SHABU-YO Setia City Mall: Now with Unlimited Sushi!

SHABU-YO is an authentic all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu and sukiyaki restaurant originating from Japan. We recently visited the Setia City Mall outlet, which is spacious and comfortable, along with good and fast service. 

There are three courses to choose from; Australian Wagyu-Pork-Chicken, Beef-Pork-Chicken and Pork-Chicken. Prices start from RM43.90++ for 90-min dining time for lunch.  If you choose either one of the beef courses, you will also get to enjoy unlimited nigiri sushi (made-to-order); prices start from RM53.90++ for adults. Ordering is via tablet at the table; pretty straightforward and meats are usually delivered to your table within 2-3 minutes. You can also help yourself to as many servings of fresh vegetable, noodles, rice, fried items and dessert at the buffet spread. 

There are 7 types of soups to choose from; from their limited edition Golden soup (pumpkin flavour) to their signature sukiyaki, karamiso and Japanese amber soup. We tried the Yuzu soup, tomato soup, Chicken & pork soup and sukiyaki soup and they were all nice. You can also make your own dipping sauce at the sauce condiment station. 

We tried the Australian Wagyu course (RM93.90++ per adult) which comes with unlimited servings of Australian Wagyu karubi, beef chuck roll, beef karubi, pork collar, pork belly, chicken and tsukune. Our favourites are definitely the wagyu (nice marbling, tender) and pork belly.

Sushi choices include inari, tamago, salmon, salmon belly, aburi salmon, ebi, ika and unagi. We had multiple orders of the unagi and salmon, yummy!

For dessert, you can enjoy freshly made waffles (kids had fun making their own), or shaved ice or matcha/vanilla soft-serve ice cream. Drinks are also included in the price.

Check out our YouTube video of our experience here.

Check out our previous post on SHABU-YO Sunway Velocity.

Opening hours: 11am to 10pm daily.

Location: SHABU-YO, Lot LG-111,112 and 113, Setia City Mall, 7, Persiaran Setia Dagang, Bandar Setia Alam, Seksyen, U13 Shah Alam, 40170 Shah Alam, Selangor. (Parking rate: free first 3 hours on weekday, RM2 for first 3 hours on weekend)

Tel: 018-660 6268

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The Back Ground launches JALAN JALAN CARI MAKAN

With our city opening up again and the surrounding streets at Downtown Kuala Lumpur feeling busier than they did a year ago, the inner workings of packed cafes and restaurants remain anything but. Even as life inches back closer to "normal" for most of us, Covid-19 has shifted consumer demands, supply chains have faltered, and the industry is still struggling to get back on its feet.

The Back Ground's mission has always been to bring profitability and opportunities for its communities through enterprise and collaboration. The launch of Jalan Jalan Cari Makan is dedicated to accelerating Kuala Lumpur's most promising food businesses by working alongside vendors to reset business challenges. The Back Ground will be providing support within our grounds, such as digitalization of businesses, marketing, media exposure and operations.

 
The curation of Jalan Jalan Cari Makan lineup is to encourage new ideas and collaboration with surrounding communities. With over 15 food vendors ranging from cloud kitchen brands, upcoming home cooks, new foodpreneurs to hawkers, Jalan Jalan Cari Makan hopes to bring back the excitement of exploring new flavours and revitalize the appeal of Downtown Kuala Lumpur.

"The food and beverage industry is one of the few industries deeply affected throughout the pandemic. As the economy is opening up, we at The Back Ground feel that it is only natural to come together and reach out to newly launched businesses to get back up to their feet. The Back Ground is all about community, and Jalan Jalan Cari Makan will be one of the many initiatives in the pipeline. Our main purpose of this program is to give hope and a sense of normalcy." said Angel Ng, General Manager of REXKL.

Jalan Jalan Cari Makan will be happening on 23rd & 24th October, 6th & 7th November, 20th & 21st November, Saturdays and Sundays, 10 am onwards.

Operating on a fortnightly basis, there will also be music performances. Entry is free from 10 am to 4 pm. During the four weekends, people can choose to dine-in, takeaways or deliveries. All delivery orders will be on BEEP, our exclusive delivery partner for Jalan Jalan Cari Makan.

