Yvonne from Le Grandeur Palm Resort invited me to try out the set lunch at the resort's Xin Shan Long 新山龙 which is part of Le Grandeur's Fusion Restaurant which includes Sobasei which serves Japanese cuisine.
Le Grandeur Palm Resort is located just next to Senai Airport and near to Johor Premium Outlets (JPO), LEGOLAND and the Little Red Cube. Some of us may remember the Sofitel and Mercure which previously ran this resort.
To locate Xin Shan Long 新山龙 in the sprawling resort, it is about 30 metres to the left of the resort reception/ registration. Look out for these large Japanese style box lanterns over the entrance to Xin Shan Long/ Sobasei.
Inside Xin Shan Long, the restaurant is decked out in classic Chinese fine dining style. There are tables with window views of the resort greenery.
Besides the a la carte menu, Xin Shan Long has a Chinese-Japanese Fusion Set Lunch menu which Yvonne invited us to try. The set lunches cater to 4 persons (RM88+), 5-7 persons (RM175+) and 8-10 persons (RM250+). There is a 6% government tax. No service charge is levied.
We tried the 5-7 persons set (RM175+).
Our lunch started with this mixed sushi set which is prepared by Sobasei restaurant - the Japanese half of Le Grandeur's Fusion Restaurant.
The fresh handmade sushi was a good start to the set lunch,
Near came the salted vegetables with bean curd soup. Appetising homely soup made with salted vegetables, carrots, tomatoes, spring unions, bean curd, fresh fish and shrimps.
Tender savoury chicken teriyaki with sweet notes. I love the charred skin :D
Stir fried ostrich meat with spring onion and ginger. Made with imported Australian ostrich, the meat is like thin slices of lean cut of beef. Tender, juicy, and well seasoned. I like this savoury dish.
Mapo tofu 麻婆豆腐 or Szechuan bean curd with minced chicken. Another savoury home cook comfort dish.
Stir fried shrimps with seasonal vegetables like broccoli, carrots and cucumbers. Lightly stir fried to bring out the natural flavours and crunchiness of the fresh ingredients.
To wrap up the meal, we had old school chilled longan with almond bean curd 杏仁豆腐.
Throughout, the friendly staff were attentive and cheerful, adding enjoyment to our lunch.
Our complimentary hot Chinese tea was constantly topped up by smiling staff :D The set lunch also come with free flow of steam rice to go with the tasty dishes.
If you are in LEGOLAND, The Little Red Cube, JPO or generally around Kulai and Senai, and are looking for a good place for group lunch, this lunch set offering by Le Grandeur Palm Resort is a very good option. While the food won't make many scream in delight, its homely goodness is very likeable.
The relaxed atmosphere at the leafy resort of sprawling well tended greenery, the classy ambiance of the cosy air conditioned restaurant with impeccable service, Le Grandeur's set lunch is definitely good value and a tasty deal.
Restaurant name: Xin Shan Long 新山龙 (in Le Grandeur Palm Resort) Address: Jalan Persiaran Golf, off Jalan Jumbo, Johor (near Senai Airport) Map: http://goo.gl/maps/W7093 GPS: 1.650792,103.657425 Hours: 11:30am to 2:30pm (for Fusion set lunch deals) No pork, no lard, no Halal cert
Yvonne from Le Grandeur Palm Resort invited me to try out the set lunch at the resort's Xin Shan Long 新山龙 which is part of Le Grandeur's Fusion Restaurant which includes Sobasei which serves Japanese cuisine.
Le Grandeur Palm Resort is located just next to Senai Airport and near to Johor Premium Outlets (JPO), LEGOLAND and the Little Red Cube. Some of us may remember the Sofitel and Mercure which previously ran this resort.
To locate Xin Shan Long 新山龙 in the sprawling resort, it is about 30 metres to the left of the resort reception/ registration. Look out for these large Japanese style box lanterns over the entrance to Xin Shan Long/ Sobasei.
Inside Xin Shan Long, the restaurant is decked out in classic Chinese fine dining style. There are tables with window views of the resort greenery.
