Nasi Lemak in Johor Bahru

Nasi Lemak is a popular food and is commonly available in many restaurants and food outlets in Malaysia and Singapore. Each time when I stayed in a hotel in Malaysia, I can definitely find Nasi Lemak being served as one of the dish available on the breakfast table.

I am not a big fan of nasi lemak as this food is very high in cholesterol; but it is definitely a delicious meal to have especially when I am hungry. In the hotel, nasi lemak is normally served with anchovies, peanuts, egg, and the red hot chilli sauce. When you eat this food that are sold in food stalls, there are more variety of side dish you can add such as fried chicken, fried fish cake, long beans, cabbage, fried fish, achar ( pickled vegetables ), etc. 

Anyway, here is one of the packet of nasi lemak which I have ordered for a quick lunch recently. My preference is that the rice should have a light coconut and pandan flavor; and the chilli should not be too overwhelming hot and spicy.

Rotiboy Coffee Bun in Johor Bahru

I was delighted to see a Rotiboy outlet at the Customs and Immigration center in Johor Bahru. The shop is opposite Starbuck Cafe and the KFC outlet. It is a small outlet - buy and go. Even before you arrived at the Rotiboy outlet, you can smell the coffee bun from quite a distance away.

There was a small crowd of people queuing to order their bun and pastries. I noticed that most people were buying the signature coffee bun. The cheapest coffee bun was RM2. I ordered the RM2.50 coffee bun which had coffee cream filled inside the bun. Another version is the coffee bun filled with butter cream also at the same price of RM2.50.


The coffee bun taste good while it was hot and crispy. I find it rather too sweet and the smell of coffee is not too overwhelming. Overall it was a nice quick snack but I don't think I would liked to eat 2 coffee buns - even though the paperbag says ' one is never enough '.

Penang Laksa from Johor Bahru

My friend and I was at a food fair held in KSL City mall in Johor Bahru. She saw a food kiosk selling Penang Laksa. She went to the food kiosk to order one bowl while I was seated nearby. When she came back and placed the food on the table, I saw that the the Penang Laksa was served in a plastic cup and it cost RM5. Quite frankly I was quite disappointed at the way Penang Laksa was served to customers from this food kiosk. The least this food stall could do was to served it in a Styrofoam or paper bowl.

I tasted the Penang Laksa, the gravy was bland and watery and lack the authentic taste of a good Penang Laksa. There was very little other ingredients added to it except the noodles. I felt that this Penang Laksa was a disappointment in quality and taste. Definitely not worth the money. Anyway my friend said that this would be the first and last time that she would be ordering any food from this food stall.

For myself, I ordered a durian ice cream which cost RM10. The durian ice cream was really nice though I felt that RM10 for a plastic cup of durian ice cream was quite expensive. To read about the the durian ice cream and a new 4 in 1 coffee bag which I had bought; just follow the link below: -

Food Fair in KSL City Mall in Johor Bahru

Indian Nasi Briyani

On a Saturday evening, my friend told me to try out Nasi Briyani for dinner. So we went to Tekka Food Center in Little India in Singapore and ordered Nasi Briyani from a Indian food stall. I am not a fan of Nasi Briyani; I prefer Hainanese Chicken Rice. Anyway, the hawker center was crowded and you have to  queue to buy the food.

The Nasi Briyani that we ordered cost S$5 and the loose grain basmati rice was soft and fluffy. What I liked was the Indian curry gravy; which was not to hot and with a stronger spicy scent. I had ordered the chicken version instead of the mutton; and the chicken meat taste good.

There are also many Nasi Briyani stalls in Johor Bahru as well. Eating there is also cheaper too; as the same Nasi Briyani would only cost about S$2.50 if you ordered it from a mamak food stall. I would always request for extra rice, curry gravy and vegetables - and not forgetting the hot ginger tea.

