My Solo Night in KL

We’re momentarily pressing pause on our Taiwan food adventures to share a little detour: a solo dinner I just  had over the weekend in Kuala Lumpur. I was in town for a quick conference and, with only one night free, I decided to treat myself to something special—a seat at Dewakan, Malaysia’s acclaimed modern Malaysian restaurant - 2 Michelin Star 

I booked the second seating which was at 9.15pm because I was only going to land in the late evening. I had half the mind to not go ahead with the booking because 

1) I would probably be very hungry by 9.15pm 

2) They said its a 150 minutes experience which means I would have to get back to the hotel alone close to 12 midnight !!!!

Anyhow, I could not bring myself to pass on a 2 michelin star, so there we go. 

Dining alone, I wasn’t sure what to expect—but the team at Dewakan welcomed me warmly and led me to the table with the best view in the house. From that vantage point, the city glowed softly in the distance while the quiet theatre of the kitchen unfolded before me.

Upon arrival, I was given a short tour of their kitchen followed by a short introduction about their produce which are all local Malaysian spices. Some of which I identified with as I grew up in a very asian household and my grandmother was from Malaysia and hence her cooking was very greatly influenced by the Malaysian spices. 

It was also nice to know that Dewakan is a zero wastage restaurant. All the leftover ingredients are placed in jars like these to be left to ferment and be used as condiments in their future dishes. 

This is the menu I had that night. If you know me, you would know that I'm not a huge alcohol drinker and I very much prefer my non alcoholic drinks. Hence, upon knowing that they offer non alcoholic drink pairing, I immediately opted for that. I was very impressed by their flight of konbuchas, they were very well paired with each of the dishes. 

This crayfish tasted as tho it was coated in salted egg ( but it wasn't ) I loved this dish so much, it was my favourite appetiser !

This tempeh dumpling with clams is my favourite dish of the night. I could eat 10 of these !!

The way to eat is is to mix the venison into the rice and chomp it up. I appreciated the smokey flavour of the rice which I guess came about because it was wrapped and steamed in lotus leave. 

I had no idea what I was eating, but this butterfly looking dish is absolute art. 

The flavours for this crab curry was spot on, tho a little bit spicy for me !

This was their beef dish which is a plate of retired dairy cow. I really enjoyed the tongue because it was so soft it tasted like brisket cooked in a pressure cooker. However I thought the beef meat itself was really touch. And the tempura looking thing in the centre was cow brain, which I contemplated long and hard if I should eat or not but I ended up eating anyway because I didn't want to be disrespectful. It tasted like shirako but this will be the first and last time I'm ever eating a cow's brain. 

Loved this bone broth!

Of the desserts, I think this cacaoless chocolate tart is my favourite !

I really enjoyed this egg kueh as well. It tasted so much like the bread my grandmother used to make. And the last non alcoholic pairing was a tea, that tasted like the buckwheat tea i regularly drink before going to bed.

Overall, this meal was a thoughtful progression of courses rooted in Malaysian flavours—but approached with innovation and reverence. Each bite brought back tastes I grew up with but reinterpreted in unfamiliar ways. It was food that made me pause: unfamiliarly familiar, if you will. Nostalgia dressed in modern technique.

Even as a solo diner, the service was seamless and considerate. The team explained each dish with enthusiasm, and I felt cared for without being hovered over. As the meal drew to a close, I was left with not just a satisfied palate, but also a deeper appreciation for how heritage cuisine can be reshaped and respected at the same time.

So if you're ever in KL and have just one evening to spare, I’d say let Dewakan surprise you. They don't just serve food—they tell a story. And even when you’re a table for one, that story can feel entirely your own.

Seafood Market Adventure — Aquatic Addiction Taipei

 If you’re ever in Taipei and love seafood just a little too much, let me introduce you to your next happy place: Aquatic Addiction Development (上引水產).

This wasn’t just a trip — it was a milestone. It was my 1-year-old daughter’s first visit to a seafood market, and let me tell you… she was hooked from the moment we brought her in. Wide-eyed, giggling, and completely fascinated by the glistening fish, crabs, and clams — a true seafood lover in the making. I did feel a little sorry that her first time seeing sea creatures so up close and personal is at a fish market rather than an aquarium ): 

The selection is absolutely incredible — tanks of live seafood, beautifully displayed cuts of sashimi, rows of fresh oysters and prawns. You can pick what you like, and they’ll cook it for you right there. Talk about ocean-to-table!

We tried a bit of everything — grilled scallops, lobster, sushi.  The quality was top-notch, and honestly, it felt like a treat without breaking the bank (especially coming from Singapore).

Prices might be considered a little steep for locals, but as tourists from Singapore, it was still very reasonable — especially for the freshness and experience. Just remember — it’s cash only, so come prepared!

If you are not keen to sit in, there's always the option of takeaway. The ready cut takeaway sashimi and sushi were cheaper than dining in. 