Besides the a la carte menu, Xin Shan Long has a Chinese-Japanese Fusion Set Lunch menu which Yvonne invited us to try. The set lunches cater to 4 persons (RM88+), 5-7 persons (RM175+) and 8-10 persons (RM250+). There is a 6% government tax. No service charge is levied.
We tried the 5-7 persons set (RM175+).
Our lunch started with this mixed sushi set which is prepared by Sobasei restaurant - the Japanese half of Le Grandeur's Fusion Restaurant.
The fresh handmade sushi was a good start to the set lunch,
Near came the salted vegetables with bean curd soup. Appetising homely soup made with salted vegetables, carrots, tomatoes, spring unions, bean curd, fresh fish and shrimps.
Tender savoury chicken teriyaki with sweet notes. I love the charred skin :D
Stir fried ostrich meat with spring onion and ginger. Made with imported Australian ostrich, the meat is like thin slices of lean cut of beef. Tender, juicy, and well seasoned. I like this savoury dish.
Mapo tofu 麻婆豆腐 or Szechuan bean curd with minced chicken. Another savoury home cook comfort dish.
Stir fried shrimps with seasonal vegetables like broccoli, carrots and cucumbers. Lightly stir fried to bring out the natural flavours and crunchiness of the fresh ingredients.
To wrap up the meal, we had old school chilled longan with almond bean curd 杏仁豆腐.
Throughout, the friendly staff were attentive and cheerful, adding enjoyment to our lunch.
Our complimentary hot Chinese tea was constantly topped up by smiling staff :D The set lunch also come with free flow of steam rice to go with the tasty dishes.
If you are in LEGOLAND, The Little Red Cube, JPO or generally around Kulai and Senai, and are looking for a good place for group lunch, this lunch set offering by Le Grandeur Palm Resort is a very good option. While the food won't make many scream in delight, its homely goodness is very likeable.
The relaxed atmosphere at the leafy resort of sprawling well tended greenery, the classy ambiance of the cosy air conditioned restaurant with impeccable service, Le Grandeur's set lunch is definitely good value and a tasty deal.
Restaurant name: Xin Shan Long 新山龙 (in Le Grandeur Palm Resort) Address: Jalan Persiaran Golf, off Jalan Jumbo, Johor (near Senai Airport) Map: http://goo.gl/maps/W7093 GPS: 1.650792,103.657425 Hours: 11:30am to 2:30pm (for Fusion set lunch deals) No pork, no lard, no Halal cert
Last evening, I visited The Bierhaus German pub and restaurant at Taman Sentosa at the invitation of Raymond, one of the Directors.
I always loved German pubs and restaurants for their solid hearty food, good sloshing cold beer and jolly good cheer.
Stepping into The Bierhaus, we can feel straightway that this is the food and fun place in Johor Bahru.
The cosy bar is set around a large island. Every time I looked at that glowing bluish "ice berg" of drinks in the centre, I want to reach for a bottle and take a swig hehe :P
The bar is a good place to chill with friends or engage the friendly bar tenders about cocktails, beers, liquor or the latest soccer and other sports news.
Or, bond with friends over a friendly game of pool.
If you prefer outdoor dining, there is also the al fresco beer garden.
This is The Bierhaus' second outlet - the first is in Taman Johor Jaya and the third was just opened in Taman Sutera Utama.
Raymond said that The Bierhaus has always prided itself on the quality of it's food. Chef Kamal has experience in Western cuisine in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. The Bierhaus' Executive Chef Fabrizio is also the owner Chef of Ros Marino Italian, one of JB's top fine dining restaurants.
Our scrumptious dinner started with this cold cut meats and cheese platter with fresh bread and pickles (RM36++).
The savoury imported cold cuts and cheese, made us reached unconsciously for our beers and got our jolly evening to a great start :D
(I forgot to take a picture our over sized mugs of German Paulaner beer :P Raymond told us that Paulaner is the best selling beer at The Bierhaus.)
Spaghetti Carbonara RM25++
Bierhaus' spaghetti carbonara was one of our favourite of the evening. The rich sauce, savoury bacon bits and el dente pasta were tossed with a soft boiled egg yolk giving it a delicious eggy touch which we liked.
