Ho Jiak, Rainbow Alley

Ho Jiak is having a lunch special these days. For $20, you can choose from a list of main dishes like char kuey teow, sar hor fun, nasi lemak; and one chicken wing and achar; and a drink.

For dinner, there is an AYCE promotion. For $25, one can have all the mantou, roti canai, mee goreng, steamed vege you can eat. I don't think the food selection is to my taste and there is too much carbs so it is not a promotion I would go for. Besides, it is only valid after 8.30pm which makes it more a supper deal, like the going out for supper at mamak store after dinner habit many Malaysians have. It is also a sure high cholestorol habit and best be avoided.

Now, the food. My colleagues liked what they ordered - nasi lemak and char kuey teow, but the portion was smaller than average. Someone remarked that the ckt is not authentic but there is a disclaimer that it is Junda Khoo's style, not the authentic hawker style. 

I ordered the mixed rice $15 which was actually just the chap fan with dishes from whatever was in the bain marie from Da Bao on the ground floor. The operator has 3 levels of the building - there is Da Bao on the ground floor which is mainly a takeaway store where people can choose rice with a few dishes from the bain matie for $15; Ho Liao on the 1st floor, an upscale Malaysian restaurant; and Ho Jiak, a beer hall on the 2nd floor where we dined. It serves a more affordable version of Ho Liao and also hawker style dishes.

Having tried the food, I think it is not bad for the CBD location but the portion is smaller and the price more expensive (for the portion size) when compared to many Malaysian suburban restaurants. The hype (they have been invited to sell at the AO), the decor of the restaurant, the nicely dressed waitpersons, are all also part of the price. It is one thing to seek good value food but there is also some kind of pride to see a fellow Malaysian succeed in producing good food with good service at a reasonable price point.