Bunga Kantan has replaced Rice Cafe at Lorong Maarof, but fans of Malaysian fare shouldn't fret; there's no lack of familiar, fulfilling food here.
In honor of Rice Cafe, we only tried the rice platters at Bunga Kantan. Our recommendation: Nasi dagang ikan tongkol, nicely priced at RM4.50. The firm, fragrant rice was flawless, well complemented by creamy fish 'gulai.'
Nasi goreng petai (RM7). Not bad, but not brilliant; petai lovers might be soothed by the hearty heap of stinky beans, though the rice itself tasted run-of-the-mill.
Need more rice? Drive five minutes to Jalan Maarof's Italian Tomato for a rustic risotto (RM25++), flooded with the earthiness of shiitake & button mushrooms.
Need even more rice? Drive another five minutes to Bangsar Village, where Garibaldi whips up perhaps the city's priciest risotto _ a saffron one with braised veal cheek for RM98++.
Garibaldi's risotto with pigeon ragu, walnuts & red wine sauce is as rich as imaginable, though also not cheap at RM83++. But there it is: a tour of the grainy goodness that Bangsar giveth.
'Tis still the season to be jolly! Complimentary panettone from Garibaldi.
Booze isn't available at Bunga Kantan. So drink up at Garibaldi (or Italian Tomato).
Restoran Bunga Kantan (RBK),
98, Lorong Maarof, Bangsar Park, Kuala Lumpur.
Open daily 7:30am-10pm.
Wow that's the cheapest meals I've seen in your blog! Haha
ReplyDeleteOoh l like the details on the floor. The green tiles.
RM4.50....to RM25...to RM98! Such a huge price gap. Two visits to Italian Tomato -- food must be quite good hor? :)
ReplyDeleteCarb overload! All within a 10 minutes drive from one another. LOL! Happy New Year Sean :)
ReplyDeleteNasi dagang! One of the few occassions that calls for me to finish my rice. It does look good and the price ain't bad.
ReplyDeleteNasi dagang looks like good value! I've been put off rice for far too long by all this carb-averse hogwash, feels like just the right time and place to start loading up!
ReplyDeleteRM 98 is scary for risotto!
ReplyDeleteIs that wild rice mixed in with the white in the first food pic? I do like some good whole grains. After eating brown, red, wild and purple rice for so many years it's hard to go back to plain old white rice. I would love to know of places that serve a few more interesting grains.
ReplyDeleteRM4.50 for nasi dagang is very reasonable, but is there other option such as rendang. Me no like ikan tongkol.
ReplyDeleteyou really gotta stop merging your posts dude.. it don't make sense to me :p haha!
ReplyDeleteHOW MUCH for that risotto?? Wowza
ReplyDeleteHa ha how on earth does an rm4.50 rice shop suddenly transition to 20 times more expensive rm100 dishes?
ReplyDeleteRad: ya, what's that phrase: cheap but cheerful! will try to stay cheerful for the next few days also :D
ReplyDeleteBangsar-babe: yaa, yikes, the saffron risotto could have bought about 30 nasi dagangs. italian tomato is OK, though garibaldi is still my recommendation for italian at bangsar =)
Unka: yeah, my name is sean, and i'm a carboholic :D here's wishing ya a bountiful & beautiful 2012 too! =)
ReplyDeleteMissyblurkit: yeah, i like nasi dagang, though i think i like nasi kerabu even more! :D
Min: heh, all things in moderation, i guess! but yeah, a warm plate of fresh, aromatic rice sure hits the spot! =)
ReplyDeleteMichelle: ya, though i think the portion is enough for two light eaters to share (or four dieters, heh) :D
The Yum List: yeps, you're right, i think it could be some whole grains in there, though i'm not sure. i'll try to keep a lookout for other healthy rice dishes elsewhere! =)
ReplyDeleteBaby Sumo: ya, the nasi lemak comes with rendang, so you could ask for nasi dagang with rendang instead of ikan tongkol. there are also chinese-style chicken & duck rice :D
Ciki: heheh, must go with the flow! follow my long, winding stream of consciousness, wherever it may lead! =)
ReplyDeleteJ: yeah, inflation is catching up with us! though i guess by 2020, we might see RM200 risotto in KL! yikes...
Timing: heh, it's still all about rice! but i probably won't attempt a post that starts with RM5 chinese noodles and progresses to RM50 spaghetti :D
Sure looks like u r gallivanting around town these past couple of posts :)
ReplyDeleteHeard tat u r looking for some good Chinese for CNY...dun forget abt the places near ur neighbourhood...hehe =D
The need to stay cheerful has to do with your supposedly exciting birthday? :)
ReplyDeleteUlric: and learning that gallivanting is exhausting! especially in the current weather :D oh ya, hmmm, looking more than petaling jaya rather than sri petaling, due to where the family members who'll be visiting will be staying =)
ReplyDeleteRad: hush, that's supposed to be a secret! and it won't be exciting at all, actually! :D
Ooh ooh ok I won't let anyone know about your birthday which is later this month!
ReplyDeleteI will try to make it exciting for you hehehe
Rice reigns! :D
ReplyDeleteRad: gosh, you're so not good at keeping a secret! but it's OK, no need for excitement, i'm too old for it! :D
ReplyDeleteKenny: a reign that will last for thousands of years more, hopefully! =)
Hehehe..
ReplyDeletewow this is definitely the most expensive risotto. And the portion doesn't look big too.
ReplyDeleteRad: hahaha =)
ReplyDeleteEiling: ooo ya, i guess saffron & veal would both be somewhat pricey ingredients =)