my name is Food.: Malaysian

Aspley Oriental Chinese Restaurant | Aspley, Brisbane

Asian May 01, 2021

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Laksa Hut - Indooroopilly, Brisbane

Asian December 18, 2018

While around the area and visiting Westfield, we thought we'd stop by and have laksa since it's been a while back since my last visit.... when it was based in Toowong. It was empty for a lunchtime but maybe due to their change of location as well as being in a place where we do need to find our own street parking may have had a downside to their move.

Spring roll was a nice starter to have but they were quite small for the price. The dipping sauce that came with it was a bit sweet but went well with the spring roll.

Salted fish and diced chicken fried rice was okay and had enough vegetables and chicken as well as salted fish in every bite. The portion was smaller than what I thought it would be but maybe I was comparing to the rest of the other dishes we had ordered. The salted fish mixed in well with the diced chicken and it wasn't over marinated or over powering against the rest.

Roast Pork Laksa was served in a big red bowl full of roast pork pieces ready to be gobbled up. Some still had the crispy skin whilst some didn't but it didn't really matter since it's already in the laksa so not all of them is going to be crispy anyway. Using their own house made laksa paste, creamy coconut milk and soup stock, the flavours were divine. A good amount of kick, a bit too much for me but not for the others, it allowed all of the elements in the laksa stand out with the noodles absorbing the flavours.

The laksa was loaded with vegetables, rice noodles with a meat of your choice ranging from pork, chicken, beef, vegetables, tofu and more.

When it used to be in Toowong, it would be an easy access to and from however since now they're based in Indooroopilly, it seems that it's a bit hard. Maybe because we just can't be bothered driving to the area unless we really need to. But this laksa is a must try if you're around the area and feel like eating a noodle soup.

BBQ Pork Clear Noodle Soup, a choice between egg or rice noodles is available and we opted for the egg noodles this time. The laksa already had rice noodles in it anyway. The flavour of the broth had the right saltiness but felt that it was lacking something. The greens that came with it could've been at least cut or sliced into half as it was hard trying bite it off. Much easier if it was just chopped. Easier to eat and share.

The BBQ pork was well done but then, we don't usually eat BBQ pork like these often. Not because we don't like it or don't want to buy it, we just simply can't be bothered buying it from the butcher.. so we usually just eat it when we are out. The BBQ pork added the extra sweetness in the broth and the whole dish.

Nasi Lemak is always something that can bring a smile to someone's face when eating it. However I did feel that it lacked the extra roasted peanuts, anchovies, freshly chopped cucumber but then the main components of it would be the two curries. And it was okay.. it wasn't wow but they were both cooked well. The rice was said to be coconut rice but we felt that it wasn't strong enough.

Both curries were cooked well, the chicken was soft as well as the beef. The chicken had a bit more of the chilli kick than the beef however it may have been due to the sauce or texture. The potatoes was medium soft, not too soft nor too hard to easily slice it with your fork.

*Please note this is a delayed post and as such, the menu may have changed since my visit to the establishment.

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Little Singapore - Market Square, Sunnybank, Brisbane

Asian October 23, 2018

With all the renovations happening at Market Square, it doesn't deter the diners coming in from morning to night for either the food, bubble tea, desserts or just visiting Yuen's. After waiting for a few minutes, the table was set up and ready. Service can be hard to get by as the waiters are always rushing here and there but simply raise your hand up or try and wave at them, you should be able to get their attention.

'Char Kway Teow' of which we usually order the combination which has both meat and seafood. The portion was quite small compared to the other times we have dined here and ordered the same dish. Sometimes, it can be also saltier or not enough salt, so it can be quite inconsistent at times.

The amount of seafood as well as meat also differs and I think that might be due to the chef who is cooking at the time. Sometimes, you would get more fish cake than prawns or meat, or would get only one prawn and no squid or so on. However, overall, this time, the taste was okay but we have tasted better in the past.

'Nasi Lemak' consists of steamed rice or coconut rice in some restaurants served with beef rendang, chicken curry, pickles, deep fried boiled egg topped w sambal, anchovies and peanuts as well as fresh cucumber slices. Having the crunchy texture of the anchovies, peanuts and cucumber, allows the whole dish to be well balanced throughout the meal.

The curry chicken was off the bone which was a drumstick essentially with the soft potato chunks. The curry sauce had the right balance of chilli kick as well as the creamyness from the coconut. The beef rendang on the other hand was okay, but it could have been cooked longer as I did feel that some parts of it were still slightly on the tougher side.

