Bee Chun Heng Bak Kwa 美珍香肉干(老鋪) 🦚 Peacock Logo

If you are in Singapore now, you will see many queues around the island - people lining up to buy bak kwa 肉干 for Chinese New Year. Eating bak kwa is a Chinese New Year custom in Singapore. Queueing for hours to buy bak kwa is also a CNY custom here 😄 Buddy brought me to Bee Chun Heng (Lau Po) 美珍香(老鋪) at 89, Frankel Avenue. 

Soon Lee Fish Porridge. Seafood Soup. Defu Lane 10. SG Taxi Uncles' Choice 顺利鱼糜海鲜汤

Soon Lee Fish Porridge & Seafood Soup stall has been operating under the social media radar - I am not sure why. Perhaps, it's because it's relatively inaccessible by public transport and is located in an industrial park. "Cheap and good" Soon Lee is a well kept secret among taxi drivers and factory workers in Defu Industrial Estate.

Stall name: Soon Lee Fish Porridge Seafood Soup 顺利鱼糜海鲜汤

Address: 4 Defu Lane 10, Singapore 539185

Hours: 8:00am - 3:30pm (Sun off)

Ah Hong Char Kway Teow @ Cheng Heng Coffee Shop in Seri Austin JB 啊康炒果条

I am always on the look out for good char kway teow like many Malaysians and Singaporeans. Ah Hong's char kway teow in Taman Seri Austin didn't really bowled me over but I know many people like this style of CKT so I am sharing it here.

Food near JB Customs. Gogirou BBQ Meat Street in Zenith Mall 新山韩式烤肉街

Dinner this evening at Gogirou BBQ Meat Street, Johor Bahru's newest Korean BBQ hangout. JB already has many Korean BBQ places but Gogirou is one of the most accessible for visitors from Singapore as it is located in Zenith Mall which is right across Jalan Wong Ah Fook from JBCC and City Square mall. It's about 10 minutes walking distance after clearing JB immigration.

Ah Chuan in JB is One of my Favourite Fish Soup Stalls 阿全鱼湯⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you have been following my blog, you will know that I am a big fan of simple fish soups. I find a good bowl of fish soup with a bowl of plain white rice very satisfying and comforting. One of my favourites is Ah Chuan in Johor Bahru - it is just a small stall in Starfood coffee shop in Taman Pelangi where the (Monday and Thursday) morning market is located (so parking can be challenging on those days).

Restoran ZZ • Original Mee Rebus Tulang Gearbox with Lamb Shank in JB & Laksa Johor

ZZ Sup Tulang | 20, Jalan Petri 5/1, Kampung Bahru, Johor Bahru ☎ +6011 1056 7209 🕘 6:30am - 12:30am

✍️19 Oct 2024. Restoran Sup Tulang ZZ is one of the iconic food places to visit in Johor Bahru. 

Best in Taipei. Pei Cheng Roast Duck 北城烤鴨

Restaurant name: Pei Cheng Roast Duck 北城烤鴨
Address: No. 248, Zhongzheng Road, Zhonghe District, New Taipei City, Taiwan 235
GPS: 24°59'38.7"N 121°29'44.6"E | 24.994073, 121.495707
Nearest MRT: Jingan Station 景安站
Tel: +886 2 2246 0456
Hours: 10:30am - 8:00pm

Wanton Mee Stall @ Cheng Heng Coffee Shop in Seri Austin 成兴美食坊

We wandered into Cheng Heng coffee shop in a quiet neighbourhood back street in Taman Seri Austin on a hot mid day. We were surprised but happy to bump into Mdm Au Yong whose wanton mee stall used to be at No Signboard coffee shop at Jalan Maju (near Plaza Pelangi).

Kang Chuan Bakuteh. Desa Cemerlang • Ulu Tiram JB 康传肉骨茶

Stumbled upon Kang Chuan Bakuteh shop while food spotting in Taman Desa Cemerlang this morning.

Top Roast Duck in Taipei 萬香烤鴨莊

Restaurant name: 萬香烤鴨莊
Address: No. 116, Zhongxiao Rd, Banqiao District New Taipei City, Taiwan 220 (at the intersection with Chongqing Road) | 台北縣板橋市忠孝路116號 (與重慶路交叉口)
GPS: 25°00'07.9"N 121°27'46.1"E | 25.002204, 121.462798
Nearest MRT: Fuzhong Station 府中站
Tel: +886 2 2953 6672
Hours: 10:00am - 8:00pm

Taiping Sepetang Fish Porridge in Taman Ungku Tun Aminah 太平十八丁鱼粥

Fish soup is one of my favourite guilt free dishes as it is healthy without sacrificing taste (relatively speaking.. lah). So, I am very happy when I come across Taiping Sepetang Fish Porridge in TUTA Johor Bahru - it's nice 😋

Taiping Sepetang Roti Prata. One of JB Best Roti Canai

I eat roti prata (known as roti canai in Malaysia) often as roti prata stalls are everywhere in Singapore and Malaysia. I rarely return to any particular stall as most roti prata stalls are good enough and few really stand out from the rest. But, the roti parta stall at Taiping Sepetang coffee shop in Taman Ungku Tun Aminah is one which I would return to when I am in the area.