Following the first Jalan Jalan Cari Makan launch, The Back Ground plans to launch various versions of Jalan Jalan Cari Makan, such as an Ice Cream and Dessert edition in December 2021. Watch this space!


A GATHERING GROUND FOR THE CITY'S PROMISING FOOD AND DRINKS PURVEYORS

Jalan Jalan Cari Makan will be featuring the below vendors, alongside our existing food vendors at The Back Ground.

Zenboocha & Friends (Sunshine Moonshine, Pour Decision KL)
Beloved by everyone from tattoo freaks and skate geeks to fashion cliques, Zenboocha is a small-scale business touting healthy kombucha that knows how to have fun. No stranger to the bar scene with guest star stints at the ridiculously popular Locker & Loft and Dissolved Solids, Zenboocha believes that being a little naughty sometimes can be good for you too.


Sunshine Moonshine (9th & 10th October, 20th & 21st November)
Born at home amid a global pandemic, Sunshine Moonshine is an indie Tuak brand. Sunshine Moonshine dreams of the good old times of sunny days, cool drinks and company that makes you laugh until your tummy hurts.

Pour Decisions KL (23rd & 24th October, 6th & 7th November)
We are a fun, affordable, and unpretentious way to discover hidden gems from boutique vineyards worldwide. Pour Decisions KL helps you to celebrate every day with a glass of wine, without the special occasion price tag - we genuinely are the Pandora's Box of wine!

Junk Jars
Junk Jars creates artisanal condiments inspired by top restaurants around the world. Our goal is to make every meal taste better by bringing the unique flavours of restaurants to your typical home-cooked meals.

Palette 2 Gourmet
Palette 2 Gourmet Asam Laksa is a family recipe. It is a Northern-style version of gritty broth texture; we took the Kembong fish, ground it into a paste, and used it to cook the broth. Imagine its umami-ness, richness and thickness coated around the slurpable Lai Fun noodles in every mouthful! Each order comes with a limited-edition hand painted Laksa inspired drawing by the Chef herself. Now, who says Laksa can't be art?


King Kong Kitchen
We are a team of passionate chefs curating unique and tasty plant-based sauces and dips. We strongly believe that everyone should be incorporating more vegetables into their diet, so together with our mascot 'Ernie', King Kong Kitchen has created a selection of sauces to help bring the taste of your vegetables to the next level!

Grillsmith
We started Grillsmith when we saw a need for healthier eating without sacrificing flavour and decided to put our expertise in the industry to good use. Grillsmith is a collaboration between Tex-Mex and Asian cuisine, as we follow age-old techniques of smoking our meat to maximize flavours whilst keeping true to our local palate. All our sauces, meats and marination is made in house as it allows us to stay consistent when dealing with fresh produce.

Spectatula Bakery
Spectatula is a home-based micro bakery that provides freshly baked cakes, cookies, and happiness! Each item is carefully curated (and has to pass mom's QC) to give the experience of warmth and joy from that very first bite. We believe that the love of good food should be shared, and this is where the magic happens.

Hey Peach
100% Vegan, plant-based, dairy-free FUN FOOD. Yes, Hey Peach plays with fruits! First Fruit-Based Concept in Malaysia. We are spicing things up by featuring fruits as the main star of our menu. This sister brand of Parklife in Bangsar South gives an exciting twist to plant-based offerings by making fruits the main star of its menu. Get ready for some sassy sweetness.

Beaming
Made from scratch with the utmost intent and care, Beaming dishes out house-made chicken sausage on fresh English muffins. Equipped with almost a decade of experience in the food and beverage industry, we aim to serve quality products made from the heart that everyone can enjoy.


Tumboh
Derived from the Malaysian word for "grow", Tumboh is a social enterprise that sprouted from the foundation that helping the underprivileged is a responsibility, not a choice. A portion of the proceeds from Tumboh's products is donated to Need to Feed the Need Malaysia (NFN). More importantly, Tumboh aims to provide lifestyle and food products that are good for the body, good for the soul and good for society. This includes no sugar added granola recipes, which are sweetened with monk fruit sweetener. And soon, other plant-based products like cookies and "bee-less" honey.


