My dining places in Bandar Sri Damansara

I don't usually cook, I eat out everyday. My office is in Selayang and my house is in Bandar Sri Damansara, so if I eat by myself, my lunch is in Selayang (namely stalls - about 2 of them located opposite my office; just too lazy to drive out to Selayang town- most of the time I skip lunch) and my dinner is in Bandar Sri Damansara.

Well..Sri Damansara (SD) is not big in term of food scene....so my choice is very limited. But, for me I just eat so that my tummy won't growl. To demonstrate my 'chincai' attitude to my daily meals? Hmm last friday after qiqong at the office, I went to the pasar malam near my office, bought fried mee mixed with kueytiaw (RM2), beef murtabak (RM2), Rawang popiah (RM2), karipap (RM2) and coconut drink (RM3). In the car towards home I polished off the karipap. My dinner at home the fried noodles. My next day lunch - popiah n murtabak.

Images from http://www.rasamalaysia.com/, http://masak-masak.blogspot.com/ & http://www.freewebs.com/noormasri/kuihmuih.htm,

Basically in Sri Damansara, there are:

• 7 mamak restaurants (Nasi Kandar Sedap, Al-Safa, Riyadth and 2 other eateries within the same enclave, AMS Smart and Al-Bidayah);
• 2 Fast food joints - McD (next to Shell petrol station) & Pizza Hut (next to Maybank);
• Secret Recipe (next to Grand Union supermarket) and;
• 2 malay restaurants (Zulpura & an unnamed restaurant next to it);
• a chinese-malay-thai-western restaurant (Groupbase) behind RHB Bank and;
• rows of malay stalls along Persiaran Meranti and stalls opposite 7-11.
• there are few more restaurants and stalls but you have to drive further inside Sri Damansara (away from main road, towards the mosque and probably other areas too) - so I never really bothered.

I'll rotate my dining schedule between these eateries.

For mamak I usually frequented either Nasi Kandar Sedap or Al-Safa . I went once to Riyadth and saw a worker sneezed while preparing my food and I just walked off and never to return. Normally I'll eat either nasi kandar or fried mee and sometimes tosai or capati at Nasi Kandar Sedap or Al-Safa . Actually I quite like tosai at Al-Safa.

Al-Safa was quite a new addition to Sri Damansara, before that, the corner lot was occupied by few indian restuarants but for some reason kept on changing owners. I never bothered to try Al-Safa until my hair stylist at Bianco told me that the food there was not bad. Certainly better than other mamak eateries in Sri Damansara but not great.

Images from http://masak-masak.blogspot.com/ & http://wordpress.com/tag/tosai/ & http://abutang.blogspot.com/

As for malay food I frequented Zulpura more than its neighbour. The neighbour's food? Well lots of varieties and arranged like a buffet table at a hotel (nasi campur dishes) but taste wise? I prefer Zulpura. Even their nasi goreng, noodles etc taste quite bland...:-(

There's a stall in front of Grand Union selling nasi campur during day time and nasi lemak at night. Taste better than Zulpura or its neighbour...but not that much varieties. Once in a while ok la I guess...at least I've an alternative place....if I get bored with the limited eateries that I mentioned earlier.

Images from http://bp2.blogger.com/ & http://makan.cari.com.my/ & http://www.mesra.net/ & http://pensel2b.blogspot.com/

Malay stalls (rows of stalls opposite 7-11) - Well..I guess taste wise maybe similar to Zulpura's neighbour.

Stalls along Persiaran Meranti? hmm..looks quite dirty to me (stalls are located just next to a storm drain, I guess easy for them to discharge their waste). I don't think they have water tap here (I guess the hawkers bring their own water).

Zulpura used to have really good nasi lemak but now somehow the quality is just not the same (maybe they changed their cook, I noticed a lot of old staffs no longer there, now the shop is run almost entirely by Indon). Here normally I'll order Mee Hailam/Mee Bandung/Mee or Mihun goreng/Nasi Goreng for dinner and for weekend lunch - nasi campur. Taste? Can eat la but not great.

