Review: Hai Di Lao Lazy Instant Steamboat/Hot Pot

Hey lovelies! 💕

Today I’ll be reviewing two different flavours of Hai Di Lao Lazy Instant Steamboat/Hot Pot in Spicy Vegetable 🌶(Mala soup base) and Tomato Chicken 🍅. I’ll try to write as detailed as possible as I hope this will be beneficial to those who can’t read Chinese characters (like me 😅).

I’ll also insert the links to buy online below! 😍 It’s much cheaper to buy online than retail shops and supermarkets.

First off, I’ll be reviewing Spicy Vegetable 🌶 flavour. The packaging is green in colour. Notice ‼️: Pay attention to the date imprinted on the top of the packaging. That is the manufacturing date, and it is advisable to consume within 12 months from the date.

Cooking time is 15 minutes only! Assembly time is around 5 minutes.

There’s a pair of chopsticks and spoon inside. The white packet is the heating pack.

Wet and dry ingredients.

According to the instructions, place the glass noodles first. Makes sense cause you would want the soup to cover it completely for it to cook well right? 🤗

You may put the other packets in any order after you put the glass noodles first. This packet has slices of potatoes and bite-sized corn.

This packet includes the sliced lotus root and black fungus.

Last but not least, the most important Mala soup base! Pour it evenly over the ingredients.

Next up: Fill the bowl with room temperature water until the indication shown in the picture (a faint line below the words).

Looking delicious already…

Fill in room temperature water into the black large bowl until the line shown (green line drawn above) or 200ml to be precise.

Place the heating pack into the water in the black bowl and immediately (and very carefully) place the transparent bowl over it.

I took this quick shot before it started bubbling in 10 seconds 🤣 Cover with the Hai Di Lao black lid.

Remember not to put anything on top as it might block the air vent. Be careful as the steam is very hot! Set your timer to 15 minutes and let it cook.

When the time is up, carefully open the lid (it’s still pretty hot) and enjoy your instant hot pot! This portion is large enough for two persons or one very hungry person 🤣

Yummmm. Pretty good alternative if you’re craving for HDL but don’t wanna spend time to queue for it hehe.

It was pretty filling for me and the ingredients were aplenty too. Everything tastes legit thou! Was surprised this came out from a packet 🤣I guess there’s shit load of preservatives in this but it’s fun to eat this once in awhile la. This packet is for RM19. I’ll link the shop down below!

Graphic instructions for those you can’t read Chinese characters 😊

Next up! This has became my personal favourite after eating it at Hai Di Lao: Tomato Chicken 🍅!

I’ve been craving tomato soup since that time! Love the sweet and tangy taste 🤤

It comes in Tomato Beef as well! 🐮 This one costs RM25 as there’s meat in it.

There’s also a packet of corn chips (white packet on the left side) which I didn’t add cause I don’t see the point of putting chips into soup (?!) 😅

I’ve placed the glass noodles below first. Then later I placed this packet, which contains the same potato slices, lotus roots, black fungus and corn as the Mala flavoured hotpot.

Chicken meat pieces! They’re semi-cooked already.

Tomato paste 🍅

Everything evenly placed into the transparent bowl.

Fill it with room temperature water up to the line shown. Submerge the heating pack in the water and cover with lid, let it cook for 15 minutes. Same cooking instructions as the other flavours.

Jja jan! I really enjoyed this tomato flavour one! If I have to repurchase, I’ll totally get this one again!

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Now, the moment you’ve been waiting for! The link to purchase online is below. My purchase told 4 working days for the arrive! 😊

As you can see in the link, the prices are discounted right now, probably in conjunction with the 9.9 Shopee sale event! Great time to add to cart and get them now while it’s cheap! 😍👍🏻

Enjoy your hotpot and let me know of your experience with your Hai Di Lao hotpot!

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Click on the screenshot to be directed to the Shopee link! This is not a sponsored post by the way, I used my own money to purchase them…🙈

Xoxo 🤗

Review: Pokok KL @ Mahsa University

Hey lovelies!

Time for yet another food review! This time, me and my girls tried out Pokok KL @ Mahsa University! Been wanting to try this cafe but waited until the hype died down a little. Thankfully it wasn’t packed because we went on a Friday afternoon after a heavy thunderstorm. The cafe was cold (perfect nap weather), best time to chill especially when the cafe is designed like a glasshouse.

It’s located in Mahsa University near Jaya One. Parking is easily available both in the university and outside. The cafe is right at the Mahsa University entrance.

~ aesthetics ~

Pokok KL Cafe food, beverages and desserts menu (as of June 2019).
Mains range from RM15 to RM35. Would say it’s a pretty standard cafe pricing in Klang Valley.

Drinks are on the pricier side, mostly from RM12 to RM15.

Pink latte RM15 (non-caffeine), cappuccino RM10 and flat white RM10.

Mimi’s pink latte. Disappointing drink considering the fact at how pretty it looks! 😦
We were expecting it to taste like rose latte, because of all the rose petals garnish on top, but instead it tastes bland and like some powdered drink. We tried to guess what it was, our guess was beetroot due to the pinkish colour

Smoked salmon benedict RM28
This has gotta be the most perfect poached eggs I’ve ever seen! The dish was served with an open-faced salmon on top of sourdough toasts, topped with eggs benedict, salad (no dressing) and tater tots (potatoes). Yummmm

Chili padi pesto pasta (Mild) RM20 + RM5 for grilled chicken breast
This dish was unfortunately a miss for us. The pesto sauce has a strong basil taste (like how it should taste) but that’s the reason why I didn’t like it lololol. I preferred my pesto sauce with a heavier garlic ratio compared to basil. The grilled chicken breast was dry as well huhuhu. On the bright side this dish is big enough for two persons.

