Paradai Thai II, Carnegie MELB

A strange week it had been when we made our way to Carnegie, one that left us too drained to have a proper conversation. Weather was still freezing which made it the perfect excuse to tuck into some hot and spicy fare.

Chicken spring rolls - deep fried minced chicken served with a side of sweet chilli sauce. Not too bad although would like to see a bit more meat in each roll.

Pla rad prik aka deep fried fish fillets served with fried egg noodles and sweet sour tamarind sauce - fish fillets were fried to golden perfection but aside from that, I thought the tamarind sauce was a tad too salty to my liking. Fried egg noodles were served as small, broken crumbs, raising the question as to whether these were leftover bits from previously.

Pad ruammit aka stir fried mixed vegetables with chicken in garlic and oyster sauce - a simple dish but again, I found it bordering on the saltier side of the scale.

Red duck curry - curry had a good aroma to it and had a good mix of sweet and spicy flavours. Only downside was that again, it was too salty to my liking and had to be mixed with a lot of rice to "dilute" it out.

Singapore: Ya Kun Kaya Toast

Kaya toast is a must have to complete a Malaysian/ Singaporean breakfast alongside soft boiled eggs and a cup of coffee/ tea. A concoction of sweet coconut jam, thickened with eggs and infused with pandan leaves, undergoes consistent stirring for a few hours, depending on the volume, before it can be bottled up ready for consumption.

The sister and I headed to a popular kaya toast chain, Ya Kun, for our early morning fix prior to catching the train to Orchard. Service is prompt being that most of the items are prepared in advance such as eggs and tea/coffee. 

Kaya toast was crisp and slathered with margarine and kaya. Wouldn’t mind having a bit more kaya on the toast as I like my toasts with thick spreads. No qualms about the beverages tho!

Korea: Myeongdong Kyoja SEOUL

Myeongdong Kyoja was one the many places I found whilst randomly searching the neighbourhood for good and affordable bites on my last day in Seoul. With two branches located in Myeongdong, diners do not have to wander far to recharge from shopping around the area.

Seeing as I was travelling by myself, I chose to have a later lunch to avoid the lunch queue and albeit being very popular on the internet, I was surprised to know that small groups can be easily accommodated as their turn over rate is relatively quick.

For those interested, I was observing from a single diner table aka a communal table with a divider between patrons. Cutlery is kept in the drawers and sauces/condiments are placed on the table.

My order was taken as soon as I sat down, not sure if it was because they assumed, I was a local and hence, did not require a menu. Thankfully, I had a dish in mind that I have been craving for which was kalguksu aka knife cut noodles.

Served with four dumplings and a generous dollop of minced meat, I was immediately hooked on the dish after slurping a spoonful of handmade noodles. I would have loved to order a plate of mandoo (dumplings) but was concerned the portion might be a tad overwhelming. Broth was flavourful, dumplings were well seasoned and noodles had a good bite to it.

Having read ravings about their house made kimchi, I do agree it was tastier compared to the others but also verging on the spicier side of the scale. As per norm, kimchi refills are available upon request.

Overall? Thumbs up to this place, worth a visit for those in the vicinity and are looking for a quick bite!