Mee Rebus Tulang "Gearbox" @ Restoran ZZ Sup Tulang in Kampung Bahru, Johor Bahru

Restoran ZZ is renowned for its famous Mee Rebus tulang "gearbox" and sup tulang.

Restoran ZZ is set under shady trees and seating is arranged in little pavilions under separate thatched attap roofs.

For those who prefer to gather round a low table and sit cozily crossed legged on the floor, there are also these thatched roof "family" pavilions.

These options give Restoran ZZ a rustic, cool, pleasing and relaxing kampung ambiance which I liked very much.

ZZ's signature mee rebus tulang is served with large lamb shank bones or tulang.

The yellow noodles and gravy were rather ordinary. The joy of the eating at ZZ's come in scraping the shreds of flesh, cartilage and tendon off the shank bones.

The ultimate treat, however, was in savouring the bone marrow (sum sum tulang in Malay).

The coup de grâce was executed with a straw – the stubby large calibre kind normally used to suck up those "pearls" in bubble tea. The straw was inserted into the hollow of the bone to suck out the marrow.

Health Warning. Spouse and doctor's consent advised. This dish is only for connoisseurs and brave hearts (or die hard tulang fans). But if you qualify, you are in for a delicious treat.

The lamb shank bones were cooked in broth and spices using slow charcoal fire to preserve the marrow and to keep the flesh tender. Some of the broth and spices get trapped in the hollow of the bone, infusing the marrow with aromatic spices used in the broth. As a result, the super rich marrow, tastes naturally sweet and its jelly like texture was peppered with a bit of grittiness from grains of grounded spices.

Besides the tulang, ZZ's sambal chili also helped lifted ZZ's mee rebus above others. ZZ's sambal was sweet, aromatic and not too hot. It added zing to anything it was mixed with.

In case you are wondering, the letters ZZ are the initials of Cik Zarina Zainal, the restaurant owner.

ZZ's mee rebus tulang gearbox costs RM8.50 (2011 price).

ZZ is the place that I will bring friends who crave such a dangerous indulgence.

My second post on Restoran ZZ seven years later 👈 click