ONE63 European Bistro & Bar in Downtown Johor Bahru

I was thrilled when Mandy from ONE63 European Bistro & Bar invited me to visit as I am happy to see more and more higher end restaurants enter the increasingly exciting Johor food scene. So, soon after ONE63 opened for business, I popped by for a simple lunch.



ONE63 bistro is located in a pair of refurbished heritage shop houses along the historic Jalan Ngee Heng. 

Singaporean foodies would be happy to note that ONE63 is just 5-7 minutes walk from City Square Mall - just head north along Jalan Wong Ah Fook, once you exited City Square. ONE63 bistro is easy to locate as it is right next to the prominent Hotel Tropical Inn building.



Inside, ONE63 is well appointed though neither lavish nor pretentious - contemporary European chic, I would say. This is the drinks section on the ground floor. Also on the ground floor, ONE63 has an al fresco dining area. Upstairs, ONE63 has a large dining room as well as an alcova (sheltered balcony) area. 



ONE63 bistro also has a cosy private dining room that comfortably seats 10 people.

ONE63 European Bistro & Bar specialises in Italian and French cuisine.


Smoked Duck Salad Appetiser RM23

As I an a fan of smoked duck, I asked for this Smoked Duck Salad appetiser. Tossed with slices of house smoked duck, mix mesclun (leafy greens) salad, caramelised shallot rings, marinated cherry tomatoes, and balsamic vinegar.



ONE63 bistro is the only restaurant in Johor I know that house smoked their ducks. The thin slices of smoked duck were tender, smooth and savoury. The savoury smooth duck blends well with the refreshing greens bathed in tangy balsamic vinegar. 


Squid Ink Vongole RM28

I wanted something interesting and yet not too heavy, so I picked Squid Ink Vongole. This a popular spaghetti dish made with linguine pasta, fresh squid ink, white wine reduction sauce, little neck clams, chili, and parsley



Ahh.. I love those al dente spaghetti enveloped in that exquisitely savoury squid ink and clam gravy. Delicious, delicious. hehehe.... I order squid ink spaghetti whenever a restaurant offers this dish :)


Tiramisu RM16.30

To wrap up the simple lunch, I had ONE63 bistro's tiramisu for dessert. I was expecting the usual frumpy, chunky slice of cake but was pleasantly surprised that ONE63 serves the classic dessert creatively in an elegant cocktail glass. Made with Italian mascarpone cream and coffee, and lightly blanketed with cocoa powder. Sweet and lovely as good tiramisu should be, and Mandy confirmed that it is alcohol free :)


Sangria Smooth RM13

For drinks, I had this Sangria Smooth suggested by Mandy. It's a pulpy, icy blend of blueberry, strawberry, orange juice, apple juice, and lime with finely crushed ice. I love it.



After lunch, Mandy introduced me to ONE63 bistro's Executive Chef Kelvin Lee. Beneath Kelvin's friendly and warm demeanour is an eye popping résumé.

Kelvin, originally from Kuala Lumpur, has experience in not one but two 3 Michelin Star restaurants in France. They are Le Jardin Des Sens in Montpellier and Michel Bra in Laguiole. Kelvin was also the Group Executive Chef / Chef Consultant of Gusttimo World and was the Head Chef of San Marco at The Lighthouse, Fullerton Hotel, Singapore before coming to Johor Bahru.

Kelvin graciously made me a dessert :)



Food? Art? Food art by Executive Chef Kelvin Lee.



Delectable chocolate mousse with house made ice cream. Oh my, since when did I developed a sweet tooth?!

hehe I already made appointments with Mandy to come back for ONE63's set lunch and dinner :)



Restaurant name: ONE63 European Bistro & Bar
Address: 163, Jalan Ngee Heng, Johor bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/lg22W
GPS: 1.465643,103.760075
Hours: 11:00am to 12:00 midnight daily
No pork, no lard, alcohol served

Date visited: 28 Jun 2013

I was thrilled when Mandy from ONE63 European Bistro & Bar invited me to visit as I am happy to see more and more higher end restaurants enter the increasingly exciting Johor food scene. So, soon after ONE63 opened for business, I popped by for a simple lunch.



ONE63 bistro is located in a pair of refurbished heritage shop houses along the historic Jalan Ngee Heng. 