The Bierhaus Classic Pork Knickle RM49++
The star of any German restaurant is, of course, their pork knuckle :P
At The Bierhaus, pork knuckles are made in a number of different styles. Today, we chose the classic crispy style served with tangy crunchy house made sauerkraut and mashed potato.
Crackly crispy, golden brown skin, soft fat, tender moist meat. The 1.4 kg pork knuckle was light on seasoning and was tasty without any porkiness.
The pork knuckle comes with house made brown, Thai, apple and a radish pickle dip. The pork knuckle already so good by itself - adding the dips made it even more interesting to the taste buds :D
The popular grilled imported premium Italian pork sausage (RM48++) which is known for it's meaty and herbal flavours is a perfect pair with beers.
We love this grilled Japanese scallops wrapped in bacon and served with spicy mayonnaise. I love the blend of subtly different savouriness from seafood and pork.
I must highlight the spicy mayonnaise. The house blended smooth creamy dip has a slight spiciness that is surprising and delightful. When we finished the scallops, the waitress came to take away the empty plate but I kept the small dish of spicy mayonnaise. It's so good, I literary ate it on it's own.
I like The Bierhaus for it's good food, good range of drinks and cosy environment. No wonder, many people gather here regularly with friends and many milestones like birthdays are celebrated here.
Locating The Bierhaus is easy - it's at the end of Jalan Sutera (heading east) in the direction of Permas Jaya.
Restaurant name: The Bierhaus (Taman Sentosa outlet) Address: 299, Jalan Sutera, Taman Sentosa, Johor Bahru Map: http://goo.gl/maps/V5dJI GPS: 1.494341,103.783142 Hours: 2:00pm to 2:00am Non Halal
Last evening, I visited The Bierhaus German pub and restaurant at Taman Sentosa at the invitation of Raymond, one of the Directors.
I always loved German pubs and restaurants for their solid hearty food, good sloshing cold beer and jolly good cheer.
Stepping into The Bierhaus, we can feel straightway that this is the food and fun place in Johor Bahru.
The cosy bar is set around a large island. Every time I looked at that glowing bluish "ice berg" of drinks in the centre, I want to reach for a bottle and take a swig hehe :P
The bar is a good place to chill with friends or engage the friendly bar tenders about cocktails, beers, liquor or the latest soccer and other sports news.
Or, bond with friends over a friendly game of pool.
If you prefer outdoor dining, there is also the al fresco beer garden.
This is The Bierhaus' second outlet - the first is in Taman Johor Jaya and the third was just opened in Taman Sutera Utama.
Raymond said that The Bierhaus has always prided itself on the quality of it's food. Chef Kamal has experience in Western cuisine in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. The Bierhaus' Executive Chef Fabrizio is also the owner Chef of Ros Marino Italian, one of JB's top fine dining restaurants.
Our scrumptious dinner started with this cold cut meats and cheese platter with fresh bread and pickles (RM36++).
The savoury imported cold cuts and cheese, made us reached unconsciously for our beers and got our jolly evening to a great start :D
(I forgot to take a picture our over sized mugs of German Paulaner beer :P Raymond told us that Paulaner is the best selling beer at The Bierhaus.)
Spaghetti Carbonara RM25++
Bierhaus' spaghetti carbonara was one of our favourite of the evening. The rich sauce, savoury bacon bits and el dente pasta were tossed with a soft boiled egg yolk giving it a delicious eggy touch which we liked.
The Bierhaus Classic Pork Knickle RM49++
The star of any German restaurant is, of course, their pork knuckle :P
At The Bierhaus, pork knuckles are made in a number of different styles. Today, we chose the classic crispy style served with tangy crunchy house made sauerkraut and mashed potato.
Crackly crispy, golden brown skin, soft fat, tender moist meat. The 1.4 kg pork knuckle was light on seasoning and was tasty without any porkiness.
The pork knuckle comes with house made brown, Thai, apple and a radish pickle dip. The pork knuckle already so good by itself - adding the dips made it even more interesting to the taste buds :D
The popular grilled imported premium Italian pork sausage (RM48++) which is known for it's meaty and herbal flavours is a perfect pair with beers.
We love this grilled Japanese scallops wrapped in bacon and served with spicy mayonnaise. I love the blend of subtly different savouriness from seafood and pork.
