Closed - Ratatouille La Gourmet Western Food Stall at Taman Setia Indah in Johor Bahru

The Johor food forums are abuzz with excitement about Ratatouille La Gourmet and several friends have recommended the stall to me. 

Today, I am fortunate to meet Anson and his girlfriend Michelle who are big fans of Ratatouille La Gourmet and they brought me and our mutual friend William here in Setia Indah.

Char Kway Teow in Kulai, Johor 古来炒果条

William and I went searching for the much talked about 古来炒果条 stall in Kulai. After parking the car at Kulai Centre Point, we tracked down the famous stall quite easily by asking the locals - most people here know about this local favourite.

Johor Bahru Food and Shopping Trail - 2 days 1 night

I have often been asked by Singapore residents for suggestions for a food trail in Johor Bahru.

Here's a suggested itinerary for a 2 days 1 night, food and shopping trail in Johor Bahru designed with Singapore residents in mind.

This itinerary covers the Skudai-Kulai sector.

(I am drawing up a series of several itineraries covering different sectors e.g. Tebrau-Ulu Tiram and Permas Jaya-Pasir Gudang.)

For this trail, the participants proceed to Johor Bahru via Woodlands checkpoint and back. The plan is to depart Singapore at 8:00am on Day 1 and arrive back in Singapore on 8:00pm on Day 2.

Here is the outline of the suggested itinerary. Timings are approximate.

Day 1

8:00am Depart Singapore and proceed to Woodlands checkpoint
9:30am Arrive at Tua Thow Teochew kway teow soup shop
10:30am Arrive at Taman Tasek kway teow kia stall
11:30pm Arrive at Taika Huat braised duck shop

1:30pm Check in at hotel

2:30pm Arrive in JPO (Johor Premium Outlets)
6:30pm Arrive at Sze Hwa Bak Kut Teh
8:30pm Arrive at Nasi Lemak Wak Kentut
10:00pm Arrive at hotel

Day 2

8:00am Check out and assemble at hotel lobby
9:00am Arrive at G Cheong Fun shop
10:00am Arrive at Wah Cai fried durian

10:30am Arrive at AEON JUSCO Bukit Indah

13:30pm Arrive at Hin Hock for poached fish
3:00pm Arrive at KSL City Mall
5:00pm Arrive at Ban Heong Seng

8:00pm Arrive at drop off point in Singapore.

Day 1

Tua Thow at Susur 4, Jalan Tun Abdul Razak, Johor Bahru

The first stop is at Tua Thow 大头餐室, the popular old style Teochew kway teow soup shop famous for their tasty pork bone soup, and fresh pork and seafood ingredients. Many Chinese residents in Johor Bahru are Teochews, and Tua Thow is a good example of the common Teochew kway teow soup shops popular among locals.


Taman Tasek kway teow kia at Jalan Tasek near the Maybank branch off Jalan Skudai, Johor Bahru 

The second stop is the popular Taman Tasek kway teow kia stall. Kway teow kia is similar to kway chap common in Singapore. The main difference is, instead of the broad kway in kway chap, over in JB they use the much narrower kway teow kia 果条仔. The braising sauce is also much clearer and milder in colour and flavour compared to kway chap as Teochews like to taste the natural flavours of the pork and pork offal ingredients. The offal are very well cleaned and there is nothing but delightful flavours to taste.


八里半大家发鸭肉 at Jalan Kilang Nenas (Jalan Skudai Batu 8½)

The third stop is 八里半大家发鸭肉 Taika Huat braised duck which is located under the cool shade of a large tree. The Teochew style braised duck is cut in broad, thin, moist, tender slices. I like the gelatinous duck chins (not head or neck). Blood curd is also available (something no longer sold in Singapore).

8 Days Boutique Hotel at Jalan Impian Emas 5/2, Taman Impian Emas, Skudai

After Taika Huat braised duck, it is time to check in and freshen up at the hotel.


Jalan Premium Outlets, Indahpura, Kulaijaya, Johor

After freshening up, proceed for shopping and burning calories at JPO (Johor Premium Outlets).

Sze Hwa, 2, Jalan Seruling 1, Taman Sri Kulai Baru, Kulai, Johor

After walking off the calories, we are ready for Sze Hwa bak kut teh in Kulai. Sze Hwa is a well known name in Kulai. This is the original shop and it has a few franchisees in Johor Bahru. Sze Hwa BKT is mildly herbal and savoury with firm meat.

Wak Kentut, Jalan Susur Kulai 2, Taman Kulai Besar, Kulai, Johor

Next stop is at Wak Kentut nasi lemak which is a typical street side Malay warung. Crispy yet succulent flavourful Malay style fried chicken served with fragrant coconut rice, sambal chili and slices of cucumber. Add a glass of teh tarik for a perfect close to the day's food and shopping trail.

