The English House Restaurant by Marco Pierre White in Singapore

Update 26 Sep 2019. Back at The English House at Mohamed Sultan Road for delicious unfinished business. I had a memorable roast rump of lamb (the best I've had so far) during my first visit (last year). Today, I am back a second time for their steak which buddy PH highly recommends and scotch eggs which buddy Mike said I must try.

Best Food in Woodlands / Marsiling. Ah Keat Kway Chap 阿吉猪什汤•粿汁

When I blogged about the roasts stall at Lucky Star Eating House at 211 Marsiling Crescent, several readers suggested that I should try Ah Keat's kway chap stall as well. So, here I am the next morning 😄

What to Eat in Woodlands / Marsiling. Shi Mei Roasted. Chicken Rice 實美燒臘雞飯

When I saw Dr Leslie Tay of iEatiShootiPost shared about the char siew at Shi Mei Roasted.Chicken Rice at block 211 Marsiling Crescent, I was eager to try it as I am a Cantonese roasts fan. As I happened to be in Singapore today, I popped over to Lucky Star Eating House, where the popular roasts stall is located.

Best in Johor · 10 Reasons Why SG / JB Fans Drive 2hrs for Kiang Kee Bak Kut Teh Fix

Kiang Kee Bak Kut Tea is located by the side of the busy Kota Tinggi - Mersing trunk road 1 - 2 hours drive from JB or Singapore. But, that did not deter many people coming from Singapore and all over Malaysia to taste it, nor prevent Kiang Kee from being the most famous BKT from Johor.

Kota Tinggi People's Favourite Yap Fong Noodle House 叶芳面家

When I ask Kota Tinggi folks what is good to eat in their hometown, Yap Fong Noodle House 叶芳面家 always come up in the top 3 (along with Kiang Kee Bak Kut Teh and Kedai Masakan Kampung Ibrahim for sambal chili horseshoe crab).

San Lou Cafe (Not the Restaurant) for Teochew Home Cook Seafood · JB Hidden Gem & Unsolved Mystery 三楼咖啡屋

I first passed this way, way back in 2012. I marked it down as a place to return to but never did until this morning - 6 years later in 2018 😬 San Lou Cafe is a hidden gem close to the heart of San Lou residents who live in these 3 storey flats at Stulang Darat, many for over 5 decades.

Popular Steamboat & Yakitori in Sri Tebrau Johor Bahru. Kofuku-Tei 幸福窝

Steamboat restaurants are everywhere in Johor Bahru and more are sprouting up regularly. So, it is quite hard for any steamboat place to stand out from the crowd. After dinner at Kofuku-Tei 幸福窝, this relatively young steamboat restaurant is among our favourites in Johor Bahru now.

Hock Chew Red Wine Mee Suah in Johor Bahru

Came back to this back street Hock Chew food restaurant in this ulu 鳥不生蛋的地方 place in JB where even "birds won't come to lay eggs" for their red rice wine mee suah. (Relax, this place is just 15 minutes from JUSCO / IKEA Tebrau and Waze takes you to the doorstep.)

Butterworth Boy Prawn Noodle in Johor Bahru @ Perling 北海仔虾面 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you like your prawn noodles with rich robust crustacean savoury stock and options for pork tail, cartilage and big 250 gram fresh sea Tiger prawns, then I recommend you Butterworth Boy Prawn Noodle 北海仔虾面 stall at Jalan Rawa in Taman Perling.

Update: Butterworth Boy Prawn Mee moved into its own shop house at 189, Jalan Rawa in Sep 2020. It is along the same row of shops as Jia Qin coffee shop (where it was previously located).

Restaurant name: 北海仔虾面 Butterworth Boy Prawn Noodles

Address: 189, Jalan Rawa, Taman Amira, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor

Tel: +6018 988 2990

Hours: 7:00am - 2:00pm (Sun & Mon off)

Largest Chee Cheong Fun Restaurant in JB. G Cheong Fun 怡保 (手工) 猪肠粉

When I have friends from Hong Kong or Guangzhou China visiting, I like to prank them by taking them to eat Malaysian chee cheong fun 豬腸粉 😂 What Malaysians have done to their beloved staple, never fails to amaze and amuse them. In Johor Bahru, I will take them to either G Cheong Fun in Taman Ungku Tun Aminah (or Kampar Chee Cheong Fun in Taman Johor Jaya).

The Kettingi Briyani Experience @ Jalan Serampang Taman Pelangi

Met Yap SC at a Johor Arts Festival event, and inevitably, we exchanged notes on new food finds in JB 😄 SC told me about this nasi briyani place in Taman Pelangi which he had been to 3 or 4 times recently. He said a few things but when he mentioned country goat and goat intestines, I went "OKOK I must go try this tomorrow" 😂

Forbidden Food Trail in Johor for Singapore Banned Food

I have been asked many times by Singaporeans on where to get pork or duck blood curd, duck egg, wild boar and other food banned on the sunny island. Planning a day trip for buddy Milton, I decided to put together a JB trail of Singapore banned food - I shall call it the Forbidden Food Trail of Johor. The trail shall keep to just JB and Pontian so that it can be done as a day trip from Singapore.

Ah San Handmade Fish Balls & Laksa @ San Lou Flats • Hidden Gem 三楼 • 阿山自制手工鱼丸 • 辣沙 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

You know, I stumbled upon this San Lou fish ball stall at the old 3 storey flats in Stulang Darat 7 years ago. As I travel only on one stomach, I KIVed this stall for a future visit. Many things / distractions intervened and I forgot. Last night, buddy Kevin reminded me about this hand made fish ball stall. Finally, I tasted this well hidden gem, and gladly recommend it to you, 7 years late.

