Dubu Dubu Urban Korean Food (DubuYo) @ NU Sentral, Kuala Lumpur

A recent name that has been coming up in most mall's these days is Dubu Dubu and being a Korean food fan, I was very curious to try their food. Most Korean restaurant's that I know of are non Halal and this one, being a Halal restaurant was of great interest to me as I wanted to see how authentic they could get to the real Korean food when compared to the other Korean restaurants in town that are owned by Koreans themselves. It seems that this franchise has been around for about a year now and recently they have started a re-branding exercise and their name has been changed to DubuYo. I was informed that Dubu Dubu means 'Tofu' and Yo means 'Hello'. One of their recent outlets is the one in NU Sentral Mall located on the Fourth Floor. I happened to be here this afternoon and having been aware of this outlet's presence in this mall, I did not want to miss the opportunity. 

Dubu Dubu in NU Sentral Mall

The Entrance To The Restaurant

Mock Display Of Food Items

The place was hard to miss. This was located on the Fourth Floor and they had one of the largest retail space in the mall. If I am not mistaken, this was directly opposite the entrance to Golden Screen Cinemas, very close to the escalators. The place was beautifully designed and had a sense of attraction to it. Along the glass panels facing the outside, mock dishes had been placed in display. This is good as it gives a newcomer a sense of what the dishes would look like. I walked up to the entrance and sadly there was no one waiting there to greet customers, despite a sign reading 'Please Wait To Be Seated'. I waited and no one came by and after about a minute, I just walked into the restaurant and that was when one of the waitress came running to me. Sad customer service. It was not even peak hours then and they should be more alert and one has got to stand at the door to usher customers into the restaurant. 

Beautiful Interior

Glass Windows Overlooking The City

Posh Long Settees

The restaurant had a grand feeling to it, not like any other fast food place. I understand that this is a franchise but it felt quite cosy and comfortable. There was just a handful of customers as it was already 2.00 pm and most of them would have been done with their lunch. Once I was seated, one of the waitress handed me the menu. I requested her to leave me with the menu for a while as I wanted to go through in detail to understand what they offered in entirety. 

Set Lunch

Set Lunch

Set Lunch

Weekday Set Lunch

Weekday Set Lunch

As a value for money proposition, they had some set lunch deals specifically for weekdays that was available from 10 am till 3 pm. These looked pretty good and were quite cheap. This is a good initiative in drawing the office crowd to come here for lunch on weekdays. I am sure that the reception for this would be good as they were all reasonably priced and very much suitable to the middle class working adults. The place had a great ambiance too and this would surely lure an even greater crowd. It was good to see the new brand DubuYo being promoted here instead of the older brand name Dubu Dubu. Having gone through this, I went on to check their Ala Carte dishes as well. 

The Menu

The Menu

The Menu

The Menu

The Menu

The Menu

The Menu

The Menu

The Menu

Summary Of My Orders

Their spread was very impressive. They had thought about almost all the famous Korean dishes, leave aside the BBQ as those are mainly of Pork origin. The Ala Carte prices were just slightly more than the Lunch Sets but their side dishes like pancakes etc. did seem to be on the high side, probably more suitable to be shared among a larger group. Being solo today, I decided to go for Set 1 which was ideal for me. This came with an option of four mains to choose from and I went for their Soondubu Jigae which is supposedly their signature dish here. This set comes with three Banchan as well. As for the drink, that was an add on and I choose their Barley Tea. With that, the waitress went over to the cashier and she returned with the above slip and placed it on my table. It was good as I could immediately see what I had ordered and in case there were errors, I could have immediately rectified them. 

Barley Tea @ RM 2.00

Barley Tea @ RM 2.00

Just like Barley, the Barley Tea tasted quite bland but had a creamy factor to it. Some would perhaps say that it was a little slimy instead. Whichever it was, it did taste nowhere like the usual tea but felt good drinking it. I would not be able to rate this as I have never tasted this drink before. For me, it was not nice to taste but felt good. Simply like to leave it like that. 

Set 1 @ RM 16.10

The drink arrived almost immediately but these dishes did take a while. I had to wait close to about 15 minutes for the dishes. Honestly, as there were TV's around, I did not feel the pinch and indeed 15 minutes is nothing at all. This as ordered, came with some Dubu Dubu Rice, Soondubu Jigae (Chicken) and three side dishes (Banchan). Time to get busy with the meal now. 