Images from http://www.melayu.com/ & http://alkiram.ne/t & http://beelibaala.blogspot.com

Sometimes I also go to this mobile stall opposite school/SD Apartment II - they sell soto, laksa, bubur sup, bakso, nasi ayam - tried all except bakso (never like bakso). Not bad....

Images from:

http://www.rasamalaysia.com & http://kampungttjs.com/ & http://wadthe.wordpress.com/category/finest-cafe/

Groupbase? For a change I'll pay them a visit once in a while. Their nasi campur spread quite big (better than Zulpura) but more expensive. I like their spread because they offer more vegetable dishes compared to most malay restaurants. Their curry laksa very nice. Sometimes I tapau their nasi ayam and beef & spring onion noodles.

The rest of the menu? Tried almost all of them and I don't like it. Once brought my bf n his mom for dinner here. Major disaster! Service was bad and food was horrible (we ordered dishes), I remember their kailan was tough n the rest of the dishes equally bad. My bf said he'll never return to this place. Of course his mom wasn't happy either...oops!

Image from http://upload.wikimedia.org/ & http://www.thefoodpornographer.com/ & http://flickr.com/

When I'm bored with all the above I'll pay Secret Recipe a visit - normally I'll tapau chicken kebab, tumeric chicken or vietnamese noodle and sometimes spaghetti bolognaise or chicken cordon bleu or their steak or fish & chips or their pies. Ha ha had tried almost their entire menu...again taste not that great but a girl has to eat right?




Images from http://miccgal.blogspot.com/ & http://eden2812.blogspot.com/ & http://fei-not.blogspot.com/ & http://yonglui.blogspot.com/

Next alternative - fast food - McDonald or Pizza Hut or Domino (delivery)...

Breakfast? Plenty of nasi lemak mobile stalls along the roads in the morning (especially along Persiaran Meranti). They sell usual stuff - nasi lemak, nasi dagang, nasi kerabu, laksam, mihun/mi/kuewtiaw/nasi goreng and kuih. For me I've tried almost all of them and I prefer the 1st stall that you'll see sited opposite rows of terrace houses next to the low cost apartments (if you are coming from SD Apartment, the first stall on the left). I love their beef rendang. Again the standard has somehow slides, used to taste better (perhaps they sourced the kuih etc from different supplier now). Even the nasi lemak etc does not taste good anymore...what a pity.

Image from http://masak-masak.blogspot.com/
& http://cheateat.typepad.com/ & http://mybeat14.blogspot.com/ & http://www.myresipi.com/

Bakeries? 2 of them one is the one next to Watson and the other one is Berry's. I prefer Berry's.

Of course quite a number of stalls selling typical malaysian tea favourites - goreng pisang, cendol, fruit rojak, putu buloh etc in the evening too.

Images from
http://rozzan.blogspot.com/ & http://ketela.wordpress.com/ & http://singapuradailyphoto.blogspot.com/ & http://masak-masak.blogspot.com

What does my bf thinks about the eateries above? He doesn't like any of them. So, when we eat our dinner (or weekend lunch) we'll drive out as you have read from previous postings.

What others say about the eateries:

Zulpura
It's called Restoran Zulpura and the nasi lemak is good. They also have lontong, fried mee and kuih-muih. The lunch spread is also good. [Posted By Dim Sum]
http://www.friedchillies.com/index.php/forums/viewthread/2110/#14801

Groupbase
excerpt:
They've got quite nice hokkien noodles there. the sauce were really thick black and everything was balanced.
http://zazacraftsandcooks.blogspot.com/2007/08/hokkien-noodles.html

