KL Ong Lai (Goh Kee) Steamed Song Fish Head and Orh Chien 旺來(吳記)飯檔

When I requested for suggestions for steamed Song fish head in Kuala Lumpur, Ong Lai (Goh Kee) Restaurant 旺來(吳記)飯檔 was highly recommended by Johor Kaki readers.

Review Kari Kambing 40 Hari. Air Hitam Yong Peng Johor

I first heard about Restoran Kari Kambing 40 Hari from my friend Puan Chong. Located on the old trunk road between Air Hitam and Yong Peng, Kari Kambing 40 Hari is a good stopover for the drive from JB to KL. We pulled over for breakfast today, arriving shortly after their opening time at 7:30am.

Shilin Night Market Big Sausage Wrap Small Sausage 士林夜市大肠包小肠

Restaurant name: 福榕記大肠包小肠
Address: No. 101, Jihe Road, Shilin District, Taipei City, Taiwan 111 (stall #538) | 台北市士林區基河路60號(士林夜市第538攤)
GPS: 25°05'16.3"N 121°31'26.7"E | 25.087859, 121.524086
Nearest MRT: Jiantan Station 捷運劍潭站
Tel: 02-2888-3082 
Hours: 12:00 noon - 12:00 midnight

Tai Hong Kopitiam Lei Cha Fun in Taman Pelangi 大丰擂茶

Johor Bahru and nearby Kulai town are good places to get the Hakka staple Lei Cha Fun 擂茶飯 (also known as hum cha 咸茶). There are many lei cha fun stalls and this dish is in many restaurant menus in JB. It says a lot, that with so many lei cha shops around, Tai Hong Kopitiam 大丰擂茶 serves the favourite lei cha of many Johoreans.

Three Famous Mee Sua Noodles in Taipei. Roahe, Ximending & Banqiao 台灣蚝仔大腸麵線

Century old 東發號蚝仔大腸麵線 is one of the oldest mee sua (rice noodle) shops in Taiwan. Located in Taipei, beside the Roahe Land God Temple 饒河土地公廟, 東發號 is run by third generation owner 颜东益 who is in his 60s.

What to Eat at Malaysia Boleh! Jurong Point. Claypot Chicken Rice

I drop by Malaysia Boleh! food court at Jurong Point regularly but have never tried the claypot chicken rice stall. I didn't try it earlier because it is not cooked with charcoal... I am snobbish that way 😂 I relented today and I have to admit that I like it 😃

Famous Taiwan Oyster Omelette • Orh Chien in Liaoning Night Market, Taipei 遼寧夜市.勝利號蚝仔煎

Restaurant name: 勝利號蚵仔煎 

Address: Intersection of Lane 45, Longjiang Road and Liaoning Street, Taipei 遼寧夜市, 台北市中山區遼寧街65號對面 
GPS: 25°02'57.1"N 121°32'31.7"E | 25.049204, 121.542147
Nearest MRT: Nanjing Fuxing Station 南京復興站
Tel:  +886 2 2731 6452
Hours: 5:00pm - 11:00pm (Sunday off)

Taiwan Street Food. Cheng Zu Pepper Cake at Shilin Night Market 丞祖胡椒餅

Restaurant name: Cheng Zu Pepper Cake 丞祖胡椒餅
Address: Wenlin Road, Lane 101, Shilin Night Market, Taipei 台北市士林區文林路101巷2號 (the stall is beside Yangming Theatre 陽明戲院)
GPS: 25°05'17.2"N 121°31'33.6"E | 25.088096, 121.526003
Nearest MRT: Jiantan Station 剑潭站 (5 minutes walk heading north after exiting station. When you pass a KFC along Wenlin Road, you are half way there.)
Tel: +886 919 272 735
Hours: 2:00pm - 1:00am daily

Pasar Kia Char Kuey Teow @ Cedar Point JB 巴沙仔炒粿条面

I was very happy to hear that Pasar Kia char kway teow stall has moved from Meldrum Walk to Cedar Point food centre (in 2017). Cedar Point is so much more accessible as it is very difficult to find parking slots near Meldrum Walk.

