Nice Food in Woodlands. Selera Menanti @ Marsiling Lane Food Centre

Feeling famish after crossing back to Singapore from JB, I went to the nearest hawker centre, Marsiling Lane Market & Food Centre for a quick bite. I zeroed in on Selera Menanti Traditional Malay Cuisine stall as it had the longest queue. Tried their soto ayam and loved it. I shall be tasting their menu one by one whenever I come by this way again.

Ah Choy Wan Tan Mee @ Muar Glutton Street 亚才云吞面. 麻坡贪吃街 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Muar Glutton Street is a short 100 metre long strip of food stalls along Jalan Haji Abu. I like the Ah Choy Wan Tan Mee 亚才云吞面 here - I think it is one of the best in Johor and Singapore. (Disclaimer: This is a "red" wanton mee. Hardcore "black" WTM people can skip to the next post 😝 )

Pasir Pinji Chee Cheong Fun in Ipoh Perak 兵如港豬腸粉

Pasir Pinji Chee Cheong Fun (Cantonese steamed rice rolls) was the first stop of our 2-day Ipoh food trail.

Nasi Kukus D'Cempaka (Nasi Kukus Gulai Kawah) @ Selera Cempaka in Johor Bahru ⭐⭐⭐⭐

As a nasi kukus lover, I was thrilled to stumble upon Nasi Kukus D'Cempaka during food hunting in Johor Bahru's public hawker centres. (The signboard at the stall says Nasi Kukus Gulai Kawah.)

Stall name: Nasi Kukus Gulai Kawah D’Cempaka

Address: Anjung Selera, 11, Jalan Persiaran Teratai, Taman Cempaka, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor

Tel: +6013 734 8178

Hours: 9:00am - 8:00pm (Mon off)

Nasi Campur @ Sudut Selera Sri Cempaka, Johor Bahru

We went exploring Johor Bahru's hawker centres and stumbled upon this popular nasi campur stall at Selera Cempaka (a public hawker centre run by JB city council). Nasi campur is the Malay version of "mixed vegetable rice 杂菜饭" or "economic rice 经济饭" with Malay homestyle dishes.

Low Yau Kee (Lao You Ji) Porridge. KL People's Favourite Congee 老友记粥

I had long wanted to try Low Yau Kee Porridge 老友记粥 stall which operates at night outside Soong Kee Beef Ball Mee at Jalan Tun H S Lee near KL Chinatown. Many KLites say this humble street side stall serves the best porridge in the world. (This porridge stall is referred to by various names such as Lao You Ji etc but the sign at the stall says Loa Yau Kee.)

Say Yes Hong Kong Dim Sum near Sutera Mall in Johor Bahru 思源香港点心

I have seen friends sharing about Say Yes Hong Kong Dim Sum 思源香港点心 for quite a while but haven't been there till today as I don't go to the Sutera side of JB much, nowadays. Say Yes is a good dim sum place as their food is better, ambiance is nicer and more comfortable than coffee shops. But, prices are about the same as kopitiam dim sum i.e. good value for money.

Simmer Soup in Johor Bahru 时尚老火汤

I love soups with rice and so when buddy Sean shared about Simmer Soup 时尚老火汤 at Wan Chang coffee shop in Setia Indah, I quickly went to try it.

Green View Restaurant Sang Har Meen Big Prawn Noodles in PJ (near Kuala Lumpur) 长青海鲜饭店 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

When I was living in KL in the early 2000s, one of my favourite places to bring guests was Green View Restaurant near SS2 on Petaling Jaya for their signature sang har meen 生虾面.

Ah Hou Roast Meat. One of the Best Crispy Roast Pork Stalls in Ipoh 阿豪烧肉档

If you have been following Johor Kaki for a while, you may notice that I rarely post about siew yok or sio bak (Cantonese roast meat). It's because most of the sio bak I tried tend to be too salty for my liking. Ah Hou's roast meat 阿豪烧肉档 in Ipoh, however, was just nice for me - I love it.

MLTR Concert in Batam, Indonesia. Michael Learns to Rock STILL Asian Tour 2018

Truth be told, the only MLTR song I thought I knew before attending the concert was "25 Minutes" because some people still sing it in karaokes. I like "25 Minutes", so I accepted the invitation to attend the MLTR concert in Batam on a media ticket.



It turned out, I was blown away - I know that sounds horribly cliché but the experience was really beyond my expectations. During the concert, I realised that I actually knew many more MLTR songs - they were just in the deep recesses of my mind (I am that old 😱 ). The concert brought back so many memories of people, events and places from the 1990s. It was a really sentimental, slightly emotional journey for me.

