Restoran Pekin Sentosa Johor Bahru JB 北京楼 ● Dependable Restaurant Trusted by Locals ⭐⭐⭐⭐

17 Aug 2023. We were on a Johor Bahru and Kulai food and durian trail since the break of dawn 😬 By dinner, we were tired and stuffed.

Restaurant name: Restoran Pekin 北京海鲜酒楼

Address: 38, Jalan Baldu 5, Taman Sentosa, 80150 Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Tel: +607 333 2928

Hours: 11am - 10:30pm

Food trails with Johor Kaki usually don't follow a fixed plan. As we were going north for dinner, we were caught in a traffic jam. Wondering how to get out of this gridlock, Richard thought aloud about not having been to Restoran Pekin for a long time. That was enough for us to swing the car around and head back south to the dependable Restoran Pekin.

We came without any reservation but fortunately they were able to accommodate us. It was a relief as there was a queue waiting for tables and we were already exhausted by the time we got here 😅

First things first, we quickly ordered half a suckling pig in case it ran out 🤭 Singaporeans 🙄 So kiasu smart.

The layers of skin, fat and lean meat were thin. The savoury skin was grilled to a golden crackly crisp while the fat and meat provided a balancing tenderness and sweetness. I enjoyed the suckling pig as is and didn't use the thick savoury sauce provided.

I was very tired (like brain dead) but assigned the task of ordering, so I took the liberty to randomly pick dishes that caught my fancy 🤭

This dish called Hokkien egg is actually deep fried scrambled egg floss 炸蛋丝 smothered in a savoury sweet sauce with lean pork, carrot, mushroom, etc. The fried egg floss was softly crisp and spongy and well infused with the sauce's savoury sweetness. This dish has a homely taste and feel. Everyone loved it 👌

Mixed vegetables with salted egg because I wanted more fibre after a whole day of proteins and durian 🤭 Juicy crunchy French beans, soft moist pumpkin, etc wrapped in salted egg yolk batter deep fried till golden and crispy outside. 

Umami savoury and sweet vegetables is a fail safe formula with Singaporean palates. I mean most unkers and aunties are okay with it lah 🤭 I did feel the batter could be slightly less greasy though, especially after the dish cooled down.

Two taste kailan because I wanted more fibre 😬 The stalks and leaves were stir fried in oil and savoury sauce.

The other half of the leaves were chopped and fried with spices and meat. Overall, the dish, especially the fried chopped leaves part was a nice way to eat our vegetables even for those who don't like greens.

Four large chunks of fish in this Japanese style codfish dish.

The sticky gooey caramelised sauce was savoury sweet with a subtle touch of tangy zing which complemented the moist soft sweet fish well. The outside of the seared fish had a slight thin crispness. All of us like the dish and some were full of praise for it throughout the night 😄

Mee sua, egg, pork, bean sprouts, julienned carrot stir fried with a savoury sweet sauce. Dependable, tasty dish to fill the stomach, keeping our tummies warm and satisfied for the traffic jam back across the Causeway.

We actually cleaned up the dishes and gave no quarter, leaving nothing behind. I am impressed with ourselves 💪 Only regret was not taking a picture of the empty plates for evidence 😂

I wasn't mind blown by any dish in particular, mostly because I was so tired and full already before we even started eating 😅 But, all of us were pleased and happy with the finale meal capping our whole day of eating across JB and Kulai. Restoran Pekin once again proved itself a reliable dining choice in Johor Bahru. 

via GIPHY

We will be back.

BACK IN 2016

29 Nov 2016. Restoran Pekin really needs no introduction to JB folks. Pekin is an old established stalwart in JB Chinese restaurants and banquets. It is still one of the favourites in JB relied on for weddings, anniversaries, and celebrations because their standards are consistent and dependable across their outlets.



Originally with just one shop in a quiet corner of Taman Sentosa, Restoran Pekin now has five restaurants in Taman Sentosa, Taman Johor Jaya and Taman Sutera. Besides banquets, Restoran Pekin is popular with clients walking in for lunch or dinner. Many are multi generation regulars.



Today, we dropped by Pekin's Sentosa restaurant for lunch. The interior is well appointed and comfortable, it's that familiar Chinese banquet hall feel without looking pretentious. Piano versions of my favourite Chinese pop songs play softly in the background. I can feel the warmth and simplicity of old school restaurants.



Once we were seated, we were served the customary dish of nibbles. More experienced foodies have told me that they can tell restaurants apart just by how seriously they take their nibbles. Some restaurants simply buy bags of nuts which they just "snip (the bag) and serve". Then, there are other better restaurants that take the trouble to serve a well prepared nibble.

Going by that criteria, Restoran Pekin is in the class of good restaurants with their nibble of fried tofu, anchovies and shallot. There's sweet, sour, savoury and spicy flavours with tender, crunchy and crispy textures.

The tasty nibble gets conversation going and saliva flowing in anticipation of the main dishes.



We ordered this huge Braised Pork Trotter 红烧元蹄 (RM39+ at 2016 price) after the waiter assured us that we can tabao (take away) the leftovers 😂 



The trotter is braised in a savoury sweet sauce till the juicy meat, fat, tendons and skin are pillowy soft. I love all the sweet soft and juicy gelatinous parts very much 😂



Sea Cucumber with Dry Fish Maw 海参鱼漂 (RM60+ at 2016 price).

We ordered this dish because a Uber driver recommended it during one of my recent rides 😃 I always ask Uber drivers for foodie tips 😉



Restoran Pekin use good quality sea cucumbers and fish maw to make this dish. The thick sea cucumber and fish maw is stewed in a layered savoury sweet sauce which flavours are deeply infused into both. We love the bouncy, jelly like texture of the sea cucumber and the fish maw's sponginess.



Stir fried Organic Green Dragon Vegetable 有机金龙菜 with bean sprouts (RM15+ at 2016 price).

Well stir fried with a light savoury sauce - the greens and bean sprouts (roots removed) retaining their juicy crunch and natural sweetness.



Fried Rice Noodles 干炒面线 (RM8 at 2016 price). The tender noodles were moist and infused with savoury sweet stock. The moistness was at just the right level and the noodles were not overly greasy at all. There were prawns, lean pork slices, black mushrooms, bean sprouts, eggs etc buried in the flavourful mound. Delicious.



Complimentary 龟苓膏 dessert after our meal. Service at Restoran Pekin is good, and best of all, there is no service charge (just 6% GST).



Our total bill came to RM134 (including 6% GST). We feel the pricing is competitive.



4-Star (out of 5). We always enjoyed our meals at Restoran Pekin. The ingredients are fresh and of good quality. The execution is immaculate. The environment is comfortable and familiar. The service is earnest and sincere. Pricing is also competitive. Pekin's standards are famously consistent and I recommend them to friends with confidence.

Our lunch at Restoran Pekin Sutera outlet 👈 click



Restaurant name: Restoran Pekin 北京楼
Address: 38, Jalan Baldu 5, Taman Sentosa, 80150 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
GPS: 1°29'34.3"N 103°47'02.6"E | 1.492865, 103.784056
Tel: +607 333 2928 +607 332 0902
Hours: 11:00am to 10:45pm

Non Halal

Written by Tony Boey on 29 Nov 2016 | Updated 16 Aug 2023

🎗 Opinions in this blog are all my own as no restaurant or stall paid money to be featured