Sanga Japanese Restaurant, Kuching

From the Kingdom of Thailand to the Land of the Rising Sun, Japan...I greet you Yoi ichi-nichi!  I don't normally go for Japanese food for it is not my cup of tea.  But Sanga, a Japanese Restaurant at Jalan Chan Chin Ann, Kuching was where my friends and I ended up at last Christmas.

Maneki Neko beckoning us to enter the restaurant

What we ordered:

Shisamo Furai (Deep Fried Pregnant Fish)

What can I say?  The Shisamo Furai was so crispy and had no distinctive fishy smell even without being bathed with lemon juice.

As for the main dish, we ordered Unagi Don set and Chicken Teriyaki set.  Each set came with a bowl of miso soup and two slices of watermelon.  The unagi and chicken were well-marinated;  the herbs used were not too overpowering so as to overtake the original flavours of the unagi and chicken.  

Unagi Don set

Chicken Teriyaki set

Japanese Kimchi

Kimchi is a well-known pickled dish in Korea.  Why did it end up in a Japanese restaurant?  Could this be the Japanese version?  But I couldn't tell the difference.  To me, it tasted like...well, the Korean kimchi!

Yakitori

Skewers of chicken dipped in barbeque sauce and grilled to perfection.  That's Yakitori for you.  The chicken used for the yakitori was incredibly succulent that juices oozed out with each bite.

Ebi (Prawn) Tempura

Kraaaakkk krraaakk...This sound filled the air as we sank our teeth into these deep fried prawns.  I believe skills are required in order to make a good tempura batter.  This crisp treat is great for nibbles.  Oishi!

Edamame (Steamed soybean)

Having edamame is just like having groundnuts with beer.  One healthy dish that we ordered.

Lidako

Lidako is my favourite dish.  I like this steamed and well-marinated little octopus.  It was just sooo...chewy.  Every bite was just so delightful.  A must-try!

Hey, what is having Japanese food without ordering sushi and sashimi, right?  We ordered a random selection of sushi and sashimi.  The most important part of sushi is the rice.  Here, the rice is sticky enough just to hold all the ingredients together and not too dry.  Then  the ingredients, must be fresh.  Very fresh.

Unagi Maki

California Maki

Ebiko Sushi

Mixed Sushi

Salmon Sashimi

For a reasonably priced Japanese food, this is one restaurant to go to.

Pondok Laguna @ Crown Square, Jalan Pending

Pondok Laguna, located at the Ground Floor of Crown Square, Kuching is an Indonesian restaurant that serves many mouth-watering traditional and authentic Indonesian cuisine.  For those of you who thrive on igniting your taste buds with anything spicy, this is the place for you.

The interior is simple, with some decorations reflecting the Indonesian culture.  A bit dimmed though for the lighting mimics the pelita.

I have made numerous trips back to this place since I was first introduced to it last year.  For I am a hot & spicy food lover, the food ordered is mostly spicy.  Real spicy, I must emphasize.

Sate Campur (Mixed Satay) - Lamb, Chicken & Beef

Sate Campur is not something that I will recommend.  Each satay actually has its own gravy, hence, when the gravy for the lamb, chicken and beef satay get mixed together, you won't be able to taste the distinct flavour of each.  Go for individual sate doused with individual sauce instead.

Ikan Kerapu Bakar

The ikan kerapu was perfectly grilled and the chilli sauce was sweet and so spicy that it could burn your lips.  Just one word to describe it...SEDAPPPPP (delicious)!  It has been a 'must-order' on my every visit.

Paku Belacan

Paku is wild fern in English while Belacan is the shrimp paste.  When the two are combined, the result is: Yummy!  This paku was perfectly stir-fried, just how I like it to be.  Firm and crunchy, the taste and texture were testament enough to its freshness.

Belado Terung (Salted Brinjal with Chilli Sauce)

Yet another spicy dish, the belado terung.  Taken while it is still hot could stimulate the nerve endings in your mouth and tongue.  Then slowly, you could feel beads of perspiration forming.  :D

Ayam Betutu (Chicken Cooked with Herb Bali Style)

The herbs blended so well with the chicken, and together, they guaranteed you more complex flavours.  It was rather dry though.

