Wednesday 29 January 2014

Siakap Kuey Teow Soup 榕樹下金目盧魚肉粿條湯 @ Jalan Kebuh Teh Lama, Johor Bharu

Siakap Kuey Teow Soup 榕樹下金目盧魚肉粿條湯 @ Jalan Kebuh Teh Lama, Johor Bharu

This week is to recommend another famous food stall under a big tree. The stall is just conveniently located next to Danga City Mall, is a famous spot for lunch during weekdays, and also a good place for family lunch during weekend.  But bear in mind that the parking space here is quite limited.  
The selling point here is their noodles with Siakap fish which is definitely fresh and affordable.We ordered two bowl of soupy kuey teow. It will be expensive for a normal kuey teow soup for RM8.00, but the one we had under the big tree here is definitely worth for the price, which consists of various ingredients.
Siakap Kuey Teow Soup 金目盧魚肉粿條湯  RM8
The ingredient inside is full with Siakap fish, fish ball, abalone slices, fish cake, and also minced meat to boost up the flavour of the soup. The texture of the fishball is firm but not soft, Taste good. One good point to note is their flavourful but crystal clear soup, is totally not oily.
The Siakap fish slices are perfectly matched with the kuey teow soup, the fish is extremely fresh, with a thin layer of chewy fish skin, many others may not like to eat fish skin, but I especially as it is where the collagen are. Other than that, the fish also renders the soup with some sweetness.
We also found "abalone slices" in the kuey teow soup, nothing special, but add in variety of the ingredients. Basically, it is really worth for a try and one day will definitely come back again.


Address : Siakap Kuey Teow Soup 榕樹下金目盧魚肉粿條湯
Jalan Kebuh Teh Lama, Johor Bharu
(Near to Danga City Mall)
GPS : N01 28.686'  E103 45.211'

Business Hour : 7.15am - 4pm

Wednesday 22 January 2014

Roti Canai 华人印度煎饼 @ Shyang 详 Kopitiam,Taman Johor Jaya, Johor Bahru

Roti Canai 华人印度煎饼 @ Shyang 祥 Kopitiam,Taman Johor Jaya, Johor Bahru

Roti Canai, one of the famous food in Malaysia involving interesting making process by continuing tossing the soft dough. Whilst we always think that the process of making roti canai is Indian's specialty, a Chinese stall which selling Roti Canai at Johor Jaya area indeed served as an eye-opener. We were here early in the morning as we were told that their roti canai normally selling fast.
Just a little info about Roti Canai. It is a type of Indian-influenced flatbread found in Malaysia and Indonesia. Beside that, it was known as Roti Prata in Southern Malaysia and Singapore, and is similar to the Indian Kerala porotta.
Roti Canai is prepared by flipping the dough into a large thin layer before folding the outside edges inwards. The dough will then be heated on a hot plate. Flavorings or toppings, if ordered, can be added either before or after it is flipped, depending on the flavorings or the desired outcome. Salute to the young Chinese man who is able to make good roti canai.
Iced Coffee 冰咖啡 RM2
Cold drink is not encouraged in the morning, but due to the hot weather, iced coffee was our choice to kick start the good morning.
Teh Tarik 拉茶  RM1.30
And also you can tried their signature Teh Tarik where their technique of "pulling" the tea can beat mamak stall's. The foam on the top is smooth and with red tea's fragrance.  
Roti Hot Dog Cheese Special  芝士香肠面包  RM3.30
This is today special menu. It sounds so yummy and I even imagines there will be flowing lava cheese in the roti canai. After all, it is not the item that was in my imagination, I didn't find cheese in my roti canai, instead, cheese is within the hotdog itself, like those Ayamas cheese sausage in the market. Slightly disappointed for misleading me. But no doubt, the Roti Canai was great, the dough was not too thick, just appropriate to retain its crunchiness. 
Roti Bawang 洋葱面包  RM1.70
This is for my loved girl. She like to have fried onion. The crispy of onion bring in a lot fragrant onto plain dough and the egg was spread equally to form a even yellowish on dough. The thin and crust make it even better.
After our roti canai served, the boss pronounced to the coming in customers that they are running out of chicken curry as the dipping sauce. So roti canai considered sold out, they started to clean the stall. Be there early to avoid dissapointment. Other than roti canai, the coffee shop also selling some mi hun, nasi lemak and various kuih. All in all, I am quite proud of this Chinese stall and surprise by their great skill in making the roti canai. 

