Showing posts with label Japanese Cuisine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Japanese Cuisine. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

I Miss RAMEN !


I'm a ramen person, and after backed from my Tokyo trip I even craved for Ramen DAILY ! 
it's not that I don't want to blog, but my blog storage has hit the quota, I need to pay, buy storage in order to blog... 
which I don't think I want... still figuring what's the next path... 

I love the Real Traditional Japanese Ramen, but not the ' localized ' which we can easily order in any random Japanese Restaurant...
those usually can taste the heavy MSG taste and instant noodles instead of daily handmade fresh noodles...
the Pro-Japanese Ramen, soup based is usually cooked long hour with Pork-bones, we called it Tonkotsu (Pork) soup... 
optionally add on Miso / Shoyu / spicy paste etc...
it's rich, nice, tasty with the tender handmade noodles... 
oh no~ what a great combo !

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during my January Sg Trip...
my fren brought us to this Santouka Hokkaido Ramen opposite Somerset...
it has few branches in others places...
it's something consider more economic and with reasonable price in Singapore... 

don't get shocked with menu below, showing $ 19.50 - 20.50...
as it's for the special Pork Cheek Meat set...

there're cheaper range set which come with Ramen + Rice which I think quite worth...


I tried the Pork Cheek Meat, with Spicy Ramen Set...
the meat is more tender and well-flavored compared to the normal Cha Shu of course... 




I always give Extra Marks if the Ramen served with half-boiled Hot Spring Egg ~
tastes Totally Different...
thumbs-up ! 


this is the set comes with a Big Bowl of Ramen and Garlic Fried Rice / Normal Rice...
the traditional eating way, is to finish the noodles quickly, and pour the rice into the still-hot-soup and eat...
I would say the portion is too huge for a lady, thus, can be a sharing of 2... 


and place a side order - Gyoza
and it would just be nice...  :)


it opened outlet in Malaysia too, at Tokyo Street - Pavillion KL... 
I went in July, tasted same, not bad...
but it won't be considered as 'economic / reasonable price' here in Malaysia...
minimal spending, RM 30++ per pax/ bowl after tax... 



***********************

backed in end of 2011, another specialized Japanese Ramen Shop opened in Paragon, Gurney... Goku Raku Ramen
it's a happy news for me !
however, I always claimed that there are Too Many GREAT foods in Penang...
I only managed visit Once so far, keep wanting to re-visit but " No Chance " !

the price range is cheaper than Santouka KL...
around Rm 18.90++ (small bowl) - Rm 25.90++ big bowl...

it tasted not bad but I couldn't recall or describe much about it since it has been so long since I had it...






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my Top Favourite still backed to Ippudo Ramen which having A Lot of branches all around the world... 
most 'reachable' for me would be Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan where it originates from... 

there are 2 outlets in Singapore...
1 in Mandarin Gallery another in UE Square...
daily Long Q during lunch and dinner time !!!!!
that's the crazee part !

I finally tried it during my Singapore Trip in September !!!
the Q was extremely long even we went at 5-6pm - early dinner ! 

but it's wOrth ! 
we ordered 3 different to try... 
the original, spicy and Miso... 
the hot spring egg and cha shu need to add-on separately with additional charges...  but it's a must ! 


when I went to Tokyo, I happened to spot Ippudo Cup (Bowl) noodles from 7 Eleven...
as can see from the packaging...
I supposed it's collaboration between Ippudo and 7 Eleven, as I couldn't find it in Family Mart or Lawson...
it's not cheap though... 
after converted, should be rm 15-20, I can't remember... 


it even comes with pieces of dried Cha Shu... 
haha.. so pro...
but of cuz the soup won't be as tasty as how we tasted in the shop...


I did not try Ippudo Ramen in Tokyo, as too many choices in too short period...
so hate Malaysia / Singapore such a 'commercialized' countries...
when things come here, serving portion must become smaller and lesser...
everything need to extra order, extra charge...
unlike those in Japan, what you eat worth the price you paid !! 

