Sze Zai Hiong Family Zhi Char Restaurant in Pelangi • JB's Well Kept Secret 食在乡

Buddy who lives near Sze Zai Hiong restaurant noticed that the shoplot eatery was always packed whenever she passed by. So, we were excited to check out this popular place which is hardly mentioned in JB social media.

Ming Ji Zi Char in Taman Johor Jaya Rosmerah 铭记家乡小炒

We had a simple but enjoyable dinner at Ming Ji 铭记家乡小炒 at the Rosmerah section of Taman Johor Jaya.

Restoran Hai Ji. Hunt for Johor Best Song Fish Head (Episode 1) 海记松鱼头

My current best of Johor food hunt project is to look for the best steamed song fish head in the state. Restoran Hai Ji was the second song fish head I tried in JB and the first that I liked. (I have been a fan of steamed song fish head since I tasted the legendary Chan Sow Lin steamed song fish head of Kuala Lumpur over 20 years ago.)

Orang Asli Seafood Mutiara Biru near Taman Perling Johor Bahru 阿士里海鲜村

Johor Bahru has a few seafood restaurants on platforms over the water along the Johor Straits (facing Singapore) where Orang Asli chefs serve Chinese zhi char 煮炒 style dishes. Last evening, I finally visited Restoran Asli Makanan Laut Mutiara Biru near Taman Perling which had been on my "To Eat list" for a long time.

Best Zhi Cha in JB List. Lai Hing in Taman Perling 利興坊海鲜小厨

Buddy Steven suggested that we have dinner at Lai Hing zhi cha in JB after our day long food trail in Kluang. I thought it was a great idea as our Kluang food trail began at day break, and eating dinner in Kluang meant driving back late at night - it would be a little taxing for my vintage chassis 😜 I was also keen to visit Steven's favourite JB zhi cha place as I have not been to Lai Hing before 😋

No Name Economy Rice & Zhi Char at Bunga Ros, Masai JB ⭐⭐⭐✱✱

Seeing Henry's regular postings from his favourite lunch haunt near the bus terminal at Masai in JB, we couldn't resist checking it out.

看到 Henry 每天 post 爱吃的卤肉面, 看了忍不住, 我们也来了. 卤肉面真的很多卤肉又很香, 很甜, 真的很好吃. 我们还有吃老板的砂煲面, 也是很不错. 砂煲面里有烧肉还有芋头不错吃. 最喜欢的是老板的怡保河粉. 果条炒得有锅气. 粿条的汁也很够味. 如果你在 Masai 一带, 这无招牌小档口是一个好的午餐和晚餐的去处. Jalan Bunga Ros. Masai 巴士车站对面.

GP Tan Family Chinese Restaurant Johor Bahru 阿坤三楼鱼汤 ⭐⭐⭐✱✱

GP Tan 阿坤三楼鱼汤 is one of those old timer makan (eating) institutions in Johor Bahru where locals go to for home cooked style Teochew dishes. GP Tan has a loyal following from long ago, well before the advent of social media. So, GP Tan have a steady clientele visiting in family groups though they are rarely mentioned online.

Best Zi Char Places in JB Johor Bahru - Pelangi City

Back at Pelangi City, one of my favourite zi char stalls in Johor Bahru after nearly two years. I am glad that everything is still as great at this busy little stall 😃

在彩虹的彩虹城煮炒小档口 (Jalan Biru 三楼海鲜对面), 锅气十足。他们的菜都很不错的。我最喜欢的是他们的菜圃鱼。可以试试。

Restoran Ah Kaw📍33 Jalan Perang Pelangi 亚九咖哩鱼头店

San Lou bee hoon 三楼干炒米粉 is an iconic dish created in Johor Bahru, reputedly by Ah Kaw 亚九 back in 1979.

