Let’s take a trip down memory lane to Christmas 2024 before we celebrate Chinese New Year 2025.
We celebrated Christmas by trying something new—an authentic Filipino lunch right in the middle of Kuala Lumpur. As always, we celebrate Christmas with our big family, and this time, we wanted to connect with our heritage from my mom’s side.
We visited Laguna Mabuhay Authentic Filipino Restaurant, located opposite St. John’s Cathedral in Kuala Lumpur. The restaurant had a lively atmosphere with karaoke adding to the festive cheer, as many Filipinos gathered to celebrate Christmas there.
We did have to wait for quite some time to be given a private room away from the singing. Unfortunately, the room we received was quite hot, as the air conditioning was not working well. It was also cramped, with many pieces of luggage stored inside. I feel the management should focus more on creating a comfortable environment for their customers.
What We Ordered
We chose their Sama-Sama Set Meal (Set F), which consisted of the following:
Crispy Pata
A Filipino classic, Crispy Pata is a deep-fried pork knuckle served with a soy sauce-based dipping sauce infused with garlic and chili padi. The portion was generous, and the crackling skin was perfectly crisp, complementing the tender meat inside.
Kare-Kare (Large Pork)
This Filipino stew features tender pork chunks and vegetables in a rich, savory peanut sauce. It’s served with bagoong (fermented shrimp paste) for a salty-sweet contrast that elevates the dish’s flavors.
Daing na Bangus
A dish of salted and dried milkfish, fried until crispy and golden. Its tangy and slightly salty flavor pairs beautifully with rice and a vinegar-based dip.
Adobo Chicken
Chop Suey
A Filipino-style stir-fry of mixed vegetables like cabbage, carrots, and bell peppers, often cooked with a light savory sauce and sometimes mixed with bits of pork or shrimp.
Adobo Chicken
The national dish of the Philippines, this features chicken braised in a marinade of soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, bay leaves, and peppercorns. The result is a tangy, savory, and slightly sweet dish.
Bicol Express
A spicy and creamy stew made with chili peppers, coconut milk, shrimp paste, and tender pieces of pork. The heat is balanced by the richness of the coconut cream.
Pork Sisig
Pork Sisig
A sizzling plate of finely chopped pork belly, liver, and onions, often seasoned with calamansi, soy sauce, and chili. The dish is known for its smoky and tangy flavors, with a crispy texture.
A Filipino-style stir-fry of mixed vegetables like cabbage, carrots, and bell peppers, often cooked with a light savory sauce and sometimes mixed with bits of pork or shrimp.
Rice (10 servings)
Perfect for pairing with all the flavorful dishes.
Iced Lemon Tea (10 glasses)
The food at Laguna Mabuhay in Kuala Lumpur was enjoyable and offered us something new to try as a family, reconnecting with our Filipino heritage. However, the environment left much to be desired. The private room we were offered was far from ideal, with inadequate air conditioning that struggled to cool the space, making it uncomfortably hot. Additionally, the room was cramped and cluttered with stored luggage, adding to the sense of disorganization.
The unpleasant smell lingering in the room further compounded the discomfort, creating an environment that was neither welcoming nor conducive to enjoying a festive meal. These issues significantly detracted from our overall experience and, unfortunately, affected our ability to fully savor the delicious food.
This lack of attention to customer comfort has the potential to overshadow the quality of their cuisine. I sincerely hope the management takes these concerns seriously and invests effort into providing cleaner, more comfortable, and better-ventilated spaces for their customers. Doing so would truly elevate the dining experience and allow patrons to focus on enjoying the authentic flavors of Filipino cuisine.