure this can satisfy your coffee cravings.

Overall, my dining experience at Kafe Vietnam Express is great. The food is tasty and really fulfilling. The pricing is reasonable and affordable. The waiter/waitress is helpful. The ambiance of the cafe is good. Kafe Vietnam Express is a good place to hang out and enjoy great food with your friends and family.

Thank you Kafe Vietnam Express for the good experience.

I'll visit you again someday for the delicious Pho Bo Dac Biet and awesome Cha Gio Tom Cua :)

Interested in going to Kafe Vietnam Express?

Here's the address:

02-49-08, Second Floor, 

Berjaya Times Square

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

*Kafe Vietnam Express is beside Boat Noodle Malaysia (featured in previous post)*

Check out their Facebook page :)

https://www.facebook.com/KafeVietnamExpress/

I guess that is all from me.

Before I pen off, I would like to congratulate those who will be graduating this month and Happy Halloween for those who are celebrating :)

Have a pleasant weekend.

Take care :)

Boat Noodle Malaysia - Homegrown Thai Street Food Inspirations

Good afternoon everyone :)
I hope that all of you are doing great
It's the weekend so I'm sure that all of you have fun plans in mind.
Hehehe~

Still thinking about what to do...

In this entry, I would like to introduce Boat Noodle Malaysia. 

Boat Noodle (also known as Kuey Teow Ruer) is a local street food that originates all the way from the floating markets of Thailand. Small bowls of springy noodles in flavourful broth garnished with various toppings are being served from food vendors on boats at the floating markets. Apart from floating markets, these noodles are also a huge hit on the streets of Thailand. 

So, if you ever go to Thailand, don't forget to try the authentic Boat Noodle dishes from the floating markets :)

Anyway, Boat Noodle Malaysia brings local Thai street food to the Malaysian epicurean scene. 

Ever since the first outlet opened in Empire Damansara way back in March 2014 (they only serve noodles at that time), Boat Noodle Malaysia has already amassed a wide following and the number of outlets has significantly increased throughout Malaysia (and still counting). Due to the increasing popularity, Boat Noodle Malaysia has upgraded their menu by adding new items to give their patrons (both regular or newbies) a variety of choices for local Thai street food. They are still expanding their menu up until now ;)

I've finally got my chance to visit Boat Noodle Malaysia at Berjaya Times Square, Kuala Lumpur and the restaurant was empty when I arrived because the restaurant had just opened its doors for the day. So I was the first customer of the day. Hehehe~

Boat Noodle Malaysia, Berjaya Times Square

The ambiance of the restaurant is bright and lively due to the spacious interior of the restaurant. Wooden furniture and colourful Thai posters and advertisements give the restaurant a rustic and hipster-like feel. You can even feel like you're sitting in a real Thai restaurant in Thailand as the restaurant even play upbeat Thai songs. Overhead LCD screens display photo collages of the patrons. As for the table setting, Boat Noodle Malaysia cater for all types of diners; solos, couples, small groups and even families.

 Seating area with overhead LCD screens

 Look at those artsy advertisements above the counter

Spacious seating area

Now, let's check out the FOOD!!!

Boat Noodle Malaysia specialize in local Thai street food including noodles, rice dishes, side dishes (Thai salads, fried food, etc), desserts and drinks. As for the noodles and certain dishes, the portion sizes are small (served in small bowls and plates) just like the ones being served at the floating markets. But don't fret, you can still re-order if you're not full. Besides, those in small portions are really cheap so you can eat without worrying your expenditures. Hehehe.

All dishes at Boat Noodle Malaysia are made with Halal-certified ingredients (as mentioned from their website), PORK-FREE and ALCOHOL-FREE. Yay~!!!

At Boat Noodle Malaysia, you must fill in the order form to place an order. 

Simply refer at the menu given and write down the code and the quantity of the food (and/or drink) of your choice. Please note that some dishes are only available exclusively at certain outlets and your dishes may subject to availability. 

Next, give your order form to the waiter/waitress. They're quite helpful and efficient.