Singaporean foodies would be happy to note that ONE63 is just 5-7 minutes walk from City Square Mall - just head north along Jalan Wong Ah Fook, once you exited City Square. ONE63 bistro is easy to locate as it is right next to the prominent Hotel Tropical Inn building.



Inside, ONE63 is well appointed though neither lavish nor pretentious - contemporary European chic, I would say. This is the drinks section on the ground floor. Also on the ground floor, ONE63 has an al fresco dining area. Upstairs, ONE63 has a large dining room as well as an alcova (sheltered balcony) area. 



ONE63 bistro also has a cosy private dining room that comfortably seats 10 people.

ONE63 European Bistro & Bar specialises in Italian and French cuisine.


Smoked Duck Salad Appetiser RM23

As I an a fan of smoked duck, I asked for this Smoked Duck Salad appetiser. Tossed with slices of house smoked duck, mix mesclun (leafy greens) salad, caramelised shallot rings, marinated cherry tomatoes, and balsamic vinegar.



ONE63 bistro is the only restaurant in Johor I know that house smoked their ducks. The thin slices of smoked duck were tender, smooth and savoury. The savoury smooth duck blends well with the refreshing greens bathed in tangy balsamic vinegar. 


Squid Ink Vongole RM28

I wanted something interesting and yet not too heavy, so I picked Squid Ink Vongole. This a popular spaghetti dish made with linguine pasta, fresh squid ink, white wine reduction sauce, little neck clams, chili, and parsley



Ahh.. I love those al dente spaghetti enveloped in that exquisitely savoury squid ink and clam gravy. Delicious, delicious. hehehe.... I order squid ink spaghetti whenever a restaurant offers this dish :)


Tiramisu RM16.30

To wrap up the simple lunch, I had ONE63 bistro's tiramisu for dessert. I was expecting the usual frumpy, chunky slice of cake but was pleasantly surprised that ONE63 serves the classic dessert creatively in an elegant cocktail glass. Made with Italian mascarpone cream and coffee, and lightly blanketed with cocoa powder. Sweet and lovely as good tiramisu should be, and Mandy confirmed that it is alcohol free :)


Sangria Smooth RM13

For drinks, I had this Sangria Smooth suggested by Mandy. It's a pulpy, icy blend of blueberry, strawberry, orange juice, apple juice, and lime with finely crushed ice. I love it.



After lunch, Mandy introduced me to ONE63 bistro's Executive Chef Kelvin Lee. Beneath Kelvin's friendly and warm demeanour is an eye popping résumé.

Kelvin, originally from Kuala Lumpur, has experience in not one but two 3 Michelin Star restaurants in France. They are Le Jardin Des Sens in Montpellier and Michel Bra in Laguiole. Kelvin was also the Group Executive Chef / Chef Consultant of Gusttimo World and was the Head Chef of San Marco at The Lighthouse, Fullerton Hotel, Singapore before coming to Johor Bahru.

Kelvin graciously made me a dessert :)



Food? Art? Food art by Executive Chef Kelvin Lee.



Delectable chocolate mousse with house made ice cream. Oh my, since when did I developed a sweet tooth?!

hehe I already made appointments with Mandy to come back for ONE63's set lunch and dinner :)



Restaurant name: ONE63 European Bistro & Bar
Address: 163, Jalan Ngee Heng, Johor bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/lg22W
GPS: 1.465643,103.760075
Hours: 11:00am to 12:00 midnight daily
No pork, no lard, alcohol served

Date visited: 28 Jun 2013

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Japanese Food at Dontaku in City Square Mall, Johor Bahru

 

My friend Kumes have been telling me about Dontaku Japanese restaurant in City Square, one of his favourite hangouts for some time and we finally visited it together last week. City Square has mushroomed with many new eateries since its recent major renovation and has become a mini food paradise. Dontaku is one of the established tenants in City Square and is now tucked at the southern end in a relatively small space. Dontaku is near the Sakae Sushi outlet. 

 

 

Inside Dontaku, the decor is not posh but certainly well appointed. I like this interesting feature wall with various quaint looking bottles and receptacles.

 

 

These green bamboo stands serve as partitions and privacy shields in the tight, small space.

