✍ 6 Jan 2024. Popped over the Causeway for some errands, and caught up with buddy KC. Johor Bahru F & B is in the midst of a growth spurt - post-Covid and greater prospects due to the impending MRT link with Singapore, amongst other positive influences.
Many chain brands from overseas, Kuala Lumpur, and also Johor Bahru home grown names have jumped on the bandwagon.
Qiao Di Kopitiam supportedly from Kulai is one of the new setups enjoying a good start in Johor Bahru. QDK is located in a new commercial centre at Austin Crest.
Qiao Di Kopitiam is literally what it says it is. A modern kopitiam but sans air conditioning which is bucking the trend as new coffee shops invariably have air con now.... .
The menu has the range of local favourites from noodles to rice dishes. Full range of drinks like coffee and tea on another menu board.
Most people are here for their wanton mee. People queue for tables during peak hours.
Lunch for two of us. Total bill for everything, food and drinks, came to RM31.
I could smell the lard before the bowl touch the table 😆
I let KC marked the order sheet. He marked the default black - soy sauce with lard option - for me.
The slender noodles were slightly crinkly, gently springy, with a subtle crunch to the bite.
Every strand was well greased with dark soy sauce and lard. Lardy, savoury, it's nice.
They were generous with lard croutons.
The noodles were well drained 🙏 One of my pet peeves of wanton mee is noodle with residual water from cooking. It dilutes and distorts the sauce flavours as well as make the noodles wet like unrinsed washing (exaggerate a very little bit 🤭 ).
Johor wantan mee isn't strong in the char siew department but at least at Qiao Di Kopitiam, they are cut thick.
The char siew was lean meat only, soft tender, moist and sweet tasting. Not KL char siew (my preferred) but at least it is not the usual paper thin type.
The peppery pork soup was good. Robust flavours in a full round body.
The wantans were meaty, wrapped in smooth thin skin.
KC had the kosong, which was noodles with black sauce, lard, lard croutons, and some greens.
He paired it with curry chicken which I thought is a brilliant idea.
No need to say more about the egg noodles, but the curry was nice. Thick, creamy, loaded with complex blend of spices. Not spicy hot but lots of different spice tastes and aromas.
I love it that the meaty chunks of chicken tasted fresh, tender, moist with natural sweetness.
QDK serves the old school type of Nanyang kopi, I mean complete with the customary spillage 🤭
Disclaimer: Not I spill one, okay?
Not bad lah... Typical bitter sweet slightly acidic Nanyang kopi.. no unique profile (like here, here, and here).
Come again? I would. Everything was nice today, from the food to drinks to the friendly, efficient service.
I am a little crazy about wanton mee. Not counting articles on Singapore, other countries worldwide, and Malaysia (except Johor), I have so far over the last 10 years written 67 separate articles on Johor wanton noodles 👈 click
Restaurant name: Qiao Di Kopitiam @ JP Perdana
Address: 20, Jalan Jaya Putra 5/41, Taman JP Perdana, 81100, Johor, Malaysia
Address: 66, Jalan Jaya Putra 7/5 Taman JP Perdana, Johor Bahru, Malaysia (Austin Crest outlet)
Tel: +60 12-737 0667 (Austin Crest outlet)
Hours: 7am - 5pm
Written by Tony Boey on 6 Jan 2024
🎗To be neutral, I paid for my own food. This blog is powered by voluntary contributions from appreciative readers to Tony Boey Johor Kaki PAYNOW 96888768 in Singapore $.
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The wanton mee with curry chicken was my favourite. I tried the custard too, quite ok but not super smooth type
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