The Mall, Mid Valley Southkey @ Johor Bahru [Malaysia]

Mid Valley Southkey in Johor started operations before the dreadful pandemic in 2020 and I couldn't wait to visit when borders reopened as I enjoyed its older sister mall in Kuala Lumpur (KL).

A grab / taxi ride is the easiest mode of transport for someone who doesn't have his/her own motor vehicle and the sprawling mall appeared on the horizon as the driver neared the destination; the Sogo logo was bigger than the name of the mall. 

I don't think many people would call it by its official primary (albeit boring name), the mall. Many people would mention mid valley instead and to separate it from its more famous sibling in KL; they would add JB at the end. 

Disembarking at the south entrance. As with the original mall in KL, there are a total of 4 main entrances by directions; east, west, north and south. Hence, when you choose your Grab ride, be mindful of the entrance you choose as north and south are quite far from each other; slightly more than 350 meters.

After entering, the image evoked a sense of nostalgia; the one in KL has the same circular concept! I remember Mid Valley KL well as it was a large shopping centre where you can literally spend a big part of your day eating, shopping, relaxing.

The round, skylight above.

A temporary atrium event for kids, with games and vibrantly colored decorations to take photos with. The balloon store should be permanent though. 

Hanging decorations from the ceiling. Frankly, this wouldn't be a detailed post as my aim for this day trip to JB (first overseas trip since the pandemic) was just for relaxation.

The Zhoe Factory; a humongous shoe shop with many on discounts! I should have purchased a new pair of sandals but time was running short. Shall do so in my next visit end of this month! 

An arcade, more for kids. 

Mid Valley Exhibition Centre - it was a home fair that as held that day and even though my house renovation was completed over 5 years ago; I couldn't help stepping in for a closer look at the latest renovation concept, hottest furniture and household appliances. 

Like this multi function telescopic ladder! Pity I live in an apartment and not a huge bungalow. It's funny that we crave for a large house when we are young but as we get older (and not any richer), it dawned on us that a smaller house is actually easier to clean with less maintenance cost.

Another reason why I love mid valley malls; less people (okay, maybe because it was a weekday) and spacious aisles! Exception was the basement though, where there are many F&B establishments. 

I would have loved to catch a movie! 

But time didn't allow.

Long, long time ago, it's a must to eat either at Kim Gary / Secret Recipe whenever we stepped into JB. Competition is a bitch though; with a lot more variety to choose from nowadays, it's been a while since I last dined at Kim Gary in Malaysia. Its only branch back in Singapore then has also closed down permanently.

Housing blocks near Mid Valley Southkey; look closer at the area in the middle of the picture. It's a cemetery! In Singapore, we would shudder to live so near to the dead although in many countries, it's not that uncommon. 

Thai Odyssey; my favorite massage shop in Malaysia even though they are so expensive! I was so looking forward for a Thai body massage but this branch was still closed then. As borders just re-opened, I guess they couldn't find the manpower to open the shop.

Mr Dollar - seemed like a Daiso copycat but instead of always S$2, this was touted as either RM 2.00 or RM 5.00; both of which would be less than S$2.00! Hard not to step in and check out further.

Frankly, those looking for a good deal would browse for hours! 

There were higher-priced items but they were listed as being premium selections. I personally find it distasteful as it should always be either "RM 2.00 or RM 5.00" as mentioned. Saving grace is that it's hard not to notice the "RM 10" label. 

It's a super huge store! 

Bought a pack of mini shovels for my plants! From the look of it, Mr Dollar should be under the same company as Mr DIY, which has branches in Singapore and Thailand too.

Satisfying lunch at Palsaik Korean BBQ!

Click here for review.

Finishing my post with a picture of the toilets at Mid Valley Southkey. They were so clean and I love it that they have toilet seat sanitizer! Some friends would know my aversion to toilet seats after an incident close to twenty years ago. Maybe I would share in details in this blog in the future. 