..tak pernah saya kecewa dengan makanan di Groupbase. Nasi campurnya dengan lauk yang fresh tak pernah tak sedap. Masakan goreng nasi ke, mee ke ala China memang best. Chicken chop dia ni, according to my daughter yang suka chicken chop, is the best in KL. Masakan Thai dia pun best. http://malay.cari.com.my/archiver/?tid-145571.html

setakat ni tempat mkn paling murah dan best yg saya selalu pegi kat area Sri Damansara.. nama restaurant tu Group Base ..
http://mforum.cari.com.my/archiver/?tid-360219-page-26.html

groupbase! Haha, it's a restaurant in bdr sri damansara that has been opened for sooo long? Since.. before I was born, actually. HAAAAA! Lama kan? Since we ate dinner already, we had dessert. MMMMMMMMM, I had I had I had. Hahahah chocolate mousse cake :D Omgggg.. It felt like ice cream melting in my mouth. http://coloursoftherainbow94.blogspot.com/2008/11/restless-soul.html

groupbase sedap I went there several times plus ada chinese style of cooking. http://serangkai.blogspot.com/2005/10/annual-iftar.html

My food wishlist - 1. Honey Lemon Chicken Rice at Groupbase Restaurant, Bdr Sri Damansara.
http://primadonafae.blogspot.com/2008/09/food-always-in-my-mind.html

stopped by Groupbase Restaurant in Sri Damansara for lunch at 1.40pm. Had rice with sweet & sour fish, beancurd + vegetables and sambal.
http://amirfuadh.blogspot.com/2007/12/busy-saturday.html

http://klchin.blogspot.com/search/label/Food%20in%20Bandar%20Sri%20Damansara%20-%20Groupbase/Thaibase%20Restaurant

http://www.mymesra.com.my/index.php?ch=lpg&pg=lpg_makan_places&ac=49

http://malaysianfoodreview.weblog.com/2008/2/GroupBase-ThaiBase-Bandar-Sri-Damansara-K-L.html
http://epoi8787.blogspot.com/2008/08/makan-d-groupbase-sri-damansara.html

Nasi Kandar Sedap
http://my.88db.com/my/Services/Post_Detail.page/Food_Beverage/Restaurant/?PostID=82658

http://www.bernas.com.my/sedapsd.htm

Stall Beragas
1. restoren beragas sri damansara (org sekitar area ni mmg tau la tpt ni... artis2 pon selalu nampak mkn kat sini dgn spek itam atau cap atau selendang ala2 cover line giteww)
http://www.pekanrabu.biz/ruang-sembang-sembang-f30/tempat-makan-yang-best-dikawasan-anda-t759.htm

Nasi ayam Baragas - Lokasi di Bandar Sri Damansara. Sebelah MCD di direct stall mkn. Kedai di tgh. Nasik ayam die nie lain pesen skit lah. Psl ayam die goreng ranggup kalah KFC hehehe. Harge pun oklah kalau tak silap rm4.00 kot.
http://nogold.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-20568.html

Other eateries in Sri Damansara (not necessarily halal)
http://klchin.blogspot.com/2008/11/food-in-bandar-sri-damansara-part-1-of.html

Genting Highland weekend drive

My bf & I idea of weekend getaway (or weekend dinner or tea) is driving up to Genting Highland. My friends and colleagues think we are crazy just to drive up to Genting for dinner! To us, why not? It is less than an hour drive, we can just go up and come down and be home in a couple of hours.

We love to walk around in cold mountain air, clean crisp air...the mist..well at least for a short drive we get to enjoy countryside....away from noise, smoke, dirty air...


Misty...unlike typical Malaysian scene huh?

Today we did the same again..he picked me up about 4ish, we drove up in a lotus...ha ha trying a new car. Went up and chuckled everytime we caught envious or admiring glances thrown at the car...half way up, we took off the roof and wow...it was really nice driving and feeling the wind and the air... clean and sweet.

On the way up we had our lunch (late lunch) at Gohtong Jaya. We had prawn noodle and bought some berangan and continue our journey up.


on the way to this spot we saw a couple of mini waterfalls....


