Malaysia Food

Location: N01 27.6467 E103 46.0360 Johor Bahru, Johor

Getting there: Near the Lorry Customs and Immigration Complex. The shop faces what is called the new Customs and Immigration Complex. There used to be a ramp from the city to this place, but the ramp has been decommissioned to make way for development, have to take the long way round to get here.

Meal: Breakfast

Even with major construction in the area, people flock to this place by the carload. Practically the only form of activity in the area.

The striking thing is that the noodles are very tender. The meat is very tender too. Suitable for those who do not want to bite or with little teeth. The sauce however, is quite light. The noodle comes in a bowl with little contents. However, it can be quite a filling meal. The chili paste with a separate calamansi on the side is very good. Somehow, I can’t figure out if the calamansi goes in to the chilli paste or in to the noodles. It works either way.

Rating:

Food: 8/10
Service: 6/10
Value: 4/10

Remarks: Brother of the Kluang Beef Noodles. Same same but different. Duck rice in the same shop is quite popular too.

Location: N01 29.5897 E103 46.1869 Alt 82 ft Johor Bahru, Johor

Getting there: In Taman Sentosa, perpendicular to Lien Ho Complex.

Meal: Lunch

Possibly the hardest working person in the whole shop. It is difficult to find Lui Cha in JB and this is a very popular place to have it. Although he serves yong tau foo on the side, his Lui Cha is very popular, with a large tray of each vegetables. His soup is creamy with light taste of tea.

Rating:

Food: 7/10
Service: 8/10
Value: 8/10

Remarks: Yong Tau Foo on the side if you want.

Location: N01 29.1256 E103 43.3594 alt 98 ft Johor Bahru, Johor

Getting there: Near the Maybank Entrance of Taman Tasek, not the George and Dragon or Celcom entrance. Should not be too difficult to find the area as there are plenty of signage how to get to Taman Tasek because of the permanent road closures.

Meal: Breakfast

I used to grow up in this neighborhood which I will miss dearly. This shop started out as a shack under a tree. It has been given a new facelift with the town council building 4 stalls. This set of stalls should be the symbol of national harmony, to some extent. The Malay-Muslim stall, which opened after the koay teow kia stall, serves drinks over the non halal side provided you respect certain etiquette; not mixing the pork with the cup.

Many know that koay teow kia is a specialty of JB but few know where to find it. Most koay teow kia stalls are in secluded and blue collar areas, not quite on the path of tourist. I was fortunate enough to have one along the same road and I remember cycling down the road having koay teow kia with my allowance once in a while.

The modus operandi is to go to the counter, point on the side dishes that you want, number of koay teow kia bowl you want and self serve on the drinks; barley or tea. Anything other drinks, order from the Malay stall next door.

Specialty is the pork meat, stuffed intestines, salted vegetables, chicken feet and tofu. If you are more adventurous, there is a spread of other spare parts.

Rating:

Food: 7/10
Service: 7/10
Value: 10/10

Remarks: Not for the faint hearted who accepts only pork meat and not spare parts.

Location: N02 02.3661 E103 20.0881 alt 113 ft or N02 01.7256 E103 19.2570 alt 99 ft Kluang, Johor

Getting there: Beside a Police Station.

Meal: Lunch

A very old looking shoplot. Can’t miss the interior décor. The walls are lined with hard liquor, some with coloured liquid, some with stars. When I arrived, around lunch time, they had the sprinkler on the roof switched on, supposedly to cool the premises.

Nobody came to take the order, so had to approach the kitchen to make our orders.

Ordered a curry meehoon, came rather dry with plenty of noodles and condiments. The friend chilli paste was very good but rather oily for most to tolerate. I prefer to have the chilli paste mixed with the curry to have an extra kick. The noodles overwhelmed the curry and the condiments. Would be just nice if they had reduced the noodles and had more curry and condiments.

Rating:

Food 8/10
Service 4/10
Value 7/10

Remarks: Daughter has an outlet behind the Coronation.

Coronation outlet

Location: N02 02.0167 E103 19.0526 Alt 158 ft Kluang, Johor

Getting there: When in Kluang town, it is at the end of Jalan Stesen (Little India). Can’t miss it, the train tacks runs through town and Jalan Stesen is parallel to the tracks. Beside the train station is the Telekom station and post office.

Meal: Breakfast

When I was a child, this was the ultimate coffee place. Hot toast Hainanese bread with kaya and cold buter with a glass of coffee. Before the franchise gourmet coffee started to invade Malaysia with their ice blended and selection of international gourmet coffee, this coffee outlet often tops the list of best coffee in Malaysia.

Competition is stacking up lately and I decided to drop by to see how it is holding up.

It was crowded as usual, but finding a place was easier than before. Managed to find a table beside the tracks as I walked in. Service is with the usual arrogance, just enough to get coffee on your table and nothing more.

The coffee was good, but unfortunately the condense milk is the inferior Malaysian grade (mixed with palm oil), not the same as what we could get off the shelves 10 years ago. Then again, I do not know a kopitiam which serves coffee with imported full cream condense milk. The coffee was a tad too sweet, would stir in less of the condense milk next time.

The charcoal toasted toast bread was disappointing. The bread was toasted fine, however the home made kaya spread and butter was insignificant.

The much sought after nasi lemak is nothing to shout about.

Ambience is laid back until a train arrives. Seems like time has stood still for a few decades.

Rating:

Food 6/10
Service 5/10
Value 8/10

Remarks: Relying on nostalgia but not keeping up with the competition. I was told that they have an outlet in 1Utama.