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For summary of my day trip, please visit https://cavinteo.blogspot.com/2022/06/day-trip-to-johore-bahru-malaysia.html

Palsaik Korean BBQ - Pork Belly of 8 Different Flavors @ Mid Valley SouthKey in Johor Bahru [Malaysia]

I love barbecued food and while it can be from any cuisine; I do have a special liking for Korean BBQ, given their more flavorful marination and the fact that I would eat the grilled meat with a lot of lettuce!

Hence, we eventually settled for Palsaik Korean BBQ for lunch even though Mid Valley SouthKey has numerous food options, including Nando's and Dragon-i.

Palsaik actually means 8 colors but the explanation for the above refers to tastes, which is more correct as visually, you wouldn't think there are 8 different unique colors. That would have been weird anyway; imagine a greenish pork belly. My mom would have immediately assumed it's spoilt. 

Lunch with Alex and my sister! The thing with having Alex around is that he is way pickier with food and we have to be less liberal with ordering as the chance is high that he would give up if he doesn't like the food, even if the hungry monster is eating away his stomach. 

Nevertheless, we proceeded with the Palsaik signature set which was indicated as sufficient for between two and four persons. Oh well, without any rice / noodles; I think my sister and I could eat for three persons.

Pork belly marinated in eight different ingredients; resulting in a different flavor for each piece. The eight are ginseng, red wine, pine leaves, garlic, herb, curry, miso paste and Korean red pepper. For best tasting experience, have the meat grilled and enjoyed in the aforementioned order. 

As mentioned earlier; the colors were not distinct enough to be differentiated into eight types although you can argue the different shades of pinkness for some of them; a battle I wouldn't want to join in.

Tea wasn't free - it was charged at RM 4.50 per person.

Serving up the rest of the dishes, including salad for each of us. As I was hungry, I decided to take a bite and was pleasantly surprised by the salad sauce which had an interesting, flowery taste. 

First up on the grill pan was the kimchi! A lot of us would have the fermented cabbage as it is but you don't what you are missing; kimchi tasted even better when grilled or when you put them in instant noodles (soup)! 

Powering the grill pan appeared to be infra-red and not charcoal. Honestly, my taste buds are not refined enough to discern the subtleness unless the ingredients were grilled over charcoal fire. 

Adding other non-meat to the pan.

As part of the signature set, we had the option of choosing either clear clam soup, seafood soy bean paste soup and kimchi soup. Alex doesn't take well to spicy stuff so we only have one choice; the clear clam soup. What shocked me though, was the portion! I was expecting a small earthen pot, and not this huge pan! 

Even though it was peppery yet bland in the beginning, the continuous simmering eventually resulted in a deliciously sweet broth with huge clams, mussels and crab! p.s. clams were a tad sandy and mussels not that good. 

Let the grilling begin! Do you have to grill yourself? The answer is a big NO! The servers would do the work for you and I didn't have to worry about the meat getting burnt or undercooked! Let the professional handle it.

The four lighter flavored pork belly; ginseng, red wine, pine leaves and garlic. Rule of thumb; don't immediately put it on a piece of fresh lettuce that was slapped with a dollop of ssamjang. You wouldn't be able to taste the subtle flavor of the marinated pork belly! 

Despite my love for the pork belly, I needed my lettuce as the greenies would guarantee a smooth output the following day. Disgusting stuff aside, I love the meat that was marinated with the garlic even though garlic marination wasn't that unique (Thai mookata often has that). Ginseng and red wine would have been marvelous if the flavors were intensified. 

Now the final four contestants; herb, curry, miso paste and Korean red pepper. As we were following the order starting with the lightest of flavor, I am looking forward to having my taste buds being excited by the stronger flavored pork belly.  

Server using a piece of radish to remove the grease stains from the pan! That was bewildering as I didn't know the unassuming radish has such capability! 

They were indeed better! Personal favorites had to be the strongest flavored korean red pepper, followed by the mouthwatering curry and then miso (soybean paste). Garlic, the one I loved from the first four, was relegated to the 4th position. 

