Paradise Dynasty @ Paradigm Mall, Petaling Jaya

We wanted two things after a few hours of walking at Paradigm Mall: Food and Drink. Located on the first floor, Paradise Dynasty did a good job in fulfilling our needs.

 Just in case you can't decide what to order, I suggest that you go on a dumpling adventure. You can't go wrong with their signature Dynasty Xiao Long Bao, which comes in 8 different flavors. 

Signature Dynasty Xiao Long Bao (RM23.80) -  Let's break down why this is the Xiao Long Bao you want. To start, the ratio of the skin, soup and meat was perfect. The skin was not too thick and not too thin, the soup was sweet, infused with meaty goodness that was carefully curated. But what really tied this little package together was the final craftsmanship. 

White - Original

Black - Black Truffle

Light Orange - Crab Roe

Grey - Garlic

Bright Orange - Foie Gras

Green - Ginseng

Yellow - Cheese

Red - Szechuan

Beijing Pork Dumplings (6 pcs for RM9) - Unlike the Xiao Long Bao, the dumplings were served on a plate instead of a bamboo steamer. It was meticulously wrapped and sealed with ground pork meat. This classic dish is just about the best thing you can get for RM9.

Smitten Dishes:
Original Xiao Long Bao
Black Truffle Xiao Long Bao

Beijing Pork Dumplings

VERDICT: TOTALLY SMITTEN

Auntie Sim Kitchen @ Uptown Damansara

It's an urban legend that there are no good Teo Chew restaurants in Petaling Jaya. Just look at Auntie Sim who has created a boisterous kitchen devoted to traditional Teo Chew cuisine. Located in the vibrant Uptown Damansara (same row as Pappa Rich), Auntie Sim's Kitchen is open straight through from breakfast until dinner. 

Teo Chew Olive Fried Rice (RM7.50) - A simple fried rice elevated by exceptional ingredients such as olive vegetables, chopped long beans and diced shrimps. Think twice before sharing this signature dish!

Braised Duck and Mixed Pork Combo (RM32) - At Auntie Sim's Kitchen, you will find familiar favorite like the Braised Duck and Mixed Pork Combo swimming in a rich umami sauce. All the proteins were well marinated and it doesn't get more Teo Chew than this dish.

Stir Fried Fish Maw with Sea Prawns (RM35) - There are many classic dishes available, but we made beeline for the stir fried fish maw and dancing prawns, topped with shaved scallions and red pepper.

Stir Fried Kai Lan - It would be a shame to miss the greens in any meal. So remember, don't let the big dishes define your experience. 

Verdict: TOTALLY SMITTEN

Smitten Dishes:

Stir Fried Fish Maw with Sea Prawns

Braised Duck and Mixed Pork Combo

Teo Chew Olive Fried Rice

Five Senses @ Westin Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

It is true that downtown Kuala Lumpur has tons of restaurants, so why come here? The answer is the spanking new restaurant with an aesthetic menu that tinkers with classic Cantonese food, just enough to make things interesting for your 5 senses. 

Behold the sense of sight, an open kitchen that flirts with your stomach. 

House Made Bean Curd Pancake with Black Fungus (RM33) - The meatless option spotlight a house made bean curd pancake with some black fungus.

Wok Fried Australian Scallops with X.O. Sauce and Asparagus (RM58) - Not quite a vegetarian yet? Pair your greens with some fresh scallops, stir fry with X.O. sauce. 

Honey Glazed Black Cod with Teriyaki Jus (RM68) - Despite the Japanese heredity, this superlative cod fish fits perfectly in the menu.

Pan Seared Stuffed Prawn with Enoki Mushrooms in Honey Maki Jus (RM68) - The enoki mushroom was tucked between the sizzling fresh prawns. 10/10 for taste but 0/10 for plating. 

Carving the peking duck can be a meticulous process, but is a well appreciated art.

Famous Authentic Traditional Peking Duck in Two Series (RM108) - Series 1: Not all Peking Duck are created equally good. This dish was less dazzling compared to its peers, with wraps that were a tad too thick.

Secret Home Made Crispy World Class Pork Belly (RM33) - Wait for 30 minutes and crackles with some pork belly, as it goes round and round your plate. 

Fried Noodles with Duck Meat - Series 2: Empty spaces will be filled with this gigantic plate of noodles. 

Verdict: SOMEWHAT SMITTEN

Smitten Dishes:

Honey Glazed Black Cod with Teriyaki Jus

House Made Bean Curd Pancake with Black Fungus

Yung Kee Restaurant @ Wellington Street, Hong Kong

Life is full of drama and Yung Kee family feud goes like this - The founder Mr. Kam Shui Fai who passed away in 2007, left his restaurant business to his 3 children, with the eldest son Kam Kin Sing and second son Kam Kwan Lai receiving 45% stake each. The remaining 10% was given to his daughter Kam Mei Ling, which she eventually sold to her second brother. In July 2010, the older son filed a wind up petition in Hong Kong court, threatened to close the business unless his younger brother buys out his 45% stake for a whopping HK$1.51bn. The court case is still on going and lucky for me, Yung Kee is still open for business. 

Preserved egg and pickled ginger - This dish may not be everyone's cup of tea but it was definitely mine. The preserved egg was bouncy and has a jelly like feel.

Roasted Goose - Supposedly the best in town, Yung Kee's goose was succulent, juicy and tender. 

Barbecued Suckling Pig - The BBQ suckling pig was another crowd pleaser. With a proprietary blend of spices, each piece was heavenly.

Omelet with Bitter Gourd - Fluffy omelet dances away with the crunchy bitter gourd. 

