Nom Nom Chomper, Old School & Burger.It

Our suburban search for burgers takes us this time to Kelana Jaya's Nom Nom Chomper, Puchong's Old School & PJ's Burger.It.

First up, Nom Nom Chomper, where color-soaked Wolverine-to-Hulk posters make it clear that the owners make theirs Marvel. Note: the outlet is closed Sundays.

Nom Nom's bulked-up burgers should satisfy superhero appetites, at prices far from villainous: this 200-gram behemoth of beef with mustard, balsamic vinegar & BBQ sauce costs RM13.90+ (that includes the side salad & chunky chips).

Not a total triumph; the house-made charcoal bun tips close to stodgy. The patty's OK though, densely packed for a comfortable chew.

Nom Nom's Big Bird Burger: Pan-fried chicken breast (thigh meat would be more succulent) with mustard & cheddar cheese. A little too sodium-loaded.

Next stop: the family-friendly OldSchool at Bandar Puteri Puchong.

Hefty house burger, with the ubiquitous charcoal bun (mercifully fluffier here), pork patty, ham, back bacon, caramelized onions, pineapple & tomato chutney.

Scores for tangy juiciness, but (personal preference) we're not passionate about pineapples, so we'd swap the fruit for a fried egg instead.

Only 4.5 percent alcohol, but that's nevertheless better than nothing.

Also available: pork pate & char siew bahn mi, though that's a hot seller that finishes fast.

Wrapping up with Burger.It, a side business of iCook Italian Gastronomia in PJ 3 Two Square.

The whopping 18-recipe menu boasts what it calls "Italian-style" burgers; the choice with the highest proportion of familiar Italian ingredients is "Genova" (RM16.90+), listed with Parmesan & fontina cheese, basil pesto, tomatoes & arugula.

Dissection: The bun's chewy-doughy, pleasing some patrons who consider lighter ones too airy, while the Aussie beef patty's reasonably moist & tasty, with fresh accompaniments & fries. But the Italian flavor's only halfway there; there's very little pesto & virtually no cheese (what surfaces seems to be mayo instead).

Still, burger fans in PJ can give this a shot; lamb, chicken & veggie patties are also available, with other toppings that include goat's & gorgonzola cheeses, aioli, roasted eggplant & peppers, olive pate & oregano.

Good news for fans: iCook should be opening another branch at Sri Hartamas' Plaza Damas 3.

All in all, none of these three places offers extraordinary burgers, but all have their plus points.

NomNom Chomper,
Ground Floor, Kelana Jaya Square, Jalan SS7/26, Petaling Jaya.
OldSchool,
22A, Jalan Puteri 2/4, Bandar Puteri Puchong.
Burger.It @ iCook Italian Gastronomia,
3 Two Square, Petaling Jaya.

Le Porc Dor @ Old Klang Road

This restaurant's name might not suggest it, but this is a strictly Chinese establishment, serving pork-and-chicken soups and stews with a home-cooked flavor. 

Hidden from plain view off Old Klang Road (with another branch in Lot 10's Hutong), here's the place to sip nearly every type of basic traditional broth.

Landing in hot soup, from ones with lotus roots to others with carrots and barley. 

From water chestnuts to watercress too. 

Taste-wise, we've had better, but we've had worse. RM8 per bowl; two might be able to share. 

Fans of braised meat can lick their lips over this pork belly, though some might turn up their noses at the copious fatty bits in this bowl. 

"Feet And Feet," comprising chicken claws and pork trotters. Feet won't fail us now. 

Pork rib curry, flavorful and fulfilling. Somewhat spicier than expected though. 

Steamed pork and chicken, with rutabaga turnips and sweet-salty sausages respectively. 

Pork satay, not as terrifically tasty as Malacca's, but not bad either. 

And finally, to stuff the stomach, a peppery pork stomach soup with beehoon. Le Porc Dor insists its food is MSG-free, which we think is true.

Le Porc Dor, 

3rd Mile Square, Old Klang Road, Kuala Lumpur (near the Taman Desa turnoff).

Tel: 03-7971-7595

Closed Sundays.

Anggun Fusion @ Plaza Damas 3, Sri Hartamas

'Something for everyone' could be the motto here; the results might not be 100 percent successful, but only curmudgeons would pooh-pooh a place that makes a clear effort to please.

