WTF Restaurant (What Tasty Food)

Are you ready to be immersed in a plethora of spiciness and be taken away by the authenticity of North Indian cuisine? Then come to WTF! It really leaves you saying "wtf" after the meal.. in a positive way, of course! The good thing about North Indian food is not only authenticity in its taste and spices, but its natural ingredients (mock meats are rarely used, or not used at all). Food is served with garlic and onion, and without eggs. Ready to sweat? Remember to wear lightly as it is not only spicy, but the place is hot! 

1) Paneer Sizzler

three types of marinated paneer, topped with gravies and served with a portion of rice, a plain naan, roti or kulcha

As seen in the picture, there are 3 sets of paneer (9 in total) which are marinated with different spices leaving a different aftertaste.  The paneer has been grilled to perfection, making it slightly solid yet fragrant and chewy, and immersed in a thick, creamy, aromatic and slightly spicy sauce! 

P/S: I have a weakness to paneer 

Rating: 10/10

2) Dahi Puri 

Crispy puris stuffed with a variety of ingredients, chutneys and yoghurt

Already well conveyed in the description above.  The puri is crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside (like bread, or is it bread?). It is filled with creamy yoghurt, onions, and chutneys giving a sour and sweet flavour! The mint sauce gives it an extra kick. 

Rating: 10/10

3) WTF's chef special pasta (used to be called pink pasta!)

Created by the owners, you will taste a combination of different sauces and herbs and spices in this unique dish

A truly special pasta - so special that it becomes difficult to describe it. Basically, it is creamy but not cheesy, has a tomato undertone flavour with a variety of secret spices to tantalise your tongue and senses!

Rating: 10/10

4) Kachori Crunchy 

pastry stuffed with an age-old recipe of spiced lentils

A crispy kachori, which requires you to break a small hole and insert the ingredients at the side. The spiced potato and lentils, mint sauce, and chilli sauce makes this a truly authentic and spicy, yet appetising snack. 

Rating: 8/10

5) Wtf Vada Pau 

The famous Indian burger with a plump potato patty and home-made spices from the streets of Mumbai (not served with fries/ wedges)

Not for the sensitive tongue and stomach - extremely spicy! Or is it my fault for asking them to make it extra spicy? The spiciness is has a peppery feel, please order water or request for mango lassi (Look at the huge green chilli as evidence)! The spiced potato patty has a good chewy texture, making it a truly spicy, chewy burger!

Rating: 6/10

6) WTF hara bhara subzi 

Green peas and potato kebabs cooked in a creamy spinach gravy 

Fried mashed potatoes with green peas, coated with creamy spinach sauce make this a filling, hearty dish! Breaded and slightly crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside! Rich with potatoes and spinach! This can get quite "jelak"/glutted after a few kebabs, suitable for sharing and for the spinach lover. 

Rating: 8/10

Address: 98, Lorong Maarof, Bangsar, 59100 KL
Contact: 019-2617070
Website: http://wtfrestaurants.com.my/

Tian Ka Vegetarian, Melaka

In the little town of Melaka, therein lies a quaint Tian Ka Vegetarian restaurant ("TKV") that keeps me coming back for more! TKV is an authentic Chinese restaurant that caters to the Melaka heritage food - Baba Nyonya. I ordered 4 dishes and this only costs around RM40 for me. The dishes are authentically spicy and zesty, but I believe you can tell them to reduce the spiciness, but this defeats the purpose of coming here! Stick with bread and butter, will you?

1) Ikan Bakar (translated to Burnt Fish)

served with assam sauce, squeeze the lime and request to add petai to add the kick to this dish!

Sorry you're only able to see the sauce, but this gives it a more mysterious feel doesn't it? The fish is not literally burnt, but grilled and baked to perfection together with the lightly sweet and spicy concentrated assam sauce. The fish is slightly chewy and its slightly compact texture is a minor flaw. Nonetheless, a good Ikan Bakar that is grilled to your expectations!

