Tony Johor Kaki Travels for Food · Heritage · Culture · History

Adventurous Culinary Traveler's Blog with 65 million+ reads 📧 johorkaki@gmail.com

Peninsula Hong Kong Style Egg Custard Mooncakes by East Bistro Singapore 香港半島酒店奶黃月餅

Peninsula-Hong-Kong-Egg-Custard-Mooncakes-East-Bistro-Singapore

You know those famous Peninsula Hong Kong style egg custard mooncakes 香港半島酒店奶黃月餅? These mini mooncakes handmade by Chef Tony Wong, owner chef of East Bistro in Sembawang (Singapore) really reminds me of them :-p Chef Tony Wong was the Head Chef at Lei Gardens Hong Kong and Singapore for decades before opening his own restaurant here last year.

Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice Singapore 威南记鸡饭

Wee-Nam Kee-Chicken-Rice-Singapore-威南记鸡饭

Wee Nam Kee 威南记 is a famous name in Singapore chicken rice. I was a regular at Wee Nam Kee's old Novena Ville branch (now moved to nearby United Square). Partly because my KL friends, whenever they come down to Singapore will say "see you at Wee Nam Kee". I will always just go along as we have never been disappointed.

Dong Ji Fried Kway Teow at Old Airport Road Singapore

Dong-Ji-Fried-Kway-Teow-Old-Airport-Road-Singapore

Came to Dong Ji fried kway teow stall at the iconic Old Airport Road food centre at the suggestion of Tony Tee.

Traditional Kaya Coconut Jam Recipe by Good Morning Nanyang Cafe • Eggs, Coconut Milk, Pandan Leaves, Sugar, Plenty of Elbow Grease

Kaya-Jam-Recipe-Good-Morning-Nanyang-Coffee-Singapore

I fell in love with the freshly made kaya at Good Morning Nanyang Cafe, the very first time I tasted it. It looks slightly lumpy but is very very feathery soft. This kaya has a layered kind of sweetness and smothering fresh coconut, eggy, pandan aroma like a sophisticated perfume. It's totally different from those mass produced kaya which is pastey like a tub of starch, flat in sweetness (死甜 dead sweet as we say in Chinese) and smells of synthetic fragrances.

Singapore Food Centres and Hawker Culture • Hard Truths about the Future?

Singapore-Hawker-Centres-Culture

Disclaimer: Before you read any further, please note that I am just a casual observer, a Singaporean man in the street. I have never worked in the food and beverage industry. I have no affiliation with any corporation or government agency. But, I care passionately about our food heritage. I do write a food blog johorkaki.blogspot.com and in the process interact daily with hawkers, foodies, restaurateurs, and others in Singapore and Johor who know a lot than me about F & B. Bearing in mind my limitations, here are some of my thoughts on the future of Singapore street food and the hawker scene.

Eat Drink Buy WA - Foodie Adventures with Chef Wan or Free & Easy JK1221

Eat-Drink-Buy-WA

Tourism Western Australia (WA) just launched (on 15 Aug 2015) the Eat Drink Buy WA Campaign.

Dapeng Bay National Scenic Area Taiwan 大鵬灣

Dapeng-Bay-National-Scenic-Area-大鵬灣-Kaohsiung-Taiwan

During our visit to Kaohsiung with AirAsia, beautiful Dapeng Bay National Scenic Area 大鵬灣 was one of the memorable places in the itinerary.

Gerai Makanan Kokki Johor Bahru Wanton Mee & Curry Yong Tau Foo 郭记凤爪面

Gerai-Makanan-Kokki-Johor-Bahru-郭记凤爪面

When in Johor Bahru, one of my favourite experiences is street side al fresco dining.

Eastern House of Seafood @ Marymount MRT · Menu & Review · One of my Fav Zhi Char in Singapore

Eastern_House_of_Seafood

✍1 Dec 2021. I have been following Eastern House of Seafood since 2015 when they were in Chai Chee, then they moved to Geylang and now at the doorstep of Marymount MRT station. All these years, Eastern House of Seafood have the same kitchen crew, so our old familiar favourites are still there plus new items added to their thicker and thicker menu over time.

Restaurant name: Eastern House of Seafood


Address: 37 Jalan Pemimpin, MAPEX building, #B1-02, Singapore 577177 (doorstep of Marymount MRT station)


Tel: 9150 8172


Hours: 9:00am - 10:00pm (opens at 10am on Sat & Sun)

Ampang Yoong Tau Foo in Johor Bahru JK1217

Ampang-Yoong-Tau-Foo-Johor-Bahru

Nelson from Ampang (KL) moved to Johor Bahru in the 1990s and missed his hometown yong tau foo. A man of action, Nelson and wife Fancy took matters into their own hands. Nelson and Fancy teamed up with Homeland Yong Tau Foo of Ampang to set their own YTF restaurant right here in JB.

Lim's Fried Oyster Omelette Orh Luak @ Berseh Food Centre Singapore

Lim's-Fried-Oyster-Berseh-Food-Centre-Singapore

Singapore's Croc King Tony Tee's infectious enthusiasm for Lim's Fried Oyster 林煎 has generated a lot of buzz and excitement about the humble stall in Berseh Food Centre. Even my niece who had tried it, said I must go check it out 😄 (I later found out that my niece and the Lims' daughter were colleagues 😃 )

The Fabulous Baker Boy Singapore TFBB

The-Fabulous-Baker-Boy-Singapore-TFBB

Johor Kaki was invited to a food tasting at The Fabulous Baker Boy (TFBB) bakery/ cafe at The Foothills located between Fort Canning Park and Clarke Quay.