Check out the genuinely-all-day Western breakfasts (yep, available after dusk too) that have eggs poached, scrambled, whipped sunny-side-up or into omelets ...

... or (unexpected peanut butter alert!) Malaysian morning favorites like nasi lemak coupled not only with prawn sambal & kerisik but chicken rendang suffused with gobs of peanut butter for a one-of-a-kind nutty-creamy-savory spiciness.

Anggun's bruschetta boasts the touch of a benevolent chef who piles plenty of smoked salmon, avocado, mozzarella, tomatoes & tapenade on crusty bread.

However, we'd advise skipping the clam-&-mussel platter, suffocated by a cloying white sauce. 

Other highlights at this halal outlet (warning: wine's verboten): filet-mignon-&-mushroom salad, nasi impit 'percal kampung' & lamb burgers.

Anggun Fusion,

Plaza Damas 3, Jalan Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur.

Opposite Hartamas Shopping Center; below Brew Culture & Top Brew cafes.

Tel: 03-6206-4689

J&D Espresso @ Oasis BU 11 Bandar Utama

Pork & coffee might not sound like the perfect partnership, but J&D is conquering the crowds on this corner of Bandar Utama with that cool combination.

Start with Scotch eggs (RM12.90+) in warm, pillow-soft pork sausage meat, a comforting change from the last-night's-leftovers versions common at pubs.

Bacon-&-cheese-stuffed croissant, breakfast for which we'd wake up before noon on weekends.

Brunch burger, by special request, with a satisfyingly juicy house-made pork patty sandwiched between sunny-side-ups that sparkle with luminously runny yolks. 

Spaghetti carbonara (RM18.90+), the less-cloying rendition that employs egg but no cream.

Wrapping up this comfort-food meal with a curry of chorizo slices, eggplant & French beans, buried beneath a piping-hot mound of fluffy Duchess potatoes (RM14.90+).

J&D Espresso has links to Mont Kiara's now-defunct Ristretto; cappuccinos, cafe lattes, mochas & flat whites (RM5.90+ each) feature prominently on the menu.

Unlike Ristretto, wine's not available here, but customers can enjoy ice-cold beer with their pork.

J&D Espresso,
Oasis Business Center BU11, Lebuh Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya.
Open 1130am-930pm, closed Mondays.
Tel: 03-7886-9693

KomPassion @ Damansara Kim

Thai temptations take on tantalizingly triumphant twists at KomPassion, launched this week in Damansara Kim to showcase the swoon-worthy skills of longtime My Elephant chef Nikom "Kom" Uatthong.

KomPassion's setting & service sparkle with both soul & sheen, easing customers effortlessly into the uncertainties of a unique menu that juggles influences from as far as Japan, South Korea & Italy, all while remaining true to fundamental Thai flavors.

Siamese seafood salads that give us gastronomic goose bumps include the chilled octopus sliced with herbs, chili & lime (RM35+) ...

... & even better, a hearty-savory hodgepodge of smoked salmon, pork bacon & kimchi (RM18.90+).

Chef Kom hails from Thailand's northernmost Chiang Rai city, so it's no surprise to see his region's fragrant Hung Lay curry surface at Kompassion, coupled with ramen & pork (RM15.90+) for a hot bowl of reassuring, rainy-day nourishment.

Otak-otak lasagna? We're in; other fun starters at Kompassion comprise the likes of pork satay & a simple-sounding salad of bean sprouts & avocado.

Linguine, Pad Thai-style (RM15.90+), generously garnished with prawn, squid & scallops. Kompassion's more elaborate recipes include cod with massaman curry sauce, papaya salad & salmon pate, plus scallops in panang curry with salted duck, raisins & pears.

Kompassion's passion is pork, so here's the eatery's pride: twice-cooked chunky pork belly curry with a zesty soft-shell-crab cucumber salad.

Sure, seems pricey at RM65+, but with so much meatiness, two or three can share this platter.

Expect to hear more about KomPassion in the months ahead; this place is set to be a hit.

KomPassion Thai Fusion Food (same row as Euro Deli),
5, Jalan SS20/11, Damansara Kim, Petaling Jaya.
Tel: 03-7731-9256