ABC Kopitiam in Sitiawan has a coffeeshop setup, rather than the old-school way of eating in the owner’s house compound.

Sitiawan breakfast noodle staple

ABC Kopitiam has a typical coffeeshop setup unlike the noodle shops I’ve eaten when I was growing up – back then, it was often in someone’s house compound in Pekan Gurney and I would cycle my bicycle to eat my favourite noodles with my cousins. Even back then, I always liked eating loo mein with a bit of vinegared garlic for kick.

Two aunties manage the cooking station while their foreign workers deliver orders to the table.

It’s a little humid inside ABC Kopitiam as the cooking station is right in front with boiling pots of soup and water (for blanching noodles), so the heat travels inside quite a bit. I reckon it’s better to go early – they open at 7am – so it’s not as humid and you also get your noodles faster.

Only two aunties man the cooking station so during peak hours, you’ll need to wait a little (15-20mins). I noticed some of the regulars would even help the ladies pack their own takeaway and the aunties were nonchalant about it.

Kampua noodles

Springy noodles and the gloss comes from the generous amount of shallot oil.

I find the kampua and loo mein at ABC Kopitiam slightly tastier than Kampung Koh Noodle Store, which is also quite good. This kampua sauce has more shallot oil which gives it a better aroma. Noodles have a good bite so Jien and our little ones enjoyed this.

Loo mein (Sitiawan-style loh mee)

They’re pretty generous with the bamboo shoots and meat.

The loo mein comes with bamboo shoots which I enjoyed. Noodles are cooked just right while the soup is of just the right thickness and they’re pretty generous with the meat and bamboo shoots.

Bien nuik (wantan) soup

Sitiawan-style wantan (bien nuik) has more skin than filling and I’m used to it but Jien hasn’t been able to accept the amount of skin vs filling until today. It’s a taste of nostalgia for me so if you’re expecting a well-filled wantan, you will be disappointed.

Bien nuik in loo mein broth

Bien nuik in loo lak (loo mein & laksa) broth

This is how loo lak looks like before mixing it up

My brother likes his wantan in loo mein soup while I like my wantan in loo lak soup, which is a mix of (asam) laksa and loo mein soup. Many find this combination odd, including my other half but I can’t get enough of it! Think of the laksa broth as the “vinegar” element when you’re eating loh mee, and you might just like it.

Prices start from RM5.50 per bowl and the upsize to large is RM1 more. Still fairly reasonable since portions are quite generous.

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Ambiance: 5.5/10
Price: 7/10
Food: 6.5/10 (non-halal)
Verdict: If you’re looking for a solid breakfast noodle spot in Sitiawan, this is one of your options. Loo mein and kampua are worth checking out.

Do you have a food recommendation? Tell us!

ABC Kopitiam
1, Jalan Ria Jaya 1,
Taman Ria Jaya,
32000 Sitiawan, Perak.
Business hours: 7am till 1.45pm
(closed Thursday)

I’ve been to Bocado a few times before this new menu and have always enjoyed the food. With the new plates, Chef Victor is taking a more definite course towards Galician flavours, with dishes like Spanish red prawns and Galician-style octopus, both of which I really enjoyed.

AGUACATE A LA BRASA – Grilled avocado with smoked sour cream, fresh pipirrana and coriander sprouts (RM42)

The grilled avocado salad tasted like summer. Served with smoked sour cream, fresh pipirrana and coriander sprouts, it was easy to enjoy and made for a great starter. This is typically served with octopus, so I didn’t expect it to work particularly well with avocado, but it did.

PULPO A LA GALLEGA – Galician-style octopus served over silky potatoes with smoked paprika (RM98)

The Galician-style octopus was cooked just right, served over mashed potatoes with a dusting of paprika. Tender yet pleasantly chewy, with a nice char especially on the legs. This was a good rendition of the dish.

GAMBA ROJA BABY – Spanish red prawns, oil-blanched (RM52 – 6pcs)

Spanish red prawns are a rare find in KL, so I was pleased to see Bocado managing to score some. These prized prawns are oil-blanched to preserve their natural sweetness and texture, and the team did a good job with them. Simple, but when the ingredient is this good, it doesn’t need much messing around.

TARTAR GALLEGO DE TERNERA – Hand-cut Galician beef tartare with wagyu fat, anchovy butter and crisp crackers (RM62)

The hand-cut beef tartare is one of the dishes I’d come back for. It’s fresh, flavourful, fatty and crispy, with a really satisfying contrast of textures. Easily one of my favourite dishes at Bocado in terms of flavour and texture.

