Chinatown Ah Po Braised Duck @ Commonwealth Crescent 牛车水阿婆卤鸭

This is a very low profile stall at Commonwealth Crescent Market & Food Centre. The "Chinatown Ah Po" in the stall name refers to the legendary braised duck stall owner Hor Ng Mei 何五妹 who ran the famous Run Ji braised duck 润记熟食 in Chinatown.

Stall name: Chinatown Ah Po Braised Duck 牛车水阿婆卤鸭

Address: 31 Commonwealth Crescent, stall #02-95, Singapore 149644 (stall inside Commonwealth Crescent Market & Food Centre)

Nearest MRT: 10 minutes walk from Commonwealth station

Hours: 9:30am - 12:30pm (Weds off)

Duo Ji Chinatown Chee Cheong Fun • Uglylicious Good 多記馳名豬腸粉芋頭糕

Ah Wah, my old school mate went to queue for Duo Ji Chee Cheong Fun which she had since her childhood. The wait was long but worth it for that nostalgic old school taste and smell. (We were in Chinatown for the legendary Run Ji braised duck. Ah Wah's mum is the lady behind Run Ji's famous hae bee hiam. That's a story for another post.)

Stall name: 多记 Duo Ji Chee Cheong Fun

Address: 335 Smith Street, stall #02-216, Singapore 050335

Nearest MRT: 5 minutes walk from Chinatown station

Hours: 7:00am - 1:00pm (Mon & Weds off)

Star Pho Le Beef Noodle • A Taste of Vietnam in Geylang

We came to Star Pho Le Beef Noodle in Geylang after chomping down half a duck and a couple of beers in Chinatown 😂 It turned out to be a good choice for "early dinner".

Restaurant name: Star Pho Le

Address: 671 Geylang Road, Singapore 389598

Nearest MRT: 10 minutes walk from Aljunied station

Tel: 6979 8996

Hours: 10:00am - 9:00pm (Mon off)

Ankee Yong Tauhu @ Ungku Tun Aminah • Hakka Style • They Have Pork Blood Curd 安记酿豆腐

Been wanting to try the popular Ankee yong tau foo at Taman Ungku Tun Aminah for a long time. Finally, did today.

Restaurant name: 安记酿豆腐 Restoran Ankee Yong Tauhu

Address: 84, Jalan Pahlawan 2, Taman Ungku Tun Aminah, 81300 Johor Bahru

Tel: +6016 712 2251

Hours: 7:00am - 4:00pm

Warung Selera Masakan Kampung Nasi Campur by Kak Ani @ 60 Changi Road near Joo Chiat Complex

I was excited to visit Warung Selera Masakan Kampung by Kaki Ani thanks to buddy Mark's enthusiasm for this Malay food stall serving traditional nasi campur dishes (and more). It has some dishes rarely found elsewhere and everything was lovingly prepared with fresh ingredients. We had a great time enjoying the delicious dishes. Even before we left, we were already planning our next visits for more delicious dishes 😬

Restaurant name: Warung Selera Masakan Kampung by Kak Ani

Address: 60 Changi Road, Singapore

Nearest MRT: 15 minutes walk from Paya Lebar station

Hours: 8:00am - 6:00pm

Underrated Braised Duck Rice & Porridge in Chinatown Complex 🦆 Run Ji Cooked Food • Hidden Gem 润记熟食

This brilliant braised duck stall in Chinatown is one of Singapore's most underrated. It's one of the best that I've tasted in Singapore and Johor, yet it has more or less zero media mention.

Stall name: Run Ji Cooked Food 润记熟食

Address: 335 Smith St, stall #02-140, Singapore 050335 (stall in Red Zone of Chinatown Complex Food Centre)

Nearest MRT: 5 minutes walk from Chinatown station

Hours: 7:00am - 5:00pm

Day Night & Fong Sheng • Contrasting Fried Kway Teow Styles @ Bukit Merah Central 日夜炒粿条 • 风盛熟食(炒粿条)

Singaporeans love their fried kway teow and most hawker centres have one, if not two char kway teow stalls. At Bukit Merah Central Food Centre, there's Day Night (yes it is called Day Night) and there's Fong Sheng fried kway teow, both have their loyal following judging by the daily queues at both stalls.

