I first saw this ad in the newspaper sometime last month if I'm not mistaken:

All You Can Eat for just RM25 per person?? Of course we have to try it out!

But the idea of eating here somehow always slipped our mind every time we go out, and it was only recently we got to dine here. 

Yes, I know.. shame on us for  only trying out this place now huh? 

Sorry, forgot to take a photo of the shop! Got too excited to try out the food and was too full after that taking this photo totally slipped my mind! This photo taken from here

I guess we arrived at the right time at around 7pm where it was still quite empty, because about 5 minutes later, the place was packed! As soon as we sat down, we chose our soup base, and straightaway attacked the food! :p

By the way, you can have a few choices for your soup base: Chicken, Tomato, or Kimchi. You can choose 2 types, and we chose chicken and tomato for ours.

 

Our first round only; how can you not go for several rounds at an all-you-can-eat restaurant? ;)

For RM25, the food choices definitely exceeded the value of the price. We were also pleased to find the food were fresh, with free flow of sodas. 

 

When we arrived, it was still quite empty. But like I said before, it didn't stay like that for long. The place filled up pretty quick!

Delicious pork skin

I have read food reviews of this place but not once have they mentioned that this place is non-halal. So I was surprised to see pork meat and pork skin being served there.

After at least 4 rounds of food taking, we had definitely ate to our hearts content. 

We will definitely be back here :)

Just had pan mian soup for breakfast this morning, something which I hadn't had in a long time.

This was at Siang Siang Pan Mian, a coffeeshop located at Damai Plaza (beside Strawberry Cake House).

Not only do we like the pan mian (whether it's soup or kon lau based, and their fried wonton is also another of our favourite!), but the place is also very clean and organised.

Can't say the same to a lot of other coffeeshops in town, can we..?

(entrance)

We have always wanted to dine at Gunter's Gasthaus everytime we drive by Jalan Tuaran, and yes, we finally got to do so recently.

(what you see as soon as you come in.. beautiful place, isn't it?)

As it was quite late (almost 10pm) we didn't know whether they were still open or closed for the night, but we just tried our luck anyway, and were so happy that it was still open! Phew!

(more outdoor seating)

We chose a seat that's slightly darker and further away from the main entrance, and we chose to sit near the kitchen entrance instead (so that the waiter don't have to walk very far to send our food! Haha!)

(feels like you're dining in a very nice garden! Beautiful environment at night!)

(you can also opt for indoor seating, which is even closer to the kitchen! Hehe..)

(I love their English chinaware! They're very nice!)

As it was quite late, and we already had dinner, we just ordered one order which was this:

Jumbo Octoberfest Sausage! (Price: RM29.90)

It was SO good that we ordered another one as soon as we finished it!

See?? Yup, it's THAT good!

I also noticed that they have a Buffet Breakfast (eat as much as you can! Always a thumbs up in our book!) at only RM6 nett. 

We HAVE to give that a try one day.. soon, we hope!

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Gunter's Gasthaus German Restaurant
Mile 2, Jalan Tuaran, Likas, Kota Kinabalu
(opposite Kian Kok Secondary School)
Tel: 088-217249
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So on my previous food article in Bandwidth Streetpress (June Issue online here), we reviewed Royal China Restaurant, located in D'Junction building.

What we like about eating Dim Sum here is that you can be assured that they're steamingly hot and fresh, as they aren't served on the usual Dim Sum cart; it came out right from the kitchen.

These 2 dishes are the Chef's signature dishes, and they are both must-tries! The sau-nyuk is very soft, tender and juicy, but is still crunchy on the skin part. Yum!

The Paikut Wong (pork ribs) is the same too: soft, tender and juicy. But what's most important is that it's not too sweet. I'm actually not a fan of this dish (because it's too sweet for my liking), but I have to admit, even I loved the Paikut Wong here at Royal China! No joke, people! It's that good!

And if you eat these both dishes with Royal China's special green sauce called the Thai Sauce, OMG it tastes even better! So make sure you order this sauce ya!

