Wednesday, December 4, 2024

泰国小吃 Thai Snack Exotic Creepy Crawlies (挑战古灵精怪)

Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Recommended)

Address: 
33, Jalan Seladang, Taman Abad, 80250 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia (Located within KSL City Mall)
Google Map Link: 
https://maps.app.goo.gl/QDYv3hLenD5k3c8cA
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)

WARNING: This Food Review will contain Photos of Exotic Creepy Crawlies being consumed. If you are the Squeamish type, DO NOT view the Photos or Videos in this post. 🙅‍♂️ If you are Uncomfortable at any Point about this Food Review, just Stop Reading and Walk Away. 🚶 Do not come Screaming, Shouting, Condemning or Protesting in the Comments Section. Thank You.


🐸 青蛙 Frog = RM5.00
🦎 蜥蜴肉 Lizard Meat = RM10.00
✴️ 海星 Starfish = RM8.00

No Service Charges

📋 Here is the Full Menu of the Eatery/Restaurant.

Prices are Accurate as of the Date of the Post.



So this is not my 1st Encounter with Exotic Cuisines Creepy Crawlies in JB. 🦗🪲🐛 I first had them during a Thai Pasar Malam in Sutera and if you're intererested, you can check out This Past Review that I've posted. 👍

I only stumbled upon this as I was wandering around KSL City Mall Food Court checking out what things to try. Super Delighted because this is the Same Company "挑战古灵精怪" that was in the Sutera Thai Pasar Malam! 😳 So Happy to see them actually have a Permanent Food Stall right here! 😄


In fact, they're not the Only Stall selling Creepy Crawlies. There is at least 1 more Stall that does it too although I thought their selections seems a tad lesser compared to this. 🤔 The KSL Food Court also seems to have alot more Thai-Themed Food Stalls actually. 🇹🇭

Manned by a Friendly Young Lady, they opened quite recently a couple of months ago in August 2024?
You can see the list of Creatures they have. Pretty much the same as the ones I had previously and they even have a couple of new stuffs that I've never tried before so of course I gave them a go. 😋 
Tell the Young Lady what you want, and she'll help you Air-Fry them and sprinkle some Salt and Seasonings.

🐸 青蛙 Frog = RM5.00

I'll be very honest with you, hahaha I am actually DEATHLY AFRAID of Live Frogs or Toads. 😅 
If there is a Live One right in front of me, I will literally freeze in my tracks and absolutely will not go near, let alone touch them. 😱

And yet, I have absolutely no issues eating them, either as Braised Frog Legs or even the version like this. 😋 
As you can see, its a Small Frog dried up like 干尸 Dried Corpse. The Head is already removed thankfully. I don't know if I will still be able to eat it if the Head is still attached honestly! 😅

Tastes Crispy but also Quite Tough to the Bite. 🤔 There is a Sweetish Taste but I reckon its more due to the Sweet Sauce that is added. There is also abit of Unpleasant 鱼腥鱼腥 Fishy Fishy sort of Aftertaste though. 🤔 Although the initial bite tasted like a Cracker, it got abit more and more hardcore tasting towards the end. 😅 
If this is the 1st time you're trying Exotic Cuisines, I wouldn't recommend to start with this one. Can be abit Funky tasting if you cannot take it. Quite hardcore to chew and eat a Frog's Dried Corpse like this too. 😅🐸

🦎 蜥蜴肉 Lizard Meat = RM10.00

Compared to the Big Fat Lizard Gecko I ate the other time at the Pasar Malam, this one was a Much Smaller and certainly Much Less Hardcore in comparison. 👍 
Apperarance wise, it also doesn't look as Horrific as all the Limbs, Tail and Head are removed. The Whole Thing looks more like a Roasted Cuttle Fish than a Lizard tbh. 🦑🦎



Just like the Big Lizard, this one also tasted like Cuttlefish with a Slight Meaty Chew that actually doesn't taste that bad. 😋 Since this is the 2nd Time i'm tasting Lizards/Geckos, I guess I can safely assume that Lizards taste like Cuttlefish. 🦑 This is something I can recommend for any 1st Timer to try because it really does taste like a Roasted Cuttlefish. 🦑

✴️ 海星 Starfish = RM8.00

Hahaha I was most surprised to see this. I didn't even know that people eat Starfish because the Actual Live Creature is so Hard and Boney if you have ever held one before. 🤔 
The way its being Split Open and Eviserated like this is also very surprising. It looks both Beautifully Grotesque in a Way, like some Dried Up Tentacled Edible Eldritch Lovecraftian Nightmare. 😅


I want to say the Taste is like Cuttlefish, but its alot More Dry. Definitely Drier than the Lizard 🦎 but somewhat Less Dry than the Dried Frog. 🐸 There is a Mild Saltwater Fishy Taste to it. I don't really like the Texture of this as it felt like i'm gnawing the Fishbones from a Fish. 🤔 Not a easy texture to chew and especially so because its so big.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Conclusion and Closing Thoughts


At RM5.00 (S$1.50) for the Dried Frog is Not Expensive, but its the Most Hardcore Tasting among the 3. I don't recommend this if its your 1st time trying Exotic Cuisine. 🙅‍♂️

Even I found it Funky Tasting towards the End. It also looks the Most Horrific among them by far. Great for a "Who Dares to Eat This" type of Challenge though! 😅


At RM10.00 (S$3.10), the Lizard Meat is Less Horrific Looking and Probably the Most Palatable among the 3. 😋 Lizard really does taste like Roasted Cuttlefish. 🦑 That said though, I feel the Amount of Meat given doesn't really fit the Price paid.

If you want to try eating a Lizard, I'd rather you buy their Full Big Lizard Gecko.
 
Even though it will be more Expensive at RM30.00 (S$9.02), you'll get alot more Meat for your Buck, and as mentioned in my Past Review, Different Bite Texture for Different Parts of the Lizard. 🦎 You do have to get over the Psychological Barrier of actually eating it because of its Head still attached though. 😅


At RM8.00 (S$2.40), the Starfish is the Least Horrific among the 3. But I don't really like the Bite Texture of it. 🤔 Good for the 1st few bites, but it did get abit weary to keep gnawing at it. Really gave me the impression that I'm eating the Fishbones of a Fish actually. 🐟

Eating this is more for the Experience of actually eating a Starfish though. I never thought that this is something that people will actually eat. 🤔


I'm really happy they have a Permanent Stall here in such a Mainstream Mall like KSL which is so Accessible to the Public so there is no need to go hunt them down in Different Pasar Malams. 👍 
Truth be told though, due to the nature of their business, I'm also not sure how long can they sustain. 🤔 So if you want to give Exotic Cuisines a try, come down to KSL City Mall Food Court as soon as you can and "挑战古灵精怪" if you dare! 😄

No comments:

Post a Comment