Rating: 9/10

2) Tom Yam Soup
generously served with tofu and vegetables

Lots of spiciness, tanginess and zestiness all in a soup! Similar to the non-vegetarian tom yam soup in terms of its flavour, spiciness and concentration. It is different in that it does not have a fishy smell (from seafood) making it even more delectable!

Rating: 10/10

3) Claypot diced chicken 

served with vegetables 

The sauce is slightly salty and sweet but the mock chicken pieces are disappointing. In my opinion, the chicken has an overbearing mock/unnatural taste that failed to absorb the essence from the sauce. I suggest using monkey mushrooms as an alternative, but for a low price, what more can you ask for?

Rating: 6/10

4) Sweet potato leaves
with sambal sauce

The vegetables are fresh and well-cooked except for the sauce. The sauce is too sweet, and not spicy at all. There is also concentrated sweet chunks of sambal that makes it "jelak"/glutted on my first bite! Maybe reposition the description to potato leaves with sweet sambal sauce? 

Rating: 4/10

Address: No. 250E, Jalan Semabok, 75050 Melaka
Contact: 016-311 8370
Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tian-Ka-Vegetarian-Rest/250927438402702

Kwang Ming Vegetarian, Klang

Sometimes, don't you just want to wake up and have chicken rice? Wait.. Oh no, I'm a vegetarian! Not to worry, the solution is Kwang Ming Vegetarian Restaurant, Klang! The chicken rice often runs out after 11a.m. or 12p.m., please go early or give them a call especially during the 1st or 15th of the lunar calendar (where Buddhist followers eat vegetarian). Also, beware - the owner has mentioned to me before that on certain occasions, a customer would purchase and take-away all the chicken rice! It is cheap at a very reasonable price of around rm6 per pax! The dishes listed out below are served without eggs, garlic and onion and are suitable for vegans.

1) Chicken rice

with choice of chicken, char siew or duck 

I am in love with the texture of the rice itself - it taste exactly like the real chicken rice (except that this does not use chicken stock/broth at all!).  The chicken rice alone gives an aromatic buttery and broth-like aftertaste, and this is enhanced with the addition of their light soy sauce (broth-like) and dark soy sauce (I believe the sauces are homemade as it is not salty).  You can also choose between duck (left), char siew (middle), and chicken (right). My favourite is the char siew, followed by the chicken and duck. The char siew is soft and chewy, and emits an aroma of char siew flavour (closest to the real thing compared to chicken and duck).  As seen in the picture, the chicken is made of beancurd rolls with a crispy layer of beancurd sheet) - suitable for those who does not like mock meat.  The duck tasted bland and the texture is very rubbery and difficult to swallow - a definite no to protestors of mock meat! 

Rating: 10/10

2) Curry laksa

I have only tried this once, and the soup is disappointingly oily, bland, lack the flavour of curry and isn't spicy enough. The ingredients and noodles are average, but isn't curry laksa all about the soup? 

Rating: 4/10

3) Yam cake 

This is another dish I often call together with the chicken rice.  The yam cake is "ricey", and not too rubbery or chewy compared to many yam cakes I have tried elsewhere.  The "ricey" texture is perfectly moist, nicely clumps up together to form a thick and heavy aromatic yam-flavoured cake which leaves one full and gratifying! The usual meat version has dried shrimps or prawns in it.  Over here, there is no vegetarian shrimps or prawns added, but well-seasoned with their black sweet sauce and chilli sauce. Would have been perfect if the yam cake is served warm. 

Rating: 9/10

Address: No. 8, Jalan Pasar, Lorong Gudang Nenas, 41400 Klang, Selangor 
Contact: 03-3343 1598
Website: None

Zen Xin Vegetarian, Penang

Zen Xin Vegetarian ("ZXV") is the reason for my many visits to Penang. Ok, besides the culture & heritage, the view of the beach and..."lengchais" of course! The dishes do not contain eggs, onion or garlic. I always order similar dishes on my visit to ZXV because they never disappoint me.  The wind may change direction, you may grow fatter, but ZXV continues to retain its reputation and standard by continuing to deliver scrumptious food!  

