Food Review - Toh Yuen @ Hilton PJ

Name

Toh Yuen @ Hilton PJ

FoodChinese Cuisine (Halal) Buffet
Location
PJ

Getting there
The Hilton PJ is a prominent landmark along the Federal Highway.

You won’t miss it while you travel along the Federal Highway in either direction. Toh Yuen is located on the 1st floor at the back of the hotel.

Parking
Lots of parking in and around the hotel. So, don’t fret.

Service

Service from the Hilton is top-notch, as is to be expected from a world-class hotel.

Ambience

The decor and lighting are very well done for a place that is celebrating its 25th Anniversary. The place is old, but even so, it has its loyal fan base of diners.

Take some time to savor the décor at the entrance of the restaurant. It featured some quaint and dainty little Chinese tea-pots and a bonsai. There is also a large (6 footer I believe) & brightly lit marine fish tank behind the Dim Sum & Noodle Counter. This will be a great attention grabber for the kids and ornamental fish enthusiasts.

TasteThe food served tastes great, as one can expect from the Hilton. The prawns used for the Dim Sum and Butter Fried Prawns were fresh and had that unmistakable “bounce & crunch” in the bite.

I usually have some degree of reservation when it comes to Halal Dim Sum but I must say, the food done here had removed my reservations.

PresentationThe place is quite compact as the space is limited.

Variety

The variety is quite good for the price paid but when you are looking at it from the Dim Sum Buffet angle, then it is a little disappointing because there are less than 8 types of steamed Dim Sum:

- Yue Gow (Fish Paste)
- Pau (Dumpling)
- Har Gow (Shrimp Dumpling)
- Siew Mai (Meat Dumpling)
- Jue Cheong Fun (Steamed Rice Noodles)
- Hor Yip Fan (Glutinous rice in lotus leaf)

They make up for it with the deep fried variety & non-Dim Sum items which include:
- Fu Jok Kuen (Deep Fried Bean-Curd Roll)
- Wu Kok (Yam Pastry)
- Nai Yow Har (Butter Fried Prawns)

They also serve Honey Sea Coconut & White Fungus and Longan & Almond Jelly drinks, Peking Roast Duck (A staple item, and the chef prepares them in front of the diners at the counter) plus some other non-Chinese items like vegetarian items, jellyfish, baby octupi, cakes and ice cream for dessert.

Value for MoneyAs far as Dim Sum Buffets go, this is not the cheapest, as there are many that offer Dim Sum Buffets for under RM30 per person. However, you do get good quality service, ambience and food.

Overall

Good food with good service at affordable prices. I will definitely be making a return visit.

Food Review - New Formosa Restaurant

Name
New Formosa Restaurant (Jeannie Lee 019 3353 274)
Address
46, Jalan 2/24, 47300 PJ.
Food
Taiwanese Cuisine
Location
SS 2, PJ

Getting there
If you are coming from the Rothmans roundabout in Section 19, go along the way towards SS2. Go past the 2 traffic light junctions and immediately after, you will see another cluster of shop lots on your left, diagonally across from the RHB Bank or opposite the Mobil Petrol Station.
Parking
There is adequate parking as there are many bays available in front and at the back of the shop lots for diners. However, the scenario may be different during lunch.
Service
Service is prompt and they have enough wait staff to provide the level of attention and service diners may require.
Ambience
The place is extremely well kept, clean and brightly lit, with glass panels at the side walls. From the inside, you can’t tell that this place has been in operations here at the same premises for over 20 years.

Taste & Presentation The food is not only presented in a very attractive and creative ways (please look at the Steamed Mashed Yam w Pumpkin & Ginko Nuts picture and Crab with Black Glutinous Rice) but the dishes themselves are unique stories in themselves.
Many of them have a long history and the different incarnations they have each gone thru in the “Malaysianization” and the evolution (eg: less use of lard, fatty meats, organic ingredients, less sugar, etc.) of the dishes.
Variety
I’m not really familiar with Taiwanese cuisine but from what I was able to see, what can I say? I was totally blown away not only by the variety available but also the number of unique and creative types of preparation. I had the good fortune to sample the following:
- Bamboo Yam Rice
- Crab with Black Glutinous Rice
- Fried Asparagus with Ginko Nuts and Pumpkin
- Braised Pig Trotters with Seafood
- Hunanese Ham in honey Sauce & Man Tou
- Steamed Canadian Seabass Teochew Style
- Special 5-Season Combo
o Butter Eel
o Deep Fried Pig Intestines
o Garlic Prawns
o Jiang Nan Duck
o Popped Rice Crust with mushrooms & Seaweed
- Steamed prawns in herbal soup
Desert
- Sweet Yam in caramelized honey dipped in ice
- Steamed Mashed Yam w Pumpkin & Ginko Nuts
- Muachi in 6 flavors
Value for Money
If you are looking for something that is different and give you something that would pleasantly surprise you, this is the place to be. You can get a good variety in the dining packages that they offer, averaging RM50-70 per person. Good value.

Overall
Highly recommended. Please go and ask them for their house specialties.

For more blog entries on this place, you may visit these sites:

http://ipohwav3.wordpress.com/2007/07/27/new-formosa-restaurant-ss2-pj/

http://www.goeatout.com.my/Restaurants/Promotions/agentType/View/PropertyID/25562.aspx