IndoChili Part IV

That's right we are back again!

IndoChili is the most reviewed makan place on The Halal Food Blog!! 4th visit and counting!!
And it's not just that the food and service are great. It's also because even though we've visited so many times, we're still trying something new with each visit!!

Azlan & Yana - Resident Reviewers

This time we are visiting with Azlan & Eriyana aka Mein Brudder and Mein Sister-In-Law who have heard us talking so much about IndoChili that they finally couldn't take it and decided to meet us for lunch.

We had the usual favourites like the Sate Ayam Madura which is THE BOMB no matter how many times we have it. We had 2 servings as usual because 1 is never enough.

My darling wife decided to have the Nasi Timbel which I had during our first visit.

Rendang Sapi ($9.80)

We also had the Rendang Sapi which we sampled during one of our recent visits.
Meat was still tender and so full of flavour (a little on the salty side this time though). If you love Rendang, this is a must-have when you visit IndoChili. A great accompaniment when you're having rice!

Ayam Kari Padang ($8.80)

Something new we decided to try was the Ayam Kari Padang.
Despite it's name, it's not really what you'd expect when you order a 'curry'. In fact, from the picture, you might probably guess it's more of a 'lemak' dish.

Full of wholesome 'lemak' flavour with just a hint of curry from the curry leaves. But it's definitely not a curry so it's you're looking for a 'curry', this is not for you. But having said that, this chicken we got was huge!
The thigh part you see above was enough for 2-3 people to share!

Tahu Telor ($8.80)

Now the Tahu Telor was a horse (or rather a beancurd) of a different colour!

Beancurd and egg deep-fried to a crispy perfection on the outside but a steaming wonderland inside. Smother it with peanut gravy and top it off with beansporuts, carrots and keropok udang and you have yourself a winner!

If tucking into the hearty egg/beancurd is not enough to grab you, the peanut gravy was excellent and very very tasty. Come on! How can you pass up on some Tahu Telor!!

Tumpeng Mini ($9.80)

JENG JENG JENG!!
Here's something that I've been dying to try since our first visit but it's either sold-out or I end up ordering something else because I'm eating in a group.

Well since this was my 4th visit, I had no excuse.
It was definitely - TUMPENG TIME!

Well let me introduce you to the gang.

You've got a nice mount of their special Yellow Rice surrounded by a lot of goodies to go along.
The meat portion is a piece of Ayam Bumbu Rojak which is chicken with some 'rojak' gravy. This was my first time trying it and I thought it was delicious! It definitely went will with the yellow rice and very tasty!

You've also got some perkedel aka bagedil. Let's face it - chicken and potatoes are like... chicken and potatoes. Must have combination! Some peanut acar, vegetable (cucumber, carrot and pineapple) acar and keropok round thing off.

This is actually a very famous Javanese dish and the bigger full version is meant to be enjoyed by a whole group of people which gives everyone a chance to bond and share in the happiness found when sharing a meal. IndoChili also has the full version (for catering) but the Tumpeng Mini is a perfect intro if you've never had anything like it before and a hearty meal to enjoy by yourself or even to share between 2 people.

Mein Brudder decided to try the Strawberry Cream Soda because it looked damn nice.
It was quite tasty but here's a tip for you. Just mix the cream in and drink. Don't worry if it's a little sour. We checked with the staff just to be sure and it's meant to be that way. Kinda like a yoghurt. Refreshing!

Yana actually had the Es Kopi Durien (which I am so sorry I didn't take a picture).
And she says it was the BOMB! Surprisingly, durian and coffee apparently go very well together and they do it perfectly at IndoChili.

She even went as far as to say that if she had to order just 2 things from IndoChili, it would be the Es Kopi Durien and the Es Teler.

Es Teler ($6.80)

That's right. You heard me. ES TELER!
You didn't think we'd miss out on a chance to order it did you?
If you had to bet your last dollar on what we'd order at IndoChili, bet on the Es Teler.

