OKONOMI, Publika Solaris Dutamas

OKONOMI! A Japanese fusion restaurant located at Publika that is well known for its customizable make-your-own sushi rolls! In case you have not heard of it before, read my friend's pancake blog post  about Okonomi!

I've once dropped by Okonomi with a friend and I certainly had fun mixing and matching all sort of ingredients for my sushi roll! Strawberry with avocado and shrimps....Chicken and cheese with mango sauce...the list goes on. Unfortunately, I did not blog about my previous dining experience at Okonomi. It was a fun and pleasant dining experience - I was elated when I was invited to Okonomi  to try out their new menu. 

This time round, I went for their ala-carte instead of having fun mixing and matching the ingredients! 

Chicken Gratin RM18.90
Deep-fried chicken katsu thigh cutlet served with creamy mushroom sauce and a side of rice.
The chicken cutlet was tender and juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside - really well executed. I love the creamy mushroom sauce accompanying the chicken, it goes really well even on its own. I would recommend one to share this dish though as it might get a little too cloying to finish this whole dish on your own.

Mango Prawn Salad RM20.90

A sweet & tangy salad featuring a combination of succulent prawns, mentaiko mayo and mango dressing. A refreshing start to our meal!

Tamago Mentaiyaki RM12.90

Fresh Tamago cubes topped with flamed mentaiko and ebikko. 

Soft Shell Crab RM28.90

Deep-fried soft shell crab. I love the ratio of the meat to the flour coating - not too thick on the batter and really meaty.

Complementary Spicy Mentaiko Pasta
Complementary pasta from the chef. A simple Asian-fusion spicy pasta that will give your taste buds a spicy kick! Warning: Super spicy!

Kani Fumi Harumaki RM12.90
Hokkaido crab meat, Japanese cucumber and salad leaves rolled in Vietnamese rice paper served with sesame sauce.

Baked Lobster Avocado RM18.90
Oven baked avocado and marinated lobster served on rice with minced mushroom, grated parmesan, tobikko and togarashi. One of my favourite here at Okonomi! Creamy and rich in flavour, with generous amount of cheese!

Can't remember what sushi roll was this , but I'm guessing it was a customized sushi roll crafted by Okonomi chef himself. Topped with ebikko, seaweed, spicy mentaiko sauce encasing a deep fried ebi, the ingredients came together so well with a medley of flavours and texture. You'll be delighted to see the list of ingredients available to customize your own sushi roll - from the typical shrimp, cucumber, salmon, soft shell crab, to the more unconventional ingredient such as mango, strawberry, croutons and much more!

Okonomi really offer more than your typical Japanese food - personal recommendation would be the DIY sushi roll (go as crazy as possible! Don't be afraid to try something new), Baked Lobster Avocado, Mango Prawn Salad and Chicken Gratin.

Okonomi
A4-G2-02 Solaris Dutamas,
No.1 Jalan Dutamas,
Publika KL.

Business Hours:
10am - 11pm Daily.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OkonomiFoods

Slappy Cakes, Publika Solaris Dutamas [CLOSED]

A new pancake shop is in town! Located in Publika Solaris Dutamas, Slappy Cakes sets to bring the trend of breakfast food to a whole new level.

Slappy Cakes started off as a family owned & operated restaurant in Portland in 2009. Fast forward to present, Slappy Cakes has been featured nationally on The Cooking Channel, Rachael Ray, Women's Day Magazine, and was awarded the title of "America's Best" by Food Network's Alton Brown as one of America's top ten destinations.

This renowned pancake shop has since expanded world wide to Japan, Philippines, Singapore and is finally available here in Publika, Kuala Lumpur!

Slappy Cakes' main selling point would be their DIY PANCAKES! Besides offering ready-to-order pancakes with various toppings and condiments to choose from, customers can flaunt their creativity by mixing & matching their favourite batter & toppings , and construct their own pancakes!

Customers can choose from 4 different pancake batter: Whole Wheat, Buttermilk, Chocolate & Peanut Butter batter. All pancake batter are priced at RM12 except buttermilk batter which is priced at RM9. All batter are made from scratch daily and filled in these squeezy bottles which are easy to handle and mess-free.