 

 

We started our meal off with a couple of this sake. I'm not sure what brand this was, I only heard Kumes telling the waiter "the usual" :P And, I didn't really pay attention as I am not a big fan of sake. Taste wise, this sake was quite smooth and pleasant.

 

Dontaku serves pretty good Japanese fare at very reasonable prices (especially, if you skip the sake and deserts) at a convenient location with a comfortable ambiance. For foodies and shoppers coming to City Square from Singapore by SMRT bus, Dontaku is one place for a good pit stop for Japanese food.

 

 

First up was this "hamburger steak". There were no buns but it came with a large chunk of salmon and a thick beef patty, both blanketed by a cheesy creamy Japanese mayonnaise.

 

 

I liked the salmon as it was nicely done with the usual flavour of fresh salmon which I liked. The salmon was enhanced by the savoury creamy cheesy Japanese mayo.

 

I am not a big fan of the "hamburger steak" but I can see that Kumes enjoyed it very much. It was a minced beef patty cooked and served with a slightly tangy, savoury gravy with lots of chopped onions. Kumes said this "hamburger" reminded him of those in Japan. It was almost like what he had "over there", he said.

 

 

The ramen came next. I usually eat ramen just to go along with my companions as I always wondered why we have to pay so much for heavily MSG laden soup and flat tasting, "lifeless" noodles. I must confess that I have not tried ramen in "higher class" Japanese restaurants - having experienced only mid-range ramen shops. So, my expectations were not high for this ramen at the simple shopping mall cafe, that Dontaku is.

 

Dontaku's ramen turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The broth was not laced with MSG - the umami  savouriness came from boiling stock bones the old fashioned way. I slurped up the broth noisily and by holding up the bowl in a way that would please any Japanese food connoisseur.

 

 

The ramen noodle had a certain firmness and springiness. It's not quite like the whole egg wanton noodle type of spring but the bounce was definitely there and was quite likable.

 

 

That thin slice of pork was nice too - a good balance of fat and meat. If you are a ramen fan, Dontaku's ramen range is worth a try. Good ramen and reasonable prices. 

 

 

We tried this Dontaku Bento set.  At RM18.00, this was really good value.

 

 

The three big shrimps encrusted in light crackly batter were very fresh, plump and sweet with natural juices. Yummy!

 

 

 

 

 

Everything else in the bento set was pretty good too.

 

 

Before our dessert, we added an order for a simple grilled salmon head to help us finish off our second bottle of sake. I am so glad that we did.

 

The palm sized fresh salmon head was nicely grilled. I ate up everything - all the skin, meat and gelatinous parts including the eyes, leaving only the bones. Kumes is queasy about anything gelatinous, so I got to eat most of the head :) Fish head lovers, remember to try Dontaku's grilled salmon head :)) At RM14, I think this is a very good deal.

 

 

 

We rounded up our meal with a couple of ice creams. This  was the first time that I tried Kuro Goma Black. I liked it for its subtle sesame flavour. RM8 a scoop, which is rather pricey.

 

Give Dontaku a try, if you are in City Square Mall. Nice Japanese fare at reasonable prices sans the sake and ice cream.

 

Restaurant name: Dontaku Japanese Restaurant

Address: Level 3, Johor Bahru City Square (near the Sakae Sushi outlet)

Map: http://goo.gl/maps/dJvah

GPS: 1.461870,103.763401

Hours: 11:00am to 10:00pm

Non Halal

 

Date visited: 22 Jan 2013

 

My friend Kumes have been telling me about Dontaku Japanese restaurant in City Square, one of his favourite hangouts for some time and we finally visited it together last week. City Square has mushroomed with many new eateries since its recent major renovation and has become a mini food paradise. Dontaku is one of the established tenants in City Square and is now tucked at the southern end in a relatively small space. Dontaku is near the Sakae Sushi outlet. 

 

 

Inside Dontaku, the decor is not posh but certainly well appointed. I like this interesting feature wall with various quaint looking bottles and receptacles.

 

 

These green bamboo stands serve as partitions and privacy shields in the tight, small space.

 

 

We started our meal off with a couple of this sake. I'm not sure what brand this was, I only heard Kumes telling the waiter "the usual" :P And, I didn't really pay attention as I am not a big fan of sake. Taste wise, this sake was quite smooth and pleasant.

