Johor Nasi Ayam Penyet Selection

Nasi ayam penyet originally from Surabaya in Indonesia, has a firm following in Johor. Ayam penyet stalls and shops are found in many places in Johor Bahru.



Ayam penyet is made by marinating large chicken pieces, either the breast or leg in spices and herbs. The chicken pieces are cooked in a large pot, then left to air dry and cool. When an order is received, the pre-cooked chicken is fried briefly in hot oil. 



The crispy fried chicken is strained of dripping hot oil and given a sharp whack with a mallet or the flat of a chopper before serving - hence the name ayam penyet, which means smashed, flattened chicken. 



Personally, I like my ayam penyet to be crispy outside, while the inside is moist and sweet.



Others may prefer the crispiness to go deep into the flesh and the whole piece of chicken quite dry, almost like a keropok.



Traditionally, ayam penyet is served on a wooden plate with strips of greens like kacang botol, long beans, lettuce, cucumber with fried tempeh and tofu. Nowadays, plastic plates are sometimes used.



Ayam penyet is eaten with rice. Good rice is fresh tasting, firm yet moist and tender with fluffy grains that separate easily.



The accompanying sambal chili is often what makes or breaks an ayam penyet dish. The best sambals are those that are pounded using pestle and mortar (not blended in an electric blender). The best sambals use a variety of chili peppers with differing degrees of hot spiciness. Good sambals are pulpy, and have varying degrees of hot spiciness that feel like waves of pleasure on the taste buds as it is a blend of many types of chili.

Here are some ayam penyet stalls that I have tried and like. I am still on the search for more to taste and share.



Mama Zai Nasi Ayam (stall in BESTMART Nusa Bestari)
Address: Jalan Nusa Bestari 2 1/1 (off Jalan Sutara Danga)
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/LhM5i
GPS: 1.495875,103.655097
Hours: 9:30am to 9:30pm (closed on Weds)



Banafee Café (not Banafee Village nearby which is run by the same owner)
Address: Jalan Datuk Abdullah Tahir (directly opposite New York Hotel)
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/1skzW
GPS: 1.478586,103.760929
Hours: 3:00pm to 3:00am



LC Catering
Address: 340, Jalan Balau 1 (off Jalan Tebrau), Taman Melodies, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/NBdxC
GPS: 1.490226,103.766871
Hours: 10:00am to 3:00am



Click on the picture above to read about other popular nasi ayam penyet stalls and shops in Johor. I will adding to the list as I discover more good nasi ayam penyet.

Return to home page.

Nasi ayam penyet originally from Surabaya in Indonesia, has a firm following in Johor. Ayam penyet stalls and shops are found in many places in Johor Bahru.



Ayam penyet is made by marinating large chicken pieces, either the breast or leg in spices and herbs. The chicken pieces are cooked in a large pot, then left to air dry and cool. When an order is received, the pre-cooked chicken is fried briefly in hot oil. 



The crispy fried chicken is strained of dripping hot oil and given a sharp whack with a mallet or the flat of a chopper before serving - hence the name ayam penyet, which means smashed, flattened chicken. 



Personally, I like my ayam penyet to be crispy outside, while the inside is moist and sweet.



Others may prefer the crispiness to go deep into the flesh and the whole piece of chicken quite dry, almost like a keropok.



Traditionally, ayam penyet is served on a wooden plate with strips of greens like kacang botol, long beans, lettuce, cucumber with fried tempeh and tofu. Nowadays, plastic plates are sometimes used.



Ayam penyet is eaten with rice. Good rice is fresh tasting, firm yet moist and tender with fluffy grains that separate easily.



The accompanying sambal chili is often what makes or breaks an ayam penyet dish. The best sambals are those that are pounded using pestle and mortar (not blended in an electric blender). The best sambals use a variety of chili peppers with differing degrees of hot spiciness. Good sambals are pulpy, and have varying degrees of hot spiciness that feel like waves of pleasure on the taste buds as it is a blend of many types of chili.

Here are some ayam penyet stalls that I have tried and like. I am still on the search for more to taste and share.



Mama Zai Nasi Ayam (stall in BESTMART Nusa Bestari)
Address: Jalan Nusa Bestari 2 1/1 (off Jalan Sutara Danga)
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/LhM5i
GPS: 1.495875,103.655097
Hours: 9:30am to 9:30pm (closed on Weds)



Banafee Café (not Banafee Village nearby which is run by the same owner)
Address: Jalan Datuk Abdullah Tahir (directly opposite New York Hotel)
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/1skzW
GPS: 1.478586,103.760929
Hours: 3:00pm to 3:00am



LC Catering
Address: 340, Jalan Balau 1 (off Jalan Tebrau), Taman Melodies, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/NBdxC
GPS: 1.490226,103.766871
Hours: 10:00am to 3:00am



Click on the picture above to read about other popular nasi ayam penyet stalls and shops in Johor. I will adding to the list as I discover more good nasi ayam penyet.

