Quiet Sundays at Pavilion Damansara Heights

Lately, hubby has developed a new favourite weekend hangout spot — Pavilion Damansara Heights. This fairly new mall, which opened its doors in October 2023, is a breath of fresh air compared to the hustle and bustle of Mid Valley Megamall, Pavillion Bukit Jalil, or 1 Utama. It’s quiet, uncrowded, and surprisingly relaxing, even on Sundays.

That’s precisely why he loves it.

Free parking on Sundays, minimal crowds, no waiting in line at eateries — it’s becoming our little Sunday sanctuary. In fact, we were there two Sundays in a row!

Sunday #1: Goose, Pork & Prawn Wantans

Last Sunday, hubby decided to bring us (MIL and I) to try Hong Kong Roasted Goose King, the only restaurant in the mall that was fully packed while most other eateries were calm and quiet. I’m not a fan of duck, goose, or anything with webbed feet, but hubby and MIL absolutely love them.

Hubby ordered a quarter roasted goose, along with cha siu, siew yoke (roast pork), wanton mee with plump prawn wantons, double-boiled choy kon tong (dried veggie soup), and pork porridge. I must say, the food was impressive. My favourite was definitely the rich, flavourful double-boiled soup — loaded with ingredients and full of depth. The wanton noodles were springy and smooth, and the prawn wantons were fresh and juicy. It was a well-balanced, satisfying lunch for the three of us.

Sunday #2: Ramen, Shopping & Cake

This Sunday, the trio was slightly different — it was Sherilyn, hubby, and me. Deciding on where to eat took longer than expected. We walked around the mall for a good 15–20 minutes, checking out menus and discussing options. In the end, Sherilyn chose Aori Ramen, a Japanese restaurant specialising in ramen.

The menu was simple, with limited but focused ramen options. We each ordered a bowl, priced at RM38 per bowl, and added a few sides. While the ramen was tasty, we all agreed that Bankara Ramen (which has an outlet at Pavilion KL) is still our favourite. Thankfully, we spotted a sign — Bankara Ramen will be opening soon at Phase II of Pavilion Damansara Heights! Something to look forward to in future.

After lunch, Sherilyn and I dropped by Guardian Pharmacy to stock up on toiletries. Hubby, on the other hand, had his eye on dessert. He led us to Artelier Coffee, where he enjoyed his usual latte and a slice of Basque burnt cheesecake — the perfect end to a satisfying meal.

As usual, Cass couldn’t join us as she was still at Sunway Pyramid, cheering on her teammates and attending the closing ceremony of Skate Malaysia 2025. Alycia was also busy, working her weekend at her part-time café job.

Even though the whole family couldn’t be together, I still cherish these little moments of food, family, and calm amidst the chaos of daily life. Pavilion Damansara Heights is slowly becoming our go-to spot — and with Bankara Ramen coming soon, I suspect we’ll be spending even more Sundays there!

Lunch at Aori Ramen today.

Coffee and Basque burnt cheese cake at Artelier Coffee after lunch today.

Last Sunday's lunch at Hong Kong Roosted Goose King - very delicious wantan noodles and superb double boiled 'choy kon' soup.

Roast goose

Cha siu and siew yoke.

UO Shin at Millerz Square: A Must-Visit for Affordable, Quality Japanese Food

 Last Sunday, my husband took us to UO Shin at Millerz Square, Old Klang Road, for lunch. This wasn’t our first time dining there—it was our third visit—and once again, we left feeling completely satisfied. UO Shin serves delicious, high-quality Japanese food at very reasonable prices, making it one of our favorite spots for an authentic Japanese dining experience.

Be Prepared to Queue!

UO Shin opens its doors at 11:30 AM, but if you want to secure a table without waiting for an hour, I strongly recommend arriving at 11 - 11:15 AM to queue. The restaurant is extremely popular, and for good reason—the food is amazing, the portions are generous, and the prices are surprisingly affordable for the quality you get.

This time, we were there at 11:15 AM, and were the first in the queue. By the time we were done eating, a long queue had already built up outside the restaurant.

Extensive Menu at Affordable Prices

One of the best things about UO Shin is its extensive menu. Whether you’re in the mood for sushi, sashimi, teppanyaki, or ramen, you’ll find a wide variety of options to choose from. The ingredients are fresh, the flavors are authentic, and everything is beautifully presented. For the taste and quality, the pricing is incredibly reasonable, making it a fantastic place to enjoy Japanese cuisine without breaking the bank. It feels like dining in a 5-star restaurant with 2-star prices.