 

Dontaku serves pretty good Japanese fare at very reasonable prices (especially, if you skip the sake and deserts) at a convenient location with a comfortable ambiance. For foodies and shoppers coming to City Square from Singapore by SMRT bus, Dontaku is one place for a good pit stop for Japanese food.

 

 

First up was this "hamburger steak". There were no buns but it came with a large chunk of salmon and a thick beef patty, both blanketed by a cheesy creamy Japanese mayonnaise.

 

 

I liked the salmon as it was nicely done with the usual flavour of fresh salmon which I liked. The salmon was enhanced by the savoury creamy cheesy Japanese mayo.

 

I am not a big fan of the "hamburger steak" but I can see that Kumes enjoyed it very much. It was a minced beef patty cooked and served with a slightly tangy, savoury gravy with lots of chopped onions. Kumes said this "hamburger" reminded him of those in Japan. It was almost like what he had "over there", he said.

 

 

The ramen came next. I usually eat ramen just to go along with my companions as I always wondered why we have to pay so much for heavily MSG laden soup and flat tasting, "lifeless" noodles. I must confess that I have not tried ramen in "higher class" Japanese restaurants - having experienced only mid-range ramen shops. So, my expectations were not high for this ramen at the simple shopping mall cafe, that Dontaku is.

 

Dontaku's ramen turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The broth was not laced with MSG - the umami  savouriness came from boiling stock bones the old fashioned way. I slurped up the broth noisily and by holding up the bowl in a way that would please any Japanese food connoisseur.

 

 

The ramen noodle had a certain firmness and springiness. It's not quite like the whole egg wanton noodle type of spring but the bounce was definitely there and was quite likable.

 

 

That thin slice of pork was nice too - a good balance of fat and meat. If you are a ramen fan, Dontaku's ramen range is worth a try. Good ramen and reasonable prices. 

 

 

We tried this Dontaku Bento set.  At RM18.00, this was really good value.

 

 

The three big shrimps encrusted in light crackly batter were very fresh, plump and sweet with natural juices. Yummy!

 

 

 

 

 

Everything else in the bento set was pretty good too.

 

 

Before our dessert, we added an order for a simple grilled salmon head to help us finish off our second bottle of sake. I am so glad that we did.

 

The palm sized fresh salmon head was nicely grilled. I ate up everything - all the skin, meat and gelatinous parts including the eyes, leaving only the bones. Kumes is queasy about anything gelatinous, so I got to eat most of the head :) Fish head lovers, remember to try Dontaku's grilled salmon head :)) At RM14, I think this is a very good deal.

 

 

 

We rounded up our meal with a couple of ice creams. This  was the first time that I tried Kuro Goma Black. I liked it for its subtle sesame flavour. RM8 a scoop, which is rather pricey.

 

Give Dontaku a try, if you are in City Square Mall. Nice Japanese fare at reasonable prices sans the sake and ice cream.

 

Restaurant name: Dontaku Japanese Restaurant

Address: Level 3, Johor Bahru City Square (near the Sakae Sushi outlet)

Map: http://goo.gl/maps/dJvah

GPS: 1.461870,103.763401

Hours: 11:00am to 10:00pm

Non Halal

 

Date visited: 22 Jan 2013

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Halal Dim Sum at Kai Xuan Chinese Restaurant at Puteri Pacific Hotel in Johor Bahru

I have been looking for a Halal dim sum in Johor Bahru and finally made it to Kai Xuan restaurant at Hotel Puteri Pacific today. Kai Xuan is a good Chinese restaurant to bring and to recommend to my Muslim friends. Puteri Pacific hotel is just 10 minutes' walk from City Square shopping centre.

The decor, ambiance and cleanliness were excellent as befitting a restaurant in a Five Star hotel. The service was attentive, though I must say that this was a relatively quiet Monday noon.



This is the whole dim sum list. We just tick what we want, and it will be prepared and served steaming hot. The dim sum at Kai Xuan is served a la carte buffet style. For RM36++ for adults and RM18++ for children, we can enjoy "all you can eat" Halal dim sum.



While waiting for our orders to arrive, we were served this little dish of fried and diced tofu appetiser. I picked a little piece to nibble, out of curiosity. It was good! Tangy and savoury, just perfect to "open the stomach" as they say in Chinese.