Stall name: Day Night Fried Kway Teow 日夜炒粿条

Address: 163 Bukit Merah Central, #02-41, Singapore 150163 (stall inside Bukit Merah Central Food Centre)

Nearest MRT: 10 minutes walk from Redhill station

Hours: 9:30am - 5:00pm (Thurs off)

Sea N Sky Kueh Tiew Zai @ Hong Kong Boy Kopitiam • Good Kway Teow Kia in Johor Jaya 海天粿條仔

When I first started Johor Kaki blog in 2012, I went a little crazy over kway teow kia (JB's answer to Singapore's kway chap). I went around all over the whole of Johor Bahru looking for the best KTK stalls / restaurants. Then, due to the Covid pandemic when the SG-MY borders were shut, I didn't have kway teow kia for over two years.

Stall name: Sea N Sky Kueh Tiew Zai 海天粿條仔

Address: 2, Jalan Dedap 22, Johor Jaya, 81100 Johor Bahru (stall inside Hong Kong Boy coffee shop)

Hours: 1:30pm - 8:00pm (Tues off)

Kar Sou Hakka Yong Tau Foo @ Toa Payoh Vista Market 家嫂客家酿豆腐

Quite a few buddies pointed out this little yong tau foo stall to me. Thank you 🙏 It's a small operation run by a grandma. Over the years, grandma has built up her loyal following in this old corner of Toa Payoh where I grew up in the 1960s.

Stall name: Kar Sou Hakka Yong Tau Foo 家嫂客家酿豆腐

Address: Lor 4 Toa Payoh, Block 74, Singapore 310074

Nearest MRT: 15 minutes walk from Toa Payoh station

Hours: 6:00am - 1:00pm (Mon off)

Sentosa Beef Noodle • Smiling F & B Service Coffee Shop @ Taman Sentosa Jalan Kasa 6 大丰牛肉面

I came here because I saw buddy Aus Pe's Facebook post about Sentosa Beef Noodle stall 🙏 It's a simple, nice, year old beef noodle stall in a rustic residential corner of busy Taman Sentosa.

Stall name: 大丰牛肉面 Smiling F & B Service

Address: 12, Jalan Kasa 6, Taman Sentosa, 80150 Johor Bahru

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

Best Mee Pok in Johor Bahru? Jalan Maju • Legacy of JB's Iconic Lao Tee Teochew Noodle 弟一碗潮州面薄

At buddy Patrick's pub, what do we talk about other than what to eat, right? Actually, a lot of things but let's save that for another post. This post is about 弟一碗潮州面薄 which Patrick said is "the best mee pok". What do I do when Patrick recommends something as "the best"? I quickly go and check it out lah 😬

Stall name: 弟一碗潮州面薄

Address: 67, Jalan Maju, Taman Maju Jaya, 80400 Johor Bahru, Johor

Hours: 7:30am - 2:00pm (Sat & Sun only)

Mac Murphy Friendly Irish Bar @ Southkey Johor Bahru

Joined JB buddies at Mac Murphy Irish Bar, one of their regular, preferred hangouts as the owners are welcoming and the clientele is warm and friendly.

Bar name: Mac Murphy Irish Pub

Address: B-1-16, Lake Front, Persiaran Southkey 1, Southkey, 81500 Johor Bahru

Tel: +607 338 4673

Hours: 4:00pm - 11:30pm

Hainan Hojiak Corner • Delicious Beef Noodle in Kulai Johor 海南祖传真好吃海南粉

When talking about Hainanese beef noodle in Kulai, the first thing that come to most people's mind is the legendary Mok Gao. Last night, buddy Patrick alerted me to another place, Hainan Hojiak Corner. I just tried their beef noodle this morning and it is indeed a worthy alternative 💪 Thank you Patrick 🙏

