BBQ at Chef Choi

Barbecue is its own world, moving to unalterable rhythms and primordial fumes. Unfortunately, here in Kuala Lumpur, the whole BBQ culture is missing. Unlike in the great US of A or Australia, our hot and humid weather does not encourage us to bring out the “barbie” in the afternoon, and just work up a good sweaty appetite with our mates or family. However, if you’re hankering for some meat on a spit, only one barbecue in Kuala Lumpur really hews to those artisanal rhythms, and it shows. Unlike some restaurants that claim to be true BBQ experts but make their food in batches and store it for later reheating, Chef Choi’s actually pays attention to each prime rib and leg of lamb. In most cases, they send it from the hot pit directly to your waiting maw. Heck they even make their own super-sized Yorkshire pudding. If that ain’t love, I don’t know what is.

Oh yes, the ribs, the leg of lamb and the steak florentine.. they  are all of competition-quality. Nicely brown ends, on the pork crackling tell me that I have arrived. Smoky and intensely succulent, tender Roasted Pork Belly, made from a recipe blessed by the pork guru, i.e. the Chef himself, is all I ever wished for. An unutterably rich Prime Ribs has me floored.

Oh, and the grand finale, the icing on the cake so to speak, is the Steak Florentine. Simply put, this is a porterhouse cut (a.k.a. “T-Bone”) beef cooked in the style of Florence.  Now, technically, it wouldn’t be Steak Florentine if the beef is not from Chianina cows. The steak is then grilled over a wood or charcoal fire, and seasoned with salt and, sometimes, black pepper and olive oil. I am not sure which cow this particular Steak Florentine comes from, but the meat is bloody fabulous. Sliced thinner than the other BBQ items before it, these slivers of succulent meat, wear a blush that can only mean one thing- the perfect medium rare. Not for the squeamish nor those who do not like to see blood anywhere near their food. Carnivores rejoice! It does not come redder than this!

Yorkshire Pudding

Green Salad with either Cilantro Lemon or Sesame Shoyu

According to the Chef, this is the best way to eat it! Use the Yorkshire pudding as a vesicle to drink up all the sauce!

Roast Pork Belly, Chef Choi Style

Succulent pork with the most amazing crackling!

Boulangere Potatoes.. all gorgeous and buttery

Rosemary Infused Whole Leg of Lamb

Bits of whole garlic are stuffed into the Rosemary Infused Leg of Lamb hence the wonderful aroma that permeates the medium rare meat

Chilled Prime Rib on the Bone

Prime Ribs on the bone and for those who like it bloody, check out the color. This was a bloody awesome rib!

Steak Florentine

Presenting the perfectly executed Steak Florentine – the perfect medium rare.

FBB sucks on a bone..

Seafood Paella with loads of clams, prawns , squid and rice cooked just perfect (al dente).

Spaghetti Ala Vongole

Apple Tartin

The mooncake festival is upon us.. what is the mooncake festival? Read all about it here

“When you wish upon a moon..”

Though Chef Choi’s is a Chinese restaurant in town that does a predominantly Chinese menu, it also does a rocking Thai menu(pre-order) and as you can see, a BBQ menu as well. We highly recommend this place, for all of the above!