Here are what we had today. 





Chee cheong fun with prawn fillings. The prawns were bouncy and fresh, and the "fun" skin was soft and thin.



Shark fin siew mai dumpling. No real shark fin, of course - which is a good thing :)



Crystal prawn dumpling. I like plump, juicy fresh prawns.



Though not very photogenic, the Mango Seafood Roll was my favourite. Fresh mango and fresh shrimps wrapped and fried in savoury skin are a great combination.



Deep fried prawn bean curd rolls.









Deep fried prawn bean curd rolls come with nice mayonnaise dip.


 
Crab Roe Siew Mai. Meaty and solid, but I am not really a fan of the filling type of dim sum.

Dim sum uses a lot of prawns and Kai Xuan had taken a lot of care to ensure that this key ingredient is done well. The prawns in Kai Xuan's dim sum had that bounciness and taste that come with fresh plump prawns that are prepared skilfully. Order all their prawn items, they're done right.



As I was keen to know the people behind all these delicious dim sum, I asked restaurant manager Joanne for permission to photograph the dim sum Chef at work. Joanne graciously gave me the green light. (Thanks! Joanne.) Mdm Wong had been the dim sum Chef at Kai Xuan for over 20 years. Mdm Wong shared that she learnt her craft from the Hong Kong sifu (master) when Kai Xuan first started serving dim sum 20 years ago.

While enjoying Kai Xuan's dim sum, I actually wondered for a moment, what took me so long before I tried this? No kidding.

For another take and more on Kai Xuan's dim sum, here is the interesting post from Harris Chai of The Simplest Aphrodisiac blog.

For good quality dim sum in a Five Star hotel and "all you can eat" at RM36++ for adults and RM18++ for children, I believe that this is the best dim sum deal in Johor Bahru. 



Restaurant name: Kai Xuan Chinese Restaurant (in The Puteri Pacific Hotel)
Address: Level B1, The Puteri Pacific Hotel, Jalan Abdullah Ibrahim, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/4xcgl
GPS: 1.460787,103.762097
Hours: a la carte Dim Sum buffet is served 11:30am to 2:15pm on Mon to Sat, 8:30am to 2:15pm on Sunday
Certified Halal

Date visited: 28 Jan 2013

I have been looking for a Halal dim sum in Johor Bahru and finally made it to Kai Xuan restaurant at Hotel Puteri Pacific today. Kai Xuan is a good Chinese restaurant to bring and to recommend to my Muslim friends. Puteri Pacific hotel is just 10 minutes' walk from City Square shopping centre.

The decor, ambiance and cleanliness were excellent as befitting a restaurant in a Five Star hotel. The service was attentive, though I must say that this was a relatively quiet Monday noon.



This is the whole dim sum list. We just tick what we want, and it will be prepared and served steaming hot. The dim sum at Kai Xuan is served a la carte buffet style. For RM36++ for adults and RM18++ for children, we can enjoy "all you can eat" Halal dim sum.



While waiting for our orders to arrive, we were served this little dish of fried and diced tofu appetiser. I picked a little piece to nibble, out of curiosity. It was good! Tangy and savoury, just perfect to "open the stomach" as they say in Chinese.

Here are what we had today. 





Chee cheong fun with prawn fillings. The prawns were bouncy and fresh, and the "fun" skin was soft and thin.



Shark fin siew mai dumpling. No real shark fin, of course - which is a good thing :)



Crystal prawn dumpling. I like plump, juicy fresh prawns.



Though not very photogenic, the Mango Seafood Roll was my favourite. Fresh mango and fresh shrimps wrapped and fried in savoury skin are a great combination.



Deep fried prawn bean curd rolls.









Deep fried prawn bean curd rolls come with nice mayonnaise dip.


 
Crab Roe Siew Mai. Meaty and solid, but I am not really a fan of the filling type of dim sum.

Dim sum uses a lot of prawns and Kai Xuan had taken a lot of care to ensure that this key ingredient is done well. The prawns in Kai Xuan's dim sum had that bounciness and taste that come with fresh plump prawns that are prepared skilfully. Order all their prawn items, they're done right.



