Ah Soon Bak Kut Teh 亚顺肉骨茶 is one of the old established names in JB with many long time regulars who swear by their fresh pork in mildly savoury herbal broth. The shop is located near Plaza Sentosa at 141, Jalan Keris Satu, Taman Sri Tebrau. Ah Soon opens 8:00am to 3:00pm (off on Mondays).
Founder Ah Soon has retired one year ago and none of his family whom used to run the business together with him wanted to continue in the BKT line. A year ago, Ah Soon BKT changed hands lock, stock and barrel - brand, premise, recipes, cooking equipment, furniture, everything to a new owner Mr. 黄 who was formerly a butcher.
It's also a year ago since I last stepped foot in Ah Soon.
Except for the new faces that run the restaurant now, not much have changed at the old corner shop. Same furniture, same customers, and my favourite table by the window is still there.
I can't believe that I have been an Ah Soon customer for twenty years already, even though I am not a Johorean.
Ah Soon's signature way of making bak kut teh with fireworks and all is still seen today though it's not one of Ah Soon's family doing the cooking now.
Our usual order of bak kut teh for two, 梅菜 preserved vegetable, braised tau pok 豆泡, you char kway and rice came to RM36.
The watery tea coloured broth is mildly savoury herbal with sweet undertones much like the way I remembered it at old Ah Soon. I still like this.
The pork was fresh but done till a bit stiff, bordering on fibrous. It still tasted good because of the natural sweetness though the meat is slightly tough.
The 豆皮 fried tofu skin soaked with BKT broth had a nice savoury herbal taste and soft crunch.
I always have you char kway and bak kut teh together, even if I often skipped the tea 😂
Love this braised tau pok for its tofu flavour blended with the savoury herbal sweetness from the braising stock.
梅菜 Mildly sourish sweet savoury preserved cabbage stew greased with a bit of pork belly is a must have side dish.
So, how do I feel about the new Ah Soon Bak Kut Teh? It's not quite the same feel without the old crew even though I did not know them personally. But, it's still a nice bak kut teh place and the food is not that far off from the old Ah Soon as I remembered it. It's way better that Ah Soon's legacy is carried on even if it is not by his family than to have it disappear from our lives.
Restaurant name: Kedai Makanan Ah Soon 亚顺肉骨茶
Address: 141, Jalan Keris Satu, Taman Sri Tebrau, Johor Bahru
Map: http://g.co/maps/u8gsk
GPS: 1.488715,103.767457 / 1°29'19.4"N 103°46'02.9"E
Hours: 8:00am to 3:00pm (off on Mondays)
Date visited: 28 Dec 2011, 4 Sept 2012, 28 Nov 2017
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Hi Tony
ReplyDeleteLove reading your post !
Absolutely great reviews. Makes me want to go visit the places that you reviewed.
I was just wondering with all the lovely food you are eating do you have cholesterol issues?
Keep up the good work !
Regards K
Thank you. Yes... I have to watch my cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels. They are the hazards of my indulgences. Thanks for the reminder. Best not to be complacent.
DeleteWent for lunch there last week. Brought new family members to try the food. Now I know why the taste has changed. Thank you Tony. The food leaves a thirsty after taste
ReplyDeleteThanks. I also just found out last week Regret never had a chat with Ah Soon and have a picture of him.
DeleteI saw Ah Soon the first time I went 2 years back after your recommendation on your top 100 list. At that time the food was very special. There is that touch that elevate the taste of food. My late father used to go there frequently. Subsequently the food taste different. There was one time the meat was stiff and another time we had health issues after the food.
DeleteHi, do you know whether they open during CNY period? Or the week after CNY?
ReplyDeleteCONFIRMED Update as of 6 August 2018.
ReplyDeleteThis Ah Soon BKT eatery has WOUND UP.
Guess the BKT they served is LOUSY & overpriced.
It was NOT the same as the original Ah Soon and the new owners were just abusing his name to catch customers unaware.
The premises is now a motor car tyre rim shop.
How do I know?
I went to the premises on 6 Aug 2018 to check it out.
Thanks. Sad that an icon is gone. I first ate there in year 2000.
DeleteSorry I mixed up the premises of 星座 KTV in Jalan Keris, that is now taken up by the new motor car tyre shop. You may like to double check with friends about Ah Soon (to confirm whether they are wound up), cause most of the entire row of shops were closed at lunch time. I went on a Monday and this may be their rest day. No matter, I have eaten there before and after the business was sold by the original Ah Soon; and the taste is much worse under the new owners.
ReplyDelete