8 Days Boutique Hotel at Jalan Impian Emas 5/2, Taman Impian Emas, Skudai

Return to hotel and have a good night :D

Day 2

Check out of hotel

G Cheong Fun at 176, Jalan Pahlawan 2, Taman Ungku Tun Aminah, Johor Bahru

The first stop is G Cheong Fun to try chee cheong fun with the unique Malaysian touch. For example, taste chee cheong fun with curry gravy, eat it with yong tau fu style side dishes and try their signature sambal cockles (see ham or fresh cockles).


Wah Cai, 86, Jalan Pahlawan 2, Taman Ungku Tun Aminah (TUTA), Skudai

The second stop is a few shops away at Wai Cai fried food stall to try, especially, their fried durian puff. 



There are fried durian puffs elsewhere in Malaysia and Singapore, but few have the skill of Wah Cai to turn out fried puffs as crispy outside and milky creamy inside.


AEON Bukit Indah Mall, 8, Jalan Indah 15/2, Taman Bukit Indah, Johor Bahru

Shop and burn calories at AEON in Bukit Indah.


Vivo Pizza has 13 branches throughout Johor

If you have room and like a sweet dessert or just want a cozy place to cool your heels, check out the lava cake at the Vivo Pizza outlet.

Hin Hock, Jalan Dato Mohammed Seth, Tampoi, Johor Bahru

Next food stop is Hin Hock for their poached fish and side dishes of toufu and blanched vegetables. Hin Hock uses the freshest fish from Pontian, blanch it, douse it in their own blended sauce and then smother it with a blanket of fried garlic. This blanched fish has been packing in loyal crowds and new converts for over twenty years. 


KSL City Mall, 33, Jalan Seladang, Taman Abad, Johor Bahru

Shop and burn calories at KSL City Mall.


Ban Heong Seng, 34-B, Jalan Skudai, Batu 3¼, off Jalan Tahar, Johor Bahru

Our dinner and last food stop is at Ban Heong Seng, especially for their beggar duck or chicken. Ban Heong Seng is the only place in Johor and Singapore left that still makes authentic beggar duck or chicken. Do call 016-757-1887 or 07-237-5194 to pre-arrange dinner before setting off on the food and shopping trail.

Return to Singapore via Woodlands.

Some notes:

Order for sharing in your group, so that each person gets to enjoy just a tasting portion. In this way, we are able to try out more shops and know which are the shops that we would like to come back to in the future.

Drive safely, stay alert, look out for each other, and have fun.

Olla Restaurant at Hotel Granada in Bukit Indah, Johor Bahru

I have been looking for Halal Hainanese chicken rice in JB, and so was glad to be invited by Faizal, F & B Manager at Olla Restaurant in Hotel Granada to try their popular local dishes.

Johor Food Trail with Militia Riders Motorcycle Club (MRMC)

Action only. 

I haven't ridden a bike for over 30 years, and even back then it was just a puny Suzuki 125cc mosquito bike 😂

So you can imagine my excitement about this Johor Food Trail with the Militia Riders Motorcycle Club (MRMC). 

The 300km route planned by Mogan, MRMC Road Captain took us from Johor Bahru to Ulu Tiram, Mersing, Kluang, Rengam, Layang-Layang and back to JB. 

All along the way, we stopped for famous food 😋

Wanton Mee at 金山楼云吞面 in Taman Impian Emas, Skudai, Johor

This is my friend Jason's usual order at 金山楼云吞面 with extra char siew.

268 Kway Teow Kia Stall in M2 Food Court in Taman Bukit Kempas, Johor Bahru

I was food spotting at Taman Bukit Kempas this morning, wandering into M2 Food Court. I noticed this corner kway teow kia stall 果条仔 with many customers. At first I wasn't keen to add yet another kway teow kia stall to my long KTK list but decided to give it a try to find out why this humble stall is attracting such a big following.



We ordered just pork innards, skin and a bowl of kway teow to share and taste. Total bill for all of the above came to RM15.90.



These braised large pork intestines were superb! They were soft yet bouncy like pillows. The flavours were a beautiful balance of savoury and sweet. They were like savoury marshmallows. Very clean, and I can only detect delightful aromas and flavours.



The savoury braised skins were cleaned of fat, tender and yet had a springy crunch.



The braised tongue was firm and dense, yet light and refreshingly bouncy. 



Braised stomach and small intestines.



The kway 果 in delicious braising sauce to go along with all the scrumptious meat.



We enjoyed everything at 268 kway teow kia 果条仔 stall. The flavours, aromas and interesting textures were all just right for me. This is one of the best KTK that I have tasted in JB, so far.



Aida, is the boss of this small but busy stall. Aida came from Jambi (Sumatra, Indonesia) and was assisting her husband who had been a kway teow kia hawker for nearly 30 years.

Five years ago, Aida's husband fell ill and she had to run the stall herself. 

Fortunately, the talented Aida had mastered the art of making kway teow kia from her husband. The large loyal following at the stall attests to her braising skills.



