Teochew Porridge @ Come & Eat 吃又来潮州粥 off Jalan Stulang Darat, Johor Bahru

“Find dining” is a hit or miss pursuit that risks our meagre daily cholesterol and calorie quota. Once in a while, I stumble upon an outstanding eatery in an unlikely place that cancels all the misses of “find dining”.

Restoran Come & Eat 吃又来潮州粥 is such a gem.

Just like the glint of a gold nugget in a pile of rocks, a good food find has telltale signs.

The moment Come & Eat Teochew porridge opens its shutters at 4:00pm, cars pull up in front and grinning customers emerge to fill the tables. They eagerly make their way to the food laid out at the counter like excited children during recess time at the school tuck shop. Wide eyed customers purposefully survey what is served today as some of the dishes are offered only on certain days.

For example, the very popular asam fish is served only on Thursdays. Their asam fish is exceptionally delicious. Made with fish boiled in a large pot choked full with tamarind, dried chili, garlic and spices, it is a complex blend of mildly savoury, tangy sour, sweet and spicy hot. The flesh of the fish saturated with the asam brew is smoky, creamy and the bones are so soft they literally dissolve with gentle chewing.

When it is available on Thursdays, every table will order at least one piece – more often than not, each diner will order a separate piece of their own. (Sold out fast, so have to be early if you want to try this.)

The fish here are ocean fresh – the boss buys them fresh everyday. The fish are steamed in small batches and every time a new tray of fish emerges from the kitchen, customers interrupt their eating and dash from their tables to the counter to grab the fish. The fish steamed in their own naturally sweet juices taste like sweet succulent fruits.

Besides fish there is a selection of popular braised duck and pork items such as meat, innards, snort and ears.

There is also a wide range homely Teochew dishes of fried and braised vegetables, fried pumpkin, tofu, spring rolls and so on, depending on the day.

The atmosphere is cheerful and familial – the voices of the restaurant workers calling out the orders serve as the background to the rowdy banter of the customers, most of whom are regulars, including from Singapore.

The unceasing waves of arriving customers replacing those who have just finished their meal reminded me of the waves at the shoreline near by. Despite the big crowd, the service is fast and friendly – the staff move swiftly and the orders are taken as if by telepathy as they know the customers’ favourites.

My meal of delicious steamed fish, asam fish and two bowls of porridge came to RM23 (SGD 9.50).

(Important note: Occasionally, there is no asam fish due to supply issues. Do check their Facebook updates here <- click.)

My second visit to Come & Eat <- click

->> Definitely a good place to come and eat a hearty home style traditional Teochew porridge dinner. So many good things here - braised duck, steamed fish, asam fish, home style vegetable dishes and more.