7 Kauthar Cafe in Setia Tropika. One of JB's Best Laksa Johor

Buddy Yvonne who always gives me great foodie tips on the best eats in JB, alerted me to a newly opened restaurant which she said serves the "best laksa Johor now". I quickly went for breakfast at 7 Kauthar Cafe in Setia Tropika as l am always on the look out for good laksa Johor. It is the representative dish of Johor but good ones are very hard to find commercially even in JB.

Sup Ikan Pha Khong. Asam Pedas Windsor in Batam, Indonesia

Our Batam friends brought us to Sup Ikan Pha Khong. The locals call it Asam Pedas Windsor. The humble little corner shop is off the main road Jalan Pembangunan - we would never have found this place so soon, if we explored Batam on our own.

Desaru Coast Gourmet Series @ Els Club & Stay at Hard Rock Hotel

I had the privilege to experience the inaugural Gourmet Series at The Els Club and also stayed at Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast as a guest of Tourism Malaysia.

Ban Leong Wah Hoe Seafood. Where to Eat Chili Crab in Singapore

Ban Leong Wah Hoe and the row of eateries at Casuarina Road was one of our favourite hangouts though I've not been back for over two decades. I was glad that tonight's get together let me get reacquainted with one of my old favourite Singapore zhi char places. I like all the dishes we had tonight, especially their rendition of Singapore chili crab.

Makansutra 21st Anniversary Party @ Gluttons Bay at The Esplanade Singapore

Thank you Makan Guru KF Seetoh for the privilege to celebrate the 21st Anniversary of Makansutra at Gluttons Bay with you, Patricia, your team and friends. I bought your food guides and went on your food tours in the 1990s, tasted many good food stalls you recommended, inspired by many astute insights you shared but never expected to be part of Makansutra's 21st birthday bash 😄

Cowan Street Ayam Tauge and Koitiau 🐔 Must Try Popular Ipoh Chicken & Bean Sprouts ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Finally, l got to taste the famous Cowan Street chicken kway teow and taugeh (beansprouts) after missing it a few times on previous Ipoh trips. If you are from out of town and catch Cowan Street Ayam Tauge and Koitiau open during your stay, it's like you struck lottery 😂 

Tried & Tasted 7 Best Hokkien Mee or Tai Lok Meen in KL and PJ

The black gooey lardy fat Hokkien mee known as tai lok meen in Cantonese (which is still the lingua franca of KL Chinese) is one of Kuala Lumpur's signature dishes. Every neighbourhood in KL and Petaling Jaya has at least one or two famous Hokkien mee stalls.

Tong Lian Kee Hokkien Mee (Tai Lok Meen) @ Jalan Sarawak in Pudu KL 东莲记福建面 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

It was the end of our whole day food trail from JB to KL, after our fourth meal. Every meal was great but it would not be right if we did not taste a Hokkien mee or tai lok meen when we were in KL. Running through the dozens of popular options, I reminisced about a Hokkien mee stall that operated along the corridor at a side street off Jalan Pudu. We decided to go and check it out, though I actually assumed that it was no longer there (just like the mee hoon kueh stall across the road from it).

Johor Kaki JB 👣 Kuala Lumpur 👣 Ipoh Food Trail 29 Nov to 4 Dec 2018 "LIVE"

I am on a food trail from Johor Bahru 🚙 KL 🚙 Ipoh and back to JB - dates from 29 Nov (Weds) to 4 Dec (Tues). I am updating this post everyday during the road trip - follow this post if you like to know what we are eating and how we like it 😋 (or not ).

Johor Kaki 10 Best Food of Ipoh 👈 click

Not the Usual Wanton Mee in Masai Johor Bahru 肆源小炒

You know, it's one of those days when all three eateries I planned to try were all closed for the day. I was getting hungry and running out of time for my other commitments when I found myself in Masai. When I am lost for ideas and tired, I fall back on places that I believe won't fail me. In Masai, my comfort food hideout is 肆源小炒 zhi char stall.

Nasi Padang Sukaramai near City Square Mall Johor Bahru

Nasi Padang Sukaramai inside Senteral coffee shop 中央餐室 just beside City Square mall have been around for decades, yet this family run stall have somehow evaded the social media radar. But, it is popular with downtown office workers who come here for their work day lunch.

Foong Kee Coffee Shop Roasts @ Keong Saik Road 豐記咖啡店 🚫 Closed Effective 15 Jun 2021

Chinatown Complex Food Centre was closed for washing today but we didn't worry for even a second because Singapore Chinatown is overflowing with good food options. Just a short walk took us to Foong Kee Coffee Shop 豐記咖啡店 on Keong Saik Road which is famous for their Cantonese roasts and wanton mee.

Foong Kee will close effective from 15 Jun 2021. The Keong Saik Street icon which have been here for 15 years serve one of the best traditional Cantonese roasts in Chinatown. The coffeeshop has new owners who will run their own business. Foong Kee owner Derrick Wong will take a break and we hope he will return in a new location. 

