Kuching/Kota Kinabalu Food Stop #2

Moving on to my next review:

(Welcome Seafood Restaurant squid is a must!!!)

I am the type of person that do not crave for sotong (squid) that much. But since my friend is a fanatic of squid, hence we tried their squid dish. The other 2 dishes are Kangkong Belacan and Sour Plum Chicken. As for the drink, I ordered a Luo Han Guo while my friend had his plain water.

Ok. There's nothing much to talk about the beverages so I will just move on to the food. The only vegetable dish, Kangkong Belacan, I would say it taste close to what I can eat in KL. It has a good belacan flavour to it (although I prefer heavier belacan flavour) but the only difference is KL's Kangkong Belacan are spicier compared to this one. Probably Sabah people does not eat that spicy like how KL people does. As for the Sour Plum Chicken, it was quite a surprise for me. Not something that can be found in KL easily. I can roughly imagine how it taste like in my mind before taking my first bite but it caught my attention once it enters my mouth. It punches my mouth with quite a strong sourness followed by a mild sweetness aftertaste. I mean, I never had a sour plum food or beverage that delivers such strong sourness in my entire life and this is where it caught my attention. The taste overall is not bad and if you love sour food, this could be one of your favourite. I have to say, this dish is definitely worth ordering. Now the final dish, which is the only seafood that we ordered in a seafood restaurant, Dry Curry Sotong (I can't recall what is the exact name of this dish so I will just go with this). First impression, it looks exactly like dry curry sauce. Second, it taste exactly like dry curry sauce that I can have in KL but less spicier. Third, the texture of the squid is absolutely succulent. Conclusion, I freaking love it!!! I am always a big fan of dry curry style and this dish delivers the exact taste that I expected. Given that it is less spicier, the fragrant of the dry curry spices stand strong on each pieces of the succulent squid (thanks to the fresh seafood they have), giving it a mouthful explosion of flavours whenever you pop in a squid. Even my friend fall in love with this dish and he's still craving for it up until today. Totally love it.

To sum things up, I do recommend this place for their sotong (squid). I believe all the other seafood dishes such as fish or prawns are gonna be as fresh as the squid so you can give it a try if you want. However, do note that the price is quite steep BUT the portion of every dishes are huge which compensates back the price a little. Since we only ordered 3 dishes, all the 3 dishes are definitely worth the price for the taste and portion. You will enjoy it for sure. I will give this a 5/5 with the following breakdown:

Location: 1 - It is located within Kota Kinabalu Waterfront vicinity, which you can easily get a Grab car around there and reach the restaurant within 10 minutes. It is within walking distance if you stay close to Hilton Kota Kinabalu.

Food & Beverages: 1 - 3 dishes. No complains. Squid was fantastic. Hefty price but reasonable portion. Worth it.

Price: 1 - The price falls on the high side but compensated by the reasonable portion. Price ranges from minimum RM15 per dish for non-seafood.

Atmosphere: 1 - A typical restaurant. It occupies the whole stretch of shop lots (at least 5 or 6 lots). Clean and spacious. Comfortable.

Service: 1 - Staffs are friendly. The serving of dishes was fast as well.


Jalan Asia City
Pusat Bandar Kota Kinabalu
88000 Kota Kinabalu
Sabah



Enjoy the food here~

Kuching/Kota Kinabalu Food Stop #1

This blog purpose is to introduce some interesting new nice food (which I won't find it in KL) and probably I will do a very simple review of it. The first one will be this:

(Pinggai Cafe's fried rice is a must!)

The fried rice has a very unique taste. Although it has anchovies toppings as well, but it taste completely different from Nasi Goreng Kampung. It has a distinct aroma and flavour compared to the one in KL. However for me, the main star of the dish is their belacan. It is sour but at the same time, a very unique zesty punch with a mild spiciness that I could not resist eating it. So glad my other friend do not like it so I took all his belacan as well lolz. As for the other fried rice my friend ordered, it is Char Siew Fried Rice. Taste a little bit weird for me (probably because KL's char siew taste completely different as well) as the char siew taste I expected was completely different. Not to say that I hate it, just that not my preferences.

