Tap It Out, Malaysia's First Self-Service Beer ATM @ Soho KL

Cheers, ladies and gentlemen!

The first self-service “Beer ATM” is now open in Solaris Mont Kiara! I am here checking out the energetic vibes and sipping on the freshly-served premium beers - completely automated and affordable.

Tap It Out, located on the second floor of Soho KL (Right above Caffe Bene), is the first beer bar in Malaysia that allows you to pour your own drinks and have complete control of how much beer you want each round.

Tap It Out serves 9 types of draught beer from 22 beer taps on their ‘ATMs’ including:

❤ Carlsberg
❤ Asahi
❤ Connors
❤ Kronenbourg 1664 Blanc
❤ Löwenbräu
❤ Erdinger Weissbier
❤ Hoegaarden
❤ Stella Artois
❤ Leffe


Each beer tap allows you to pour one type of beer.
So make sure you see the screen and don't get your beer name wrong :P

The screen will show which type of bar is the tap for. For instance, I have Kronenbourg 1664 Blanc on my left and Carlsberg on my right.

There are different types of glasses for different beers too!


Let's see how does this self-service system work.....

All you have to do when you enter the bar is purchase a prepaid card with cash. The card can then be used as an ‘ATM card’ on any of the beer dispensers. Reload is available at RM50, RM100 and RM150 onwards...

Tap It Out Beer ATM Card

Instructions are given at the back of the card.

Place your card under the screen and pour as much as you want!

After pouring, the screen will display the amount (ml) of beer poured,

and the price of your pour as well as the remaining balance in your card.

You can choose to enjoy your beer outside the outlet, or chill indoors.

Taking beer drinking to a more interactive level, Tap It Out also has a
digital beer pong table for you to play the classic game of electronic beer pong with beer!

Drinking with friends here will not be boring anymore!

Don't forget to check out the Beer Pong Challenge promo in the house!

Tap It Out Ultimate Platter - Ideal for sharing!

Well, nothing beats the enjoyment of pairing our favourite beers with bar snacks. Don't expect main courses to be served here, but I am pretty sure that the bar snacks can easily make one full to the brim.

Creme Brulee Roasted Pork - Definitely a must-try item here.

Premium Fries Platter - Best for communal sharing while keeping the streams of conversations and laughter going.

Asian Fusion Popcorn Chicken with House Special Spicy Sauce

Prawn Katsu - Crisp and crunchy prawns for the seafood lovers.

Garlic Butter Broiled Mussels - Fresh and deliciously spiced to pair well with beers.

Flaming Wings - Nicely added spicy kick to your traditional chicken wings.

Signature Premium Popcorn and Nuts

Oink Oink Popcorn with Bacon and Crispy Pork Rind

Cheesy Bomb Popcorn with Cheese Cuts

Naughty-nutty Popcorn with Sesame Glaze Pistachio

Tamari and Maple Roasted Almond 

And lastly, my personal favourite goes to the premium popcorns infused with bacon, cheese and nuts that bring the popcorn experience to the next level. Nutty fans will love the crunchy savoury-sweet almonds too.

Verdict:
Good beer joint, good atmosphere and good company; what's more can I ask for at Tap It Out?

If you want an one-of-a-kind experience with "Beer ATMs", this is the right place to visit!

Tap It Out
K-01-05, Soho KL
(Second floor, right above Caffe Bene)
No. 2, Jalan Solaris,
Solaris Mont Kiara,
50480 Kuala Lumpur.
Facebook: fb.com/tapitoutmsia
Instagram: @tapitoutmsia
Business Hours: 4pm - 2am daily

Kafe Go to School @ Solaris Mont Kiara

In the vicinity of Mont Kiara, I have come across many Korean eateries but none of them draws my attention like Kafe Go To School does. With the classroom-like arrangement of colorful painted furniture outside the restaurant, it looks great as a casual dining spot on a lazy weekend. 

True to its name, the cafe literally brings me back to school as soon as I step into the quirky space. It is a family business for a Malaysian and two Korean sisters, in which one of them is a master chef specializing in home-cooked Korean dishes in Japan and Taiwan for several years.

To cater for the local taste buds, they have come up with the trendy concept of combining both the Korean BBQ restaurant and Korean-style coffee and dessert cafe into one. That explains why the menu here is so extensive, ranging from classic Korean noodles, hot pot and snacks to innovative Korean bingsu, waffles and coffee. 

Fresh Homemade Juices: Lemonade @ RM13, Grapefruitade @ RM14, Uja (Citron) @ RM10

We kickstart our meal with an array of thirst quenchers which are made of real, fresh fruits. They are deliciously sweet and tart, and packed with loads of Vitamin C. My favourite goes to Uja juice as this refreshing concoction exudes the fragrance of honey and citrus fruit peel. 