White Chocolate Chips, Lemon Curd & Strawberries 

Blueberries, Homemade Cinnamon Cream & Strawberry Jam

Prices of toppings & condiments varies from RM3-3.50. Slappy Cake array of toppings & condiments would be a delight to everyone - from sweet toppings like ice-cream & chocolate chips, savoury toppings like mushroom, cheese & sausages to the healthier options like fruits & nuts.

Once you've selected your batter & topping, it's time to have some fun! See how easy it is to maneuver around with the squeezy bottle!

When bubbles start to form around the edge of your pancake, it indicates the flip side of the pancake is cooked and you are free to flip your pancake! Fret not if you didn't flip the pancake on time - your pancake will never be burn thanks to the innovating technology of the pancake grill.

The softness of your pancake depends on how long you cook your pancake - the longer you cook your pancake, the chewier the texture becomes. So if you prefer a pancake with a soft and spongy texture make sure it isn't cooked on the grill for too long!

Cat-shape pancake!

Bow tie, flower, bear paw & star! 

A slice of cake pancake topped with blueberry and strawberry jam 

Doraemon Pancake !

At Slappy Cake, you'll be able to unleash your inner artist & creativity. Slappy Cake's DIY pancake is definitely suited for all age, both kids and adults alike. We had such a great time "drawing" and flipping our pancakes. The non-stick pan was perfectly foolproof & great for pancake flippin' - the pancake will never get stuck to the pan! The mess-free & stick-free concept here makes it great for kids to unleash their creativity too.

Homemade Granola RM15
Homemade granola served with fresh fruits & greek yoghurt.
Besides pancakes, Slappy Pancakes offers a decent selections of all-day breakfast too! I loved the granola here - topped generously with fruits, the granola serves as a satisfying yet guilt-free dessert/meal.

Slappy Benedict RM23
Sauteed spinach, mushroom & turkey bacon with roasted garlic & sundried tomatoes topped with two poached eggs & Hollandaise sauce on homemade English muffins, served with a side of crispy cubed potatoes.

Salmon Aglio Olio RM22
Spaghetti cooked with cubed salmon, sweet basil, olive and chili flakes.
Besides pancakes & all-day breakfast, Slappy Cakes also serve all-day dining food such as pastas and chicken chops!

Verdict: If you're looking for a fun & vibrant place to dine in & have fun with your friends and family at the same time, Slappy Cakes would definitely be the place to be.

Slappy Cakes
A3-G2-3A, Solaris Dutamas,
No1, Jalan Dutamas 1, 1,
50480 Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia

Business Hours:
Monday - Friday 9am - 9pm

Saturday - Sunday 8.30am - 9.30pm

Contact Number: 03-6211 9949Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/slappycakesmalaysia
Website: http://www.slappycakes.com/

Kafe Go to School, Solaris Mont Kiara

Meet Solaris Mount Kiara latest addition - Kafe Go to School. A trendy Korean-fusion cafe/restaurant that serves up good quality home-cooked Korean dishes & Korean-style desserts.

Go to School is decorated well-suited to its theme- red brick walls donned with black boards which functions as their menu board, colourful wooden tables & chairs, workbooks sitting on the shelves...a sense of nostalgia hit me as we set foot into this place.

The three founders of Kafe Go To School, Rizal,Woo Young (Kate) & Alice (Hee Yong) wanted to introduce a different concept to the Korean cuisine dining experience. The head chef of Kafe Go to School, Chef Woo Young hailed all the way from Korea, brought her skillful & meticulous cooking skills along to deliver the best dishes to customers.

Kafe Go To School features an amalgamation between a laid-back cafe atmosphere & high quality Korean restaurant dishes, all under one roof. Come for the food, stay for the coffee & desserts. Plug points can be found under almost every table here at Kafe Go to School for patrons convenience to chill & relax after a satisfying meal.

 Patrons can feel free to grab a chalk and scribble onto Go to School's wall.

Kafe Go to School menu was extensive - from the traditional Korean dishes such as Bimbibap, Kimbap, chewy ttokppoki , glass noodles, to the more modern dishes such as rice burgers, rice pizza and Bingsu.  

The menu is updated regularly by masterchef Woo Young, who regularly experiments on new ingredients & dishes. Affordable set lunches are also available! 