As I was keen to know the people behind all these delicious dim sum, I asked restaurant manager Joanne for permission to photograph the dim sum Chef at work. Joanne graciously gave me the green light. (Thanks! Joanne.) Mdm Wong had been the dim sum Chef at Kai Xuan for over 20 years. Mdm Wong shared that she learnt her craft from the Hong Kong sifu (master) when Kai Xuan first started serving dim sum 20 years ago.

While enjoying Kai Xuan's dim sum, I actually wondered for a moment, what took me so long before I tried this? No kidding.

For another take and more on Kai Xuan's dim sum, here is the interesting post from Harris Chai of The Simplest Aphrodisiac blog.

For good quality dim sum in a Five Star hotel and "all you can eat" at RM36++ for adults and RM18++ for children, I believe that this is the best dim sum deal in Johor Bahru. 



Restaurant name: Kai Xuan Chinese Restaurant (in The Puteri Pacific Hotel)
Address: Level B1, The Puteri Pacific Hotel, Jalan Abdullah Ibrahim, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/4xcgl
GPS: 1.460787,103.762097
Hours: a la carte Dim Sum buffet is served 11:30am to 2:15pm on Mon to Sat, 8:30am to 2:15pm on Sunday
Certified Halal

Date visited: 28 Jan 2013

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Dim Sum at Hock Chiang Hin Kopitiam 福振兴餐室 in Old Downtown (Near City Square), Johor Bahru, Malaysia

 

My friends from Singapore often asked me, where can they find traditional dim sum within walking distance from City Square in JB.

Recently, I stumbled upon Hock Chiang Hin 福振兴餐室, one of the oldest kopitiams in JB and it serves traditional dim sum :) There used to be at least three dim sum shops in JB downtown, but now, Hock Chiang Hin is the only one left.

Hock Chiang Hin had its grand heydays when it was the nearest kopitiam to the JB CIQ - less than a stone's throw away. In those days, many workers and commuters going to Singapore will pick up some paus from Hock Chiang Hin before crossing over to Singapore. After the CIQ shifted, most of these regulars were gone.

But good old Hock Chiang Hin is still here and the paus are still as good as ever - many still say that they are the  best in JB. After trying them, I begin to appreciate that claim :)

 

 

 

At Hock Chiang Hin, all the dim sum and paus are freshly made right here in the traditional way at the kopitiam everyday.

Hock Chiang Hin is the only such kopitiam in downtown JB, so if you want freshly made dim sum and paus, this is it.

 

Ordering is easy. Just say or point to what catches your fancy :)

 

This is Hock Chiang Hin's signature big pau 大包 at RM2 each.

The snowy skin was light and porous with many "holes". The skin tasted slightly sweet and the texture was soft, bouncy and fluffy.

 

The filling made with sliced pork was tender, moist and juicy. Well marinated, tasty and quite sweet.

 

The little brother was equally good - small (pork) pau.

The vegetable pau for herbivores.

 

The lo mai kai 糯米鸡 was a tight mound of glutinous rice well infused with syrupy sweet and savoury sauce. The large pieces of chicken were well marinated and tender. Made according to traditional tastes and needs, the lo mai kai might be a tad greasy for modern tastes. In those days, workers appreciate an affordable meal that kept their stomachs filled much of the day.

These were the other dim sum that we tried today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hock Chiang Hin's dim sum had its roots as affordable food for commuters at the transit stop between JB and Singapore. Its traditional taste tended towards being filling, meaty and relatively plain compared to the dainty contemporary dim sum (especially in more exclusive restaurants) that emphasizes flavours. Hock Chiang Hin's dim sum had remained pretty much in the traditional mould of affordable street food.

Hock Chiang Hin's dim sum are reasonably priced - starts at RM1 and the most expensive item, their signature big pau, is RM2. 

 

A dab of this chili sauce makes the dim sum tastier :)

These are heritage pictures of Hock Chiang Hin (with much thanks to 陈由东, a third generation owner). For the owners, the shop is the centre of everything. All major events and milestones are celebrated at the shop.

 

Hock Chiang Hin in the 1940s. The gentleman in the middle is the founder.

 

 

The wedding of the second generation owners.

Seventies. That signboard in the background is still around, in the kitchen now. Panda was a popular party guest :))

Only one of that old style ornate marble tables is left at the kopitiam. Go take a look at Hock Chiang Hin. It's authentic heritage furniture - not a replica.

