KL Sedap 2014 Part 4: Berjaya Times Square Taste Of Asia Foodcourt - Korean Food

So it was time for brunch and we were a bit short of time because we were leaving for the airport in awhile so we didn't want to have to go out too far to get something to eat. Since we were staying at Berjaya Times Square Hotel, we decided to just stick around within the shopping centre itself.

We'd heard about the foodcourt at B1 but never really visited. They seemed to have quite a few options but we didn't know what would be open since it was still early goings and looked like some of the stalls were not even open yet.

In the end, my Darling Wife and I settled on the Korean Food!

Chicken BBQ (RM8.60 ala carte)

I had actually decided on the Bi Bim Bap (because I love it) but the stall was just opening and it wasn't ready for sale yet :\

But I guess it's a good thing because if it had been ready, we would not have been able to find out that the Chicken BBQ is actually really good! It comes on a hotplate so it's nice and sizzling and bubbling when it arrives so that's always an appetizing sight!

It's also got a sweet/spicy gooey sauce to go along which I really enjoyed because I don't mind the sweet but my Darling Wife would have preferred it a little less sweet and maybe a little more spicy.
The chicken was nicely cooked and onions are always welcome.

Kim Chi Fried Rice (RM11.20 set)

We had the Kim Chi Fried Rice to go along and it was quite a pleasant surprise because this was the first time we were having Kim Chi Fried Rice. I mean, we both love Kim Chi, but we've never had it in fried rice before.

Firstly, let me say the accompanying side garnishes were a bit weird.
The seaweed was a bit misplaced to be honest and this was also the first time we had shredded potatoes in Korean food (is that normal??). Thank goodness for the sunny side up fried egg!

The rice itself is rather wet because it looks like it's fried with the kim chi (paste?) and also with bits and pieces of kim chi which was actually quite nice. It's quite starchy but the flavour was actually pretty okay to be honest. It's not as spicy as it looks by the way...

Set meals are accompanied by a bowl of soup (which you can give a miss no problem), a cup of Korean tea and also some kim chi and errrr shredded potatoes LOL

Adam's Verdict:
Chicken BBQ 4/5 -- Kim Chi Fried Rice 3.5/5

Maryah's Verdict:
Chicken BBQ 3.5/5 -- Kim Chi Fried Rice 3/5

Plenty of other choices at the Berjaya Times Square Foodcourt but the Korean Food stall seemed really popular and I guess we can see why. Now, after typing this review out, I feel like having some Korean food LOL

Korean Food

Berjaya Times Square Taste Of Asia Foodcourt
Lot LG-23, West, Lower Ground

www.berjayatimessquarekl.com/store/taste-of-asia-food-court-lowerground-floor-west-wing#

Operating Hours:
10.00am til 10.00pm Daily

Fork & Spoon Toa Payoh - Hanmiga Korean and Japanese Cuisine

As you know, we really loved the HK Beef Noodles from Fork & Spoon but that's gone now and nobody knows where it went (some said Jurong??)

And even though there are other nice things to eat there like the Chicken Rice (which happens to be on our Chicken Rice Chronicles list by the way), we don't really go as often anymore since our beloved Beef Noodles were no longer there.

But recently we were in the area so we stopped by even though we didn't really know what to have and my Darling Wife made a discovery!

BBQ Saba Fish Set ($6.00)

My darling wife absolutely loves Saba Fish and it's so hard to find a nice one nowadays but I think we may just have come across it right here at Fork & Spoon Toa Payoh.

The dish arrives on a sizzling hotplate (yeah you can see it sizzling in the picture!!) nice and piping hot to be enjoyed with rice. The Saba Fish is resting on a bed of chopped onions and served with white rice along with a customary serving of kimchi and Korean ikan bilis (anchovies).

One of the great things is that there is no hamching (fishy) taste or smell to be found here. In fact, even though it says BBQ, the fish is also (confirmed) fried up a little which is actually quite good. The fish is halved so you won't have to deal with any bones and you have easy access to the flesh.

One gripe though - it was a bed of chopped white onions and no cabbage that the fish rested on. In fact it wasn't even a lot of onions :(

But oh well I guess that's a small price to pay!