Your food and drinks will be served to you when they're ready. 

Condiments and cutlery are already available on all tables.

If you want to re-order, simply repeat the steps :)

The Menu (Front)

The Menu (Back)

The order form.

You must fill in this form to place your order.

The cutlery: chopsticks and spoons.

Not a pro chopsticks user? You can ask for a fork instead :)

Condiments for extra touches

So, what have I ordered?

The MAIN STAR of Boat Noodle Malaysia... BOAT NOODLES!!!

Boat Noodles

At Boat Noodle Malaysia, the Boat Noodles have:

- two choices of noodle selections; rice noodles and egg noodles

- two choices of meats; beef and chicken

- two choices of broth that are named according to their places of origin in Thailand; Pathumtani (dark soy sauce broth with an appetizingly sourish and delicate spicy flavour) and Ayutthaya (intensely-flavoured creamy dark broth made with no less that ten secret herbs and spices)

These noodles were served in small bowls and you can always re-order if you want more :)

I'll start with Pathumtani Boat Noodles :)

 Pathumtani Rice Noodle (Beef)

Rice noodles served in a clear dark soy sauce broth with beef balls and beef slices topped with fresh herbs and fried garlic. The broth is tangy, a little salty and slightly smoky. It is mild to my liking. The bouncy rice noodles really soaked up the flavours of the broth. The beef ball and beef slice give savoury notes to this dish. The herb garnish gives a nice colour contrast including chopped cilantro leaves that give a refreshing twist. The fried garlic adds a robust finishing touch.

Pathumtani Egg Noodle (Beef)

This is basically the same dish except that the rice noodles are swapped with egg noodles instead. 

All other aspects are similar though: broth, meats, herb garnish and fried garlic.

The egg noodles are springy but they don't soak much of the broth though.

Next, Ayutthaya Boat Noodles :)

 Ayutthaya Rice Noodle (Beef)

Rice noodles served in a rich and creamy dark broth with beef balls and beef slices topped with fresh herbs and fried garlic. Unlike Pathumtani, Ayutthaya's is more thicker and more sour. It is also mild to my liking. The rice noodles definitely soaked up the flavours of the broth. Same goes to the beef ball and beef slice; both also soaked up the flavours of the broth. As for the herb garnish and fried garlic, they're pretty much the same; adds a touch of freshness and robust to the dish.

Ayutthaya Egg Noodle (Beef)

Similar with its Rice Noodle counterpart except that the rice noodles are swapped with egg noodles instead. All other aspects are similar: broth, meats, herb garnish and fried garlic. The springy egg noodles did not soak much of the broth though.

Honestly, my personal favourite is the Pathumtani Rice Noodle (Beef). 

I think that's the best out of the four. Hehehe~

If you're not into their noodle dishes, you can still choose the rice dishes offered by Boat Noodle Malaysia :)

As for the side dishes:

Grilled Chicken Ball

The grilled chicken balls are served in 2 skewers per dish. They're juicy, smoky and slightly spicy. I can taste hints of white pepper from the chicken balls. The sweet and spicy Thai chili sauce drizzle gives a sweet fiery kick to this dish. It is suitable for light munchies as it is light and fulfilling.

Chicken Wings

Chicken wings marinated with a blend of secret herbs and spices and deep-fried until crispy. 

This dish is served with Thai chili sauce. Well, this dish is slightly too salty for my liking. 

I really wished the wing itself could've been a little bit BIGGER too.

But this dish itself is served in a small bowl... so yeah.

Don't fret though. There are still OTHER options for side dishes such as Thai salads and other light munchies. As for desserts, there are currently two choices on the menu but I did not have the chance to order them because I was quite stuffed.

As for drinks, Boat Noodle Malaysia offers a wide range of Thai iced and ice blended drinks. Top recommendations include Cha Yen (Thai Iced Tea), Cha Keow Yen (Thai Iced Green Tea) and Ice Blended Coconut. These three are the best-selling drinks at Boat Noodle Malaysia.