The deep fried boiled egg was well cooked although with the sweet sambal on top. It would've been good if the sambal was placed elsewhere as for those who isn't big on the chilli side, will not be able to eat the egg as the sambal would've had been on top of it initially.

Most of their menu items on offer do well, however, there are times when the portion can be a bit, inconsistent.. or just very inconsistent. As we've been here for dinner and lunch, but there will be times when we do get a lesser portion than the previous time or so.

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Little Singapore, Sunnybank Plaza, Brisbane

Asian July 24, 2017

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Fat Noodle, Treasury Casino, Brisbane CBD

Asian August 30, 2016

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Old Street Bak Kut Teh, Galaxy Mall, Surabaya, Indonesia

Asian August 23, 2016

Bak Kut Teh has always been a popular chinese soup served in Singapore, Malaysia or even Mainland China or Taiwan. One of their specialties is actually their Dry Bak Kut Teh but I do feel that the traditional Bak Kut Teh with its complex broth and aromatic soup is the highlight of this dish. What is interesting in this restaurant is their Ipad ordering system using a tablet stored on each table in a pull-out drawer which allows you to order and add anything you feel like without having to continuously looking and waiting for the staff. Very convenient indeed.

There is a table that has various condiments and sauces (Soy Sauce, Chilli, Garlic, Ginger etc) that allows you to help yourselves in anything you want. We decided to order some sides such as these lovely and so delicious 'Peanuts' (IDR32k = ~AUD$3.2), braised well and compliments all of the dishes and even delicious when eaten with just warm rice. 'You Tiao' is fried doughsticks which is very common to eat with most chinese dishes or even as a side, sometimes many would buy them just for snacks. It was quite fresh but not as fresh hot as I thought it would be. However, it was still crispy on the outside and when you dip it into the soup, that's when it is eaten best. Preserved Vegetables' (IDR38k = ~AUD$3.8) was not bad, not too salty either.

Traditionally, Bak Kut Teh is eaten accompanied with brewing a pot of chinese tea. On each of the tables, there are built-in induction cookers where they will heat up your Bak Kut Teh. The name of the dish actually literally means 'Meat Bone Tea' which consists of meaty pork ribs which is simmered in a broth of various herbs and spices for hours. However, despite the fact that there is no tea present in the dish, the name simply refers to a very strong Oolong Chinese Tea which is usually served as I have mentioned previously, alongside of the soup. In a way, it simply allows one to be able to eat the pork filled dish and dilute or help the throat and after eating effect.

'Pork Ribs Soup' (Small: IDR75k, Large: IDR100k = ~AUD$7.5-10) is always great eaten with a bowl of warm rice. I was rather surprised that the Bak Kut Teh bowl didn't have only a few pieces of meaty ribs but it was plenty, enough to share around and am pretty sure if I had to finish a bowl all by myself, I would be full to the max. The soup has always been the highlight for me when eating this dish, it had the wholesome, herbal and peppery soup as well as very tender meat that that easily falls off the bone. It was very flavourful and zesty at the same time. There was a decent amount of combination of both soft bones and spare ribs. For those who may think that it may have those porky smell, it actually didn't as the smell of the soup and the broth was more distinct than the minimal pork smell..

Another great thing about the Bak Kut Teh here is that refills for the soup/broth is free, so you are able to top up as much as possible. So don't forget to ask for refills!

'Braised Pig's Trotter' is something I do love to eat other than Bak Kut Teh but of course, when you dine at a Bak Kut Teh restaurant, obviously it would be the main dish to order. The flavour of the braised meat seems as if it has been made with love and watched over for a while as it should be. The meat again was easy off the bone but do know that the soy broth is quite strong in terms of flavour and taste.

This was a small bowl of braised tofu, beancurd as well as egg although I forgot what this was called. However, simply the soy broth allowed the different elements come together to make an aromatic braised tofu and egg. Another great condiment to have when eating Bak Kut Teh.

I do need to advise you that chopsticks and spoons are stored on one side of the table where there is pull out drawer, since many may not know this, it may be hard during your first time when dining here. Especially with the Ipad ordering system also in a pull-out drawer. Now Surabaya do have more than one branch which is great for those living around the other side of town, but I do have to say that this is probably the only place in the city where I would get my dose of Bak Kut Teh..

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