Uniquely Johor Mawar Pisang Goreng Sambal Kicap

This is a common street food in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia but there is something unique about pisang groeng (fried banana fritters) in Johor which you must try :-D

Fried Durian Puffs in Johor Bahru

Fresh durians are available only when they are in season. So, in between durian seasons what are durian lovers to do? Fortunately for people in JB, there is a delicious alternative - the freshly fried durian puff.

You Char Kway Streetside Stall in Pemas Jaya, Johor Bahru

My friend Ian introduced me to his favourite you char kway 油炸粿 stall which he visits at least once a week.



This street side stall is located at the alley way beside the well known Sin Yong yong tau foo shop. Diagonally across the road (Jalan Permas 10) is the 7-11 shop.

This humble but very popular stall is run by Mr. Liew and his young son and daughter. The small 3-man team runs like Swiss clockwork serving a constant stream of customers from all walks of life. From workers on their bikes to well heeled customers emerging from luxury sedans.

The Liew family team got their work process neatly worked out :)





Mr. Liew, the boss, prepares the dough. When Mr. Liew kneads and tosses it, his dough looks soft like small pillows.



Liew junior fries the dough under dad's watchful eye.



Junior Liew may be young but you could see from these you char kway that he has got good technique :)





Customer's bagful of hot and fresh you char kway ready to go :)



Ms. Liew mostly handles the sales but will sometimes take over the frying to give her little brother a break.



The Liew family moved from Raub in Pahang and have been running this street side stall for 5 years.

I asked Mr. Liew what made him bring his family from Raub to Johor Bahru? "求生存 Seeking for survival" he replied in an instant.

Through sheer hard work, providing good food at a reasonable price, Mr. Liew's you char kway stall is now well established in Permas Jaya.

Mr. Liew's fried goodies have good mouth feel and are not overly greasy. The goodies are always fresh because they are made on the spot and the turnover is very high. In fact, customers are usually waiting to get the goodies straight and hot from the wok. Mr. Liew sells his food at 80 sens per piece.



Liew junior striking a confident pose, frying the tau sar 豆沙 balls.





Mr. Liew's hottest seller - tau sar ball with black sesame seeds.



Master Liew frying the peanut balls.









The peanut ball with white sesame seeds is loaded with a generous amount of crunchy crushed peanut filling. My personal favourite :)





The ham cheem peng 咸煎餅 - see how airy and puffy the bread is?



Mr. Liew's very popular donuts.







Some of the other fried goodies from Mr. Liew that you may wish to try.



Mr. Liew uses bottled vegetable oil to fry his food.


Liew's stall is across the road from the 7-11 shop

Restaurant name: Liew Kee you char kway (street side stall)
Address: 21, Jalan Permas 10, Bandar Baru Permas Jaya, Johor Bahru (next to Sin Yong yong tau foo shop)
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/eoixO
GPS: 1.497145,103.815345
Hours: 3:00pm to 7:00pm (Sunday off)
No pork, no lard, no Halal cert

Date visited: 3 Aug 2013

Food We Love - Pisang Goreng (Fried Bananas)

 

Pisang Goreng (fried banana) is a well loved, common street hawker snack in Johor.

 

Molten hot, banana flesh almost like sweet melted cheese wrapped in crispy, crunchy fried batter is a favourite tea time treat for many of us.

 

Chilling with friends at a pisang goreng stall, enjoying fried snacks with a cuppa of teh terik is a special kind of uniquely Malaysian bonding ritual.

Here are three pisang goreng stalls I love and I am sure that there are more, that I have yet to discover.

 

Pisang Mawar is arguably the most famous pisang goreng stall in Johor Bahru. Pisang Mawar is a cheerful place with constant streams of customers enjoying their tea here or bagging loads of goodies to take home.

 

 

Pisang Mawar has many Singaporean customers as it is located on a route convenient for Singaporean drivers to pick up bags of goodies on their way home.

 

Another famous Pisang Goreng stall, Sweet Banana has been selling their popular fried goodies from their push cart stall along Jalan Stulang Darat for many years before they recently relocated to their new premises at Stulang Walk.

