Review: Leong's Kitchenette, USJ 21, Subang

Overall comment: Delicious food at affordable prices!
Halal: No

Have you ever had fried porridge? Or are you craving for some tasty crabs, but you're finding crabs too expensive to enjoy? Allow me to introduce you to Leong's Kitchenette at USJ 21, where you'll find tasty Chinese dishes at affordable prices :)

Located at the shop houses around Main Place shopping mall (same side of the road as the mall)

Value set lunches 

Leong's Kitchenette has a very simple cafe setting. We were there during off-peak hours so that we could spend more time tasting the various dishes & chit-chatting with the lady boss before the mad rush of patrons come over. Business at Leong's Kitchenette is especially good during dinner time.

We chilled out with some of their special drinks like their in-house boiled pumpkin barley & the ice lime jelly drink, before starting our food review proper.

Pumpkin barley (RM2.00/glass), Ice Lime Jelly (RM3.00/glass), Passion Fruit Juice (RM3.80/glass)

All of us had at least 2 glasses of drinks as they were really refreshing & tasty.

The 2 items that I would like to highlight are their fried porridge, which you can rarely find in PJ & the fresh mud crabs, which they import from Indonesia (these are bigger, juicier & fresher too). My 1st & only time having fried porridge was in Kuantan (the lady boss, Joselin's, dad runs a restaurant in Kuantan selling fried porridge too!). I've yet to try out Joselin's dad's version of fried porridge :D

Mackerel Fried Porridge (RM10.50/serving)

Smooth, thick & fragrant mackerel fish porridge :) The difference with fried porridge is that some of the ingredients are stir-fried to bring out the fragrance & aroma before adding the rice/porridge to boil together. We found this porridge the best among all the various flavors offered.

Smooth & thick - yums! 

Abalone Slices Fried Porridge (RM12.00/serving)

The base of the porridge is the same, but somehow these abalone slices can't compare to the fried mackerel. It gives a different chewy texture to the porridge, but in terms of taste, it isn't as sweet-tasty & aromatic as the much-loved mackerel fried porridge.

Salted Egg Fried Porridge (RM6.50/serving)/ Centure Egg Fried Porridge (RM7.00/serving)

If you like both, you can just have the add-on for RM1.50 ;) No complaints about this porridge. We finished up the whole serving.

Minced Pork Fried Porridge (RM6.50/serving)

I find this flavor of porridge lacking bite since the minced pork & porridge/soft rice particles are of similar sizes. My vote still goes for the mackerel fried porridge :P 

From 7 Oct 2015 til 7 Dec 2015 (weekdays only, excluding public holidays), Leong's Kitchenette will be having the crabs promotion, so don't miss out the opportunity!

They are currently having a promotion for their crabs!

You'll have to call to make your reservation at least a day in advance to avoid disappointment.

Salt-Baked Mud Crabs

I really loved this! I've never had such delicious tasting salt-baked mud crabs like how Leong's Kitchenette cooks 'em! I usually order the spicy milk crabs or the sweet & spicy crabs, but this one is really recommended. It brings out the natural sweetness of the crabs & the flesh of the crabs were also juicy & 'springy'.

Very meaty unlike local crabs :D 

So yummy! 

Spicy Milk Mud Crabs

If you prefer crabs with some gravy to dip the fried mantao, this will be a good option. It's creamy, milky, slightly spicy & has the fragrance of curry leaves.

Deep-Fried Mantao (RM7.00/6 pieces) & Add-On Spicy Milk Gravy (RM3.00/serving)

Can't resist not having this...who doesn't like deep-fried mantao that's not drenched in oil, but tastes as if it was fried using an air-fryer :P

Apart from fried porridge & crabs, this simple yet amazing kitchenette serves great stir-fried dishes with good "wok hei". Here are some of the dishes that we tried that day:

Asam Flavor Squid (RM16.00/small serving; RM22.00/large serving)

 This is one fragrant home-made assam paste cooked with squid & vegetables. The squid pieces were perfectly cooked, still tender yet having that chewiness of squid & the taste of lemongrass, chilli, ginger, garlic, onions & I've no clue what more can be evidently tasted in each bite. Give me a bowl of fragrant white rice & I'll enjoyed this dish to its last bit!

Watercress Soup (RM6.00/serving)

For those who rarely cook or have home-boiled soup at home, Leong's Kitchenette can satisfy your craving for a homey bowl of double-boiled soup. The restaurant recommends their watercress soup & old cucumber soup as well as their lotus root with peanut soup for diners who love double-boiled soups. 

 Stir-Fried French Beans with Salted Egg (RM10.00/small serving; RM14.00/large serving)

I think this is my 1st time having stir-fried young french beans with salted egg & I LOVED IT! It makes the humble plate of beans rather sinful as it beams with pride thanks to the salted egg yolks added to the dish. Yums!

Home-Made Beancurd in Pumpkin Sauce (RM 22.00/large serving)

Smooth home-made egg tofu braised in pumpkin goodness, fresh shrimps, golden mushrooms & vegetables. It's a lovely, hearty dish that suits the palatte across all ages.

Hong Kong Style Chicken Wings (RM14.00/small serving; RM22.00/large serving)

We were actually very full, but who can resist having golden fried chicken wings? The wings were crispy, juicy, savory & slightly spicy - it's actually a very suitable snack or appetizer!

Curry Fish Head (RM22.00/small serving; RM32.00/large serving)

Did I just mention that we were really full even before the chicken wings were served? Hahaha...this was the final dish for our tasting session & we had to tell Joselin that we were really filled to the brim. However, the dish was already partially prepared, so we opted for 1 claypot only instead of two to feed the many of us. This is also another dish that you can enjoy with a bowl of white rice without ordering anything else. It has all the delectable pieces of fish head & vegetables to complete your meal. 

Dessert: Beancurd Barley (RM2.70/serving)

Their Chinese-style dessert displays the kitchenette's identity & character in every bowl: love for food & people, passion for tasty food, & patience in perfecting their dishes. I liked the fact that it wasn't too sweet, but sweet enough to qualify as a dessert.

I'll be back to try their other dishes as well. For those who live nearby, you have 1 more option for your lunch/dinner. Parking isn't a big problem here since it's a stone's throw away from the Main Place (you can just park inside the building if you can't find the cheaper parking spaces outside). For the rest of you who don't live that nearby, I would encourage you to at least try their crabs promotion & their other dishes while you're there for a visit. For the price you pay & the taste that you get, I can say that it's worth driving there for a meal :)


Leong's Kitchenette
5-1, Jalan USJ 21/7
47620 Subang Jaya
Selangor.
Tel: (+6012) 662 6389 / (+6012) 255 5302
FB: https://www.facebook.com/leongskitchenette
Business hours: Mon - Fri 11:00a.m.- 2:30p.m., 5:30p.m. -10:00p.m; Sat - Sun: 12.00p.m. -2:30p.m., 5:30p.m. - 10:00p.m.
**Closed on last Wednesday & Thursday of the month

Ratings:
Presentation: * * * 1/2
Price: * * * 1/2
Environment: * * * 1/2
Taste: * * * 1/2
Service: * * * 1/2


Overall:






Dreaming of the salt-baked crabs now,