History of Takoyaki Osaka Grilled Octopus Ball 🐙

Takoyaki or Japanese grilled octopus balls are found around the world, for example in Singapore night markets or pasar malam where they are very popular. 

HOOP Coffee＆Share Roasters Osaka Shinsaibashi Station

I like the diversity of the unique coffee scene in Japan. 

Taiyaki • History of Must Try Japan Fish Shape Cake 鯛焼き

Whenever I have a chance (not enough 🥺) to visit Japan, I would make sure that I eat at least one taiyaki before leaving 😄

Osechi Japanese New Year Feast for Tastebuds & Soul

2025 began in a very special way for me 🙏 For the first time, I experienced New Year's Day in Japan and the Japanese tradition of Osechi Ryori or New Year Feast.

Jomon Yakitori Shibuya Tokyo • Japanese Soul Food 博多串焼専門店ジョウモン

Jomon 博多串焼専門店ジョウモン | Japan, 〒150-0043 Tokyo, Shibuya, Dogenzaka, 2 Chome−19−2 ムルギー 階3階 🚅  10 minutes walk from Shibuya station ☎ +81 36 416 1633 🕖 5pm - 11:30pm

Jomon is an atmospheric, lively yakitori in backstreet Shibuya, Tokyo. The food was nice and sake selection was good - we had a great time here. 

Duck Ramen Billiken @ Asakusa Tokyo 中華ソバ ビリケン

Stumbled upon Billiken Ramen while walking from my hotel to Senso-ji temple at Asakusa. It's a lucky find as its specialty is duck ramen and I love ducks 😋

Ginjo Ramen Kubota in Kyoto 吟醸らーめん久保田 本店

In Kyoto, we checked in at popular Ginjo Ramen Kubota. 

Wanton Noodles & Origin of Ramen • Rairaiken at Yokohama Ramen Museum 淺草 來々軒

I always wondered how ramen came about. Intuition tells me that it may have Chinese roots. Sometimes, when Singaporeans describe a good soupy bak chor mee, they say it is like ramen. I was also similarly inclined, but just learned in Japan that it is a misnomer.

The precursor of Japanese ramen is another Chinese noodle dish.

Dynasty Fried Porridge Singapore 皇庭炒粥

Dynasty Fried Porridge 皇庭炒粥 | 30 Foch Rd, #01-02, Singapore 209276 (Bistro 8 coffee shop) ☎ 9122 3993 🕙 11:30am - 10:30pm (Sat & Sun 12 noon - 2:30 pm | 4:30pm - 10:30 pm)

Lunch today at Dynasty Fried Porridge at Foch Road. The stall has been around since 2015 and I visited it soon after it opened in the Macpherson area. 

Fun with Chinese BBQ Skewers • China's King of Supper 肉串烧烤 • 夜宵之王

So often in China, when we go out for supper we will see many BBQ skewer places. Go ahead. Go for it, it is delicious and fun. 

PeraMakan Nyonya Dining @ Owen Road Farrer Park MRT Station

Lunch at ParaMakan at Owen Road conveniently at Farrer Park MRT station. 

Capitol / Ah Ho Nasi Lemak Malacca • Well Loved Local Favourite 佳必多那昔罗吗亚和

Arriving in Malacca (or anywhere) looking for breakfast, I am very careful about what I eat as I have limited tummy space. 

Sarawak Laksa @ Prince Gourmet 112 Bishan • Return of Red Hornbill 太子之味

太子之味 Prince Gourmet | 112 Bishan Street 12, Singapore 570112 (stall inside TK Coffee House) 🚆 10 minutes walk from Bishan station 🕙 9am - 7pm (Tues off)

I came slightly late to blogging and social media, and so missed out on some of the past legends - such as Red Hornbill stall in Bedok. Red Hornbill had many fans who think they serve the best Sarawak dishes in Singapore (before they closed). So, I have some regrets about not eating at Red Hornbill before 🥺

Malacca Bunga Raya Popiah Choon Hing • Praise the Lard! 马六甲春兴猪油渣薄饼

Bunga Raya Popiah 春兴猪油渣薄饼 | 124, Jalan Munshi Abdullah, Kampung Jawa, 75100 Melaka, Malaysia ☎ +6010 786 9878 🕑 10:30am - 7pm

I've been told many times to eat the famous popiah (Chinese hand roll) in Malacca. I have it as a mental note but never really sought it out.

Sakari Sushi @ Tanjong Pagar Singapore • Art of Sushi by Itamae Paul Goh

Sakari Sushi | 1 Tras Link, #01-05, Singapore 078867 ☎ 9777 1791 🕚 11:30 am - 2:30 pm | 6pm - 10 pm (Sat no lunch, Sun off)

We wanted to come visit one of buddy's favourite sushi joints in Tanjong Pagar and finally found an evening when everyone could make it.

Malacca Longkang Back Lane Siham Cockles Tong Bee • It's All About the Secret Sauce 東美档

Tong Bee's Stall Shell Food 東美档 | 143, Jalan Bunga Raya, Kampung Jawa, 75100 Melaka, Malaysia 🕚 6pm - 11pm (Weds off)

Malacca's Tong Bee longkang back lane cockles stall has been here since the 1950s. It's in the third generation now and is an obligatory check-in spot on most Malacca foodie tourist itineraries.