Tudor Gold Chocolate from Malaysia

Christmas season is a time for shopping and it is also a good time to buy chocolate as it is always on promotion and on sale. I can see that there are many brands of chocolate in the market nowadays - so the chocolate candy market must be quite competitive. I remember the time when I was just a kid, the popular brands of chocolate was Van Houten, Mars, Kit Kat, Cadbury and some other unknown brands. Nowadays you have well known brands like Hersey, Toblerone, Delafee, Godiva, Ferrero Rocher, etc which are virtually unheard when I was a young kid.

There is one brand of chocolate that is made in Malaysia - Tudor Gold Chocolate which I think is quite good. If you are not willing to spend too much money, nor willing to pay a high price of a premium Swiss chocolate, then try this Tudor Gold Chocolate. I was surprised that it has a very smooth chocolate taste, the almonds were very crunchy and fresh. More importantly it only cost less than US$3 ( sale price ) for one pack. The weight of one pack is 180gm.

The Tudor Gold chocolate is a delicious chocolate snack and is very affordable in price.  I understand that chocolate can help in lowering cholesterol levels and it is good for the heart too. But try not to eat too much of it as it is perceived as a heaty food and relatively high sugar content.

Bak Kut Teh in Johor Bahru

I have tried a few Bak Kut teh food outlets in Johor Bahru and most of them served the herbal type of Bak Kut teh. For those who does not know what is Bak kut teh, it is pork rib soup that is normally served with rice and youtiao ( fried dough). My preference of pork rib soup is the spicy type and it is hard to find this version in Johor Bahru. The photos shown here is the Johor Bahru's herbal version of Bak Kut teh that I have tried in one of the so called famous outlet - which is very crowded with people. But my personal view is that is it not that great - just average in quality and taste.

I felt that the herbal version of Bak Kut Teh served in Johor Bahru is rather sweet ( did they add too much sugar? ) as compared to the those that I have eaten in Singapore. The portion of pork ribs served was sufficient for someone liked me who don't fancy eating too much meat. But if you enjoy eating pork ribs, then you need to order the large size version. There were some mushrooms added in the Bak kut teh soup - most of the time it is the button mushrooms that you can buy from the supermarkets.

The cost of eating Bak Kut teh in Johor Bahru is around RM$25 for serving of two persons. It would consists of one medium size Bak Kut teh or pork rib soup, 2 small bowl of rice, a bowl of youtiao or fried dough and 2 cans of coke drinks. It is definitely cheaper eating Bak kut teh in Johor Bahru as compared to eating it in Singapore. But I prefer the Singapore version of Bak kut teh - it definitely taste nicer and more delicious; and of course you have to pay more to enjoy it.

KFC Malaysia on Successful Crisis Management

My friend shared a video to me about a staff in KFC Malaysia tampering with the food that he was preparing it in the kitchen restaurant. I think this employee was having fun by lifting the chicken with his foot. Of course anyone who view this video would be disgusted with this act and may stopped patronizing KFC in Malaysia. After all, there are many restaurants in Malaysia serving fried chickens. If you have not watch the video, here is the video from Youtube.

KFC Malaysia immediately took action to mitigate the damage to its reputation by conducting its own internal investigation, filing a police report, using Youtube video and Facebook to explain and engage its customers and the public on the actions that KFC Malaysia took to address this problem; and steps taken to prevent such incidents from happening again. The KFC Malaysia video is below:-

KFC Malaysia had demonstrated successfully its ability to handle this crisis in a professional manner; and more importantly took positive steps to regain customers' confidence in their restaurants and brand. I think this case should be included as a case study in the curriculum of those studying business course either in polytechnics or university.