I must highlight the spicy mayonnaise. The house blended smooth creamy dip has a slight spiciness that is surprising and delightful. When we finished the scallops, the waitress came to take away the empty plate but I kept the small dish of spicy mayonnaise. It's so good, I literary ate it on it's own.
I like The Bierhaus for it's good food, good range of drinks and cosy environment. No wonder, many people gather here regularly with friends and many milestones like birthdays are celebrated here.
Locating The Bierhaus is easy - it's at the end of Jalan Sutera (heading east) in the direction of Permas Jaya.
Restaurant name: The Bierhaus (Taman Sentosa outlet) Address: 299, Jalan Sutera, Taman Sentosa, Johor Bahru Map: http://goo.gl/maps/V5dJI GPS: 1.494341,103.783142 Hours: 2:00pm to 2:00am Non Halal
Today, we were invited to visit the Vivo American Pizza & Panini outlet at AEON JUSCO Tebrau.
The interior of Vivo pizza outlets are all spacious, bright, clean, inviting and family friendly.
The main purpose of our visit was to taste Vivo American Pizza & Panini's.... pizzas and Italian rolled bread sandwiches!
We had the Smoked Chicken BBQ Pizza.
And, the Premium Prawn Pizza.
The first thing that I noticed about Vivo's pizzas is the size. They start at 8 inches (RM16.90), which makes even their smallest pizza good for two people to share. I like this because I, and possibly others too, see pizzas as bonding food to be shared and enjoyed together with family and friends.
Vivo's pizzas have a medium thickness crust with good bite. The dough for the crusts are hand made at the outlets.
Looking below the crusts at other pizza joints, I often found it saturated with sticky grease. Not so at Vivo Pizza. The entire browned crust was dry, firm yet it has flex and nice mouth feel.
The colourful ingredients covered by a layer of melted mozzarella cheese are all freshly cut, diced, chopped and peeled. For example, the prawn pizza is topped with shelled fresh prawns. (Only fine dining Italian restaurants would do this.) We can feel the crunchiness of the toppings of Vivo pizzas, unlike mushy canned or frozen ingredients in lower quality pizzas.
I am delighted by the Vivo pizzas that I tasted today. The melted cheese was savoury without being overly salty. The toppings were crunchy and were a mix of interesting textures. The crusts were equally lovely.
I actually do not expect such artisanal pizza except at higher end Italian fine dining restaurants - so, kudos to Vivo for making quality pizza accessible to more people.
Besides the pizza, we also tried Vivo's crispy chicken panino (plural panini) or Italian rolled bread.
Vivo's crispy chicken panino comes with fries and house made Italian rolled bread at RM13.90.
The rolled bread, slightly crisp outside and bouncy inside wraps a large slice of fried chicken which is also crispy outside and still juicy inside. The fresh lettuce, tomato and cucumber slices added texture to the panino, not to mention the much welcome vitamins :D
We couldn't resist two rounds of Vivo's Volcanic Chocolate which is one of my favourite lava cakes in Johor Bahru. The cake overflows with warm dark molten Danish chocolate. Combine the warm chocolate with sweet icy vanilla ice cream, it's a pair that melts resolve and puts an end to many diet plans.
I am happy to discover Vivo American Pizza & Panini. Good food, cheery environment and reasonable prices. Restaurant name: Vivo American Pizza & Panini (AEON JUSCO Tebrau outlet) Address: AEON JUSCO Tebrau, Johor Bahru (Vivo has a total of 12 outlets in Johor Bahru, Segamat, Malacca, KL and Singapore) Map: http://goo.gl/maps/LtWM4 GPS: 1.549441,103.796350 Hours: 10:00am to 10:00pm Certified Halal
Today, we were invited to visit the Vivo American Pizza & Panini outlet at AEON JUSCO Tebrau.
The interior of Vivo pizza outlets are all spacious, bright, clean, inviting and family friendly.
The main purpose of our visit was to taste Vivo American Pizza & Panini's.... pizzas and Italian rolled bread sandwiches!
We had the Smoked Chicken BBQ Pizza.
And, the Premium Prawn Pizza.