You might expect a place like this to be a bit… pungent. But nope! The whole area was super clean, modern, and didn’t smell fishy at all. The seating area feels more like a casual Japanese izakaya than a wet market. Baby was happy, and so were our noses. And what made my asian mom super excited was there's even a section selling vegetables and also some canned seafood. 

Aquatic Addiction is a must-visit in Taipei for families, seafood lovers, and curious toddlers alike. Watching my daughter take in her first seafood market — fascinated by shellfish and sashimi — was one of those unexpectedly sweet travel moments.

We came, we saw, we seafood-ed.

Taipei: Sin Chao Rice Shoppe — A Hit with My Parents!

 When you travel with parents, finding a place that checks all the boxes — comfort, good food, good value — can be tricky. But on our  trip to Taipei we struck gold with Sin Chao Rice Shoppe.

Tucked away like a cozy secret, this charming little spot serves up hearty Taiwanese meals that hit the spot. The moment we walked in, my parents nodded approvingly — ambience was calm, clean, and welcoming, with just the right balance of modern touches and homely warmth.

My dad, who usually raises an eyebrow at trendy places, actually said: “Wah, this one not bad ah.” That’s basically five stars from him.

It's located in Breeze Xinyi, which is awesome because you can always do some shopping before your meal, and more shopping after ! 

We started off with their Kung Fu Chicken Soup, and as someone with a Cantonese background, I grew up having soup everynight with my dinner and I love my soups. This one really hit the spot — rich, nourishing, and full of goodness. I actually felt stronger after drinking it (not kidding — like a gentle energy boost in a bowl). My parents, who are usually quite particular, were impressed from the very first sip.

For appetisers we had tomato crystal jelly and amaebi which was so refreshing! Eggplants and chilli chopped with century egg sauce was also a hit with my family. Not so much for me as I was never a century egg fan. 

We had sauteed bamboo shoots with matsusaka pork. 

And i absolutely adored this soft shell crab dish. It was so good, we ordered 2 sets just so that we could all have more than 1 piece! 

Another hit with all of us is also the pesto seafood shrimp cake. 

One of their signature dish is the cold smoked squid that came with a smoke show of its own !

 

We ordered white water snowflake vegetable because it's a new vegetable to us. And boy were were impressed ! It was light, crisp, and subtly grassy, it was refreshing and cooked just right. A small but memorable detail that made the meal feel a little extra special. My mother was so impressed by this vegetable that she went to the shops and bought a packet back to Singapore to cook. 

For mains we ordered 2 rice - mullet roe fried rice with seared scallops that had thumbs up approval from everybody !!

As well as USDA Prime ribeye fried rice, which was also good! But I guess didn't really wow us away because back in Singapore there's a restaurant called New Ubin that also does a really good beef fried rice ( heart attack fried rice ) 

Overall, the portions were generous, the flavors nostalgic and yummy and most importantly the prices very wallet-friendly — always a bonus when traveling as a group. 

I've already recommmended this restaurant to a couple of group of friends who have all nothing but praises for this restaurant. 

A definite must try !!

TAIPEI: Dihua Street - Lin He Fa oil rice chicken, Du hsiao Yueh, Lao A Bei

 After a successful first day of night market feasting and settling into the rhythm of Taipei, we decided to take a slow day at Dihua street. 

This historic street in Dadaocheng feels like walking through a living postcard — rows of beautifully preserved shophouses, herbal medicine stalls, traditional fabrics, and a growing number of cute cafés and design boutiques. 

Our first stop was Yong Le Market 永樂市場

It is Taiwan's largest fabric hub tho we didn't check out any of that but I am told the market's second and third floors are a paradise for textile enthusiasts, offering a vast array of fabrics, from traditional Taiwanese prints to luxurious Japanese silks. Tailors on-site can transform your chosen materials into custom garments, making it a must-visit for fashion aficionados. 

We stayed on the ground floor which is a bustling traditional market where locals shop for fresh produce, herbs and household items. 

I am a very typical Singaporean. There was this shop Lin He Fa Oil Rice Chicken (林合發油飯雞腿) at the entrance of the market and so many locals were queueing for it. So I joined the queue too. i later learng that this shop, Lin he fa has been serving its signature oil rice since 1894. This fragrant dish features glutinous rice stir-fried with dried shrimp, mushrooms, and pork, topped with a succulent fried chicken leg and a soy-braised egg. 

We had some almond dessert followed by best gui ling gao as well. 

No pictures of the guilinggao because I had no idea where my dad procured it. He took a walk around the market and came back with 6 bowls. 

Continuing our culinary journey, we visited Du Hsiao Yueh, a renowned establishment originating from Tainan. Their signature Dan Zai noodles are a comforting bowl of thin noodles in a savory broth, topped with minced pork and a single shrimp. 

We then trekked forward and our final food stop was lao a bei, a humble eatery known for its squid thick soup. This hearty dish features tender squid pieces in a flavorful, starchy broth, perfect for a satisfying end to our food adventure. 

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