Cha Keow Yen (Thai Iced Green Tea)

I'm sure Green Tea Lovers will love this :)

Overall, my dining experience at Boat Noodle Malaysia is good. The food is okay; light and fulfilling. Pricing is affordable. Love the refreshing drinks. The staffs are helpful and efficient. Love the bright and lively ambiance of the restaurant. Boat Noodle Malaysia is a good place to hang out with friends while having a good meal at an affordable price. Do note that Boat Noodle Malaysia will be crowded during peak hours (lunchtime and dinnertime) and extremely crowded during peak hours on weekends so do expect queues and waiting times.

Thank you Boat Noodle Malaysia for the experience :)

Side Notes:

- This restaurant is Alcohol-Free and Pork-Free

- All ingredients in the dishes are Halal-certified

- This restaurant will be crowded during lunchtime, dinnertime and weekends

- Menu items are subject to availability

Interested in going to Boat Noodle Malaysia?

[Berjaya Times Square Branch]

02-49-10 & 02-49-11, Second Floor

Berjaya Times Square 1, Jalan Imbi,

55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Operating Hours: 10AM - 10PM everyday

*There are more Boat Noodle Malaysia branches in and out of Kuala Lumpur too.

Check out their website for more details :)

http://www.boatnoodle.com.my/

Or their Facebook page too :)

https://www.facebook.com/myboatnoodle

I guess that's all from me.

Have a nice weekend

Take care :)

Wangsa Grill by Chef Zubir - Favourite Dishes with Casual and Fine Dining Finesse

Good morning, everyone.
Right now, it's almost 9.00a.m in the morning here in Malaysia.
And... I'm still awake...
Because I can't sleep...
So, I decided to proceed with my new post. :D

Don't be fooled.. I'm still awake...

So, today I would like to talk about Wangsa Grill by Chef Zubir. Chef Zubir is a Malaysian Celebrity Chef and he was one of the main judges in Masterchef Malaysia and also Masterchef Selebriti Malaysia (Celebrity Masterchef Malaysia). Apart from Wangsa Grill, he also has another restaurant named Laman Grill. Since Wangsa Grill is near to my neighbourhood, I waited for my chance to dine there... And I finally got it as my family wanted to have dinner there. 

If you're lucky, you can even meet Chef Zubir in person at Wangsa Grill and take a selfie or two with him. :D 

Unfortunately, he was not there when I dined there. Maybe next time :)

When we first stepped into Wangsa Grill, we were greeted by friendly staffs. As they led us to our table, I was mesmerized with the interior of the restaurant. It is quite modern and classy . The plants in the restaurant gives a soothing green touch to the chic interior. As for the seating area, there are two sections; inside and outside of the restaurant so there are plenty of room for everyone; solo diners, couples, families or even small parties. Despite the spacious areas, the restaurant will be full during peak hours (lunch and dinner) so it is best for you to reserve your table beforehand. :)

Furthermore, Wangsa Grill provides restrooms and also Surau (Muslim Prayer Room).

 Decorative wall that features newspaper clippings on 

Chef Zubir and his creations and achievements.

 Seating area inside the restaurant

 As the night goes on, these empty seats are gradually being filled up :)

The mixolgist is crafting Wangsa Grill's signature drinks here at the bar.

The bar is beside the payment counter.

 The payment counter, the kitchen 

and the portrait of Wangsa Grill's owner; Chef Zubir.

 Potrait of Chef Zubir; 

owner of Wangsa Grill and Laman Grill.

So spacious that you can even host small parties :)

Now... Let's check out the FOOD!!!

Wangsa Grill specializes in Western, Tex-Mex and Fusion Cuisines ranging from an appetizing array of salads, soups, pastas, a wide selection of main dishes featuring steaks, lamb, beef, poultry and seafood (ahem... surf and turf anyone?), scrumptious sides and light-bites, yummy desserts and refreshing beverages including Wangsa Grill's signature beverages.

