First Choice Hons

Roasted Chicken

The first diner we dined in when we first came home to Vancouver was HONS Wuntun House which serve some of the finest Cantonese cuisines in Vancouver. Although there are four different locations where HONS has a diner. Our most favorite in terms of authenticity, flavour and taste is still the HONS wuntun house which we dine-in most frequent, is the one located in New Westminster on sixth street. But the most favorable in terms of item price is the HONS diner in Chinatown.

Clay Pot Seafood Tofu

This particular HONS diner always have discounts on our favorite Cantonese cuisines. The HONS diner in New Westminster on the other hand is the nearest to where we live and most friendly among all the HONS in Vancouver metro area. And whenever we dine at HONS, we have our own order list. Usually, because of our familiarity to the Cantonese cuisines in HONS menu, even before we reach HONS, we would have decided on our orders.

Honey Garlic Pork Ribs

So, like always we ordered half roasted chicken, stir fried ginger and honey beef stick, clay pot seafood tofu, and garlic honey pork ribs. Of all the Cantonese cuisines that we have eaten within the last few weeks, whether in Malaysia or Vancouver, nothing taste better than the cuisines we are familiar at home. My family and I enjoy these simple Cantonese cuisines anytime and anywhere. HONS, still serve our favorite meals.

Logenhaus Western Cuisines

Baked Halibut with Potato Salad

We joined friends at Subang Jaya's Logenhaus Restaurant, a restaurant serving german cuisines, to celebrate one of the friend's birthday. This was our first dining experience in Logenhaus, but they have been around over fifteen years in the same location and popular among the local Western cuisine diners. We were there on a weekday and the diner wasn't exactly full but it wasn't empty either. Opened and operated by a local Chinese Malaysian with passion in authentic German cuisines.

Beef Steak with Baked Potato

For the years this restaurant has been operating in Subang Jaya, it has not only established itself as a restaurant serving authentic German cuisines but built a strong following among its diners. Their menu too were overhauled several times over to cater for improvements on their cuisines. And each time the cuisines become better and tastier. Other than improvement on cuisines, the diner were redesigned and renovated several times too.

Seafood Salad

On that day, there were seven of us in our party and we ordered at least five different Western cuisines from the menu. The first Western cuisine which I ordered was the baked halibut with Potato Salad. The second was the beef steak with cream cheese on baked potato. Next, was the seafood salad which was actually serve in a large portion that could be shared. And among the seafood selections were large jumbo shrimp, large oysters in shell, and salmon fillets. The other orders were the roasted chicken with rice, and a bacon and shrimp salad.

One More Meal with Cantonese Cuisines

Curry Fish Head

Before leaving for Vancouver, we took the opportunity to enjoy one more Cantonese cuisine meal with the family in Kuala Lumpur on the eve of our scheduled flight home. Again, we went to one of those neighbourhood restaurants. This particular restaurant was selected by our family members and was their treat for us. Therefore, we were guests and we had previously been here before, several years ago when we came for a holiday.

Emperor's Four Cuisines

The selection of the cuisines were also left to them. And we get to enjoy slightly different types of Cantonese cuisines, such as emperor's four cuisine, fried butter crawfish meat, curry fish head, stir fried egg plant and long beans, and stir fried Brussel sprouts. We actually enjoyed the meal but if it was left to us to order, we would not have ordered the vegetable cuisines and the curry cuisine. Because the vegetable cuisines was not worth the value and the curry fish head is not one of their specialty cuisines.

Fried Butter Crawfish Meat

That particular meal was not exactly the best we have had so far in Malaysia, there were other restaurants in the neighbourhood that had much better selections and tastier cuisines. Overall the meal was just okay. We were definitely appreciative of the gesture for inviting us to dine with the family before our flight home. Personally, I had hope to at least eaten a unforgettable dinner with my family before leaving for home but it turned out to be short of expectations. But importantly, I was happy to have met family members.

Banana Leaf Curry Rice

Standard Banana Leaf Curry Rice

Went for banana leaf curry rice with a group of friends in Subang Jaya on Jalan Kewajipan. The coffee shop was called Banana Leaf and they have a full range of banana leaf curry cuisines. It was just a typical Indian style coffee shop serving authentic Indian cuisines but serve on a piece of banana leaf. I was looking forward to this meal all day long when the friend that drove us there told us about this place in the morning.