Return to home page.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Lobsters in Sungai Rengit, Pengerang, the Lobster Town of Johor

 

Spiny lobsters thrive off the rocky shorelines of Pengerang. The flesh of the spiny lobster is priced for its sweetness and bouncy mouth feel.

 

 

Naturally, seafood restaurants serving live lobsters sprout like mushrooms in small, laid back Sungai Rengit town which is aptly nicknamed Lobster Town.

 

 

I love eating lobsters and had been trying out the seafood restaurants in Sungai Rengit, one by one.

 

 

Jade Garden 翡翠园 is probably the best known one in Sungai Rengit. Like any good restaurant, Jade Garden does lobster in a variety of ways, but their claim to fame is their Lobster in "Superior  Broth" 上湯.

 

Jade Garden's "superior broth" is a savoury, rich buttery runny gravy with wolf berries that works well to bring out the natural sweetness of the lobster flesh. As the "premier" restaurant in Sungai Rengit, prices are at a premium in Jade Garden.

 

 

Yoou Kee 佑记 has been in Sungai Rengit for over 20 years, operating just beside Jade Garden. When asking the Sungai Rengit town folk for recommendations, they will point you to the likes of Yoou Kee for the food quality and the competitive pricing.

 

 

We tried Yoou Kee's Butter Lobsters. The buttery batter though thin, kept the lobster's natural juices intact while bringing out well the flavours of the lobster flesh.

 

 

The fairly new (opened Jun 2012) Straits View 海景轩 does a similar version of Jade Garden's Lobster in "Superior Broth" 上湯. However, the gravy here is thicker, more syrupy in texture and more buttery in flavour.

 

Straits View's Butter Lobsters 牛油龙虾. Juicy lobster meat encased in buttery crisp crust.



The newest seafood restaurant in Sungai Rengit is Hai Zhi Lian 海之恋. This is their Lotus Root Fried Lobster. The lobster was encased in a thick layer of crumbly batter.



The batter did a good job of keeping the lobster juicy and sweet. Here, the batter itself was interesting. Made with a blend of 5 types of flour and butter,the batter was feathery light and fluffy. The batter crumbled easily and literally melted in the mouth. I found myself indulging in the batter like people enjoying greasy popcorn.



At Hai Zhi Lian 海之恋 we also tried their lobster sashimi.



The translucent slices of lobster flesh looked and had mouth feel that felt like refreshing pamelo fruit, except that it was firmer.



We could dip the lobster in the savoury house blended sauce or wasabi.

So, there you are, a quick survey of the lobsters of Sungai Rengit. I will be adding to this list as I try more lobsters in Sungai Rengit, one by one. You may like to have your own lobster adventures too in seafood paradise, just one and a half hour's drive from downtown JB  :)



Restaurant name: Jade Garden Seafood Corner 翡翠园海鲜酒家
Address: 54, Jalan Kerisi, Sungai Rengit, Pengerang, Johor
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/mUkH
GPS: 1.350967,104.224076
Hours: 11:00am to 10:30pm
Not certified Halal - no pork, no lard served

Restaurant name: Straits View Seafood Restaurant 海景轩海鲜酒家

Address: 84, Jalan Besar, Sungai Rengit, Pengerang, Johor
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/XojAs

GPS: 1.350667,104.220868
Hours: 11:00am to 11:00pm
Non Halal

 

Restaurant name: Hai Zhi Lian Restaurant 海之恋海鲜楼Address: 2, Jalan Ramunia Jaya 1, Taman Ramunia Jaya, Pengerang, Johor
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/M0cEd
GPS: 1.359344,104.231500
Hours: 10:30am to 10:30pm
Not certified Halal - no pork, no lard served



Restaurant name: Restoran Makanan Laut Yoou Kee 佑记
Address: 55, Jalan Pantai, Sungai Rengit, Pengerang
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/v4CU8
GPS: 1.351032,104.224258
Hours: 11:00am to 10:30pm
Not certified Halal - no pork, no lard served

 

Spiny lobsters thrive off the rocky shorelines of Pengerang. The flesh of the spiny lobster is priced for its sweetness and bouncy mouth feel.