Blueberry Lemonade RM14
A refreshing tangy drink to beat the hot, humid weather here. I was surprised how well the blueberry blended in with the lemonade! Sweetness was just nice to my liking.

Lemonade RM13

Lemonade...without blueberries. A perfect thirst-quencher for those who are less-adventurous.

Dragon Roll Kimbap RM24.90
A more modern twist of a traditional Korean Kimbap (Korean Rice Roll). Rice rolled with seaweed, fried shrimps, lettuce & topped with creamy avocado & ebikko.

Braised Short Ribs steamed in Soy Sauce Seasoning / So Gal Bi jjm RM126
Served alongside with glass noodles, Korean rice cake, carrots & cabbage.
Recommended for about 3-4 pax. A perfect dish for sharing.

I loved how tender the beef ribs were. The beef ribs were marinated oh so perfectly. Each bite was full of flavour, savoury + the perfect balance of sweetness. A very well executed dish, I must say. A must-try at Kafe Go to School!

The friendly waiter was there serving us all the time - from de-boning the ribs, to filling our bowl whenever we finish our potion. We really felt like royalties dining here.

Yangneum Fried Chicken (half chicken) RM35
Fried chicken with sweet & spicy sauce. We were told that the sauce was really spicy so we requested for a "less spicy" version.

Yes, Kafe Go to School provide plastic gloves! I loved how considerate this place is- Eating fried chicken with cutlery has always been a pain for me. I always end up using my hands but my hands always ended up being all greasy and oily.

With a disposable glove, digging into this plate of fried chicken was a breeze. I love the sweet yet spicy sauce coating the golden crunchy fried chicken! It gives the chicken a nice spicy kick. Personally felt that the fried chicken was really spicy, even though we ordered the "toned-down version".

This dish is a perfect dish for sharing - as it may get a little too cloying if one were to finish it alone.

Very Very Thank You Bingsu RM33
A huge bowl of smooth shaved milk ice with a sweetness that was just nice, loaded with fresh blueberries & strawberries and topped with cornflakes to give it a contrasting crunch. Kafe Go to School's signature dessert.

Hands down to the best Bingsu I've ever tasted.
The shaved milk ice was really smooth & not too heavy for the palate. We managed to finish this big bowl of Bingsu despite just finishing a heavy meal. The portion is just nice for sharing among 3-6 pax (trust me, this bowl of Bingsu is gigantic!)

To be honest, I was never a big fan of Bingsu. This bowl of Bingsu changed my perception towards Bingsu & I'm definitely loving it now!

Cappuccino RM10 & Latte RM10 

Verdict: Homey, quality Korean food & desserts at a laid-back & relaxing atmosphere. 5 star service & food. Would definitely be back for more!


Kafe Go to School
Jalan Solaris 3,

Solaris Mont Kiara,

50480 Kuala Lumpur, 

Malaysia

Business Hours: 

Sunday - Thursday 10am - 11.30pm
Friday & Saturday 10am - 1am

Contact Number: 03 28589627
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kafegotoschool

Marhaba Restaurant, Publika . An authentic Middle Eastern fine dining experience

Think Middle Eastern cuisine, what is the first thing that pop up on your mind? Kebab? Lamb? Truth to be told, I never knew much about Middle Eastern cuisine, until I paid Marhaba, a Middle Eastern fine dining restaurant at Publika a visit. I was spoiled with an array of Middle Eastern delight here!

Marhaba Restaurant is strongly dedicated to offer their guests with authentic Middle Eastern fine dining experience combined with rich traditional Yemeni food freshly prepared by their skillful chef from Yemen.

Marhaba is tucked at a secluded corner of Publika. I had a hard time locating this place. Marhaba is located at block D1, first floor of Publika. You'll have to exit the shopping mall, and walk towards the outdoor area where the children playground is. Block D1 is the block facing the playground :)

Marhaba has a classy, stunningly designed interior. Plaster ceilings, polished marble flooring, beautiful chandelier lighting...every decoration here is gorgeous and meticulously designed to create a charming vibe.

At Marhaba, guests can also opt to dine in at their Terrace Garden, where the cool night breeze and soft Arabic music prevails. There's a kid's corner at the far end of the Terrace Garden equipped with a mini children playground too!

