Oyster Rice and Melon Soup @ Ban Heong Seng near Danga Bay in Johor Bahru

Besides the beggar’s chicken and the country fish, the remaining two of the “Four Heavenly Kings” at Ban Heong Seng restaurant are their oyster rice and melon soup.

The oyster rice is in the smaller clay pod on the left. The beggar's chicken is in the larger pod.

The oyster rice is made the same way as the beggar's chicken. The glutinous rice with dried shrimps, dried oysters, black mushrooms, and chicken meat are wrapped with lotus leaves and then encased in clay. The clay pod with the rice inside is then baked in a bed of hot charcoal for many hours, just like the beggar's chicken.

Oyster rice for RM22

The resulting baked rice is loaded with fragrance from all the aromas of the different ingredients and the lotus leaf wrapping. The many ingredients also infused the grains of rice with varied flavours – every bite bringing with it delightful sensations and surprises for the taste buds.

This melon soup costs RM20

The melon soup is made by scooping the seeds and core out a fresh winter melon and stuffing it with a clutch of herbs. The winter melon with herbs inside is then steamed for hours until the whole melon is cooked.

When served, the melon is filled with herbs inside swimming in piping hot delicious, naturally sweet soup. The pulp of the melon is also eaten – it is delicious, smooth and sweet.

The oyster rice and melon soup complement the beggar’s chicken and country fish very well, making the “Four Heavenly Kings” a hearty, healthy and wholesome meal for a party of four.


Restaurant name: Ban Heong Seng Restaurant (call 016-757-1887 or 07-237-5194 to book 1 day in advance as the dishes need to be prepared hours ahead of serving)

Address: 34-B, Jalan Skudai, Batu 3¼, off Jalan Tahar, Johor Bahru

Map: http://g.co/maps/a42p4

GPS: 1.483683,103.721548

Hours: Call 016-757-1887 or 07-237-5194 to pre-arrange lunch or dinner

Non Halal

Date visited: 9 Mar 2012