Big Brother 2 二师兄. Delicious Affordable Western in Seri Austin JB

We had lunch today at Big Brother 2 二师兄 at Taman Seri Austin in Johor Bahru.

Master Chef Mak Kip Fu. A Serial Michelin Star Awarded Chef 麥協富師傅

Caught up with Chef Mak Kip Fu 麥協富 during a brief free moment just after his busy lunch shift at his newly opened Mak Hong Kee Kitchen at Keong Saik Road in Singapore.

Japanese say this Unagi Don in Taipei is World Best 鳗味屋 關東 ☏ +886 2 2523 9128

Restaurant name: 鳗味屋
Address: No. 45, Lane 77, Section 2, Zhongshan North Road, Zhongshan District Taipei City, Taiwan 10491 | 台北市中山區中山北路二段77巷45號
GPS: 25°03'27.2"N 121°31'30.2"E | 25.057563, 121.525045
Nearest MRT: Shuanglian 雙連 or Zhongshan Elementary School 中山國小站 (near to two stations)
Tel: +886 2 2523 9128
Hours: 11:30am - 2:30pm | 5:30pm - 9:00pm (Sunday off)

Hitsumabushi @ Uya Singapore Unagi 四代目菊川 at Wheelock Place Orchard Road ☎ 93590423

I enjoyed an excellent Hitsumabushi or grilled eel with rice at the recently opened Uya Singapore unagi restaurant at Wheelock Place (conveniently located at Orchard MRT station). Uya serves authentic Hitsumabushi made with live eels prepared by a Japanese crew in the kitchen.

Fei Qian Wu Famous Unagi Don in Taipei 肥前屋鱼

Restaurant name: Fei Qian Wu 肥前屋
Address:  No. 13-2, Lane 121, Section 1, Zhongshan North Road, Zhongshan District Taipei City, Taiwan 10491 | 台北市中山區中山北路1段121巷13號
GPS: 25°03'04.3"N 121°31'25.2"E | 25.051182, 121.523673
Nearest MRT: Zhongshan Station 中山站
Tel: 02-2562-8701
Hours: 11:30am - 2:30pm | 5:30pm - 9:00pm

Famous Grilled Unagi Don in Tainan Taiwan 鰻丼作

Restaurant name: 鰻丼作
Address: No. 11, Lane 35, Section 2, Yongfu Road, West Central District Tainan City, Taiwan 700 | 台南市中西區永福路二段35巷11號
GPS: 22°59'26.2"N 120°12'00.4"E | 22.990597, 120.200102
Nearest MRT:
Tel: +886 6 223 1358
Hours: 11:00am - 2:00pm | 5:00pm - 9:00pm

Mak Hong Kee (HK) Kitchen. Keong Saik Road Singapore 麥康記

Lunched today at the newly opened Mak Hong Kee (HK) Kitchen at Keong Saik Street, Singapore. I was excited to visit this Cantonese restaurant because it is the new venture of much respected industry veteran, Chef Mak Kip Fu from Hong Kong.

Famous No Signboard Foo Chow Fish Balls in Taipei 无招牌福州魚丸專賣店

Restaurant name: No signboard Foo Chow fish ball shop
Address: No. 1, Alley 13, Lane 74, Section 3, Bade Road, Songshan District Taipei City, Taiwan 105 | 台北市八德路3段74巷13弄1號
GPS: 25°02'50.2"N 121°33'09.9"E | 25.047287, 121.552752
Nearest MRT: Taipei Arena Station 台北小巨蛋站
Tel: 02 2577 1563
Hours: 12:00 noon - 3:00pm (Sat, Sun, Mon off)

What to Eat @ Marsiling Mall · Ye Lai Xiang Laksa 夜來香叻沙

The first time I tasted Ye Lai Xiang laksa 夜來香叻沙 was back in 2014. The stall was then at the old Marsiling hawker centre near the immigration checkpoint - the hawker centre is closed and slated for demolition to make way for new buildings. (Update: The old hawker centre had been demolished.)

