2nd Stop - Kyung Bok Gung

Kyung Bok Gung which is a Korean restaurant opened by a Korean family in Taman Pelangi of Johor Bahru, Malaysia. It is located at the second floor of the row of shops which is nearby the Pelangi Leisure Mall.

Kyung Bok Gung provides the original flavor of Korean food and it also plays the Korean Pop in the restaurant for those Korean pop and food lovers to enjoy themselves.

The moment we walked into the restaurant all eyes also focused on us as the wait staff chorused in unison “Annyeonghaseyo” which means say hello to their customers. The service was friendly and attentive too.

There was a staircase for customers to go upstairs.

 The attractive menu with the picture of fresh meat.

The national flag of the republic of Korea in the restaurant.

Spicy Fried Rice Cake – RM25

Its taste good and it was a bit spicy with salty and sweet. It also a bit toughness but I think it is a must for you to try it. Nice!   

★What is Korean rice cake?

Korean rice cake is different with Chinese rice cake. It called Tteok or Dukbokki and it made with glutinous rice flour, by steaming, color in white and toughness. Most of the spicy fried rice cake will fried with Tampura (a kind of fish cake), and onion, cabbage, carrot with Korean chili sauce. It is a popular local snack that you can see at many places and a lot of people will stand in front of the stalls to enjoy this food especially in the winter season. 


Lesson 3 - Dukbokki (Hot & Spicy Rice Cake)  

Kimchi Stew – RM20

This Kimchi Stew is quite special of its soup. The taste is a bit sour and salty and it is different with the Chinese soup. It used the kimchi, tofu, onion, green onion, pork belly and its Korean chili sauce and seasoning to stew it in a clay pot. It quite nice.

Kimchi Fried Rice – RM15

Its taste sour and a bit spicy and quite special compare with the common fried rice that we eat because it used Kimchi to fry it. It is good choice for those sour food lovers.

★What is Kimchi?
Kimchi is a kind of traditional fermented Korean dish and made of vegetables with varied seasonings. Kimchi may also refer to unfermented vegetable dishes. There are hundreds of varieties of kimchi that made with a main vegetable ingredient such as cucumbers, radish or green onions. It is the most common side dish in Korean cuisine and it also a main ingredient for many popular Korean dishes such as Kimchi Stew, Kimchi Fried Rice and Kimchi Soup.

Lesson 4 - Kimchi Stew (Kimchi Chigae) and Bean Sprout Side Dish

Rice with Chicken and Vegetables in a Hot Stone Pot – RM25

This is one of my favorite dishes because of its fragrance. It used a lot of ingredients such as mushrooms, carrots, soybean sprouts, spinach, egg and other vegetables with Korean chili sauce and put them in a hot stone pot with sesame oil to stir together. The smell, taste or colors are attractive and good enough. I like it!       

★What is Hot Stone Pot with Rice?

Or we called it Bibimbap. It is a signature of Korean dish and the word literally means mixed meal. It is served as a bowl of warm white rice topped with seasoned vegetables and chili pepper sauce. A raw or fried egg and sliced meat are common additions. The ingredients are stirred together thoroughly just before eating. It is a great diet food and full of nutritional benefits for us.  

Lesson 5 - Bibimbap

Rice Rolled in Dried Laver – RM15

The rice rolled used the dried laver to roll up the rice and carrot, cucumber and meat together. It is simple but the taste not too bad.

★What is rice rolled?

It can be called as Gimbap or Kimbap. It is a popular Korean dish made from steamed rice and various other ingredients, rolled in sheets of dried laver and served in bite-sized slices. The basic components of gimbap are rice, meat or other protein-rich ingredients and a large variety of vegetables, roasted, pickled, or fresh.

Overall of those dishes in Kyung Bok Gung are quite delicious and the environment here is quite nice for gathering and chatting with your 

friends and enjoy the food together as well.

Business Hour –

Monday - Sunday

11a.m. – 11p.m.

Location –

Taman Pelangi

82A, Jalan Kuning,

Taman Pelangi,

80400 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia.

Contact –

07 – 3333077

References

Goettel, D. (2011). What is Kimchi?. Retrieved from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-kimchi.htm

Korean Food. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.trifood.com/gimbop.asp

Maangchi. (2008). Bibimbap (Video). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KCWzRfFyr4

Maangchi. (2007). dukbokki (hot and spicy rice cake) (Video). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUmBqvMv89E

Maangchi. (2007). Kimchi stew (kimchi chigae) and a bean sprout side dish (Video). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbmZjvjavaU

Official Site of Korea Tourism Org.:'Rice Cake, Tteok : The Official Korea Tourism Guide Site. (2009). Retrieved from http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=630938

Olson, A. (2009). Health Benefits of Bibimbap - Korea's Best Diet Food. Retrieved from http://www.brighthub.com/health/diet-nutrition/articles/29832.aspx

1st Stop – Nijumaru

Nijumaru which is a unique Japanese restaurant in Permas Jaya of Johor Bahru, Malaysia. It is quite upscale and the large poster on the restaurant’s front facade is pure eye catching especially at night.

