Kang Chuan Bakuteh. Desa Cemerlang • Ulu Tiram JB 康传肉骨茶

Stumbled upon Kang Chuan Bakuteh shop while food spotting in Taman Desa Cemerlang this morning.



Kang Chuan Bakuteh 康传肉骨茶 is a relatively large corner shop lot beside the Petronas station in Desa Cemerlang. The atmosphere here was laid back and relaxed. Most of the customers appeared to be regulars and there was a constant stream of people.



We decided to eat here because we were touched by the earnestness and sincerity of the lady boss when we chatted with her about the food her restaurant serves.



Kang Chuan's signature dishes are bak kut teh, pork trotter with black vinegar and asam fish. As there were just the two of us, we ordered only the BKT and trotters.



We had a serving of bak kut teh pork ribs with additional pork belly. (They don't have my favourite cut - pig tail.)



The tea coloured broth is a blend of natural porky savoury sweetness with herbs.

Using Soon Huat bak kut teh as the benchmark (which is mildly herbal), Kang Chuan's broth has slightly more assertive herbal flavour and aroma. The taste of star anise stood out.



The pork ribs were nicely done. The tender juicy meat fell off the bone easily. The meat had a nice natural fresh pork sweetness.



The pork belly had the sweet taste and light spring of freshness.



Pork trotter with black vinegar.



The pork was fresh, tender and juicy. The black vinegar and ginger stock was robustly sourish with assertive ginger spiciness and a little sweetness. The sourness made me cringed a little but my companion who likes sour tasting dishes said it was just perfect 😄



I like this salted vegetable because it is crunchy and just mildly sourish salty sweet.



Customers are allowed free refills of soup. We asked for it once 😄



After settling the bill, we chatted awhile with the friendly boss.



Kang Chuan's boss Robert Tan worked at his late dad Uncle Kang's bak kut teh shop since he was 14 years old. Uncle Kang 康叔 started his BKT shop in Kampung Malabar, Penang in 1973.



At the invitation of a fan from Taiwan, Uncle Kang and Robert even operated in Taipei for a while in the 1970s, making history as the first bak kut teh shop in Taiwan.

Returning from Taiwan, Robert Tan moved to Singapore and worked as a fish wholesaler in Punggol and then Senoko fish port for nearly 40 years. In 2015, Robert handed over his fish business to his son and set up Kang Chuan Bakuteh in JB which he dedicated to his late dad's memory. Robert stays faithful to the recipe and methods of Uncle Kang.



Restaurant name: Kang Chuan Bakuteh 康传肉骨茶



Address: 1 Jalan Tanjong 3, Taman Desa Cemerlang, 81800 Ulu Tiram Johor
GPS: 1°33'44.6"N 103°48'24.7"E | 1.562379, 103.806847
Tel: 016-758 9000
Hours: 8:30am - 10:00pm (Mon off)

Non Halal

 

Date visited: 4 Feb 2018

Return to Johor Kaki homepage