Friday 27 March 2015

Food: Yoshinoya Hanamaru @ Mid Valley Megamall, KL

Craving for some Udon but you have limited time during your rush hour? 

May I present to you the first branch of Yoshinoya Hanamaru! Both Yoshinoya and Hanamaru has a different meaning to itself serving different kind of Japanese cuisine as well.

Yoshinoya has been the oldest and largest restaurant chains of beef bowl with over 1800 outlets around the world. It was first founded by Mr.Eikichi Matsuda when he started selling Gyodon (Beef bowl in Japanese) at a small shop in Nihonbashi Fish Market in 1899.

Sainuki Udon Hanamaru is a fast food chain in Japan which also has outlets all around the globe.

Recently, my foodie friends and I was fortunate enough to be invited for the pre-launch of this restaurant. Check out my experience there that night!





The comfy, spacious, and clean setting of the restaurant suitable for just a quick meal or  friends and family gatherings.


What did I meant by 'fast food chain' ? 

At Yoshinoya Hanamaru, you'll get your food as soon as you order them. Your udons and rice bowl will be made freshly infront of you! Of course not forgetting it's very Affordable too! 

Self-service style at Hanamaru Udon.
            • Take a tray
            • Choose your Udon
            • Pick your favourite side dishes
            • Add on oden or rice ball to your meal
            • Pay at the cashier
            • Enjoy your meal :) 

Hanamaru Udon 

Hanamaru udon kitchen where fresh udons made before your eyes!    


 Yoshinoya 
 Various types of rice bowl served here!

Azuki & Cafe
Serve wide variety of smoothies, sodas, coffee and tea

Preparation of Udon made before your eyes

Some Udons that we had ordered that night.

Spicy Miso Udon 
I personally love this spicy bowl of Udon! The spicy miso paste compliments the broth very well. For those of you who likes to eat spicy, this is just the bowl you're looking for!
(A MUST TRY!)


 Salad Udon
One of 'Chef's specialty' with generous amount of salad drizzled with flavourful sesame dressing! Those of you who prefer a "lighter" version of Udon, this might just be ideal bowl of udon for you! It's healthy too! :)  

 Ontama Bukake Udon

Beef Udon
Chewy Udon served with generous amount of fresh and tender beef with chopped spring onions to top this bowl of Perfection! Beef lover, this will surely give you the "Mouthgasm" you've been searching for! HAHA! 
(MUST TRY!) 

Here are some Side-dishes for you to pick!






Some of the sides ranging from sweet potatoes, kakiage to chicken tempura for your pick!


Some odens and rice ball to compliment with your meal





Yoshinoya's Specialty


The Beef Bowl
Being Yoshinoya's specialty, it's served with premium Japanese rice topped with generous amount of 100% Imported Australian Beef!

This basically sums up our meal that night! 

It was a great and satisfying dinner! Thank you Yoshinoya Hanamaru for the invite! 

For more details,

Yoshinoya Hanamaru

Lot-T-15B, Level 3,
Mid Valley Megamall,
Kuala Lumpur.

Contact: 03-2201 8789



Saturday 14 March 2015

Food: Porto Bello @ Damansara Uptown

As the place suggest, this place has got a lot to do with Porto Bello ( In case you dont know, porto bello is actually a type of mushroom found in the Europe and North America which comes in 2 different colours either brown or white). I have always wanted to taste the food here and see whether or not it does meet my expectation. Afterall, most of my friends had been there and told me it was good and I should really try it.

 Porto Bello
Welcoming entrance of Porto Bello!

Last weekend, my "foodies" and me was invited for a food review session at place located at the heart of Damansara Uptown. My first impression of this place was that it has very clean, relaxing, and comfortable surrounding best suited for family and friends gathering. The staffs here are "super duper" friendly as well!



Memories corner
This pork-free restaurant/cafe also has this corner for you to pin up your Polaroids :)

We were served with their All new Porto Bello Brunch set which only available on weekends and public holiday. Just add-on of RM5 to the set of your choice for your coffee fix of the day! 


Big Breakfast ( Set A)
It comes with a choice of chicken or beef sausage, turkey ham or streaky beef, hash brown, scrambled eggs or sunny side-up, roasted tomato, sauteed wild mushroom, toasted wholemeal bread, baked beans, and garden salad. 


 Porto Bello's Sunrise (Set B)
It comes with a Porto Bello Mushroom topped with chicken ham bechamel sauce, a choice between turkey ham or streaky beef, garden salad, sunny side-up, hash brown and baked beans

( This was one of my favorites there that evening! I love the combination of the chicken ham bechamel sauce which matches well with the porto bello underneath and the sunny side-up. This is a MUST TRY!)



Volcano surprise
It comes with porto bello mushroom with chicken bolognese sauce and a sunny side-up to topped it off, a choice of turkey ham or streaky  beef, garden salad, hash brown, baked beans and mozarella cheese. 

( To those bolognese lovers out there, this is just the kind of breakfast you've been looking for!)


Here's some of the appetizers that they serve here at Porto Bello,


 Tuna Tartar
A unique combination of fresh tuna, cucumber, spring onions, fresh avocado, pickled ginger, a tad bit of wasabi and tosa soy to topped it off.
( I personally like this appetizer a lot as the taste is rather unique where I cannot find it elsewhere!)

 Wild Mushroom soup



French Escargot ( 6pcs)
Escargot baked with bed of creamy garlic cheese based sauce
( This is yums-to-tums! To those cheese lovers out there, this will definitely suit pamper your taste buds!) MUST TRY!  


 Buffalo Wings
Fried buffalo wings served with spicy barbeque sauce and blue cheese dressings.

( I personally prefer the unique blue cheese dressing dip. Honestly, this was my first time trying buffalo wings dipping in blue cheese, to my surprise, it was rather good! I love it from the first bite itself!)

Next, we ordered some MAINS and here it is!


 Braised Beef Bourgouignone
A french food which consist of tender beef, radish, cubed carrot and potatoes, mushrooms, and a some red wine to top it off. For perfection, this dish is served with wholemeal garlic bread.


Grilled Lamb Rack
Well marinated lamb rack grilled to perfection served with mashed potatoes, mushrooms and mint sauce to go along.

( This new dish, however is not in their menu yet though)

 Smoke Barbeque chicken ( Half)
Tender roasted chicken served with coleslaw, barbeque sauce and a bowl of fries. 


Lamb Shank
This 400g of lamb is braised to perfection up to 4 hours!

Here's some drinks & desserts that we had that evening,


 Cucumber with mojito

 Green tea macha latte

 Cappucino


Porto Bello's Legendary Lava Cake 
Warm molten lava cake served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream
(A MUST TRY when you visit them!)


Panna Cotta
An italian dessert served with cream, milk, strawberry jam with a tad bit of lime zest to topped it off!

Last but not least, would like to thank Porto Bello for hosting such an amazing session for us! For more details, refer below for the address and their business timing.


Porto Bello

No 8, Jalan SS 21/58,
Damansara Utama
Petaling Jaya.

Daily: 11.00 AM - 10.00 PM






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