1) Baked Nyonya Oats Fish 
partially eaten nyonya fish due to my "fight OR fight" response!

The chewy and slightly fishy taste of the soya-baked fish (wrapped in a layer of seaweed sheet) immersed and baked in a slightly sweet and spicy assam sauce makes gives you a delish experience and you can never be satiated!

Rating: 10/10

2) Sour plum chicken

The crispiness of the skin, juicy and chewy interior make this dish an unforgettable one! Taste very much like real fried chicken but without bones and healthier! They come either without the sour plum or with the sour plum sauce. I recommend adding the sauce as it gives it extra oomph, and sweetness, while adding some moist to the "fried-ness". Please do inform them to add more sour plum sauce as they may sometimes give you too little of it!

Rating: 9/10


3) Abalone mushroom with sweet and sour sauce and pineapples

The fresh abalone mushrooms are well battered, fried, and saturated with sweet and sour sauce - not too sweet nor sour! The fried abalone mushrooms retain its crispiness despite the sauce. The sauce and the pineapples add a boost of appetising feel to this dish!  

Rating: 9/10

4) Claypot tofu with mushrooms and capsicums 

Tofu is soft, fragrant and fresh, coupled with a variety of fresh mushrooms and capsicums in light brown soy sauce resulting in a hearty, healthy, yet yummy dish! 

Rating: 8/10

5) Claypot fried tofu with mixed vegetables

Provides an alternative hearty, healthy and yummy dish and similar sauce to above dish no. 4. I prefer the tofu in dish no.4, as the fried tofu slightly buries the natural soy fragrant from the tofu.  I also prefer the mushrooms in dish no.4 over the mixed vegetables because the choice of mixed vegetables make it convoluted and indistinctive. Perhaps suitable to those looking for varieties of nutrients from different vegetables?

Rating: 6/10

6) Home-cooked java mee

made with love and selfless-ness

Somewhere in the kimberley street of Penang, lies a retired chef who now only cooks for her loved ones. This is her signature java mee - enough tomato sauce, spice and ingredients to make you want two plates to feel satisfied!  

Rating: 10/10 - or maybe I am just bias?

Zen Xin Vegetarian, Penang
Address: No. 42, Jalan Nagor, 10050 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Contact: +604-228 6828, 016-563 4383
Website: https://www.facebook.com/zenxinvege

Retired chef, Penang
Address: secret
Contact: secret
Website: secret

Barat Vegetarian Restaurant, Bangsar

I chance upon this restaurant, and was completely taken aback to find a fine dining Mediterranean-styled vegetarian restaurant in Malaysia! Most of their dishes do not contain egg, and some contain garlic or onion but customisable and alternative vegan options are available. Not only did it satisfy my desire to empty my wallet once in a while, it definitely left my tummy full and pampered.  I went on both occasions, once during its opening (RM30 per person) and during the Chinese New Year week (RM88 per person). They have decided to continue to serve tasting menu, and also ala carte for the less adventurous. Generally, their dishes taste either salty or sweet and very flavourful, which is well-suited for its small portions. I requested from them to send me their Valentine's menu but they forgot to do so! Maybe I should have been more loving to them <3! Take note that calling them for reservation or enquiry purposes will cause immense frustration as most of their workers do not speak proper English. Please learn Hindi before you choose to call them.

Barat vegetarian has now officially launched and their tasting menu is at a stark price of RM125! The dishes are similar to the opening tasting menu below, except for some minor differences. The new dishes are Cauliflower and blue cheese soup, and Oreo cheesecake. Please avoid tasting menu if you're not a fan of cheese! 

Caution: Please do not continue reading below if you are not adventurous! 

Opening tasting menu 

1) Pumpkin soup with bread (top - tinged with heat of ginger and flying spoon) and Cauliflower soup with blue cheese (bottom)

Both of the soups are thick, creamy, sweet and salty! Perfect for sensitive and non-sensitive taste buds! The gradient of the blue cheese is just enough for the cheese lover but makes you full already with just the soup - prepare an empty stomach! 

