Honestly, if you ever ask me what I want to eat and you suggest Korean food, there is no doubt that I will probably say yes because I just love Korean food. When I heard there was a new Korean BBQ joint up at Damansara Uptown that serves pretty decent food, you bet I will definitely pay them a visit.
Gangnam Oppa BBQ is the latest Korean BBQ restaurant located at Uptown Damansara and is run by a Korean family. Like any other Korean BBQ place, each table to fixed with a grill and exhaust pipe to ensure you do not smell like a barbeque pit when you walk out. With both indoor and outdoor seating, this restaurant should be able to host up to 50pax at one time so take your pick if you prefer on your seating preference.
Gangnam Oppa BBQ actually offers really decent set prices for their meat choices so let's start this feast! For those of you coming in pax of 4 to 6, you can get their Family Set (RM119) which comes with Beef Sirloin/Grilled Beef Short Ribs, Pork Belly, Marinated Pork, Baby Octopus and Soft Tofu Stew/Soybean Stew/Kimchi Stew).
This is really pretty decent price for 4 pax as one person only needs to fork out around RM25 plus the portion of meat served is quite generous. You get thick cut pieces of meat, well marinated and taste absolutely divine once they are grilled in front of you.
Don't forget their free-flow banchans which can fill you up as you continue your meal. I love their anchovies side dish and kept picking at it while waiting for my meat to be done. Those grilled garlic pieces were just amazing as well! The best way to enjoy Korean BBQ is by making a lettuce wrap with fresh lettuce, juicy meat, some sauce... wrap it up and pop the whole thing into your mouth. One word of advice, please do not make a wrap too big to fit into your mouth where you will have difficulty chewing and cause you to bite your lips by accident (yup.. that's what happened to me)
The marinated pork and grilled short rib beef were marinated with four types of fruits (kiwi, pineapple, apple and pear) making it so tenderized and juicy even after grilling! The short ribs were divine with the right ratio of fat and meat.
If you are just coming in pairs or a group of three, get their Oppa Set (RM56) with two portions of either Pork Belly/Spicy Belly/Pork Shoulder/Marinated Pork and 1 stew (Soft Tofu Stew/Soybean Stew/ Kimchi Stew).
Add on the Spicy Rice Ball (RM19) and mix up rice, seaweed and red pepper sauce into balls. Grill them and get the crispy exterior which is so good. Really flavorful and packs a punch.
What is Korean BBQ without some drinks? Try the Soju Bomb which is a combination of Soju and Beer; a popular drink combination when enjoying Korean BBQ. HITE Beer is having a promotion now with 5 cans for RM33 at Gangnam Oppa BBQ.
For those who prefer a more traditional beverage choice, they have Makgeolli as well which is rice wine and you have some flavor choices of Original and Banana. I actually quite like the Banana flavoured version because it doesn't taste as strong as the original makgeolli. We actually tried mixinf soju and makgeolli which turned out better than I expected. It was my first time trying out soju so I was surprised at how sweet it actually tasted.
Btw! Don't miss out on the November promotion where you can get a free Steamed Egg when you check in and review Gangnam Oppa BBQ on their Facebook page. Offer valid til 30 November 2016.
I loved my dining experience at Gangnam Oppa BBQ and would definitely return to get more Korean BBQ with friends. It gave me the authentic feeling of enjoying Korean BBQ especially with chit chats and good food. Go with more friends to truly enjoy all the different choices plus it's so much cheaper too!

Gangnam Oppa BBQ

Time to share my latest skincare routine with you pretties and this time I had the chance to try out Mary Kay's latest skincare range, the Botanical Effects® Skin Care line. This latest addition to the Mary Kay family is an antioxidant-indused skincare which uses the benefits from Dragonfruit and Aloe Vera to nourish and give your skin some antioxidant-packed boost. Dragronfruit has very high antioxidant properties which can help fight skin damaging free radicals while the aloe vera content help maintain the skin’s moisture barrier and has high vitamin E content, a popular antioxidant in skin care.
The Botanical Effects® Skin Care line has 5 products which caters for your overall skincare regime. I have been using the whole lineup for the past month so here's my thoughts on it. First up, the Botanical Effects® Gel Cleanser (RM75) is a gel formulated cleanser that cleans deeply and effectively dissolves all traces of oil. I like the subtle fragrance in this cleanser and my personal preference for cleansers are actually gel formulated. It isn't too harsh on the skin and does not leave your skin feeling squeky dry after cleansing which is a good point. Just a tip, using cleanser that leave your skin feeling squeky clean isn't that good because you are actually over cleansing your face.
Roughly twice a week I will use the Botanical Effects® Exfoliating Scrub (RM75) after cleansing to help remove the dead skincells on my face. It helps to clear my pores as well and great for deep cleansing. I like how the little microbeads are not too harsh on my skin and it leaves my skin feeling really smooth after exfoliating.
After cleansing, I normally use a cotton pad to wipe away any traces of dirt with Botanical Effects® Toner (RM75). I have mixed feelings about this toner because it has a strong alcohol smell to it which I feel it can be rather harsh. However, it does its job well to prep my skin before moisturising but I wouldn't say it is one of the toners I would reach for.
During the day, I use both the Botanical Effects® Moisturizer (RM85) and Moisturizer SPF30 (RM65) which helps moisturize my skin plus giving me sun protection. It is very important to use good sun protection cream especially if you do not want to have dark spots. The Moisturizer has a gel-like consistency which absorbs quickly into the skin while the Moisturizer SPF30 has a creamy thicker consistency which takes slightly longer to absorb into the skin and has a white cast to it. Just make sure to properly massage it into your skin. I have combination skin and this moisturizer does not leave any greasy feeling to it which I liked.
Mary Kay Botanical Effects will be available through Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants (03-7711 7500) starting 1 st November 2016. For more information, follow Mary Kay on Facebook - Mary Kay Malaysia or Instagram - @MaryKayMySg

Malaysia is a country of diverse traditions and cultures where we can always spot in the local food scene. With three major races in Malaysia, you will be sure we celebrate tons of different festive and this is where my latest food adventure comes about. We normally get our Indian fix from the local mamak stalls but do you know that you can actually get some really good authentic Indian cuisines at the price you can enjoy at your local mamak as well?

