Teh Tarik Place

Teh Tarik Place is a small chain restaurant that serves some basic Malaysian dishes, including the namesake national drink, teh tarik. I suppose this would be a good place to suggest trying teh tarik if you've never had it! The menu is fairly simple as are the interior decorations (mostly wood and stone).

The typical range of fried rice and noodle dishes (RM6-9) are on hand, as well as laksa (RM7), nasi lemak (RM4-8), a range of roti dishes (RM 2-7), and a small nasi campur bar. They also have set lunch combos (RM7-9) and serve breakfast (RM2-3) too. Some popular snacky foods that I could eat daily if given the opportunity, like curry puffs, ABC, and cucur udang. The drinks are also the standard ones that you would find at a local mamak stall. Prices are pretty good for restaurant, and it is a cleaner option than the typical mamak for those who value hygiene and cleanliness at restaurants.

At the time of writing, there were six stores open in malls around the greater KL area, including the Curve, 1 Utama, IOI Mall, Sunway Pyramid, Empire Shopping Gallery, and Sooka Sentral. None of these are really central except for the one at Sooka Sentral (right next to KL Sentral Station). But it is worth a trip to one of its locations to give it a try. I don't go often, but I would if I had one closer to my house (hint, hint).

My rating: 4 stars

Teh Tarik Place
Empire Shopping Gallery
Lot LG21, Ground Floor
Subang Jaya, Selangor

Sooka Sentral
Lot GC2, Ground Floor
Jalan Stesen Sentral 5
50470 Kuala Lumpur

The Curve
Ground Floor
Mutiara Damansara
Petaling Jaya, Selangor

1 Utama
Lower Ground Floor, Rainforest
Petaling Jaya, Selangor

IOI Mall
3rd Floor, New Extension
Bandar Puchong Jaya
Puchong, Selangor

Sunway Pyramid
Lot OB3 LG1.1 & G9
Oasis Boulevard Three
Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Web site: http://www.tehtarikplace.my/
Open from 10am until 10pm

Morganfields

Morganfields is a higher end restaurant with the appearance of an old basement-level coffee shop in a run-down part of town. But in KL, it is located on the 4th level of Pavilion, above the alfresco dining area. There is dining on the balcony, at the long bar, on bar stools up front, or tables in the back. No matter where you sit, though, you get some pretty good food.

I would classify the restaurant as a steak house without an emphasis on steaks...kind of like a mix between Tony Roma's and T.G.I. Friday's. There are steaks and pastas and even a few Tex-Mex dishes. We came here for a buka puasa meal as it was one of the only places with available seating at that time. After ordering (and subsequently deciding that we didn't care), we found out that was because it serves pork!

There was almost nothing for vegetarians so I had the beer-battered fish and fries. Simple and fairly plain-tasting. I've had better elsewhere, but nothing bad about this dish. The coleslaw, which I normally don't eat very much of, was quite good. I also ordered a bowl of corn chips and salsa as an appetizer since we were hungry and didn't want to wait until the main course came to eat. Unfortunately, it arrived after the mains. Other than the slow and erratic service, we couldn't really figure out why it took so long to "cook" a bowl of corn chips. We were full after finishing and, even though the desserts looked nice, couldn't put anymore food down.

Generally, the prices are a little more expensive than Tony Roma's and Friday's, but I think the food tastes better at those other places. And the service is a bit better there too. Morganfields has a nice concept, but it still needs to work out its kinks. I'd eat here again if someone specifically wanted to try it, but I'm not sure I would recommend it enthusiastically.

My rating: 3 stars

Morganfields
C4.03.00, Level 4,
Pavilion Mall
55100 Kuala Lumpur

Web site: http://www.morganfields.com/
Telephone: (+6) 03-2141 3192
Open from 10am until 12am

Milkshake Factory

For the first review, I think it is best to stick to a universal crowd pleaser...the milkshake. The Milkshake Factory is in the middle of the bars along Jalan P. Ramlee, right next to the Coffee Bean and The Beach Club. It is a short walk from KLCC...and I walked from here to Dang Wangi LRT station (feeling guilty perhaps and wanting to burn off the calories I just put on with the milkshake?).

These milkshakes are quite delicious, actually. Not overly sweet or milky. They went down very smoothly. There are only two sizes: small and large...but not much difference in size or price (Splurge a little and get the big one!). The cost ranges from RM8-RM12.50...not bad considering you won't find any equivalent drink at that price at the Coffee Bean next door.

The menu is quite impressive. "Kid in a candy store" is a good way to describe how I felt when walking into this mostly-open-air restaurant. Your milkshake is mixed with whatever your favorite candy is, from Kit-Kats and M&M's to Toblerone and Ferrero Rocher. There are "cereal" options too, like Pop-Tarts or Special K. For the more health-conscious, you can get a smoothie instead, featuring some interesting flavors, like rambutan, avocado, raspberry, and even beetroot.

I had the Snickers milkshake. And it really satisfied me. I would drink one of these everyday if I had the motivation to exercise it off! But I don't! So this will serve as a nice treat every now and then...or anytime someone invites me to go along with them!

The staff was very friendly and offered their personal favorites as suggestions for me while I took way too long to figure out which flavor I wanted to try. The soundtrack of the day was Earth, Wind, and Fire...surprisingly good music to listen to while drinking a milkshake. Who knew?

My rating: 5 stars!

Milkshake Factory
12, Jalan P. Ramlee,
50250 Kuala Lumpur
Website: http://www.milkshakefactory.blogspot.com/
Open from 10:30am until midnight