Halal Food Trail and Day Trip in Johor Bahru for Uniquely Johor Food and Experience

I have often been asked where to take friends from overseas or other parts of Malaysia on a day trip to JB to showcase uniquely Johor food or a uniquely Johor dining experience. With suggestions from members of Johor Sedap (Halal) food Group, I selected the following food and places to represent Johor food. Everyone's list will differ, of course, so this is just for reference.

Number One on the list is of course, Laksa Johor. Tasty fish based spicy and savoury gravy blanketing a bed of boiled spaghetti. You may find this unique fusion of East and West cuisine elsewhere but this special dish was invented right here in Johor :)

Laksa Johor even has a nice story behind it. During the reign of Sultan Sir Abu Bakar in the late 1800s, the Sultan travelled to Europe and when in Italy he fell in love with spaghetti. When Sultan Sir Abu Bakar returned to Johor, he directed the Palace Chef to create a dish using spaghetti and traditional fish spicy gravy. And, hence the uniquely Johor dish of Laksa Johor was born.

If I have only one dish to show my guests, Laksa Johor will be the dish I choose to represent Johor.



Click on this picture to see the places that I would bring my guests to for Laksa Johor.

Next is Kacang Pool. Originally an Egyptian dish but Kacang Pool has become very popular in JB. More a snack, so Kacang Pool is ideal for tucking in between meals. The thick slice of buttered toast goes very well with the sunny side up egg, and the bean and beef based gravy. Couple this with a foaming teh tarik and it is perfect.



My favourite place for Kacang Pool is Kacang Pool Haji at the Bomba Larkin food centre.

Mee Rebus is also a common dish in Malaysia and Singapore but only in Johor is it served with tulang or lamb shank bones. The lamb shank bones are slow boiled with herbs and spices in slow charcoal fire. The rich jelly like marrow is infused with herbs and spices, and sucked out with a large straw provided. 



And, the best place to try this dish is at Restoran ZZ, not just because it is the signature dish here but also because of its unique kampung ambiance.

In my opinion, a makan trip to Johor would be incomplete without a visit to Warong Saga. Warong Saga offers a wide range of tasty local staples including Laksa Johor, Nasi Lemak, Tauhu Goreng, Lontong Kering and many more. But the charm of Warong Saga is in its ambiance which will catch your eye the moment you step into the street side warong. Every available flat surface in Warong Saga is plastered with heritage photos and memorabilia of old Johor, transforming the otherwise typical street side warong into a favourite makan hub.



Warong Saga is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, so it is easy to fit a visit to this uniquely Johor warong into the day's plan.

Pisang Goreng is common in our region but only in Johor is Pisang Goreng eaten with with sambal kicap. Just a small twist and the whole experience is different.



So I will bring my guest to the famous Pisang Goreng Mawar to experience the Johor way of eating this common snack and also feel the pulse at one of JB's favourite tea time hang outs.

So, there we are, one day day trip and makan trail of unique Johor hawker fare and dining experience to remember Johor by. Nothing extravagant, just pleasant memories of the unique food culture of Johor.

Kway Chap 粿汁 (Kway Teow Kia) Stall in Multi Mart 满地好 Kopitiam in Taman Century near KSL City Mall, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

In Johor Bahru, I know of only one stall that sells Kway Chap 粿汁, thanks to Johor Yummy member Candle Tay's recommendation.

Sushi King at KSL City Mall in Taman Century, Johor Bahru (Invited Food Tasting)

I am no big fan of sushi but am always fascinated by the shapes and colours of sushi. I found the taste of sushi pleasant especially when the ingredients are fresh but it doesn't excite me the way food with umami flavours and wok hei does.

 

Still, good sushi is a welcome change once in a while, and I always enjoy watching colourful sushi glide around on conveyor belts in sushi joints ever since such an ingenious contraptions appeared in Singapore in the 1980s.

So when Sushi King invited me to try out their Chinese New Year menu at the Sushi King outlet at KSL City Mall in Johor Bahru, I gladly accepted.

I had a great food photography and food tasting outing at the cheery restaurant. Everything I tasted today was fresh as you will see in these pictures.

Crunchy and sweet Renkon Chips for RM3

Unagi Roll RM5 for 5 pieces

Golden Fish Nigiri RM3

Ebi Top RM4

Chicken Cheese Age RM6.90

Hotate Masago Gunkan RM4 for 2 pieces

Sakura Roll RM4 (5 pieces)

Lion Roll RM10.90

Another view of the Lion Roll which was well liked among our group of friends.

Sushi King Yu Sang Set RM38.88

We got to try out Sushi King's version of yu sang for the coming Chinese New Year.

Sushi King's yu sang is a good way to start off the New Year with good wishes for all our friends tossing up our good luck together. 

Yu Sang noodle set RM16.88

Sushi King also offers Yu Sang noodles which is also a good way to usher in the Chinese New Year.

Susan, Sushi King's Marketing Manager showing us how to mix the sauces with the noodles.

All these beautiful sushi were created and made by Executive Chef Jun Sato and his team at Sushi King KSL City Mall, Johor Bahru.

For sushi fans who want their sushi fresh and reasonably priced, and to enjoy it in a comfortable, hygienic setting, Sushi King KSL City Mall could just be the right choice for you.