Korean Original Kimbab @ RM11.90

The traditional appetizer is simple and perfect for those who prefer light meals. It may remind you of Japanese sushi, but they are different as Kimbab is served warm on its own (without any dipping sauce), using only steamed white rice (no vinegar) and the cooked ingredients (no raw fish) used include beef, pickled daikon, carrots, seasoned spinach, crabstick and omelette.

Yangneum Fried Chicken @ RM35 (Half chicken)

For meat lovers out there, this popular Korean-style fried chicken coated with thick spicy-sweet chilli sauce is highly recommended. The level of spiciness can be adjusted according to personal preference, so if you wanna be adventurous, do challenge the fiery hot and spicy Level 5!

Look at the size of the drumstick! Half chicken (7 pieces in total) is ideal for 2-4 pax sharing.

The homemade sticky sauce is amazingly flavourful, just at the right amount of sweetness. Sprinkled with crushed peanuts, the chicken gives a nice crunch on the outside while retaining its fluffy white flesh inside. Thanks to the impeccable service, the plastic glove is definitely a major saviour to allow us enjoy the chicken at its best without any messiness.

Salmon Rice Pizza @ RM35

Next up is the first salmon pizza I've tried which uses rice and salmon meat as the base instead of the usual pizza dough. The beautiful presentation by itself already excites me, and I doubt I can find such unique creation elsewhere! 

It features a crispy, crumb-coated rice base, which remains hot and soft inside, with generous toppings of salmon slices and tobiko. The accompanying sauce consisting of pickle, mayonnaise and chilli also pairs surprisingly well with the pizza. Overall, this creative dish is lip-smacking good, hence is definitely a must-order item!

Hae Mul Pa Jeon @ RM24

Moving on, the seafood and spring onion Korean pancake is another traditional dish that you must not miss! Unlike the usual round-pizza-like variation I try in other Korean restaurants, Kafe Go To School serves it in thick squares that are well-layered with huge chunky spring onions. 

Soft and slightly chewy, the pancake is lightly sweet on its own, while the roasted sesame topping further accentuates the aroma of the overall dish. However, I prefer dipping into the special chilli soy sauce for stronger savoury taste.

Value-for-money Weekday Lunch Sets

I notice that the menu features alot more dishes that I'd love to try, including the Braised Beef Ribs, Bulgogi Steak, Ginseng Chicken, Toppuki (Rice Cake), Rice Burgers, Ramen, Udon and Kim Chi Fried Rice. They even serve delicious lunch sets and bentos, pegged at affordable price tags.

As for the desserts, I am totally blown by the wide variety of Bingsu (Korean Ice Kacang), waffles and crepe cakes. Whether you are craving for hot or cold desserts, this cafe has gotten you covered. 

Very Very Thank You Snow Milk Bingsu @ RM33 (Recommended for 3-4 pax sharing)

Just to illustrate how huge the portion is, I gotta show you my picture before I start digging into the snowy mountain of fresh strawberries, blueberries, corn flakes and Gelato ice cream drizzled with strawberry sauce. 

I truly appreciate the Chef's effort for preparing everything from scratch, including the snowy ice base which is made of milk powder and water. Using a special ice shaving machine, the layer of ice shaves is extra smooth and milky, leaving a creamy sensation as it melts in the mouth.

It is frankly the most satisfying bingsu I have tried so far! 

Vanilla Crepe @ RM13.90

My ideal afternoon tea here would be having a slice of Japanese crepe cake along with a cup of coffee,

while doing my work at a quiet corner.

Verdict:

1. Overall, I love the concept of Korean-Japanese fusion cuisine and the chef's creativity indeed wows me throughout the meal.

2. If you are craving for authentic Korean flavours of home-cooked dishes, here is the right place to go. 

3. Recommended: Yangneum Fried Chicken, Salmon Rice Pizza, Korean Pancake

Kafe Go to School (HALAL)
18G (Ground Floor),
Jalan Solaris 3,
Solaris Mont Kiara,
50480 Kuala Lumpur.
Contact: +603-2858 9627
Email address: heewooriz@gmail.com
Facebook: fb.com/kafegotoschool
Instagram: @kafegotoschool

Business Hours:
Sun-Thurs: 10am till 11pm (Last order at 10.30pm)
Fri-Sat: 10am till 1am (Last order at 12.30am)

O'Briens Irish Sandwich Cafe @ Publika Shopping Gallery, Mont Kiara

Speaking of fresh, premium sandwiches, the brand O'Briens Irish Sandwich is surely the first thing that pops into my mind. I'm sure this prominent brand needs no further introduction. With the presence of 21 outlets nationwide, it is easily accessible to anyone who craves for a healthy wholesome meal. 

