Lek Lek Restaurant, Seri Kembangan: A Bold and Creative Hidden Gem for Chinese Cuisine and More!

My First Taste of the Bold and Audacious Chinese Dishes at Lek Lek Restaurant!

One fine day, Sidney called and said he found a dark horse restaurant in Seri Kembangan. When asked if I was interested, I yelled ‘Yes’ faster than you can say ‘Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’!! It’s also like asking if a dog likes bones or a cat likes fish… hehehe!

Back to the subject, we headed there one afternoon with some of Sid’s friends for lunch. Sid had already been there so I checked out his post and was pretty happy to see what makes Lek Lek Restaurant a dark horse. Lek Lek may looked pretty ordinary outside but the dishes they offered was really impressive and creative. Décor is minimal so don’t expect fancy-smancy ambience. Happy to say, that lunch was definitely an-out-of–this-world experience.

First up, my virgin taste on Red Tilapia Sashimi! I have had many sashimi before but never tilapia. Tilapia also tends to have a muddy smell if not tended correctly so I was a bit hesitant about this fish being served fresh off the boat!

Such a pretty display of painstakingly arranged pink tinted tilapia slices contrasting brightly against yellow lemon slices served on ice. Rows of green cucumber completed the presentation. This dish requires advance notice so do call a day or two for reservation.

A bite of the thinly sliced fish sent me to heaven and back! I was not expecting a sweet and gentle flavor of the red tilapia with a hint of citrus and the firm texture of the fish. In fact, the fish tasted almost like a yellowtail or Hamachi. A simple dip in wasabi and soy sauce heightens the flavors of the fish. There is only one word to describe this sashimi… Superb!!! J

The next dish had me at ‘Hello’! Pan Fried Whole Garlic Snails was a garden of gastropoda sitting proudly on a bed of fried rice noodles. It may have started from the French but it certainly turned Chinese at Lek Lek Restaurant!

The snails are quite huge, sending thrilled thoughts to my brain of indulging in these delicacies. The snail meat was coated in a super spicy garlic sauce and was a myriad of flavors of savory and creamy in layers. The meat itself is slightly chewy and the hint of spicy and salty taste really makes me crave for more snails please… J

After two creative dishes, I was glad to see something more familiar in Fish Paste Stuffed Mackerel. Served whole and boneless with the head and tail, the body was dismembered and reconstructed with fish paste and its skin.

The fish paste was fairly bouncy and studded with bits of carrots and green onions. A simple soya sauce was doused to add an aromatic taste to the fish. Needless to say, the pieces of fish cake were polished off in a jiffy!

A traditional dish of Hakka Char Yuk was another welcoming sight and this was cooked decent. Chunks of pork belly were braised with fermented bean curd and five-spice with black wood ear fungus till tender and flavorful. Add on a small dap of Fu Yue Sauce to feature another level of flavors. In fact, I loved the Fu Yue sauce so much; I had to ask the chef for the recipe. It is a fermented bean curd sauce spiced up with chili and cooked till thick and creamy. The sauce outshined the pork!

I usually do not take petai or stinky beans so when I saw the Petai Fried Rice, I didn’t think I would like this rice. Ok… I was wrong again! The fried rice was simply powerful in flavors from its stinky beans, dried shrimps, bbq pork, long beans and chili. A powerful aroma seeped into the rice and I was glad that I could not really identify the petai but rather a harmonious flavor of all its ingredients. The rice was moist and quite fluffy but it was the taste that takes the cake!

When the lid of the Claypot Braised Lamb was lifted, a heady whiff of aromatic flavors tingle my nostrils sinfully. Seriously… looked at the dish! Doesn’t this beg for a bowl of white rice?

The lamb pieces were superbly tender from the braising while the soft strips of bean curd sticks absorbed the meat and sauce flavors lovingly. No lamb scent detected. An authentic dish cooked to perfection! Lamb lovers or not, do try this dish and I guarantee that you will fall in love with the dish like me!!

The meal for the four of us did not end like what was planned as we added in two more dishes to bring out the gluttonies in us!

Lemon Butter Prawns featured a claypot of wet butter sauce jazzed up with a hint of citrus. The thick and creamy sauce was luscious and begging for rice or bread. Curry leaves perfumed the sauce. The dish is best eaten hot or warm as the sauce tends to taste a bit too rich when it gets cold, hence the reason for the claypot. This one faired decent in flavors.