Address : Roti Canai 华人印度煎饼
Jalan Bakawali 50, Taman Johor Jaya, Johor Bahru
GPS : N01 32.502'  E103 47.657'

Bussiness Hour : 6:30am to 4:00pm

Wednesday 15 January 2014

Banana Fritters/ Pisang Goreng Mawar @ Jalan Sungai Chat, Johor Bharu

Banana FrittersPisang Goreng Mawar @ Jalan Sungai Chat, Johor Bharu

Heard of this famous banana fritters for quite sometimes already, finally got the chance to try it out as my high tea. I can never imagine that a simple banana fritters can attract such a huge crowd. What is so special about their banana fritters?
This place is not too far from the Johor Bahru Pantai Lido, to be exact, it is just next to Thistle Hotel.
Fresh banana in bundles are the main decorations of the stall. I like their creativity. Cheap, natural and environmental friendly.
People was queueing for the banana fritters. I remember it was a rainny and cloudy day, but it does not affect people's passion over the banana. The crowd undeniably gives free publicity. It will definitely catch your eyes whenever you pass by.
Deng Deng this is the source for banana fritters, freshly delivered to meet the demand. The first time, I saw banana fritters stall need order such a lot banana for their daily business. I can imagine how much they earn from the business. I may consider to join them if I lose my job, such a profitable business!
My long waiting banana fritter is ready in a big basket.  Golden brown colour makes it look extremely attractive, can't help myself from buying RM 4 of banana fritters. It is sinful yet irresistible.
Banana Fritters (3 pieces RM1)
As I am part of Northern Malaysian, can hardly see people eating banana fritters with dipping on special mixed sauce, it is definitely not a regular practice at north. But I am truly impressed by the special sauce, sweet and spicy. It may sound weird to you, but is true nice. The taste is more likely open up flavour and make you eat more. The freshly made banana fritters are very crispy yet moist inside. A good snack for my high tea.
Nasi Lemak
We ordered their nasi lemak too, which is wrapped in banana leave, so now you know how "serbaguna" is the banana tree. The nasi lemak comes with egg, sambal and salted fish. forgot to jot down its price, because I was too enjoying the banana fritters.
Nasi Ambang  
Never heard of Nasi Ambang before, it is definitely an eye-opener to me. A combination of rice and fried mee, topped with salted fish and a big chunk of chicken. A very contented combination, isn't it? I made a search and found out that Nasi Ambang is a special dish from Jawa, Indonesia, by topping the white rice on Tampah, and surround it with various side dishes, like salted fish, fried mee, chicken opor and etc. Yeah, it invites my attention, so my next target may be best Nasi Ambang in Johor Bahru? Stay tuned please!


Address : Banana Fritters Mawar
888, Jalan Sungai Chat,
80100 Johor Bahru,
Johor Malaysia
GPS :  N01 27.767'  E103 44.474'