Efficient Service, But There’s a Time Limit!

The service at UO Shin is efficient, friendly, and attentive. The staffers are quick to take orders and ensure that food arrives promptly. However, each table is only given an hour to dine, so be prepared for a quick meal. This time limit helps keep the queue moving, but honestly, the food is so good that you won’t mind eating a little faster than usual!

Zen Ambience & A Fantastic Dining Experience

Despite the fast-paced dining, the restaurant maintains a calm and zen atmosphere. The decor is simple yet inviting, making it a pleasant place to enjoy a meal. The overall experience—great food, excellent service, and a cozy ambiance—makes every visit to UO Shin worthwhile.

UO Shin KL

Address: Block C ,G-02, Millerz Square by MyKey Global, Megan Legasi, 357, Old Klang Rd, 58000 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur

Phone: 03-2779 2558

Hubby ordered 3 plates of this salmon and unagi sushi.  Every plate of sushi was impressively plated and the taste was 10/10.

This Uramaki with crispy bits inside was delish!!  Hubby ordered 3 plates as well.

As usual, my order. And as usual, I could only finish half of it and doggy bagged the other half back for Cass.  She didn't join us as she was at the skating rink doing her favorite thing every Sunday without fail.

Another umami plate of sushi, which hubby ordered 2 plates.

Beef steak.

Unagi Uramaki.  Looking at his photo makes me drool; yet another perfect plate of Uramaki.

Pal Gae Ook Korean Chicken BBQ and Aftermeal Desserts @ Hartamas

Last Sunday, we finally indulged in something Hubby had been raving about for weeks—a visit to Pal Gae Ook Korean Chicken BBQ at Hartamas.

The star of the show? Charcoal-grilled chicken that boasts a smoky and juicy flavor. The restaurant also offers unlimited refills of their homemade sauces and side dishes (banchan). While the variety of side dishes is limited, what they do offer pairs beautifully with the main dishes.

As usual, hubby took the lead in ordering, ensuring we got a good sampling of their unique menu:

Chicken Dalgalbi: We tried both the soy sauce and spicy versions. Both were tender and flavorful, with the spicy one packing a pleasant kick.

Chicken Wing Shrimp Dumplings: This dish was a standout! Each chicken wing had a shrimp cleverly stuffed inside—an unexpected but delightful combination.

Corn Cheese Fondue: Creamy, cheesy, and perfect for dipping. This dish was comfort food at its best.

Rice Balls: These were a hit with everyone. Packed with flavor, they were the perfect side to the smoky grilled chicken.

While the food was undeniably delicious, the portion sizes were on the smaller side. I was still a little hungry by the end of our meal. Fortunately, Alycia came to the rescue with a great suggestion—a dessert of bingsu next door at Aftermeal Desserts!

Conveniently located next to the Korean restaurant, Aftermeal Desserts was the perfect spot to satisfy our post-lunch cravings. Hubby ordered two bingsu shaved ice desserts, each refreshingly light and packed with flavor. We also shared a decadent burnt cheesecake, which was rich, creamy, and simply divine.

Hubby also thoughtfully picked up takeaway Korean BBQ chicken and seaweed rice balls for Sherilyn, who wasn’t feeling well and stayed home. With almost a month of chronic sleep deprivation due to her demanding architecture course, she’s been falling sick frequently. It breaks my heart to see her so exhausted, sleeping on the floor or couch at home or in the university work studio to keep up with assignments. Yet, her determination is unwavering—she remains resolute in her choice to continue her architecture studies.

Yummy Korean rice balls. These taste better after grilling.

Steamed eggs.

Chicken wings with shrimps inside.

Cooking corn cheese fondue on the BBQ stove 

Bingsu and burnt cheesecake at Aftermeal Desserts. 

Iron Lady milk tea fluffy snow ice kakigori with QQ taro balls. Very, very refreshing and yummy!

Cass chose Biscoff Caramel Kakigori Showtime. We find the caramel too sweet.

The original burnt cheese cake and the passion fruit tea ice were nice.

Sunday Feasts: A Meaty Lunch and a Family Reunion

Last Sunday was a day filled with delicious food and family gatherings. For lunch, we decided to try out a new spot called Meat Attic. The menu was packed with hearty, meaty options, so we went all out and ordered their house-made sausages, a ciabatta beef sandwich, premium pork ribs that melt in the mouth (which came with a hefty RM168 price tag), and roast pork fried rice. It was a truly indulgent, porky feast—definitely not the cheapest lunch, but worth every bite.