Personally, I will continue to patronize KFC restaurants in Malaysia. By the way, many of my friends and myself included love the KFC chicken rice. The chicken rice is really delicious, even better than some of the so called famous chicken rice stalls in Malaysia. I have also written a blog previously comparing KFC Malaysia and KFC Singapore - which is better in terms of food and ambiance?  If you want to find out, just follow the link below -


Comparing KFC Malaysia and KFC Singapore


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Almond Powder Beverage in Malaysia

I bought a tin of almond powder beverage from a shop in Johor Bahru. The name of this beverage is called BKC Almond Powder. It is suitable for those who are vegetarians. Almonds are known to be good for lowering cholesterol and reduce heart attacks. It contains lots of nutrients that such as calcium and magnesium which are required for strong bones.

This BKC Almond Powder does contained added sugar and non diary creamer. I have also bought Almond powder that contains 100% pure almond. The reason why I buy BKC Almond powder is because it is easy to prepare and serve to my friends when they are in my home. All you need to do is to scoop up 3 or 4 spoonful of almond powder from the tin, add hot water and it is ready to drink. Another reason is that not every one can accustomed to drinking 100% pure almond drink - because the smell of almond is really strong.

The taste of BKC Almond powder is nice. The smell and taste of almond is there when you drink it but it is not strong - so it is suitable for most people. By the way, one of my friend told me that she drinks almond beverage every day when she is down with flu. According to her, the Chinese physician told her that almond drink helps to reduce phlegm and cough. Anyway, it is a nutritious beverage to me, so I normally drink it daily.

Kluang Rail Coffee in Johor Bahru

There is a nice place to sit back, relax and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea with crispy toasted butter bread. The small cafe is called the Kluang Rail Coffee in Kotaraya mall in Johor Bahru. This is really one of my favorite place to enjoy tea and butter toast bread. If you are planning to go there on a weekend, be prepared to wait for a empty table; because most of the time it is very crowded.

I normally visit Kluang Rail Coffee store on weekdays so that I can find a nice place to sit, do nothing and just enjoy my cup of tea. I seldom drink coffee, so I am not able to assess the quality of the coffee sold at this place. But I can tell you that the tea is nice and the butter toast bread is super. Also there are many coffee drinkers there enjoying their fresh brewed coffee.  This place also sell other food such as rice and noodles. If I can remember correctly it also sell peanut butter toast bread - I have not try it yet.

Kotaraya mall is about 15 minutes walk away from the Johor Bahru Immigration and Customs checkpoint. The Kluang Rail Coffee is located at the annex of the Kotaraya Mall. If you are not sure, just ask the security guard or anyone in the building for assistance. I do not liked going to those branded coffee outlets commonly found in the malls, these coffee joints simply cannot made delicious and crispy butter or kaya toast bread.

I do hope that the Kluang Rail Coffee could expand this current outlet. There is too little tables and seats available. If you want to try other food, there are also a few food outlets in this mall and the Puteri Pacific Hotel is just nearby, if you are keen in having buffet lunch.

Groundnuts from Malaysia

My friend has given me a packet of groundnuts that is made in Malaysia. She told me that this packet of groundnuts came from Sungei Siput in Perak and it is a well known brand over there. Normally during Chinese New Year, her family members will buy about 30 packets of this groundnuts to serve their guests.

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I looked at the packet and the brand is Mee Hiong Yuen and there is a picture of an old fisherman carrying a fishing rod and basket. The packaging itself looks rather old fashioned and boring. Anyway, I opened up the packet of groundnuts and eat them. The groundnuts tasted delicious and it was not too salty. The groundnuts are quite small in size but it has a great taste and very crispy too.
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The Mee Hiong Yuen brand of groundnuts are not selling in Singapore. Even in the local supermarkets in Malaysia, it is rarely found. That is why my friend will always buy them whenever she goes back to her home in Perak.

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Sui Kow - Chinese Dumplings

Whenever I go to a coffee shop in Johor Bahru selling wanton noodles, I will find out from the stall owner whether they have sui kow as well. Sui Kow is basically Chinese dumplings that are either made of prawns, chicken, pork or a combination of these ingredients. The Sui Kow is normally served in a clear soup made of ikan bilis ( dried anchovies ) or the stall secret recipe soup. Alternatively it can also be deep fried and served with chili sauce.

