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23 January, 2012

Daorae Korean BBQ @ Sri Petaling

Happy Lunar New Year of Dragon!

According to my family tradition, a Reunion Dinner (团员饭) is a must during the Lunar New Year's Eve (除夕夜) although we stay at KL and don't celebrate the night with my Grandmother. Without any miss, my Mama cooks a full 8-course Chinese meal for the family and we'd spend the whole night together.

However, there's a slight change this year--- Mama doesn't cook at all , since she is busy preparing for prayers at night (Although she does the same each year). And we head outside for our reunion session. Frankly, I'm surprised that my Dad chose a Korean BBQ Restaurant for a typical Chinese reunion dinner!

In Daorae, besides the normal sitting area, they also have a dining area with tatami style, and obviously you will need to take off your shoe before entering the area. For a perfectly comfortable dining, each table is equipped with a white long exhaust chute, which can be pulled down to be as close as possible to the BBQ area to suck the smoke. 

Here's the cosy area you can sit while waiting to be seated. The traditional furniture set amazes me upon entering the restaurant. To complement with the Korean theme, this waiting area is also equipped with Korean magazines :)

 #1 Salmon Yee Sang

Being a part of the conservative family, Prosperity Toss is a must for us but sadly, Daorae doesn't provide any. They are, nevertheless, kind enough to allow us bringing in Yee Sang from another restaurant to dine here. Well, I'm quite satisfied with their services because most restaurants usually don't allow any outside food. 

Brought from an ordinary Chinese restaurant around my house, of course the quality may not be as promising as those offered at hotels. But a simple Yee Sang is good enough for a small family like mine, because every year we have the same purpose that is to get together once again and welcome the new year!

 #2 Dolsot Bibimbab @ RM20

A rich layering of fresh, seasoned vegetables, and crab sticks, is served in steaming hot stone bowl over a bed of steamed rice topped with a fried egg, and served with Korean chilli paste. The condiment is served in a separate plate and you can mix them according to your preference. 

In other restaurants, the waiter would perform the mixing for us but here we have to do it by ourselves. I love the steaming hot rice that satisfies my empty stomach but it would have a greater taste if the chilli paste can be sweeter and more spicy. 

 #3 Pa-jeon @ RM25

This delicate savory pancake comprising of fresh seafood in batter topped with spring onions is my all-time favourite! I personally enjoy dipping this Korean pancake into the mixture of soy sauce and vinegar with chopped spring onions. Without this condiment, you can taste an original taste of seafood especially the baby shrimps and chopped clams. 

#4  Dderk-bokgi @ RM30 

Just like us Chinese, Koreans have their own version of Nian Gao as well. This platter of stir-fried traditional Korean rice cake in hot spicy chilli sauce works best as an ultimate snack or even a meal for a light eater!

Along with the chopped cabbage, onions and eggs, we happily stuff our belly with this spicy goddess.  Slobbered with spicy chilli paste, I have a good time with the soft yet chewy rice cakes. Despite of its fiery red presentation, the sauce is over-sweetened in my opinion.

#5 Kimchi-Jeon-Gol @ RM55 

Another popular meal during Chinese New Year is a hot pot, stuffed with a vast variety of ingredients. Hence we opt for a spicy combination of pork, kimchi, tofu and Korean noodles simmered in a rich kimchi soup served in a cast iron pot.

Looking back at its price, this hot soup can reasonably serve up to 3 persons or even 5 ladies because the ingredients used can easily fill up your stomach! 

When the Korean noodles are completely cooked, you can compare the amount of noodles alone with FOUR (4) packets of Maggi noodles! Note that it has not include other materials in the broth.

A sumptuous and hearty serving of tummy-warming concoction; and not too spicy too!

 #6 Vegetarian Chawan Mushi 

Apart from this tasty steamed egg, some Korean side dishes (Ban Chan) are served to perk up our appetite before the meats come into play. However, the banchan served for us that night is very limited. Only 4-5 varieties, I feel this is much lesser as compared to other Korean restaurants. Moreover they only refill the banchan upon request.

#7 Fruit Slices
This plate of watermelon slices are complimentary dessert as an endnote for the dinner.

#8 Korean Barley Juice

Apart from the Korean Green Tea served throughout the meal, we are given a glass of Korean Barley Juice at the end of the meal as well. To my surprise, this is definitely not the Sikhye, a traditional Korean beverage made with barley malt powder and rice. But its taste is sweet and cold, just like the barley malt!

We also ordered two bowls of Steamed Rice @ RM5 each,
summing up the bill to RM154 including service tax, and an additional RM48 for the Prosperity Toss. 
Therefore, the pre-Chinese New Year dinner only costs RM202 for 5 pax

Verdict:
1. All in all, the dinner is acceptable for me although the taste is mediocre.
2. A spacious, nice ambiance is a right deal for my family.
3. I don't know bout other Daorae franchises around Malaysia, but this one at Sri Petaling has a huge room of improvement on the services.

