Hao Ke Fang Hakka Coffee Shop Restaurant in Kelapa Sawit Kulai 好客坊

We randomly rolled into Kelapa Sawit in Kulai 🤣 So, Ellone called Kulai 地头 Jason and KK, and we just randomly decided to meet at Hao Ke Fang 好客坊 to plot our next moves 🤣

Hidden Gem Lei Cha Rice @ Restoran HNY Happiness in Desa Cermerlang, Ulu Tiram, JB ⭐⭐⭐⭐

When I just want a simple meal or ran out of ideas on where to eat, I often settle for lei cha fun 擂茶饭 (thunder tea rice). Lei cha fun is a healthy choice that doesn't compromise on taste at all.

Lei Cha @ Tu Lou Hakka Restaurant in Johor Jaya 土楼客家菜馆

When I need a detox meal but am unwilling to sacrifice flavour and don't want to feel hungry in Johor Bahru, 擂茶 lei cha always comes to the rescue. Lei cha shops and stalls are everywhere in JB and I can truthfully say that I have not had a really bad one before (the traditional Hakka staple is served with pride). Restoran Hakka Tu Lou 土楼客家菜馆 in Johor Jaya is one of the popular lei cha shops in JB.

Wei Wei Hakka Lei Cha in Johor Bahru 威威咸茶美食店

When local born and raised Hakka boy, KK declared that Wei Wei in Taman Daya has dethroned his long time favourite lei cha shop in JB, it's time to stop mugging around. I quickly invited KK to meet for lunch at Wei Wei as authentic Hakka lei cha and yong tou foo are among my favourite dishes.

Tai Hong Kopitiam Lei Cha Fun in Taman Pelangi 大丰擂茶

Johor Bahru and nearby Kulai town are good places to get the Hakka staple Lei Cha Fun 擂茶飯 (also known as hum cha 咸茶). There are many lei cha fun stalls and this dish is in many restaurant menus in JB. It says a lot, that with so many lei cha shops around, Tai Hong Kopitiam 大丰擂茶 serves the favourite lei cha of many Johoreans.

CLOSED Invented in Johor Food - Hakka Lei Cha Spaghetti at Eh He Cafe

CLOSED. Johor have a history of innovative dishes due to it's crossroads location and openness to new ideas - witness the creation of fusion dishes like Laksa Johor and the Johor version of Kacang Pool. The spirit of culinary innovation is well and alive in Johor - Lei cha spaghetti at Eh He cafe carries on this Johor tradition of East West fusion.

Johor Kulai Ying Jie Lei Cha Fan & Yong Tau Fu 古來21哩大樹下擂茶 酿豆腐

Whenever I asked for recommendations for lei cha fan in Johor, the names 古来大樹下擂茶 "Under the Big Tree" and 古來21哩大樹下 "21km Lei Cha" in Kulai are always among the stalls mentioned. They are actually the same stall in Kulai and is also known as Sister Ying Lei Cha 英姐擂茶.

Almost everyone in Kulai knows this humble looking lei cha stall under a big tree, off Jalan Susur Kulai 5 (near car repair shops).

Choy Ban Hakka Dumplings & Lei Cha @ Man Ting Fang, Kelapa Sawit Kulai Johor 满庭芳茶餐室菜粄 ☏ 6016-764 4264

Man Ting Fang 满庭芳茶餐室菜粄 in Kelapa Sawit (near Kulai) is our favourite one stop shop for Hakka dumpling (choy ban) and lei cha (Hakka ground tea rice). Everything is made right there at the eatery / house, so all the food are super fresh.

Lei Cha at Taman Johor Hawker Centre 招妹咸茶

We were food hunting at the old Taman Johor food centre, when the sight of these freshly made yong tau fu stopped me in my tracks.



When was the last time you have seen freshly made yong tau fu with such bright natural colours and bulging with minced pork and fish fillings like these?

CLOSED Lei Cha 擂茶 at Double K 雙 K Stall in Taman Pelangi, Johor Bahru

CLOSED. Rina and Alice, the owners of Double K 雙 K invited me to visit their food stall.

Double K 雙 K stall is located at the same location as the famous San Low seafood restaurant but operates only during the day (at 7:30am to 3:00pm). The popular seafood restaurant takes over at night.

Lei Cha 百家乐客家擂茶 at BESTMART in Taman Nusa Bestari, Johor Bahru

Dropped in early today, at the popular 百家乐 lei cha 客家擂茶 stall at BESTMART in Taman Nusa Bestari.

Lei cha is a Hakka comfort food of rice and grains eaten with yong tau foo and a green herbal vegetable gruel or ground tea (hence, the name lei cha 擂茶 which means ground tea in Hakka language). 

Best Johor Traditional Hakka Lei Cha @ Volcano Coffee House 火山擂茶 in Kelapa Sawit, Kulai

Lei Cha Rice Set RM4 (2013 price)

The night before going to Kulai for food hunt, I asked Johor Kaki Facebook readers for suggestions. I was especially interested in traditional Hakka dishes as Kulai has a large Hakka population. Many readers from Kulai suggested that I try the lei cha 擂茶 at Volcano Coffee House in Kelapa Sawit.

CLOSED Tai Hong 大豐 Lei Cha and Yong Tau Foo in New Star Coffee Shop in Taman Sentosa, Johor Bahru

(This coffee shop stall has closed). Tiny stall selling traditional Hakka lei cha fun 擂茶饭 and yong tau foo 酿豆腐 in New Star coffee shop in Taman Sentosa may look ordinary.