Later that evening, we gathered with hubby's relatives for dinner at Buddies Restaurant in Cheras. His uncle's family, who were visiting from England, were the guests of honor, and it was wonderful to see everyone come together. The entire Sunday was filled with great food and even better company, making it a day to remember.

Meat Attic - Roast premium pork ribs that melt in the mouth alongside sauerkraut and fries (RM168). It looks like a small portion in the photo but the ribs were pretty chunky. We couldn't finish it and doggy-bagged the leftovers.

Meat Attic - roast pork fried rice.

Meat Attic - Ciabatta sandwich with full-bodied and flaky thick-cut salt beef.

Meat Attic - housemade garlic sausage with sauerkraut. 

Meat Attic - scallop pasta.

Meat Attic - mashed potato

Meat Attic housemade sausages. Their sausages are nitrate-free and filler-free, from plumply juicy pork bratwursts to aromatic lamb merguez.

Buddies Restaurant - pan-fried prawns, sauteed assorted vegetables, braised eggplant with minced pork, clay pot braised pork belly with salted fish.

Steamed fish, fried rice, sauteed kangkung with belacan, and pork ribs.

Claypot lamb, cha siu, and another portion of claypot pork belly with salted fish for the boys.

Hubby with his cousins from England and another cousin who just returned from the USA.

Sunday Lunch at Mitsu By Two Chefs

Two Sundays ago, we indulged in a truly sumptuous and luxurious lunch at Mitsu By Two Chefs Japanese restaurant. This outing was a much-anticipated treat, especially because it's one of the few times hubby gets to unwind and enjoy a meal with us during the weekends. His busy schedule means he doesn't always have time to dine with us, so he makes sure our weekend meals are enjoyable.

Hubby is always generous when it comes to treating us to good food. After a week of hard work, he loves to reward himself with his favorite dishes, and trying out new places and cuisines is one of his passions. This Sunday was no exception.

Here's a glimpse of the delectable feast we enjoyed:

Unagi Don Set - The Unagi Don Set is our family’s favorite as all of us love grilled eel. It came with perfectly grilled eel glazed in a rich, sweet sauce served over a bed of fluffy rice and accompanied with an onsen egg and pickled radish. 

Saba Set - The Saba Set featured succulent grilled mackerel that was both savory and satisfying. The fish was cooked to perfection, with a crispy skin and moist, flavorful flesh.

Bara Chirashi Set - The Bara Chirashi Set offered a vibrant and colorful presentation of assorted marinated sashimi pieces over sushi rice. Each bite was a burst of fresh, delicate flavors. Alycia chose this set. She mixed too much wasabi into her rice and each spoonful made her eyes and nose watery 😂

Mitsu Chirashi Don - The Mitsu Chirashi Don was another delightful bowl of assorted sashimi, but with a unique twist that only Mitsu By Two Chefs could offer. The quality and freshness of the fish were outstanding.

Tsukune and Charcoal Grilled Chicken Thigh - The Tsukune, or chicken meatballs, and the charcoal grilled chicken thigh were both deliciously smoky and savory. The Tsukune was juicy and perfectly seasoned, while the chicken thigh had a wonderfully charred exterior and tender inside.

Grilled Tebasaki Wings - The grilled Tebasaki wings were another hit. These chicken wings were crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, with a subtle seasoning that left us wanting more.

Grilled Sweet Corns - The grilled sweet corn provided a nice balance to the savory meats, offering a slightly sweet and smoky flavor that complemented the other dishes beautifully. We liked it so much that hubby ordered another portion.

Hamburg Don - The Hamburg Don featured a hearty hamburger patty served over rice, topped with a rich sauce. It was a comforting and satisfying dish, perfect for a hearty appetite.

Ikura Salmon Don Set - The Ikura Salmon Don Set was a feast for the eyes and the palate, with vibrant salmon roe and fresh salmon slices arranged beautifully over sushi rice. The burst of flavors from the ikura was particularly delightful.

Sushi Platter - Finally, the sushi platter was a true masterpiece, showcasing a variety of expertly crafted fresh sushi pieces.

We thoroughly enjoyed this luxurious meal, savoring each dish's unique flavors and textures. The only downside was that Sherilyn couldn't join us again, as she was busy rushing to complete yet another assignment. 