Dubu Dubu Rice

Had Lot's Of Sesame Seeds

Quite Sticky Too

This rice was quite similar to the Japanese sticky rice and / or the Korean sticky rice but it was Yam like in colour and just like any other Korean dish, had lots of sesame seeds in them. It tasted flat like the usual rice but went well with the sides and the mains. I would rate this at 7.5/10 . It was nice but have definitely tasted better ones.

Soondubu Jigae

Soondubu Jigae

Light Broth

Tofu

Chicken & Eggs

Chicken Meat

Egg Yolk

Soondubu Jigae is supposed to be a much richer broth, not something as light as this and it is supposed to be really spicy. This was nowhere there and came with just a few bits of chicken, some tofu and an egg. I understand that the price has been lowered but that should not hinder one in providing quality dishes. It would taste okay to someone who's never had 'real' Korean food before but being someone who's seasoned, I think that this was a sure let down. For me, I would only rate this at 6.5/10 .

Banchan

The volume of the sides were good and one has the option to add slightly more to enjoy unlimited refills of these sides. I did not go for that option as these were sufficiently good for me. 

Bean Sprouts

These Bean Sprouts tasted really good. They were immersed in a light sauce that was good enough to bring out the natural flavours. A good preparation and I would rate this at 8.5/10 .

Kimchi

For me, this was just an above average preparation. It was decent but not great. Could have been much better. I am sure that they had used the 'ordinary' grade Kimchi for this preparation, not the high end ones. I would rate this at 6/10 .

Potato's & Carrots

These were Potato's and Carrots in a sweet sauce and they tasted awesome. One of the dishes here that I would say was excellent, probably the only one so far. Everything was just perfect here and I would rate this at 9.5/10 . Excellent one!

Bill For The Lunch

On the whole, it was a very average meal for me. This is perhaps a place for those who have never tasted Korean food before and it is a good learning ground as an introduction to Korean food. But once you are used to the real thing, then this becomes a bore. Sometimes, for novices, it may be not appropriate to straight away jump into hardcore Korean food and this would be a good 'incubation' place to get your taste buds to be slowly tuned to Korean food. One good thing here is that they had absorbed the GST into the existing prices. That is an awesome move when everyone is so concerned about the implementation of GST these days. In summary, average food, very average customer service but very decent prices. 

Address: Lot L4-04, Level 4, NU Sentral, Jalan Tun Sambanthan,

                50470 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Opening Hours: 1000 - 2200 Daily

Telephone: +603 2272 2116

Website: http://www.dubuyo.com/home.asp#

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DUBUDUBU.urbankoreanfood/info?ref=page_internal 

Gerai Abdullah @ Tanjung Malim, Perak

Gerai Dollah as it is called by the locals used to be 'the' place to hang out in the wee hours of the night in Tanjung Malim. It used to be the only Indian Muslim restaurant that used to operate 24 hours a day selling all kinds of Indian Muslim dishes and not to forget their famous Sup Kambing. Gone were the days of it's fame and today, it is nothing but a small paper stand that sells limited food stuffs and is only open from 7 am till 9 pm. Then, they were also the main distributors of newspaper and magazines for the sub district but today, there are many other players and from what I have been observing, this place is slowly ceasing to exist. 

What's Left Of This Famous Place

The Very Same Old Interior

Limited Seating Space

Magazines and Newspapers

After many years, I decided to drop by for some Mee Goreng. Initially I was doubtful if they even sell any food but after checking in, I realised that they still do those fried noodles and some toasts. Hardly any customers around and occasionally one or two would drop by to have a cup of tea. The son, who used to do the Mee Goreng is now semi retired and they have hired an external cook to help out. Newspapers were still found but the volume of magazines had surely shrunk. Probably, the tabloid business ain't as good as it was. The place has not changed a bit in terms of it's look and feel and the aesthetics were very much the same. 

Teh Tarik @ RM 1.20

The Indian Girl Getting On To Prepare The Mee Goreng

As always, I greeted the son who was at the cashier's counter and then went in to take a place. I ordered a glass of Teh Tarik and then asked for a plate of Mee Goreng. It used to be very good here in the yesteryear's. Within minutes, my tea was served. It was okay, not great but just okay. The helper who is an Indian girl was the one who fixed my tea. Slightly on the sweet side, I would rate it at 7/10 . Surely used to be much better those days. With that, she went on to prepare my plate of Mee Goreng.

Mee Goreng @ RM 3.50

Mee Goreng @ RM 3.50

 Mee Goreng Looks Good

When my Mee Goreng was served, I was delighted as it looked very good! All the right ingredients were there in the plate and I was happy that it would be a good plate of noodles. After tasting it, I was utterly disappointed. It had all the right things except that there was an overdose of salt which literally destroyed the dish. Gosh...if only she tasted what she had prepared....I doubt that she would take another bite. Sadly, I forced myself to finish about half and left the balance. If only the salt was accurately added, this would have been a fantastic preparation but alas, it just wasn't. I would only rate this at 4/10 .