Like any other steakhouses, you can request your steak cooking temperatures according to your own preferences; Rare, Medium-Rare, Medium, Medium-Well or Well-Done :)

Since Wangsa Grill is Muslim-Owned, it is HALAL :)

No PORK and No ALCOHOL is served here in Wangsa Grill.

Below are the pages from Wangsa Grill's menu. :)

The menu

Beverages Section

Soups and Starters selection

Starters and Pastas selection

Burgers, Tacos and Main Course selection

Lamb, Beef and Poultry selection

Surf & Turf and Seafood selection

Seafood selection and information on steak selection

Steak selection and Combo Platters

Dessert selection

So, what have we ordered?

Potato-Leek Cream Soup

Potato and Leek are melded together into this wonderful soup. 

The flavours are well-balanced as I can taste both potato and leek notes and the beef bits garnish gives out a wonderful smoky and savory touch to this light and creamy soup.

Mushroom Soup

A wonderful blend of wild mushrooms with cream and served with toasted garlic bread.

Very rich and flavourful.

Nachos

Crispy nachos topped with spiced ground beef, 

zesty pico de gallo, creamy guacamole, tangy salsa and baked with cheese.

Served together with a strawberry-melon shot.

 Beef Steak 'escalope'

Love steak? Love pasta? Well, this is the perfect dish for you.

Juicy steak charbroiled to perfection topped with creamy mushroom ragout

 served with wilted savory veggies on a bed of flavourful flat pasta.

There's a sauce at the side for your steak. :)

 Japanese Akame Tuna Steak 'Tempura'

Medium-rare tuna steak herb-crumbed and fried to golden perfection 

and served with soba noodles and spinach salad and teppan veggies.

 Wangsa Grill Beef Sampler

If you LOVE beef and want to sample different takes of beef, this dish is a perfect choice.

This beef trio consists of:

Sirloin 'golden pillow' with creamy foam on top of a veggie medley,

 Succulent braised short ribs with smoky barbecue sauce on top of velvety sweet potato mousseline,

Flame-grilled centre-cut fillet mignon on a bed of spinach and topped with creamy mushroom ragout.

My personal favourite is the fillet mignon :)

'Surf & Turf'

Get the best of both worlds from the land and the sea in this dish;

Grilled half US Boston Lobster and Australian fillet mignon 

served with veggie medley and tossed Australian pear-romaine salad

Here are our drinks :)

 I kinda forgot the names but mine is on the left.

 I was told that it was a new, off-menu drink.

It's really refreshing though :)

Californian Strawberry Float and Fresh Carrot Juice

Wangsa Grill also has a selection of scrumptious signature desserts; tarts, puddings, cakes, ice cream cakes and ice cream sundaes. However, we were too stuffed from the main course so we'll let it slide for now. Maybe next time we'll try them :)

Overall, I really enjoyed my dining experience here at Wangsa Grill. The food is deliciously divine and satisfying. The pricing is a bit pricey but it is really worth it as it is reasonable with the quality of the dishes. The staffs are friendly and helpful. The service is smooth and efficient. Love the ambiance of the restaurant; calm and relaxing. 

Wangsa Grill is an awesome place to enjoy great food with your family and friends regardless of occasions and a cool place to have a romantic dinner with your beloved. Do note that Wangsa Grill will be crowded especially during dinnertime. It is best to call for reservations beforehand :)

Thank you Wangsa Grill for the awesome dining experience.

I will definitely visit you again. Definitely :)

Side Notes:

- This restaurant is HALAL (Muslim-owned)

- This restaurant may be crowded during peak hours especially dinnertime.

- Surau (Muslim Prayer Room) is provided

Interested in going to Wangsa Grill by Chef Zubir?

Here is the address:

8 - 10 Lorong Dataran Wangsa, Wangsa Melawati, 53300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Operating hours: 12PM - 11PM (Mon - Sun)

Do check out their Facebook page :)

https://www.facebook.com/wangsagrillchefzubir/

That's all from me now. 

I'm feeling a bit sleepy already hahaha~

See you again in the next post.

Enjoy your weekend :)