Restaurant name: Hainan Hojiak Corner 海南祖传真好吃海南粉

Address: 548, Jalan Kenanga 29/18, Bandar Indahpura, 81000 Kulai, Johor

Tel: +6019 307 8339

Hours: 6:00am - 3:00pm (Weds off)

Seletar Hills Restaurant • Chinese American Cuisine in Singapore

Buddy AW mentioned that there is a Chinese American food restaurant in Seletar Hill Estate. As this is probably the only such restaurant in Singapore, a few of us quickly gathered here for lunch. I didn't set my expectations very high as my main interest is the unique iconic Chinese American dishes on the menu which is only available here in Singapore. Turns out we all enjoyed the delicious food a lot 👍

Restaurant name: Seletar Hill Restaurant

Address: 16 Jalan Selaseh, Singapore 808440

Tel: 6483 0348

Hours: 11:30am - 2:30pm | 5:30pm - 9:30pm

Famous Hup Chong & Popular Meixi Hakka Yong Tau Foo in Toa Payoh

Finally came to try the very famous Hup Chong Hakka Yong Dou Foo at block 124 Toa Payoh. I later went to try Meixi Yong Tau Foo at block 73 which was also on my eat list for a long time. Today is yong tau foo day (yesterday was fried kway teow day 😬 ).

Stall name: Hup Chong Hakka Yong Dou Foo

Address: 124 Lor 1 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310124

Nearest MRT: 5 minutes walk from Braddell station

Tel: 9093 2009

Hours: 6:30am 3:30pm | 4:30 - 8:30pm

Johor Kaki Favourite Top 3 Fried Kway Teow in Singapore

When I think of fried kway teow in Singapore, these are the "no horse run", top 3 that come to my mind even though I have tried many others from both veterans and newbies from time to time.

Everyone have their own top 3 fried kway teow list, what are your three favourites?

Mine are Hai Kee in Telok Blangah, Outram Park in Hong Lim, and Ang Mo Kio at AMK central Blk 724.

A Day at Pangkor Island's Wooden Fishing Jetty @ Kampung Sungai Pinang Besar

Most people know the world famous beach resorts on the west coast of Pangkor Island but on its eastern shores there are traditional fishing villages, eateries, cottage industries which are equally worth a visit.

Pulau Pangkor is a tiny island just 30 sq. miles in size (compared to Singapore which is 280 sq. miles).

Moons Cafe Taman Molek • Big Menu, Full Flavours, Huge Servings, Nice Coffee, Good Prices • No Pork, No Lard

I joined the Tan family and friends at one of their favourite restaurants, the Molek outlet of Moons Cafe.

Restaurant name: Moons Cafe Molek 满满

Address: 20, Jalan Molek 2/2, Taman Molek, Johor Bahru

Hours: 7:30am - 5:00pm

GM Seafood Wholesale & 西北Shiok Facebook Live • Buy Fresh Fish at Malaysian Prices Delivered to Your Door in Singapore

I love wandering around fish markets and my favourites in Johor are in Pontian and the Orang Asli fish market in Permas Jaya. Recently, since the Covid pandemic, Facebook Live has become a popular way to browse and buy fresh seafood.

Ah Song Hakka Noodle @ Impian Emas Johor Bahru 亞松客家面 CLOSED

CLOSED Ah Song Hakka Mee was one of my first posts when I stumbled upon the little stall along Jalan Lumba Kuda in 2012 i.e. 10 years ago. Glad to hear that they now have a branch at Taman Impian Emas (near Skudai and Senai).

Restaurant name: Ah Song Hakka Mee 亞松客家面

Address: 169, Jalan Impian Emas 22, Taman Impian Emas, 81300 Skudai, Johor

Tel: 010 319 3813

Hours: 7:30am - 3:00pm (Mon off)

Pah Li Ban Village Skudai Food Street • Breakfast in Johor Bahru • Lee Pineapple 八里半吃什么

Looking for a convenient place to meet up, I stumbled upon this food street at Pah Li Ban Village just outside the historic Lee Pineapple cannery in Skudai.