Sadly, seems that the food here is no longer up to the mark and this place would only be good for a drink stop. It would also be a great place for confidential conversations as no one else is normally around. Otherwise, all that remains are memories only. 

Address: Along Jalan Besar (Right Next To The Railway Crossing),

                35900 Tanjung Malim, Perak, Malaysia.

Opening Hours: 0700 - 2100 Daily

Ah Keong's ABC & Cendol Stall @ Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur

Many of my friends have informed me about this excellent Cendol and Ais Kacang stall in Brickfields run by a Chinese couple and they have all been unanimously mentioning that his preparation is simply one of the best in Kuala Lumpur. Having heard enough, I decided to head down into town this afternoon to try it myself. 

The Stall Next To 7 Eleven Along Jalan Padang Belia

Be Prepared For Long Queue's

This stall is located right next to the 7 Eleven outlet which is opposite the YMCA building, just along Jalan Padang Belia. Being familiar with the area, it was not difficult to locate this stall. It was just a push cart but the queue was tremendously long and that was a very encouraging sign. The stall is open from around 10 am till 7 pm, unless it get's sold out much earlier. I arrived here at 2 pm and there were easily around 15 people who were ahead of me standing in a queue to place their orders. That itself impressed me. 

Ah Keong And His Wife Preparing The Dishes

Prices

Just Three Tables Available

It was amazing to see the crowd as well as the couple in action. The wife generally handles all the orders and also assists the husband with some of the preparations. The Ais Kacang and Cendol is all prepared by Ah Keong himself, perhaps he knows the mixture best and the wife handles all the preparations for the Fresh Coconut Drink. Besides the ABC, Cendol and Coconut Juice, they also have Cincau (Lemon Grass Jelly) Drink as well as some other variations to the Cendol. Not many places to sit, just three small tables that were lined up along the side walls of the 7 Eleven outlet. Many were seen doing take away's and it was amazing to see how customers were willing to wait under the sun for a bowl of Ais Kacang. For me to register my orders with the wife, it took approximately 20 minutes of waiting time and once my order was registered, I was told to have a seat at any one of the tables and they would send the Ais Kacang over to me once it was ready. I also wanted to try their Cendol but unfortunately, after queuing up for around 15 minutes, Mr. Ah Keong announced that they were out of Cendol and were only left with Ais Kacang. That did not turn the crowd away as they all switched their orders to Ais Kacang. That was the kind of devotion to his dishes that customers were seen giving. His working style was awesome too, somewhat like a rhythmic dance. Fast and flawless. 

Ais Kacang (Small) @ RM 3.80

Amazing Colours

Finally, I got my bowl of Ais Kacang. It did not take them very long once the order's had been registered. I ordered a small bowl and this was priced at RM 3.80 , that's approximately USD 1. I guess, he must have fixed his prices to make it easier for tourists. Well, don't be surprised as I saw van loads of foreigners here. Must be the work of some of those tourist guides who generally try to introduce local dishes to these tourists. Coming back to the Ais Kacang, looking at is itself was mouth watering. Time to mix it all up and enjoy the dish. 

Wow! Amazing Stuff!

An Amazing Bowl Of Ais Kacang

Lavish Ingredients

It was an amazing Ais Kacang. I have not tasted such a wonderful Ais Kacang in more than three decades. Reminds me of the Ais Kacang that I used to have as a child in Ipoh, just opposite Anderson School. The ingredients were a mix of the usual goodies and it was such a multi coloured dish. The sweetness was perfect with a wide variety of ingredients and not an overload of ice. I would surely agree that this has got to be the best Ais Kacang in Brickfields and one of the best in the Klang Valley. If you love Cendol and Ais Kacang, then trying Ah Keong's preparation is indeed a must! Do note that he does not have the Halal certification but it is common to see quite a number of Muslim patrons here. Some may say that the prices seem high but for the amount of ingredients used, that's simply nothing. I've definitely seen much higher prices for crap quality and this is an all deserving price.

Address: Opposite YMCA, Beside 7 Eleven, Along Jalan Padang Belia, Brickfields,

                 50470 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Opening Hours: 1000 - 1900 Daily

Restoran Santa Chapati House @ Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur

Looking for some great Chapati's and Punjabi curries? Then Restoran Santa Chapati House which is located along Lorong Gombak Off Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman is a must try. This restaurant has been around for decades now and is a favourite among many that love Chapati's. 