Teppan Sambal Belacan Hasil Laut (Sizzling Pan Seafood)

Cuttlefish ring, small prawns, fish are the seafood you will find in the sizzling pan when you order this dish.    And..Oh my, it was truly appetizing!  The sauce was flavourful, infused with aromatic herbs and spices.  Simply irresistible!

Lumpia

Lumpia or spring rolls come in 5 pieces per plate.  I don't know what is the filling.  Everything was so finely minced and well-combined that I couldn't tell what the individual ingredients are.  I'll make a mental note to ask the next time I pop by the place.  These spring rolls tasted good.  The rolls were crispy on the outside and were not oily.

Gado-gado

Gado-gado is an Indonesian vegetable salad (blanched kangkung and bean sprouts, fried tofu, tempe and emping) served with peanut sauce dressing.  The vegetables might vary.  If you like Indian rojak, you are going to like this.

If you are planning for some events to celebrate or to just have simple meals with family and friends, do consider Pondok Laguna.  You won't regret.  That is if you're a hot-and-spicy food lover.

Satay House, Jalan Rubber

I'm inclined to think that there's something about traffic jams that makes us think of nothing else but food.  On the 3rd day of Raya, my friends and I were on our way to Pasir Pandak for a sunset shooting when we sensed a massive traffic jam ahead of us as traffic crawled to a snail's pace.  Not wanting to be stuck in the jam, we made a detour. And guess what we decided to do after our failed Pasir Pandak mission?  Have dinner at Satay House at Jalan Rubber!  

At first glance, this restaurant did not quite create an impression and it looked rather deserted.  Upon entering, we noticed that only one of the tables was occupied.  Only much later that people started pouring in.  

The dishes here are reasonably priced.  We believe that must be the reason this restaurant enjoys such good patronage.

We ordered the set meal, and the restaurant's signature dish, the pork satay.  The set meal consists of 5 dishes enough for 5-7 people.  All that for less than RM60.

Kailan with Salted Fish

The kailan dish was simple and wholesome.  The kailan was fresh and crunchy.  The salted fish provided a subtle rather than overwhelming flavour.

Kung Po Chicken

This dish which is a classic dish in Sichuan cuisine did not only look tempting, but tasted superb.  We were expecting a fiery, numbing and flavourful dish actually.  It turned out to be a tad sweet but flavourful nonetheless.  I like.

Tofu

A simple dish, this was satisfying.  The tofu was lightly fried.  The chunks of chicken breast, sliced button mushrooms and mixed vegetables added character to the flavourful sauce which was poured over the fried tofu.

Curry Fish

Rich in taste but not spicy enough for me who likes hot and spicy food.  And they were mighty generous with the Lady's Fingers aka Okra which looked a little undercooked but the texture was just right, I must say.

Stew Pork Leg

I'm not a proponent of anything fatty.  Lucky for me, there was some lean meat that I got to savour.

Pork Satay

Not the best but not bad!

Overall, we had a truly satisfying meal.  BurrRpp... (Pardonne moi)

Magna Carta

I was cruising through the city when I decided to have a magna cenae.  Now, where could I go for a realllll magna one?  Why not try Magna Carta, the little voice in me whispered.

Magna Carta (Latin for 'The Great Charter'), the fusion cuisine restaurant is owned by Dino Bidari, the owner of previous Magenta (the wooden restaurant hidden along Jalan Nanas which is now history).  Located strategically at the Old Court House overlooking the Kuching Waterfront and the Dewan Undangan Negeri, Magna Carta is surely a force to be reckoned with by those in the F&B industry.

My friend and I ventured into this restaurant for a Raya Eve celebration.  I find this place quite captivating in its simplicity.  The space within is well-used, and it's accentuated by pieces and pieces of antiques.

We chose to sit outside at the courtyard as it was a warm night.  This place is not air-conditioned.  Just a few ceiling fans to keep you cool.  Ordering our food was quite an experience.  Steps away from the entrance was the blackboard menu.  Standing in front of the blackboard menu, eyes moving keenly, we placed our order.  And we were momentarily transported back to when we were in school.  O memories of yesterdays flooded back.