The first thing that I noticed about Vivo's pizzas is the size. They start at 8 inches (RM16.90), which makes even their smallest pizza good for two people to share. I like this because I, and possibly others too, see pizzas as bonding food to be shared and enjoyed together with family and friends.
Vivo's pizzas have a medium thickness crust with good bite. The dough for the crusts are hand made at the outlets.
Looking below the crusts at other pizza joints, I often found it saturated with sticky grease. Not so at Vivo Pizza. The entire browned crust was dry, firm yet it has flex and nice mouth feel.
The colourful ingredients covered by a layer of melted mozzarella cheese are all freshly cut, diced, chopped and peeled. For example, the prawn pizza is topped with shelled fresh prawns. (Only fine dining Italian restaurants would do this.) We can feel the crunchiness of the toppings of Vivo pizzas, unlike mushy canned or frozen ingredients in lower quality pizzas.
I am delighted by the Vivo pizzas that I tasted today. The melted cheese was savoury without being overly salty. The toppings were crunchy and were a mix of interesting textures. The crusts were equally lovely.
I actually do not expect such artisanal pizza except at higher end Italian fine dining restaurants - so, kudos to Vivo for making quality pizza accessible to more people.
Besides the pizza, we also tried Vivo's crispy chicken panino (plural panini) or Italian rolled bread.
Vivo's crispy chicken panino comes with fries and house made Italian rolled bread at RM13.90.
The rolled bread, slightly crisp outside and bouncy inside wraps a large slice of fried chicken which is also crispy outside and still juicy inside. The fresh lettuce, tomato and cucumber slices added texture to the panino, not to mention the much welcome vitamins :D
We couldn't resist two rounds of Vivo's Volcanic Chocolate which is one of my favourite lava cakes in Johor Bahru. The cake overflows with warm dark molten Danish chocolate. Combine the warm chocolate with sweet icy vanilla ice cream, it's a pair that melts resolve and puts an end to many diet plans.
I am happy to discover Vivo American Pizza & Panini. Good food, cheery environment and reasonable prices. Restaurant name: Vivo American Pizza & Panini (AEON JUSCO Tebrau outlet) Address: AEON JUSCO Tebrau, Johor Bahru (Vivo has a total of 12 outlets in Johor Bahru, Segamat, Malacca, KL and Singapore) Map: http://goo.gl/maps/LtWM4 GPS: 1.549441,103.796350 Hours: 10:00am to 10:00pm Certified Halal
Johor Kaki was invited to visit the Vivo American Pizza & Panini outlet at Bukit Indah. I have seen Vivo outlets around JB but have never stepped in before because there are so many choices in town and I tend to go for local businesses.
I was happy and surprised to find out that Vivo is actually the brainchild of passionate Johoreans whose love for food led them to partner a Chicago (USA) traditional pizza house to bring specialty pizzas into our region.
A note: For my first visit, we focussed on Vivo's chicken dishes as we did not have sufficient stomach space for pizzas on that day. It was our third food tasting of the day. I make it a point to eat all the food served at the table and get a real feel for the food during invited food tastings. I actually eat all the food instead of just taste test a few sample pieces. The disadvantage of my approach is that I cannot review so many dishes in one sitting, and so would need to return for additional sessions.
These were the dishes we tried at Vivo.
Garlic Bread RM5.50
Vivo executed this basic item very well. The airy, fluffy bread had a good thickness and the garlic butter spread was savoury without being overly greasy. If you like garlic bread, you are likely to be pleased with Vivo's rendition.
Honey Baked Chicken Wings RM15.90
The honey baked chicken wings were well marinated with Vivo's house blend savoury sweetish sauce. Made with chilled chicken, the marinade penetrated right through the chicken fibres. Well done, every part was evenly cooked yet still fairy tender and slightly moist. This baked chicken wings will appeal to people who like deep strong flavours.
Baked Chicken Chop RM16.90
Vivo is proud of their baked chicken chop which has a crisp layer outside with the juicy more tender flesh inside. Deeply marinated with a mainly savoury, slightly sweet sauce.
The grilled chicken chop is served with this buttered rice with a nice savoury flavour and not overly greasy. The good quality grains were fluffy and separate easily.