Stall name: Ye Lai Xiang Laksa 夜來香叻沙

Address: 4 Woodlands Street 12, #01-73 Marsiling Mall Hawker Centre, Singapore 738623

Nearest MRT: Woodlands station

Hours: 8:00am - 3:00pm (Thurs off)

Ah Lai Chicken Rice in Pulai, Johor 亞赖鸡饭

Wanted to get out of JB and didn't want to go too far, so we drove to the Pulai-Pekan Nanas area this morning. Went to check out Ah Lai Chicken Rice 亞赖鸡饭 shop which is popular with Pulai folks.

Famous Lee Koh Kee Curry Laksa in Pekan Nanas 李国旗叻沙

Finally tasted the famous Pekan Nanas 婆婆叻沙 "Poh Poh" (grandma) laksa after missing it a few times.

Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm in Teluk Bahang Penang

For your next Penang trip, I highly recommend dropping by Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm for a couple of hours. But, I cannot guarantee that you will not be mesmerised by the beautiful butterflies and end up staying longer than you planned 😄 I had to be pulled away to get on the bus 😂

Jia Xing Foo Chow Fish Ball in Taipei 佳興魚丸

Restaurant name: Jia Xing Fish Ball 佳興魚丸
Address: No. 21, Lane 210, Section 2, Yanping North Road, Datong District, Taipei City, Taiwan 103 | 台北市大同區延平北路二段210巷21號
GPS: 25°03'33.4"N 121°30'38.7"E | 25.059282, 121.510751
Nearest MRT: Daqiaotou Station 大橋頭站
Tel: 02-2553-6470
Hours: 9:00am - 6:30pm (Sunday off)

Penang National Park. Taman Negara Pulau Pinang

Before my eco-tourism trip with Tourism Malaysia, I didn't even know that there is a national park in Penang. Taman Negara Pulau Pinang may be Malaysia's smallest national park, but it is just the right size to fit in half a day of fun exploring some of Malaysia's unique natural wonders. It sure makes a visit to Penang more interesting - adding another reason to visit Penang on top of eating, photos with wall murals in Georgetown, shopping, sun worshipping and partying in Batu Ferringhi.

Pork Soup with Rat Tail Noodles in Taipei 台北條仔老店米苔目

Restaurant name: 台北條仔老店米苔目
Address: No. 3, Lane 233, Nanjing West Road, Datong District, Taipei City, Taiwan 103
GPS: 25°03'14.6"N 121°30'37.8"E | 25.054041, 121.510505
Nearest MRT: Beimen Station 北門站
Tel: +886 2 2555 2073
Hours: 6:00am - 2:00pm daily

Where to get Good Traditional Nanyang Coffee in Singapore. Malaysia Boleh! Jurong

The humble Nanyang kopi that perked up generations of Singaporeans and Malaysians is beating a slow but steady retreat. It is not winning over much of the Millennial Generation but equally worrying, raising costs and labour crunch have led to a dwindling of old school Nanyang kopi shops that do things the old way. That's sad because traditional Nanyang kopi is a unique way of drinking coffee found only in Singapore and Malaysia.

One Bowl Restaurant & Bar. The Sultan Hotel. Singapore

Five of us gathered for lunch at One Bowl restaurant at The Sultan hotel along Jalan Sultan in Singapore. (Two were repeat customers to this month old little restaurant 😄 ) The menu consists of familiar dishes from owner Tammie Loke's personal repertoire. We enjoyed ourselves as the food was tasty and reasonably priced for the ambiance and location.

Mother of Taiwan Chicken Chops. The Stall that Created the Taiwan Food Icon 鄭姑媽小吃店

Restaurant name: 鄭姑媽小吃店
Address: No. 13, Alley 25, Lane 790, Section 5, Zhongxiao East Road, Xinyi District Taipei City, Taiwan 110 | 台北市信義區忠孝東路五段790巷25弄13號1樓
GPS: 25°02'34.1"N 121°34'59.5"E | 25.042818, 121.583180
Nearest MRT: Houshanpi 後山埤站
Tel: 02-2726-9150
Hours: 6:00am - 2:00pm | 4:00pm - 6:00pm (Sunday off)

Eco Attractions of Penang. The Pearl of the Orient is More than a Foodie's Paradise

I was wrong about Penang.

I always thought of Penang first as a foodie's paradise. It's all about char kway teow, asam laksa, nasi kandar, orcee durian, tau sar piah, followed by mural art in Georgetown, and clubbing in Batu Ferringhi.

There is little opportunity for sports and exercise beyond queuing for food, so thought this frog in the well 🐸