Dinner Buffet @ Taman Sari Brasserie, Istana Hotel

If you’re going for a buffet, the best time to be at the restaurant is at the start time because an hour after start time, the venue will usually be so crowded that you’ll have to queue up for the popular dishes or jostle with screaming kids for the desserts.

Taman Sari Brasserie at Istana Hotel has remained one of the most popular hotel coffee houses for buffets. I remember having a fab hi-tea there way back in 2000 with my ex-classmates. They serve an excellent spread every time.

If you are vegetarian, there is a vegetarian corner – Indian cuisine and the briyani rice is so good especially mixed together with the curries.

The chicken tikka and chicken tandoori were my favourites as they were tender and it’s delicious with the chutney and lime.

Turmeric prawns look spicy but are actually quite mild.

Can you tell the lamb rogan josh was absolutely yummy? The curry was rich and creamy. I am salivating as I type this.

The tomato soup was medium thick, it tasted like it was canned tomato soup.

This Winter Melon White Fungus with Chicken Soup was slightly better than the tomato soup as it evidently couldn’t have been from a can.

Steamed fish in soy sauce is just about everyone’s favourite dish. It’s probably one of the more healthy dishes too since it is steamed.

Roast lamb with mint sauce (there’s also rosemary sauce) was not very tender. Mostly chewy and tasted overcooked.

Peking duck rolls were average as the pastry was a let-down. They tasted as if they’d been there for too many hours.

Roast duck in plum sauce was a bit tough, skin was nice though.

The best thing about the buffet at Taman Sari is always the desserts and I loved the yogurt mousse, orange mousse and creme brûlée. The mousse desserts were the best as they were so fluffy and not too sweet unlike the passionfruit panna cotta which gave me a sugar OD.