Rating: 7/10

2) Grilled peppers stuffed with cheese, roasted plum tomatoes stuffed with prunes and herb oil

Every bite of the bell pepper gives you a strong cheesy texture but light cheesy taste, and every bite of the tomatoes give you an oozing sweetness from the prunes.  On my second visit, the tomatoes were over-cooked, had a soury taste and ladened with oil. 

Rating: 8/10

3) Patatas bravas (fried potato cubes) and homemade spicy tomato sauce with herbs

The patatas bravas tasted normal to me, but the sauce was infused with different kinds of herbs and flavour which makes it interesting with every bite. The sauce complimented the patatas bravas well! 

Rating: 7/10

4) Aglio Olio
with mushrooms, zucchini and grilled lemons

Just like any other aglio olio.
Rating: 4/10

5) Fried Cheese with spiced jam 

The sweet but lightly peach jam complimented the cheese balls which were generously ladened with cheese (cheesy texture but light cheesy taste). Interesting combo! Suitable for cheese lover like myself!

Rating: 8/10

6) Pistachio carbonara with sun-dried tomatoes 

My favourite dish of the day! Not like any ordinary carbonara. The cheese is infused with pistachio flavour, leaving only a subtle savor of cheese behind. The tomatoes were chewy, sweet and grilled to perfection! Perfect blend to prevent you feeling "jelak"/glutted. The second time I tried this the tomatoes were sour. I guess it's based on your luck, or charm?

Rating: 10/10

7) Couscous laced with curry, coupled with glazed baby carrots, grilled asparagus & pomegranate dressing

The carrots were too small, thin and not juicy enough. Couscous tasted rather dull to me, however I appreciate the quality and the well-thought preparation in making this dish. 

Rating: 6/10

8) Cucumbers bite with hole 

with pesto, tomato and cheese, and spicy tomato sauce with herbs 

I like the combination of different flavours with every mouthful of the cucumber bite. 

Rating: 7/10

9) Fried mandarin oranges 

with currants, rocket leaves and sesame dressing

The fried mandarin oranges were served warm and juicy with every bite. The sweet sesame dressing complimented the citrus flavour of the oranges, working together with the fresh rocket leaves and currants leaving your taste buds confused, yet captivated. 

Rating: 8/10

10) Watermelon Gespacho

It does not taste like any ordinary watermelon. Infused with other natural ingredients, resulting in a non-alcoholic proper cocktail with a tinge of bitterness. A healthy way to down your sorrowness away!

Rating: 8/10

11) Red velvet with vanilla ice-cream, chocolate sauce and a tinge of peach (top) and Oreo cheesecake, mango ice cream and a tinge of peach (bottom) 

The red velvet and oreo cheesecake are amazingly fresh, lightly sweetened yet aromatic, and melts in the mouth. This is really well prepared considering that it is eggless!

Rating: 10/10

Chinese New Year tasting menu

Generally, I did not think their chinese dishes were great,  it's a mediterranean restaurant after all? Ratings are relative to the price, quality and taste. 

1) Chinese Yee Sang 

The ingredients were thoughtfully prepared, however there were too much wakame seaweed making the yee sang taste too briny, and overwhelm the taste of all other ingredients. 

Rating: 4/10

2) Golden bag infused with vegetables

A good attempt to making a golden bag! Too much sauce and tasted conventional.
Rating: 4/10 

3) Cucumber and crackers bite

Similar to the cucumber bite above, but replaced with crackers. Good if you love snacks. I prefer the cucumber bite as it was juicy and refreshing!

Rating: 5/10

4) Nian gao (Chinese New Year's cake) 

The nian gao was well made with layers of yam and sweet potato.  I find the pesto-like sauce together with nian gao abit odd but interesting for the adventurous and multi-cultural persona! 

Rating: 7/10

5) Chocolate brownie with vanilla ice-cream, jellies and tinge of peach

The chocolate flavour in the brownie was too subdued and and too light, making it taste bland - akin to a sponge cake. Perhaps a bigger portion would suffice?

Rating: 4/10

For the non-adventurous, please read here!