 

 

Naturally, seafood restaurants serving live lobsters sprout like mushrooms in small, laid back Sungai Rengit town which is aptly nicknamed Lobster Town.

 

 

I love eating lobsters and had been trying out the seafood restaurants in Sungai Rengit, one by one.

 

 

Jade Garden 翡翠园 is probably the best known one in Sungai Rengit. Like any good restaurant, Jade Garden does lobster in a variety of ways, but their claim to fame is their Lobster in "Superior  Broth" 上湯.

 

Jade Garden's "superior broth" is a savoury, rich buttery runny gravy with wolf berries that works well to bring out the natural sweetness of the lobster flesh. As the "premier" restaurant in Sungai Rengit, prices are at a premium in Jade Garden.

 

 

Yoou Kee 佑记 has been in Sungai Rengit for over 20 years, operating just beside Jade Garden. When asking the Sungai Rengit town folk for recommendations, they will point you to the likes of Yoou Kee for the food quality and the competitive pricing.

 

 

We tried Yoou Kee's Butter Lobsters. The buttery batter though thin, kept the lobster's natural juices intact while bringing out well the flavours of the lobster flesh.

 

 

The fairly new (opened Jun 2012) Straits View 海景轩 does a similar version of Jade Garden's Lobster in "Superior Broth" 上湯. However, the gravy here is thicker, more syrupy in texture and more buttery in flavour.

 

Straits View's Butter Lobsters 牛油龙虾. Juicy lobster meat encased in buttery crisp crust.



The newest seafood restaurant in Sungai Rengit is Hai Zhi Lian 海之恋. This is their Lotus Root Fried Lobster. The lobster was encased in a thick layer of crumbly batter.



The batter did a good job of keeping the lobster juicy and sweet. Here, the batter itself was interesting. Made with a blend of 5 types of flour and butter,the batter was feathery light and fluffy. The batter crumbled easily and literally melted in the mouth. I found myself indulging in the batter like people enjoying greasy popcorn.



At Hai Zhi Lian 海之恋 we also tried their lobster sashimi.



The translucent slices of lobster flesh looked and had mouth feel that felt like refreshing pamelo fruit, except that it was firmer.



We could dip the lobster in the savoury house blended sauce or wasabi.

So, there you are, a quick survey of the lobsters of Sungai Rengit. I will be adding to this list as I try more lobsters in Sungai Rengit, one by one. You may like to have your own lobster adventures too in seafood paradise, just one and a half hour's drive from downtown JB  :)



Restaurant name: Jade Garden Seafood Corner 翡翠园海鲜酒家
Address: 54, Jalan Kerisi, Sungai Rengit, Pengerang, Johor
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/mUkH
GPS: 1.350967,104.224076
Hours: 11:00am to 10:30pm
Not certified Halal - no pork, no lard served

Restaurant name: Straits View Seafood Restaurant 海景轩海鲜酒家

Address: 84, Jalan Besar, Sungai Rengit, Pengerang, Johor
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/XojAs

GPS: 1.350667,104.220868
Hours: 11:00am to 11:00pm
Non Halal

 

Restaurant name: Hai Zhi Lian Restaurant 海之恋海鲜楼Address: 2, Jalan Ramunia Jaya 1, Taman Ramunia Jaya, Pengerang, Johor
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/M0cEd
GPS: 1.359344,104.231500
Hours: 10:30am to 10:30pm
Not certified Halal - no pork, no lard served



Restaurant name: Restoran Makanan Laut Yoou Kee 佑记
Address: 55, Jalan Pantai, Sungai Rengit, Pengerang
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/v4CU8
GPS: 1.351032,104.224258
Hours: 11:00am to 10:30pm
Not certified Halal - no pork, no lard served

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Johor Roti Canai (Prata) Selection

Roti Canai (known as Prata in Singapore) is a popular comfort food in Malaysia and Singapore. Personally, I like my roti thick, made up of many folds, with the outer layers crisp and thin while the inner layers remain slightly softer and chewy. To me, good roti is fluffy with very little, if any trace of oil. I also like my roti canai to come with full bodied spicy curry. Some of my makan kakis like their roti to be thin and crispy throughout, almost like a large layered biscuit. My dad likes to drown his roti in curry, let it soak in the curry for a while, and then eat the spicy, soft, soggy bread. So, to each his own roti :)) Here are my favourites in Johor (there are plenty more that I have yet to explore).



Selera Selatan in Taman Johor Jaya, Rosmerah is one of those rare roti canai shops where the good roti is matched with great curries. Enche Loy the owner spreads his dough really wide, and I guess there must be 10 folds in his roti. Selera Selatan's roti is thick, with the outside crispy while the inside is chewy and still moist. Selera Selatan's curries are made with lots of ingredients and spices, so they are robust and full bodied. Selera Selatan also serves their roti with nasi lemak style sambal chili with anchovies.