Too sweet for some. But it's the bomb.

Es Delima ($6.00)

We also decided to try something new in the desserts department so we tried the Es Delima.
This is also another pretty popular Indo dessert. A bed of shaved ice with Red Ruby, coconut and jackfruit.
Not as sweet as the Es Teler so a good choice if you're looking for something to coll down without the sugar overload.

Adam's Verdict:
Sate Ayam Madura 4/5 -- Kari Ayam Padang 2.5/5 -- Rendang Sapi 3.5/5 -- Tahu Telor 4/5
Tumpeng Mini 3.5/5 -- Es Teler 5/5

Maryah's Verdict:
Nasi Timbel 3/5 -- Tahu Telor 4/5 -- Es Delima 1.5/5

Azlan's Verdict:
Sate Ayam Madura 4.5/5 -- Rendang Sapi 3/5 -- Tahu Telor 4.5/5
Tumpeng Mini 3.5/5 -- Es Teler 4/5 -- Strawberry Cream Soda 3.5/5

Yana's Verdict:
Sate Ayam Madura 4/5 -- Kari Ayam Padang 1/5 -- Rendang Sapi 3/5 -- Tahu Telor 5/5
Es Teler 5/5 -- Es Kopi Durien 5/5

Needless to say, another happening visit to IndoChili.
We heard they might be making some changes to their menu items this year so we hope we get to visit soon and we will report back our findings soon!

IndoChili

54 Zion Road

www.indochili.com
www.facebook.com/IndoChili
Tel: 6445 1766 / 8168 4958

Operating Hours: 
11.30am til 10.30pm Daily

Tang Tea House - Rojak

So we're back at one of our favourite makan joints - Tang Tea House!
A wide array of food choices and accessible location in the East means we always head back here when we can for some good food and good times.

Today we try a crowd favourite. Something that seems so simple to make but you'd be surprised at how difficult it is to execute a good plate of Rojak.

Rojak with Century Egg ($5.00)

How can anyone resist a plate of Rojak?
There's just something about it that even if you're not the biggest fan, you're still going to take a bite or two if there's a plate of it in front of you.

My favourite part about Rojak (and I'm guessing it's the same for many of you too) is the You Char Kway that comes along with it. And it's always the first to finish and always not enough! That's why I sometimes order a whole plate of just You Char Kway (yes you can do that) but then again sometimes it's nice to have a little variety right?

Well anyways, I personally feel that they're a little stingy with the Char Kway here.

Taste-wise, it's a little less tangy than some other places we've had Rojak. Maybe less Asam water used?
Not too spicy but you can always ask for more chili if you like.

And of course, you don't have to have the Century Egg if you don't fancy it. You can always swap it out for some Sotong Kering if that's your thing. But I do have to say that Century Eggs do seem to be increasingly popular even among the younger crowds.

Adam's Verdict:
Rojak with Century Egg 2.5/5

Maryah's Verdict:
Rojak with Century Egg 3/5 

Dad's Verdict:
Rojak with Century Egg 3/5 

Mum's Verdict:
Rojak with Century Egg 4/5

I remember there used to be a different stall selling Rojak at Tang Tea House but I guess they've moved on.
Guess this stall will have to do for now :)

Tang Tea House

359 Bedok Road
www.tangteahouse.com

Operating Hours:
11.00am til 4.00am Daily

Makan In Malacca Part 5: Sri Mawar Ria

Well this is the last in our 'Makan In Malacca' series.
We sampled all kinds of delicious food in this wonderful city and our last meal on Malacca soil happened to be a place we had decided to go to from the very start. 

In December 2012, we were invited by Mr Ridzuan Yeo posted on our FB wall, inviting us to sample his delicious Cantonese/Nyonya food at Sri Mawar Ria in Melaka.

"Si nyonya Melaka menyimpul sanggul,

Diselit dengan si bunga cempaka.