Tian Fu Yuan (Non-halal)
Tian Fu Yuan started in 2020 as a small family business. With the positive response from the customers, Tian Fu Yuan has started to set up the first physical stall selling bakkwa in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. With the perseverance in upholding the spirit of craftsmanship, Tian Fu Yuan insists on retaining the traditional method by being entirely hand-made and hand-roasted. The memorable taste comes from a strict selection of suppliers and the secret family recipe for more than four decades.



Follow The Back Ground on
IG: https://www.instagram.com/thebackgroundkl/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/thebackgroundkl/


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Beta KL: 2019 New Lunch Menu

Last week, we visited Beta KL with our kids to sample their new lunch menu and we sure had a mighty fine lunch! Available from Tuesdays to Sundays (12pm - 3pm), the menu showcases brilliant interpretations of Malaysian flavours. Perfect for those who want to grab a quick, affordable lunch, with prices starting from RM18 to RM35.

Executive Chef Raymond Tham uses locally sourced, sustainable barramundi in his restaurant, and the collar is served in the lunch menu. This was my favourite dish of the afternoon, where the fish collar is baked with caramelised tamarind in the oven and then served with ulam and rice tinted with blue pea flower. There is a 25-minutes waiting time for this, but trust me, it's well-worth the wait. The sauce reminded me of the cheong cheng sauce you find on steamed fish head in Chinese restaurants, and complements the beautifully tender fish collar. Absolutely delicious!

Baked Fish Collar (RM30)

On the other hand, Baby D's favorite was the Duck Spaghetti (RM28) with confit tomato and quinoa. Of course this ain't no ordinary pasta - the duck is braised with spices and wood ear fungus. It tastes just like the braised Hakka pork dish, only this is made with duck since the restaurant is pork-free. The quinoa gives extra texture to the dish and the tomatoes are slowly cooked with assam boi (and the result is amazing, a mini umami bomb).

If all salads are so tasty like the Grilled Chicken Salad (RM22) here at Beta KL, I definitely wouldn't mind eating salads more often. In your bowl, you will find tender, grilled chicken with hints of lemongrass, roasted local pumpkin, broccoli, cashew nut, peanuts, confit tomatoes and an appetizing assam boi dressing.

For fans of spicy food, the Spicy Seafood Pasta (RM30) will knock your socks off, with a sauce reminiscent of asam pedas. Deep fried, lightly battered squid, prawns and torch ginger flowers complete this dish.

To pair with your meal, try one of their new, refreshing mocktails specially crafted by their chef-bartended Chris - the Virgin Watermelon Daiquiri or Happiness and Harmony.

Virgin Watermelon Daiquiri - watermelon, lime juice, mint, salted strawberry sugar.

Happiness and Harmony - passion fruit puree, chamomile tea, orange juice, lemon and strawberry.

Before we came to the restaurant, we mentioned to BabySumoKids that Chef Raymond often creates magic with his desserts. True enough, the kids were amazed when the Orange Snow arrived at our table, complete with liquid nitrogen theatrics and all. "Mummy, that's so cool!", to which I replied "Wait til you try the desserts, they taste as good as they look!"

The Mandarin Orange with Red Bean Snow is inspired by the red bean dessert (tong sui) that 他和Chinese eat after a meal and is usually made with red bean and mandarin peel. Here, Chef Raymond has created a mandarin flavoured semi-freddo sphere, sitting atop red bean and white chocolate. The texture of the semi-freddo is luscious and smooth, fantastic!

Another dessert which has been on the menu since the opening is the Earl Grey with Chocolate and Caramel. Though it doesn't come with theatrics, it certainly wowed us in terms of flavour and texture. 

Beta KL Lunch Menu (note: available everyday now except Monday!)

Beta KL offers 3 different set menus for dinner: Taste of Beta (RM98), Discovery (RM180) and Tour of Malaysia (RM280). You can check out our previous reviews here and here. Lunch menu is available everyday, except for Mondays (rest day).

Pork-free.

Opening times: Lunch 12pm-3pm; Dinner 6pm-11pm. Bar open from 5pm-1am. Closed on Mondays.


Location: BETA Restobar, East Wing, 163 Fraser Place, 10 Jalan Perak, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Parking: 1st hour RM4, every subsequent hour RM3).

Tel: 03-2181 2990

Website: https://www.facebook.com/betakualalumpur/

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MONA, Publika: Famous Salted Egg Butter Chicken Has Landed in KL!