TOSTA DE “MILLO” Y QUESO TETILLA – Corn toast with melted Galician Tetilla cheese and truffle (RM38)

Bocado’s corn toast comes topped with Tetilla cheese, sweet corn, baby corn and truffle oil. There’s plenty of aroma going on, with a nice balance of savoury, sweet and creamy in one bite. I also like how it’s presented, given that the original version is often just cheese and corn on plain toast.

MAGRET DE PATO – Duck breast with chestnut purée and wild berry sauce (RM120)

The duck breast was cooked medium-rare, while the wild berry sauce brought a bold yet acidic flavour that worked well with the meat. The chestnut purée was smooth and sweet, adding another layer to the meatiness of the duck without overwhelming it.

ARROZ DE ANGUS – Dry Spanish rice with premium Angus beef, wild mushrooms and rosemary (RM150)

I enjoyed the Arroz de Angus, especially for the rice. It’s hearty and rich from all the layers of flavour, and I like that Chef Victor went heavier on the tomato and paprika here. The crispy bottom crust was perfectly done too. The beef was nice and tender, but honestly, it was the rice that stole the show for me.

VENTRESCA A LA BRASA – Grilled tuna belly in kimchi marinade with confit tomato (RM148)

My favourite among the mains was the grilled tuna belly, marinated in kimchi and served with confit tomato. It’s savoury and meaty, with enough acidity from the kimchi and tomato to cut through the richness of the fat. I really enjoyed this one and hope they keep it on the menu.

FILLOAS RELLENAS – Galician-style crepes filled with chestnut pastry cream (RM38)

BICA GALLEGA – Traditional Galician sponge cake with Fior di Latte ice cream and milk sauce (RM38)

Dessert is a choice between Galician-style crepes and sponge cake. Both are good in their own right, but if I had to pick one, it would be the crepe filled with chestnut cream. Light yet creamy, and a rather lovely way to end the meal.

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Ambiance: 7/10
Price: 6.5/10
Food: 7/10 (pork-free)
Verdict: Not your typical Spanish restaurant. I enjoyed the grilled tuna belly and beef tartare.

Do you have a food recommendation? Tell us!

Bocado KL
Ground Floor,
Bangunan ECM Libra,
8, Jalan Damansara Endah,
Bukit Damansara,
50490 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 012-923 3206
Website

Given our weather, we decided to go elsewhere (read: inside the mall) for dinner instead when the lady boss told us she would “clear a table” for us. We agreed and soon after, were seated and placed our order.

This was when things went downhill.

Beef Bulgogi Hanpan (RM115)

For 2 adults and 3 kids, I ordered a beef bulgogi hanpan (for 2-3 pax), a pork kimchi jjigae with rice (RM36), extra rice (RM5) and a bottle of soju (RM33). The ahjussi owner remarked, “Is that all you’re ordering?”, before telling the lady boss whom I presume is his wife rather loudly in Korean – they’re only ordering this.

Mind you, I’ve watched enough K-drama to understand what he said, and personally, I feel what I ordered was enough or rather, slightly more for our party of 5. The banchan arrived in soy sauce dish sizes, and I was told customers are only allowed one refill.

Only one refill allowed per table

I don’t expect a banchan buffet or endless refills, but the scarcity was glaring. Especially for a culture where banchan is given and replenished. To be fair, the banchan was decent. Nothing mind-blowing or unique, but decent enough to go with our food.

The beef bulgogi was alright – it came with some melted cheese, egg, sliced garlic and chillies. I have to highlight how “rough” the presentation is because you get a large chunk of garlic rather than slices, so it’s quite harsh on the palate.

Portion for 2-3 pax

Lettuce wrap is provided scarcely and when requested, the staff would refill it reluctantly. We refilled it once since the initial portion was so scant – again, not what I’m accustomed to when going to Korean restaurants.

Kimchi Jjigae (RM36 – pork), extra rice (RM5)

Kimchi jjigae is tasty – Jien likes how rich the broth is, and the tanginess of the kimchi is balanced between broth, tofu and pork. Our little ones enjoyed this as well (they can tolerate spicy food).

Soju (RM33)

Because they were so cold in demeanour, I wasn’t interested in opening another bottle of soju because it was a mood killer. We paid the bill (RM223.40) which includes 10% service charge that they don’t deserve and left. As we exited, there was no warmth, no thank you, no goodbye.

They’re better off hiring foreign workers if they’re going to be this uptight with their service. Overall, I don’t think I’ll come back. Especially when there are plenty of Korean restaurant options in Sri Hartamas, Mont Kiara and Solaris. This is just not worth the visit.

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Ambiance: 6/10
Price: 6/10
Food: 5.5/10
Verdict: Average food, small portions and shitty service.

