AyamKu is one of the local fast food franchises in Brunei, similar to the likes of Sugarbun in Sarawak & Sabah.  It has outlets in most of the towns here. Pictured above is one at the town of Seria.  Although fairly new compared to other fast food eateries here such as KFC, McD and Jollibee, AyamKu does fare well especially due to its amazingly lower priced menu.  Usually packed during weekends and lunch hours.

One of the striking items that we fancy is the AyamKu Spring Chicken set, which is currently retailed at a mere B$3.90.  This set meal consists of rice, pickled vege (local acar) and a whooping fried half-chicken! Yes, believe the picture.  Very filling indeed, and tastes nice as well. In terms of size, we think it is equivalent to the overpriced Half Chicken Set at Kenny Rogers (in Malaysia).  Just my thought.

Other than chicken, AyamKu restaurants also serve other fast-food items such as fries, burgers, spaghetti, fish & chicken fillets, the usual.  The setting is also the same, over the counter order and self service.  But the chicken runs out fast especially during peak periods.

Cheap fried chicken at its best!

A non-descript entrance except for the signboard.  In case you're wondering, here in Brunei, all commercial establishments require that their signs are reflected in Jawi handwriting as well – and placed at the top. Followed by Malay which is the official language. It is common to see Jawi renditions on the signboards of commercial brands in this truly Islamic country. Just my observation.

Back to the main point, at this coffeeshop their kolo-mee is recommended.  Unlike the kolo-mee in Sarawak, here it is served with a generous serving of roasted chicken wing.  The sauce and the noodles is nice as well. A popular breakfast item in this place. Priced at B$2.00 over here. 

Pizza Hut is available in most of the towns in Brunei – mostlly catering to take aways and deliveries.  However, in Gadong (a sattelite town near to country's capital Bandar Seri Begawan), we found a slightly enhanced version of Pizza Hut outlet. Behold! The Pizza Hut Primo outlet - located in Gadong's latest shopping attraction The Mall.

Pizza Hut Primo presents a fine-dining concept and experience.  Unlike its normal non-Primo outlets (or those in Malaysia), they offer a wide variety of dishes (ranging from the usual pizza's, pasta's and appetizers to specialty restaurant dishes and beverages. A full-serve environment.

The ambience is full of elegance.  At the entrance, you have the take-away counter as well as a display of pizza choices for the day.  There are 3 what I'd call Kitchen Order Terminals – where the waiters/waitresses enter the orders to be sent to the back kitchen – strategically located in the dining area.  As for the furnishings, you have long chairs as well as single seaters to cater various customer sizes.

  From the floor marble, to decorated walls, lighting effects and plants – I must say it is very neat, spotless and well kept! I truly feels like dining in a western restaurant.  The staff are polite and efficient. FYI, their uniform is like the traditional server attire (white sleeved shirt, black pants & shoes, black bowties and black aprons. No fast food element here – except for their prompt and good customer service.

 And now on to what we sampled here. We didn't want to order the usual items like Pizza, seeing that there are more specialty items on the menu:

Cream of Mushroom Soup – with real mushrooms added in as well! Delivered to your table. [B$2.90].

Iced Green Tea – with added lime. Refreshing. [B$2.90]

 Californian Pasta – a spaghetti, served with mixed vegetables and chicken pieces. With bread on the side. [B$7.90] Excellente!

Chicken Cashiew Stir-Fry – Plain rice served in a bowl-shaped pizza crust. Topped with green taugeh, vege, chicken pieces and cashew nuts. One of the specialty dishes. Interesting… [B$5.00]

 So after finishing the rice & dishes, I'm left with the empty bowl!

 I knew the crust was edible, man was it hard to break! Tearing it with the knife and fork didn't work either. Seeing my vain efforts – when the server was taking away the used and empty plates on our table – she asked, "would you like us to reheat and chop it up for you?". How nice. And so I surrendered.

Shortly later, it arrived – warm and sliced up like pizza. Looks like crackers. Of course it taste like pizza crust. I sprinked cheese powder on top for extra flavor. 

Well it was good experience for us. Hopefully someday we would have a Pizza Hut Primo in Malaysia. I just hope we are ready (mentally and attitude-wise) to adapt to the fine-dining concept.  And it comes at a price, too. If in Malaysia we get 10% service charge (exc the 5% govt tax), here it's a whooping 8% service charge. But worth the experience.

Here's a designer kopitiam that recently opened its branch in the Section-14 commercial area in Petaling Jaya. Kemaman Classic Kopitiam is also found in IOI Mall in Puchong, by the way. But we haven't been there (yet).

Taking a corner gound floor lot, the are 2 seating arrangements - steel chairs & tables outside and the kopitiam-theme marble table & chairs on the inside. The interior is tastefully adorned with old-style koptiam wallpaper and picture frames, in fusion with a modern setup. Here's a place that is a mix of both worlds – traditional old-style + classic bistro environment. And it is reflected in the menu, too.

The menu is displayed prominently on the cashier & drinks bar, as well as when you are seated.  They have a wide range of food – from traditional kopitiam essentials (Kemaman Coffee Special Blend is their signature drink), western breakfast sets to heavy food items like nasi lemak, porridge, mee, etc.  Heck, they even have tea-time favorites such as keropok lekor (local fried fish fillet dipped with sauce) and sandwiches.

Kemaman Classic Kopitiam is a full serve outlet (read: with prevailing govt & service charges), and although the price of items are regular for designer kopitiams, we sincerely hope they can fare well (in terms of breakfast options) with the local coffeeshop that's just across the street!