Pah Li Ban 八里半

Address: Jalan Kilang Nenas, Skudai, 81300 Johor Bahru

Hours: Breakfast & brunch

Skudai R&R • Northsouth Hwy Rest Stop • Petrol, Food, Cash, Shop, Toilet Nearest to JB or SG

On my way back to Johor Bahru or Singapore on the Northsouth Expressway, I use the Skudai R & R which is 1km from the Skudai toll - the last toll gate before the JB CIQ (immigration).

Skudai R & R Southbound

Address: 8, Jalan R&R Skudai, Kawasan R & R Skudai, 81400 Senai, Johor

Tel: +6016 255 7293

Hours: 24 hours 24/7

Hong Kong Boy Johor Jaya • Glutton Street of JB 新山貪吃街 • 香港仔美食中心

Johor Bahru has a few food streets such as Meldrum Walk, alley behind Chartered Bank, etc., but the largest and most popular now is Hong Kong Boy in Johor Jaya.

Hong Kong Boy Johor Jaya Food Street 香港仔美食中心

Address: 2, Jalan Dedap 22, Johor Jaya, 81100 Johor Bahru

Tel: +6017 716 2033

Hours: 5:00pm - 11:30pm

Unusual Japanese - Teochew Omakase in Johor Bahru • New Come & Eat @ Stulang 新吃又来

This was our first meet up since the JB - SG borders closed in Mar 2020 due to the pandemic. Glad to meet up again with buddies Peggy, Florence, KK and Shirley who are all, thankfully, doing well 🙏

New Come and Eat replaces the old Come and Eat which was my top favourite place for Teochew porridge in Johor Bahru since 2012. Quite sad that the old Come and Eat closed during the Covid pandemic as it serves excellent old school Teochew porridge 😢

Restaurant name: New Come & Eat 新吃又来

Address: 34-A-2, Jalan Stulang Darat, Taman Stulang Laut, 80300 Johor Bahru

Tel: +6011 2835 1005

Hours: 10:00am - 10:00pm (Mon off)

Soon Heng Handmade Fishball Noodle @ West Coast Hawker Centre 顺兴鱼圆面

Whenever I see a hawker does things the old way, I am very attracted to it. When I see buddies sharing about the handmade fishballs at Soon Heng, I just had to have it. Handmade fishballs are rare in Singapore today. (Yeah, this doesn't look like a fishball but I assure you that it is 😬 )

Stall name: Seng Heng Fishball Noodle 顺兴鱼圆面

Address: 726 Clementi West Street 2, stall #01-152, Singapore 120726

Nearest MRT: 15 minutes walk from Clementi station

Hours: 5:00am - 9:00am (Mon off)

History of Hakka Yong Tau Foo • From Clan Wars to Food Heritage Co-creators 酿豆腐 • 酿菜 • 酿料

Yong tau foo 酿豆腐 like lei cha 擂茶 are iconic dishes of the Hakka people. The Hakka people originally from the Yellow River basin in central China, migrated south over nearly 2000 years due to invaders from the north (Xiongnu, Mongols, and later Manchus).

Today, Hakka people have migrated across the world and formed the fourth largest Chinese community in Singapore. Everywhere they went, the Hakka brought yong tau foo with them because to the Hakka, "there is no banquet without stuffed dishes" 无酿不成席. At every Hakka celebration, there is yong tau foo on the table.

50 Years Taste of Tradition Egg Tart • Best in Clementi Toa Payoh & Some Say in Johor • 50年

Yesterday after I shared about how I enjoyed the egg tarts at Roti Corner, readers pointed me to 50 Years Taste of Tradition 🙏  🙇 I went to try it today at their Clementi Bus Interchange outlet and oh... yes... I love it! 💪

Stall name: 50 Years Taste of Tradition Bakery 50年

Address: Inside Clementi Bus Interchange

Nearest MRT: At Clementi station

Hours: 9:00am - 9:00pm

Roti Corner (Homies Bakery) • Good Handmade Egg Tart @ 183 Toa Payoh Central

This wasn't in my plan. Hurrying along Toa Payoh Central to my destination on this stormy rainy morning. Stubborn me refused to carry an umbrella and even declined free of charge, sharing umbrellas provided at the MRT station. (Don't know who indoctrinated me with this silly dogma that officers do not use umbrellas under any circumstances 🙄 Perhaps, it was the US Air Force during my impressionable years.)

