Sakari Sushi @ Tanjong Pagar Singapore • Art of Sushi by 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 😂

Eating Paddlefish in Haikou Hainan China • Best Fish Soup I Ever Tasted 鸭嘴鱼 大嘴鱼乡 海口

My first time tasting Paddlefish known colloquially in Chinese as 鸭嘴鱼 or duck mouth fish for obvious reasons 🦆

Fujian Hakka Tulou Yunshuiyao Day Trip from Xiamen 南靖福建土楼云水谣旅游区

While we were in Xiamen, we took the opportunity to take a day trip that took us to Fujian Tulou Yunshuiyao 福建土楼云水谣旅游区 in 南靖 Nanjing County west of Zhangzhou (which is west of Xiamen). 

(🎗️This Nanjing County is not the same as Nanjing City in Jiangsu province.) 

GO Unique @ Raffles City • Creative Twists Make Favourite Comfort Dishes Better 有间不一样

GO Unique | 252 North Bridge Rd, B1-12 Raffles City Shopping Centre, Singapore 🚆 City Hall station ☎ 6935 8323 🕚 11am - 9:30pm (close at 10pm on Fri & Sat)

Raffles City is chocked full of interesting, and constantly refreshed mid-range pricing restaurant concepts - it's a destination for adventurous and curious foodies who want to experience new ideas. GO Unique recently opened in Raffles City, so we went to try them (as we have tried and like GO Noodle House in Malaysia and Singapore before). 

Eat First 食之为鲜 @ 287 Geylang • Continuing the Legacy of Sek Wai Sin Eating House Est'd 1968 食为先大饭店

Eat First 食之为鲜 | 287 Geylang Rd, Singapore 389336 ☏ 6443 8434 🕑 11:45 am - 2:30 pm | 5:45pm - 9:30 pm (Mon & Tues off)

Came here at the end of a long busy day, just wanting to have a homely meal and chill a little with buddies in Geylang. 

South Gate Niunan Beef Brisket & Stewed Pork Shop in Haikou Hainan 博爱南129牛腩店 • 钟记南门牛腩店

South Gate Niunan Shop 钟记南门牛腩店 | China, Hai Nan Sheng, Hai Kou Shi, Mei Lan Qu, 博爱南路129号 邮政编码: 570102 ☎ +86 898 3666 4008 🕗 24/7

I requested our obliging Hainan hosts to take us to places locals eat in Haikou, especially where tourists normally won't go 😬

Zao Po Cu Vinegar Hotpot • Must Try in Puqian, Haikou, Hainan 渔家人铺前糟粕醋火锅第一家

Wenchang Hainan is well known to foreigners for their chicken rice, Jia Ji duck, Dong Shan lamb, and He Le crab. Actually, Wenchang has a few other local specialties such as qing pu liang, and bao luo fen noodle. Recently, another dish, zao po cu 糟粕醋 hotpot has been in the limelight and has emerged as another must try dish in Hainan.

Hainan Lao Ba Cha • Old Dad Tea & Coffee Culture 海南老爸茶

Lao ba cha 老爸茶 or literally old dad tea is not a type of tea at all - instead, it is a culture and lifestyle of leisurely enjoying food and drink, as well as the institutions (coffee / tea shops that facilitate Hainan's LBC culture).

Famous Lian Huan Oyster Omelette Pancake at Zhongshan Street in Xiamen 莲欢海蛎煎

莲欢海蛎煎 Lian Huan Oyster Omelette | Zhongshanlu Street, 中山路商圈 Siming District, Xiamen, Fujian, China ☎ +86 592 203 5236 🕗 8am - 10pm

In Xiamen, you will find 海蛎煎 or "fried oyster" stalls everywhere. Most restaurants also have 海蛎煎 the iconic dish on their menu.

Oyster Omelette & Recovery of Taiwan from VOC Dutch East Indies Company in 1662 by Koxinga 鄭成功 • 國姓爺

The Ming dynasty of China (1368 - 1644) fell to the Manchurian Qing dynasty from the north while European seapowers were lodged at China's doorstep. The Portuguese at Macau, the Spanish at Luzon (Philippines) and the Dutch occupied Formosa (today's Taiwan) since 1624.

Kampua Mee Noodle in Zhangzhou, Fujian 原北京路松树干拌面店漳州市

We arrived in Zhangzhou 漳州, the city adjacent west of Xiamen in a cab feeling famished. We were lucky to stumble upon 原北京路松树干拌面店 (literally Original Beijing Road Pine Tree Dry Mix Noodle Shop) within 5 minutes. 

Ginger Duck Must Try Food Icon in Xiamen 姜母鸭厦门特产

During travels, I like to walk and explore the little nooks in the city's old quarters on foot. The old city cores are usually not very big and are eminently walkable. (I am one of those who consider 5km walking "very near" 😄 Don't be like Tony 🤭 )

Sha Cha Mian Satay Noodle of Xiamen 厦门必吃沙茶面

When you come to Xiamen city in Fujian province, you are bound to encounter a noodle dish with a fiery red spicy looking soup known as sha cha mian. It is delicious and unique to Xiamen, so it is definitely worth a try before you leave Xiamen.

Hainan Qing Pu Liang Cooling Dessert & the Lost Nan Yue Kingdom • History of Ching Bo Leung 清補涼历史 • 趙佗神汤

When you are in China's humid tropical Hainan island, you will see a ubiquitous watery sweet dessert known as qing pu liang 清補涼 which literally means cleansing, nourishing, and cooling.

La Pona Nasi Lemak @ Orchard Plaza • Night Owl Fried Chicken Wings, Runny Fried Eggs & Fragrant Rice since 1986

La Pona Snack Bar (Nasi Lemak) | 150 Orchard Road, #04-53 Orchard Plaza, Singapore 238841 🚆 10 minutes walk from Somerset station ☎ 8866 0453 🕛 10:30pm - 4am (Sun pm - Mon am off)

Buddy has been telling us about his favourite nasi lemak joint, La Pona in Orchard Plaza for the longest time.