Restaurant Kin Hua 锦华茶餐室

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.

Read More

The Grand GEM (Grand Bluewave Hotel)

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.

Read More

Tera Thai Fine Dine Restaurant

When one talks about Thai cuisine in Johor Bahru, there's only a few which surfaces in the head that will stir up my interest (and appetite). I had first hand experiences at restaurants in Taman Molek, Taman Gaya & JB city (*drums roll* yes, it's Carabao) and mind you, they aren't cheap. Affordability is a word one don't come across easily these days, especially in Johor Bahru. Sighh ...

I chanced upon the place couple months back, but am skeptical so it never brought about any second thoughts in me to pay a visit. As things would have it, stingy me spotted Groupon offering a deal at only RM25 for a fine Thai dining experience at Tera Thai. I jumped at the opportunity for a go at it, wonder how it will be ?

Read More

IT Roo Cafe

Where can you head to when you start to have craving for decent food in the old city centre of Johor Bahru. Located in the midst of old shophouses along Jalan Dhoby, you can find a little cafe boasting it serves "The Best Chicken Chop in Johor Bahru". Although I do not second that tagline wholeheartedly, but they definitely rank as one of the top in my list. If you still have some time to spare after the meal, you could head opposite where you can find a little Indian bakery, old school stuffs ! According to my Dad (he used to live nearby in the mid 1900s), the little bakery has been around for a long time, ever since he was a teenager.

Read More

Restaurant Hua Mui 华美茶餐室 ... since 1946

Restaurant Hua Mui has been around since 1946 and that til today, it is still leaving its footprints in and around Johor Bahru. I believe they have another outlet at Taman Sutera but it is this shop (their main branch) along Jalan Trus that really absorbs one into a time portal, and back to the future. 

Mind awashed with the tranquility and laid-back lifestyle of the 1950s, I very much enjoy sipping away the coffee with a hot toasted bun on my hand, flanked by buildings from the colonial era.  Don't be lazy, the atmosphere is best experienced in the early morning. Shave off an hour of your sleep, wake up early and head over where there are minimum traffic and crowd. I certainly enjoy this short moment of escape from reality.

Read More

TGI Fridays Malaysia

We decided to drop by TGI Friday for dinner today, as usual their business is brisk, service is prompt and food is delectable. Something commendable is their constant update of the menu, to bring us new food items on the menu or with their set promotion. A good move I reckon, to keep the customers coming back for more repeatedly. They have something new this time, named "Small Plates" each costing RM10.90 with 4 different items to select from (i.e. Broccoli Risotto Balls, Stuffed Mushrooms, Jamaican Beef Empanadas and Eggplant Rollatini).

My favourite, Beef Ribs with BBQ sauce. The meat is tender and falls off the bone easily. A very filling and hearty meal for me indeed, excellent food to load up with after a session at the gym.

Read More

Jalan Storey Nasi Lemak & Otak

It was an idyllic Sunday for most of the people around but apparently not so for me. Was back from work the morning as I have to stay behind in office in anticipation of the scheduled downtime for my systems in the wee hours of the morning. A very lethargic me, in comparison to the crowds buzzing in the small, rustic eating outlet.
This place serves very good otak otak, something different from the kind you get from Muar. It's those wrapped in 2 pieces of banana leaf, something you would usually see at the mamak stalls but this is not as reddish and tasted much better, more succulent and softer. The stall has been around for as long as I can remember and there are countless loyal customers that would flock back every now and then (e.g. me & my family), weekly or even daily just for simple, no frills breakfast.

Read More

A Sunday visit to TGI Friday

A very belated addition to my blog. I should have posted up these pictures a week ago but was bogged down by laziness, hence waited til tonight to post it up.

TGI Friday is a favourite hangout place for my family, or strictly speaking...my mum. Food is not bad but I still feel the inconsistencies when it comes to the quality of the food, leaves much to be desired. The chefs did a good job MOST of the time, but sometimes it just let us down. A point to note though, whenever you order steak, just remember to bring a notch down on how well you want it to be done (example...you will order it medium-well, when actually you would like it well-done), in this case the steak would turn out just fine according to your specifications. Have tried it many times and it works for me :)

Read More

Ah Meng teochew kuey tiao

This shop located at the intersection between Jalan Chengal and Jalan Meranti @ Taman Melodies, serves excellent Teochew style kuey tiao soup. The fish slices are fresh and so are the pig innards (which I'm not a fan of it). Usually my order would be dry mee (extra chilli sauce) with pork and fish slices. People who are a fan of spicy stuffs, should really ask them to provide you with more of the chilli sauce. It goes well with the noodles.

Just be prepared to wait up to 20 minutes during peak hours (breakfast/lunch hour), and they don't serve dinner. They are closed after 4pm, and sometimes earlier.

Read More

Dinner @ Gianni's Trattoria Restaurant & Cafe

Today is the 1st day of the lunar new year. Due to the special occasion and to some extent, repeated servings of the same dishes for our past 2 meals, my Dad suggested going to Gianni for dinner tonight. I made a reservation for 5 in the afternoon, just to be safe. Was glad we made the reservation, as it was fully booked on both floors. I know it sounds weird to have Italian cuisine on the first day of Chinese New Year, but well our family is kinda different from the norm :P
 

Read More