Bukit Chagar roti canai is the favourite of many from Johor, and also Singapore as the stall is just a stone's throw from the JB CIQ. I like Bukit Chagar's roti too because it is thick with the outside crispy while the inside is tender. Bukit Chagar's roti canai would be perfect for me, if their curry is also robust and full bodied.



Mohd Salleh's roti canai in Taman Pelangi is the regular breakfast of many JBrians. Moistier and softer than the roti of Selera Selatan and Bukit Chagar, it is also one my of my favourites. Not overly crispy, Mohd Salleh's roti has a unique texture and pleasant mouth feel. The curry though is rather ordinary. It is best to be at Mohd Salleh at peak hours like during breakfast to get the roti straight off the frying pan.



Click on the picture above to view other popular roti canai shops in Johor.

Roti Canai (known as Prata in Singapore) is a popular comfort food in Malaysia and Singapore. Personally, I like my roti thick, made up of many folds, with the outer layers crisp and thin while the inner layers remain slightly softer and chewy. To me, good roti is fluffy with very little, if any trace of oil. I also like my roti canai to come with full bodied spicy curry. Some of my makan kakis like their roti to be thin and crispy throughout, almost like a large layered biscuit. My dad likes to drown his roti in curry, let it soak in the curry for a while, and then eat the spicy, soft, soggy bread. So, to each his own roti :)) Here are my favourites in Johor (there are plenty more that I have yet to explore).



Selera Selatan in Taman Johor Jaya, Rosmerah is one of those rare roti canai shops where the good roti is matched with great curries. Enche Loy the owner spreads his dough really wide, and I guess there must be 10 folds in his roti. Selera Selatan's roti is thick, with the outside crispy while the inside is chewy and still moist. Selera Selatan's curries are made with lots of ingredients and spices, so they are robust and full bodied. Selera Selatan also serves their roti with nasi lemak style sambal chili with anchovies.



Bukit Chagar roti canai is the favourite of many from Johor, and also Singapore as the stall is just a stone's throw from the JB CIQ. I like Bukit Chagar's roti too because it is thick with the outside crispy while the inside is tender. Bukit Chagar's roti canai would be perfect for me, if their curry is also robust and full bodied.



Mohd Salleh's roti canai in Taman Pelangi is the regular breakfast of many JBrians. Moistier and softer than the roti of Selera Selatan and Bukit Chagar, it is also one my of my favourites. Not overly crispy, Mohd Salleh's roti has a unique texture and pleasant mouth feel. The curry though is rather ordinary. It is best to be at Mohd Salleh at peak hours like during breakfast to get the roti straight off the frying pan.



Click on the picture above to view other popular roti canai shops in Johor.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Johor Beef Noodles Selection

 

Beef noodles have a special place in my heart as the comfort food that is a "luxury" and associated with celebration and achievement. When I was about 13 or 14 years old in early 1970s Singapore, I worked as a construction worker during my school holidays. I was paid a princely SGD2 a day. At the workshop in Victoria Street where we fabricated windows to be mounted in buildings, there was a back lane beef kway teow stall. I have forgotten most of the details like the name of the stall, how much the noodles cost, and how exactly it tasted except that it was the traditional Hainanese type with that gooey beef gravy. But, the thing that I remember vividly was the deep satisfaction and happiness I felt knowing that I could enjoy the good things in life through my own effort. This feeling about beef noodles stayed with me ever since.

I have eaten at many of the beef noodles shops and stalls in Johor and here are the ones that I enjoyed the most.

The beef kway teow at Grand Beef Noodles Restaurant is quite different from the usual Hainanese beef kway teow. The sauce mixed into the kway teow is more like that sauce used in Teochew kway teow. Yet, the beef are done so well that customers who were initially skeptical as they expected that characteristic gooey gravy, were soon converted to Grand Beef Noodle's style. 

Ah Yong Beef Noodles is located at the exact spot where Ah Deng, JB's most famous beef kway teow stall used to be. Ah Yong operated from Ah Deng's spot since the latter retired in mid-2012. Ah Yong actually had to wallow in quiet business for about a year as customers used to Ah Deng's were initially slow in accepting Ah Yong's noodles. Now, through hard work and perseverance, Ah Yong's business has picked up and he has built up a following of loyal fans for his traditional Hainanese beef noodles.