 

The founder is the gentleman on the left and the present owner 由东 is the little boy just in front on the left.

Eating dim sum at Hock Chiang Hin is an opportunity to appreciate our culinary heritage, and its flavours and tastes. It's also a chance to experience one of JB's rare historic shops.

 

Restaurant name: Hock Chiang Hin 福振兴餐室
Address: Along Jalan Siu Nam opposite the ESSO petrol station
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/WB09l
GPS: 1.459103,103.766126
Hours: 6:00am to 1:00pm (Closed on Sunday)
Non Halal

Dates visited: 15 Nov 2012, 19 Nov 2012

 

My friends from Singapore often asked me, where can they find traditional dim sum within walking distance from City Square in JB.

Recently, I stumbled upon Hock Chiang Hin 福振兴餐室, one of the oldest kopitiams in JB and it serves traditional dim sum :) There used to be at least three dim sum shops in JB downtown, but now, Hock Chiang Hin is the only one left.

Hock Chiang Hin had its grand heydays when it was the nearest kopitiam to the JB CIQ - less than a stone's throw away. In those days, many workers and commuters going to Singapore will pick up some paus from Hock Chiang Hin before crossing over to Singapore. After the CIQ shifted, most of these regulars were gone.

But good old Hock Chiang Hin is still here and the paus are still as good as ever - many still say that they are the  best in JB. After trying them, I begin to appreciate that claim :)

 

 

 

At Hock Chiang Hin, all the dim sum and paus are freshly made right here in the traditional way at the kopitiam everyday.

Hock Chiang Hin is the only such kopitiam in downtown JB, so if you want freshly made dim sum and paus, this is it.

 

Ordering is easy. Just say or point to what catches your fancy :)

 

This is Hock Chiang Hin's signature big pau 大包 at RM2 each.

The snowy skin was light and porous with many "holes". The skin tasted slightly sweet and the texture was soft, bouncy and fluffy.

 

The filling made with sliced pork was tender, moist and juicy. Well marinated, tasty and quite sweet.

 

The little brother was equally good - small (pork) pau.

The vegetable pau for herbivores.

 

The lo mai kai 糯米鸡 was a tight mound of glutinous rice well infused with syrupy sweet and savoury sauce. The large pieces of chicken were well marinated and tender. Made according to traditional tastes and needs, the lo mai kai might be a tad greasy for modern tastes. In those days, workers appreciate an affordable meal that kept their stomachs filled much of the day.

These were the other dim sum that we tried today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hock Chiang Hin's dim sum had its roots as affordable food for commuters at the transit stop between JB and Singapore. Its traditional taste tended towards being filling, meaty and relatively plain compared to the dainty contemporary dim sum (especially in more exclusive restaurants) that emphasizes flavours. Hock Chiang Hin's dim sum had remained pretty much in the traditional mould of affordable street food.

Hock Chiang Hin's dim sum are reasonably priced - starts at RM1 and the most expensive item, their signature big pau, is RM2. 

 

A dab of this chili sauce makes the dim sum tastier :)

These are heritage pictures of Hock Chiang Hin (with much thanks to 陈由东, a third generation owner). For the owners, the shop is the centre of everything. All major events and milestones are celebrated at the shop.

 

Hock Chiang Hin in the 1940s. The gentleman in the middle is the founder.

 

 

The wedding of the second generation owners.

Seventies. That signboard in the background is still around, in the kitchen now. Panda was a popular party guest :))

Only one of that old style ornate marble tables is left at the kopitiam. Go take a look at Hock Chiang Hin. It's authentic heritage furniture - not a replica.

 

The founder is the gentleman on the left and the present owner 由东 is the little boy just in front on the left.

Eating dim sum at Hock Chiang Hin is an opportunity to appreciate our culinary heritage, and its flavours and tastes. It's also a chance to experience one of JB's rare historic shops.

 

Restaurant name: Hock Chiang Hin 福振兴餐室
Address: Along Jalan Siu Nam opposite the ESSO petrol station
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/WB09l
GPS: 1.459103,103.766126
Hours: 6:00am to 1:00pm (Closed on Sunday)
Non Halal

Dates visited: 15 Nov 2012, 19 Nov 2012

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