Caffe Bene @ Solaris Mon't Kiara

Annyeong Haseyo!! No doubt to say that korean trend is emerging as an influential global trend.  This happen in Malaysia as well. This trend have been getting stronger too. No matter are in terms of their song, their drama, their dressing style, their language or even their food. I believe that most of us more or less will know one or two Korean words right like "Annyeong Haseyo"(Hello/How Are You), "Kamsahamida"(Thank You), "Otoke"(What to Do), "Chon-Mahn-Eh-Yo"(You Are Welcome). When you talk about k-pop idol, I guess everyone know who is Big Bang and Girls' Generation right?? When you talk about drama, who don't know the latest and hottest drama, My Love from the Star (Lai Zi Xing Xing De Ni) even me myself is watching this drama right now. I know this drama was quite sometime already but because I was too busy with my assignment and exam previously so forgive me for being a bit outdated. Is A BIT only ar!! Lol. Next, when you talk about food, who don't know what is tteokbokki, kimchi and dak galbi right? So, same goes for their dessert as well like bingsu. I'll let you know more about bingsu in a short while. Let me introduce you to Caffe Bene first. 

So, Caffe Bene is actually a coffeehouse chain that based in Seoul, South Korea and was founded in May 2008 by Sun-Kwon Kim. Caffe Bene mean "Good Cafe". Caffe Bene has more than thousand of outlets across countries such as Korea, US, China, Philippines, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Mongolia, Cambodia, Singapore, Japan and of course Malaysia as well. They offer a wide range of products from waffles to honeybread, gelato, frappeno, cocktail, coffee and bingsu.

There are only 2 outlets in Malaysia. First outlet was opened in Sunway Pyramid and the second one was in Solaris Mon't Kiara. So, this is how Caffe Bene in Solaris Mon't Kiara looks like. I went here with my friends two weeks ago after eating our dinner at Gangnam88. Again, the cafe was full with people and there were people queuing as well. We waited awhile before we get a place to sit. They actually practise a self service concept where first of all you have to place your order at the counter there (*obviously). Then they will give you an UFO plate. When your UFO plate light up and vibrate, it means that your order is ready for collection. Is the same concept used in Snowflakes.

Gelato with waffle (RM14)

Gelato ~ Single / 1 Scoop (RM6)

Gelato ~ Double / 2 Scoops (RM12)

Gelato ~ Small / 3 Scoops (RM18)

Gelato ~ Large / 5 Scoops (RM28) 

Their gelato are available in eight flavours namely strawberry, espresso, blueberry yoghurt, yoghurt, cream cheese, green tea, vanilla and dark chocolate.

I saw this fake and "rusty" clock on their wall. They have this similar clock in their Sunway Pyramid outlet as well. I don't know what it mean or what it actually symbolized. Perhaps is their trademark. Anyway, it attracted me and I think it was quite nice as well so I captured it. 

Cookies and Cream Bingsu (RM22.80) ~ Large 
Rating:1.5/5

Finally, this is the bingsu I mention just now. Bingsu is actually a Korean shaved ice topped with nuts, cereal flakes, fruits, biscuits, jelly bits, beans, ice cream, cream, yoghurt and etc. They have five flavours in total namely strawberry bingsu, coffee bingsu, green tea tower bingsu, cookies & cream bingsu and the latest one is choco devil bingsu. They are available in two sizes that is small (RM12.80) and large (RM22.80). Since we went here after dinner, we were so full that we only ordered one large size of bingsu to share. My friends went and order this large size cookies and cream bingsu. They should have order two small but different flavours instead. Anyway, I think their cookies and cream bingsu is not really nice. Is kinda diluted and a bit too milky the taste. I think McDonald's Oreo Mcflurry is so much nicer. I guess that other flavours might be nicer. This is what I guess only la. Lol.

By chance if I go again, I would definitely like to try their other flavours of bingsu, their honeybread, their gelato and their waffles which look so freaking delicious.

Oh ya, by the way we actually ordered one of their drink that day. I don't know what was the name of the drink because it was ordered by my friends which I think it was quite nice and refreshing. I guess it might be either lemonade or iced fruit tea.