Daorae Korean BBQ Restaurant
21-1, Jalan Radin Anum, 
Bandar Baru Seri Petaling,
57000 Kuala Lumpur.
Contact: 603-9057 3617

47 comments:

  1. I wouldn't order the korean noodle cos it's just instant noodle LOL!
    Happy CNY!

    tallpiscesgirl

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi Charmaine, that's Korean instant noodle which tastes much better and crunchier than local ones :P

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  2. Oh love the Dolsot Bibimbab in the steaming hot stone bowl as the food is still hot right till the end. kamsahamnida. *GongXiFaCai*

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    Replies
    1. hi Bananaz, i agree that the hot stone bowl really can keep the foodstuff warm throughout the whole meal :) HAPPY CNY!

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  3. I ever tried the Kimchi-Jeon-Gol in South Korea last year. It taste nice and spicy. I love it. Your photo is awesome and I love your watermark. :D

    Happy Chinese New Year to you and wish you a prosperous Chinese New Year

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Diana, thanks for ur compliment and the food is really good. i bet it is better at south Korea (: Happy CNY to you too!

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  4. well, i wont say the foods at there is good. :p but well, being together with the whole family definitely makes everything taste better. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi Carol, taste varies in different outlets I guess :) of course the warmth with family is already more important than everything else.

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  5. I'd been to that place before...
    Good .. many customers......
    There are many Daorae restaurants.. I saw one @ Ipoh.. (just opp my house)..
    My dad will never eat Koraen food .. he is a very typical chinese man...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi there, Daorae is really a big franchise around malaysia. I think Ipoh has not many Korean restaurants there? Hope you enjoyed your meal with family!

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  6. The watermelon slices look so fresh and delicious!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Chunklet, the fruit slices are really succulent, mouth watering after a whole meal of meats :)

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  7. I like Bim bim bab! :D

    Happy Chinese New Year to you, Fish! Wishing you have a blessed one in year of the Dragon. :)

    mt
    aMeitzeu @ Blog

    Meitzeu @ Facebook

    Meitzeu @ Twitter

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi Meitzeu, happy CNY to you as well :) enjoy the endless meals during the new year!

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  8. Gong Xi Fa Cai!!!!look yummy! hehe stay fit during festive season not gain weight ya.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi Yong, i don't gain weight but i've earned a huge tummy :P

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  9. XD I nearly see wrong title... I tot doraemon korean bbq LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi Kelvin, i'd wish there's a Doraemon Korean restaurant in Malaysia too :P

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  10. Tried once, the one at Penang. Love the environment and services... As for food, hmm.. so so only :P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi Hayley, i love the ambiance most of all. the taste is not as rich as i'd have expected though.

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  11. korean food sounds like a unique and memorable choice for a reunion dinner. maybe can have japanese next year? heheh :D

    ReplyDelete
  12. quite a number of daorae seemed to have popped up around town! love the cold barley drink as the end of each meal. awesome to soothe the palates and the tummy:D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi Missy, the cold barley drink is korean specialty i assume? that really tastes good as an endnote of the meal!

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  13. OMG The salmon yee sang!!! Btw love your photography!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi Jessica, thank you for your compliment! :)

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  14. the chair, the food..oh so great!! happy CNY!! :D

    ReplyDelete
  15. I went the the outlet at Kota Damansara last month,my first try,tasted ok.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi Thomas, i bet different outlets have different quality in terms of tastiness :)

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  16. Wow I love Korean food especially kimchi! And the noodles look delicious!!

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    Replies
    1. hi Careen, the kimchi has a weird taste to me, lol. you sound like you're a huge fan of korean food there ;)

      Delete
  17. Notwithstanding the good food posted this time, This is wishing you a Happy Chinese New Year! Good fortune and good health.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello there, i hope there are more exciting food posts to tempt you next! Happy CNY to you and family too :)

      Delete
  18. I had Daorae yesterday too & I saw ppl had that hotpot, tempting to try :P

    Gong Xi Fa Cai!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi Choi Yen, the hotpot is really a popular korean steamboat that you should try it the next time you visit the Korean restaurant :)

      Delete
  19. the view itself is good enough already.. but I don't really fancy korean food.. ha ha ha.. especially that Bimbab..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi Aki, it's okay if you're not a fan of korean food. You can try more traditional foodstuff offered in this restaurant i guess?

      Delete
  20. aww it looks like such a nice cozy and clean place! lol i feel like restaurants which are clean make me feel more at ease eating there. The food looks really homey too! i love the side dishes of korean food. the pancake looks good =) i always order that when i go to korean restaurant with friends! :P keep in touch <3

    -Joyce
    carouselstreet.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi Joyce, the pancake is my favourite too! the place is indeed pleasing for all, and it's not smoky at all :)hope you can try out this restaurant as well!

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  21. The kimchi looks so yummy, but it is quite costly.

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    Replies
    1. hi Sheoh Yan, the quality is fairly good and it goes along with the price :)

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  22. feel like eating Dolsot Bibimbab and lou it like a bosss :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi Kian Fai, you don't have to be #likeaboss coz' you're one already :P

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  23. Ahhh Korean!!!! I've been craving for it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi Jessy, glad to hear that. Have you tried it?

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