Thick soft moss..like carpet...

We didn't gamble, just drove up and whenever we found a good spot, we stopped..admired the scenery, inhaled clean air and moved on to the next spot...:-)


Beautiful haunting view..perfect for horror movie? Behind the mist - an abandoned half constructed building.

On the way down we stopped at Chin Swee Temple to walk about..nice place to walk around and to view beautiful mountain scenery. We've been to this place many times and it never fails to impress us with its views....


Views from Chin Swee temple

We left Chin Swee temple and stopped at Awana for our tea..well he had coffee and I had tea and we shared a slice of strawberry cheesecake.



And we got home at about 7.30pm!

Food in Genting? Not bad and not that great but we love to go up there for a spot of fresh air and beautiful views......and of course spend time with each other...bliss..

Bukit Gantang lay-by south bound (hentian sebelah)

I left Alor Setar on 3/1/09 (hitched a ride with my sis and her family). On the way to KL we stopped by at PLUS highway Bukit Gantang lay-by south bound for lunch. I've never stopped here before as I always thought lay-by does not have f&b facilities.....:-)

I think PLUS did a good job at upgrading their lay-bys and rest areas. The landscape here in Bkt Gantang is actually quite beautiful....sort of mini park where one can relax after a long journey and once freshen up ready to head to next destination...

According to my niece, my bro-in-law loves to stop at this lay-by everytime they passed by because he likes to buy fresh fruits sold from various stalls here. I saw ciku, mangos, jambu air, durian menggala, guava, papaya, salak amongst other fruits sold here.


images from
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/36/79713144_f7ad7b5250.jpg
http://zbintim.fotopages.com/?entry=1480460
http://picasaweb.google.com/sarmadys/Eating#5066485765287050322
http://www.malaysia.or.kr/national/fruit.htm

As for food? Well they only have 2 food stalls and 2 drink stalls. We bought mihun sup & 2 nasi campur (total RM11) from a stall called Mak Lang D'village :-). My youngest niece bought fried kueytiaw and fried egg from Aneka Rasa stall (RM1.60). I had the mihun sup and my 2 nieces had nasi campur. My mihun sup tasted not bad at all, Mak Lang was pretty generous with fishballs, chicken etc in the soup. My 2 nieces polished off their plates too (probably they were hungry). Wasn't quite sure where did my sis n hubby bought their lunch as we had to sit at separate tables as the place was quite pack during our visit - school holiday.


Images from:
http://penyapubaru.blogspot.com/2008/08/balik-kedah-punye-gambar.html
http://biggestmenu.com/rdr/CA/Irvine/A-and-J-Restaurant-1590871/Fried-Chicken-Vegetable-Rice-39193
http://www.skolblog.com/2007/02/15/velantak/

We bought our drinks from Ina's cafe - 5 drinks at RM4.50 but my niece said the cashier had an attitude problem! Customers were queing up to pay & order drinks and she just couldn't be bothered - just ignored the customers and chit chatted with her friend (a worker from the same stall). Maybe if I were to stop here again next time I'll try the next stall Anjung Selera R'tiez.

I think the facilities offered here are quite good (surau, toilet, petrol station, wakaf, fruit stalls n eateries) though cleanliness wise the hawkers and PLUS staff should work harder at it - quite a lot of flies and the floors were quite dirty.

What others say about this place:

excerpt:

Aug 2008 - Dengan bayaran hanya RM6.90 seorang, orang ramai boleh menikmati seberapa banyak durian dan buah-buahan tempatan sempena Pesta 'Jom Makan Durian' di Hentian Sebelah Bukit Gantang (arah selatan) Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan anjuran Plus Expressways Bhd, esok.
http://jkrputrajaya.gov.my/aggregator/sources/1?page=206

this guy said nasi lemak here is not bad http://rostam.blog.sinar.fm/54636

more nasi lemak fans:
http://shw.gebang.fotopages.com/19397805/pekena-nasik-lemak-di-Hentian-Bukit-Gantang.html
http://alexzander.blog.friendster.com/category/road-trip/

this guy said one need to seek permission before snapping pictures here (hmmm from whom?) http://silmis.fotopages.com/?entry=1071618

this guy saw a taxi driver relieved himself behind bushes here! http://rotikacangmerah.blogspot.com/2008/10/jam-jam-everywhere-jam.html

and this one said nice to snooze here http://dicqnie.blogspot.com/2008/01/journey-to-penang.html

and this guys kept on snapping bus pictures! http://www.forumforfree.com/viewtopic.php?p=7394&sid=6b1d6eba8a78322ff2578476e69527ce&mforum=malaysianbus

this one just loves to buy fruits http://alifaforever.blogspot.com/

can view pictures here http://www.wayn.com/waynphotos.html?wci=photo&photo_key=19217405

http://www.hmetro.com.my/Current_News/myMetro/Saturday/Hati/20080621114521/Article/indexv_html

http://shw.nabillrifqy.fotopages.com/17455154/hentian-sebelah-bukit-gantang.html

http://www.kpdnhep.gov.my/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12191&Itemid=460

http://kosmo.com.my/kosmo/content.asp?y=2008&dt=0918&pub=Kosmo&sec=Varia&pg=va_01.htm

Dee Nasi Kampung, Pumpong Alor Setar

Alor Star views

I came back to Alor Setar (AS) on 31/12/08; my father was scheduled for a minor surgery at Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah on 1/1/09; because of his age he was admitted to the hospital on 30/12/08 and the operation date was on 1st Jan 09. He was admitted earlier because he has high blood pressure and doctor need to make sure he's fit for operation.

Views from my father's ward

However on 1/1/09, his blood pressure was 220 and the operation was cancelled. He's still at the hospital as his bp is still unstable. They'll only release him and schedule another surgery date once his bp issue is addressed.

Food? Well I love Kedah food - prepared by kedahan and cooked in Kedah :-) Had an enjoyable dinner prepared by my sis-in-law - Kedah Laksa, sambal belacan (prepared by my niece), Ikan Masak Asam (Fish cooked in tamarind sauce), Ikan masak sambal (fish in chilly gravy), sayur sawi mustard leaves) and fried fish. Simple and tasty.

For lunch the next day 1/1/09 we went to Dee Nasi Kampung (my fav restaurant whenever I'm in AS). For me all their dishes are tasty. I packed these dishes back - fried chicken with honey (my nephew loves this so much that he asked my sis in law to cook the same dish again for lunch the next day), fried chicken, fish head curry, salted fish curry, bamboo shoot curry, fried salted fish, asam pedas keladi, vegetable soup with fish balls, grilled catfish and ulam. Only RM88 and can feed 20 hungry diners! For location refer to google maps below.


View from the back of the restaurant (left), Dee's lunch spread

Malay salad spread (ulam) - top left paku rawan, bottom left jantung pisang, bottom right kerabu daun selom and top right daun putat and lettuce.

Salted fish curry (left) and fish head curry (right)

Fried chicken (left), Ikan masak lemak cili api (right)

Our lunch for today - fried chicken with honey, fried chicken with batter, chicken curry, ulam, stir fried mixed vegetable and hati masak lada (cow's liver with black pepper sauce).

Dishes were prepared by both my sis in-laws - DELICIOUS!!! Sorry no pic, too busy eating he he.


View Larger Map

Other bloggers' view on Dee's

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g298282-d815918-Reviews-Dee_Nasi_Kampong-Alor_Setar_Kedah.html

http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/3/30/sundaymetro/20757111&sec=sundaymetro

http://specialgift-emil.blogspot.com/2008/07/dee-pumpong-nasi-kampung-restaurant.html

http://asiavalley.com/MalayCuisine_Wheretoeat.htm

http://geniomalvado.blogspot.com/2008/07/pumpong.html