nobu. 

the chef who journeyed from japan to peru traversing back to his homeland after a few years in argentina and finally settling down in the united states - nobuyuki matsuhisa.

a restaurant bearing its founder's namesake, spanning across five continents, serving dishes rooted firmly in its japanese roots fused with a whiff of southern american - the chef/restaurateur embodying his gastronomical journey in his creations.

a restaurant that i yearned to try since it found its scenic malaysian home on the 56th floor menara petronas 3 just earlier this year.

black cod miso. 

nobu without black cod miso is akin to "music without notes".

unbeknownst to me of its significance in nobu's history, i made my rendition to mimic the restaurant's signature dish several years ago.
- imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, after all. 

i enjoyed my craft but i wanted to try the fish at the heart of its creation. 

the hefty price tag of its famed dish (rm 165) warrants a special occasion, which meant my tasting gratification had to wait. however when my friend suggested the relatively affordable lunch sets at this japanese restaurant, i jumped at the suggestion as a preview of what could be.

with a dramatic 360 degree view of kl city skyline taking center stage, nobu takes on a classy minimalist decor, which were predominantly textured blonde wood furnishing and fixtures, echoed by the monochromatic colors of brown and beige for a simple finish - making way for the magnificent view and sunlight illuminate the space through the full length windows.

the lunch crowd was few which allowed us to pick a seat by the window to soak in the beautiful scenery and warmth of the sun to envelop us in its embrace. however, we were seated right below a speaker so the jazz music was a little louder than we liked. 

lunch sets :: sushi & sashimi | served with tempura, salad, rice, pickles and miso soup (with complimentary green tea and nobu biscuits) (rm 75)

a plethora of food staring back at me which made me smile, appreciating gleefully at the glistening colorful pieces of the fresh raw fish and scallop. i knew immediately i had to start with those, the main stars. 

p.s. considering this was NOBU, my expectations were higher while i held my experience here against my previous japanese dining experiences, including the ones i had in tokyo.

my first piece was the slightly sweetened tamago. slightly taken aback that it was still slightly cold resulting to a texture that was less fluffy. the thick cuts of sashimi slices were so fresh that it didn't really require any additional seasoning, where the meaty textures were a joy to the tastebuds.

on the other hand, the sushi had a mix bag of ups and downs. the rice were cooked just right (as were the bowl of rice) of separated grains but light on seasoning but i was hoping it was warmer to contrast the slices of fish. the scallop was torched lightly attributing to its slight textural contrast but the semi-fishy flavor as i chewed was almost a tad off that i wished i had more wasabi with it. 

out of the trio, i was saving the one that i was looking forward the most - the mackerel (aji) sushi, which was one of my unexpected favorites during my tokyo food hopping. consuming it all in a single bite, the green onion and the ginger was in the forefront before tasting the meaty fish. even though kept to a minuscule amount, the shaved ginger was dry that translated to an abrasive heat dominating the delicate flavors of the mackerel.


the tempura - a mostly crisp batter that coats the shrimp, a plump shiitake mushroom and the slice of pumpkin protectively. the mushroom was cooked just right, the shrimp was slightly overdone and the sweet slice of pumpkin was my definite favorite with the play of texture. the tempura coating on the shrimp was thicker than i'd like and it threw me off that while it wasn't greasy, i could still distinctly taste oil in the coat of tempura itself. however, the dashi dipping broth was delightful in umami punch that it brought the tempura assortment up a notch.




some of the side kicks made good impressions. the pickles were made meticulously that it tasted fresh (in a good way) which was great to cut through the rest of the dishes. the miso soup possessed an umami flavor profile with a hearty bean paste flavor with a smoky disposition, arousing a sense of warmth as the soup trickles down the throat. the salad however, was forgettable with just greens tossed in a asian vinaigrette.

lunch sets :: norwegian salmon crispy leaves | served with tempura, salad, rice, pickles and miso soup (with complimentary green tea and nobu biscuits) (rm 65)


it had the same essentials of the lunch set with a substitution of the entree. the entree was a chunk of crispy salmon paired with similarly lightly fried green leaves, atop the ponzu butter and embellished by vibrant ikura.


the salmon had a crispy skin but the flesh was surprisingly overcooked just ever so slightly - shaving off a little of the fish natural richness quality. the flavor profile was delicious with the sudden burst of flavor of the sea intertwined with umami from the ikura, against that light tartness of the sauce and the additional texture from the crispy leaves.