Tropical BBQ Chicken Chop RM17.90
The chunky tropical BBQ chicken chop is also well marinated with Vivo's own BBQ sauce. Grilled till the savoury sweet outer layer is caramelised with some charred bits. Underneath that wrinkly caramelised skin was the still juicy tender chicken meat. The sweet and robust savoury flavour will appeal to people who like stronger flavours.
Seafood Spaghetti Aglio Olio RM19.80
This seafood spaghetti aglio olio actually wowed me and was my favourite of the evening. The well executed al dente pasta had good mouth feel and was infused with a rich seafood broth of distinct savoury flavour. Lightly stir fried in garlic and olive oil making the pasta fragrant and slick without tacky greasiness. It was lovely. And, it had a generous shower of spicy chili flakes that gave the whole dish an interesting zing. The NZ mussels, fresh shrimps and small cubes of salmon completed the whole dish.
The staff kept wanting to take away this plate of spaghetti to make room for other dishes which Vivo wanted to showcase. I kept holding onto this spaghetti until I ate it up all up completely. I love it.
If you like savoury and spicy seafood spaghetti, this is for you too. I certainly would be happy to eat this again and again.
I enjoyed the tasting at Vivo today and am looking forward to try out the other dishes, especially the pizzas in their menu.
Restaurant name: Vivo American Pizza & Panini (Bukit Indah outlet) Address: AEON JUSCO Bukit Indah, Johor Bahru (Vivo has a total of 12 outlets in Johor Bahru, Segamat, Malacca, KL and Singapore) Map: http://goo.gl/maps/1sXlc GPS: 1.480958,103.6545 Hours: 10:00am to 10:00pm Certified Halal
Johor Kaki was invited to visit the Vivo American Pizza & Panini outlet at Bukit Indah. I have seen Vivo outlets around JB but have never stepped in before because there are so many choices in town and I tend to go for local businesses.
I was happy and surprised to find out that Vivo is actually the brainchild of passionate Johoreans whose love for food led them to partner a Chicago (USA) traditional pizza house to bring specialty pizzas into our region.
A note: For my first visit, we focussed on Vivo's chicken dishes as we did not have sufficient stomach space for pizzas on that day. It was our third food tasting of the day. I make it a point to eat all the food served at the table and get a real feel for the food during invited food tastings. I actually eat all the food instead of just taste test a few sample pieces. The disadvantage of my approach is that I cannot review so many dishes in one sitting, and so would need to return for additional sessions.
These were the dishes we tried at Vivo.
Garlic Bread RM5.50
Vivo executed this basic item very well. The airy, fluffy bread had a good thickness and the garlic butter spread was savoury without being overly greasy. If you like garlic bread, you are likely to be pleased with Vivo's rendition.
Honey Baked Chicken Wings RM15.90
The honey baked chicken wings were well marinated with Vivo's house blend savoury sweetish sauce. Made with chilled chicken, the marinade penetrated right through the chicken fibres. Well done, every part was evenly cooked yet still fairy tender and slightly moist. This baked chicken wings will appeal to people who like deep strong flavours.
Baked Chicken Chop RM16.90
Vivo is proud of their baked chicken chop which has a crisp layer outside with the juicy more tender flesh inside. Deeply marinated with a mainly savoury, slightly sweet sauce.
The grilled chicken chop is served with this buttered rice with a nice savoury flavour and not overly greasy. The good quality grains were fluffy and separate easily.
Tropical BBQ Chicken Chop RM17.90
The chunky tropical BBQ chicken chop is also well marinated with Vivo's own BBQ sauce. Grilled till the savoury sweet outer layer is caramelised with some charred bits. Underneath that wrinkly caramelised skin was the still juicy tender chicken meat. The sweet and robust savoury flavour will appeal to people who like stronger flavours.
Seafood Spaghetti Aglio Olio RM19.80
This seafood spaghetti aglio olio actually wowed me and was my favourite of the evening. The well executed al dente pasta had good mouth feel and was infused with a rich seafood broth of distinct savoury flavour. Lightly stir fried in garlic and olive oil making the pasta fragrant and slick without tacky greasiness. It was lovely. And, it had a generous shower of spicy chili flakes that gave the whole dish an interesting zing. The NZ mussels, fresh shrimps and small cubes of salmon completed the whole dish.