One of the key secrets of a good kway teow kia seller is skill at cutting the meat 刀工. A good kway teow kia hawker knows how to slice the meat at the right grain, thickness, size and part for the best taste and mouth feel. Aida is a master at cutting the meat.



Aida is assisted at the stall by 子伶 (left) and 晶晶 (right). 



It's a pleasure to watch the charming and friendly ladies work together at the busy stall.



->> 268 果条仔 kway teow kia stall is a Must Try for KTK lovers. Really must try.



Restaurant name: 268 果条仔 Kway Teow Kia stall at M2 Food Court
Address: Junction of Jalan Kempas 1 and Jalan Kempas 1/18, Taman Bukit Kempas, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/RuH38
GPS: 1.527691,103.695219 (approximate)
Hours: 8:00am to 1:000pm
Non Halal

Date visited: 21 Mar 2014

Return to Johor Kaki homepage.

Johor Bahru Wanton Mee 柔佛新山云吞面

I am often asked which is the best of this or that type of food in Johor Bahru. I always replied that I can answer this question fairly only when I have eaten at every stall selling a type of food in JB - which I have not. In the meantime, the best that I can do is only to share my opinion on what are my current favourites, based on the limited number of stalls that I have eaten at, so far. So, the list is subject to changes as I slowly discover more stalls that I have not tried before.

Teochew Kway Teow Soup 小李粿条 at Taman Pelangi, Johor Bahru

One morning after breakfasting at Fat Mom 肥妈 in Taman Pelangi, I wandered to the kopitiam next door and stumbled upon 小李粿条.



I spotted this bowl of wrinkly fried fish balls and casually asked the boss what these were. "Shark fish balls" the boss said. I was surprised and delighted as I have not come across shark fish balls before in Malaysia or Singapore.

As I have already had a heavy breakfast, I immediately marked 小李粿条 for a visit as soon as possible.

And, so I am back at 小李粿条 the very next day :D



小李粿条 is founded by 小李. The master 小李 in action - unhurried, precise, and swift. 



小李 is assisted at the shop by his wife and son, Chee Siong who does most of the cooking now.



小李 the friendly Teochew kway teow soup master. Over 40 years in the business. 小李 is the brother-in-law of 亚华, the founder of the 亚华粿条 brand, now with three shops in JB (downtown, Taman Century and Plentong).

Here's what we had today at 小李粿条.



The dry version of kway teow with an aromatic blended sauce of fish sauce, lard, shallot oil, and vinegar. We can ask for chili paste, sambal chili (with hae bee) and dark soy sauce on request based on our preference.



The bowl of pork bone soup with shark fish balls and fish cake that came with the dry kway teow.



Shark fish ball is a traditional Teochew dish that is rarely seen nowadays. It tastes great! Savoury and sweet, blend of tender and slightly chewy - nice. Biting and breaking the golden brown skin releases a gentle pleasant aroma that bursts in the mouth and runs up the nose.



My bowl of kway teow soup. The broth made with big pork bones and ball joints had good body, and a pleasant savoury flavour. 小李 confirmed that no MSG is used (with all the fresh, quality ingredients, there is no need to).



Everything in the bowl was fresh and expertly cooked. The clean tasting kway teow noodle was slurpy soft and smooth. The liver was just cooked and had a slight powdery mouth feel. The fresh oyster was creamy and juicy. The bouncy slice of lean meat was sweet and tender. It's really a delicious bowl of heartwarming kway teow soup.



小李 let us try 肉筋 which is lean pork with strips of gelatinous rubber band-like tissue.  



小李 carefully sliced the meat to extract the 肉筋.



I have eaten 肉筋 at other Teochew kway teow shops before but 小李's skill in slicing the meat created 肉筋 with the best mouth feel that I have eaten so far - sweet tender lean meat strips with curly bands of soft springy gelatinous tissue. 

肉筋 is off menu, so remember to ask for it, if you like to enjoy it's extra good bite and mouth feel.

I looked around the stall :D



Plump fresh oysters are standard at Teochew kway teow soup shops in Johor Bahru.



Something seldom seen in Teochew kway teow soup shops - pork brain. Shall try it next time :D



Lard! Freshly made every day.

Other customers' orders.



Kway teow and yellow noodles with a dash of dark soy sauce.



Soup with fish cake and shell fish slices. Note how clear the soup is.

When we were leaving, 小李 declined payment for our meal and only accepted a small token amount at our insistence.

->> 小李粿条 the famous old name in Teochew kway teow soup is definitely a Must Try in Johor Bahru.



小李粿条 is a stall inside Hup Seang kopitiam.

Restaurant name: 小李粿条
Address: 53, Jalan Kuning, Taman Pelangi, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/Whkv2
GPS: 1.482699,103.775514 
Hours: 06:30am to 2:00pm (Closed on last Tues of month)
Non Halal

Date visited: 19 Mar 2014

Return to Johor Kaki homepage.