HALAL HOT POT AFFAIR AT DEMALA

Chinese hot pot or steamboat is increasingly popular in Malaysia hence it’s not surprising to find Demala jumping onto the bandwagon, offering a Halal version to cater to Muslim diners.

Demala Operations Manager, Muhammad Farid Hamidin says diners can opt for the restaurant’s 2-in-1 Soup Base (RM38) or a singular soup base. Choices include Szechuan Mala Soup (RM28), Chicken Collagen Bone Broth (RM28), Mushroom (RM24), Tomato (RM24) and Tomyum (RM18).

For greater value, Demala has Steamboat Set for 2 persons (RM68 and RM88 per set) and 4 persons (RM168 and RM188). These come with free flow of vegetables, fuchok (fried beancurd sheet), mushroom, noodles, eggs, fruit and dessert laid out at a counter alongside assorted condiments and sauces.

Mala which means numbing and spicy is the after-effect to hit your palate once you have a sip of the Szechuan Mala Soup. Demala offers it in three levels of mala spiciness so the mildest version left our tongues slightly numbed from its savoury spiciness.

The broth goes rather well with the tissue-thin Lamb Slices (RM38) and Premium Beef Slices (RM38), in addition to Seafood Taufoo (8 pcs RM9), and Ring Roll Beancurd (6 pcs RM12).

We also intersperse our meal with some Fresh Grower Vegetables (RM8 upwards), while various types of beancurd (RM6 upwards) and mushroom (RM8 upwards) can be ordered separately from the a la carte menu.

The lighter Chicken Collagen Bone Broth is best for dunking in a la carte items such as Handmade Ebiko Shrimp Balls (8 pcs RM38), the fish-shape Premium Ebiko Prawn Paste (RM30), and Seafood Platter (RM128) comprising toman fish slices, tiger prawns, Hokkaido scallops, snow crab stick, and mussels.

Sweet and bouncy, the shrimp balls taste delicious on their own. You can also try sampling them with different saucy concoctions – conjure from the condiment and sauce bar laid out. Thai green chilli sauce, sesame paste, Demala signature chilli, soya sauce, chopped garlic, coriander, and fried minced garlic are some of the items available.

Other notable bites to add interest to the steamboat experience include Handmade Prawn Wonton (6 pcs RM28), and Handmade Chicken Dumplings (8 pcs RM20).

While we waited for the steamboat broths to come to a boil, we shared a platter of Spicy Diced Chicken (RM28). Buried amidst a heap of crisp-fried red chillies, the delicious deep-fried chicken pieces prickling our tongues with slightly salty and peppery accents, and singeing our lips with its subtle chilli fieriness.

To draw the lunch crowd, Demala proffers 7 Sichuan Rice Sets (RM19.80-RM27.80) with free drink and dessert for lunch. If you prefer non-spicy versions, there are 4 choices from RM20.80 upwards.

For reservations, call Demala Hotpot, tel: 03-7499 3705. Address: LG603 & 603A, 1 Utama Shopping Centre, Petaling Jaya, Selangor

 

A HOT AND STEAMY AFFAIR AT XIAO LONG KAN

Chinese hot pot is all the rage now. From major shopping malls to suburbia, provincial Chinese hot pot in all shapes and guides have stealthily conquered the local food scene. Now, Chengdu’s famed Xiao Long Kan Hot Pot restaurant has also jumped onto the bandwagon with the opening of its maiden outlet in Bukit Bintang.

Established in 2014, Xiao Long Kan (XLK) holds true to its guiding principles of providing ‘flavours from the soul, quality with integrity’. This Chengdu hot pot restaurant chain commands long queues of customers who seek to experience its signature hot pot with a wide selection of meat, fresh vegetables, handmade meatballs, innards and offal in assorted broths prepared using an age-old traditional recipe.

 

Sited within the bustling retail strip of Bukit Bintang, XLK occupies a multiple-storey block with a cosy waiting area on the ground floor. Decorated with ornate Chinese doors, a majestic dragon wall sculpture and a pair of faux antique chairs, it leads into a charmingly decorated dining space that won’t look out of place in a Chinese martial arts movie.

More seating and private rooms are available upstairs but be prepared to burn some calories as you ascend stairs. Rustic wood-trimmed semi private dining pavilions inspired by the Qing Dynasty, dramatic wall murals and modern Chinese lanterns form a theatrical, immersive backdrop that ‘transports’ you to ancient Chengdu.

In our quest to sample the best of XLK’s signature broths, we opted for the 3-flavour Hot Pot comprising Mala(Spicy)/Mushroom/Tomato (RM48) soup bases. While waiting for the hot pot to come to a boil, we amused ourselves by whipping up the simple dip: open up the mini can of oil provided and mix it up with some oyster sauce, vinegar, chopped garlic and fresh coriander.

Notable appetisers to stave off hunger pangs during the wait include Fried Crispy Meat (RM16) – yummylicious tender, lightly battered fried pork strips with a dusting of fiery hot chilli flakes on the side and sausage-shape rolls of Brown Sugar Rice Cakes (RM13) that are toasty crisp on the outside and delightfully chewy inside, with muted sweetness.

Once the hot pot is bubbling away, we had a field day dunking in the assorted items into the different soup bases. Spice fiends looking for an adrenalin rush will revel in the trademark tongue-numbing, sensorial-stimulating broth. Our dining party aren’t made of such stern stuff so our preference geared towards the savoury tomato and more delicate mushroom stocks. The overall taste improved progressively as more ingredients made their way into the hot pot.

 

Among the distinctive specialities worth savouring are the hand-made Rose Meat Balls (RM26), the robustly marinated XLK Spicy Chilli Beef (RM48), Shrimp Paste (RM38), Australia A5 Beef (RM90) and Ling Long Rolls (RM20) – crispy deep-fried beancurd sheet rolls.

 

Offal and innards are highly sought-after among XLK clientele especially the paper-thin Sliced Kidney (RM16), cubes of Pork Blood (RM10) and a rarity in hot pot menu: Duck Intestines (RM28).

Crowd-pleasing choices such as Pork Neck (RM20), Luncheon Meat (RM17) and Quail Eggs (RM12) are also available alongside premium servings of White Prawns (RM52) and Bluefin Leatherjacket (RM22).

Textural interest and extra nutrients can be gleaned from plates of Shiitake (RM8), Enoki (RM8) and seasonal greens like Spinach (RM8).

 

We found the XLK service team admirably on the ball despite the restaurant’s early days. Soup and drink refills, extra orders, clearing of soiled and empty tableware, etc are dealt with swiftly. A block-long queue already formed outside the door on the first day so it looks likely Xiao Long Kan will go full steam ahead in repeating its hot streak of success in Kuala Lumpur.

At this moment, Xiao Long Kan Hot Pot Restaurant only accept walk-in customers. Address: Lot 03, Block D, 179 Fahrenheit88, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. Open daily 11am to 2am.