Review of Kulai Sze Hwa Bak Kut Teh • A Johor Style BKT 古来世华肉骨茶 ☏ 012 766 2368

Sze Hwa 古来世华肉骨茶 | 2, Jalan Seruling 1, Taman Sri Kulai Baru 2, Kulai, Johor ☏ 012 766 2368 (Ah Hok) ⏰ 8am to 8pm (closed on Monday)

Love the bak kut teh at Sze Hwa in Kulai for its fresh pork, homely flavours, substantial portions, and rustic small town feel. Every time I am in Kulai hunting for new food finds, I have to resist stopping at Sze Hwa, so that I have stomach space for new discoveries. Today, again I couldn't resist the temptation.

Thirty years in the business, Sze Hwa is synonymous with bak kut teh in Kulai. Sze Hwa is the only bak kut teh brand that came out of Kulai. Sze Hwa has spawned copycats throughout Kulai and Johor Bahru, but this busy shop was where it all started.

The founding lady boss runs the shop with her son 忠 (morning shift) and daughter (afternoon shift).

The boss picks out the specific parts which you want from the three large old school blue enamel pots at the front. I wanted my favourite pig tails but it was sold out (as we were there at noon). If we were early, we could have intestines, tail, cartilage, belly, kidney, liver etc, besides the standard ribs and bones.

The bak kut (meat bones) were meaty - the meat was well infused with soy sauce, fresh garlic, spice and herbs. The fresh meat was tender but still have a chewy bounce to the bite. The fresh pork has a nice subtle porcine sweet flavour. Eat it with the sweet savoury dipping dark soy sauce, if you like more sweetness. 

We also had the stubby short ribs. The tender meat needed a gentle tugging with the teeth to pull it off the bone. I like the mouth feel of the tenderly firm meat.

The brownish medium bodied broth was mildly savoury, slightly garlicky, subtly herbal and not overly greasy.

As we were leaving after our meal, the boss' daughter has taken over the afternoon shift. The total bill (2016 price) came to RM16 for two bowls of meaty bak kut teh (RM7.50 each) and a bowl of rice (RM1).

👉 The original Kulai style bak kut teh. Fresh, meaty, flavoursome, savoury, slightly garlicky, herbal broth. Reasonably priced in a small town setting.

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One of my personal favourites Ah Lek in Johor Jaya

My first visit to Kulai Sze Hwa BKT in the early days of Johor Kaki back in 2012

Bak kut teh in Johor

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Restaurant name: Restoran Sze Hwa 古来世华肉骨茶
Address: 2, Jalan Seruling 1, Taman Sri Kulai Baru 2, Kulai, Johor 
GPS: 1.668189,103.587137 / 1°40'05.5"N 103°35'13.7"E
Tel: 012 785 2234 ☏ 012 766 2368 (Ah Hok)
Hours: 8:00am to 1:00pm and 2:00pm to 9:00pm (closed on Monday) 

Non Halal

  

Written by Tony Boey on 6 May 2016 | Updated 2 Apr 2023

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