Restaurant name: Sushi King
Address: KSL City Mall, Taman Century, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/bMPsQ
GPS: 1.485305,103.762983
Hours: 10:00am to 10:00pm
Non Halal - no pork, no lard served

Date visited: 8 Dec 2012

Penang Asam Laksa and Cendol Food Truck in Taman Ungku Tun Aminah (TUTA), Johor Bahru, Malaysia

 

 

Mdm Wong and her husband started their first food truck in 2006 and today, through sheer hard work and dedication, they have 3 food trucks selling Penang Asam Laksa and Cendol around the TUTA and Skudai area.

We paid Mdm Wong a visit recently to try her Penang Asam Laksa and cendol.

Mdm Wong's food truck is located along this back lane in Taman Ungku Tun Aminah from 11:00am to 6:30pm daily. It is tucked in the narrow back lane behind Jalan Pahlawan 1 and between two rows of shophouses. Personally, I found back lane dining charming though it may not appeal to everyone. 

The asam laksa broth was made with tamarind, spices and fish. Mdm Wong said it takes many hours to brew this broth to the right taste and flavour. There was enough fish in the broth which blended well with the tamarind and spices. The broth was subtly tangy, sweet from the fish meat, with hints of spiciness and perkiness from chillies. At the more average Asam Laksa stalls which use little fish, the tamarind sourness is the dominant taste, which I do not appreciate.

In addition to the fish used to make the broth, Mdm Wong scooped a spoonful of fish flakes into each bowl of her Penang Asam Laksa just  before serving. This gives her Penang Asam Laksa broth additional fresh fish flavours and mouth feel. 

For a reasonable RM4 we get a bowl of tasty Penang Asam Laksa loaded with spices, fish flakes and fresh garnishings.

The indispensable prawn sauce for Penang Asam Laksa. Mdm Wong got the basic sauce from a supplier and then blends it herself. Neither overly salty nor too sweet, it was just nice and well balanced. Add in a dash to raise the umami quotient of the broth.

This cendol for RM1.50

Mdm Wong also serves a good cendol. Like the Penang Asam Laksa everything is homemade by Mdm Wong's family.

The green pandan "worms" which takes a few hours to make.

That same evening (Weds), we dropped by the pasar malam at TUTA and who did we find busy selling Penang Asam Laksa and cendol? Mdm Wong and her husband! They worked so hard and so long hours!

Restaurant name: No name food truck (if vehicle plate number is a name, look out for JEA 9218)
Address: Back lane off Jalan Pahlawan 1, Taman Ungku Tun Aminah, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/CzfqC
GPS: 1.521277,103.662748
Hours: 11:00am to 6:00pm daily. Also operates at the pasar malam in the TUTA and Skudai areas.
Non Halal

Date visited: 5 Dec 2012

Curry Fish Head at Restoran Jay Bee Garden J.B. 園咖哩鱼头小食馆 in Taman Skudai Bahru, Johor

Restoran Jay Bee Garden in Taman Ungku Tun Aminah is a cosy popular neighbourhood restaurant where local families go for tasty dishes at reasonable prices.

Dim Sum at Hao Yu in Taman Johor Jaya (near Jusco Tebrau) in Johor Bahru, Malaysia 豪友点心楼

My friend Sally Wong suggested in Johor Yummy group that I try the dim sum at Hao Yu 豪友 in Taman Johor Jaya. "You will not regret it" she said. 

Actually, Sally didn't say Hao Yu, she only said "dim sum at Bakawali 91".

Wonderful Chocolate Cakes from Oh My Cakes (Online Bakeshop) in Johor Bahru, Malaysia

I was at a home party and Bryan brought two of his Oh My Cakes (OMC) to the party. Oh my! the OMC chocolate cakes were simply awesome.

I was totally bowled over. The cakes were moist inside and the chocolate ganache was chocolaty, buttery creamy and silky smooth. The ganache's chocolate flavour was full bodied with a lovely bitter sweet taste. The ganache was not overly sweet, which is a common fault of average cakes. OMC chocolate cake is just better than any chocolate cake that I have tried so far, including higher end brand names. No kidding.

As usual, if I liked a food, I will swallow a lump of saliva and boldly approach the boss about his/her story and for permission to photograph them at work.

I asked Bryan if I could photograph him making his delectable creations. Bryan graciously agreed :)

 

Bryan is a Le Cordon Bleu trained chef who worked a stint in a Sydney fine dining restaurant before returning to JB. Trained in French cuisine, baking is his passion.

Bryan uses these large, chunky dark chocolate to make his ganache.

Cubes of rich butter added to the chunks of chocolate.

I realised that making a tasty, silky smooth and rich ganache required a lot of strength and elbow grease.

Look at Bryan's focus as he crafted his chocolate cake, he looked just like a sculptor creating his work of art.

 

Everything in OMC chocolate cakes are made with natural ingredients, including their vanilla essence which Bryan makes with real vanilla pods.

 

If you want one of these droolicious chocolate cakes in JB, call Bryan at +6016-792-4999.

OMC chocolate cakes make great gifts. Bryan is offering his awesome 1 Kg chocolate cake at RM68 each.

 

Presently, Bryan's yummy cakes are available for self collect only at 5, Jalan Permas 16/2, Bandar Baru Permas Jaya, Johor Bahru. Call Bryan at +6016-792-4999 and order two days in advance.