Healthy & Healing Korean Food
Jalan
Ampang area is well-known as a Korean town. It’s been a hub for many Korean expats
living there and has their own little township setup at one area. So much so,
many of them have setup their own businesses around that area. It is filled
with Korean grocery marts, Korean restaurants and many more businesses catered
to Koreans.
My
family and I really enjoy Korean food. We savor them often a few times a month
and found their food very robust in flavours as well as hearty and delicious. Mention
Korean cuisine and Kimchi, BBQ and stews comes to mind immediately. A recent
gathering at B-Station Korean Restaurant
really change my views on Korean food. B-Station is the heart and soul of Mr.
John Lee, a Korean living in Malaysia for the last 27 years. He open B-Station 8 years ago when he realize
he couldn’t find any healthy Korean places to eat. Though there are many Korean
restaurants, John is very health conscious and keeps to a strict regimen in his
diet for healthy and homemade food free from msg or any preservatives.
A
man of many talents, John and his family has other non-food related businesses
as well. Nevertheless, John decided to open B-Station to cater to diners who are also health conscious and
enjoys healthy Korean food. John is passionate about cooking, in fact, he does
all the cooking at B-Station with some help. John goes all out to make
everything he can from scratch. After a few words exchange with him, we found
out he makes his own Kimchi, Tteokbokki, sausage, bean curd, enzymes, soy bean
powder and many more items that he serves in his café. His healthy regiment has
really paid off and John looks really good for his age. After finding out his
secret to his youthfulness, I reminded myself that it really pays to know what
you eat. A good lifestyle of healthy food and exercise really can make a lot of
difference…
B-Station is unlike any café I have been. One
does not feel like you are walking into a restaurant or café. It feels more
like walking into someone’s home. Fill to the max with lots old school and home
knick knacks and trinkets from John’s own collection from family and friends.
It is indeed a photographer’s dream as I took a lot of photos because the
ambiance is just too adorable to resist. There’s plenty of greens and flowers
incorporated into the café as well to give the whole place a garden feel as
well. Checkered table clothes, white wash walls, tables and chairs and more,
everything gives out the home feel vibe. Tables are cleverly sectioned off to
give one more privacy while dining.
No
wifi here because John feels that everyone should be enjoying the moment and
talking to each other while dining!
The
menu at B-Station comprises of
Korean dishes as well as some Western dishes. We were there for lunch and tried
both Korean and Western as well since we had our little one with us. There is
also dessert so save some room for desserts ya…
While
waiting for our meals to come, we had their homemade enzyme. John makes his own
enzymes in his kitchen and there is a really unique one call Omija Enzyme. Made from a fruit herb
called Omija, the fruit is very
unique as it is a five-flavour berry that possesses five basic flavours of
salty, sweet, sour, spicy and bitter. The fruit also expels a beautiful red
color. True enough, when we tried the Omija Enzyme, it really has that five
flavours that comes through in a delicious note. The other enzymes were
refreshing too, especially the Mojito Enzyme.
From
L to R: Iced Lemon Enzyme Juice, Vinegar
Enzyme, Mojito Enzyme and Omija
Enzyme (RM 7.80)
For
the kids, they had the Kiwi Smoothie
(RM8.20) and Tomato Smoothie
(RM7.50). I was particularly fond of the unique Tomato Smoothie for its fruity
and tangy notes.
We
started with John’s homemade beancurd dish of Beancurd Salad (RM19.50). John uses non-GMO soy beans to make his
beancurd. Though his beancurd are not the silken and smooth type, it is delicious
with an aromatic soy bean note. It has a firm texture and when dressed with the
homemade sesame dressing, it is super yummy. There are also crisp greens,
cherry tomatoes and onions. Simple, homemade goodness…
When
the Beancurd Danjang Soup (RM16.50)
arrive, I was salivating at sight. The bubbling pot of Korean bean paste soup
emitted a hearty and nutty aroma of the bean paste, tantalizing our tastebud
with great effect. The soup was brimming with beancurd, clams, mushrooms,
vegetables and more, the flavours were comforting with steamed rice. The soup
comes with banchan and really makes a nutritional and well balance meal.
Next
up, my all-time-favorite Beancurd Kimchi
Soup Set (RM16.50). Robust, piquant and addictive, it is meant for those
who love kimchi. The version is here is nicely balanced with good heat, savory
and sweet and sour notes. There are lots of kimchi as well as other vegetables
and beancurd in the soup which again makes it a nutritional one pot meal on its
own with rice and banchan.