at the end of our meal, i'd almost forgotten about the nobu biscuits - it was green tea butter cookies sprinkled with sesame. it was sweet, buttery but really light on the green tea flavor so the bitterness was fleeting. it wasn't amazing but it was not bad.


lunch service is available on weekdays between 12pm to 2pm. while the ambiance (minus the loud music due to our choice of table) and service was good, i have to admit i was left a little disappointed by the food, more specifically with the mastery in execution even though the freshness and quality of ingredients were undeniable. perhaps it is my high expectations for nobu that has led me to nitpick on every little detail since it is a renowned fine dining restaurant. even so, i am still tempted to return to try out the black cod miso and taste how i fared against the original.

nobu kuala lumpur | location

level 56 menara 3 petronas
persiaran kuala lumpur city center
klcc, 50088
kuala lumpur
{opens weekdays (lunch): 12 pm - 2pm
mon - sat (dinner): 6 pm - 10:30 pm}

disclaimer this is written based on personal experience and opinion. experiences and taste buds may vary for others.

the hunt for deliciously authentic thai food in kl seems like a never ending herculean effort.
to find one with a modest price tag? that is an even more elusive feat. 

i miss delicious thai food where a delightful party of sweet, sour, savory, sweet or spicy coming together - and occasionally all on a single plateful of yumminess.


when go thai joined the food scene in ss2, it was instantly embraced warmly for its street food concept of the classic favorites from our northern neighbor.


brightly lit petite dining space clad in a monochrome of black and white as the foundation of the industrial minimalist style it adopts, seemingly aimed to inject a modern feel to the street food concept. the accent pieces of colorful glass soda bottles line on the shelfs against the wall and vintage tiffins as well as the usual suspects of thai ingredients occupies the other. it wouldn't have guessed it to be thai if it wasn't for the illustrated menu of familiar dishes.




adopting the open kitchen concept preparing its signature dish of khao kha moo for its stewed pork leg, i smiled reminiscing my adventure searching for the famous street food stall in chiang mai for that very dish not too long ago. the back of the restaurant housed the other kitchen where the staff was busy preparing the rest of the menu.


we were surprised by the waitlist even on a tuesday evening and ended up with a 15 minute wait before we finally got a table. but with hungry bellies, we had already decided our dinner menu even before we sat down at our table.



drinks :: cha nom yen [cny] | iced thai milk tea (rm 4)


one of the iconic drinks of thailand, typically served in three distinct layers of palm sugar, milk and strongly brewed ceylon tea. so i was a tad disappointed when it was served like it was any regular iced tea. however, after my first sip, it didn't matter - it was that favorite taste of milky creaminess with the fragrant caramel like sweetness that is unmistakably thai iced tea. i liked it.

signature rice dishes :: khao kha moo [kkm] | stewed pork leg with rice & egg ( rm 10)


this was a clear favorite of the diners - khao kha moo making its appearance on almost every table as if it is a mandatory must have. apparently one of the more popular thai dishes which i've not known about prior to my trip to chiang mai although it had the makings of a chinese dish. served with fluffy white rice, the stewed pork in a mix of succulent meat and prized gelatinous fatty pork skin with sides of half of a hard boiled egg, preserved mustard greens and chinese kale. add on a vinegary sweet chilli sauce with a hint of garlic that goes perfectly that elevates the flavor to another level.



i liked that the meat to fat ratio was higher, thus making it a tad more guilt-free pigging out. the stew gravy had a light soy sauce umami laced with a subtle hint of the spices and the savory sweet tartness of the preserved mustard greens cuts on the fatty elements.


soup at go thai :: tom yam seafood [tys] | seafood in white broth (rm 13)



tom yum is a delicious delight that ranks pretty high on my favorite soups list. that is when it is done right.

unfortunately, the one at go thai didn't make the cut. overly spicy, too sour, too light on the lemongrass flavor and it was missing sweetness to balance the other flavors in a complimentary way. the lack of flavor and fragrant herbaceous features that make it tom yum rendered the other elements moot. with two previous hits, we were rather disappointed by this miss that left us wishing we had ordered something else.

famous bbq :: moo ping (3 pcs) [mp] | charcoal grilled pork fillet (rm 10)



resembling a bigger version of satay, it wore the flavors of chinese pork jerky more fondly known as "bakgua" but with a moister and meatier texture. it was succulent with the addition of the pork fat to impart more flavor to the fillet that was cooked just right. the flavor profile was a charcoal bbq smokiness against the predominantly sweet marinade. seemingly another top pick of the diners that made to many tables.