We settled for the Magenta Lamb Shank, Salmon Mango Salsa, Caesar Salad, Honey Dew Juice and Watermelon Juice.

The Honey Dew Juice and Watermelon Juice...highly refreshing and light.  Just what you need on a very warm night.

Honey Dew Juice & Watermelon Juice

Not long after our drinks were served, came the Caesar Salad.  (Yes, service was fast, I must say)  Freshness is what people look for in a salad.  And that's what we got.  My verdict:  Good! (Just that I think the pricing was a tad on the high end for something as simple as Caesar Salad *smiling sheepishly*)

Caesar Salad

Next came the Salmon Mango Salsa.  "Here, salmon is called Sulaiman", said one of the staff who served us, jokingly.  The salmon was rather overcooked.  That was the first impression I got when I took a bite of just the salmon.  But eating it together with the mashed potatoes was a different story.  Just one word to describe it: Perficio!  And don't you think it was quite artfully garnished?  My verdict:  Recommended.

Salmon Mango Salsa

The Magenta Lamb Shank made its grand entrance next.  Just look at the size of the portion.  Big enough to satiate our appetite.  And the lamb was tender and juicy.  The gravy was thick and flavourful.  For a while, with every bite came "Mmmmmm...".  My verdict:  Highly recommended.

Lamb Shank

We left feeling full and satisfied.

Glossary:

Cenae - dinner

Perficio - perfect

Dim-sum @ Joyous Shanghai

I woke up with a start.  Hmmm...was I dreaming?  Did I make it up?  I thought I heard my stomach drumming.  To the tune of "悦上海, 悦上海..." I jumped out of my bed.  The joyous feeling written all over my being.  I knew just what I was going to have for breakfast.  Yes, dim-sum.  Dim-sum at Joyous Shanghai Restaurant.

The restaurant is on the 2nd Floor of Lok Thian Restaurant, Jalan Padungan.  Stepping in to the restaurant, you will be greeted by some Shanghai oldies.  The place certainly looks bright; the walls are adorned with Chinese paintings.  For those who like antiques, the rosewood furniture will be quite a feast for the eyes.  Such a nostalgic ambience!

The menu made me drool, and I settled for some of these yummilicious dim-sum:

Chee Cheong Fun with Prawns.  You don't think it is made from real pig intestines, do you?  :D  This is actually a thin roll made from rice flour, filled with fresh prawns.  Upon serving, soy sauce is poured over it.  Just one word:  Tasty!  But Joyous Shanghai's version would have been tastier if it were served with some sambal.  A dollop of sambal for every biteful will go a longgggg way.

Chee Cheong Fun - Prawns

Phoenix Talons (Chicken Feet).  Ordering chicken feet is a must for me whenever I go for any dim-sum outing. ;)  This is deep fried chicken feet which later is simmered with sweet sauce and black bean.  This dish was a little too sweet for my liking though.

Phoenix Talons (Chicken Feet)

Siew Mai.  The first time I sank my teeth into one of these, I thought it was rather bland.  But slowly, the flavor built up.  Just your ordinary siew mai this one.  Nothing extraordinary about it.

Siew Mai

Har Kow.  Look at the skin.  Thin and translucent.  Soft.  The texture makes you long for more.  The fillings, i.e. the prawns were fresh and not overcooked.  This is very good!

Har Kow

Szechuan Dumplings.  This dish tasted rather bland.  The chef was not very generous with the Szechuan pickled vegetables;  so little there were that I feel this dish shouldn't be called "Szechuan Dumplings".  More pickled vegetables and this dish will be perfect!

Szechuan Dumplings

Chee Cheong Fun with Char Siew.  Had the char siew been roasted long enough, this dish would be superb.  

Chee Cheong Fun - Char Siew

Char Siew Bun.  The skin was white and soft.  The filling was flavourful.  But my advice is to savour this last as it is very filling.

Char Siew Bun

Joyous Shanghai is one of the very few places in Kuching that serves dim-sum in a very delectable and palatable ambience.  For your next dim-sum adventure, you might want to try out this places.