The staff kept wanting to take away this plate of spaghetti to make room for other dishes which Vivo wanted to showcase. I kept holding onto this spaghetti until I ate it up all up completely. I love it.
If you like savoury and spicy seafood spaghetti, this is for you too. I certainly would be happy to eat this again and again.
I enjoyed the tasting at Vivo today and am looking forward to try out the other dishes, especially the pizzas in their menu.
Restaurant name: Vivo American Pizza & Panini (Bukit Indah outlet) Address: AEON JUSCO Bukit Indah, Johor Bahru (Vivo has a total of 12 outlets in Johor Bahru, Segamat, Malacca, KL and Singapore) Map: http://goo.gl/maps/1sXlc GPS: 1.480958,103.6545 Hours: 10:00am to 10:00pm Certified Halal
Today, I was at Soul Thai restaurant at the invitation of Vincent, the Executive Director.
At first look, Soul Thai's imposing façade would make any budget conscious person like me think twice before stepping into the restaurant. (Soul Thai is on the right of the picture.)
Soul Thai is actually attached to it's sister company Soul Asia which provides traditional Thai massage services.
Stepping inside Soul Thai, the very well appointed interior includes an exclusive private room which reinforces the impression that this restaurant is only for deep pockets.
So, I was pleasantly surprised at how family and price friendly the dishes at Soul Thai are. Vincent has Thai family members and sharing Thai food with Johoreans is one of the reasons for setting up Soul Thai.
The food at Soul Thai is prepared by Thai chefs led by Executive Chef Payup Suwong who is an award winning chef from Thailand. Chef Payup has tuned the tastes and flavours to suit local palates while honouring the essence of Thai cuisine.
Let's see what we ate :D
Our lunch naturally started with a tom yam kung (RM17.90).
The helpful staff helping us to ladle the steamy seafood tom yam.
The fresh shrimps and squid in a moderately spicy murky broth with fragrant lemon grass and herbs. This tangy, sweet, savoury, and spicy tom yam is a great way to "open the appetite" as they say in Chinese.
This Soul Thai signature fried fish is another favourite. Soul Thai uses live sea bass to make this fried fish covered by a grassy looking blanket of lemongrass, spring onions, cashews, peanuts, chili and other ingredients. The whole fish is doused with a savoury spicy house blended sauce. One of my favourites of the day.
I love Soul Thai's Massaman curry chicken and potatoes (RM13.90). The curry is a interesting blend of sweet, savoury, mildly spicy and nutty. There are lots of roasted peanuts and cashews in the pot softened by cooking in curry - in a way, this Massaman curry reminds me of satay sauce but more drippy. The fresh chicken pieces were tender and sweet. I liked this Massaman curry so much that I ate and drank up two bowls.
Massaman curry originally from Southern Thailand was voted by CNN in 2011 as the World's Number 1 most delicious food. Personally, Soul Thai's rendition of this Malay-Thai fusion dish is a Must Try. (On a side note, tom yam kung is voted Number 8 and Penang asam laksa is Number 7.)
The fried crab in Thai curry. The curry has a dense complex mix of savoury and spicy flavours though it is pretty toned down in spiciness. The gravy is a tad greasy in the Thai style. I like the refreshing sweet juicy crab meat which was mostly shielded from the curry by the shell.
The pineapple rice was cooked with turmeric and topped with cashews, fried shallots, raisins, maize and peas. Being mildly flavoured, the pineapple rice complements the more robustly flavoured Thai dishes well.
Vincent is quite proud of Soul Thai's signature Thai style battered fried kang kong (RM12.90). Nice, crispy batter wrapping crunchy green kang kong inside.
The dip for the fried kang kang made with coconut milk spiced up with curry and sweetened with chicken meat.
Thai style ABC (RM4.90) is different from the Malaysian variety. There's attap seeds, ruby chestnuts, pandan worms in a bowl of coconut milk with ice.
My favourite rubies chestnut with coconut milk (RM4.90).
I am looking forward to come back to Soul Thai to try their green curry, crab cooked in tang hoon, steamed squid and, of course, Phad Thai! I love to try their Massaman curry beef too at my next visit too :D
Soul Thai is a good place for delicious Thai food in a nice environment at reasonable prices.
