Songkran Celebration & Media Preview of dimsum

In conjunction with its Songkran campaign this month, video streaming service dimsum hosts a special media preview at STREAT Thai restaurant, Bangsar South. As the video-on-demand service with the largest Thai content offering in Malaysia, dimsum aimed to further promote Thai creativity and culture in Malaysia, as part of its Asian content focus.

The event is honoured by the presence and speech by Minister Counselor Mr. Amnat Phalapleewan from the Royal Thai Embassy. Among the cultural activities arranged for this occasion include dessert making of Khanom Chor Muang (Steamed Flower Dumplings) and Khao Neeo Mamuang (Mango Sticky Rice), traditional costume wearing, and traditional rice craft-making.

Halal Dim Sum at Dodo Dim Sum and Bowls, Subang Parade

A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to try out the halal dim sim and boat noodles menu at the all new Dodo Dim Sum and Bowls in Subang Parade. Dodo Dim Sum and Bowls is a part of Ri-Yaz Global Good Brands, a subsidiary of the Ri-Yaz Group. Aka the same group that owns Dash Resorts Langkawi.

We were treated to a cosy setting upon entry with bright artworks donning the walls. As we slid into our table booth, the waiter immediately came over with glasses of refreshing lemongrass drinks and a quick explanation of what we will be dining on that night.

3 Pet Cafes to Visit in Bangkok

They say when in Bangkok, shop. Unless you're a frantic animal lover who constantly needs some furkid therapy to survive the hustle and bustle of the busy city. Well, lucky you because the pet cafe scene is just purrrfect (hah!) in the city and most are easily accessible via BTS. If you're looking for a place to rest your weary feet after a long day of walking or just want to get your furkid fix, here are three animal cafes (in no particular order) which I visited on my recent trip to Bangkok in Dec 2016.

1. Caturday Cat Cafe

Cats cats cats! So many cats in one room just running and snoozing all over the place. I was in search of a place to rest my feet and kill time without spending a bomb and discovered (via Tripadvisor) Caturday Cat Cafe, just a BTS train ride away from Siam. Caturday Cat Cafe was the kind of place that you could visit regardless if you're in a group, a couple or just flying solo like I was that day.

Boran Classic Thai street food Seapark review

A new Thai cafe has opened up in Seapark within the vicinity of MyBurgerlab, the Maybank nasi lemak and Shell station there and it is called Boran cafe. Strangely enough, this is the only Thai spot in this area with the closest being Thai Camp and Go Thai, a 5 minutes drive away.

Anyway, a quick visit during lunch on a weekday found a near packed cafe that was clean, neat and with walls decorated with old signage. Quite cool.

Go Thai, SS2 review

SS2 is foodie haven, mainly the center area of it where the food court was but outer side, especially the row of shop facing Jalan SS2/24, tend to be a bit quiet at night for food options. This merely allowed one particular Thai eatery to stand out against the quiet row and that is Go Thai.

As per its name sake, it literally invites you to go for Thai food and it doesn't disappoint with a menu of Thailand's popular street food and dishes. Diners are instantly enticed with the sight of the cooks stirring away at the large pot of pork stew or chopping away at the huge juicy piece of roasted pork leg. Space was rather tight within the shop and the most spacious seats were the ones right at the entrance in front of the open kitchen section upfront. 

Bangkok 2014 - Street Food Hunting

Besides shopping for clothes and weird snacks, Bangkok is also known for awesome reasonable street food at every nook, canny and corner of its lively city. Once I decided to walk from MBK center to my hotel in Wireless road just so I could see what the streets had to offer. And it was a lot. I ended up eating so much that I was stuffed by the time I reached my hotel. I supposed I did burn off some of the calories I was consuming.

So on my previous trip in Dec 2014, I took to the streets and malls again and went food hunting with a checklist in hand. If you're ever in Bangkok in need of a quick fix of food, here are few quick bites to look out for. 