I also loved the Sweetened and Chilled Lemon Grass Jelly (pic on the right). If you're feeling extra full after finishing the main meals, you have to order this dessert because it somehow makes you feel.. how to explain it.. light again? It doesn't make you feel bloated as before, that's for sure! A must have as well!

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Royal China Restaurant (Kota Kinabalu)
D Junction Building, 2nd Floor, Jalan Lintas
Jalan Penampang, Kota Kinabalu
Opening hours: 8:30am - 2:30pm & 6:30pm - 10:30pm (Mon to Fri)
8:00am - 2:30pm & 6:30pm - 10:30pm (Sat, Sun & Public Holiday)
Reservation: (+60) 88- 703300
(Serve Pork)

Last week, the KK Food Reviews team got called to do a food review over at Raja Wang Cafe, located in New World Commercial Centre in Donggongon. So of course we said 'sure!'.



We were told that a lot of patrons not only go and have their meals there, but Raja Wang Cafe is also a regular place to chill and drink, especially among the older crowds.

We got to try their 2 main signature dishes, which is the Grilled Stingray [RM3 per 100g]. We quite like that the stingray wasn't grilled until burnt and dry, and their 'sambal' sauce is quite tasty and spicy.

**You can also order the Grilled Squid [RM3.50 per 100g] here**

And this one is a sure must-have: Chu Chap, or Pork Innards [Medium=RM5, Large=RM10]. The above was large portion, and when divided to a few people, you will need to order MORE than 1 plate of this dish! Seriously! It's that yummy!

You can also come here and try their breakfast menu, like the Chu Chap Kon Lo Mee!

Personally, we'll surely be there again. Heck, if Donggongon was just a mere 10-minute radius drive away, we'd be there all the time just for the Chu Chap! Hehe.. To those of you who have tried their other dishes, care to share on your experience dining here as well?

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Raja Wang Cafe
New World Commercial Centre
Donggongon Penampang
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While walking around Api-Api Centre, the KK Food Reviews crew stumbled upon Man Tian Xia Kopitiam. It's located towards the end of the Api-Api Centre block, beside the MAA Building.

Now what makes this different as compared to other Bak Kut Teh eateries is that it has an Al-Fresco concept, which is located between the front and the back of the Api-Api Centre.

You don't have to worry so much about the hot weather, as throughout the time we were there, it was actually breezy, thanks to the chillers installed and fans around the place.

We also found out that this Kopitiam is still fairly new, and has only been opened for about a month.

"Man Tian Xia Kopitiam is the first of its kind concept self-service Food Stall" - as stated on their menu.

What is so special about their Bak Kut Teh?

Well, for starters, it's served in the nighttime only on Mondays to Saturdays, but it they also serve it in the daytime on Sundays (yes, unusual for Sabahans). To those of you who have been to West Malaysia (especially in Klang Valley) would know their culture of eating Bak Kut Teh in the mornings there. Now you can give this culture a try as well here at this Kopitiam!

Secondly, their Bak Kut Teh is on the sweet side; not from the sugar though, but from the herbs used in the soup. A contrast from the usual salty Bak Kut Teh we have here in KK, huh?

It took us quite a while to get used to the taste at first, but as we had more and more of the food, it was actually quite tasty! The bowl of Mixed Bak Kut Teh [price: RM7] above is reasonably priced, don't you think?

We also met the Kopitiam owner who recommended us their other dishes, like the Roast Duck, Roast Pork and BBQ Pork. This is one of the most-ordered meals during lunchtime, priced at around RM5.00 to RM6.50.

But the KK Food crew thinks THIS dish below is truly a must-have when you come here:

The Braised "Fa Nam" Pork with Salted Fish [RM6.00]. The taste of the pork really blended well with the salted fish, and it was very tender. It is very, very delicious!

You can also have it as a Set Meal like this for only RM12.00, (which I highly recommend) that includes the Double Boiled Soup and also Vegetables.

