Oriental Cravings

Oriental Cravings, located in the Rainforest section, is a semi open-air, al fresco-styled dining restaurant that combines the old kopitiam charm with contemporary minimalist aesthetics. Service is informal and speedy. The ambience is simple, accentuated by retro decoratives like charming vintage lamps, old family photographs, floral Malaccan Nyonya tiles, and vintage collectibles reminiscent of the days of old Malaya.

This was probably my tenth visit to this eatery after many months of not visiting it, and finally remembered to photograph some of the items offered by this non-halal restaurant.

Charcoal-roasted Segamat coffee with milk and ice was nice but nothing exceptional. There used to be another drink item, 'cham' (coffee-milk tea mix), which I found was a lot nicer and satisfying.

Charcoal-roasted Segamat coffee was a better choice as it was slightly more fragrant but might not appeal to non-coffee lovers.

Toast bread with butter and kaya was mediocre. The fragrant kaya (coconut-egg jam), however, was sufficiently sweet (though I would have preferred it to be smoother in texture), and that blended well with the saltish butter. Often referred as yin-yang by the Chinese, such simple snack, more often than not, gives very satisfying pleasure as one enjoys it with coffee, or tea :)

One of its signatures, the roast pork curry laksa that I had came with thick soup and few pieces of siew yuk (roast pork), and tasty red chillie-shrimp sambal paste. Priced at RM13.90 per bowl, though quite a generous portion, the laksa was only mediocre. The taste was not at all impressive, and definitely not a match to some of the laksa sold by hawkers in the northern states, namely Perak and Penang.

Stewed pork in black soy sauce with rice looked adn smelled really good when it was served up. The lean-fat pork chunks were soft and tender, and pork lovers would relish feasting on them with the tasty and fragrant gravy.

Another signature item, the rice wine chicken mee suah (wheat flour vermicelli) came steaming hot, and the chinese rice wine fragrance crept up our nostrils. The generous use of chinese rice wine in the soup rendered the soup rich with alcohol without an overpowering taste.

Generally, the pricing of the dishes are pricey for the standard and quality with exception to a few items such as the above. This eatery can be a once-a-while option on the list of places for eating out.

Oriental Cravings

359, Ground Floor (Rainforest section, New Wing)
1-Utama Shopping Centre
Lebuh Bandar Utama
Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Tel: 603-7727 2581/7726 3801
Business Hrs: 10am-10pm Daily
(Non-halal)

Sweet Basil Restaurant

My expectation of a Thai restaurant was that appetiser such as mango kerabu was a must on its menu. It was on the menu of Sweet Basil Restaurant in SS2, on the same row as the former Informatics College, which had long turned into a place called The Cave. I would order this appetiser at each Thai restaurant that I try, and when I asked for it, it was not available. My heart sank with disappointment, and I could not hold my tongue to sarcastically comment to the waiter on the non-availability. In its place was the Thai fish cakes.

Thai fish cake with lemongrass and french beans would have been a lot better had they been thinner. The chopped french beans in the cakes had played down the fragrance of lemongrass and rendered them bit chinesey.

Chicken tom yum was reasonably good as it was not too spicy, which diners with lower tolerance would enjoy.

Asparagus with chillie and shrimp paste was not too bad and good thing the asparagus was not too soft.

Sliced beef and basil in oyster sauce was really good. Beef was tender and succulent and well flavoured by basil.



Red ruby waterchestnut was the saving grace to my dinner as the shaved ice was extremely fine that it melted in the mouth the moment was each spoonful entered.

Sri Siam

This basic humble looking homestyle restaurant has been around for many years in SS2 PJ (corner lot, on the same row as Eng Seng Heng (ESH) on the other end) , with regular patrons frequenting the place pretty often. Garnered numerous good comments from many diners, it was time to try it out.

Grinded red and green bird's eye chillies was good; spicy and appetising

Kerabu Mango was not too bad, it would have been better with bit more sourness added to it and the shredded mango crunchier.

Though ordinary, the stir-fried bean sprouts with salted fish was well done.

Sri Siam soup was clear, spicy and sour soup with mixed seafood of squids, prawns, and fish. Serving was perfect, no more, no less.

Larb gai was an unusual refreshing and interesting chicken dish served with mint leaves, sliced onions, cubed cucumber and lime juice dressing.

Red ruby waterchestnut dessert was good with lots of the red rubies and the right tinge of sweetness. A great end to dinner, anytime.

Soong Kee

Restoran Soong Kee is a humble looking house-convert restaurant in Seri Kembangan that serves home-style chinese dishes.

Far Guat Lung, literally translated means Boneless Dragon is a signature dish. Made of fish paste that is stuffed into fish skin and deep-fried, one could not tell that the fish is boneless at first glance.

Homemade steamed beancurd served with minced pork and thick gravy

Fish head curry is delicious and the curry itself would be yummy even with plain bread

Sei Tai Tin Wong or the Four Heavenly King is a dish of stir-fried twisted cluster beans (aka stink beans), aubergines, long beans, and okras with prawns, onions, chillies in sambal paste

Steamed chicken is fresh and tasty with meat tender and sweet

Gu Lou Yok is stewed pork with gravy that goes extremely well with man tou (plain chinese buns)

Chefs in the open kitchen at the side of the house-restaurant

Front of the restaurant

Location: 97, Jalan Sekolah SK3/10
Seri Kembangan
43300 Selangor
Contact: 012-2341177/016-3537707
Business Hours: Daily