100 Must Eat Food in Taipei. Best Taiwan Beef Noodles

After my last trip to Taipei, I kept thinking about the wonderful beef noodles I ate there. I am planning a major eating trip back to Taipei and surrounds, so this list is part of my eating plans.

For my list, I picked only local specialities recommended by locals. My first targets are their beef noodles. (I will prepare other lists on braised pork rice, night market snacks, pepper cakes etc.)

After eating, I will write separate posts detailing my personal experience at these famous shops.



The humble beef noodles found throughout Taiwan is considered one of its culinary treasures. These are the must try beef shops around Taipei 👉

Johor Best Food 097 Countdown 2018. Ah Chuan Fish Soup 阿全鱼湯 in Pelangi

Ah Chuan Fish Soup | 124-126, Jalan Sri Pelangi, Taman Pelangi | 8am - 12 noon

Ah Chuan Fish Soup 阿全鱼湯 in Taman Pelangi is simple and simply the best fish soup in JB, in my opinion lah.

Review of KL Style Wanton Mee DS in Impian Emas Johor Bahru 金山楼云吞面

金山楼云吞面 | 3, Jalan Seri Impian 1, Taman Impian Emas, Skudai | 8am - 9pm (Thurs off)

金山楼云吞面 (Jin Shan Lou or literally Gold Hill) is the go to place in Johor for KL style wanton mee.

Khao Jam, Laksam & Nasi Kerabu @ Warisan Kelate in JB

I was back again at Warisan Kelate in Setia Tropika because I missed their Khao Jam the last time. I have never eaten Khao Jam before, so I am eager to try the famous Kelantan dish.

Ke Ren Lai Hakka Cuisine in Johor Bahru 客人来.家传菜

We lunched today at Ke Ren Lai 客人来 at 6, Jalan Pingai in Taman Pelangi. Ke Ren Lai is dedicated to popularising Hakka cuisine in Johor Bahru. The Pelangi outlet is the parent shop with branches in Sutera Mall and Bandar Baru Permas Jaya.

Ding Seng Fresh Frog Porridge in Bukit Indah 鼎盛砂煲田鸡王

I had wanted to try Ding Seng Fresh Frog Porridge in Bukit Indah for a long time and finally did it today. It turned out to be a very nice lunch 😋

SDS Cafe @ Paradigm Mall Johor Bahru

I just had lunch at the newest SDS outlet on level one of JB's latest and biggest shopping centre - Paradigm Mall in Skudai has 500 shops spread over seven levels.

Ang Moh Pork Organ & Fish Soup in Tampoi JB 紅毛豬雜湯 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Restoran Tam Poi | Intersection of Lor Bedik & Jln Dato Mohd Seth | 7:30am - 3:00pm (alt Tues off)

Ang Moh 紅毛豬雜湯 is a humble hawker stall serving delicious fish soup and pork organ soup for over 30 years at a corner coffee shop in Tampoi off the Skudai Highway near Plaza Angsana.

A Taste of Kelantan Food in Johor Bahru. Warisan Kelate @ Setia Tropika

12, Jalan Setia Tropika 1/14, Taman Setia Tropika, Johor Bahru | 📞011-1853 1616 | 8:30am - 5pm (Tues off)

JB social media has been abuzz recently about Warisan Kelate in Setia Tropika. When I bumped into Johor friends recently, they often asked me: "Have you tried the nasi kerabu in Setia Tropika?" Finally, now, I can say: "I did" 😄 And, it was great 😋

What to Eat @ Jiufen Old Street 九份老街.魚丸伯仔

A day trip to Jiufen Old Street 九份老街 is one of the obligatory excursions for most tourists to Taipei.