It is not difficult to find Sui Kow in Johor Bahru as there are relatively many wanton noodles stalls over there. I prefer to eat this Chinese dumplings in clear soup and not with too much meat in it. I like those dumplings with a mixture of meat, prawns, mushroom and black fungus. If you are with friends, you could in fact order both the soup and fried versions.


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Char Kway Teow - Chinese Fried Noodles

One of the food that I enjoy eating is Char Kway Teow which is basically Chinese fried noodles. I ordered a plate of char kway teow while I was in Johor Bahru near KSL City mall. It is a small coffee shop at the corner of a road. The stall was opened in the morning; and the coffee shop was rather crowded with people having their morning breakfast. There were other stalls selling noodle soup, chicken/pork porridge and also toast bread with coffee and tea.

When the lady put the plate of char kway teow on my table, I was glad that it was not the dark colored version. The noodles looked light brown and seems rather small in serving - the cost was RM$3. The noodles are fried together with vegetables, eggs, Chinese sausage, small cockles, and 2 small prawns. I was rather surprised that there are 2 prawns included for this price. The char kway teow tasted good - not too oily or wet. During the order, I told the lady that I wanted the cockles to be well cooked and with little chilli and it was done accordingly.

The char kway teow was tasty and though the serving was small, I felt that it was reasonable considering the amount of ingredients that was added. This food is high in cholesterol, so it is good to eat in moderation.  Anyway I also took the opportunity to try out the Kaya toast bread in the coffee shop.

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Penang Food - Ghee Hiang Babies Mascot

Here is a mascot of a famous food product manufacturer in Penang. The name of the company is Ghee Hiang. The sesame oil that are produced from this company is well known for its quality. Besides sesame oil, the company also produces traditional Chinese cookies, pastries and coffee. I am not going to write about their products here. What I want to show is their mascot which is the Ghee Hiang Babies.
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I think the Ghee Hiang Babies have attracted my attention while I was walking at a mall in Kuala Lumpur. That is what a good mascot must do - attract attention. In this respect, the Ghee Hiang Babies certainly have passed this test. What I liked about their mascot is that these mascots always has a very cheerful/ playful and energetic appearance. If you see their mascot, then the store is just around the corner.

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I took a glimpse at their store that day; but didn't have time to browse through their products as I have an appointment to keep. But certainly their mascots have brighten up my day. I will make a point to try out their pastries products when I am back in Kuala Lumpur later this year.

Bee Cheng Hiang Store in Johor Bahru

   Many Chinese people will be familiar with Bee Cheng Hiang stores in Singapore. The company has been selling the popular barbecued pork called bakkwa in Singapore and Malaysia for many years. In fact the history of Bee Cheng Hiang dates back before the Singapore Independence and even the Second world war.

   If you are keen in trying out the Malaysian version of the barbecued pork, the nearest store is just about 10 minutes from the Johor Bahru CIQ. Besides the usual barbecued pork, the store also sells Chinese pastries. That note that you are not allowed to bring in the barbecued pork from Malaysia into Singapore, as the Customs and Immigration in Singapore prohibited it.

  I noticed that the prices of the barbecued pork sold in Johor Bahru is not cheap at all. In fact the prices are almost comparable to that of their stores in Singapore. I was having this impression that it should be cheaper in Johor Bahru, after all the cost of business operations such as rental of premises and staff salaries should be much cheaper than in Singapore. So why is this not reflected in the prices of the barbecued pork sold in Johor Bahru. I believe many Singaporeans will patronize the Bee Cheng Hiang store in Malaysia if the prices of their products are cheaper. They will buy it for their own consumption or give it away as a gift to their relatives, friends or business associates in Malaysia.

   I wonder whether there are other barbecue pork stores near the CIQ  in Johor Bahru besides Bee Cheng Hiang? Once I find out that there are other similar barbecued pork stores, I will furnish the details in this blog, so that the consumers have alternatives choices.