Sometimes, being a foodie can be such a pressure ! Friends and family expects you to come up with location to dine immediately ! And what do you do if you’re in such a spot? Start flipping through your blogsite … and if nothing found, check your blogroll…..
I was in such a predicament recently … and fortunately I was in front of my laptop (with internet access too). I typed …w..w..w..3..-…meals…com … and fired up my site. The search criteria … Petaling Jaya, chinese food … medium budget. Nothing from my end .. (my database isn’t exactly ready) … so I clicked over to Boolicious’s and WMW’s site. And ‘bingo!’ … I found something. New Formosa Restaurant .. in SS2 … and I was like, where the heck is it ??? I’ve been in and out of SS2 for ages and I never really noticed this place. Fortunately, Boolicious provided the telephone number as well so I called them and finally located the place. It’s on the other side of SS2, the way to SEA Park. Btw, PreciousPea also did a writeup on this place.
And I really must thank Boolicious for this lead … for I really enjoyed my dinner that night. Good thing I had my camera with me, else I’d be knocking my head … regretting at missing the chance to review this place.
Externally, New Formosa (hmm .. I wonder if there’s an old Formosa) looks like any other chinese restaurant. The signage is a little run-downed … but of course. After all, this place has been around since the 70’s ! Chef Lee Weng Eng and his wife Jeanie Lee run the restaurant, which has carved its mark on the local dining scene. Although the restaurant is always full, the Lees have resolutely not gone down the path of other successful restaurants and opened up branches. They have steadfastly maintained their 12-table establishment and the quality of their offerings. This is the only restaurant in the PJ area that serves a wide range of genuine Taiwanese food, many dishes of which are of Hokkien and Teochew origin.
Although cosy, the setup of the restaurant depicts elegance. And the food … let me tell you about the food. Warning! I am totally bias as I write this …. I can still clearly recall how friendly the food is … to my taste bud.
The first item in the list is the Yam Rice in Hollow Bamboo. To tell you the truth, yam isn’t exactly one of my favorite flavors, what more … yam rice. But in this case, I am willing to make exceptions. As you can see here, the dish is served in a long bamboo case with a lid. The moment the lid was uncovered, the strong fragrance is undeniably delicious ! The yam and pumpkin … added with a little Laap Cheong (臘腸) which is smoked, sweetened, and seasoned hard sausage, really completes the dish. Just too bad the portion is just nice i.e. one small bowl each, leaving you wanting more …
Taiwanese Crunchy Popped Rice is truly something I haven’t tried before. The “popped rice” mentioned here refers to this square bits of light, crispy rice which is usually available during Chinese New Year celebrations. When served… hot, sweet broths with cuttlefish are poured over the crispy rice and the taste … is simple delicious. A little note though, not everyone will like it … unless you have a sweet tooth, like me.
Another dish worth mentioning here is the Steam Prawns with Herbs (in Hollow Bamboo). As the title of the dish already mentioned, prawns … steamed with herbal soup in a hollow bamboo container. The result ? A mild herbal taste in the prawns as well as soup … with a slight touch of ginger.
My favorite dish is the Formosan Stir-Fry Butter Eel (Unagi to the sushi fans) which I think, is also a favorite in this restaurant. Eels, if not cooked correctly … will have that fishy taste, especially those which is not fresh. But in New Formosa, you can get any fishy smell in the eels. And the experience in eating this dish … is heavenly. The eels are covered in a thin layer of crunchy butter (coated, not battered) with curry leaves (should I also mention there’s chili padi in it?). As you take a bite into the eels, you’ll first taste the crunchy butter coats … and then into the soft, soft eel (just the mere thought of the taste makes me want to go back there for more!). This dish is simply irresistible … I recommend it !
And finally last but not least, the dessert. By dessert time, we’re stuffed … hence leaving only enough space for one dessert. We chose the Mua Chee .. and there is 5 flavors to choose from. I can’t exactly remember the flavor we ordered, but it’s green .. and I am assuming it’s pandan (haha).
REVIEW & INFORMATION
Contact Details
New Formosa Restaurant
46, Jalan SS2/24, 47300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Tel: 03-7875 1894
Fax/Tel: 03-7729 0000
Mobile: 019-335 3274
E-mail: formosa@streamyx.com
Ratings
OVERALL RATINGs : * * * * (Epicurian Delight !)
Environment Ratings : * * * * (Classy but cosy)
Food Ratings : * * * * * (Of the 5 dishes ordered, I like ‘em all … I’m giving a 5 !)
Service Ratings : * * * (Not as friendly, but still bearable … for the food worth !)
Value Ratings : * * * * (Reasonable pricing, no overkills)
Operation Details
Average Price : RM20++ per person
Business Hrs : Daily from noon to 3pm and 6pm to 11pm
Accepted Cards: Visa, Mastercard and Amex
Miscellaneous Details
Halal : No
Dining Method : Dine in, take-away
Food/Cuisine : Taiwanese
Specialities :
* Hot and spicy steamboat (Bonito Mala steambot) with two menus
* Stone firepot
* Three cups chicken (braised with wine, soya sauce, sesame oil and basil leaves)
* Eel in different styles (including grilled and sizzling)
* Tiger prawns in different Taiwanese style (including with herbs in hollow bamboo)
* Sizzling dishes (spare ribs, venison, diced chicken, Japanese beancurd, fish slices and oysters)
* Taiwanese drunken chicken
* Deep-fried sesame chicken Taiwanese style
* Crispy yam duck Hunanese style
* Taiwanese fried oysters with fermented black beans
* Dry cooked string beans Szechuan style
* Special Taiwanese-style seafood porridge
Ambiance/Features : Airconditioned, classic chinese restaurant setup
Reservations : Yes
