Teochew Kway Teow Soup @ Sang Heng 甡兴 in Johor Bahru Old Town

To say that Sang Heng 甡兴 Teochew kway teow soup stall is an institution in Johor Bahru is neither a cliché nor an exaggeration.

Sang Heng has been here in this same old Jalan Tan Hiok Nee location for decades. Even the people here are the same. The elderly stall holder, his two lady helpers, and his regular customers are all from an earlier time. Sitting at a table, eating at Sang Heng and watching the goings on is like going back in time and reliving the history of old JB.

The elderly stall holder has the kind of knowing, quiet presence of someone who has witnessed the tremendous changes of Johor Bahru by looking out from the vantage point of his kway teow soup stall. And his regular customers interact with him with a kind of deference reserved only for someone who has seen it all - and holds his ground, in the quiet confidence of knowing what he stands for.

Sang Heng's mee pok 面薄干 noodles were well cooked and still had that slight crunchiness and spring. The bean sprouts were blanched just right. They were still crunchy, juicy and sweet. The sauce was spicy and tangy from the signature black vinegar. There was also that distinctive flavour of lard and lard crackles 猪油渣. 



RM5 bowl of kway teow and bee hoon mix, dry.

RM5 bowl of kway teow soup.

The shrimp based soup is slightly cloudy and infused with that distinctive shrimp flavour.

Fresh hand made fish ball. Sweet and slightly springy.

Fresh pork ball. Tender and sweet.

The taste and flavour of Sang Heng’s simple no frills, kway teow soup may not be the most compelling but it is authentic 古早味 and it is part of that tableau of an earlier time.

When eating at Sang Heng, the kway teow soup is only a prop in the overall experience of partaking in living history. For that, Sang Heng has no comparison among JB food stalls.

I suggest that eating at Sang Heng 甡兴 is worthy of experiencing at least once. Who knows the overall experience might convert you into one of Sang Heng’s new generation of fans.

->> Step back into old JB through it's traditional comfort dish.

Restaurant name: Kedai Makanan Sang Heng 甡兴

Address: 7 Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Johor Bahru Town (next to OCBC JB branch)

GPS: 1.456829,103.764747
Hours: Daily 7:00am to 1:00pm (closed on Saturdays)

Non Halal

Dates visited: 12 Jan 2012, 19 Jan 2012, 21 Aug 2012

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