Friday 30 May 2014

Kedai Kopi Din Tokyo

Breakfast at Din Tokyo

Last weekend I went to Kota Bharu. Yes, again!
The first thing I did was breakfast at Kedai Kopi Din Tokyo. Didn't get the chance to drop by the last time I was in town so I wanted to see what was so hot about this place.

Taste - #iLike
Price - Very cheap. Only RM11 for 2 pax.
Ambiance - Friendly, small kedai kopi. Try to get a table outside, else sit inside, bar-style and watch Din Tokyo in action. Only on long bench instead of stool.


Kedai Kopi Din Tokyo
Sounded like 'telur taliban' to me but I'm pretty sure the pakcik meant something else.

Halia madu Kedai Kopi Din Tokyo
My honey ginger :)

Kedai Kopi Din Tokyo
Kopi O'

Nasi tumpang
Nasi tumpang

I have no idea how the pakcik can prepare drinks/eggs, layan his customers and stay so friendly. Must be exhausting. But it was totally amusing to watch la.

Around the 'bar' ada many local food. Pilih je la mana you want. Nearest to me was nasi tumpang, sempat took one then a guy came and tarpao the rest :(

Give this place a try. Seats are limited so be here early!


Thursday 29 May 2014

Ridel Hotel, Kota Bharu

I booked directly with Ridel Hotel via website as I wanted their Executive Room. You can also make reservation via Booking.com but room options is limited.

Rider Hotel facade
Ridel Hotel facade


Check-in was a breeze, just find 'Reception' sign under Riverfront Hotel- same place. No wonder I couldn't find that hotel online! Arrived at 2pm, gave the booking number & left RM200 deposit. 

Executive room was comfortable, just enough space for 2 of us. Peeked at other rooms, a bit cramped for me. If you just want a bed to sleep in, the standard rooms are acceptable.

Ridel Hotel's executive room
Bed and wardrobe

Ridel Hotel executive room bed
Comfy, clean bed

Executive room decor in Ridel Hotel
We moved the table next to the sofa so I don't bump against it & bruise myself

Ridel Hotel's executive room decor
Flat tv with selected Astro channels, mini bar and mirror. Am a happy gal.

Shower room in executive room Ridel Hotel
Clean shower room
Ridel Hotel executive room decor
Convenient for business travellers

Ridel Hotel executive room decor
Pretty lighting


Clean sheet, clean shower, clean room. VERY basic toilettries. Oh, could use a couple more power points though. It wasn't very convenient to switch off the mini bar in order to boil water (kettle, bottles water and coffee & tea supply provided).

View from room in Ridel Hotel
View from my room. Hello Sg. Kelantan!


Guests get welcome drinks (coupons) and breakfast (coupons) which can be redeemed at the hotel's restaurant, Shark Lounge. Your welcome drink should be redeemed on your check-in day. I went to get mine around 3 or 4 pm so the lounge was pretty empty =p

Keep these safe!

Ridel Hotel's welcome drink at Shark Lounge
Welcome drink - redeem at Shark Lounge

Chicken Bites at Shark Lounge
Extra order - chicken bites. You can give this a miss.

Shark Lounge interior
Shark Lounge interior decor

Shark Lounge interior
Comfortable, clean enough

Shark Lounge interior
Cashier

View from our table


Breakfast was just okay but hey you're in Kelantan! Go to one of those yummy warung instead. Unless you're lazy like us.

Breakfast at Ridel Hotel
No idea what rice was that. Love the porridge! Others are okay

Ridel Hotel breakfast buffet in Shark Lounge
Buffet area. Not much to choose from.


Check-out was very quick & efficient. It is very likely that I'll stay in Ridel again :)

Not yet sunset in front of Ridel Hotel




Saturday 24 May 2014

Puncak Mutiara Cafe


This place is a hidden gem!
Thanks lah orang Penang sorok tempat ni tak mau share dengan tourists.

Puncak Mutiara Cafe or fondly known as restoran kandang kambing by the local is situated on mainland. So, you can bring your family and singgah after you're done vacationing on island. Nice way to bid farewell to Penang :)

  To get here, just Waze the cafe's name. Don't worry when you reach the small road passing people's houses, no #TrickedbyWaze. Jalan dia memang sempit and lalu rumah orang. Drive carefully and do give way to vehicles from the opposite direction.

  If you come during the day, you'll see that the place is surrounded by goat farm. Makanya tidak hairanlah bahawa their specialty are fresh goat meat dishes such as whole roasted kambing (teringat my friend Alia), lamb chop and sup (soup) kambing.