Want to experience a full Yemeni dining experiences? Make a booking to be seated at the Majlas Rooms! There are 3 Majlas Rooms available here at the Publika outlet, where guests get to enjoy their meal on comfy cushions & padded cushioned wall at a private corner with a unique traditional Middle Eastern set up. 

You can browse through Marhaba's menu HERE at their website. You'll be surprised that the price didn't quite match up with their environment- the prices of food at Marhaba was surprisingly really affordable! I'd expected a sky-high fine dining price, with the 5 star services and environment offered here at Marhaba.

In fact, most of the dishes served here at Marhaba is generous in portion size so it is perfect for sharing!

We kick started our meal with some raw cucumber & carrot with various dipping sauce.

Hummus RM16
Mashed chickpeas with Olive Oil. Love the creamy texture of the hummus! I tried my best to hold myself back from reaching out for a second & third helping (failed miserably, the creamy texture of the hummus is too tempting!) , as I am aware how filling hummus can be (well you gotta leave some space for the other dishes!)!

Fatoush RM16
Levantine bread salad served with fresh mixed greens. My favourite salad among the three served that night. I'm not too sure what salad dressing was used for this dish but it has a sweet note which was really to my liking. The crunchy fried levantine bread was a addictive addition to the salad.

Tabbuoleh RM16 
Traditional Arabic salad made of choice vegetables seasoned with olive oil and lemon juice. If you're a fan of Parsley this is definitely a dish for you as the taste of the Parsley was evident.

Arabic Salad RM16
A meddley of fresh vegetables seasoned with Lemon Juice. A sourish salad to kick-start one's appetite.

Saltah Fahsah (with choice of Sizzling Lamb/Chicken/Fish cooked in stone pot) RM40

Served with Mulauwah (Yemeni Bread) on the side. 

The unbelievable hugeee size (my hand to scale) of the Mulauwah, which I am sure can feed up to more than 10 people! The Mulauwah (RM7 for small, RM12 for big) resembles a hybrid between a Chappati and Naan. The Mulauwah has to be consumed when hot or the bread will harden up!

Saltah Fahsah was unanimously our favourite dish for the night. Warm, flavourful and loaded with shredded tender lamb. Good on its own already as it is seasoned with spices to perfection, even better when paired up with the Yemeni Bread. This dish was wiped clean by us within minutes. Just writing about this makes me hungry already!

Grilled Mackerel RM65
Mackerel seasoned and grilled till perfection. Served on a bed of fluffy & flavourful Arabian rice.
Cutting down on carbs in a Middle Eastern restaurant is futile. The bed of rice served alongside with the fish was so good, I can even eat it on its own! The mackerel was fresh and was perfectly seasoned, the perfect match with the rice!

Mandi Chicken RM30
Steamed Chicken marinated in Marhaba's secret sauce, served in a bed of fluffy & flavourful Arabian rice.

Chicken Mazbi RM33
Succulent Barbequed chicken with fragrant traditional Yemini spices. Tender and flavourful, bursting with robust herbs taste. Sort of reminded me of Nandos, but with a bigger portion & more robust flavours.

Lamb Haninth RM78
Fresh lamb cooked in tandoor with Marhaba's secret recipe (ribs or shoulder). The lamb is cooked for more than 8 hours to get the perfect taste, texture and flavour. Signature dish at Marhaba. The meat was really flavourful and tender! Another must-try and personal favourite here at Marhaba. Do take note though, as the Lamb Haninth can easily feed up to 3-4 moderate eater (or one really hungry man).

Grilled Prawn (Market Price)
Grilled fresh succulent Prawns on a bed of Arabian Rice.

You'd probably notice that the portion of all meat & rice dishes at Marhaba are really huge. It is recommended for 2-3 moderate eaters to share one dish.

Honey Date RM22
Signature dessert at Marhaba. Bread with dates topped with honey & fruits.

Verdict: 5 Star dining environment & service. The Saltah Fahsah was to-die for!

Marhaba
D1- G4 -1, Publika Solaris Dutamas,
No 1 Jalan Dutamas, 50480
Kuala Lumpur.

Business Hours:

11am-11pm daily

Contact Number: +603 – 6207 8222 / 9222

Website: http://www.marhabarestaurant.com.my/