Teochew Kueh at JB Pasar Malam that's Always Sold Out before Sunset

You know, on those evenings when I don't feel like having dinner, I often go to this pasar malam (night market) Teochew kueh stall to get a big bunch of munchies and there will still be plenty for breakfast the next morning 😄

Ghim Moh Food Guide. Hin Fried Hor Fun with Prawn Beef Sliced Fish

Judging by the perpetual queue at the stall, Hin Fried Hor Fun with Prawn Beef Sliced Fish is one of the stalwarts at Ghim Moh food centre (itself one of Singapore's best loved food haunts). I love Cantonese style beef hor fun and is always on the lookout for good stalls. (Quite hard to find good hor fun in Singapore. Please share with me your favourites.)

Ghim Moh Carrot Cake. Chai Tow Kway 菜头粿

The queue at Ghim Moh Carrot Cake stall starts soon after 6am and lasts till as early as 12 noon, when all the day's carrot cakes are sold out. Ghim Moh Carrot Cake's kway 粿 are freshly made at the stall, so once the day's batch is sold out, it's shutters down.

Yuan Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee @ Ghim Moh Food Centre 元福建炒虾面

Looking at the lunch time queue at 元福建炒虾面 Yuan Fried Hokkien prawn mee at Ghim Moh food centre, I could never have guessed that the stall is a new kid on the block - it has been here for only one month. It just confirms one thing - that locals can always spot good food faster than anyone 😄

Yi Restaurant 奇味鸡煲. Spicy Hotpot in Kovan. Singapore

We gathered at Yi Restaurant 奇味鸡煲 in Kovan for China style spicy hotpot. Aaron missed the spicy hotpots of Shanghai and Yi Restaurant was the nearest thing to those in China that he came across in Singapore.

香味 Chicken Rice at Viva Biz Park in Chai Chee Singapore

香味 Chicken Rice and Roasts stall in the Bai Nian food court in Viva Business Park in Chai Chee serves a good chicken rice. 香味 is a welcome addition to Singapore's east which though famous for good food, oddly isn't as well endowed with great chicken rice stalls as the rest of our chicken rice obsessed island.

Singapore Best Yong Tau Foo List. Bai Nian Niang Dou Fu 百年酿豆腐. Viva Business Park

When I stumbled upon Bai Nian Niang Dou Foo 百年酿豆腐 in People's Park Food Centre over a year ago, I liked it very much. Ban Nian's style of yong tau foo is not the typical YTF we are used to in Singapore and Malaysia, but if we keep an open mind about it, it is really very nice. There is something about it that made it special, but I couldn't quite pin it down at the time.

Today, I finally got the answer.

Tong Kee Chicken Rice 東記雞飯 · Margaret Drive Hawker Centre

Tong Kee Chicken Rice stall has settled nicely at their new location at the ground level of Margaret Drive Hawker Centre. It has re-established itself quickly and is now one of the busiest stalls at the spanking new centre.

Stall name: Tong Kee Chicken Rice 東記雞飯

Address: 38A Margaret Drive, stall #01-36, Singapore 142038 (Margaret Drive Hawker Centre)

Nearest MRT: 5 minutes walk from Queenstown station

Hours: 10:00am - 3:00pm

JB People's Choice. Ah Soon Bak Kut Teh 新山人的美食.亚顺肉骨茶

Ah Soon Bak Kut Teh 亚顺肉骨茶 is one of the old established names in JB with many long time regulars who swear by their fresh pork in mildly savoury herbal broth. The shop is located near Plaza Sentosa at 141, Jalan Keris Satu, Taman Sri Tebrau. Ah Soon opens 8:00am to 3:00pm (off on Mondays).

Japanese BBQ in Johor JB. Tanba Yakiniku 炭馬日式烧肉

We had lunch today at the Tanba Yakiniku 炭馬烧肉 outlet at Twin Galaxy, a newly opened residential-commercial complex at Jalan Dato' Abdullah Tahir (10 minutes drive from JB CIQ without traffic).