Taste - #iLike
Price - Fair. RM80+ for 4 pax
Ambiance - Casual to semi-formal dining. Family-friendly. Good for romantic dinner as well.

Signage at the entrance of Puncak Mutiara Cafe
Nah! Dah sampai

Puncak Mutiara Cafe entrance
Had to snap a few pics to get the signage visible :(

After dropping your passengers yang malas nak jalan at the entrance, you can go park your car at the open area opposite the cafe. Plenty of spots available, tak payah rebut-rebut tau!

Puncak Mutiara Cafe parking area
Ample parking, bright lighting

Nah, nama pun 'puncak' (peak) so expect a little 'climbing'. OKU (invalid person), pregnant women & elderly people need not worry as they give leniency on drop-off. 

Puncak Mutiara Cafe
Yang sihat walafiat sila jalan sikit 

Puncak Mutiara Cafe Info
See! Breakfast je tak boleh kat sini. Lain boleh.

Pick a table and someone will come to take your order. Suka hati lah you want to sit in aircond room, bersila, in the gazebo, main hut, tepi swimming pool or macam mana. Then you'll be given a card. Siapa nak belanja boleh sorok card ni siap-siap.

Puncak Mutiara Cafe card
Bring this card to one of the cashier booths to make payment

It was supper for us and we ordered roti arab + sup kambing, lamb chop, butter prawn, cendawan mutiara (mushroom fried in batter), root beer float and cendol. 

Cendol at Puncak Mutiara Cafe
Cendol and kak Rozanne's roti arab & soup kambing

Roti arab & sup kambing at Puncak Mutiara Cafe
AD's roti arab & soup kambing. He had tom yam & rice earlier and he still managed to polish this clean.

Lamb chop at Puncak Mutiara Cafe
Kak Shikin's lamb chop & kelapa pandan

Butter prawn and cendawan mutiara at Puncak Mutiara Cafe
Butter prawn and cendawan mutiara
You can give these dishes a miss.

After we had done eating and catching up, we decided to explore the place. It's big weyh! Plenty more tables further in. We were tempted to sit and order another round =P

Puncak Mutiara Cafe Signage
Where do you want to go first?

Puncak Mutiara Cafe compound
For those who prefer round tables or sitting on the floor

Puncak Mutiara Air conditioned Room
Choose a table in the air-conditioned room for RM5/table

Puncak Mutiara Cafe compound
Watch your kids, please!

Puncak Mutiara Cafe
More gazebo

Puncak Mutiara Cafe
Tables and chairs in all nooks and crannies

Puncak Mutiara Cafe swimming pool
Hello swimming pool~

Puncak Mutiara Cafe dinner by the pool
For RM500, you can have candle light dinner here. Seriously

Puncak Mutiara Cafe aquarium near owner's house
An aquarium at the side of the owner's place

Puncak Mutiara Cafe owner's house
Owner's place behind us. No rental available according to one of the staff :(

Puncak Mutiara Cafe seating area
Casually formal dining area :p
  
Puncak Mutiara Cafe gazebo
Up up and more gazebos

Next to Puncak Mutiara Cafe
Your soon-to-be dinner. Hehe.

Supper at Puncak Mutiara Cafe
Cheeky face dapat catch up with ex-teammates

Remember to put this on your Penang To Eat list! If you love fishing, you can fish here as well while your kids go and pet the goats and rabbits. And walk dalam-dalam sikit and get better table, don't be like us.



Friday 23 May 2014

Serai Café


Datang dengan harapan, sampai kat kedai...

Haha. My fault actually, for having high expectation after reading a couple of blog reviews on Serai CafĂ©. Perhaps due to the name and restaurant category in four square. Memang I expected steakhouse la- middle range at least.

Taste - #iLike
Price - Affordable. RM22.30 for 2 pax
Ambiance - Family-friendly, average restaurant

I was looking for a halal cafe that opens till late and this place came up in the search. Located near the Penang Tokong Ular (Snake Temple), it is fairly easy to find the place.

We had chicken tom yam with rice, chicken maryland and wheat grass ice blended. I blur sekejap masa abang waiter tanya nak juice or blended pasal he spoke Kelate ( >.<)

Serai Cafe chicken tom yam
Chicken tom yam

Serai cafe wheat grass ice blended
Wheat grass ice blended #iLove <3

Serai Cafe chicken marryland
Chicken maryland

I don't eat veggie but sajalah I ordered the wheat grass. Sedap weyh! Tasted a bit like pandan. Tom yam was okay, nothing special. I quite enjoyed the chicken maryland (comes with oriental gravy). Crunchy!

A nice place to come with family or friends. No frills but decent food lah. Just try to get a table away from smokers especially if you bring small kids here.