Panda invasion~ 1600 Pandas in Publika

January 2015. Went to Publika after work for food and saw a sea of panda figurines at the boulevard~ Omg! cuteness overload! Apparently there are only a bout 1,600 pandas left in the wild and on the verge of extinction. Therefore figurine that represents the 1,600 pandas tour the world to raise awareness. Besides touring around the world, currently they are touring around Malaysia as well. Just googled 1,600 pandas, or visit their official FB page to find out where they will be if you would love to meet them.

芙蓉烧包城~ Empayar Seremban Siew Pow, Seremban

January 2015. I am here at Seremban again! Last week I was here for the old school naengmyeon at downtown Seremban and this week we are going to have lunch Seremban famous seafood at Empayar Seremban Siew Pow. This place can be spotted along North-South Expressway before Seremban 2 Exit. This few storey high building with huge parking space in front is like a complex comprise of seafood market, seafood restaurants cum local specialty food  including Fu-Yong Siow Pow, that cater for tourists that come over with tour bus. The front part of the ground floor house many seafood stalls that selling fresh seafood, and serve seafood dishes upon order. Plenty of table and seating like local seafood restaurants overlook the open carpark and highway. 

We order the famous Seremban Bake Crab and also Yin-Yong prawn that recommended by the waiter (who told us that the Ying Yong prawn is also a specialty in Seremban). The 1kg Shredded Coconut with Salted Egg York Baked Crab cost RM68. While the Yin Yong prawn that deep fried with cereal is RM 28. We also order a small fried rice and Gong-po Chinese tea. Total bill is RM110 for 2pax after tax. After food, we also walk around the building inside where there are shops and stalls selling local specialty products. And off course we did not miss to buy some famous Seremban Siew Pow and a Curry Bread home before leaving.

Authentic kimbab in KL~ 88 Kimbab, Desa Sri Hartamas

January 2015. We normally buy kimbap from Seoul Mart in Desa Sri Hartamas or Kim's Mart at Solaris Mont' Kiara. At one time we buy kimbab again when we are in Seoul Mart but left only one roll. Seoul mart owner asked if we could wait for 10 minutes he will ask to make more. From there we found out the kimbap was from a small Korean eatery next door~ 88 Kimbab. It is located between Seoul Mart and Maybank, below Daorae. The unit itself is split into two shops. Left is hair saloon while right is 88 Kimbab. 88 Kimbab selling not just Kimbab, there are other variety of food as well. Their price is cheaper than average Korean restaurant since they don't serve fancy or luxury banchan (Korean side dishes) but they do serve simple banchan which taste good. 

First time eat-in was on new years eve before 2014 end. It was a quick dinner so I did not take any picture. Today is our second time here. This time I try their soondubu jigge and price at RM15 only. Surprisingly with that low price, it has the same amount of ingredient in soft tofu stew that I can get in other Korean restaurant. Since then we came quite often for quick dinner. Bibimbap is one of our most frequent order. Bibimbap served in Ttukbaegi also available. His most favourite order is Tteok-mandu-guk (Rice Cake Dumplings Soup). Once in a while we will shared a Sundae (Korean blood Sausage).

We also try their others menu such as Kimchi Sujebi, Kimchi-Bokkuembap, Jeyuk deopbab, Tteokbokki & ramyeon set, cheese Bulgogi Deokbap, etc and their signature Kimbab. Their kimbab taste similar to the kimbab chains in Korea. 88 Kimbab also selling banchan. I will buy some (similar ingredient that they use in their bibimbap) to make bibimbap at home. Their also selling home-made Sikye (sweet rice punch) at RM13 in 1.5 liter bottle. Worth to buy and enjoy if you like Sikye. 

Old school taste Naengmyeon~ Sil Ro Am Korean Restaurant, Seremban

January 2015. Happy New Year 2015~ Today is my 3rd visit to Seremban. This time we had the old school taste Naeng-myeon at Seremban downtown that he has told me to try when I visit Seremban. It's rare to find an authentic and long-run Korean restaurant in Seremban since there's not many Koreans reside there except for those working in Samsung factories. This family-run Korean restaurant served 10 banchan which is very generous compare to those small scale Korean restaurants in Klang Valley. Instead of usual cold bori-cha (barley tea), here they serve Hot bori-cha. The Naengmyeon is indeed different from ordinary Naengmyeon we had. Topped with sliced cucumbers, spicy radish salad, half of a hard boiled egg and a lot of sesame seeds! What makes it special is the mild spicy broth that carry the fragrant of sesame oil (or perilla oil I guess). If you think would it be greasy or oily for a cold noodle dish, not at all. The Naengmyeon portion is also very generous for the amount of money we pay. We are really blessed with authentic Korean food even we are living in Malaysia.