Anyway, there are actually quite a number of Korean restaurants in Solaris here. A bit like Korean Village at Ampang there. Maybe you can check it out and see how was it.

Rating: 3.0/5

Caffe Bene
K-G-04 Solaris Mon't Kiara,
No.2, Jalan Solaris,
50480 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03 - 6143 5333 or 03 - 6143 6333
Website: http://caffebene.com.my/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caffebene.asia

Operating Hours: Monday - Sunday (9.30am - 11.00pm)

P/S: There was another branch as well in Sunway Pyramid. Please visit http://caffebene.com.my/outlets/ for more information.

Gangnam88 @ Solaris Mon't Kiara

So it was the last paper of my final exam which ended two weeks ago on the 31 May 2014 at 7pm. My three months summer break officially start. Since my birthday is around the corner, so my friends celebrated it in advance for me that night before each of us is going back to our hometown the next day. Before this, we actually planned to celebrate it by having a buffet dinner at Tao-Cuisine. There were two reasons why we ended up not eating in Tao. First reason is because by the time we finished our exam and reached that place will be very late for buffet already. Second reason is because we didn't do any booking.

So my friend suggested us to go to Gangnam88 since she heard some good reviews from her friends. We reached that place around 9.00pm and the restaurant is full with people and there were people queuing as well. We waited for like half an hour before we actually get a place to sit. So, all of us were thinking the same thing. "Must be nice huh"! It turned out to be a disappointment though. Non of the food we ordered were nice and non of these food we feel like going for the second time. I don't mean that it taste really bad la but what I can say is it doesn't taste good. Is eatable only. At this moment, I think Daorae in Sri Petaling is still the best Korean food I ate so far. 

Beer Chicken (RM50.00) 
Rating: 1.5/5

So, this is their so called best seller. We actually read in someone blog that every table had this order and we saw in their menu as well that this is their best seller. So, we decided to gave it a try and we regret for ordering it. First of all, it is not tasty at all. The chicken itself is a bit tasteless unless you dip in black pepper or some sauce like mayonnaise which I don't I like. Secondly, I don't think that there is any beer taste at all. Thirdly, you need to wait for 45 minutes to an hour time for this particular dish. This was stated in their menu. Surprisingly, we were served with this dish within 15 minutes that day.

Rabbokggi (RM33.00) 
Rating: 1.5/5

Another dish that we ordered that night was rabbokggi. Rabbokggi is actually a combination of korean rice cake or better known as tteokbokki and instant ramen noodle or better known as ramyeon. They have egg, veggies and dumpling in it as well. I love to eat tteokbokki a lot because of their chewy texture. To determine whether it is nice or not, I think the sauce itself play a very important role. In this case, I don't think the sauce is nice and so the tteokbokki as well. 

Kimchi Jjigae (RM20.00) 
Rating: 1.0/5

I don't like to eat kimchi but surprisingly I am okay with kimchi soup. But I don't like the above  kimchi soup taste as well.

BBQ Pork ~ Dwaeji-Galbi (RM49.00) Large 
Rating: 2.0/5

Their special savory pork ribs sauce recipe is originated from South Korea Jeju Island restaurant, a traditional recipe for more than 30 years. Again, I think this is average only.  

So, these are the side dishes they offered and the good thing is it offers unlimited refills as well like other korean restaurant.

This is the inner view of Gangnam88 with lots of K-pop idol's poster around. If you are a K-pop fans then you might like this place because you can have a look on their posters, listen to their songs and watch their shows while enjoying your korean meal. 

A lot of people right? Honestly, for me, I don't really like the food here but maybe you can try and see because different people may have different taste. What I don't like doesn't mean you don't like as well right.

Rating: 2.0/5

Gangnam88
No. 1-1, Jalan Solaris 3,
Solaris Mon't Kiara
Off Jalan Kiara,
50480 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03 - 6206 5888
Website: http://www.gangnam88.net/

Operating Hours: Monday - Sunday (11.30am - 1.00am)

P/S: There was another branch as well in Kota Damansara Giza Mall. Please visit http://www.gangnam88.net/bbs/board.php?bo_table=z5_0 for more information.