So to those of you who loves Bak Kut Teh, or pork in general, this Kopitiam is a definite must-try.

~~~~~~
Man Tian Xia Kopitiam
Block 5, Api-Api Centre
Operation Hours: 11.30am - 2.30pm (Mon - Sat)
8.00am - 2.30pm (Sun & Public Holidays)
6.00pm - 10.00pm (Daily except Sun & Public Holidays)
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Golden Food Corner is located at Jalan Damai, near the Damai Hall, and situated at the same row of shoplot as the Cosway (there is only one shoplot there). Refer to map below..

Golden Food Corner is also famous for its delicious chicken rice. It would usually be finished by 1pm! So what I usually do is buy it or have it there as an early lunch. Tip for you guys! ;)

Recently I was there for breakfast as well, and was recommended the Sandakan Mee by the owner. It tastes something like Tuaran Mee, but just a tad drier and crispier. It's my new favourite breakfast now!

Have it a try when you're nearby, not only for breakfast but also for lunch or dinner, and let me know what you think!

* Non-halal post*

I first tried a Filipino dish called Sisig Pampanga late last year while out in a pub in Api-Api Centre, and that was when my curiosity sparked on what kind of Filipino dishes are considered 'their signature dishes'.

I was then told about this great and hugely proportioned dish called the Crispy Pata, and I promised my friends that I will bring some of them and try it with me.

And thus, here we are at Tambayan, a Filipino Restaurant that serves 100% Filipino food (well, that's what their tagline says anyway). It is located at Api-Api Centre, right beside the Perodua showroom.

This is how it looks like from the entrance; decor is like a traditional bamboo house-like, with bamboos seen on the walls, on the table, and on the lamps.

* Useful tip: Try to get a seat near a fan as it tend to be quite stuffy and hot inside!

Without realising, we had ordered pork on all 3 of our dishes! (I highly discourage you all to do so.. order all pork for your dishes! We now feel like we could forgo pork for a week!)

For soup, we had the Nilagang Baboy, which is the pork broth with potatoes and vegetables [price: RM7.00]. This is a yummy soup (though it's a little bit salty for me), with generous amount of pork and veggies inside.

Ratings: 3 out of 5.

We also ordered the Sisig Pampanga, or sizzling diced pork [price RM7.00]. Although this is delicious (and a favourite to some, I know), I'm sorry, but I just can't seem to stand the powerful smell of the liver in it. I would also appreciate it even more if they clean the pork skin properly so that there isn't any pork hair coming out of my food.

Rating: 2 out of 5.

And finally, this is the signature dish, the Crispy Pata, or Crispy Pork Leg [price: RM30.00]. If you just love pork, then you have to try this dish! It's very crunchy (espeically the skin, it's very yummy!), and very meaty. A very generous portion is given, so it's certainly value for money. The only drawback is that if only there's a better sauce to go with this, instead of just the soy sauce and chilli. Take note, you need to have around 4 people to finish this dish, believe me! 3 people if all of you are big eaters!

Rating: 4 out of 5 (3.5 for taste, 0.5 for value of $).

This is a great place to drink with friends while enjoying the crispy pata. Everything is also very reasonably priced. I just hope there wouldn't be anymore hair on my food the next time.