Bangkok 2014 - SabX2 Braised Pork Rice, Pratunam

There was one place my sister was particularly insistent on eating at and that was Sabx2 Wanton noodles and Braised Pork Rice in Pratunam. Except she didn't know its name. She kept calling it that pork rice place with the awesome pork rice. Luckily she knew the way there. 

When we got there, a queue greeted us. Mind you, the place opens at 9am, we were there at 920am and the place was already jammed packed. Fortunately we only had to wait 5 minutes before the shop auntie attended to us. 

Bangkok 2014 - Victory Monument Boat Noodles

Boat noodles and Bangkok are two things that have always gone hand-in-hand and Victory Monument is the heart of boat noodle feasting in Thailand's capital city with its famous Boat Noodle Alley and one of the most easily accessible by public transportation.

We decided to indulge in our noodle craving on our way to the Husky cafe in the morning and found ourselves spoiled for choice with three different boat noodles shops along the canal at Victory Monument. 

Bangkok 2014 - Khrua Nai Baan restaurant, 94 Soi Langsuan Rd

Khrua Nai Baan restaurant along Langsuan road was my father's favourite dining spot when he was based in Bangkok and I guess that love rubbed off on his daughters as we could not resist visiting Khrua Nai Baan on our recent Dec 2014 trip.

True to its translated name (Home-cooked) Khrua Nai Baan serves up home-cooked Thai dishes with a Chinese flair, giving most of its dishes a familiar flavour with the added Thai kick. The restaurant is located in a house-turned-restaurant and its many rooms upstairs offers privacy for diners. You can also opt to eat on the balcony overlooking the parking area.  

Bangkok 2014 - Som Tam Nua, Siam Square Soi 5

The famous Som Tam Nua restaurant in Siam Square Soi 5 was the first place we hit upon reaching Bangkok. After checking in at Lub D, we headed to Siam Square by foot since it was just across the main intersection and is accessible via the elevated walkway. 

Even though it was only about 5pm when we came across Som Tam Nua in Soi 5, there were several groups of people inside, munching happily on the colourful variety of Thai dishes on their tables. The clientele was a mix of local and foreign visitors, indicating Som Tam Nua's popularity which is further contributed to by the restaurant winning CNNGo.com's Best Eats 2010 awards. I've heard that at peak hour, a queue forms outside the restaurant hence our decision to have a early dinner.

The Porki Society Boat Noodles, Seapark review

A new eatery has opened up in Seapark, Petaling Jaya and its name is an immediate hint to the kind of food offers. At The Porki Society, expect only pork dishes and of course, the main star of the restaurant, boat noodles. 

Boat noodles is a concept that originated from Thailand and an increasing number of boat noodles eateries around and about Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya has introduced many to the concept of eating many bowls of noodles in small servings. Jaya One has one Boat Noodle outlet there which serves only chicken or beef with its noodles. The Porki Society as its name indicates, serves only pork. Which is perfect fine for a pork lover like myself. 

BBQ Thai - Thai Street Food, Old Klang Road

BBQ Thai restaurant in Old Klang Road is known for offering up authentic Thai street food in an chic environment that resembled the Bangkok night market that has since closed down. With different buildings that double as dining aircon rooms and unique decor in the main outdoor eating, BBQ Thai does leave an impression food-wise and ambivalence-wise My first visit a year ago, left me impressed with their BBQ pork neck and seafood Tom Yam soup and craving for more but since then I haven't had the time nor the company to revisit the place until recently.

The best landmark to look out for when approaching the restaurant (if you are coming from Midvalley) is Coco Steamboat. Upon spotting that, best to stick to the left lane and slow down. The nearly-invisible entrance to BBQ Thai is a few meters down and parking can be found inside the compound although limited. It is advisable to carpool and/or driving a small car. Reservation is recommended for larger groups and if you would like some privacy, request for the air-con rooms although it could get noisy inside.