This lifestyle cafe adopts a healthy, fresh and made-to-order concept where diners can pick their favourite ingredients from the bar and choose the bread for their sandwiches. Sandwiches and salads are prepared in front of customers, hence don't worry about the food hygiene and professional handling. 

And the best part is, everything here is about mixing and matching.

You can create your own Sandwich by choosing:

1 Bread + 1 Main Filling + 3 Salads + 1 Sauce

Wholemeal Irish Shambo: A foccacia bread baked in the shape of the Shamrock,

an epitome of Ireland, the country of origin of O'Briens. 

For the bread, you can choose Wrappo (Light flour tortilla wraps), traditional White Bread, fibrous Wholemeal Bread, herb-based Facaccia Shambo, Italian Ciabatta, Multigrain Ciabatta and more. 

I personally prefer something with greater texture, hence the multigrain ciabatta is the right choice for me.

The main filling here range from poultry, seafood and red meat to vegetarian, cheese and eggs. 

Egg: 

- Plain Egg - Egg Mayo

Meat:

- Plain Chicken - Chicken Mayo - Chicken Slice - Chicken Crisp - Chicken Sausage

- Mild Spicy Herbs Chicken - Volcanic Chicken - Piri-Piri Chicken - Turkey - Beef

Seafood:

- Plain Tuna - Tuna Mayo - Smoke Salmon

Cheese:

- Cheddar Cheese - Swiss Cheese - Mozzarella Cheese

- Brie Cheese - Feta Cheese - Parmesan Cheese

After picking the filling, you can choose up to 3 types of salad. They actually have loads of vegetables on the bar, but I didn't manage to capture them all, so please refer to the list below. Interestingly, the sauces are uniquely prepared with secret recipes, hence they are delightfully lighter and healthier than the usual mayonnaise. 

Salad:

- Mixed Peppers - Roasted Peppers - Red Onion - Sweetcorn - Black Olives 

- Pine Nut - Walnut - Tomato - Cucumber - Lettuce - Lollo Rosa - Lollo Bionda

- Watercress - Roasted Brinjal - Roasted Zucchini - Coleslaw

Sauce:

- Basil Pesto - Cream Cheese - Honey Mustard - Aran Island - Ballymaloe

- Ceasar Dressing - Italian - Cranberry - Guacamole - Houmous

Next....it's time for me to make my very own sandwich! The sandwich maker gets serious when applying the guacamole (Avocade spread) onto the foccacia bread, before adding cucumber, sundried tomatoes and olives into the hearty combination.

.....but after that, a very happy (yet unglam) face is caught on camera!

 Now can you see how much fun is it to craft your very own sandwich?

Tadaa! Here's my Smoked Salmon Sandwich, served with light and crispy potato chips. The unsalted chips are ultra thin and light but flavourful enough to beat the rest of its unhealthy counterparts. 

Customized Tuna Club Sandwiches

Let's check out the rest of the sandwiches made by my partners in crime. Triple-deckers are amongst the house specialty handcrafted sandwiches and also the bestsellers here. A platter of this is sufficient for a big eater, and also suitable for group sharing if you'd love to try more varieties.

Turkey Ham, Cheese, Mixed Pepper and Salad in Shambo Sandwich

Wrappo Sandwich

Apart from hot toasted sandwiches and cold sandwiches, you can also try the thin tortilla skin which wraps the premium fillings around and is dressed with assorted fresh salads and sauce. A great option if you are not a bread person. 

Well, O'Briens is already well-known for its hand-cut sandwiches, salads and wrappos, but many do not know that they're also good at gourmet coffees (Freshly grounded Arabica and Robusta), freshly squeezed juices, cakes and Irish snacks.

100% Pure Orange Juice

Another notable offering in O'Briens is the freshly squeezed juices, which are made of up to 3 types of real fruits, without any additional sugar. For a quick boost of Vitamin C, they even have a special machine to perform the juicing right in front of customers using 8 to 10 pieces of oranges. 

Verdict:

1. Concept wise, I love the healthy sandwiches and juices which are absolutely free from unnecessary sugar and fats. And I can be assured of the quality as they practise open-bar concept for the food preparation. 

2. The varieties are amazingly wide, so surely you'd find something you love from the preset menu, or you can customize your own according to your preference. 

3. Reason of visit: Fresh, natural and guilt-free food. 

The full listing of outlets in Malaysia is available at: www.obriens.com.my

or you can contact 1300-30-3000 for delivery.

For latest updates, please visit O'Briens' Facebook Page: facebook.com/obriensmalaysia