Western Foodie Adventure @ Jiran Restaurant, Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur

grilled chicken wt penne rigate pasta

I chanced upon this quaint restaurant serving western food notwithstanding that I’ve been driving ‘beside’ it on nearly daily basis. However, it was unnoticeable to me since, it is situated on an upper inner road on an island of shop along Jalan 3/2d, Section 6 Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur just a stone away from my abode! The place is simply called “Jiran” which literally means ‘neighbour’. Upon entering the restaurant with western décor, one will be greeted with a giant wall painting, shouting “MARVELOUS PIZZA”. This is the pizza station with shinning oven etc greets the guests. This is also the station where the white attired with black head dress chef grilled and fried their garlic bread, wedges and fries.

ciao a tutti!!!

a pail of garlic bread + mushroom soup
wt fries peeping on the side

HH and I ordered their fresh made mushroom soup together with garlic bread and mixed potatoes wedges and fries for starters. To our surprise, the wedges were served in a tin pail like container with mayonnaise on the side. The Jiran’s restaurant named their ‘server’ as crew surprised us again when presenting us our garlic bread in the pail container. The wedges keeps warm for a while, and this may be due to the fact that the heat was contained in the container. Jiran’s mushroom soup was tasty with strips and pieces of mushroom floating in them. We dipped the garlic bread which was thick, soft and fluffy. The garlic and the aromatic mint  flavour evaporates with my every bite.

a pail of piping hot wedges which stays warm

I ordered grilled chicken as my main course, while HH ordered pizza. The grilled chicken is served with coleslaw, which were finely diced and among the best coleslaw I’ve eaten, a piece of cob corn, few pieces of penne rigate pasta topped with mouth watering tomato paste. The grilled chicken sits comfortably on a layer of mashed potatoes which were slightly sourish and swims in moderately thick black pepper sauce. Each bite satiates my apetite except the corn on cob which was sweet less and tasteless.

colorful thin crusted heavenly topped pizza

HH tried Jiran’s pizza which was simply beautiful to look at with its thin crusted layer and heavenly generous toppings. The tomato paste, well balanced and compliments the accompanying cheese toppings.

The verdict: I will definitely come again. I am giving an overall 9 on Acepaizah’s scale. The ambiance is nice, with green table cloth. However, it is quite dim and not well lit (to me) since Jiran restaurant uses incandescent light bulb to create the ‘cow boy atmosphere’, perhaps.

mama mia
~Acepaizah~

Jiran restaurant along Jalan 3/2d
wt HH in the BIG shinning vehicle

Dinner @ Matahari Restaurant Kuala Terengganu

Table spread

Matahari Restaurant is another Chinese dining option in Kuala Terengganu second to Paradise Deluxe. It is situated along Jalan Sultan Mohammed beside Giant hypermart. The dining area is very large but the tables were arranged too near to each other. Their butter prawns were mouth watering, very butter-y and melts upon each bite. The prawns were very fresh and juicy and it is lightly stir fried, hence giving its tangy and chewy effect.

buttered prawns

siakap/seabass

Siakap (barramundi/seabass) Tiga rasa (three flavours) nothing to shout. The fish was over fried hence loses its juiciness and flavour. I was quite disappointed as siakap is my favourite  fish. Next we have sweet sour siakap. The gravy was tasty but too sweet. Again the poor fish was fried to the bone, so to speak. 

sweet sour seabass

kailan ikan masin

And we also ordered kailan ikan masin (Kale with salted fish) is my favourite vegetable dish. It is a stir fry dish with oyster sauce (I think) and salted fish, usually king mackerel fish steak preserved in salt and in soy oil. The degree of saltiness balanced the strong flavour of the veggies chlorophyll! The veggies itself were reasonably "cook". We also had ginger chicken which were surprising tasty with just the right amount of lemon juice and generous slices of raw mango and chillies. And king of the dishes is of course the tom yam which took the centre stage of the table. However, it was way too spicy for my liking.

Over all the food were of acceptable standard and as above mentioned, second to Paradise Deluxe, Kuala Terengganu. But the buttered prawns and ginger chicken garnered a respectable 7 on Acepaizah. As the fish dishes were not up to par, it is best not to give any rating to them. Last but not least, it must be mention here that Matahari fruits slices of watermelons and honey dew were very very very thin, less than HALF CENTIMETER! And that really worth sitting at the negative end of Acepaizah's scale!

teeny-weeny itsy-bitsy melons

~Acepaizah~

Yong's fish head curry in Kuala Terengganu

Yong's fish head curry

While holidaying in Kuala Terengganu recently with my sister Yong, my brother in-law, MN made a special request for Y's famous mouth watering finger licking fish head curry. MN made clear to his wife, my sister, Dr S not to "meddle" in Y's cooking! MN bought a really large fleshy fresh fish from the sea. (Really, he waited for the fisherman by the sea front!) Viola, he came home all smiles with his prized catch.

wide eyed fish head

Clear eyed red snapper with cleaned sharp short needle-like teeth all ready and happy to go into the pot with fresh tomatoes and ladies finger to accompany the lonely fish.

fresh tomatoes + ladies finger

onions & garlic & curry leaves

Next, saute sliced onions, garlic and curry leaves till golden and its aromatic fragrance fills the kitchen. Add curry paste, mixed curry powder and coconut milk and saute curry paste till fragrance. Add some tamarind juice.

the aroma fills the whole house!

tamarind juice

about ready

Add more coconut milk, fish head and its accompanying buddies i.e. tomatoes and ladies finger. Let it simmer for a minute or two and voila, its time to feast.

juicy fish on the side

well balanced meal

Dr S & NN's side veggies

Yong's fish head curry is really a perfect 10 on Acepaizah! In fact, Yong's cooking were highly addictive to her siblings and families. The fish is simply juicy and the curry is well balanced, not too spicy but full of cream-ness of the coconut milk. Remarkably scrumptious every time!

fishy freshy creamy heady curry

~Acepaizah~