Chin Chin Wanton Mee - It's all about their Duck Egg Noodles 晶晶云吞面

Whenever I head out to Pekan Nanas or Pontian for food hunting, Chin Chin wanton mee in Skudai always gets in the way. I mean, it is hard to resist pulling over for another bite of those skinny eggy noodles with that tender spring and egg taste.

Fat Fish 肥鱼 in Taman Melodies Johor Bahru

I've seen seafood heaps served in large trays of bubbling hot broth in China and so was eager to try out Fat Fish in Taman Melodies (near KSL Mall) which brought this dining concept to JB.

Pontian Taman Megah Famous Ah Kim Rojak 笨珍啊金罗惹

Found my way to Ah Kim rojak stall in Pontian's Taman Megah, thanks to reader TzeXuan's suggestion. The 40+ year old stall is a local favourite and we love it too 😋

Restoran MJ. Perling's Well Kept Chicken Rice Secret 茗記正宗海南雞飯

Dropped by at Restoran MJ chicken rice shop 茗記正宗海南雞飯 at Taman Perling for lunch today.

Yong Seng Mee Hoon Kueh. Pelangi. Johor JB 榮成麵粉粿

Yong Seng 榮成麵粉粿 in Taman Pelangi has the best mee hoon kueh that I have tasted so far - I mean their hand made kueh really wowed me 😮

Jeju Korea Restaurant. Bukit Indah. JB

Our JB Korean BBQ hunt took us to Jeju Korea Restaurant in Bukit Indah (near the AEON Mall).

Jang Won Korea BBQ. Stulang Laut. JB

Ask Johoreans to recommend Korean restaurants and Jang Won is sure to be one of those mentioned. Jang Won is one of the oldest Korean restaurants in JB still in business and still popular among locals. It is well liked by Singaporeans too because it is located at Stulang Laut which is near the JB CIQ (less than 5km).

Korean Home Cook & BBQ. Permas Jaya JB

Starting my exploration of Korean restaurants in JB with Korean Home Cook & BBQ in Permas Jaya which is recommended by several makan buddies.

Suckling Pig @ Restoran Pekin Sutera Johor Bahru 五福北京城

Pekin restaurants in Johor Bahru JB really don't need any introduction. Pekin is known for quality and consistency though its pricing is a little premium. JB families rely on Pekin to deliver on special occasions like weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, and other major celebrations.

Best Nyonya Food in Johor Bahru JB List. Grace's

If you are shopping in IKEA Tebrau, and if meatballs and chicken wings ain't your cup of tea, why not take a short 5 minute drive around the corner to Jalan Harmonium 12 for one of JB's best Nyonya food shops.

Guoma Steamboat Buffet @ Mount Austin. JB 锅妈台式火鍋

After running our errand at Mount Austin, we checked around with locals on what is good to eat around here. A few people pointed us to Guoma Steamboat 锅妈台式火鍋 which is very popular with locals.

Restoran Da Zhong Hwa DZH Saunaboat. Sutera JB 大中华蒸汽火锅

Uncle Martin has been raving about Da Zhong Hwa Seafood Saunaboat restaurant near Sutera Mall in Johor Bahru. I was eager to try out DZH, especially the "omega fish" which Uncle Martin kept telling us about.

Gerai Ayong Ikan Bakar. Tepian Tebrau. JB 海边阿荣饮食档 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Gerai Ayong at Tepian Tebrau hawker centre is another long time JB people's favourite which I finally checked off my Must Eat list 😄 Now, I have moved it to my IWBB list - I will be back list 👍

Swedish Meatballs & Chicken Wings @ IKEA Restaurant & Cafe. Tebrau JB

IKEA, the furniture shop from Sweden finally opened its doors in JB last week after 10 years of on again, off again news.

