PHO VIET HUNG

The Master Chef at work

 Cut Green Chillies and Lime

PHO BO

 PRICE: VND 40000 / USD 2.00 

Near my neighbourhood 

PHO VIET HUNG on Le Van Sy Street, Tan Binh District. Located 5 minutes from Tan So Nhat International Airport, Saigon. Serves the best PHO BO (Vietnamese Beef Rice Noodle Soup) in my Neighbourhood. If I have a vote in awarding a Michelin Star to a Restaurant in Saigon, this one will be one of the top contenders!

LOCATION : 307 Le Van Sy, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

CAPTAIN MAKAN RATING: 4 out of 4 STRIPES

Kita Cafe - Saigon

Lime Juice PRICE: VND 35000 / USD 1.75

Ca Phe Sua Da VN (Vietnamese Iced Coffee) PRICE: VND 48000 / USD 2.40

   

Just 2 blocks from Saigon River, next to the Old Duxton Hotel, Kita Cafe is a charming cafe located in an old French/Vietnamese Shoplot. 2nd floor has a balcony terrace that overlooks one of the main street of Downtown Saigon. Friendly attentive waiters, speaks good english. Its a bit of France in Saigon, Vietnam.

LOCATION : 39 Nguyen Hue, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

CAPTAIN MAKAN RATING: 3 out of 4 STRIPES  

SKY 57, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

croque monsieur 

Curry Laksa

Slow boiled eggs, bonito soya sauce, prosciutto

Located on the 57th Floor, roof top of Singapore's Iconic Marina Bay Sands Resort/Casino, SKY 57 is a great place to have one's Breakfast. On the elevator ride up to the 57th floor, I was thinking to myself, "yes a restaurant with a great view, food will be half baked lah~!" 

Boy, how wrong was I !!!

The pictures above speak for themselves.

PRICE: SGD 36.00 / USD 30.00 (Breakfast Buffet) 

LOCATION : Marina Bay Sands Hotel, Singapore

CAPTAIN MAKAN RATING: 4 out of 4 STRIPES

Ah Yat Seafood - Singapore

Ah Yat Chilli Crab

Located next to the Singapore Turf Club, bordering the affluent Bukit Timah neighbourhood, Ah Yat Seafood has been a MUST GO for myself whenever I visit my relatives in Singapore. No Price posted for the Chilli Crab this time as it is seasonal and based on the weight of the Crab. 

You will not be disappointed!

LOCATION : Turf Club, Singapore

CAPTAIN MAKAN RATING: 4 out of 4 STRIPES

La Fenetre Soleil - Saigon

Vietnamese Springrolls

PRICE: VND 60000 / USD 3.00

Passion Fruit Crepe

PRICE: VND 120000 / USD 6.00

Ham Cheese Egg Crepe

PRICE: VND 140000 / USD 7.00

A hidden Cafe/Bar/Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City. Corner of Pasteur & Ly Tu Trong, the main entrance is so plain that you will have to purposely look for this place if not you will just walk by without noticing it. Up a flight of wooden stairs on the second floor is an oasis from crazy HCMC traffic.

Try the Passion Fruit Crepe. Try the Passion Fruit Crepe. Try the Passion Fruit Crepe!

LOCATION : 44 Ly Tu Trong Street | District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

CAPTAIN MAKAN RATING: 4 out of 4 STRIPES

Banh Mi - Staple of Vietnam

One of the numerous Banh Mi stalls in Saigon

Pate, bottom left of picture, a key ingredient in a good Banh Mi

Banh Mi Photo 46!

Located opposite Sunwah Building on Nguyen Hue Street just a stone throw away from Saigon River, Banh Mi Photo 46 is one of my favourite place to satisfy my Vietnamese Sandwich cravings. Although located along HCMC's busiest street, the stall is kept clean, uses quality ingredients and you are always greeted with a friendly smile by the owner operator!

PRICE: VND15000 / USD 0.75 

LOCATION : 46 Nguyen Hue Street, Ben Nghe Ward, Dist 1, HCMC, Vietnam

CAPTAIN MAKAN RATING: 3 out of 4 STRIPES

I LOVE YOO!

(from the top clockwise) You Tiao (fried dough), Dry Scallop Porridge and Tau Fu Far (Sweet Bean Curt)

I LOVE YOU, I love YOO!

I was in Kuala Lumpur recently for the Lunar New Year celebrations. For you guys that are familiar with Chinese culture or should I say Malaysian culture, any festive season is an excuse to MAKAN(eat in Malay language) to the MAXIMUM! All this MAKAN MAXIMUM has unsettled my sensitive beer belly.

I LOVE YOO! is a God sent with their Healthy, Simple Chinese comfort food. Plain taste, great ingredients and of course cheap price! 

PRICE: RM 3.90 / USD 1.30 (You Tiao & Porridge)

LOCATION : Mid Valley, Mid Valley City, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

CAPTAIN MAKAN RATING: 4 out of 4 STRIPES

Caphe Sua Da on Motorbike

Motorbike Coffee Vendor in Saigon

No Waiting time, Mr Phin himself will serve you

Barista on Wheels

I was walking along Downtown District 1, Saigon and 2 yellow motorbikes caught my eye. Now, there are millions of bikes in Ho Chi Minh City, but its the first time I see CAPHE SUA DA (Vietnamese Iced Coffee with Milk) sold on bikes! If you are visiting Saigon, walk by this street corner and Mr Phin the Barista on Motorscooter will be more than happy to serve you           Vietnam's Un-Official Official drink!

On his Yellow Motorscooter!