Nasi Padang near Sultan Mosque · Warong Nasi Pariaman, Singapore

✍️ 19 Sep 2023. Nasi Padang @ Warong Nasi Pariaman is a place I feel confident to showcase Singapore cuisine to overseas guests. It's not the cheapest nasi padang in Singapore, this spread costs $63, but I am happy as my guests and I enjoyed the delicious food.

Restaurant name: Warong Nasi Pariaman

Address: 738 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 198706

Nearest MRT: Ten minutes walk from Bugis station

Tel: 6292 5898

Hours: 7:30am - 3pm (Weds off)

Granny Lee Sauce @ BE Here Cafe in Golden Wall Centre Singapore

My friend Daphne contacted me to visit her newly opened cafe at Golden Wall Centre (just a short walk from Rochor MRT station). She wanted me to try her family's Granny Lee sauce.

Food Sketching with Scenic Rangers at Noodle Place @ Orchard Gateway 猎景骑兵

I love to sketch and love to eat (who doesn't?), so I thought combining the two activities would be having the best of both worlds. Today, I watched a prominent Singapore sketching group, Scenic Rangers 猎景骑兵, enjoy both at Noodle Place at Orchard Gateway. (No, I didn't sketch today lah - the thought of sketching, tasting, taking photos, taking notes all at once is still too daunting for me now 😂 )

Lao Zhong Zhong Five Spice @ Tai Thong Crescent 老中中餐室五香酥虾饼

I rarely eat fried ngoh hiang nowadays because of the grease. When I can no longer resist it, I get my ngoh hiang fix at 老中中餐室五香酥虾饼 Lao Zhong Zhong at Tai Thong Crescent in Singapore.

Chef Kang's Noodle House Wanton Mee @ Jackson Square Toa Payoh Lor 3 Singapore

So many of my makan kakis ate and shared about Chef Kang's wanton mee at Jackson Square Cafe, I couldn't wait to check it out myself. (Chef Kang as you know is the chef behind the Singapore One Michelin Star Chef Kang Kitchen.)

Han Kee & Piao Ji. Tale of Two Famous Fish Soup Stalls @ Amoy Hawker Centre

I had long wanted to try the popular fish soup stalls Han Kee and Piao Ji at Amoy Hawker Centre. Didn't get to taste them until today because the queues were always sooo.... looong. Finally got the chance today because I was in the area early to visit the historic Thian Hock Keng temple (Telok Ayer Street).

Urban Sketchers Singapore @ Old Tiong Bahru Bak Kut Teh

Today, I joined Urban Sketchers Singapore during their sketching outing (sketchwalk) at the famous Old Tiong Bahru Bak Kut Teh restaurant in Tiong Bahru. This time I observed and took pictures only lah. Maybe next time, I may actually pick up the brush and sketch 😄

Taman Tasek Hawker Centre in Johor Bahru Malaysia. Untrendy but Cool

Johor Bahru Malaysia has numerous public hawker centres, each with its own character. Taman Tasek Hawker Centre set under huge leafy trees and surrounded by fruit trees may be among the smallest, yet it is well loved by its immediate community and visitors from out of town Malaysia and Singapore.

Best Johor Bahru Nasi Lemak List. Mughni Saujana Cafe. Warung Sebelah Rumah Menteri Besar

We came here two days in a row - Mughni Saujana Cafe is one of the best places for nasi lemak in JB. Many fans call this Warung Sebelah Rumah Menteri Besar because it is just beside the Chief Minister's Residence.

History of Thian Hock Keng Temple of Heavenly Blessings in Singapore 天福宫

Visiting Thian Hock Keng temple 天福宫 (Tianfu temple in Mandarin) will give you insights into Singapore's early Chinese immigrants, especially the Hokkien people who make up about half the Chinese population on the island. THK is the oldest and most important temple of Singapore Hokkiens (who came from China's Fujian province).

Kungfu Master Mee Hoon Kueh near Larkin Johor Bahru 真功夫手工面粉粿 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Makan buddy John tipped me off about Kungfu Master Mee Hoon Kueh 真功夫手工面粉粿 in Bestari Impian, Taman Dato Onn (near Larkin) in Johor Bahru.

Hung Kitchen 韩小厨. Western Cuisine in Kampung Ungku Mohsin Johor Bahru

You know right, decades ago we used to hang out a lot at restaurant chains like Jacks Place and The Ship for family and budget friendly Western meals. Hung Kitchen 韩小厨 is like a Jacks Place or The Ship but more charming to me as it is set in a kampung (village) 😄 It's probably the only Western food restaurant in a village in Malaysia.