Maryah's Verdict
BBQ Saba Fish Set 3.5/5

Got quite a few other things to try on the menu but I think Saba Fish is probably gonna be at the top of the list for quite awhile.

Fork & Spoon Foodcourt (Toa Payoh)

Blk 470 Toa Payoh Lorong 6 (Above Courts)
#02-70

Operating Hours: 10.00am til 10.00pm Daily

KL Sedap Part 6: Pepper Lunch

Pepper Lunch is a very popular Japanese-style makan place that has been around for many years. The outlets in Singapore however are not certified Halal.

Well, luckily for us - the outlets in Malaysia are certified Halal!

So the concept is really simple but something that is still so attractive.
You get to cook your own food on a hotplate! I'm not talking about steamboat style or the kind of hotplate that is perpetually hot (like table BBQ). This kind of hotplate is heated up (to 260 degrees!!) so that you can cook the meat to your liking and then after awhile, the cooking stops as the heat stops as well.

If you like your meat medium rare, put it atop the vegetables to stop the cooking but if you're like me and you like it well done, leave it on the hotplate to cook through all the way to the end.

Check out this promotional video that also plays at the Pepper Lunch outlets. It's actually like an instructional video that shows how to cook the different menu items they have.



Looks good eh? Looks fun eh? Well it is!
It's always fun to play a part in cooking your food the way you like.

But they seem to have forgotten one item on the menu which also happens to be my favourite!
Let's take a look at how the expert does it...



Yummy! Absolutely mouth-watering I say...

Ribeye Steak (RM36.80)

So for those with a bigger appetite for meat (like me) then you should go for the Ribeye Steak.
It comes with a combo which includes rice and veggies so you get a balanced meal. Also includes a side of mashed potatoes (which isn't really anything special to be honest)

The meat is really really as tender as you would expect and of course, you are responsible for how well you meat is cooked so you can stop at medium rare or medium well if you'd like. I personally always go all the way for well done.

And yes - it really is as big as it looks in the photo.

Pepper Steak (RM29.80)

For those who prefer something a little smaller, go for the Pepper Steak.
This is basically a smaller size piece of meat (which happens to be a Sirloin cut by the way) plus all the additional sides as well.

The meat is still tender and not too bad considering it's fast food.
But the serving is much smaller compared to the Ribeye so if you're hungry, we suggest you go big.
Plus, for the minimal price difference, you might as well top-up.

But a word of advice though...

You will have to add these two sauces to your meat while it's cooking on the hotplate.
Your initial instincts will be to taste them first which is fine because they don't taste too strong when you taste them on their own.

But when you start putting it on the meat, please don't overdo it!
Being the hero that I am, I went all out and thought to myself "the more the merrier".
That was a mistake! Too much will make your dish very very very very very salty so go slow okay!

Seafood Aglio Olio (RM18.80)

No likey the meaty? No problem!

Pepper Lunch also offers alternatives which involves no beef or chicken at all. And one of them is the Seafood Aglio Olio for all you pasta lovers.

When we first saw it, our initial reaction was "Pasta on a hotplate is not a good idea" but we were willing to give it a try so that all our readers have a heads-up!

They give you a small dish of seasoning and olive oil which you are supposed to pour all over your pasta while it cooks on the hotplate and is probably supposed to keep it from burning.

Well it doesn't really burn but as you can see, it does tend to get a bit dry.
Maybe a little (or a lot) more olive oil would have been helpful?
Come to think of it, maybe you should think twice before having pasta on a hotplate.

Don't get us wrong. The taste itself was not too bad actually. But the dried up dish wasn't a hit.
So it's either you eat really fast before it dries up or maybe ask for extra olive oil.

PS don't bother asking for Tabasco sauce - they've never heard of it.
(Reminder -  this is Japanese pasta not Italian pasta)

Adam's Verdict:
Ribeye Steak 4/5

Maryah's Verdict:
Ribeye Steak 4/5

Razali's Verdict:
Seafood Aglio Olio 3.5/5

Azim's Verdict:
Pepper Steak 4/5

Pepper Lunch is definitely worth a try if you're in Malaysia. Wonder if they will apply for Halal certification in SG in future maybe?

Pepper Lunch

Pavilion KL
168 Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Level 1, Lot 1.54
Tel: 60 3 21410228

Operating Hours:
10.30am til 10.30pm Daily