Do you have a food recommendation? Tell us!

Jin Jin Soo Ra
Block C-G-02,
Plaza Mont Kiara,
No2, Jalan Kiara,
50480 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-6206 3115
Business hours: 11am – 10 pm
(Closed Monday)

Thai-style pork knuckle

The food didn’t take long to arrive and I presume it’s because we were there relatively early (6.30pm). Pork knuckle was nice and crispy on the outside, but I felt the meat dried out a little in the frying process. The Thai-style green chilli sauce packs a punch so go easy on the dipping.

Steamed siakap

We were recommended a steamed siakap (RM7 per 100gm), which I felt would have be better off with a Thai-style or Nyonya steamed method. I wanted a grouper or pomfret but they ran out that night.

Sizzling tofu

The sizzling tofu (RM16 – small) is pretty standard but good for the little ones. Fried kailan with salted fish (RM12 – small) served as a green accessory to justify all the fatty dishes we ordered haha!

Steamed octopus

Steamed octopus (RM24 – small) makes a great drinking snack, especially with beer. This was their “catch of the day” so texture was nice and crunchy.

Deep-fried squid

We tend to always order fried squid when we’re dining along the coast / island, and Rootian Seafood Restaurant was no exception. The deep-fried squid has a thin and light batter, allowing us the taste more of the squid. My only gripe is the size of the squid, which was a tad small.

Overall, I find the food at Rootian Seafood Restaurant above average and prices are reasonable. I also like that it’s mostly patronised by locals so they probably won’t overcharge.

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Ambiance: 6/10
Price: 6.5/10
Food: 6.5/10 (non-halal)
Verdict: A decent option if you’re looking for non-halal and non-touristy Chinese food in Langkawi.

Do you have a food recommendation? Tell us!

Rootian Seafood Restaurant 露天海鲜冷气饭店
22-A & 22-B, Jalan Pelangi 2,
Bandar Kuah, 07000,
Langkawi, Kedah.
Tel: 012-433 3338
Business hours: 11.30am till 3pm, 5pm till 11pm
(closed Tuesday)

Cosy interior

We popped in for a late lunch, so there wasn’t much of a crowd. The ambiance is simple yet comfortable, and the food gives off a homely vibe. Soups and steamed dishes are August Days Kitchen’s specialty, so we ordered a few to try.

Coconut soup (RM19)

A signature dish at August Days Kitchen.

The coconut soup (RM19 per portion) is sweet and light in flavour, with tender chicken pieces inside. It’s the kind of soup that feels clean and refreshing, yet nourishing as you work your way through it. I get why the older folks at the next table ordered one each.

Lala soup (RM20 – small)

The lala soup (RM20 – small) is more to my liking as it’s robust with ginger slices and has a deeper, savoury flavour from the clams. There’s a good kick from the Chinese rice wine, plus a mild sweetness from the goji berries. I wouldn’t mind ordering this again just for myself.

Spinach soup with egg (RM20 – small)

Spinach soup with egg (RM20 – small) is a staple dish at most Chinese restaurants. This version is comforting and flavourful from the anchovy stock and salted egg. The spinach is cooked just right, retaining some texture — I don’t fancy spinach that’s too soft.

Nyonya-style steamed tilapia (RM35)

Since most of our dishes were on the milder side, I went with the Nyonya-style steamed tilapia (RM35) for some kick. Despite it being tilapia, the fish didn’t have much of a muddy smell or taste, which I appreciated. The gravy strikes a good balance of sweet, savoury, tangy and spicy notes, while the vegetables are cooked just right so they retain their texture.

Steamed kampung chicken (RM63 – half)

The steamed kampung chicken (RM63 – half) comes with a generous amount of sauce, which goes very well with white rice. The chicken has a bit of bite, as expected from kampung chicken, but I enjoyed the gravy most — savoury and aromatic from the rice wine and ginger.

Gravy has kick from the ginger and Chinese rice wine.

A spot for homecooked dishes.

Overall, I found the food comforting and clean-tasting. If you enjoy dishes that are lighter and less heavy-handed in flavour, this place is right up your alley. Service is quick too, which is always a plus point. Our bill was RM173.50 for all the above, including two herbal teas and 3 bowls of rice.

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Ambiance: 6/10
Price: 6/10
Food: 6.5/10 (non-halal)
Verdict: Homestyle Chinese dishes done right. Order the steamed tilapia and coconut soup.

Do you have a food recommendation? Tell us!

August Days Kitchen (8號旧铺)
8 Jalan Angsana, Taman P Ramlee,
Off, Jalan Genting Klang,
Setapak, 53000 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 018-373 3342
Business hours: 8am till 10pm