Love salted egg yolk? Located in Publika, MONA, the sister restaurant of the famous JIBRIL in Subang Jaya, brings all things salted egg yolk to the folks of Kuala Lumpur.

This chic retro-Malayan restaurant gets its name from the character whom Lisa Surihani plays from the JIBRIL TV series, which founder Imran Sheik created and wrote. The golden era of Malay movies is celebrated here with P Ramlee movies playing on the screen.

The famous butter chicken from Subang Jaya has landed in Kuala Lumpur!

The bestselling item here at MONA is the Salted egg butter chicken (RM17.90) - which was first created in 2015 at JIBRIL. The chicken pieces are coated in batter, deep fried and then coated in a rich, thick salted egg butter sauce. The salted egg flavour is unmistakable and will certainly delight the salted egg lover in you.  This is served with white rice, lettuce and extra sauce on the side.

Malaysia's national dish, nasi lemak gets paired up with their bestselling item and the result is delicious. Served on banana leaf, the rice was fragrant and rich from the coconut milk, and is accompanied by a sweet-spicy sambal, peanuts, ikan bilis, boiled egg and a serving of the salted egg butter chicken with a twist. Sambal is added to the salted egg butter chicken to give it a spicy kick, hence the salted egg flavours are not so pronounced in this one.. still very tasty though.

Nasi lemak butter chicken (RM19.90)

Other salted egg dishes you can find on the menu are salted egg chicken wings, salted egg fried calamari, salted egg butter squid, and salted egg croissant (RM9.90). We loved the croissant - once you bite into it, the centre reveals a rich, salted egg lava sauce just like a "lau sah pau" (salted egg yolk custard bun). Must-try, good with a cuppa coffee!

We also tried a couple of non-salted egg yolk dishes such as the Saloma Steak (RM49.90) and Seafood marinara pasta (RM18.90). Named after the late P Ramlee's wife, Saloma, we had the striploin which was nicely cooked to medium doneness. If you'd like a more tender, flavorful cut, go for the rib eye (+RM10). For the sides, you can choose mash, fries or truffle fries.

We liked the Oriental duck egg noodles (RM17.90) which is inspired by Malaysian's favorite maggi goreng. Served in a cute takeaway box, the noodles were addictively spicy, topped with tender slices of smoked duck.

Unlike JIBRIL which is Halal, this outlet is pork-free but serves alcohol. The Cendol Colada (RM22) was excellent, made with Kahlua, Malibu, pineapple and a cendol base.

Non-alcoholic drinks are available too.

Book your table online:

Click here for the full menu.

Pork-free.

Opening times: 11am - 12am daily.

Location: MONA, D3-G3-8, No. 1, Jalan Dutamas 1, Solaris Dutamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: +6012 283 4785

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Ramadan Buffet 2019 @ Mandarin Oriental KL: Royal Cuisine of Pahang

Dine like royalty this Ramadan at Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur as you break fast to an amazing spread featuring the Royal Cuisine of Pahang.

With the permission of Her Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda The Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah Binti Almarhum Al-Mutawakkil Alallah Sultan Iskandar Al-Haj, The Queen of Malaysia, Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur proudly presents Royal Cuisine of Pahang featuring recipes from Her Majesty’s cookbook ‘Air Tangan Tengku Puan Pahang Masakan Tradisional Pahang’ at Mosaic and Diamond Ballroom from 13 May to 4 June 2019. Commencing the Holy Month of Ramadan from 6 to 12 May will be an array of local buka puasa delights prepared by Mosaic’s culinary maestros.

When preparing for her cookbook, Her Majesty, fondly known as Tengku Puan Pahang, spent countless hours travelling to villages in her resident state Pahang; one of the 14 states in Malaysia, to seek traditional food recipes from the womenfolk. Known for her skills in culinary, Tengku Puan Pahang is passionate about preserving the local food heritage and believed that it is important for the future generation of Malaysia to know the various cuisines of the country.

Humbled by Tengku Puan Pahang’s noble effort in upholding the local cuisine, Chef Saiful Asrul Bin Saidin and team were moved when they were given an exclusive opportunity to work with Her Majesty and the Royal kitchen in conjunction with the launch of the cookbook last year in Mandarin Oriental. With continued enthusiasm and the support of the Royal kitchen, Chef Saiful and team will be treating Malaysians to a grand showcase of traditional dishes of the country infused with a selection of Pahang cuisine. 

