It was my first time joining this reunion gathering with my parents. Nope, not my reunion gathering. I drove my parents to my father’s hometown, Sitiawan. He was having a reunion lunch with all his schoolmates. It was at Restoran Foo Lum Zhong Hua.
From the outside, it just another typical chinese air-conditioned restaurant. From the inside, it’s the same. Haha. Typical plastic chairs, either red or white colour. Table has a cloth covering the table so that it’s easier for them to clean up after that. So, nothing really extra ordinary or amazing and nothing to complain about. The toilet was also clean.
The servers and the waiters are locals, many may have already been working here for a very long time from their age. The tables were however arranged with space to walk around and not the usual ‘maximising’ all the space kind of layout. Now, I shall tell you why I will still be bringing friends and my family to this restaurant if I am looking for a place for casual meals. The below are all the review when dishes start arriving on the table.
Claypot Stingray Curry
My parents love this dish. I love this dish. In fact everyone on the table loved this dish! The stingray meat was fresh. The curry was mildly spicy, the aroma was mesmerising and all the vege inside the claypot was cooked just right. You can see it very clearly from the image below. Truth is, I can eat two bowls of rice with just this curry alone. Of course I did not. There were so many other dishes.
Soup of the Day
Okay, I have no idea if this is soup of the day but it’s a typical soup of the day in a restaurant. Usually they would have these 2 or 3 choices for you to choose and this seems like one of it. Nothing spectacular. Just a good bowl to start your meal.
Chinese Poached Chicken (Pak Cham Kai)
This one is just okay. However, when matched with the Kiong Yoong, then it’s very good. Please do not compare this to the good ones in Ipoh yeah.
‘Kiong Yoong’ (Ginger and Garlic combined)
I love this a lot. This goes well with the white chicken. (Pak Cham Kai)
Salad Prawn
This is a very typical chinese restaurant dish. I really do recommend you order this because it’s a very good combination. Succulent prawns which has been deep fried, mixed with mayonaise and all the chunks of fruits. Even if this is like half-half between a main dish and dessert fit for happy hour, I like this and the one at this restaurant did not dissappoint at all. My father said it’s very delicious.
Kung Po pork slice
I love anything which is spicy. Kung Po is a favourite. Pork slices are my favourite too. So, when mixed together, then this becomes a good dish. Yes, it’s really possible to eat white rice with just this dish as well. It’s spicier than the stingray curry but still way below typical Malaysian spicy level yeah. So, go ahead and order if you love kung po as well.
Four Heavenly Kings (Sei Tai Thin Wong)
This is abve average and it has petai inside it too. I would recommend this as a must-order if you love sambal belacan dishes like me. All the vegetables are at the right level, still have that crunchy feel versus soggy.
Tofu with pork and small prawns.
Okay, this one may be more suitable for children. Many people on the table love it but for me, it’s just okay. I have too many spicy choices and thus I took just one spoonful. For kids, this is very good yeah. If I bring my children, I will order this too.
Lotus root stir-fry
Yeah, all other vege are there to complement the lotus root yeah. One thing I noticed was that people on my table did not really eat a lot of this dish. Maybe because they were already full? I love the thinly sliced lotus root and it has some sweetness and crunchiness and I think I alone took many of the lotus root slices. Of course, between this and the 4 Heavenly Kings, I will choose the spicy one lah.
Our Reviews
Overall:
From my understanding the price is reasonable. Haha. I will leave it as that.
Food Quality:
1 star – If you’re trying to lose weight, just come here and you’ll be running for the hills… or the gym.
2 stars – It’s like they tried to cook with their eyes closed, but at least they didn’t burn the food to a crisp.
3 stars – The food is like that one ex you keep going back to – not perfect, but you know what to expect.
4 stars – The food is like a hug from your grandma – warm and comforting.
5 stars – The food is like a love letter to my taste buds – it’s perfect in every way.
Taste:
1 star – If bland was a flavor, this dish would be the poster child for it
2 stars – It’s edible, but only if you’re really hungry.
3 stars – It’s good enough for a quick bite, but nothing to write home about.
4 stars – I’d come back just for this dish.