Restoran Santa along Lorong Gombak

Entrance To The Restaurant

The entrance to this restaurant may seem a little odd as it is from the rear of the building. Thinking about it, I don't really remember what's on the front side though, perhaps some textile or carpet shop. This restaurant is right next to Gulati's and parking here is much better as there are many open air car park operator's just along that stretch of road. This restaurant is run by Madam Gurdeep but not many know that they are part of the same Restoran Santa group. The other restaurants are located along Jalan Tun H.S. Lee (the side that is parallel to Lebuh Ampang) and another one in Setapak (just beside Tawakkal Hospital). Mr. Kulwant Singh, the owner, is always found at the restaurant located along Jalan Tun H.S. Lee. Though the food tastes the same across all their restaurants, I somehow prefer this outlet as it is much more spacious and the public transportation is very much better. The restaurant may be somewhat hidden as the road is built on higher grounds and one needs to walk down some steep steps to get into this restaurant. 

Curries and Freshly Made Chapati's

Freshly Made Chapati's @ RM 1.70 each

Chicken Curry, Fried Chicken and Curd Vada

As one enters the restaurant, you would be able to see one of their staffs making Chapati's on your right, just next to the entrance. I was here for breakfast this morning and though not all of their usual variety were available yet, their most famous curries were there and that was more than enough for me. I am so used to this place having been here numerous times and some of my favourites are their Chicken Curry, Fried Chicken, Dalcha, Mutton Curry and Keema. This lineup of curries is also loved by many and that is the reason why they have those available all day long. Besides Chapati's, they have Roti Canai's too but that is not really a fast selling item. It is just prepared as Malaysian's are creatures of habit and tend to prefer having Roti Canai's too for breakfast. 

Place Was Crowded

Well Ventilated

Ample Of Seating Spaces

Don't expect much in terms of seating comfort but this restaurant is anytime better than their other outlet in Jalan Tun H.S. Lee in terms of dining comfort and space. The place is simple, clean and well ventilated. Despite the fact that cooking is done indoors, I was hardly able to feel any heat inside.  As always, I would prefer to collect my Chapati's and curries from the counter myself. Some would also place their orders at the table. It is just a matter of preference as I would like to see all their curries for the day and then decide on what I would like to have. Without an exception, today was the same and having collected my breakfast, I returned to my table. 

My Breakfast

To start with, I had one Chapati and some Mutton Curry. Of course, I had refills and more curries subsequently which I shall be speaking off shortly below. 

Chapati @ RM 1.70

Their Chapati's were priced at RM 1.70 each. I would not say that they were cheap but they are definitely worth the price paid. Prices have been going up over the years but the hike has been very gradual. Well, after all, won't we pay for quality? Coming back to the bread, it was just so good! The Chapati was soft and fluffy, one of the best in town and I would rate this at 9.8/10 .

Mutton Curry @ RM 5.00

This is one of their best dishes at this restaurant! Of course, the other's are equally good but being a mutton fan, I would never fail to have this. The gravy was thick & delicious and the mutton were lean chunks cooked with potato's to perfection. A dish that one has got to try to truly experience the very same gastronomical delight that I had experienced. I would rate this at 9.8/10 . Do note that their Chicken Curry is awesome too and if you are a fan of chicken, then that should definitely be your choice of meat. 

Dalcha

As I added more Chapati's, this time I went for their Dalcha. This again was truly tremendous! Perfect dish of Dalcha served piping hot. Would you believe me if I said that I had another serving of Dalcha just to drink it down after my meal? That was how good this was and I would rate this at 9.8/10 . Truly fantastic!

Punjabi Style Tea @ RM 1.70

Finally, after my delicious meal, I ordered a glass of Tea and just look at the foam, that should speak for itself as to how good this was. Awesome is the word and I would rate this at 9.8/10 .

Overall, I returned a very happy man regardless of how my trousers felt at my waistline after this sumptuous meal. A place that I have been dining for more than 22 years now and till date, they have just maintained their awesomeness! One that I would highly recommend! Almost every year, these guys get nominated on Time Out Magazine under the category of Best Cheap Eats in Kuala Lumpur and I think, they truly deserve to win the award sometime! My best wishes goes out to the team for the excellent food and service!

Address: No. 154, Lorong Gombak Off Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, 

                50100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Opening Hours: 0700 - 1800 Daily (They are now open on Sunday's too)

Telephone: +6012 2055 037

Email: gurdip.kaur49@yahoo.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Restaurant-Santa-Chapati-House-Jln-Tun-HS-Lee/316155911739349