Bussiness Hour : 11am - 6.30pm
Tel : 019 - 754 9595

Wednesday 8 January 2014

Tapino Steamboat 乐乐火锅 @ Nusa Bestari, Skudai, Johor

Tapino Steamboat 乐乐火锅 @ Nusa Bestari, Skudai, Johor

We planned to have our late dinner due to some occasion. Few weeks ago, we were here observed that quite a lot people having the steamboat here and we decide to have a try on the following week. This place is well known happening due to most eatery place still operate until wee hours.
The restaurant is divided into two parts, indoor with only steamboat and outdoor with both steamboat and BBQ at the same time due to ventilation problem. We have chosen the outdoor seats to try on BBQ and steamboat at one go.
There is a buffet bar inside the restaurant, serving various frozen foods, vegetables and noodles. The choices are rather limited. Whilst we thought we won't be satisfied by the ingredients at the buffet bar, we were provided with an ala carte menu, contains various seafood and meat which requires to be served fresh. We found cooked foods in the menu too, so while waiting the soup to boil, we ordered some of their cooked foods. 
The ingredients range from vegetable, meat ,seafood to steamboat ingredient. We took a small portion of each items due to a lot choices.  
The otak-otak is wrapped with coconut leaf, suitable for BBQ. The oyster mushroom is always a must for my steamboat.
The Bak Gua (sliced dried pork) was a surprise item we found from the buffet bar, yet it really requires certain skill to BBQ it nicely.
Pork and beef slices cannot be missed out too, best for shabu shabu.
While we looking forward for big prawn, the prawns they have provided although in big quantity, had definitely disappointed us. Fresh and well cleaned up, but is rather small in size. 
We put high expectation on the meat rolls too. It is quite lovely made, but lack of taste and bland. A little bit of marinade may make it perfect.
The rare item in most of the steamboat restaurant, they actually provide pork coagulated blood--my favourite in curry mee!
While we had the opportunity to have the BBQ, we were only allowed to have one choice of soup, we opted for the chicken soup. As usual, we pour all the ingredients inside and wait it to be cooked. In the meantime we enjoyed the cooked foods.
This is some of the fried stuff that we had. I like their popiah with otak-otak filling although it is quite oily. All the others were not too outstanding. Until now, whenever I crave for steamboat, I still think of Yuan Steamboat in the vicinity of Sunway, missing the variety and also their chicken wings!



Address : Tapino Steamboat 乐乐火锅
119G, Jalan Bestari 1/5,
Taman Nusa Bestari,
81300 Skudai, Johor
GPS : N01 29.588'  E103 39.478'

Bussiness Hour : 5pm - 1am
Tel : 07-5570876
Price : Adult  RM23 Child RM13

Branch : 15-G, Jalan Mutiara Emas 10/19,
Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru.

Wednesday 1 January 2014

Chaiwalla & Co. Container Cafe @ Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Johor Bharu

Chaiwalla & Co. Container Cafe @ Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Johor Bharu

We have seen beverage business operating in a shop, in a truck or a stall, but a bubble tea business in a container definitely the the first one we have even seen. Chaiwalla breaks the frame of traditional business, being the pioneer of operating bubble tea business in a modified container. The sight of a restaurant operating from a modified cargo container has attracted quite a number of locals and tourists since it opened on Dec 2012. The sign Chaiwalla & Co is prominently displayed at the restaurant. Here, customer are also attracted by the menu and the ambience.
With the tagline, Honest Tea, Chaiwalla &Co offers a variety of drinks such as original Thai milk tea, chrysanthemum tea and Vietnamese coffee. Fresh milk and halal pearl jellies are included in the drinks.The cafe also sells Ceylon tea of cinnamon, rose, peach, mango and cardamom flavours, among others, for RM25 per 100g.
At the cafe, customers can customise drinks by selecting their size, base, flavour, toppings and sweetness.
For a quick bite, Chaiwalla sells black pepper chicken pies with diced vegetables and meat slices, as well as tuna puffs for seafood lovers.
The children's menu is called kodomo chai. It comes in strawberry, chocolate, mango, or banana flavours of either cold milk tea or a tea base with free toppings.
 Chai Combo SET B -  RM7.80
We ordered a Chai Combo Set B, which comes with a Chicken Mushroom Pie and a cup of Iced Japanese Matcha with Zero Sugar, added Nata De Coco as topping for extra RM1
This chicken mushroom pie was great enough while it is warm. The pastry is crispy and fragrant. The filling is full with mushroom, chicken, carrot and a little bit of creamy gravy, moist and not too dry, excellent to have it during tea break.

Chaiwalla & Co is operated by Muslim friend, so there will be no halal issue, suitable for all races who craves for bubble tea! If you are looking for this unique stall, it is just located in a open air carpark along Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, not far away from the famous Hiap Joo bread shop or the corner coffee shop. Otherwise if you drop by Jalan Tan Hiok Nee for the flee market during weekend, I believe Chaiwalla can enhance your experience in the heritage walk in Johor Bahru too. 


Address : Chaiwalla & Co. Container Cafe
Lot 2810, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee,
80000 Johor Bahru
GPS : N01 27.392' E103 45.825'

Business Hour : Sun - Thur 9.30a - 6.30pm
Fri - Sat 9.30am - 1am
Tel : 012 - 7353572 / 016-7687440