with its street food concept, go thai has attracted the local food lovers who craves to relive their favorite food memories without having to make a trip to thailand. my dining experience was a mix of hits and misses but it brings a few special food that may not be readily available in other thai restaurants. perhaps it's worth a try to find that favorite street food that you miss from your thai vacation but i'd say give the tom yum a miss to avoid a disappointment.

go thai without going to thailand ;)

go thai | location

187 jalan ss2/24
47300 petaling jaya,
selangor
{opens tues - sun: 11:30 am - 9:45 pm}

disclaimer this is written based on personal experience and opinion. experiences and taste buds may vary for others.

rubberduck. 

the iconic bath companion that was inducted in the toy hall of fame in the year 2013 (bet you didn't know that ;) )

or that giant version that invaded the docks in many different countries. 

however, from the food sense point of view, rubberduck is the name of a petite cafe with a rustic ambiance located in plaza damas in hartamas.

its name reflects its whimsical simplicity with a cozy nature as echoed by the casual decor. its rustic open kitchen was bustling with the staff cooking up the brunch orders and the pastry chef working on sweet creations. the cafe is fronted by the wooden pastry display case where baked goods flaunted themselves gloriously, tempting the diners with promises of sweet endings and golden breads.


a few yellow rubber ducks made their mandatory appearances.


as well as a very special and delish guest appearance of the freshly home baked croissants.
in fact it might be one of the best ones i've tried thus far.

but first brunch.


modus operandi: choose your dishes, order and pay at the counter, pick a seat and the food will be served at your table.


breakfast: 9-12 :: scrambled eggs | with smoked salmon & toasts (rm 17)



smoked salmon had me at the mere mention of its name, almost every time. the lightly buttered bread pieces were toasted that resulted to a crispy texture but it didn't seem that the bread was freshly baked. the scrambled eggs were soft and somewhat fluffy with the right amount of seasoning. but the highlight has still gotta be the smoked salmon, which added an extra punch in the flavor profile with the bits of saltiness from the thickly sliced cured fish that still tasted fresh underneath the light layer of smokiness.




breakfast: 9-12 :: omelette with toast | roast chicken (rm 16)


starting with the same two pieces of toasts, they share the plate with the omelette and a handful of arugula. the omelette was unevenly seasoned with the eggs requiring more salt for taste but texturally it was great. the undressed rockets seemed out of place with its bitter and peppery bites and would have dominated especially with the lack of seasoning of the dish's main.


drinks :: latte (rm 10)


the coffee + milk was slightly over roasted evidenced by the bitter end notes with every sip but thankfully didn't linger but it did overtake the robustness of the coffee beans. didn't make it to my favorite cuppa list.


drinks :: tapping tapir | pineapple & calamansi (rm 8)


a refreshing carbonated sweet and fruity tartness of the calamansi against the tropical pineapple, {mh} had good things to say for its crispness in the flavor.

desserts :: lemon meringue tart (rm 12)




crowned with glossy white meringue, torched beautifully upon the tart lemon curd filled in a buttery, crumbly tart crust. the tart and sour punch of the lemon curd was mellowed by the airy, sweet meringue resulting to a melt-in-your-mouth texture against the buttery, crumbly tart shell. the ratio of sweet and tart was great which still resulted to an overall richness to the dessert.


pastry :: freshly baked croissant (rm 7)


this.



THE reason to eat at rubberduck.
this was possibly the best croissant i have had, thus far.


served with a slab of butter and berry preserves on the side, this freshly homemade croissant was like the golden snitch to the quidditch game. this golden pastry has distinct crispy layers that peels beautifully to encase the chewy, buttery, airy layers within. it was seasoned perfectly with the right amount of salt to impart a lovely balance against the sweetness with a pure tasty butter flavor. it was affection at first sight turned into love at first bite. a pure delight even just on its own but with the additional slab of butter, makes it a divine richness.


one minor drawback is the price tag. rm 7 is rather pricey for a croissant but bear in mind, it is parallel to its quality and deliciousness.



rubberduck may bring forth a line up of breakfast, brunch and lunch dishes but what will have me coming back is deliciously delicate pastries and desserts.

what's more, the one that will have me drooling is its freshly baked homemade croissants.

rubberduck | location

lot k--06, plaza damas
jalan sri hartamas 1,
kuala lumpur
{opens tues - sat: 930 am - 6 pm;
sundays : 930 am - 4 pm}

disclaimer this is written based on personal experience and opinion. experiences and taste buds may vary for others.