BFF: But First, Food @ PV128 Setapak

BFF puts a sense of fun first for its menu: Start with the grilled balsamic watermelon, served warm, juicy & sweet (RM7.80), & a foursome of crostini crowned with tomato & beef bacon, mango salsa, mushrooms, & tzatziki sauce (RM12.80), then move on to rice - Malaysian nasi goreng is presented bento-style (RM11.80), while Szechuan-spiced chicken comes with two plates of steamed rice, kangkung & other veggies in a portion meant for a pair (RM18.80). The food is competently executed & prices are reasonable enough to contemplate a couple of side orders, like the Korean-inspired 'Seoul Sinful' chicken wings (RM12.80) & 'taco fries,' essentially Tex-Mex-seasoned potato wedges (RM10.80), downed with chai & matcha lattes (RM8.80 each).

BFF But First Food

G13 PV 128, Jalan Genting Kelang, Setapak, Kuala Lumpur. Mon-Fri, 11am-11pm; Sat-Sun, 9am-11pm. Tel: 03-4131-8039

Stay up to date: The Eat Drink KL newsletter is sent by email to subscribers every Monday; it's the Klang Valley's foremost weekly round-up of new restaurant openings, F&B promotions & other tasty tidbits. Subscribe to Eat Drink KL Weekly for free via this following link: https://confirmsubscription.com/h/d/5106C196432BB23D

Choo Choo Chicken @ PV128 Genting Klang, Setapak

Choo Choo Chicken first cracked open in Singapore in early 2014, reputedly hatched by a Korean language teacher; following two outlets in the city-state (on Bali Lane & in Orchard Cineleisure), the brand spread its wings to KL this year with a Malaysian-run branch on Setapak's Genting Klang Road, serving a wide variety of Korean fried chicken & other warm meals.

No fewer than five flavours of chicken wings are offered - the two that pack the mightiest punch are 'Garlic' & 'Spicy,' with "Sweet' & 'Soy' coming in hot on their heels. The fifth choice is 'Crispy,' with crunchy batter that boasts a sauce-free purity. RM19.90 for eight pieces comprising a single flavour, or RM37.90 for 16 pieces featuring two separate flavours. Juicy on the inside, with much of the flavour coming from heavy coats of reasonably well-tuned sauces. Garlic is aromatic, Spicy is surprisingly fiery, & Sweet is what its name signals (but not cloying); Soy is the least memorable of the sauces, but its relative subtlety might suit some customers. In comparison, Crispy might come across as plain, as a matter of personal preference.

Choo Choo Chicken extends its distinctiveness by also serving whole chickens, which can be ordered in two individual flavours (RM39.90), sufficient for three to four patrons. All in all, freshly & capably prepared, straight from the kitchen to be consumed within minutes, these should prove satisfactory for fans of Korean fried chicken, with the bonus of multiple flavours to sample.

Ramyun's the most recent addition to Choo Choo's menu - fulfilling one-plate options of spicy-cooked noodles with sesame-studded boneless chicken tenders made with leg meat (RM13.90) or tangy-savoury ones with toppoki, the street-food combination of sliced rice cakes, fish cakes & a hard-boiled egg in gochujang red chilli sauce (RM9.90), both thick & tasty.

Another favourite here is the Choo Choo Cham Chi, a creamy rice burger layered with tuna & kimchi (RM8.90) - we liked it more than expected, considering we're not advocates for tuna. Also worth snacking on: Spicy fried rice (RM5.90) & battered oyster mushrooms (RM5.90). Prices are kept affordable, with the surrounding student population firmly in mind. Many thanks to Choo Choo Chicken Malaysia for having us here.

Choo Choo Chicken Malaysia

PV128 Jalan Genting Klang, Setapak, Kuala Lumpur. Daily, 11am-1030pm. Tel: 0341313160

The Eat Drink KL mobile app is now available, connecting restaurants & customers to promote a positive spirit of community.

For iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/my/app/eat-drink-kl/id958657326?mt=8

For Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.eatdrinkkl.EatDrinkKL

Every restaurant on this app rewards users with a 6 percent discount, instantly & conveniently, everyday, all day long. 

In return, users share photos of their experiences at these eateries, creating a new community of restaurant lovers.

For every transaction, at least RM0.20 will be channelled to a charity of the month.