Before and after, ending with a full stomach! I honestly can't wait to go back again; good food, fresh ingredients aside, service was top notch, especially from the Vietnamese gentleman who was helping us with the grilling. 

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Address

T048 & T049, Level 3 The Mall, 

Mid Valley Southkey, Persiaran Southkey 1,

80150 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia

 

Map

As above.

Website

https://palsaik.my/

Pricing

8 Color Set - RM 158.00

Tea - RM 4.50 per person

(Subject to Service Charge and Service Tax)

Dian Lao Er Danggui HK Roasted Delights - Roast Duck and Char Siew @ Yishun Block 732 TST Coffee Shop [Singapore]

Dian Xiao Er is a popular chain restaurant in Singapore that specializes in herbal roast duck and imagine what was running through my head when I noticed a pretty new stall in a coffee shop near where I stay.

Instead of Dian Xiao Er, which means waiter in the ancient China, this particular stall calls itself Dian Lao Er. The thought in my head was; "what a copycat"! But it generated curiosity and I decided to give it a try and assess if this would be worth my calories. 

S$4.80 - combination of both roast duck and char siew as the former was said to be their "famous charcoal grill herbal" whereas the latter was touted as being unique on the signboard. Since I was alone, this would be sufficient, I guess.

Roast Duck - I love thick cuts as they provide so much satisfaction to the bite! It retained juiciness despite being meaty and while the sauce was savory; the conclusion was that it simply wasn't herbal enough. Dian Xiao Er is still better; and priced much higher too. 

Char Siew - I dislike char siew made of lean meat and these were visual disappointments. Thankfully, it wasn't bland and my taste buds can still pick up those nicely, grilled smoky flavor. Like the roast duck, the char siew was chopped up thickly and they would have been perfect if the meat was fattier with more charred bits. 

Leaving more than half the rice untouched; I must continuously remind myself to inform, in advance, that I want less rice! Nonetheless, for S$4.80, I think what I had was reasonable. I have had better ones but this stall takes precedence as it is so near my house! 

Or maybe I should give this a try.

Problem is; it's fried rice. =_=

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Address 

Block 732, Yishun Ring Road, 

TST Coffee Shop, Singapore 760732

Map 

As above.

Menu

As above. Don't understand the need for a menu when they are just going to cover it with items. p.s. quite prevalent. 

Pricing

Char Siew + Roast Duck Rice - S$4.80 

The Local Dessert Stall - Cheng Tng and Tau Suan @ Our Tampines Hub Hawker Centre [Singapore] #tampineshubhawkercentre

My tummy was stuffed after having chicken rendang, wanton noodle and carrot cake at Tampines Hub hawker center but as per my friend's favorite quote: "there's always room for desserts"! 

And I am always up for local desserts! Interestingly, the stall doesn't seem to have a name, although it impressed on diners that that's the place for desserts. Full stop. 

Cheng Tng - for me, the cheng tng is a must for local desserts and this only cost S$1.80! I was expecting it to be at least S$2.00 given the recent spike in inflation.

Variety of ingredients was limited though; just barley, white fungus, sago longans and bird's nest jelly. Broth was tasty with a rich longan flavor; special mention for the longans which were soft and sweet. I have had my fair share of longans that were bland and super chewy! 

Tow Suan - I don't usually have this as my mom said this is super easy to make and it would be a waste to pay so much to dine outside! Oh well, Alex was craving for tau suan and when he wants, it's hard to get him to wait for my mom to cook for him. 

As usual, I stole a mouthful; and then went for seconds, and thirds. Maybe because it's been a while since I last had this hot dessert; it was nice, with more mung beans than starch, and not overly sweet. Only problem; lousy youtiao! 

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Address

495 Tampines Ave 5, #01-47,

Tampines Hub Hawker Centre, 

Singapore 529649

Map

As above.

Menu

As above.

Pricing

Cheng Tng -S$1.80

Tow Suan - S$1.80