Ka Fei Dian (literally meaning "Coffee Shop") is located on the ground floor of Amcorp Mall, PJ.  Another modern old-style kopitiam, some call them "designer kopitiams". Seating capacity is moderate, self-order but food/drinks delivered to your table. The decor is mainly wallpapers reflecting bygone era's of seniors enjoying their doze of coffee with kaya toast and eggs. "Though we may not always see eye to eye…we always have tine for a cup of coffee" was one of the poster wallpaper taglines found here. Something like that.

Their signature food item is the Roti KFD (Pictured above with Kopi-O) It's brown bread, spread with kaya, margerine and honey, toasted to soft yet crunchy perfection. (Though can get overdone at times, see the side of the toast above?).  The rest of the menu items are similar to other designer kopitiams, however they do have combo meals such as their Breakfast and Lunch sets.

Nice place to chill out after shopping around the weekend flea market, or when you're stuck in the mall when it is raining heavily outside.

p.s – BTW now outstation in KL again.

A restaurant serving Thai dishes at RH Plaza (BDC) Kuching.  There is a fair amount seating both inside and outside the premises.  The interior is simple but tastefully decorated with low ceiling lamps, Siamese related framed pictures and photos.  With Thai pop music playing in the background. Quick and courteous service.

There are a variety of Thai cuisine in the menu - quite exclusive, but reasonably priced. Here are some of the dishes we ordered:

Pandan Chicken – 4pcs/RM10, An appetizer dish, chicken meat with corn stuffing fried while covered with pandan leaves for give you that sweetened aroma.  Served with sauce sprinkled with sesame seeds on the side. Recommended.

Seafood TomYam Soup (in Coconut Milk) – RM16. Your regular seafood (fish fillets, squid, prawns) in Tom Yam broth with added Santan. Served on a candle-burner-styled bowl.  Our first impression was that it being very spicy. But then again, it was very sour. Must me due to the slices of tangerine added.

Pineapple Rice - RM10.  Served in oblong plate with pineapple design for 2 pax.  A must have dish if you are into Thai cuisine. Fried rice with a tinge of pineapple flavor, sprinkled with chicken slices, prawn, cashew nuts, raisins and chicken floss. 

Sawadikhap!

Located strategically at 10th Mile bazaar (Kota Padawan), adjacent to the Padawan Municipal Council building, Swee Sen Cafe has been home to the renowned Prawn Kolo Mee among Kuching people for years.  On weekends,the place is packed and patrons park their car indscriminately along the kerb. A familiar sight. But lets go to the main course, shall we?

Their standard kolo mee starts from Rm3 per bowl. Condiments include the leafy vegetable slices, fish balls, prawns, wanton and charsiew slices.  For Rm6-12, you can opt for the special version with much more condiments and bigger sized prawns.  The main attraction is probably because of the variety of condiments as well as the “springy-ness” of the kolo mee noodle itself. You be the judge!

p.s – The best time to go there is during weekday mornings, to avoid the weekend breakfast rush. Besides, they close around noon. 

Located at Tabuan Laru commercial complex, this restaurant serves halal dishes and caters to all.  They serve all range of food from local fried mee/rice in several styles; vege and seafood dishes, breakfast items, roti canai variants, western food, you name it.

The main attraction is the ambience.  The interior is tastefully decorated with old-school picture frames, soft lighting and kept tidy and clean.  Service is good but can be lagging during peak periods such as during supper time.  That said, it is a nice place to chill out for a meal at any time of day or for hanging out with your buddies.

Anyway, here are some of the fried rice dishes served at J & J:

Fried Rice Chinese Style – rice fried with eggs, prawn, chix, mix vege with a  serving of kangkong-belacan on the side. Includes spicy soup.

Rice with Mix Vegetable – plain rice with generous serving of mixed vege and sunny-side egg on the side. Includes spicy soup.

Laksa Ong (i.e.Hokkien for King/Royal) as the name implies. The tagline at the stall also mentions Golden Big Prawn Laksa – but not to be taken literally. Located at Expert Foodcourt, MJC Batu Kawa – here is one laksa stall that has its following. Mainly because of the cheerful attitude of its owner. Always putting on a smile and greeting customers passing by. Now that’s customer service!

They use big melamine bowl with LAKSA scripted on the outside, so as to differentiate from any other laksa operator nearby. Served in 3 sizes priced from Rm3-5, the difference would be in terms of  quantity of beehoon and condiments.   Pictured above is the standard (small) serving. The laksa gravy is thick but not too strong/spicy, just the way we like it. Uh-oh..

Whatdya know, we found one in Kuching. (Since last December, actually). I mean the modern old-style kopitiam outlet.  I guess the trend is catching up here already. Located at Central Park (3rd Mile), House of Kaya & Toast is reflects a new way of savoring your cuppa and toast for the locals here.

As the name suggests, the main items on the menu are toast-based items. They serve a wide range of coffee blends (espresso, kopi-o, mocaccino, etc) and toasts (kaya, curry, ham?, etc). And not forgetting soft-boiled eggs.  However, we don’t see any heavy dishes on the menu.

The seating and utensils used here are more towards bistro-like setting (read: modern) as the old-style furnishing can still be seen at some of the local coffeeshops here. There is an extension canopy to the right side of the outlet with additional seating.

Our recommendation here is the Curry & Toast set.  A thick chicken curry (1 pcs drumstick and 2 potato slices) served with several toast slices on the side. Also pictured above is the Kaya Toast and “Iced Milo Dinosaur” – just your basic iced milo topped with several spoonfuls of Milo powder on top.

There’s a modern kopitiam for ya!