Stall name: Ah San Handmade Fish Ball & Laksa stall 阿山自制手工鱼丸.辣沙

Address:  Jalan Stulang Darat (ground floor house unit at 3-storey flats facing inside), Johor Bahru

Hours: 6:00am - 12:00 noon (Mon off)

Soong Huat Bak Kut Teh near JUSCO Tebrau & IKEA 顺发肉骨茶

There are around 30 Shoon Huat 顺发肉骨茶 bak kut teh branches dotted around Johor Bahru making it the biggest BKT brand in the world. Shoon Huat BKT outlets all use the same blend of mild herbs and spices for their BKT stock, though each branch source for fresh pork separately. This morning, I revisited Restoran Soong Huat in Taman Desa Tebrau near JUSCO Tebrau and IKEA.

Foochow Hock Chew Food in JB. Restoran Soon Chai in Ulu Tiram 顺顺来美食中心

When I saw Jeff Tan's Facebook post on the Foochow mee sua 福州面线 from Restoran Soon Chai 顺顺来美食中心 in Ulu Tiram, I quickly went to check it out. After visiting the restaurant, I am excited to tell my Hock Chew friends and friends from Sitiawan about the excellent house made Foochow noodles here.

Singapore Hawker Classics Unveiled: Books I Read

I am enjoying this book Singapore Hawker Classics Unveiled: Decoding 25 Favourite Dishes produced by the Diploma in Baking and Culinary Science department of Temasek Polytechnic in Singapore.

Last of Singapore's Artisanal Mooncake Makers. Hung Fai Food Enterprise 洪辉食品

During the annual Mooncake Festival, mooncakes are sold everywhere you turn. With mooncakes, mooncakes everywhere, it is hard to see that artisanal mooncake makers are disappearing in Singapore. Most mooncakes sold today are factory made.

Ramada Meridin @ Medini Hotel near Legoland in Johor Bahru

I stayed two nights at the newly opened Ramada Meridin @ Medini Hotel in Nusajaya, Johor Bahru. Opened on 1st July 2018, Ramada Meridin is JB's newest hotel but the family oriented hotel has already caught the eye of savvy tourists who know a good deal.

Niniq Javanese Cuisine in Taman Molek Johor Bahru

Visited Niniq Javanese Cuisine in Taman Molek, JB this morning. I enjoyed the wide range of Javanese dishes and learnt a lot about Javanese food from Niniq co-owner Jennifer.

Johor Style Bak Kut Teh in Permas Jaya JB

Hungry in Permas Jaya and couldn't spot any potential new good food finds, I settled for a tried & tasted option - Restoran Shi Wah bak kut teh which I enjoyed a few times before. To be doubly safe, I opted for pig tail - my favourite cut for BKT.

The World's First Buffalo Wings at Anchor Bar, Buffalo, New York

Photo credit: Wikipedia

More than a decade ago, when I spent a week in Buffalo, New York state, I had the opportunity to taste the original buffalo wings where the iconic dish was invented at Anchor Bar. But, I didn't take any pictures of it nor took any notes. (If I had photos, I have no idea where they are now - I forgot.) That was before the days of blogs and social media. It was one of the regrets of my foodie life 😂

I had always wanted to go back to settle that unfinished business.

Johor Bahru Hindu Glass Temple. A Secret Marvel of the World

JB has a unique Hindu temple with much of its inside and outside surfaces inlaid with over 300,000 pieces of multicolour glass mosaic. JB's glass Hindu Temple is listed in the Lonely Planet's Secret Marvels of the World. The temple is listed in the Malaysian Book of Records as the only glass temple in Malaysia. It is probably the only glass Hindu temple in the world. If you are visiting JB, you won't want to miss this unique Hindu temple which welcomes visitors of all faiths.

H & F Kitchen Health & Fitness Protein Restaurant. No More Cheat Days in JB

You know right, everyone knows that eating healthy is good for our health and fitness. But hor, experience tells me that eating healthy often comes with big sacrifices in flavours and taste. That's why sport professionals and enthusiasts have cheat days where they indulge in forbidden regular food. 

Well, if you are lucky enough to be in JB, you can say good bye to cheat days. You can have healthful yet tasty food at H & F Kitchen Health & Fitness Protein Restaurant (near Sutera Mall) - no bull, this is not a food advertorial (there are none in this personal blog).

Teochew Kuih Stall @ Meldrum Walk in Johor Bahru

I like the traditional Teochew kuih from this street side stall at Meldrum Walk in Johor Bahru. It is also popular with JB locals.

Where to Buy Fresh Fish in JB. Pasar Ikan Bakar Batu in Permas Jaya

Got up early this morning to visit Pasar Ikan at Kampung Bakar Batu in Permas Jaya, Johor Bahru. It's a popular place where locals get the daily catch of fresh fish from Orang Asli fishermen at slightly lower than town prices. There are also some fishmongers here.

Crazy Rich Laksa @ Hao Kee 好记 in Taman Gaya in Johor Bahru ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I am no Crazy Rich Asian but I am very happy because I just had crazy rich laksa at Hao Kee White Coffee 好记 kopitiam in Taman Gaya, JB. Fifty years of eating curry laksa in Singapore and Malaysia, this laksa in JB makes me feel like a Crazy Rich Asian 😄 No other curry laksa comes close in richness, tastefully.