Dining at Mitsu By Two Chefs was a wonderful way to spend our Sunday afternoon, and we left the restaurant feeling satisfied. If you're looking for a place to enjoy authentic and luxurious Japanese cuisine, Mitsu By Two Chefs is definitely worth a visit.

Mitsu By Two Chefs

Address: Tower D, 01-10, Millerz Square, Megan Legasi, 357, Jln Klang Lama, 58200 Kuala Lumpur, 

Phone: 011-1633 2534

Mitsu Chirashi Don

Charcoal-grilled skewered meat and sweet corn.

Unagi don set - all the set meals came with appetizers of a bowl of super crispy deep fried fish, refreshing salad, and purple dragon fruit.

Hamburg don.

Bara Chirashi Set

Saba set

Ikura Salmon Don Set 

Aesthetically pleasing sushi platter.

Add on RM8 for a cup of coffee.

Tofu cheese cake - light and not too cloy or too sweet.

Sunday, 14 July 2024

Today is Day 4 post-laser surgery of my left foot to remove a viral wart.  Even though the doctor told me that I only need to keep the wound dry for two days, I am still keeping the wound dry for a few more days as I can't risk getting the wound infected. The hole from where the wart was removed is big, like a crater with oozing blood!

Walking on the tip of my toes is tiring as the wound is on my heel. Putting pressure on the heel/wound will cause bleeding and pain. My calf is also achy from tip-toeing for weeks, as is my entire body as I have to do some acrobatic stunts when I shower to prevent the bandage from getting wet 😅.  

On a more positive note, the bleeding is not as bad today, even though Alycia accidentally kicked the wound with her hard sneakers yesterday on our way out for dinner.  And why did she kick my wound? She was playing with her phone while entering the lift! 😣

That was so painful! And she got an earful from me for playing with the phone while walking.

Lunch today is at Seoul Korea, our favorite authentic Korean restaurant. Sherilyn did not join us because she stayed home to work on her endless assignments and then went to the dance studio. She's now learning how to draw floor plans and site layouts. Her assignments are also getting tougher now.

Our lunch at Seoul Korea. They serve the best Banchan (appetizers).

I brought a tiffin carrier and soup container (for the Korean ox tail soup) for the takeaway food for Sherilyn. 

Sherilyn's dinner of takeaway Korean. She also air-fried a piece of ribeye steak that I marinated yesterday.  Did I tell you that air-fried steaks are delish? And it's almost mess-free and free from scary oil splatters. I marinated the steaks with Lea & Perrins sauce, black pepper, soy sauce, garlic powder and spices.

Our Sunday Dim Sum Brunch at Elegant Inn Hong Kong Cuisine

This Sunday, we had dim sum brunch at Elegant Inn Hong Kong Cuisine, located at Menara Hap Seng. For once, we managed to have brunch before 12 noon as Cass didn't go to the skating rink for practice. Instead, she went on Monday morning, as the next day was a public holiday. What made this brunch even more special was that our three daughters were able to join us, making it a rare family gathering on a Sunday.

It was only when we reached the restaurant that I found out that Elegant Inn Hong Kong Cuisine was included in the Michelin Guide's Point of View list for the years 2023 and 2024. This recognition added an extra layer of excitement and anticipation to our meal. Knowing that we were about to dine at a Michelin-recommended restaurant heightened our expectations.

Hubby took the lead in ordering and went for the usual suspects that we all love: char siu pau, char siu so, egg tarts, siew mai, har gau, fish paste, stir-fried radish cake, Zha Leong (Hong Kong-style fried Chee Cheong Fun), Hong Kong-style shrimp toast, Malaigou, custard buns, steamed pork ribs, pork and century egg porridge, and lotus leaves rice. One dish that stood out was the deep-fried unagi spring rolls. Each dish was a delight, showcasing the delicate flavors and expert craftsmanship that Elegant Inn is known for.

While the dim sum spread at Elegant Inn was impressive and the quality of the food was undeniably high, I have to admit that I still prefer the dim sum at Xin Cuisine at Concorde Hotel. We found that several of the dim sum dishes tasted rather bland. 

Nonetheless, our Sunday brunch at Elegant Inn Hong Kong Cuisine was a wonderful experience, enhanced by the company of our three daughters and the relaxed atmosphere. It was a treat to dine at a Michelin-recommended restaurant and enjoy such a delicious spread of dim sum. 

Elegant Inn

02-01, 2F, Podium Block, Menara Hap Seng, Jalan P. Ramlee, Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, 50250, Malaysia