May 31, 2024
KUALA LUMPUR – Land of Morning Calm inspires slew of crowd favourites at Puchong Permai stall
A LITTLE stall in Medan Selera Puchong Permai, Puchong, Selangor offers dishes inspired by several Korean dramas from the “Land of Morning Calm”.
Conceptualised and run by 19-year-old Nur Izzatul Mawaddah Zamberi, Noona’s Plate is just over two years old.
More than 60 dishes are listed in its menu that focuses on South Korean cuisine. A selection of Western dishes are also available.
The photographer sent for this assignment said the Sundubu-Jjigae with Korean Rice was similar to the one he had tasted while in South Korea.
Sundubu-Jjigae is also known as Kimchi Stew, a simple yet soul-warming dish featuring tender beef, soft tofu, tangy kimchi and a hint of spicy gochujang paste.
It presents a harmonious blend of sweet and sour notes with a gentle kick of spice, topped with raw egg and spring onions.
Served on its side are danmuji (Korean pickled radish) and myeolchi bokkeum (stir-fried anchovies).
The cafe’s chef Siti Fatimah Noor Aziz, 43, said her venture into Korean cuisine was a passion project.
She attributed her interest to her late friend, a South Korean chef who helped her learn about the cuisine.
“Each dish will have a cooking time of one to two minutes,” she said, adding that prices of the South Korean dishes ranged from RM13.90 to RM29.
We also tasted the stall’s Western dishes such as Crispy Chicken Chop (RM15.90) and Salmon Olio Spaghetti (RM13.90).
The chicken chop features tender chicken pieces coated in a crispy blend of oats and breadcrumbs before being deep fried.
Accompanied by a side of fries, salad and roasted corn, it is a delightful departure from the ordinary.
Visitors can opt for a topping of black pepper or mushroom sauce.
The Salmon Olio Spaghetti is lightly tossed in olive oil, garlic, black pepper, chilli, Italian herbs and diced salmon.
The salmon helps balance out the spiciness of this pasta dish that is topped with grated parmesan cheese and parsley.
For RM32.90, guests can opt for the Olio Pasta with Grilled Salmon, featuring a generous serving of a grilled salmon.
If you’re craving for more protein, I highly recommend this option.
Besides the Sundubu-Jjigae, Nur Izzatul said the stall’s other best sellers were Jjajangmyeon (noodles in blackbean sauce, RM13.90) and Gangjeong Chicken (sweet, crispy fried chicken RM12.90 for five pieces).
While the StarMetro team was waiting for their order, a customer in her 40s who only wanted to be known as Nur shared that her children had convinced her to try Noona’s Plate after coming across a post on social media.
Another highlight at the restaurant is that its sauces such as gochujang, black pepper and marinara are made in-house by Nur Izzatul.
Siti Fatimah said more items would be added to the menu every four months.
The newest dishes at Noona’s Plate are Tuna Kimcheese Fried Rice, Seafood Samyang Pasta and Creamy Carbonara Ramen.
Western dishes include Butter Rice with Salted Buttermilk Chicken, Butter Rice with Grilled Chicken and Butter Rice Dory Fish with Garlic Sauce.
Street snacks such as tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), kimchi fries and mashed potatoes are also on the menu.
Noona’s Plate is located at Stall No 19, Medan Selera Puchong Permai, Persiaran Puchong Permai.
It is open from 4pm to 10pm, Mondays to Saturdays. For orders and enquiries, call 010-378 7691.