Pelbagai kaum sudah berkumpul, 

Makanan dipilih mengikut selera."

Well when people open 'pantun' to invite, surely we must humbly accept!

I think that one of the best things about Sri Mawar Ria is that it's located at Melacca Sentral Station.
This basically means that you can eat there when you get off the bus in Malacca or before you get on the bus headed back home.

Rojak Petis (RM4.00)

For starters we went with some Rojak.
And this is not just Rojak Buah like you'd normally get around the area. This is 'Chinese style' Rojak with you char kway and tau pok amidst the veggies.

I simply love petis (fermented prawn paste).
And this is not too spicy but I reckon you can ask for it to be spicy if you'd like.
A nice generous sprinkling of nuts and this is a winner.

Sup Sayur Campur Tom Yam Seafood Bihun (RM6.00)

My darling wife was hankering for something a little spicy so she went with the Tom Yam.
They have a few types including 'Chicken' and 'Seafood' and you either have just the soup or add some noodles to it for a full meal.

But don't be fooled by the fiery colour because this wasn't that spicy.
The Tom Yam taste was very overwhelming either to be honest. I think our palettes are so accustomed to having super spicy food (especially when you think of something like Tom Yum) that we forget it may not be the same everywhere we go. Even though this was not what we were used to, it was still very tasty!

If you REALLY want, then try and tell the guy taking your order to make it extra spicy. Maybe he can throw in a few extra chilli padi for you.

Hokkien Mi Ayam (RM4.90)

 I haven't had Hokkien Mee in YEARS so I was pretty excited to have this BUT it didn't come out as what I remembered as Hokkien Mee unfortunately. Maybe I was thinking of something else.

This dish reminded me of Mee Hong Kong but with black gravy.
It's tasty but I was expecting a bit more of a vinegar-sour which was absent so I kicked it up a notch with some chilli jeruk. Yummy!

The only real problem I had with this dish was that I found the serving too small.
Or maybe I was just really hungry. 

Oh and you can have the Seafood version if you like.
You can substitute the yellow noodle for bee hoon or kway teow if you'd like.

Adam's Verdict:
Rojak Petis 4/5 -- Hokkien Mi Ayam 3.5/5

Maryah's Verdict:
Rojak Petis 3.5/5 -- Sup Sayur Campur Tom Yam Seafood Bihun 3/5

This was definitely one of the more popular makan places at Melaka Sentral.
And it's location is so convenient for us to stop by and grab a bite before or after our bus trip.
Be sure to try it the next time time you're in Malacca. Especially if you took the bus!

Restoran Sri Mawar Ria

Terminal Melaka Sentral
Jalan Tun Abdul Razak, Peringgit, Melaka
Tel: +60 17-690 1450
www.facebook.com/RestoranSriMawarRia

 
 

  

Makan vs Makan --- Indian Rojak

When I first started this blog, I had this idea where I would have what I referred to as 'Battles'.
That's right. Say it with me people - BATTLE!!! (Sounds very the Iron Chef right?)

These were just comparison posts where, instead of the usual format where each makan place or dish would have individual posts, 2 makan places would go head-to-head. But how will the winner be decided?
Well, that's where YOU come in!

It's actually very simple. Makan vs Makan. And we see who's the winner is.

The only hard and fast rule is that the makan being compared has got to be the same.
Meaning, if I'm reviewing Nasi Briyani, I'd have to compare the same type, like Mutton Briyani vs Mutton Briyani because it wouldn't be fair to compare Mutton Briyani vs Chicken Briyani you know what I mean?

And so without further ado, I present to you

MAKAN vs MAKAN -- INDIAN ROJAK!!!

ABDHUS SALAM ROJAK vs HABIB'S ROJAK

The weird thing is this was a totally unexpected development.
We had actually gone all the way to Ayer Rajah Food Centre based on some recommendations by some of our readers to try the Mee Kuah there. Bu when we arrived, I remember that @SarinaMohamed had told me about some Indian Rojak which was apparently the bomb.