Salted Egg Yolk Squid was our indulgence for the day as this cholesterol laden dish is simply heavenly and should be enjoyed on limited basis for health purposes. A lethal combination of high cholesterol squid and salted egg yolk, the dish is a genius creation as the flavors are unbelievable good! When cooked just right, the squid is tender and juicy while the luscious salted egg yolk is sinful and savory. Guaranteed to reel in all ages of diners…

A simple Gui Lin Gao Jelly to round up the meal! Light and refreshing… J

I was impressed with Lek Lek Restaurant’s unique dishes. A blend of creativity and flavors, Chef Jeffrey is one chef to look out for! A notable factor is the skill of authentic dishes remained authentic while modern dishes are executed to a faultless pleasure. A lunch to remember, I simply concluded that a return soon is a must as the need to savor other creative dishes at Lek Lek is already aching in my soul!!

Lek Lek Restaurant

No 12, Jalan PSK4
Pusal Perdagangan SK
43300 Seri Kembangan
Selangor Darul Ehsan
Tel No: 03 8941 3404

*Thanks to Sid for the awesome lunch!

Pin Xiang Restaurant, Aman Suria: Back for Homecooked Chinese Dishes with a Twist!

Blending a bit of old and new Home-style Dishes to Please!

I am back again! Thanks to Alan, we had the honors to dine again at his favorite restaurant, Pin Xiang Restaurant, located in Aman Suria during the festive week. One of my favorite restaurants renowned for home-style dishes, I had brought my family here several times and dishes was always pleasing and comforting. Read about my very first dinner here.

As it was during the festive week, we had started off with a simple Salmon Yee Sang which was decent and featured slices of salmon tossed with the usual ingredients of the prosperity platter.

I loved their Champagne Pork Ribs at Pin Xiang which I always order when I dined there.  This round we decided to try something different and savored Marmite Pork Ribs instead. Equally satisfying, the ribs were tender, juicy and coated with a sticky glazed of marmite sauce. Yum!

Two Taste Prawns is a yin of Butter Prawns and a yang of Prawns Balls with Salad Sauce.  Simply faultless as the prawns were fresh, sweet and satisfying. The buttery egg floss was aromatic and tainted with loads of curry leaves for a wonderful aroma while the crispy prawn balls had the usual sweet salad dressing for a creamy edge.

Braised Garoupa Fish Head had chunks of fresh deep fried garoupa fish head pieces braised in dark brown gravy studded with garlic and spring onion. Decent as the flavors were well balanced and the pieces of garoupa was silky and luscious in the thicken sauce.

I have to rant about the Braised Chicken with Yam! Not a yam fan, this dish took me by surprised. Tender chicken pieces were cooked lovingly in a thick yam sauce. Normally, the dish would have yam pieces but this version had none as all the yam had melted into the pool of gravy. A hint of sweetness underlies the savory yam sauce which I really enjoyed with white rice. The overall was just pleasant and comforting to the palate!

Another dish worthy of my admiration is Yam Ring with Pou Ging Pork Ribs! The chef here really knows how to create fabulous yam dishes as the yam ring was so good with its crisp skin and soft creamy yam. Topped with Pou Ging ribs, the combination was lethally good!! The sauce was sweet and creamy, hitching up the yam ring another notch… a Must-order at Pin Xiang!

My first time savoring a combination of Stir-Fried Bittergourd with Chinese Pickled Lettuce proved that odd combinations do work! Never would I think that these two vegetable would pair up but it did quite well in fact. The light bitterness of the gourd was definitely toned down by the sweet and salty pickled lettuce while texture was crunchy and firm all at once. Try this… you may be surprised like I was!

My first time trying crab here and oh-la-la is the phrase to sum up the flavors. Butter Crab was lusciously wet, creamy and almost cheesy which begged for bread to mop up its richness. I am so loving this dish… J

Hot and Sour Crab also had a deliriously addictive sauce of sweet, sour and spicy. The spicy and egg sauce had a great balance and I had to refrain myself from eating the Fried Mantao because of both sauces. In fact, I would have just be equally satiated with the sauces alone rather than the crab!

Stuffed from the bread and sauces, I thought I could not down anymore till I saw the Waxed Meat Rice. Ok… I was still super stuffed so I only managed a small bite of this seasonal dish. A very aromatic dish as the rice simply depends on the quality of the waxed meat for a lasting impression. The waxed meat used was salty and sweet with a caramelized aroma while the rice had been infused by the waxed meat to soft and savory delightment.