Bakery name: Roti Corner (Homies Bakery)

Address: Blk 183 Toa Payoh Central, #01-300, Singapore 310183

Nearest MRT: 5 minutes walk from Toa Payoh station

Hours: 9:00am - 9:00pm

ORIGIN & SOURCES of Singapore Hawker Culture • Born with a Silver Spoon of Unusual Wealth in Culinary Inheritance

Singapore is one of the youngest countries in the world yet it is blessed with the cuisines of several of the world's oldest civilisations.

Singapore became independent in 1965. Just 146 years prior, Singapore was a backwater, part of the Johore Sultanate which realm included Johor, Singapore, the Riau islands and east Sumatra. Most of Singapore's inhabitants at that time were fishermen, farmers or sea nomads (Orang Laut).

Roast & Coffee R & C Cafe in Johor Bahru • Cemerlang • Tan Hiok Nee • Eco Palladium

Buddy Carol is a big fan of Roast & Coffee, and I love modern coffee shops, so I was eager to try her recommendation. I went to both the Desa Cemerlang and Ecopalladium outlets. They have an outlet at Jalan Tan Hiok Nee too which I've been to some time ago.

Restaurant name: Roast & Coffee @ Ecopalladium

Address: B-01-05, Blok B, Jalan Ekoflora 7, Taman Ekoflora, 81100 Johor Bahru (near the entrance and on the right hand side)

Tel: 013 628 6100

Hours: 8:00am - 6:00pm

Hanyuan Daily Hip Cafe • Traditional Coffee Shop in Mount Austin Johor Bahru 韓源

Johor Bahru now have many rustic hip traditional Nanyang kopi (coffee) shops. Many of them serve good coffee with a wide range of breads, pastries and Malaysian local delights. Buddy Carol recommended Hanyuan, so I popped over for a try. She is right, Hanyuan serve one of my favourite coffee, the white type without add on like corn and margarine during roasting.

Restaurant name: Hanyuan Daily 韓源

Address: G-01-05, Austin 18, Jalan Austin Perdana 3, Taman Austin Perdana, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor

Tel: 011 1331 0626

Hours: 8:00am - 8:00pm

I Love the Ramen @ Sakaba Cuisine in Impian Emas 酒场美食

Buddy Evonne raved about the ramen at Sakaba in Taman Impain Emas 😁, a township in Johor Bahru's north, far from the tourist belt 😬 I was eager to try as I am looking for great ramen to add to my JB Eat List. (Coincidentally, just the night before, I brought friends to my usual ramen haunt. The quality has changed and I need to find another one for my List 😬 )

Restaurant name: Sakaba Cuisine 酒场美食

Address: 71, Jalan Impian Emas 22, Taman Impian Emas, 81300 Skudai, Johor

Tel: 011 6512 7122

Hours: 10:30am - 9:00pm

Oriental Kopi Johor • Egg Tart, Nanyang Coffee & Teh, Toasts & Malaysian Delights 华阳南洋茶室

Oriental Kopi Johor Jaya branch has been my regular Nanyang coffee and teh (tea) haunt in Johor since the borders reopened post Covid pandemic. The coffee, tea & food are good, service attentive, environment is clean, spacious, cool, filled with nice hyperlocal atmospherics, and prices are very reasonable.

Restaurant name: Oriental Kopi @ Johor Jaya 华阳

Address: 30, Jalan Dedap 22, Johor Jaya, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor

Tel: 011 2888 6363

Hours: 7:00am - 9:00pm