Restaurant name: Soul Thai Restaurant & Bistro 泰美味美食餐厅 Address: 3G, Jalan Bestari 3/5, Taman Nusa Bestari, Skudai Map: http://goo.gl/maps/J8HgL GPS: 1.492009,103.659587 Hours: 11:00am to 11:30pm No pork, no lard, no Halal cert
Date visited: 22 Nov 2013
Today, I was at Soul Thai restaurant at the invitation of Vincent, the Executive Director.
At first look, Soul Thai's imposing façade would make any budget conscious person like me think twice before stepping into the restaurant. (Soul Thai is on the right of the picture.)
Soul Thai is actually attached to it's sister company Soul Asia which provides traditional Thai massage services.
Stepping inside Soul Thai, the very well appointed interior includes an exclusive private room which reinforces the impression that this restaurant is only for deep pockets.
So, I was pleasantly surprised at how family and price friendly the dishes at Soul Thai are. Vincent has Thai family members and sharing Thai food with Johoreans is one of the reasons for setting up Soul Thai.
The food at Soul Thai is prepared by Thai chefs led by Executive Chef Payup Suwong who is an award winning chef from Thailand. Chef Payup has tuned the tastes and flavours to suit local palates while honouring the essence of Thai cuisine.
Let's see what we ate :D
Our lunch naturally started with a tom yam kung (RM17.90).
The helpful staff helping us to ladle the steamy seafood tom yam.
The fresh shrimps and squid in a moderately spicy murky broth with fragrant lemon grass and herbs. This tangy, sweet, savoury, and spicy tom yam is a great way to "open the appetite" as they say in Chinese.
This Soul Thai signature fried fish is another favourite. Soul Thai uses live sea bass to make this fried fish covered by a grassy looking blanket of lemongrass, spring onions, cashews, peanuts, chili and other ingredients. The whole fish is doused with a savoury spicy house blended sauce. One of my favourites of the day.
I love Soul Thai's Massaman curry chicken and potatoes (RM13.90). The curry is a interesting blend of sweet, savoury, mildly spicy and nutty. There are lots of roasted peanuts and cashews in the pot softened by cooking in curry - in a way, this Massaman curry reminds me of satay sauce but more drippy. The fresh chicken pieces were tender and sweet. I liked this Massaman curry so much that I ate and drank up two bowls.
Massaman curry originally from Southern Thailand was voted by CNN in 2011 as the World's Number 1 most delicious food. Personally, Soul Thai's rendition of this Malay-Thai fusion dish is a Must Try. (On a side note, tom yam kung is voted Number 8 and Penang asam laksa is Number 7.)
The fried crab in Thai curry. The curry has a dense complex mix of savoury and spicy flavours though it is pretty toned down in spiciness. The gravy is a tad greasy in the Thai style. I like the refreshing sweet juicy crab meat which was mostly shielded from the curry by the shell.
The pineapple rice was cooked with turmeric and topped with cashews, fried shallots, raisins, maize and peas. Being mildly flavoured, the pineapple rice complements the more robustly flavoured Thai dishes well.
Vincent is quite proud of Soul Thai's signature Thai style battered fried kang kong (RM12.90). Nice, crispy batter wrapping crunchy green kang kong inside.
The dip for the fried kang kang made with coconut milk spiced up with curry and sweetened with chicken meat.
Thai style ABC (RM4.90) is different from the Malaysian variety. There's attap seeds, ruby chestnuts, pandan worms in a bowl of coconut milk with ice.
My favourite rubies chestnut with coconut milk (RM4.90).
I am looking forward to come back to Soul Thai to try their green curry, crab cooked in tang hoon, steamed squid and, of course, Phad Thai! I love to try their Massaman curry beef too at my next visit too :D
Soul Thai is a good place for delicious Thai food in a nice environment at reasonable prices.
Restaurant name: Soul Thai Restaurant & Bistro 泰美味美食餐厅 Address: 3G, Jalan Bestari 3/5, Taman Nusa Bestari, Skudai Map: http://goo.gl/maps/J8HgL GPS: 1.492009,103.659587 Hours: 11:00am to 11:30pm No pork, no lard, no Halal cert