5 stars – I wanted to keep quite so that this place will not become crowded but hey, YOU MUST TRY IT.
Price:
1 star – Ouch, my wallet is hurting just thinking about it.
2 stars – It’s slightly more expensive than your usual hawker fare, but the quality is worth the extra bucks.
3 stars – The prices are just right for the quality of food and service.
4 stars – I need to come back and try everything on the menu.
5 stars – I’ll bring my friend, my neighbor, and my dog next time.
Portion:
1 star – If you’re on a diet, this is the place for you.
2 stars – The portion is small, maybe I ordered from the kids menu
3 stars – The portion size is like a balanced diet – not too much of anything, but enough of everything.
4 stars – You won’t need to eat for the rest of the day, but you also won’t need to skip your next meal.
5 stars – The portion size is like a challenge – you’ll need to bring a friend to help you finish it. Are you up for it?
Service:
This part I will rate 3-star because the waiter did not fill up the glasses with tea and waited until the event started before doing so. I think my expectation is that if someone is seated, they should already be served tea and not after everyone is seated etc.
1 star – The service here is like a date with someone who isn’t really serious about you – you’ll be left waiting, disappointed, and wondering why you even bothered showing up.
2 stars – The waiter seems to have mistaken me for their ex, because the service was ice-cold.
3 stars – It’s like the servers are on autopilot – they’re just going through the motions, but at least they’re getting the job done.
4 stars – The servers here are like a warm blanket on a cold day – comforting and welcoming.
5 stars – The service was so good, I almost proposed to the waiter/waitress.
Wait Time:
As this is a gathering, all the dishes would have been pre-ordered. Nevertheless, all the dishes came out one after another very quickly which meant their kitchen is big and efficient.
1 star – You’ll need a time machine to go back to when you weren’t starving.
2 stars – Any longer and you will start to get hangry.
3 stars – The wait time is just enough for you to start to get excited for your food.
4 stars – Okay, I like this kind of speed. It’s just about right.
5 stars – I thought I just ordered like just now? The food has arrived.
Hygiene:
1 star – You know that feeling when you touch something sticky and you’re not sure what it is? Yeah, that’s the kind of hygiene we’re dealing with here.
2 stars – If you squint your eyes and tilt your head, it almost looks clean. Almost.
3 stars – The hygiene here is like that one friend who’s always a little bit late – not great, but you can deal with it.
4 stars – I’m pretty sure the staff wears hazmat suits when they clean. And they clean everything. Twice.
5 stars – This place is so clean, I would eat off the floor. And I have. No shame.
Ambience:
1 star – The ambience here is like eating in a crowded bus station – loud, chaotic, and not a place you want to linger.
2 stars – It’s not exactly cozy, but it’s a step up from the usual hawker center experience.
3 stars – The decor is like a family-friendly chain restaurant – comfortable and predictable.
4 stars – The ambiance is lovely, and the attention to detail is impressive.
5 stars – It’s like dining at a palace – every detail is exquisite and meticulously planned.”
Environment:
1 star – You’ll sweat more than a glass of ice on a hot day
2 stars – It’s like sitting in a sauna, but with food
3 stars – The tables are well-spaced, the air is breathable, and you won’t have to peel yourself off the seats
4 stars – It’s cool and comfy, like a polar bear’s den
5 stars – You’ll never want to leave, you might even consider moving in
Location:
1 star- Somehow I just could not find the restaurant when I moved past it the first time
2 stars – you will have to stay very focused as the signage is not so apparent
3 stars – It’s located in a charming area, but you have to navigate some narrow streets to get there.
4 stars – The location is perfect – easy to find and conveniently located.
5 stars – The location is so perfect, it’s like the restaurant was teleported to the best spot in town.
Waze:
Use Waze to drive to Restoran Foo Lum Zhong Hua, 135-136 Jalan Sejahtera 4, Sitiawan: https://waze.com/ul/hw0xxgn6jb
Google Maps:
Restoran Foo Lum Zhong Hua, 135-136 Jalan Sejahtera 4, Sitiawan
https://goo.gl/maps/DskUePRpMUprDgXi8
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