Zhen Wei Seafood Johor Bahru Setia Indah 珍味阁海鲜

In Johor Bahru, we can find little chef owned restaurants that serve premium dishes, expertly executed, provide comfortable environment and charge reasonable prices. These restaurants' main clientele are families and are located in residential areas. Zhen Wei 珍味阁海鲜 in Setia Indah is near to Jusco Tebrau shopping centre and Austin Heights Golf and Country Club.

Restaurant name: Restoran Zhen Wei 珍味阁海鲜

Address: 1, Jalan Setia 7/18, Taman Setia Indah, 81100 Johor Bahru

Tel: 016 710 9085

Hours: 12:30pm - 9:30pm

CLOSED Qiu Bo Curry House Fish Head Pork Ribs Johor Ulu Tiram 秋波咖喱之家

CLOSED (Owners retired). Back at Qiu Bo Curry House in Ulu Tiram for lunch today - this is one of JB locals' top choice for curry fish head and pork ribs. It's one of my favourites too.

Nyonya Fish Head Restoran Bai Her Taman Molek Johor 百合小菜馆

I am a big curry fish head fan and my lunch today is at Restoran Bai Her 百合小菜馆 in Taman Molek for their signature Nyonya Fish Head :-D

Wah Yew Teochew Cuisine. Johor Bahru Taman Pelangi✌ Second Visit 华友潮式蒸鯧魚專賣店

My JB friend John brought us to Restoran Wah Yew 华友 in Taman Pelangi for traditional Teochew food. Locals refer to the restaurant as Ah Chye 阿財, the name of the owner Chef.

CLOSED Hay Chooi Coffee Shop Johor Zhi Char - Ah Mah's Cooking 海水餐室

(CLOSED as owner chefs retired.) My Johor friend John brought us to Hay Chooi Coffee Shop 海水餐室 to try what he calls "Ah Mah's cooking".

I rely a lot on the help of locals to show me the best places to eat in Johor Bahru. I must have driven pass along Jalan Tun Abdul Razak a few hundred times, but never knew that there is such a special eatery on the inside road along Jalan Lembah.

Chua Kee Seafood Gelang Patah Johor 蔡記海鲜

Chua Kee (together with Tian Lai) are the oldest established kampung style seafood restaurants in Gelang Patah. Star Chef restaurant is a relative newcomer, though it also have a good foothold now too. So, here we are at Chua Kee to complete our roundup of seafood restaurants in Gelang Patah.

Sin Tao Yuan Pekan Nanas Johor Seafood Ikan Bakar 兴桃园铁板烧鱼

We planned a trip here at Pekan Nanas to try Tao Yuan's legendary grilled stingray (which we missed the last visit). During our previous visit, we arrived at 6:30pm but Tao Yuan's famous grilled stingray was already sold out :-(  This time we arrived at 4:30pm, 30 minutes before opening time ;-D

Sin Tao Yuan Grill Fish Pekan Nanas Johor 兴桃源铁板烧鱼

The famous Tao Yuan grill fish stall 桃源铁板烧鱼 in Pekan Nanas was one of the stops of our 2 Day/ 1 Night food trail in Johor.

Chinese Seafood in Parit Jawa, Muar · Hai Sing · 坡巴冬厝仔亚叁鱼

This famous Muar seafood restaurant in Parit Jawa has no signboard but regulars know it as the "attap house under the big tree 大樹下亞答屋".  (Actually, the bill says Kedai Makanan Hai Sing 巴冬厝仔亚参鱼.)

Uncle Pou Wok Restaurant Mt Austin & Permas Jaya 补锅佬菜馆 in Johor Bahru

We finally went for dinner at Uncle Pou Wok's parent shop at Permas Jaya in JB. We had been wanting to come here since having a good lunch at Pou Wok Lou's Mount Austin branch 4 years ago.

Johor Seafood at Tian Lai 天来 in Gelang Patah - Third Visit

This was my third visit to Tian Lai 天来 in Gelang Patah. The restaurants at Gelang Patah are just a short drive from LEGOLAND or Puteri Harbour. I picked Tian Lai tonight mainly for the crabs here and it was good the previous two times I was here.