Stay up to date: The Eat Drink KL newsletter is sent by email to subscribers every Monday; it's the Klang Valley's foremost weekly round-up of new restaurant openings, F&B promotions & other tasty tidbits.

Subscribe to Eat Drink KL Weekly for free via this following link: 

https://confirmsubscription.com/h/d/5106C196432BB23D

Note to subscribers on Gmail: The newsletter will be in the Promotions folder of your inbox.

Check out the latest edition of Eat Drink KL: 100 Favourites, with 100 recommended restaurants for Oct-Dec 2015. This eBook is available to read or download at this link: http://issuu.com/eatdrinkkl/docs/ebook

Buckle your seatbelts: Eat Drink KL is partnering with Uber to take restaurant lovers on new adventures across KL & Selangor!

If you haven't used Uber yet, it's time to begin! For new users, just follow the steps below to redeem free rides:

1. Download the Uber app from the App Store, Play Store or Windows Store - and register your Uber account.

2. Apply the code EATDRINKKL as your first promotional code & you'll receive 2 Free Rides worth RM30 each.

3. Request a ride through the app and ride for free to any destination (with two ride values of up to RM30 each).

The Country Cat Cafe @ Setapak

This cafe has the cattiest regulars ever.

Friends of felines have begun clawing their way to Setapak's Country Cat Cafe, where tabbies preen & prowl over the couches & under the tables. Fur will fly, for certain.

The owners of Country Cat recently started sending out press releases & scheduling media interviews to boost this cafe's profile (everyone from Cosmopolitan magazine to ntv7 is believed to be heading here); there's ferocious interest in what's being billed as Malaysia's first cat cafe (one more will open in Penang soon, not related to this KL outlet).

We counted nine cats _ American Curls, Bengals & Persians whose names range from Beyonce to Snowy _ several sleepy & others curious. The cafe calls on customers to indulge in 'cat therapy' by playing with these cuddly creatures to help calm their human nerves.

Ultimately though, the crucial question for most cafes might be: How's the food?

Two paws way, way up! These seem to be satisfied customers, leaping up as soon as the chow was served.

 Three cans cost RM10 (we pay, they eat). Gourmet combos include tender tuna tossed with whitebait.

Talk about licking the plate clean.

 No fear, two-legged patrons need not starve, though options are limited to air-fried French fries & spring rolls.

Thirsty? There's milk with fish bone-shaped coffee ice cubes (the cats will want the former).

Each entry into the cafe costs RM14.90 per hour, inclusive of one drink (Hello, Kit-Tea! Sip on peach-&-passionfruit Ahmad tea).

Housekeeping notes: Customers must cleanse their hands & wear cafe-supplied slippers before coming into contact with cats.

Photography is fine. Imagine the Instagram possibilities!

Never a dull moment: A black-&-white TV was showing a presentation of _ what else? _ Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical "Cats."

Other suggested activities include crawling into a human-sized carrier (with or without a cat) ...

... & helping to groom the cats (not that these glossy-furred cuties really need it!).

The Country Cat Cafe is nestled inside The Country Pet Store, which provides pet boarding & accessory retail services in locations including Setapak (the only venue with a cafe), Bangsar & Kajang.

Malaysia Cat Cafe (The Country Cat Cafe)

60, Plaza Usahawan Genting Klang, Jalan Danau Niaga 1, Taman Danau Kota, Kuala Lumpur

Open 11am-945pm daily. Tel: 03-4131-3348

The latest edition of Eat Drink KL: 100 Favorites for January-March 2014 is now available online, featuring 100 pretty nice eateries, including more than 20 new entries for this quarter. The eBook can be read & downloaded for free, convenient reading on computers, tablets & smartphones. 

Please click here: http://eatdrinkkl.publ.com/Eat-Drink-KL-100-Favorites-Jan-March-2014 (This link expires April 1, 2014; see blog entries after that date for new link).

Beginning late January, a free email newsletter will be sent out every Monday to subscribers, highlighting new restaurant openings (even before they're featured on this blog), F&B promotions & other tasty tidbits for the Klang Valley.

Please consider subscribing to Eat Drink KL Weekly via this following link: 

https://confirmsubscription.com/h/d/5106C196432BB23D

Thanks very much; subscriptions are appreciated.