Portobello mushroom melt sandwich RM16
Hohoho this dish was my favourite! And reasonably priced too! After I ate this I’ve been thinking of when to pay a visit just to get this sandwich again! I’m sucker for any dish with mushrooms tbh, and especially portobello mushrooms (love their earthy flavour). They served it with a side of truffle fries and chili mayo dipping sauce.

This place is an Instagrammer’s magnet! Look at the tables, plates, cups and exterior of the cafe!

Our total bill came up to RM105 for three pax.

Tiffany H’s ratings!:

Price: $$$ – Typical cafe food pricing 😀 Prices shown on the menu is excluding service tax 6%

Food: ✦✦✦✦✧ 4/5 – Loved the smoked salmon benedict and portobello sandwich. Could improve on the beverages though. Coffee isn’t strong enough. 🙂

Atmosphere: ✦✦✦✦✦ 5/5 – Every spot is Instagram-able and a feast to the eyes. Well decorated and attention put into details on the food presentation, cutlery and furniture. Perfect for a date or brunch with friends. Staffs are friendly too! 🙂

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POKOK KL Cafe
Address: MAHSA Avenue, Block B, Jalan Elmu, off, Jalan Universiti, 59100 Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 9am – 9pm (according to FB page. However, I’ve read reviews saying that the kitchen closes early at around 7pm)

Review: Haidilao Hot Pot @ Sunway Pyramid

Hi lovelies! ❤️

I’m back on WordPress for the time being! Finally have some spare time off work to blog!

Today I’ll be writing a food review on the highly raved-about steamboat/hot-pot which just opened its first branch in Malaysia! Hailing from China, it has opened its first branch in Sunway Pyramid late March 2019. I’ve read about friends who queued up for about 2-3 hours in line for their turn! I happened to take a break on a weekday and decided that it’s a good time to give it a try!

Being a banana (can’t read or speak in fluent Mandarin), it was a feat for us to communicate with the waiters, but thankfully they were accommodating to our requests and able to read our body language too.

If you have never tried Hai Di Lao (HDL), worry not! I wrote this post in hopes that it serves as comprehensive guide on how to wait in line, order, what to expect and also on how to queue for their free manicure service!

We reached on a weekday at 10.40am. Based on the operation hours, they open at 10.30am. But queue numbers were distributed as early as 10am. I was told that they also distribute numbers at 2pm slot, but apparently it’s not the same for every branch.

You’ll be given a queue number and QR code for you to scan and keep track of your turn in your phone. It’s live time, however be mindful that there might be glitches, from what I read from the reviews.

We did not loiter around Sunway. Instead we tried to fold paper cranes and also busied ourselves with various snacks and herbal drinks. They will come around and serve the snacks to you. Coloured papers are provided for you to fold a specific number of paper cranes in exchange for a dish. Couldn’t recall but I remember friends who managed to fold enough in exchange for plates of noodles or vegetables.

We only waited for about an hour. By 11.40am, it was our turn (number 40). Perfect for lunch time! After being ushered to your seats, you’ll be given a iPad to place your order.

Couples will be delighted to know that HDL offers two sizes of portion: Normal portion or half portion. Normal portion feeds about 4 or more pax, half portion feeds 2-3 pax. The prices are exactly half, proportionate to the portion.

Portion for 3-4 pax, Half for 2 pax.

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The norm is to order 4 soup bases to make the most out of the HDL dining experience as to try as many flavours in one go! The quarter soup base ranges from RM8 to RM11. You can opt for hot water for one quarter of the soup, to save some money or if you want to try your hand in creating a soup base from your own sauces concoction!

In the pic above (clockwise), we ordered Three Delicacy soup (herbal base with three types of mushrooms), Tomato soup and the famous Mala soup! My favourite was three delicacy and tomato. Not quite of a Mala fan to be honest.

RM8 is compulsory charged per pax for the sauces, condiments, fruits, fried noodles, ice cream and soya bean pudding. They’ll charge you on the headcount.

I love the mushroom sauce and seafood sauce!

My own concoction! I would say I prefer this over their Haidilao sauce! I used mushroom sauce, peanuts, shallots, chives, seafood sauce and some chilli sauce.

This is one of their Haidilao sauce. I honestly didn’t like it because they loaded it with celery and it overpowered the sauce, couldn’t taste anything besides the minty celery…

Also a Haidilao sauce. You may get the kind waiters/waitresses to make one bowl for you! Add some soup into the bowl and mix well.

This is a must-order for me every time I eat hotpot! Cheese tofu! 😍

Ordered full portion pork belly cause I don’t eat beef 🙈

Highly recommend their fish slices!

Bliss of eating hotpot on a weekday lunch! 🤤

Hi, love 👋🏻 ❤️

One shot before we put the food into the pot and it gets messy.

Apron, hair tie, sleeves cover and plastic cover for phone were provided! I look like an actual ah sam (aunty) here 🤣

My turn for gel manicure! 💅 TIP: The services starts at 12pm, you may place your number earlier thou. I placed mine right after I entered at 11.40am. I was told by the waiter that that I’m no.9 in queue. Fill in your name and hand phone number on the iPad provided and wait until you get a call from the manicurist.

I only got to my turn at 1.20pm! I get now why some of my friends had to wait for hours for their turn.

Not OPI brand but better than nothing right? I chose no. 028. Also, remember to remove any nail polish off as they don’t provide services to remove your nail polish and gel polish lols 😂

Pleased with the free manicure! ❤️

Bling bling! Just in time for my SG trip! ✨

xoxo 💋