Monday, December 29, 2014


This post on Kin Hua is definitely a late one, something which I have been wanting to write an article on, but never gotten the chance to do so. So I took this opportunity over the long weekend to start my heritage trail within Johor Bahru "old city". First stop, Restaurant Kin Hua. It has been around probably before me and my parents, operating at a corner shop by the junction of Jalan Trus and Jalan Tan Hiok Nee. Day in day out, it has attracted throngs of customers from within the town and tourists.

Sunday, September 14, 2014

After a long hiatus from blogging and providing the latest food eateries to spring up all over Johor Bahru, I have finally made a comeback again. Not sure if its a welcomed move but I just felt something has to be done to keep this blog alive, rather than leaving it to rot after abandoning it for more than 6 months.

Yesterday, I went to check out a new Kuey Tiao Kia (short form KTK aka 淉条仔) stall at Taman Gaya. This is a delicacy that is not available elsewhere, and even unheard of in other parts of Malaysia and that's why one MUST make it a point to drop by and visit a KTK stall when setting foot in Johor Bahru. KTK consists mainly of braised meat, innards, eggs, tau kee, beancurd etc coupled with a bowl of hot steaming kuey tiao soup. The chilli paste is of utmost importance too, just like how sambal is to nasi lemak. They play a complimentary role to each other.

Let's start off with the facade of the Restoran Zheng Zhong, nothing fanciful and just another shop you will easily pass by without giving it a 2nd glance (except for the signage highlighting it had starred in a popular local foodie program - Ho Chak).



Check out the bowl of deep-fried tau kees and meat balls soaked in the herbal soup. Patience is a virtue in this case, waiting for the crispy tau kees to get that texture (50% crisp - 50% soggy) before dipping it in the chilli sauce. Woooooooo UMAMI !


Braised egg and beancurd. Nothing special about the egg but the toufu is worth mentioning with its silky smooth texture. If you fancy a savory sauce of a thick consistency, then this is for you. Remember to drench the toufu or eggs with a good portion of the gravy.


Don't forget to order the braised pork and collagenous pork cheek skin too !



That's all I need for a simple, hearty meal. Plates of braised side dishes with a bowl of hot herbal kuey tiao soup, on a windy night ... S H I O K !


 


Price: 7.0/10
Service: 7.0/10
Conclusion: An inexpensive KTK outlet with a wide, delectable selections of braised products, garner a spot within my heart.


30, Jalan Sasa 4,
Taman Gaya 81800 Ulu tiram
Johor, Malaysia

Operating hours: 12pm - 9pm daily
Tel: +6014-310 4661

Saturday, January 4, 2014

I have been contacted via Facebook by the marketing exec of The Grand Gem Restaurant, Ms An Lionel for the special invitation to drop by for a visit. I truly appreciate this opportunity granted by An and would at the same time, like to offer my apology for this dated article due to my tight schedule.

Let's get things rolling then ... the entrance to The Grand Gem Restaurant @ Grand Bluewave Hotel. For anybody who is not aware of this, the hotel is conveniently located next to the new Custom, Immigration & Quarantine (CIQ) complex and is only within 5 minutes driving distance. A convenient choice for Singaporeans looking to go back across the causeway in the shortest possible time, avoiding the frequent traffic jams around town.