B-Station
offers a variety of their homemade banchan and these changes daily depending on
the fresh ingredients available. John makes his own kimchi using special kimchi
fridge which yield consistent quality fermented kimchi under controlled temperature.
For
fish lovers, opt for their Korean Fish
Set (RM19.50). A hearty combination of Beancurd Danjang Soup with a whole Grilled
Sanma or Pacific Saury and banchan. This is value-for-money as one gets to
enjoy a whole freshly grilled fish as well as the soup filled with seafood and
beancurd. The sanma has a delicate and smooth flesh that is really delicious
with steamed rice.
Another
favorite Korean dish is Bulgogi. B-Station does theirs with a light twist of Beancurd Bulgogi Set (RM24.50). Served
on hot plate, the Bulgogi beef comes with homemade beancurd, sautéed mushrooms,
pumpkin and broccoli. Marinated with fruits and other seasoning, the Bulgogi
beef is sweet and savory with a lovely umami note. Cook with very little oil,
the beef is definitely healthier than most ones I have tried and it equally
flavourful and very tender.
If
you love spicy food, try their Spicy
Cuttlefish (RM16.50). A single serving meal on its own, steamed rice is
paired with an unctuous and spicy sautéed cuttlefish with vegetables in a spicy
and lightly sweet sauce.
Besides
dishes to go with rice, diners should also order B-Station’s Seafood Pancake (RM17.50). A hearty
pancake studded with seafood and spring onions, the Pajeon here has a crispy edge
with a creamy doughy center. It was generously filled with lots of chopped
seafood too. A Must-order here…
Tukbokki (RM12.50) is a classic street food
dish in Korea. John makes his own rice cake from scratch regularly to ensure
that it is healthier without any preservatives. It has a softer texture
compared to those sold by manufacturers. I really enjoyed this version as the
thick sweet and spicy sauce with the soft and creamy Tukbokki gave this dish a
homemade warmness. It doesn’t have the usual chewiness of the rice cakes
because John doesn’t add in any preservatives. This one is a personal favorite
of mine.
If
diners are with hankering for Western food, they can also choose from a small
list of Western dishes prepared by John. B-Station’s hotdog is homemade with
lean chicken breast, spices and herbs without any preservatives again. We had
their Teriyaki Chicken Hotdog (RM12.80)
from their three choices of Italian Rush (RM9.80), Bulgogi Hotdog (RM14.50) and
the Teriyaki Chicken Hotdog.
The
Teriyaki Chicken Hotdog has chicken sausage topped with sautéed Teriyaki
chicken with onions, fresh cucumber, tomatoes and mustard sauce sandwiched in
John’s homemade hotdog bun. It is savory with a caramelized sweetness from the
homemade Teriyaki sauce. There are also pasta, Grilled Hamburg Steak and
Grilled Chicken Steak too in the Western list.
The
Jumbo Sausage Set (RM16.80) is
perfect for brunch or as light meal. Homemade chicken sausage with Sunny side
up egg, mashed potato salad and homemade bread lets diner enjoy their brunch
without the guilty. It was a favorite with my little one that day. You may want
to let the staff know to not add mustard if it is for your little ones.
B-Station
has a solid list of desserts too. From Korean ones to Western desserts, we
opted for their homemade Pat Bingsu
(RM8.80). The dessert consisted of fine shaved ice topped with creamy and homemade
sweet red bean paste and homemade soy bean powder. Even the ice at B-Station is
made with special ice maker imported from Korea. This dessert was a big hit
with us and our families. It may be simple but we really enjoy the homemade red
bean paste that tasted wholesome and not overly sweet. The soy bean powder
helps to balance the sweet bean paste and gave this dessert a healthier touch.
It’s no shortcuts when
it comes to serving their food at B-Station
Korean Restaurant. John lives by the motto of serving diners what he and his family would
eat. He goes all out in making sure that everything he serves is homemade and
fresh. Prices are very decent considering the quality and portion here at
B-Station. I wish I live nearer to B-Station
as I would love to enjoy healthy and delicious Korean meal as often as I can as
eating healthy plays an important part of our daily lives…
B-STATION
KOREAN RESTAURANT
C14-1 Jalan Ampang Utama
1/1,
68000 Ampang Jaya,
Selangor.
Tel: +603-4251 0455
Business Hour: Mon – Sun
12.00pm to 10.00pm