Zaituna Arabic Restaurant in Taman Tasek Johor Bahru

We enjoyed some excellent Arabic dishes at Zaituna restaurant in Taman Tasek in JB.

VOiD Restaurant is Full. of Delights. Avant-garde in Johor

We had a memorable omakase dinner at VOiD Restaurant, the newest and youngest eating place in Johor now.

Set of HBO Asia Series Grisse at Infinite Studios in Batam

During our one night getaway at Turi Beach Resort in Batam, we dropped by at Infinite Studios, 5 minutes away (Turi Beach and Infinite Studios are part of Nongsa Resorts). Infinite Studios provided the location sets for Hollywood blockbusters like Pirates of the Caribbean, Hitman, Crazy Rich Asians and more - something I didn't know till now.

A One Night Getaway at Batam Turi Beach Resort

We enjoyed a one night getaway at Turi Beach Resort which was awarded “Best Resort in Batam” by the Batam Tourism Office in 2014. Located at the northeastern corner of Batam island, Turi Beach Resort is just a short 30 minute hop across the Straits of Singapore, making it a perfect beach getaway for city folks to relax and recharge.

928 Yishun Laksa · One of my Top Five Favourites in Singapore ⭐⭐⭐⭐

There's a running joke among Singaporeans that Yishun is a strange place known for many negative things like a slasher, cat killer, and other weird happenings. That, of course, are all tongue in cheek, poking fun at Yishun folks. Maybe, the rest of us are just jealous that Yishun people have so many nice food like 925 chicken rice, Chong Pang Chuan Kee duck rice, and this 928 laksa 😂

Stall name: No name but everyone knows them as "928 Yishun Laksa"

Address: Blk 928, Yishun Central 1, #01-155, Singapore 760928

Nearest MRT: Yishun station

Tel: 97319586

Hours: 7:30am - 7:00pm (Sunday off)

Wee's Family Coffee Shop Restaurant @ Bedok Reservoir · Singapore HDB Zhi Char

✍️ 25 Nov 2023. I have been to Wee Family Coffee Shop in Bedok many times since 2014. 

Chong Wen Ge Nyonya Café beside Thian Hock Keng Temple 崇文阁

When you visit Singapore and want authentic experiences in the sunny island, visiting a Chinese temple and tasting Nyonya food should be in your itinerary. If you come to Chong Wen Ge Cafe 崇文阁, you can taste good Nyonya laksa and visit Thian Hock Keng Temple at the same time.

Singapore Old Airport Road Nasi Briyani @ Selera Rasa

Selera Rasa at Old Airport Road Food Centre serves the best nasi briyani you can buy for $3.50 in Singapore. (Prices went up a notch this month after selling at $3 for years.)

Super Lobster Restaurant a Worthy Alternative for Live Seafood in Sg Rengit 龍皇海鮮樓

I haven't been back to Sg Rengit for lobsters for over 3 years. After trying various lobster places there, I concluded that on balance Jade Garden Seafood Corner was the safest bet. But, I have continued looking for alternatives. This trip, I think I found a worthy alternative in Super Lobster Restaurant 龍皇海鮮樓.

Usman Restaurant. What to Eat in Singapore Little India

Buddy EJ brought me to Usman Restaurant in Singapore's Little India. EJ had been eating here for nearly 20 years and his raving about Usman's "white nasi briyani" got me excited. I am a nasi briyani fan and had never even heard of "white briyani" before, till now.

Lovely Lunch at Balé Club Restaurant @ Leisure Farm Resort Johor

You know right, if you go to Bale Club Restaurant at the Equestrian Resort in Leisure Farm Resort in Gelang Patah, Johor, you can get an excellent meal in a cool beautiful hideaway surrounded by lush greenery. Actually, few people know 😝

Cha Lao Dim Sum in Holiday Villa Hotel near KSL 茶楼点心

✍ 16 Oct 2018. Johor Bahru now has a pretty dim sum hangout, if you like to indulge in the Cantonese pastime of yum cha (drinking tea) with your kakis (buddies) in a cha lao (tea house). It's simply called 茶楼 Cha Lao Dim Sum which is located at Holiday Villa Hotel.

Best Cheap & Good Korean BBQ in Johor Bahru. Myeong Dong BBQ Buffet

We bumped into Phoebe and family in Taman Mount Austin, and they suggested to us to try Myeong Dong BBQ Buffet. Phoebe and family are veteran food hunters in JB and they know a lot of good family friendly places to eat.

Terengganu Curry Fish Noodle @ Taman Ungku Tun Aminah 丁加奴咖喱鱼面

Terengganu Curry Fish Noodles 丁加奴咖喱鱼面 was one of my first posts back in early 2012. I was "find dining" in Taman Ungku Tun Aminah (Skudai) when I stumbled upon the shop - my curiosity piqued by locals packing the little restaurant.