Hainanese Chicken Chop @ IT Roo Café in Johor Bahru near City Square 一而鸡扒

IT Roo's Hainanese chicken chop was one of the first posts in Johor Kaki blog, way back in 2011. We've been back a few times since then, and this is an update. Overall, the signature chicken chop has not changed much except that it's a bit more greasy nowadays. They were still using those cute plates with pink chicken motifs 😂



IT Roo cafe was as busy and popular as ever. The little air conditioned shop is usually packed during lunch time. The decor was probably hip for its time in the 60s/ 70s, but today it has an air of nostalgia.




Though the space is compact, I like the welcoming feel inside IT Roo. Just be careful when you move around as the space is a bit tight 😝



We had kopi and teh while waiting for our orders of their signature chicken chop and hor fun (Cantonese kway teow). Can't remember much of their kopi as it was average - slightly bitter sweetened with sugar served in glasses.



We had IT Roo's chicken chop topped with a fried egg (around RM17 in 2018).

(They have a grilled version which many said was healthier and tastier - but, don't want lah, I just want authentic Hainanese chicken chop 😂 )



I like the feel and eggy taste of the runny golden yolk.



The slab of chicken came heavily battered with biscuit crumbs in true Hainanese fashion and was fried to a golden brown crisp outside. It was dressed with old school mushroom sauce and served with fried potato wedges and coleslaw.



The slab of flattened chicken thigh was relatively thick. The boneless slab was tender and moist, and had a bit of natural sweetness.

The batter was, however, a bit too salty and it masked the delicate fresh chicken flavour. It was also more greasy (compared to back then in 2011).

The savoury mushroom was nice but I missed the chicken's natural sweetness.



Nicely browned potato wedges.



The hor fun was rather bland tasting and the kway teow noodles lacked caramelisation i.e. no wok hei.



👉 IT Roo is one of JB's iconic heritage Hainanese coffee shops (and, probably the only air conditioned one). IT Roo still serves authentic Hainanese chicken chop, though I prefer my fried chicken chop to be less salty and less greasy. I will still be back because I like the unique charm, friendly rustic feel and kampung spirit in this small kopitiam. Oh..., I still haven't had their reputedly evil fried rice 😄 



Restaurant name: IT Roo Cafe 一而鸡扒
Address: 17, Jalan Dhoby, Bandar Johor Bahru
GPS: 1°27'25.0"N 103°45'49.1"E 🌐 1.456932, 103.763632
Tel: 07-222 7780
Hours: 12:00 noon - 9:30pm

Certified Halal

Date visited: 24 Aug 2018


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Heritage photo of IT Roo

Founded in the 1950s by Jian Kai Xiang who came to JB from Hainan in the 1950s, IT Roo Café is one of the oldest Hainanese coffee shops in Johor Bahru. Jian Kai Xiang was a Kuomintang officer, and had to flee China after the civil war was lost in 1949.

In the 1960s, Jian Kai Xiang's son Jian Hye Jeoin learnt how to make chicken chop from the British and added it to IT Roo's menu. It soon became IT Roo's claim to fame and was awarded the "Best Chicken Chop in Malaysia" title by The Star newspaper in 2003. Today, IT Roo still proudly touts itself as serving the best chicken chop in JB.

With such a reputation, we had no choice but to check it out 😄

Some people said 2003 was a very long time ago and that the standard has dropped, so we went there with a little bit of scepticism.

IT Roo Café is the corner coffee shop at the junction of Jalan Dhoby and Jalan Pahang in old downtown JB.

We were at the famous café at lunch time on Christmas Eve (2011). The tiny air conditioned 1,000 square feet dining area was about two thirds full. The clientele was mainly the younger set - couples, family with children, and groups of friends.

I ordered their signature dish - fried chicken chop with mushroom gravy, of course. It was served on a plate with quaint looking pink chicken motifs 😄

The chicken chop was made from a thick piece of flattened thigh meat. The batter was just the right thickness – thick but not too heavy. The batter and skin were cooked to golden brown and that batter-skin combination was crunchy to the bite. It was dangerously delicious! because we couldn't resist gobbling down the cholesterol laden chicken skin as well!

The meat was thick, juicy and tenderly moist without any hint of dryness at all.

The mushroom sauce was creamy and had a nice delicate mushroomy flavour. Nice!

It was a busy day and there were many orders of chicken chop which is their signature dish. I was a little concerned that standards may be affected by the pressure to mass produce the popular chops to meet the orders. My worries turned out to be unfounded. The chicken chop was done perfectly though we had to wait about 30 minutes for our treat.

The chicken chop costs RM13 (2011 price).

I can already think of those friends whom I will bring to IT Roo to enjoy this delicious meal.

I heard that they make an evil fried rice too - shall make sure to try that during my next visit.

Source of historical information on IT Roo 👈 click

Restaurant name: IT Roo Café

Address: 17 Jalan Dhoby 80000 Johor Bahru
Map: http://g.co/maps/qgwss
GPS: 1.456845, 103.763546
Hours: Monday to Sunday 11:00 to 10:00pm

Free wifi available

Certified Halal

Date visited: 24 Dec 2011

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