And so we decided on the spur of the moment to have both. At the same time.

 Resident Reviewers - Maryah & Adam

Guest Reviewers - Azlan & Yana

So we went to place our orders at both stalls. And as per the rules, we chose all the same items from each stall so we could have an even review on the Indian Rojak.

We orders Hotdog, Paru (Beef Lung), Fish Cake, Fish Fillet, Potato, Wadeh, and Dough with Egg.
So that makes 7 items on each plate x 2 plates.

And this is what it looked like what they arrived.

Abdhus Salam Rojak ($11.00)

Habib's Rojak ($10.00)

Okay firstly, the orders were placed at the same time but they arrived separately.
Abdhus delivered the food after 15 minutes and Habib's only arrived another 10 minutes after that.
A sign of inefficiency? Or a sign that Habib had more orders to cope with signalling they were more popular?
Hmmmmm...

And another thing to note - for exactly the same items, Abdhus' plate of rojak costs $1.00 more.
A small amount I know and I surely wouldn't mind paying $1.00 more if the rojak is better.
But was it better?

Well for some of the items (Hotdog, Fish Cake and Dough with Egg) it was even down the middle with 2 votes each. And for some other items, it was a little more clear cut.

Abdhus won the round when it came to the Paru (Beef Lung) and it was obviously down to personal preference. Do you like your Paru thin and crispy or slight thicker cut? Well Abhus sliced their Paru a little thinner so that means it was a little less chewy (rubbery) than Habib's.

Habib seems to have swept most of the remaining items though!
The Potato from Habib was unanimously better than Abdhus.

Maryah was the only one who preferred the Wadeh from Abdhus because she says it didn't have such a "strong prawn-y smell) while the rest of us thought the one from Habib has a better dough.

But when it came to the Fish Fillet, I was the one who went the opposite direction.
I went for the Abdhus one while the rest were obviously smitten with the one from Habib.
And I guess one of the reasons was the batter that they used.

More Batter? Less Batter? Which is Better?

And by the way, Abdhus coated quite a number of their items with that batter you see above.
I guess in most cases, it rocks but some might find it a little bit too much after awhile.

And now, the part that some (or dare I say, most) people would consider an important part of Indian Rojak.
What about the Kuah?!?

Abdhus' Kuah

Habib's Kuah

Yana has no comment on the kuah because she preferred her Indian Rojak au naturel.
But what did the rest of us think? Well, Abdhus seemed to be the favourite.
Azlan liked Habib's better because it was sweeter while Maryah and me agreed that Abdhus' was tastier and I thought it was better because it had a little bit more of a spicy kick to it.

And as you can see, Abdhus' kuah is thicker so perhaps again down to preference?

The Final Verdict:

Adam's Choice - Abdhus Salam Rojak (Presentation plays a part)
Maryah's Choice - Abdhus Salam Rojak (Most steady Kuah)
Azlan's Choice - Habib's Rojak (Conflicted but Habib wins based on Kuah and price)
Yana's Choice - Habib's Rojak (Family always eats at this stall)

OMG! Couldn't the first ever BATTLE end in a draw? Well it sure seems like it.
Looks like I'm going to have to put this to a vote and hopefully the audience will help us decide...

And after a whole week, literally no one voted... Hmm I might to re-think that part.
Well I guess in that case there's only one outcome...

DRAW MATCH!!!

Well these two stalls were so closely matched I think this was a fair result.
It seems to be just minor differences in opinions mostly due to personal preferences.

So which one do you think you'll like better?

Abdhus Salam Rojak (Stall 73)

Blk 73A Ayer Rajah Crescent
#01-73

Operating Hours:
11.00am til 11.00pm (Closed on Mondays)

Habib's Rojak (Stall 68)

Blk 73A Ayer Rajah Crescent

#01-73

Operating Hours:

11.30am til 10.30pm Daily