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we touched down Tokyo at 11+ pm Japan Time...
by the time we checked in and settled down, it's 12 midnight d...
luckily there are alot of eating places opened till late night within walking distance from my hotel around Shinjuku...
while we were walking around, struggling where to settle our super Late Dinner,
I saw thie Keika Ramen which recommended to me by my Japanese Counterpart before...
without hesitation, we just hopped in !


most of the restaurants in Japan are very tiny and with limited spaces...
there's vending machines like this outside every Ramen Shop...
self-ordered, paid, and with the little coupon / receipts you pass to the kitchen helper, they will serve your ramen shortly...
very efficient and convenient ! 


people keen to say foods in Japan very expensive...
but to be fair, if we compare Apple to Apple...
a bowl of Delicious ramen like this, costs me 850 yen, which is around Rm 30+...
the portion is huge and tastes AWESOME !
so tell me if it's worth !


again there's Combo Set of Ramen + Garlic Fried Rice + Gyoza... 
costs around 880-900 yen....
which total enough for sharing between two ! 
so so so yum ! 



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here come top fav Ramen for all of us throughout the trip !
we passed by this little corner shop everyday...
decided to give it a try on a random night !

it has different soup-based, which is MISO soup based instead of the Tonkotsu (pork)...


again, we guess the words by the pics and pick our choice ! 


placed order via the vending machine and wait to be seated...


the most precious ingredient in this shop is their Miso Paste...
they put a huge spoonful of miso paste into the bowl, pour in half bowl of soup from a giant pot and stir equally...



they 'grilled' the cha shu a little bit by this little fire thingy...


I considered it as the most expensive ramen among the 3 shops I had during our trip...
this costs us 900 yen, served with only ONE piece of Cha Shu (pork belly)
but never mind, as it's heavenly delicious !!!!!!!!!!
guess the price mainly contributed to their special homemade Miso Paste which I saw a big big packet waiting to be refilled... 


the portion, in term of noodles and soup are biggest among three...
and it served with Hot Spring Egg~ woo hoo~
what so special about this egg...
the yolks is so beautiful orangy colour like a sunset big yolks... 
when u bite on the egg, it's not hard at all but will 'break' and the yolks flow out.. so yum...
the yumminess is not describable...


I share with my aunt, and we both feel just nice...
I finished up All the soup !!!!
my sis and frens had a bowl each, and felt regret after wards...
as way too full !
so super yum !!!!!

************

the last night before heading back to Malaysia...
I wanted to have another Ramen dinner !
simply walked into a random shop around Kabukicho...

the soup based and Cha Shu not as yum as the previous two... and it served with normal egg too...
HOWEVER, its noodles are so tender and different from any other ramen shop...
imagine my aunt asked me order another bowl for her, before she even finished the first bowl !
no drama !




the best decision is to have hot hot yummy Soup Ramen during the cold cold weather !
I so so so miss the ramen in Japan...
simply hop into any ramen shop sure serve tasty ramen ! 
I've been craving for it badly !   T_________T 


Monday, May 23, 2011

abOut our Stay in Taipei

** con't mah Taipei Trip **


this post is about the place we stay during our 5 days trip in Taipei...

台北时尚之星 - it's a new building since 2010...

click here for more photo...


located at 台北市大同區五原路19號 - 雙連站

just 2 station from Taipei Main Train Station... maps here



we booked this homestay/ service apartment tru this website...

however, upon check in, the receptionist just told me TWAngel has just ended the contract with 时尚之星

thus, can no more link to this apartment from TWangel website..

but can direct booking with them...



approximately TWD 1800 - 2000 per nite...

we gotten some discount, thus, paid around TWD 1700 per nite... :P

a suite with living room, kitchen, bath room with jaguzzi bath tub...



once u entered the room...

u see this LCD TV, with 100 channels...

working tables with internet cables and FREE Wi-Fi...




couch that very nice to sleep

( my aunt fell asleep on the couch every nite... as she can't help to flip tru the 100 channels till 3 ish every night... )




walked up the short stair case... to reach the double bed~~~

我爱阁楼~~ :)






the toilet facilities are all brand new...

no more concern for me !! *phew~

I scare of yellowish bath tub and toilet bowl~~ :P
nice thing of this bath room is...

it comes with a Jaguzzi Bath Tub...