Moving on to the beverages. I ordered the Bandung Coffee and my friend ordered an Ice Lemon Juice. Ok. The Bandung Coffee was a let down. I don't fancy bandung but I expect that the drink could have a stronger bandung taste but to me, I don't taste any bandung except coffee in that entire glass. They should at least make the bandung taste slightly stronger so that people who loves bandung would appreciate it more. As for the Ice Lemon Juice, I FUCKING LOVE IT!!! It is indeed sour, but it has a very strong touch of lemongrass aroma in the drink. Imagine the taste of lemon sourness with the aroma of lemongrass. It really caught me by surprise and eventually, I drank the last few sips LOL.

Now. Here comes the finale. I would strongly recommend their original or plain fried rice (they have other fried rice such as Tempoyak Fried Rice) which feels very homey and if you love sour drinks, the Ice Lemon Juice is a must try. Overall, I will give it a 4/5 with the following breakdowns:

Location: 0.5 - This cafe is located on one of the alley along the Kuching Waterfront. Slight navigation required but it is not difficult to locate.

Food & Beverages: 1 - Fried rice is a yes. They have a lot of fried rice variety so do give it a try, and other dishes as well. Bandung coffee that has no bandung taste. Big letdown. The lemon juice was good though.

Price: 0.5 - In general, the cost is slightly above average of the prices you may find around nearby eateries. Price ranges from minimum RM10.

Atmosphere: 1 - A small shop with limited seats but overall comfy.

Service: 1 - Staff are extremely friendly and nice.

Pinggai Cafe

37, China St, 93000 Kuching, Sarawak

Why am I doing reviews for food now lolz...

My Kuching & KK Trip!!!

(I look funny lolz)

On 18th May, I went to Kuching for a trip, meeting a friend of mine. Frankly speaking, it is a long story and all I can do is shorten it by posting more pictures. This is a summary of where I have been to and interesting thing that happened.

Kuching:

- Going to gym with my friend and EATING of course

- Stayed a night in Damai Resort (picture above was taken at Damai Resort's swimming pool)

- We missed the flight on our checkout date and force to fly on the next day instead.

Kota Kinabalu: 

- Stay at Ming Garden Hotel and Residence. Got a free room upgrade. 

- Went to island hopping for 2 days. Been to Manukan, Mamutik, Sapi and Gaya Island. 

- Enjoy their food, especially their fresh seafood except their white tom yam which is sweet af.

- Nasi Paprik, red in the morning, white in the night (Don't ask me wtf is this)

- First time riding Grab for me

- Met a good looking Korean at the hotel. Never see him again after once.

- An intimate night that we could never forget

Before closing this post, this is a pic that I managed to take where both of us is in it xD

When would be our next trip together???

Yup!!!

For some reason, I really love this pic a lot... It shows the muscular side of me (I'm not very muscular but still acceptable I guess) and I just think I look very good in this pic given that this is not as naughty as the previous pic I have posted lol... Honestly speaking, if I don't view the pic back, I never see that my arms could look this muscular and sexy but that aside, I'm keeping this pic purely for future references only... So whoever that saw this pic, please forgive me OK???



Hopefully I can get more nice pics like this to post in the future HAHAHAHAHA!!! xD

Ramadan...

Ramadan has begun since yesterday and this is what I want to sum up about Ramadan month:

1. RAMADAN BAZAAR OMG FOOD HEAVEN!!!
2. Less traffic congestion
3. Lack responses and slowness from the Muslims staff (not trying to talk bad of them but please be considerate of them if they never perform their duties at their best)
4. Prone to more accidents (which is why please please please be very careful and be considerate when you are on the road)


Apart from that, my plan to Kuching and Kota Kinabalu has been confirmed and I'll be flying to Kuching on the 18th... Can't wait to get fat LOLZ!!!
I am so gonna savour every single food that Kuching and KK can offer... Hit me baby one more time!!!

And here is the itinerary of my Kuching/KK trip:

Day 1 - Afternoon : Lunch, Unpacked, SALON, Gym sign up, Night : Shopping

Day 2 - Morning/Afternoon : hok-hai , Sight-seeing Bako National Park, Night : Gym , Damai booking

Day 3 - Morning : Laksa place, Cultural village, Afternoon : Damai Resort, Night : Buntao seafood

Day 4 - Morning : Gym, Afternoon/Nightime : Flight to KK , Check in hotel , Hang out around KK

Day 5 - Island hopping (Kayak and BBQ)

Day 6 - Island hopping (Snorkeling at islands that we never visit on Day 5)

Day 7 - Back to Kuching for last day


Looks good to me and this will be a long trip since I did not visit anywhere last year... All I need is some vitamin 'sea' LOLZ



I am ready for it!!!