At Pin Xiang, one must try their boiled Fresh Bean Curd Sheet with Barley! Thick and lovely with the soya bean fragrance… I was a coverted fan of this drink at this restaurant. Herbal tea for some cooling sensation… J

As always, Pin Xiang showed home-style dishes are dishes that one can savor everyday and these are dishes that often inspire nostalgia. The dishes may not be new to everyone but for daily fare, it’s always comforting and satisfying when I am craving for comfort food!

Restaurant Pin Xiang

H-18-G, Jalan PJU 1/45

Aman Suria, Damansara

47301, Petaling Jaya

Tel: 603 8945 8733

Fax: 603 8945 5733

Shi Yue Tian Claypot Chicken Rice Shop, Puchong: A Legacy of Claypot Chicken Rice!

With more than 20 years of legacy, there is a reason why it’s still around today!

Claypot chicken rice is available everywhere if you are looking for one. However, if you are a finicky eater, you won’t just settle for any claypot chicken rice! Now the famous one is said to originate from Kampar but I have yet to try that.

One wet evening, six foodies went in search of comfort food and we landed at Shi Yue Tian Claypot Chicken Rice Shop located in Puchong. We were told that this place holds a record for serving fabulous claypot chicken rice and be prepared to wait as each one is made to order. Grabbing the last table, we log in our order through the big menu on the wall. Ordering is easy as the menu is limited with its specialties. Although there is a ‘Tai Chow’ there, we did not let that deter our focus. Don’t expect anything on décor as this place is just a ‘Kopitiam’!

My detective mode was activated while we waited for our orders to arrive!

Shi Yue Tian uses charcoal to cook their rice… it’s no wonder this is the testament of a great pot of rice to come… J

Cooking is pure hardwork and sweat! Especially when one is manning so many hot stove at the same time. Salute!!

Lots of action and ingredients goes on to make a pot of scrumptious chicken rice. Even the uncooked marinated chicken pieces looked utterly delectable!

Double boiled soups are amped up with various ingredients and make a lovely pairing with the rice. I spied 12 choices on the menu but half was already out when we were there around 8pm. I would have loved to try their bestseller of Coconut Chicken Soup but it was sold out. Lucky for me, I saw another favorite of mine…

We had six bowls of four variations – Watercress Soup (RM5.00), Pork Belly Soup (RM5.50), Old Cucumber Soup (RM5.00) and Pickles Tofu Soup (RM5.00). I like my ‘Ham Choy Taufu’ Soup as it was quite flavorful and warming with its sour flavors. I also had a sip of the Pork Belly Soup and thought it was decent with peppery flavors. For the price one pays, all the soups are considered above average as it was brimming with ingredients to boost up the flavors.

Our Pot of Perfection with The Works arrives (not too long surprisingly) and I inhaled in the salted fish aroma with a heavenly sigh… The pot was also loaded with lots of goodies awaiting our hungry tummies. We ordered two large Claypot Chicken Rice with everything (RM14.00 each) to feed six hungry adults. The sizzling sound of the rice doused with the house special sauce is music to my ears! Big pieces of chicken, slivers of Chinese sausages, a ladle of ginger paste, salted fish and spring onions turned the pot of white rice into a piece of nostalgia.

Let this sit a bit and then mix it up!

I tend to let the rice sit because of the best part of the meal is the crispy bits of rice crackling stuck at the base of the pot! Are you a crispy rice fan like me?? J

Flavors were superb as I could taste the salted fish lending a fabulous aroma and taste to the gingery chicken and soy sauce rice. Chicken pieces are so tender and juicy while the grainy rice was lusciously coated with a myriad of flavors. My only gripe was the Chinese sausage tasted a bit low on the quality end. A splash of Chinese wine was added at the last second to boost up more flavors and aroma!

Blanched Lettuce was our vegetable requirement for that evening.

Total damaged was RM64.00 for two large pot, six soups, vegetable and Chinese tea! Definitely one of the best claypot chicken rice that I have tasted worthy of benchmarking. If you are looking for authentic flavors, this place has it. Owner has been lashing out his pot of rice for more than 20 years and looks like it will be around a bit as his son is taking over the operation. Great food takes time so if you are not one to wait, then I suggest going to other ones without the wait.

My Verdict? Cheap and ultimate comfort food with a touch of nostalgia guaranteed at Shi Yue Tian Claypot Chicken Rice Shop.

Shi Yue Tian Claypot Chicken Rice Shop

C31, Bt. 8, Jalan Puchong

47190 Selangor

Tel: 012 2507 692

Business hours: 5pm to 10pm