I enjoyed my jaguzzi session Every Night... after a long day...

seriously.. it does really help to released the tire'ness of the day !!!






full-equiped Kitchen...

too bad.. we din get a chance to enjoy the facilities...

din even boil a pot of hot water !!



each room comes with washing machine and dryer !!

how nice !





besides all these,

towels, mineral water, hair dryer extra pillow are all in the package too !!! ^^
this is the pic I taken before we left..
we had an extra bed in one of the room, additional paid TWD 450 per nite...

for the extra double bed~~




I like their lift..

so sweet to have a " Delay " button for the passenger to on-hold the lift..

instead of keep pressing the "open door" button...




-- to get here from airport:-



從機場抵達有以下幾種
1.搭乘巴士到台北車站→坐計程車至時尚之星,車資約150元
2.搭乘巴士到台北車站→搭乘捷運雙連站約20元 →走路約十分鐘抵達時尚之星
3.搭乘計程車至時尚之星 約一千元台幣左右



******************

walk out to the big junction from where we stay...







crossing this road...

u can reach the Train Station within 5 mins...
on da way...

there are alot of foods stall, restaurant and also 7-eleven...

all within walking distance of 5-10 mins...




variesties of beverages available in TW 7-eleven...

all in very cheap prices...






I choosen a Lemon Drinks with huge Aloe Vera + cute comics~ :)








there's a super duper recommended Bakery just along the road...

selling varieties of breads / pastries with very cheap prices...





Mung got this super Eggies Bread for only TWD 30 ( approximately rm 3.20 )


Bun with Chic Floss, very rich Egg Mayo topped with Egg and cucumber





how on earth could we get such a full-ingredients pastries in Malaysia at such a reasonable price...
it's only available at high tea session, around 3-4pm...

they sell only those normal breads during breakfast...




2nd day morning,

we settled our breaky at this Beef Noodle Shop which situated nearby Xuan Lian Train Station..














super love their self-service for this pickles... 酸菜

cuz I can add as much as I want !!! ^^




Beef Glass Noodles




the portion is very generous, each of us hardly finish our meals...

Beef Noodles




Pork Slices and Veggie Noodles




********


on the 4th day morning...

we tried out the Teppanyaki Shop nearby our apartment which highly recommended by one of the taxi driver...


a very simple shop with not much decoration...

when we looked at the cheap price...

we did not have any high expectation... just treated it as a fast food teppan...










the portion of veggie are given very generous portion to each of us...
they fried cabbages and bean sprout separately with diff recipe... bit diff with those serving in Malaysia...


the veggie are really sweet and nice !!!





Seriously,
this was the very first time, I had such a nice teppanyaki at such a low price...

Imagine the price of most of the selections is averagely at around TWD 110 ONLY...

all selection served with bowl of white rice, free flow drinks, free flow soup of the day,

very big portion of cabbages and black pepper bean sprout ( which is really a new and fresh recipe afterall ^^ )


Teppanyaki Beef




many Prawns with heaps of Spring Onion




Mushroom with Bassil , this is cheaper, only TWD 80 or 90




Fried Scallop with Bassil and Onion





Grilled Cod Fish

no way to have such a big piece for such a price in Malaysia !!






I had the Lemon Grilled Saba Fish... very fresh and a big piece served !







*******************

along the road, there's a shop selling dumpling !!

seeing them producing dumpling non-stop daily...

must have a try before going home !!









we took away some fried dumpling...

original (pork + cabbage) , Ku Cai (chives) , Kimchi , Curry and etc...

TWD 7 for each...

ingredients generous and juicy !! I miss it so much !!!




*********

we wanted to try this since the 1st day while we walked to the Train Station from our apartment...

however, we backed home after 1am every nite..

barely got the chance to dine in...

therefore, we took away the dessert and had it at the airport on our last day !!! *weee~





their Home Signature Mochi...

Huge and chewy...

really nice... even their peanut mixed are really yummy too !!








Glutinuous Rice Ball In Red Bean Soup




to be cont'

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