Homemade Clay Pot Tofu - The clay pot was filled with freshly made bean curd, luxuriating between the mushroom sauce.

Seafood Vegetables - The scallions and carrots were embraced by the fresh squids, adding bright notes to the pale seafood. 

Yeung Chow Fried Rice - The prawns and roasted pork were tossed into the rice with some eggs and scallions, for what could consider a stand alone meal.

VERDICT: SOMEWHAT SMITTEN


Smitten Dishes:
Preserved egg and pickled ginger
Roasted Goose
Yeung Chow Fried Rice

Yung Kee Restaurant
Address: 32-40 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong
Telephone: 852 2522 1624
Operating Hours: 11am -11.30pm (open daily)

Lei Garden Restaurant 利苑酒家 @ West Kowloon, Hong Kong

Success doesn't always come easy, at least for the founder of Lei Garden, Mr. Chan Shu Kit. The once financially loss making restaurant has successfully transformed itself to become one of Hong Kong most reputable fine dining restaurant, with 10 branches all over Hong Kong, 2 in China, 1 in Macau and 2 in Singapore. We came here with high expectations and we were not disappointed. 

The combination of great service, elegant table setting and delicious cooking are the reasons why Lei Garden is still in business after 39 years. Its Mong Kok outlet was recently awarded two Michelin Stars, with the other 9 outlets being awarded 1 Michelin Star each. That's a whopping 11 Michelin Stars! 

Crispy Roasted Pork - Save the Char Siu for another day, Lei Garden is all about Siu Yok. This dish itself is worth a star. 

Steamed Beef Balls - Once you have properly stoked your appetite, dig into the beef balls, a platoon of delightfully fresh minced beef coupled with some fragrant scallions.

Pan Fried Turnip Cakes - Swipe these lovely square shaped turnip cakes with some chili sauce to take it up a few notches. 

Stir Fry Kailan - Simple hearty vegetables dotted with some shallots.

Braised Garoupa with Ginger and Scallions - Continue your parade with some piping hot Garoupa fish imbued with rich flavors.

Steamed Shanghai Xiao Long Pao - These packages were juicy, filled with lean pork meat. The soup was absolutely delicious!

Steamed flour rolls with green onions -  Meet the silky Chee Cheong Fun, it's so smooth that it might just slip through your chopsticks!

Lobster Broth Hand Made Noodles Soup - Pile of noodles flooded with a rich lobster broth. Just when we think it couldn't get any better. 

Crystal Dumplings - Steaming hot packets filled with diced vegetables, herbs and meat.

Salted Egg Custard Buns - A deceptively simple dish of sweet and savory.

Baked Mini Egg Tarts - These egg tarts were much eggier and less creamy than the English tarts.

Custard Layer Cake - Gallop away with some exceptionally flavorful warm custard layer cakes.  

VERDICT: TOTALLY SMITTEN

Smitten Dishes:

Crispy Roasted Pork

Steamed Shanghai Xiao Long Pao

Lobster Broth Hand Made Noodles Soup

Lei Garden Restaurant @ West Kowloon

Address: Shop Nos 2068-70, 2nd Level, Elements, No. 1 Austin Road West, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Telephone: 852 2196 8133

Operating Hours: Mon to Sun - 1130am - 3pm, 6pm - 1130pm

The Square @ Central, Hong Kong

The Square at Central is always packed for lunch and dinner. It is one of Hong Kong's most popular Chinese restaurant, with one Michelin star under its belt. 

The restaurant was spacious and the service was quick and casual.

Marinated suckling pig knuckles (HK$48) - Chinese people love their pig knuckles, nothing can come between them, well, except for the secret chef's seasoning sauce. =)

Pan fried turnip cakes with X.O. chili sauce (HK$45) - Turnip cakes are an integral part of dim sum. These square shaped turnip cakes had a light charred, with a melting soft texture. 

Steamed flour rolls with barbecued pork (HK$32) - These freshly steamed flour rolls a.k.a Chee Cheong Fun were smooth, thin and soft with the right amount of elasticity. 

Stir Fried flour roll with X.O. Chilli sauce (HK$45) - Steamed Chee Cheong Fun can be rather monotonous. But when fried Chee Cheong Fun comes into picture, our view becomes better. These stir fried chee cheong fun were extremely aromatic, thanks to the well absorbed X.O. chili sauce.

Assortment of Cantonese BBQ specialties (HK$128) - The BBQ pork had a perfect fat to meat ratio, while the chicken was creamy accompanied by the crispy skin.

Siu Yok - The cracker thin crust of the pork skin was glorious!

Citrus Deep Fried Prawns -  A surprising combo of crunchy prawns and zesty sauce. 

Sauteed mushroom with green house sprouts (HK$80) - The vegetables were fresh and crunchy, topped with tender sauteed mushroom and abalone sauce.

Fried noodles with shredded pork and bean sprouts (HK$108) - The noodles were thin and crispy, drizzled with the right amount of tasty gravy and bean sprouts.

Baked Egg Tarts (HK$20) - The crumbly, soft and moist egg tarts were heavenly.

Bean curd pudding in wooden bucket (HK$58) - The made to order bean curd was the highlight of my meal. The bean curd was smooth and creamy, while the crystallized sugar added a different dimension to this sweet delight.

Verdict : TOTALLY SMITTEN

Smitten Dishes:

Pan fried turnip cakes with X.O. chilli sauce

Baked Egg Tarts

Bean curd pudding in wooden bucket

The Square @ Central

Address: Shop 410, 4/F Exchange Square Podium, Central

Phone: +852 2525 1163

Website: www.maximschinese.com.hk