Ala carte

I decided to order similar dishes to the above as I truly miss them! They serve other dishes in addition to the dishes shown above. Further, they informed that they will continue to add more choices to their ala carte menu, and change their tasting menu after their launching on early April. 

1) Pistachio carbonara with sun-dried tomatoes 

Similar to the description in the tasting menu section above, but the ala carte version makes you feel "jelak"/glutted halfway into this meal! It is less salty, but the cheesy texture and the sour sundried tomatoes make you feel you had enough of it. Suitable for sharing with another dish, else, prepare a jug of water next to you!

Rating: 9/10

2) Pumpkin soup with bread

The pumpkin soup is less salty than the one served during tasting menu, and a very hearty, lightly pumpkin-flavoured and creamy soup! Goes well with the free wholemeal and white bread that is served with vinegar and olive oil. Any additional bread will costs about RM2.90, which was disappointing as I thought it should come free considering the price of their food. However, the good-natured worker that day gave me additional bread for free, perhaps due to my friendly personality! Don't forget to smile :D!

Rating: 10/10

Address: No. 17, Taman Weng Lock, Lorong Kurau, 59100 Bangsar, KL
Contact: 03-2284 2119
Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Barat/1552264595086787

Fortunate Coffee, Solaris and Jalan Ipoh

LN Fortunate Coffee, Solaris ("FCS") and Fortunate Coffee, Jalan Ipoh ("FCJI") are vegan restaurants that specialise in healthy food.  Their menu are more/less similar, FCJI is relatively cheaper, maybe due to its location.  They have a signature clock in both shops that often intrigue and inspire me to eat more to be joyful, cheerful and.. fortunate!  How can vegetarianism not be good for the mind, body and soul?

LN Fortunate Coffee, Solaris
1) Tozza Sourdough Pizza
with pineapple, carrot, red and green capsicums

This sourdough pizza is recommended by the waiter and is healthy, juicy and feeling. There is also a mayonnaise-based homemade sauce which blends the ingredients together with the pizza. I have tried this for 3 times on my 3 separate visits and to be honest, it can get quite "jelak"/glutted if you have it on your own. Suitable for sharing!

Rating: 7/10 

2) Pour Over (Hand Drip) - Brazilian

The coffee was smooth, flavourful, and has a lingering jasmine and nutty flavour aftertaste.  It is served hot.  I personally like black coffee (without adding sugar and milk).
Rating: 9/10

3) Dutch Coffee (Cold Drip) - Kenya

Similar to the hand drip above, but comes with a wine glass and ice cubes. This setting allows it to slowly cool the slightly bitter Kenyan coffee, which gives you a cooling sensation with every sip! For those who wants a stronger taste of coffee, I would recommend the hand drip over the cold drip. 

Rating: 8/10

4) Ice cream mini bun - trio 
sourdough mini bun with dairy-free ice cream

The buns and ice-creams provide a light, not-so-sweet healthy yet indulging form of dessert. The ice-creams were lightly flavoured with sesame, green tea, and vanilla in three different buns. May not suit those who prefer a stronger and sweeter taste.  Some says the ice-creams all taste the same! To prevent feeling "jelak"/glutted, please share the ice cream - sharing is caring!

Rating: 7/10

5) 3 in the afternoon
Soy milk with unsweetened coffee ice cubes

The combination of the coffee ice cubes with the thick soy milk gives it a bittersweet flavour - currently my favourite coffee of all time.  Some says it taste like cendol.  Unfortunately, the coffee ice cubes takes a long time to melt in the cold soy milk - patience is a virtue! 

p/s: I have a weakness for soy milk.  

Rating: 9/10

Fortunate Cofee, Jalan Ipoh
1) Charcoal Burger 
home-made charcoal bun & soy based mayonnaise, served with salad & baked potatoes

This is the best vegetarian burger I've ever tried. The vegetarian patty is well cooked, and taste somewhat similar to the KFC burger but definitely a healthier alternative.  A place to go to when my cravings for KFC kicks in! The wedges are also well-baked and all the dishes go well together with their home-made tangy orange-like sauce (as seen in the sauce plate above). The charcoal burger is also listed in the menu for the Solaris branch, however it is currently unavailable till further notice. 