Whole Fried Fish

Although, there are several other such diners in within the kuala Lumpur area, serving the meals from banana leafs, this particular location was the nearest to where we were during the day. Once you are seated, the waiter will come with a new banana leaf to set you up. Then, rice will be placed in the centre of the big banana leaf. Next, the waiter will come around with the curries and vegetables. And a piece of the fried vegetable crackers. This standard banana leaf curry rice include choices of vegetable curries, fish curry, meat curry and also pickled vegetables.

Fried Chicken

There are also plenty of side orders which anyone can add to the standard banana leaf curry rice meal. And the range of selection starts with three kinds of fish cuisines like fried fish fillet, whole fried fish, or fish head. Then, there are fried chicken, chicken curry, mutton curry, squid curry, shrimp curry, and beef curry. Other side orders include, fried squid, fried crab, and fried shrimps. There was just too much to select from and usually we will have to make a few trips to complete the menu list.

Shrimp Curry

Typically, restaurants of this kind serve very standard Indian cuisines. No matter which banana leaf curry rice restaurant one dines in, the flavours, taste and authenticity is very much the same. They all serve the same curries, the same fried seafoods, and the same selection of curries. Even their pickled vegetables and stir fried vegetables taste and look the same. The spices and herbs that is used in the preparation and cooking are also the same.

Missing the Wuntun Noodle with Chicken Feet and Curry Noodle

Wuntun Noodle with Chicken Feet

There are a lot of food that I missed while living in Vancouver and the moment I had the opportunity, I headed for the closes Indian coffee shop I can find. In this trip, the first taste of real authentic Malaysian cuisine was the roti chennai. After that, I went to the morning market and ordered the wuntun noodle with chicken feet and the curry noodle topped with char siew. These are the usual breakfast meal many Malaysians indulge in.

Curry Noodle with Char Siew

Wuntun noodle was my most consumed breakfast when I was working and living in Kuala Lumpur. The curry noodle with char siew was the alternative to the wuntun noodle. If both of these was not available in the coffee shop, I will then, settle for the roti chennai or nasi lemak. But in the morning market place, there are all kinds of breakfast meal that are available. So, I would eat one different favorite noodle cuisine a day.

A Bowl of Cendol and a Plate of Rojak

Rojak

While driving through Selayang on the way to Batu Caves, I stopped by the road side where a rojak food truck was operating on the Batu Cave Road to savour a bowl of cendol and a plate of rojak before continuing with my journey. And I was not the only person doing that. In fact, there were at least ten other drivers that did exactly the same. This seemed to be the rojak food truck operator's permanent business spot, attracting patrons on the busy Batu Caves road.

Cendol

Cendol and rojak are complements to one another. It just not right to have one and not the other. At every rojak food truck stop, it is common to find both these authentic Indian specialties. Rojak is a cuisine mixed with cucumber, jicama, bean sprouts, shrimp crackers, shrimp fritters, egg, and top with the thick sweet shrimp broth. Due to the cuisines' popularity, rojak has become a significant part of the Malaysian food culture. Cendol on the other hand is a concoction of sweeten coconut milk, palm sugar, shaved ice, red beans, and green noodles.

Yellow Spoon The Thai Restaurant

Lemon Juice Steam Fish

I had a pleasant surprise when I was introduced to one of the latest addition to Bandar Manjalara's famous streets of restaurants. Yellow Spoon Thai Cuisines serves a range of authentic Thai cuisines. The operators of the restaurant are actually my wife's cousin and his wife, who is the chef, with culinary skills in authentic Thai cuisines. We were treated to some of their specialty cuisines and unique beverages.

Pandan Fried Chicken

Yellow Spoon Thai Cuisines is especially unique being the only Thai cuisines restaurant on the street and may even be the only one in the area. Majority of the restaurants in the area are hotpot restaurants. In fact, these hotpot restaurants are so dominant that Bandar Manjalara is known for hotpot restaurants. But among these hotpot restaurants are some restaurants serving the best authentic cuisines, like Ulu Yam Taro Noodles.

Rice Stick PadThai

And along the streets there are durian stalls that provide some of the best local durians and other tropical fruits. In Yellow Spoon Thai Cuisine, we were served with a four course meal starting with the lemon juice steam fish. An excellent cuisine with steam rice. Then, we were served with the flavourful pandan fried chicken, keow teow padthai, and seafood tomyam. Ambiance in the diner was very comfortable and clean. So, the food served was tasty, flavour, and authentic in an air-conditioned diner.