Thanks to Aunty Lilly for arranging a makan session at a gastronomic hidden gem called Mallikas Restaurant located in Aked Esplanad, Bukit Jalil. This restaurant serving authentic Northern and Southern Indian cuisines has been operating for the past year and will not fail to satisfy those who love Indian food. I know that there are a few cafes located in this area but oh boy I am glad to discover this place.
Mallika's Restaurant is named after the owner herself, Madam Grace Mallika Judson who's dream was to have a place of her own serving authentic Indian fares especially as she was homesick. The menu was definitely very extensive, covering dishes from both the Northern and Southern side of India. You can be assured that you will enjoy really good authentic Indian cuisines with both the chefs coming from Northern India and Southern India themselves.
Let's not talk any further but dive straight into the food. Our hearty meal started with some entres which I must say nearly filled me to the brim. Get their Crunchy Onion Pakoda which has nicely seasoned deep fried onions bursting with the spices they used in the batter. Really addictive snacks especially while waiting for your meal.
Their Chicken Vepudu which is made with well marinated chicken breast cubes with ground masala spices was a delight to bite into. Well seasoned with the masala spices, the chicken breast cubes were still juicy and tender and I must say that I can munch on these bite size yummies!
We ordered their Tawa Fish as our next entree which was mackerel slices marinated with their homemade spice paste (chili powder, ginger, garlic, spices and lime juice) tawa fried til just perfectly cooked. I love my proteins especially fish so this fit right there in my tummy happily. Like I said, these entrees can really feed you.
An interesting addition before our mains arrive was the Shorba, an authentic North Indian soup prepared with your choice of chicken or seafood and spices which had a unique taste to it. Definitely  a palate cleanser before digging into our spread of mains.

I have to admit that I had my indulgence of Indian cuisines that night when the mouth watering spread was served. The aroma whiffed through the air and made my tummy rumbling for more. All I could think of to appease myself was this was my cheat day and I would work out twice as hard tomorrow!
You just have to try their Butter Chicken Masala which is just amazing. The Tandoor-cooked chicken, stir-fried with a rich and creamy tomato masala paste enriched with spices. Addictive sauce that you would just soak up with your naan bread or rice. A different masala option would be the Prawn Varuval, the stir-fried masala coated prawns. Cooked still tender and with the aromatic masala sauce.
Something sizzling came out of the kitchen with a classic South Indian dish known as the Chicken Andhra Roast. Tender, juicy ghee roasted chicken thigh which is served on a sizzling smoking hot plate which really brings out the aroma from the spices. It has a slightly charred and crispy exterior but still retaining the juices of the chicken within, not too dry but just right.
Now, their Mutton Pepper Fry you just cannot give this a miss because it is just amazing. If you think I am exaggerating you need to hop to Mallika's and give it a try. The mutton was cooked just nice, not too tough and paired perfectly with the spices. Trust me when I say it's good because it really is!
Savor your dishes with their Chicken Briyani, cooked using long grained Basmati rice with spices, herbs and chicken in a dum. You can choose from lamb, chicken, fish or prawn to your liking and to pair with your other dishes.
Vegetarian friends, you will enjoy the spread of vegetarian dishes they have to offer because even a carnivore like myself indulged in them. The Palak Paneer was an enjoyable treat. You get cottage cheese cooked in a creamy spinach sauce, well seasoned especially with the chunky bites of cottage cheese. It isn't easy getting good Palak Paneer and it was really a treat to enjoy dipping my naan in.
The Bhindi Aloo Do Pyaza which is stir fried okra and onion curry has the flavors to compete with the meat version. Super flavorful and packed to the punch with spices, onions and tomatoes; I kept picking on it.

Pair your vegetarian dishes with the Vegetale Pulav or Tomato Rice; both an excellent choice. The Tomato Rice used fresh tomatoes, pureed and sauteed with spices leaving it really aromatic and fluffy too. I can just eat it as a meal on its own.
Those like me who love naans, GET THEIR NAANS! They not only have the original Naans but also some really unique options as well. The Butten Naan was buttery and soft and fluffy and I can just keep dipping it into the different dishes and sauce. The Kashmiri Naan is actually filled with healthy nuts and raisins for additional flavor and texture and is super good. My mum would love this since she loves her nuts.
Ok ok.. sooooo we were still greedy for their other menu options so we got their Masala Dosai which is a super crispy and long dosai paired with potato curry and chutney. Come on, don't judge because we shared this among 5 of us and it was just so good to pick and eat while chit chatting.
Their drink choices were extensive as well. Try their Lassi although you might want to tell them to go light on the sugar if you do not want sugar in your lassi. Try their Badam Milk which was creamy and really a comfort drink. Knowing me, I ordered the Hot Lemon Tea which was super good because it was strong and sour and oh boy I felt I got my boost of Vitamin C from the lemon. Do take note that it is really sour so..... don't say I didn't warn you.

I really enjoyed my meal at Mallika's and I will definitely return to try more of their food! My dining companions kept teasing and laughing at me as I kept looking back at the menu planning what dishes I want to try on my next visit although we had eaten a whole feast. Honestly, for good and authentic Indian cuisines plus in an air-conditioned environment, the price is really worth it so do give them a try and you will not regret it.

Mallika's Restaurant