East Bistro Sembawang by Former Lei Garden Singapore Head Chef 东小馆

East-Bistro-Sembawang-Dim-Sum-Singapore

East Bistro 东小馆 is a gem of a little restaurant tucked in a back street corner in a cluster of shop houses opposite Sembawang Shopping Centre. It's at the same row of shop lots as the famous white bee hoon at Sembawang.

Johor Bahru Ipoh Chicken Hor Fun 唐记鸡丝河粉

Johor-Bahru-Ipoh-Chicken-Hor-Fun-唐记鸡丝河粉

唐记鸡丝河粉 is the bench mark in Johor Bahru for good Ipoh style chicken hor fun soup. When JB foodies discuss chicken hor fun, they often ask "so how does it compare with 唐记"?

Singapore Best Ramen Men-Tei Robinson Road JK1212

Singapore-Best-Ramen-Men-Tei-Robinson-Road

Like a true ramen-ya in downtown Toyko, Men-Tei in Singapore is a small compact, intimate space. If you walk briskly along busy Robinson Road, you are likely to walk pass it's glass doors without even noticing.

Review of Singapore Turtle Soup at Fu He ● Berseh Food Centre 福和草龟●山瑞

Singapore-Turtle-Soup-Fu-He-Turtle-Soup-(Berseh-Food-Centre)

Once in a while, I do indulge in a bowl of turtle soup with yam rice. I like the mouth feel of turtle gelatin which only turtle has.

My go to place for turtle soup in Singapore is Berseh Food Centre since the 1990s. Another of my favourites is in Geylang. (Please share with me where else can I get good turtle soup in Singapore. Thanks!)

Eat Chicken Like a Local. Shianye Popular Kaohsiung Restaurant 縣爺土雞屋

Shianye-Popular-Kaohsiung-Restaurant-縣爺土雞屋

During our visit to Kaohsiung, our Taiwanese guide 美青 Margo (margochuo@gmail.com) took us to Shianye 縣爺土雞屋 (which literally means "House of Free Range Chicken"), one of her personal favourite restaurants for dinner.

Seletar Sheng Mian Mee Hoon Kway Singapore Toa Payoh Lor 8

Seletar-Sheng-Mian-Mee-Hoon-Kway-Singapore-Toa-Payoh-Lor-8

Stumbled upon this scene while exploring Toa Payoh Lor 8 Hawker Centre this cool Sunday morning. It's Singapore's 50th National Day. The hawker centre seemed relatively quiet today but Seletar Sheng Mian stall 实里达生面·面粉粿 still commanded a 20 minute queue. 

Gin Khao Thai Restaurant East Coast Singapore JK1208

Gin-Khao-Thai-Restaurant-East-Coast-Singapore

Johor Kaki was invited to a food tasting at the recently opened (in Jun 2015) Gin Khao Thai restaurant at East Coast Park.

Famous Steamboat Hotpot in Kaohsiung Liu's Traditional Juancun Food 劉家酸菜白肉火鍋

Famous-Food-Kaohsiung-Liu's-Traditional-Juancun-Food-劉家酸菜白肉火鍋

Our Taiwanese guide 美青 (margochuo@gmail.com) brought us to Liu's Traditional Juancun Food 劉家酸菜白肉火鍋 which is a steamboat restaurant popular with Kaohsiung locals.

Wild Boar Meat in Johor Bahru Ulu Tiram Seng Huat

Wild-Boar-Meat-Johor-Bahru-Seng-Huat

I am often asked, especially by Singapore readers about where to get wild game meat in Johor.

Kota Tinggi Bak Kut Teh on the Way to Mersing from Johor Bahru 强记肉骨茶

Kiang-Kee-Bak-Kut-Teh-强记肉骨茶-Johor

For many Johoreans and not a few Singaporeans, Kiang Kee Bak Kut Teh 强记肉骨茶 needs no introduction. It would be fair to say that it's one of the most popular bak kut teh places in Johor and Singapore, and to think that it is literally in the middle of nowhere a long drive from JB / SG - that makes it all the more amazing.


1933 Cafe by BreadTalk in Capitol Piazza Singapore

1933-Cafe-BreadTalk-Capitol-Piazza-Singapore

The first time I stepped into Capitol building was in 1967. My dad brought me here to watch the blockbuster sword fighting movie 龙门客栈. 龙门客栈 was the definitive precursor of fast paced Chinese martial arts movies.

Johor Bahru-Pontian-Pengerang Food Tour | 2 Days 1 Night with 8 Days Boutique Hotel

Johor-Baru-Pontian-Penerang-Food-Tour-2-Days-1-Night-8-Days-Boutique-Hotel

We just enjoyed an exciting 2 Days 1 Night Johor food trail from JB to Pontian and Pengerang. We made up the itinerary as we go - it was a trail of exploration and discovery.

There are many good street food stalls in Johor, so there are infinite numbers of possible combinations of food trails. It all depends on personal taste buds and preferences. We had a basic plan but it was free and easy, and we were ready to switch plans anytime something else caught our fancy.

Anything goes as long as we enjoy delicious food and most importantly, strengthen our friendships and have plenty of fun.