Break fast with family, friends, and business partners over an assortment of Kerabu that includes Kerabu Daging; Kerabu Pucuk Selembut; Kerabu Pucuk Paku; Kerabu Pucuk Pegaga and more before sampling warm dishes such as Otak-Otak Kukus; Nasi Kebawah Duli; Ikan Patin Pais Tempoyak; Opor Burung Puyuh; Rendang Haji Mahmud; Ketupat Pulut Sotong and Sambal Pahang, just to name a few. Classic favourites such as Laksa Pahang; Mee Jawa and Lempeng Debab Sambal Ikan Bilis are available at live stations.

Sup ekor pekat berempah - a delicious, well-spiced oxtail soup

Sotong sumbat masak lemak - one of our favorites, tnsquid stuffed with glutinous rice cooked with coconut milk, fenugreek and black pepper.

Ikan Patin Bakar Tempoyak

Udang Sambal Petai - loved this! Mouthwateringly delicious and spicy. 

Ayam golek Pekan - tender, well-marinated chicken

Mixed satay

Daging Salai Masak Lemak Kuning Rebung Madu - Hubby's favorite, smoked beef slices cooked in coconut milk and turmeric

Briyani rice with Indian roast lamb leg

Kerabu daging kelapa parut

Kerabu pucuk paku

Ulam-ulam kampong

Ketupat palas and lemang

Urap nangka and Malay kuih

Diners in favour of sampling international cuisine will be treated to a melting pot of dishes featured at the grill, wok, and noodle stations. These stations will be preparing herb marinated lamb chops; beef steaks; fresh homemade pastas; lemon and garlic sea bass; crispy roasted chicken with Thai mango salad; Rajasthani Laal Maas - mutton cooked in onion spice and yoghurt; Palak Mutter Paneer – cottage cheese green peas cooked in spinach spice sauce, and more. 

Complete the meal with a selection of desserts at Mosaic’s dessert bar and Lounge on the Park. Diners with a sweet tooth can indulge in Puding Raja; Kujub Labu; Seri Kaya Nangka; Kuih Telor Kancil; assortment of Malaysian Kuih and more. A special live station with Pisang Goreng; Cempedak Goreng; Cucur Udang; Cucur Kodok, Apam Balik; cakes and pastries are also available. From 15 to 26 May, Lounge on the Park will present its popular outdoor Fruit Terrace where guests are invited to sample exotic local fruits such as durian and fresh coconuts. 

A Taste of Malaysia buffet (from 6 to 12 May) is priced at RM 168 while the Royal Cuisine of Pahang buffet (from 13 May to 4 June) is priced at RM 218. Guests can enjoy an early bird discount of 25% off for bookings made by 30 April 2019, for dining on the first week (ie 6 to 12 May).


Guests who prefer the grandeur of the Diamond Ballroom can enjoy the Royal Cuisine of Pahang buffet at RM 188 per person from 13 to 26 May. For bookings of 30 guests and above, there will be 10% discount, while groups for 50-100 guests will enjoy 15% discount. This group booking discounts are only applicable at the Diamond Ballroom. Diners will be entertained with traditional gamelan performances daily from 6 May to 4 June between 6.30 and 9.30pm.


Her Majesty’s cookbook ‘Air Tangan Tengku Puan Pahang Masakan Tradisional Pahang’ will be available for purchase at The Mandarin Cake Shop at RM 380 per copy. All proceeds from the sale will be channelled to Tunku Azizah Fertility Foundation (TAFF); a foundation established by Her Majesty to help women who face difficulties in conceiving.

For a unique buka puasa experience, guests can also dine in AQUA Restaurant where it will be offering Barbecue Under The Stars for a minimum of 30 guests at RM 208 per person. 

For dining reservation, please contact +60(3) 2330 8798 or email mokul-fb@mohg.com.



For the extensive Ramadan Buffet Listing for 2019, kindly click here.


Location: Mosaic, Lobby Level, Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03-2179 8881

GPS Coordinates: 3.15568, 101.7120

Website: http://www.mandarinoriental.com/kualalumpur/fine-dining/mosaic/



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