I've been craving for Seven Oaks Cafe's salted egg yolk croissant ever since I first tasted it last year (2015). But, I never have another chance again as the croissants are sold only at 2:00pm and are always sold out within 30 minutes to people who queued for it, at least 1 hour earlier. I finally have a chance to taste it again today, thanks to my friend John who arranged some for us to enjoy :-D
CLOSED Met up with my Kulai friend Puan Chong yesterday and she suggested we try 杰品鱼丸面 Jieping Cafe's fish balls in Indahpura together.
So glad to find Min Kee 明记茶室 as it is a good place for breakfast before boarding that early morning flight out of Senai International Airport.
Ms Nur, a Johor Kaki reader alerted me to JJ Mee Rebus and suggested that I visit this old stall at Johor Jaya, Jalan Bakawali 76. Thank you Ms Nur for your suggestion 😄
We spotted this beautiful sight while food spotting at Johor Jaya Family Food Court. So, we hung around smelling the spice aroma for a while and patiently stalked our potential target. When the queue kept growing, we moved in.
Sometimes More often than not, the food that we keep coming back to is not necessarily the most delicious nor the most glamorous (or "Instagrammable" in "Millennial Gen" speak). It is food that has the most meaning to us, personally. Often, it is part of our rite of passage. A marker of who we are and where we come from.
I was invited to visit Indian Kitchen, a spanking new Indian restaurant opened at 1 Medini Hub in Johor Bahru. I love visiting Indian restaurants as I find the spices, colours, flavours, aromas, dishes, techniques and myriad regional variations deliciously fascinating. Indian Kitchen features both North and South Indian cuisine.
Pandan Mutton Soup 班蘭羊肉湯 is one of those famous Johor food that I missed because the legendary shop stopped operations before Johor Kaki blog started. I have only heard of, but never tried Pandan Mutton Soup, till today :-D [Update 2019: This shop has changed owners in 2019.]
Three years ago, I stumbled upon this Indian owned street side stall selling nian gao 年糕 at the Chinese New Year bazaar in Taman Johor Jaya (near the Family Food Court). Now, I always get my nian gao here for Chinese New Year.
I last came to the famous Skudai Duck Mee four years ago. I am so glad that very little changed at this forty year old braised duck shop in a rustic corner of Johor. The boss, Mr Sea in the customary white singlet of Teochew chefs, greets customers with a hearty welcome when he sees you step into his shop.
Pak "O" Cendol and Akbar Cendol are the two most famous cendol shops in Batu Pahat. The 70 year old shops are related by family ties, though I am not sure of the details. Both shops have their loyal following. After visiting both, I found their cendol very similar with the same DNA and I can't really tell them apart 😄
Today, I joined my foodie buddies Leslie and Irene at their favourite Stirling Road Blk 164 wanton noodles.
This seafood soup is a relatively unheralded homegrown dish created in Singapore's far north, Woodlands some 30 years ago. During these years, the original stall spawned several "offshoots" opened by people who had worked at the Woodlands stall through the years. I personally know of 6 such stalls around the island (there could be more). This dish still does not have a name and is known simply as "seafood soup" 海鲜汤.
Need food in SUTD? Coffee? or just a cosy place to chill in Singapore's newest, and prettiest university? At Gourmet Habitat located above the Student Lounge at the hostel block, you will find local favorites as well as hometown comfort foods in a mom and pop type of little cafe that will make you feel at home.
Derek invited us to visit his new restaurant Sugar on Top or SOT in Taman Pelangi. Derek was very excited about his new set up emphasizing innovative Asian fusion cuisine which he observed while studying and working in the UK. We were thrilled by his infectious enthusiasm and quickly made our way to SOT.
Owner Chef Bengemen invited me to visit his Western food restaurant Break Tea 舞茶 at Taman Molek.
So many good memories here at Puteri Pacific Hotel in the heart of downtown Johor Bahru. The iconic hotel is closed effective from 30 Aug 2020. There was no official word on the reason for the closure but it followed suspension of operations since Mar 2020 with the shutting of Malaysia's borders due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Many people in Singapore and Johor Bahru are sad to see it go as we have spent much good times here with friends and family. Thanks to all staff for the memories.
"Always and Forever in our Hearts, 1991 - 2020."
It's the hum. Nothing but the hum.
Whenever I asked for recommendations for lei cha fan in Johor, the names 古来大樹下擂茶 "Under the Big Tree" and 古來21哩大樹下 "21km Lei Cha" in Kulai are always among the stalls mentioned. They are actually the same stall in Kulai and is also known as Sister Ying Lei Cha 英姐擂茶.
Almost everyone in Kulai knows this humble looking lei cha stall under a big tree, off Jalan Susur Kulai 5 (near car repair shops).
We were at B2W Brunch2Wine in Taman Molek for lunch today at owner Derek's invitation.
Went food spotting in the old Masai area today. When we asked passers by where do locals like to eat in Masai, we were pointed to Hwa Sun Roast Duck Rice at Jalan Jagung (a backstreet behind Masai's main street, Jalan Masai Lama).
My JB friend Chef Brian noticed that my bak kut teh list is missing his family's favourite bak kut teh shop - Food Master in Taman Setia Indah. Chef Brian's dad who is himself a bak kut teh hawker also loves Food Master BKT shop.
With a recommendation like this, I wasted not time to visit Food Master Bak Kut Teh.
One bite into this curry chicken at EhHe Art Cafe in JB, and memories of my first taste of curry chicken flooded my mind.
As you know, I rarely use the words ultimate and unique, unless there are good reasons for it :-D These 10 foods are unique because outside of Johor, they are rarely found, if at all. This guide is ultimate because I think you will have a truly memorable, authentic JB experience, if you visit all of them in one day :-D
CLOSED. Went to try EhHe Art Cafe's Hainese chicken rice set today.
Here is an old school Hainanese kopitiam which is well known to Ulu Tiram folks but still hidden under the radar from most people outside. I am fortunate that my Johor kakis John and Foo shared 衛生園茶餐室 kopitiam with me 😄
We had lunch today at Mui Seng Nyonya Fish Head Curry in Taman Melodies.
CLOSED (Owners retired). Back at Qiu Bo Curry House in Ulu Tiram for lunch today - this is one of JB locals' top choice for curry fish head and pork ribs. It's one of my favourites too.
I am a big curry fish head fan and my lunch today is at Restoran Bai Her 百合小菜馆 in Taman Molek for their signature Nyonya Fish Head :-D
Here's a little secret for Singapore day trippers on food and shopping trails in JB - you can cool your heels, get WiFi and enjoy this gorgeous dessert for around RM80 for 3 to 4 persons at By Grace Sweet Treats in Taman Pelangi.
It's been a couple of months. Whenever I pass this junction at Jalan Serampang and Jalan Sri Pelangi, I wondered what palace they are building here. When I realised that this is a Seven Oaks Bakery Cafe, I was so eager to visit. My first chance came when I was on a JB food trail with Hazel and Hannah.
My JB friend John brought us to Restoran Wah Yew 华友 in Taman Pelangi for traditional Teochew food. Locals refer to the restaurant as Ah Chye 阿財, the name of the owner Chef.
We stumbled upon Super Mario 釀豆腐 Hakka yong tau foo stall during food spotting in Taman Gaya, Johor Bahru. We like the fresh and substantial ingredients 真材实料 as well as the flavourful broth here. The unique chili dip is great too.
As I am a big fan of asam pedas, I was glad to stumble upon Yana Asam Pedas in Batu Pahat :-D