~~~~~~
Tambayan Filipino Restaurant
Ground Floor, Api-Api Centre (beside Perodua Showroom)
Tel: 088 - 241 853
~~~~~~

I've always just passed by the Restoran Original Village Recipe in Damai Point before this, and wondered what sort of dishes they serve. Well, the KK Food Reviews team finally got to try it out last night.

First of all, I just gotta say that I love their decor! Sure, it's open aired, but I didn't mind so much as soon as I saw the comfortable couch! The ambience has a mixture of old and modern feel to it, sort of like a modern-aged kopitiam. We like!

For drinks, we had the Rose Petal Herbal Tea

And for the main course..

WC had the Mushroom Chicken served with Noodle [price: RM8.50]. Presentation for their food is also very appetising, and even though the noodle looks plain, when eaten together with the mushroom and the chicken, it really blends well together. I would recommend you all to try this dish, and you can either choose noodle or rice to go with it.

I tried their Curry Fish served with Rice [price: RM8.50]. Like WC's dish, presentation was good for mine as well. If you like Indian food, then you would surely love this dish!

It was good for me, but slightly too spicy for my liking, and mental note: be careful with all those fish bones when eating this!

We also ordered some side dishes, like the Fried Chicken Wings [price: 4.40], and the Fried Wuo Tie, filled with Spinach, Garlic, and Pork [price: RM8.00]. Both are really delicious, and we'd definitely order them again the next time we're here!

So if you happen to be in Damai Point, why not drop by at this restaurant and dine here?

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Restoran Original Village Recipe
Lot 24, Ground Floor, Block C, Damai Point, Off Jalan Damai
Operating Hours: 11am - 10pm
(Closed every 1st & 3rd Sunday of the month)
Any inquiries: 016-812 5991
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Just helping Mei promote their new dishes for March. Check 'em out!

Bao Jian Tang is one of my favourite places to go to for my herbal drink fix. And recently, I went with not only WC, but sis Jewelle and BIL as well.

These are what we ordered: Sea Coconut + White Fungus [price: RM3], Red Bean [price: RM2.50], and my favourite, the "Fu Chuk" Barley [price: RM2.50].

I like the fact that these desserts aren't too sweet (I just cannot stand sweet things), unlike others served elsewhere. Also, notice my smooth Fu Chuk Barley? You won't be able to see any of the "Fu Chuk"; it's all blended up like a drink! I don't mind though. It's delicious!

You can ask for your drinks/desserts to be warmed up before serving it to you, which is what I always do.

But this dish..

It's actually called "Special Raw Fish Dish" [price: RM10 for medium size]. Even though it's supposed to be raw fish, it tastes more like steamed fish, probably due to the generous amount of ginger being put on the sauce! No taste of raw fish at all! But even though I love raw fish (like on those Japanese sushi), I just can't seem to able to eat a lot of this. So I let the guys finish this interesting dish. I know I suck. Lol..

Apart from selling desserts and herbal drinks (and the special raw fish dish), Bao Jian Tang also serve Noodles as well as Porridges, and these dishes are quite reasonable; they all range from RM4.50 - RM5 each. Just don't expect to see happening crowds there though. This is not Yoyo (where all the cool kids hang out and drink)!

But it's okay. I personally like this place because it's quiet (most of the time) and there aren't that many people. Gosh, I must be getting old. Lol..

~~~~~~

Bao Jian Tang
Damai Point
(same row as Yoyo Cafe, beside The Tobacco Shop)

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Yup. That's 50% discount on the ala carte dishes! So see y'all there this weekend!

Whenever I pass by Beaufort Restaurant, I would always see it FILLED with customers every single time.

But I've been told before that the food served there are quite expensive. So that explained why WC and I never got around to dining there before.

Nevertheless, I was always curious as to how 'expensive' the food there might be, and lucky for me, this week, my question was answered, as we had another family dinner there.

Beaufort Restaurant is located right near to the Lido traffic light (that leads into KK High School). You can't miss it; it's visible from the main Penampang Road. It's a corner lot with a big signboard that says Restaurant Beaufort on it!



There were 6 of us that night, and we were lucky that we arrived at the 'right' time (we arrived around 7.40pm); the other tables were taken by other customers very quickly! Full house again! Wow!

Okay, food pics!

Fish cooked with Ginger and Spring Onion

The restaurant's signature dish, the Veggie with Pork! I just LOVE this dish!

Steamed Chicken with Ginger

Pai Kut Wong (pork ribs)

Ham Choy with Fish Head Soup

Sayur Manis (Sabah veggie) cooked with eggs

I didn't put any explanation to all these Chinese dishes, as I only got one word to describe it: DELICIOUS! They all tasted like how they're supposed to taste; not too salty nor bland. Just delicious!

And all these dishes (plus 8 bowls of rice, a few glasses of Chinese Teas and warm water) cost us RM94. I think it's pretty reasonable considering there were 6 dishes for 6 pax, right?

If you haven't tried this place yet, then you don't know what you're missing! Seriously!