British Hainan in Joo Chiat · Defender of Singapore Hainanese Food Heritage

Reviewed 2022. This was our second time at British Hainan after five years. We love it from our last visit. Things haven't changed that much at British Hainan, at least on the surface. The rustic, curio shop feel, familial ambience, the personal, warm hospitality of Frederick the boss are all still there. The menu hasn't changed much too, if at all. But, the food is different now - I mean it is better than I remembered it from five years ago 😋 👍

Restaurant name: British Hainan

Address: 75 Carpmael Road, Singapore 429812

Nearest MRT: 15 minutes walk from Paya Lebar station

Car park: Plentiful at HDB car park 3 - 5 minutes walk away

Tel: 6336 8122

Hours: 11:00am - 3:00pm | 6:00pm - 10:00pm (Tues off)

Taiwan Beef Noodle @ Fu Ge in Ruifang 福哥牛肉面.瑞芳 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

A day trip to the Shifen Old Streets to launch a sky lantern 天燈 for blessings is one of the highlights for many visitors to Taipei. A short detour to Ruifang town for Fu Ge Beef Noodle 福哥牛肉面 would be a nice side trip for beef lovers as the restaurant conveniently opens from 8am to 10pm.

Copper Chimney. Syed Alwi Road near Mustafa Centre. Singapore

Enjoyed our North Indian and Indian Chinese lunch today at Copper Chimney at Syed Alwi Road directly opposite Mustafa Centre in Singapore's Little India.

Gunung Daik Mountain Festival. Singkep & Lingga Highlights

I was in Pulau Singkep and Pulau Lingga for Gunung Daik Festival 2017. One of the signature events of the annual festival is the 35 km mountain biking trail through the hills and villages near Dabo (Singkep) town. I didn't bike this time but am inspired to start training 😁 Over 100 cyclists from Malacca, Johor, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore joined the Indonesians for this year's event from 19 -22 Nov.

元祖胡椒饼 Yuanzu Pepper Cakes. Longshan Temple. Taipei

Buddy Benjamin said I must try 元祖胡椒饼 Yuanzu Pepper Cake near 龍山寺 Longshan Temple in Taipei, and so... here we are 😄

Taiwan Braised Pork Rice @ Seah Im 呷三碗 Eat 3 Bowls

I was down at Harbourfront this morning for an errand, so the natural choice for me is to have breakfast at Seah Im hawker centre. I had lu rou fan and big intestine mee sua at 呷三碗 Eat 3 Bowls stall which I think can satisfy most people's craving for these Taiwanese food icons.

Xiamen Attractions from my 4 Days 3 Nights Itinerary

Enjoyed a marvellous four days in beautiful Xiamen 厦门. A well planned city off China's Fujian province with lots of greenery, parks, lakes, bays, history and modernity. Not as congested as megapolis like Shanghai or Beijing - population and infrastructure are well balanced. A clean and green city with good air quality.

Taipei Locals' Favourite Pepper Cake Bun. Zheng Zu Hu Jiao Bing 丞祖胡椒餅

We tried a number of Taiwan pepper cake stalls during our Taipei trip and our favourite was Zheng Zu 丞祖胡椒餅 (off Chongqing South Road). Zheng Zu has the best combination of juicy peppery pork filling and browned crisp chewy crust of all the pepper cakes we tried during our week long trip.

Lu Rou Fan Braised Pork Rice. CNN's Best. Jin Feng Taipei 金峰滷肉飯

Before our day trip to Yang Ming Shan, we swung by the famous Jin Feng Lu Rou Fan 金峰滷肉飯 for brekky - it's boiled rice topped with roughly chopped braised pork belly eaten with a variety of side dishes. It's like Singapore / Malaysia's "economy rice"  經濟飯 or 雜菜飯. But, the humble staple is revered as a food icon in Taiwan. They even have keenly contested annual competitions to honour the best LRF shops in Taiwan.