Yaw Hau Fok Dim Sum @ Malim Malacca 有口福点心茶楼

Yaw Hau Fok Dim Sum 有口福点心茶楼 | Jalan Suria 2, Taman Malim Jaya, 75250 Melaka, Malaysia   ☎ +6012 628 6980 🕚 6:30am - 12:30pm (Tues off)

I asked Malacca kaki SH to take me to places locals go to for breakfast. And, so here we are, Yaw Hau Fok Dim Sum 有口福点心茶楼 in Malim less than 10km from Jonker Street. 

Mei Nan Chicken Rice Ball @ Taman ASEAN, Malim, Malacca 美南鸡饭马六甲

Mei Nan 美南鸡饭 | Taman ASEAN, 257 Jalan Taman ASEAN, Malacca ☎ +6017 660 0548 🕙 7am - 2pm (Mon & Tues off)

I am always fascinated by the chicken rice ball dish.

Mnemonic Brew • Hole in the Wall Cafe • Creative Coffee Cocktails @ Level 2 Oxley Tower Robinson Road Singapore

After brunch, buddy said let's have coffee at his favourite hideout ☕

Guizhou Fish Mint Root • Love it or Hate it 贵州折耳根 • 鱼腥草

Before going to Guizhou, I heard about the notorious fish mint root, considered a delicacy in the southwestern Chinese province. The Chinese call it 折耳根 folded ear root or 鱼腥草 fishy weed. 

Xijiang Qianhu 1000 Homes Miao Village in Guizhou 中国西江千户苗寨

Saving the best for the last, we came to Xijiang Miao Village 西江苗寨 on the day before we flew back to Singapore after our 7-day Guizhou tour. 

Al Hayfa Arabic Restaurant Taman Universiti

✍️ 6 Dec 2024. Went to prowl Taman Universiti today - retracing my footsteps as here was one of the first places I explored after starting Johor Kaki blog in 2012.

There weren't new buildings but many of the shops / restaurants had changed hands. 

Balé Social Leisure Farm Christmas Lunch & Dinner 25 & 26 Dec 2024

Balé Social | 1, Jalan Polo, Leisure Farm Resort, 81560 Gelang Patah, Johor ☎ +6019 715 9100 🕖 12noon - 10pm (off on Mon & Tue, close at 9pm on Weds & Thur)

Balé Social @ Leisure Farm Resort in Gelang Patah is hosting 3-course lunch / dinner on 25 & 26 Dec 2024. 

There, your Christmas and Boxing Day lunch / dinner plans fixed for you 😁 🤭

Pork Soup Noodle @ Restoran Song 1314 Coffee Shop in Blok 34 Tun Aminah Skudai 古楼猪肉粉

古楼猪肉粉 Gulou Kueh Tiaw Soup | Pangsapuri, Blok 34, Jalan Pendekar 1, Taman Ungku Tun Aminah 🕗 7:30am - 9am or till sold out (Monday off)

This 古楼猪肉粉 pork soup noodle in Taman Ungku Tun Aminah has been raging in JB foodie social media for a while. Came twice all the way from Singapore but left without getting to eat as they sold out before 9am! 😖

Huang Guo Shu Waterfall Biggest in China & One of Asia's Largest 黄果树瀑布

Huanguoshu Waterfall near Anshun city of Guizhou province, is the biggest waterfall in China and among the top in the world. 

(Niagara, among the largest falls in the world.)

Qingyan Ancient Town in Guiyang, Guizhou • Town of Stones 青岩古镇

We were returning to Guiyang city after a 7-day tour of China's beautiful Guizhou province. Before arriving at Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou, we called at Qingyan Ancient Town at the southern edge of the city.

Guizhou Must Eat Miao Sour Soup Fish 贵州酸汤鱼

Sour soup fish is one of the iconic dishes of Miao people of Guizhou province, China.

Amazing Beauty of Guizhou 7 Day Itinerary • 10000 Peaks, Waterfalls, Great Food & Beautiful Culture • Photographer & Foodie Paradise

China's Guizhou province is not really hot on the tourist map, including tourists from Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia (but it ought to be). My first time in Guizhou, I went there with little to no knowledge about the province. 

Curry & Kimchi Lounge at Puteri Cove Quayside • Indian-Korean Fusion & Good Bar in Johor Bahru 🥂

Curry & Kimchi Lounge | LG2-28, Residensi Teluk Puteri, Jalan Tanjung, Puteri Harbour, 79000 Iskandar Puteri, Johor, Malaysia ☏ +6019 778 1987 🕗 3pm - 12 midnight (Mon off)

When I first heard that a Korean-Indian fusion restaurant called Curry & Kimchi Lounge opened in Johor Bahru, my first thought was "can meh?".

Takayama Omakase at OUE Downtown Gallery, Shenton Way Singapore

Takayama | 6A Shenton Way, #01-09/10 OUE Downtown 1, Singapore 068815 🚆 10 minutes walk from Tanjong Pagar station ☎ 9168 2639 🕙 12 noon - 2:30 pm | 7pm - 10:30 pm (Sun & Mon off)

Friends from Thailand visit, we welcome them at Takayama Omakase at OUE Downtown at Shenton Way. 

Khlong Hae HALAL Floating Market in Hatyai Thailand

I had always wanted to visit a floating market since I began to have the opportunity to travel. But, it was always near miss opportunities, until this year at Khlong Hae Floating Market in Hatyai when I am 64 years old and retired 😂