 

 

Now customers can relax and enjoy the same Sweet Banana tasty fried goodies with comfortable seating and easy, ample free parking.

 

This pisang goreng stall in Taman Sri Skudai that does not really have a name, is a favourite place with residents who like to come here to take a break from the afternoon heat and catch up on the day's happenings in the neighbourhood.

 

 

It is not unusual for famous hawker stalls to have no name and yet everyone in the neighbourhood knows about them as it is the local landmark.

Share with us about your favourite pisang goreng stall by leaving a comment :)

Name: Pisang Mawar

Address: Off Jalan Sungai Chat in the direction of Woodlands/ Pusat Bandaraya. Next to Galeri Mawar and opposite the clock tower at Dataran Bandaraya.
Operating Hours: 1:00pm to 6:00pm

Nearest Parking Area: Ample free parking at location

Name: Sweet Banana

Address: Stulang Walk ( at the junction of Jalan Stulang Darat and Jalan Stulang Laut)
Operating Hours: 1:00pm to 6:00pm (closed on Sunday)
Nearest Parking Area: Ample free parking at location

Name: No name (faded bamboo curtain bears the sign “GORENG2 ”)

Address: At the junction of Jalan Emas 7 and Jalan Emas 2, Taman Sri Skudai
Operating hours: 2:00pm to 5:00pm (closed on Sunday)
Nearest Parking Area: Ample free parking at location

Goreng Pisang Mawar in Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Pisang Mawar is the most famous pisang goreng in JB. People may have different preferences on which is the tastiest or most popular pisang goreng, but for fame, Pisang Mawar is unmatched.

Pisang Rajah

The thing that struck me about Pisang Mawar is the place is so happy and relaxed. Perhaps, it is the surroundings. Not far from the beach, up a grassy slope with a florist and Galeri Mawar as the backdrop, and easy parking. But most of all, everyone seemed so relaxed and happy here, chilling in the afternoon :)

The family that runs Pisang Mawar was so cheerful - that sets the tone for the whole place. I mean, this must be the most photographed pisang goreng stall in Johor, if not Malaysia, but they still obliged photographers warmly and graciously.

Pisang Mawar is famed for their pisang goreng. Crispy outside, soft and sweet inside. The batter was also not greasy. 

Remember to dip the pisang goreng in this spicy hot and savoury sauce. When combined with the sweet taste of the crunchy pisang goreng, it creates a very interesting mix of flavours and bite.

When enjoying my pisang goreng, I saw the lady pouring fresh, good quality, clear vegetable oil straight from the plastic bottle into the frying wok. No compromise with recycled oil here.

We love this curry puff

Besides their famous pisang goreng, Pisang Mawar also offers other tea time snacks like curry puffs, spring rolls, kuih muih, mee siam and nasi lemak. Pisang Mawar also served drinks and this is the only place that actually gave us a not-too-sweet teh tarik when we requested for "kurang manis" or less sweet. Thumbs up :)

Pisang Mawar's nasi lemak was good too. We were at Pisang Mawar in the afternoon, so by this time the nasi lemak was cold. Yet, the coconut fragrance still greeted us when we opened the old style banana leaf and old newspaper wrapping.

The sambal chili was a grainy, thick paste. Not overly spicy and not too sweet. This sambal chili is more like that from the old days, whereas nowadays, the more drippy, gravy-like and sweet kind seemed to be served in most places. Another thumbs up for Pisang Mawar.

Pisang Tanduk

->> Pisang Mawar is a must try for it's fame, and personally, I like the food here too, especially their pisang goreng :)

Pisang Mawar was featured on Fatbook 非食不可 programme.

Restaurant name: Pisang Mawar
Address: Off Jalan Sungai Chat, next to Galeri Mawar and Kedai Bunga Kim Florist (nearby landmarks are Thistle Hotel and Johor Clock Tower)
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/FBLPv
GPS: 1.461741,103.741906 / 1°27'42.3"N 103°44'30.9"E
Hours: Noon till late afternoon

Halal

Date visited: 4 Jan 2012, 27 Sep 2012

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