The moment we walked into the restaurant all eyes focused on us as the wait staff chorused in unison “Irashaimase” which means welcome. The decor is quite simple with a play of soft lighting on dark wood walls. Service was friendly and attentive. 

The front facade of the restaurant.

The colorful menu of all Japanese cuisine style.

The appetizer used its handmade bean curd, lettuce and crab eggs with soy sauce and salad to serve customers for free and it tastes good and special. The hot green tea is also for free and it can be refilled unlimitedly.

Fish Lunch Bento, Grilled Mackerel with Salt, Grilled Salmon with Luster, Grilled Eel and Japanese Pearl Rice, 3 types of fish – RM 27.

The grilled mackerel with salt you can taste its original flavor without any others extra ingredients because it just used the salt to grill it. The grilled salmon with luster is quite special because of its unique flavor. The grilled eel is quite same with other Japanese restaurants but the smells of mud will less than others. 

★What is Bento?

Bento is a Japanese word. Basically, bento is a Japanese home packed lunch or takes out box, similar in concept to the Indian Tiffin, Korean Dosirak or the Filipino Baon Lunch. But like a lot of Japanese things, bentos are more artistic and aesthetically pleasing than typical America brown bags.   

Lesson 1 - How to make Bento (Japanese Boxed Lunch)?

Nabe Udon Lunch Set, Tempura Shrimp, Prawn Sushi, Bean Curd Sushi with Udon – RM 21.

It used the clay pot to cook the soup and Udon in order to retain the original flavor of the ingredients. It is a bit salty and sweet, the ingredients are cooked enough and it taste good. The Tempura Shrimp, prawn sushi and bean curd sushi are nice as well.

★What is Nabe Udon? 

It is a sort of Udon hot-pot with vegetables and seafood cooked in a nabe or metal pot. The most common ingredients are tempura shrimp with mushrooms and an egg cracked on top. 

Lesson 2 - How to make Nabeyaki Udon Noodle?

Kaki Yaki, Grilled Oyster with Cheese – RM 13

It used the cheese to grill the oyster and the smell of cheese is strong enough. The taste is quite nice and it will be the best choice for those cheese lovers.    

★What is Kaki Yaki? 

Kaki Yaki, the oyster which is used to grilled or fried with cheese or other seasonings.

Dessert, Tiramisu – RM 7.

Its Tiramisu is quite special and it is different with other Tiramisu that we eat at other places. It is very smooth and tender and you won’t feel greasy at the end.

★What is Tiramisu?

Tiramisu is a popular Italian Cake which is made of biscuits or savoiardi (ladyfingers), dipped in coffee, layered with a whipped mixture of egg yolks and mascarpone cheese and flavored with cocoa and liquor. The recipe has been adapted into many varieties of puddings, cakes and other desserts.  


Ultimately, the food here are quite delicious and the environment are also comfortable for people to enjoy their food as well as the price of food are also reasonable.

Business Hour –
Monday - Sunday

Lunch time  [12 noon – 3p.m.]

Dinner time  [6p.m. – 11p.m.]

Location –

Permas Jaya                                            

No.24, Jalan Permas 10/5,                                    

Bandar Baru Permas Jaya,                     

81750 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia.       

Contact –                                                    

07 – 3889818                                                    

Branch – Taman Sutera Utama, Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

Contact –

07 - 5589818

References

Cookingwithdog. (2009). How to Make Bento (Japanese Boxed Lunch) (Video). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_hbPLsZvvo

Cookingwithdog. (2009). How to Make Nabeyaki Udon Noodle (Video). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWLNZzuo3do

Ellis-Christensen, T. (2011). What is Tiramisu?. Retrieved from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-tiramisu.htm

Japanese Dishes. (2008). Retrieved from http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2035.html

Maki. (2011). Bento Basics. Retrieved from http://justbento.com/handbook/bento-basics

Rowthorn, C. (2009). Japan. Retrieved from  http://books.google.com.my/books?id=VvPMIV_WNYEC&pg=PA528&lpg=PA528&dq=what+is+kaki+yaki&source=bl&ots=g8Lo5q0POj&sig=Oyxxwf_wdDJQN9QrrnEQ0H7-rQ8&hl=en&ei=Nxu4Tf7IOomIrAf36_jgDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CFMQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=what%20is