Rating: 10/10

2) Soy milk with unsweetened coffee ice cubes

This is similar to the Solaris branch, except that the ice cubes comes in different shapes and the soy milk is heated and steamed which creates foams.  The coffee ice cubes melt nicely in the well heated soy milk - the hot and cold sensation and the well-absorbed flavour of the coffee in the soy milk make it better than the one in Solaris.  

Rating: 10/10

3) Couple

Who is that lucky girl next to the hunk?!
Rating: Incomprehensible... 

LN Fortunate Coffee, Solaris
Address: No. 16, Jalan Solaris 4, Mont Kiara
Contact: 03-6206 3349
Website: https://www.facebook.com/LNFortunateCoffee

Fortunate Coffee, Jalan Ipoh
Address: H-G-3A Ground Floor, Plaza Riverwalk, 3rd Mile Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur
Contact: 03-4040 0305
Website: https://www.facebook.com/fortunatecoffeemy

Ashley's by Living Food, Bangsar

Ashley's by Living Food ("ABLF") caters to carnivores, omnivores and herbivores. ABLF caters to healthy, yet scrumptious food.  I shall focus on the herbivorous food. ABLF has plentiful of vegetarian, and vegan choices - suitable for those vegetarians/vegans  who crave western food. 

1) Ratatouille Congoogly (Vegan)
melted provolone cheese on baked rigatoni in a creamy pumpkin ratatouille (zucchini, tomato & mushroom) sauce

This is by far the best ratouille dish I've ever tried.  The rigatoni (tube-shaped pasta) is well baked and immersed in a creamy, flavourful sauce that melts nicely in one's mouth and taste bud!  The mixture and composition are also perfectly balanced, with adequate amount of vegetables, pasta and sauce, balanced enough to not make you quit vegetarianism! Worth its price and taste!

Rating: 10/10 

2) Truffle Omelette (Vegan)
Beaten free-range eggs cooked with tomatoes, mushroom, provolone cheese, black garlic & truffle oil.  Served with sliced fruits, toast & choice of butter OR nut cheese.

This tasted like normal omelette to me, perhaps truffle oil is in itself quite tasteless.  The nut cheese in the sauce plate (top right in the picture) also tasted rather bland.  Good if you want a healthy, simple dish.  I was rather disappointed as there were egg shells in the omelette.

Rating: 5/10

3)  Living around the world platter (Vegan)

Consists of a vegan platter, smoothies and dessert.

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Suitable for those who likes raw food - beetroot, cucumber, green beans, mushroom foei gras, mini burritos and salad.  I'm not a fan of raw food so it tasted rather bland to me.  I was quite impressed with the mushroom foei gras which tasted quite like the real foei gras with its creamy and thick texture.  Smoothies tasted nice and healthy.

Rating for food and drink: 5/10

The dessert platter above comes together as part of the platter and consists of chocolate buttermilk waffle, salty apple caramel gateaux and living chocolate tart.  The desserts are also sold individually in the menu. All the desserts were tasty and not too sweet to my liking.

4) Banana buttermilk waffle

Served with homemade ice cream, oat crumble and homemade raspberry sauce.

The combination of interesting ingredients in the waffle made it special with every bite. Definitely worth trying!

Rating: 9/10

5) Salty apple caramel gateaux

Apple and nuts coated with salty caramel made from macademia and medjool dates.

The sauce tasted like peanut butter sauce - way lighter, and more interesting!

Rating: 9/10

6) Living chocolate tart

Dark chocolate tart made with smooth cocoa nut cream in a chocolate macademia crust.

Thick and smooth texture - suitable for those who craves chocolate!

Rating: 9/10

7) Humans 

Not for sale - sorry! Guess which is me? :D

Rating: 10/10

Address: No. 11, Ground Floor, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar Baru, 59100 KL
Contact: 017-325 3663
Website: http://www.ashleys.my