Laksa Johor & More @ Dann's Café in Taman Daya, Johor Bahru, Malaysia Update 2019

Way back in 2012, Encik Kamalluddin the founder of Dann's cafe said I should come back for his nasi briyani (I was at Dann's to taste their Laksa Johor which is one of the best in the country). I finally kept the date, seven years on 😂



Dann's Cafe is a family business. Founded by Encik Kamalluddin and wife Azizah who were both teachers before opening Dann's Cafe in 2002. Encik Kamalluddin taught organ at Yamaha Music School for 30 years. Son Naguib who is an International Business graduate joined the family business because passion for F & B runs in the family. Naguib is now the boss with his parents in support.




The interior at Dann's Cafe had been renewed since I was here in 2012 but it felt the same to me. The furnishings were simple and the place was fastidiously kept. So, Dann's Cafe felt very cosy. Air conditioning added to the comfort.



Dann's Cafe's simple menu with everything on one page. Traditional noodle and rice dishes, and sides.



Two of us, we had chicken briyani (RM11.50) and lamb briyani (RM12.50). The meat came buried in a mound of spiced basmati rice. Dann's Cafe serves Hyderabadi style dum briyani (where the meat and rice are cooked together in the same pot). 



Beneath the basmati rice was a big meaty piece of chicken drumstick with part of the back attached.



The chicken was meaty, tender and juicy. Spice flavour and aroma was relatively mild.



Chunk of lamb with bone under the basmati rice.



The lamb was tender and juicy, and fell off the bone easily. The meat was well infused with gentle spice flavours.



The long grain basmati rice was light, tender and even fluffy. There wasn't much grease in the rice. Spice flavour was mild (not pungent).



We had a Rojak Tauhu (price RM6.90) for sides. 



It is deep fried tofu cubes in a pool of black soy sauce dressed with crushed toasted peanuts and topped with blanched bean sprouts and julienned cucumber.

The sharp robust flavours of rojak tauhu contrasted with the mild nasi briyani.



The fried tofu was crisp outside and inside it was like soft bean curd (which it is lah 😄). The bean sprouts were blanched spot on - to a juicy crunch. The julienned cucumber was crunchy with neither the soggy "sweat" nor green taste.

But the clincher was the kicap pedas - Encik Kamalludin uses good quality kicap, spiced it up with hot chili, and added crushed peanut freshly toasted and ground in house. The sauce had layered savouriness complemented by a fleeting hot spicy sting and toasty nutty taste.

Must order this when you are at Dann's.



Encik Kamalluddin graciously obliged my request for another photo because I think he looked too much like a stern school teacher in the previous shots 😄

Encik Kamalluddin said I must come back for his mee siam kuah (which is seldom sold in JB even it is default just across the border in Singapore). So, I got another rain cheque but am quite sure that it won't be another 7 years before I am back.



Recommended for you 👍 Nice little eatery where the traditional food are lovingly made. So far I've tried their nasi briyani, rojak tahu, and Laksa Johor. Like all of them especially the rojak tahu and Laksa Johor. Ambiance though simple is very welcoming and cosy. Prices are reasonable.



Restaurant name: Dann's Cafe 
Address: 42, Jalan Sagu, Taman Daya, Johor Bahru  
GPS: 1°32'46.0"N 103°45'48.3"E 🌐 1.546113, 103.763424
Waze: Dann's Cafe
Tel: +60 7-352 5082
Hours: 11:30am to 6:30pm (Sunday off)

Halal

Date visited: 20 Feb 2019

I wanted to try out the best Laksa Johor and naturally I posted the question in Johor Sedap halal food group for help.

Dann's Laksa Johor was one of the few favourites recommended by Johor Sedap group members. Dann's Laksa Johor came famous with lots of media publicity. Dann's Café was named among the Top 50 Laksa outlets in the whole of Malaysia by Tourism Malaysia in 2009/10.

Dann's Laksa Johor was certainly as good as the better ones that I've tried in Johor Bahru.

At the neat, well appointed, comfortable air conditioned café, Dann's delicious serving of authentic Laksa Johor can be had for a reasonable RM5.

The fish based sauce made by Dann's follows a traditional family recipe that uses a variety of different fishes blended together with lots of herbs and spices. The thick sauce was layered on the bed of spaghetti.

Authentic Laksa Johor uses spaghetti which complemented the spicy, fragrant, savoury and grainy sauce very well. At Dann's, the sauce had nutty crunchy bits, some of which I believe were bits of chai po (preserved vegetables), making the gravy more interesting. 

Dann's does special order Laksa Johor too. Dann's will make the laksa sauce with Ikan Parang at RM9 per serving. Encik Kamalludin, the owner, shared that Ikan Parang makes the best sauce for Laksa Johor. For special order, the minimum order required is 20 servings.

Observing the other customers I noticed that Dann's fried rice and Nasi Briyani are also very popular.

Encik Kamalludin who hails from Pakistan told me that Dann's Café is the first in JB to serve the Hydrabadi style of nasi briyani.

I am a big fan of nasi briyani, so this is something that I must surely come back for.

Restaurant name: Dann's Café
Address: 42, Jalan Sagu, Taman Daya, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/lvvYg
GPS: 1.547242,103.764613
Hours: 10:30am to 9:30pm

Halal

Date visited: 9 Nov 2012

Return to Johor Kaki homepage