PRICE: VND 17000 / USD 0.85

LOCATION : Sunwah Tower, Nguyễn Huệ, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 

CAPTAIN MAKAN RATING: 4 out of 4 STRIPES

Beef Rendang Vietnam Airlines KUL-SGN

Beef Rendang with Acar (Malaysian Pickled Vegetable)

Peach Cake 

Shrimp Salad

Vietnam Airlines Business Class Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN). I am not a fan of airline food, but Vietnam Airline's choice to serve Rendang on board brings a wide Grin to my face. The Rendang is slightly dry for my taste, Acar is a bit sweet. I like the Shrimp Salad and the Peach cake.

Overall a good distraction for a bored passenger for the 1 hour 35 minutes flight.

PRICE: VND 7500000 / USD 375.00

Ticket Price Varies according to season

LOCATION : Vietnam Airlines Airbus A321, C class cabin 

CAPTAIN MAKAN RATING: 3 out of 4 STRIPES

Yut Kee Hainanese Chicken Chop

Hainanese Chicken Chop

PRICE: RM 8.00 / USD 2.70

Old Style Kopitiam 

Yut Kee Kopitiam est.1928

3rd Generation family run, one of the oldest Kopitiam (Coffee Shop cum restaurant) in KL. My Fiancee and I only had time to try their Hainanese Chicken Chop and it was quite good. Being a fan of all things OLD, I am very happy that 3rd Generation owner, Tawkeh (Boss) Mervyn Lee is keeping the "OLD Atmosphere" Kopitiam's tradition alive.

LOCATION : 35 Jalan Dang Wangi, 50100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 

CAPTAIN MAKAN RATING: 3 out of 4 STRIPES

Banana Leaf Rice

A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT

PRICE: RM 7.00 / USD 2.30

Curry Chicken

PRICE: RM 5.00 / USD 1.60

Deep Fried Sotong

PRICE: RM 10.00 / USD 3.30

Papadam

PRICE: FREE with Banana Leaf Set

Now, everyone that is serious about their Banana Leaf Rice and live within 5 Miles of Bangsar, KL will know SRI NIRWANA MAJU famous Banana Leaf Rice. If you don't know of this Gem and is residing within 5 miles radius of Bangsar get your butt off the floor in your cave and head direct here!

The Banana Leaf Speaks for itself.

LOCATION : 43 Jalan Telawi Tiga, Bangsar Baru, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 

CAPTAIN MAKAN RATING: 4 out of 4 STRIPES

Rayong Thai

Thai Chilli Sambal with Omelette

PRICE: RM 9.90 / USD 3.30

Tom Yam Chicken Soup

PRICE: RM 10.90 / USD 3.60

Rayong Thai restaurant is a jewel nestled in the Taman Desa Neighbourhood. Simple Thai food, no complicated sounding dishes, no stuffy waiters, no need reservations and the best is the Owner Operator Chef and Wait Staff are all Thais! Original lah!!!

LOCATION : Jalan 5/109F Taman Danau Desa, 58100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 

CAPTAIN MAKAN RATING: 3 out of 4 STRIPES

Starbucks Original Chicken Pie

Original Chicken Pie. Do not waste your hard earned Ringgit on this. I like Chicken Pies in general and if a cafe has on it's Menu any variety of chicken pies, be it the more Malaysian Curry Chicken Pie, the mat salleh version of Chicken Pot Pie etc etc. I will try it.

Pie crust is too flaky. Pie Filling is non existent.

Do not waste your time and money on Starbucks "Original Chicken Pie"

LOCATION : 1 Utama Shopping Centre, Bandar Utama, Selangor, Malaysia 

 

PRICE: RM 7.50 / USD 2.50

CAPTAIN MAKAN RATING: 0 out of 4 STRIPES

Sarawak Kolo Mee

Kuching KOLO mee. Yes I am from Kuching, Sarawak. Yes I will be Bias in my views about kolo mee. Truthfully, No bullsh*t, if you are from Kuching and you do not have a choice, this Kopitiam's version of the sacred staple of Kuching will do lah... if this store is in Kuching, it will not stay open for long.

 LOCATION : Restaurant 18, Jalan Desa Bakti, Taman Desa, 58100 Kuala Lumpur

 PRICE: RM 5.00 / USD 1.70

CAPTAIN MAKAN RATING: 2 out of 4 STRIPES (if no choice in KaYeL)

                                0 out of 4 STRIPES (if in Kuching)

CHEAP WINE but NOT CHEAP TASTE

Drinking in Malaysia is expensive. I am no wine expert. My knowledge of wine is limited to only 2 primeval response - "I like it" / "What the F**K was that??!"

The Patagon from CHILE, a cabernet sauvignon is in the "I like it" category.

I have drank wines that are 10-20 times the price but this one win hands down. You will be surprised with the price.

 LOCATION : KLIA The ZONE Emporium DUTY FREE SHOP

PRICE: RM32.00 / USD 10.50

(Airport Staff/ Flight Crew gets additional 5% OFF)

CAPTAIN MAKAN RATING: 4 out of 4 STRIPES

Assam Laksa AEON JUSCO

Nothing is more satisfying than a bowl of hot, sour and pungent Assam Laksa!

I have the pleasure to sample Midvalley Megamall's AEON JUSCO own brand of this Malaysian Favourite!

LOCATION : 3rd Floor AEON JUSCO Midvalley Megamall, 

PRICE: RM5.90 / USD 1.90

CAPTAIN MAKAN RATING: 4 out of 4 STRIPES

Banh Flan

Bánh Flan in Vietnamese or Caramel Flan. French Origins with a Vietnamese Twist. A beautiful sweet dessert topped with crashed ice enjoyed usually along road side stores in humid Ho Chi Minh City.

LOCATION : 7-9 Ton Duc Thang District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

PRICE: VND 10000 / USD 0.50

CAPTAIN MAKAN RATING: 3 out of 4 STRIPES