Many of Johor's best beef noodles are run by elderly hawkers in their 70s or even 80s. One by the one, old style beef noodle stalls are closing as their elderly owners retire. Fortunately, some of the best old style Hainanese beef kway teow stalls are today reincarnated in contemporary style bistros by third generation owners. Yean Kee in Kluang run by the grandson of the founder is a Must Try for beef noodle lovers when in Kluang.

Tangkak Kuang Fei beef noodles serves a famous savoury herbal broth with chunks of nicely cooked tender succulent beef cubes, tripe and tendons. Only one style is served, with soup. But, it is definitely worth the short detour off the NSE (North South Highway) to enjoy this marvellous beef kway teow soup.

Tangkak also has Restoran Do Do Do that beef lovers all over Malaysia and even Singapore raved about. Strictly speaking, Do Do Do is not just a beef noodle shop as it does beef in a variety of innovative ways. My favourite is their steamed calf slices. Thin, super tender and smooth calf slices with a very mild bovine flavour. 

There are also other very good beef noodle shops in Johor that I have enjoyed.

Click on the picture above for the list of these favourite beef noodle stalls in Johor. Try them, as they may also suit your taste buds.

 

Beef noodles have a special place in my heart as the comfort food that is a "luxury" and associated with celebration and achievement. When I was about 13 or 14 years old in early 1970s Singapore, I worked as a construction worker during my school holidays. I was paid a princely SGD2 a day. At the workshop in Victoria Street where we fabricated windows to be mounted in buildings, there was a back lane beef kway teow stall. I have forgotten most of the details like the name of the stall, how much the noodles cost, and how exactly it tasted except that it was the traditional Hainanese type with that gooey beef gravy. But, the thing that I remember vividly was the deep satisfaction and happiness I felt knowing that I could enjoy the good things in life through my own effort. This feeling about beef noodles stayed with me ever since.

I have eaten at many of the beef noodles shops and stalls in Johor and here are the ones that I enjoyed the most.

The beef kway teow at Grand Beef Noodles Restaurant is quite different from the usual Hainanese beef kway teow. The sauce mixed into the kway teow is more like that sauce used in Teochew kway teow. Yet, the beef are done so well that customers who were initially skeptical as they expected that characteristic gooey gravy, were soon converted to Grand Beef Noodle's style. 

Ah Yong Beef Noodles is located at the exact spot where Ah Deng, JB's most famous beef kway teow stall used to be. Ah Yong operated from Ah Deng's spot since the latter retired in mid-2012. Ah Yong actually had to wallow in quiet business for about a year as customers used to Ah Deng's were initially slow in accepting Ah Yong's noodles. Now, through hard work and perseverance, Ah Yong's business has picked up and he has built up a following of loyal fans for his traditional Hainanese beef noodles.

Many of Johor's best beef noodles are run by elderly hawkers in their 70s or even 80s. One by the one, old style beef noodle stalls are closing as their elderly owners retire. Fortunately, some of the best old style Hainanese beef kway teow stalls are today reincarnated in contemporary style bistros by third generation owners. Yean Kee in Kluang run by the grandson of the founder is a Must Try for beef noodle lovers when in Kluang.

Tangkak Kuang Fei beef noodles serves a famous savoury herbal broth with chunks of nicely cooked tender succulent beef cubes, tripe and tendons. Only one style is served, with soup. But, it is definitely worth the short detour off the NSE (North South Highway) to enjoy this marvellous beef kway teow soup.

Tangkak also has Restoran Do Do Do that beef lovers all over Malaysia and even Singapore raved about. Strictly speaking, Do Do Do is not just a beef noodle shop as it does beef in a variety of innovative ways. My favourite is their steamed calf slices. Thin, super tender and smooth calf slices with a very mild bovine flavour. 

There are also other very good beef noodle shops in Johor that I have enjoyed.

Click on the picture above for the list of these favourite beef noodle stalls in Johor. Try them, as they may also suit your taste buds.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Johor Wanton Mee Selection

Wanton mee stalls and shops are found in many places in Johor. To me, the best wanton mee are those where good noodles, sauce, char siew, wanton, soup and the green chilies all come together perfectly.

Good wanton noodles are subtly crunchy, al dente and have an eggy taste as they are made purely with just eggs and flour 全蛋面. Good noodles have a certain energy that make them feel alive in our mouth and not lifelessly limp.

There are rather wide variations in the sauce depending on the stall and also the locality. In Johor Bahru, the sauce is typically light, has a sesame oil fragrance and balanced with a little lard. In Pontian, the sauce is a blend of spicy hot, tomato tanginess and sweetness with a bit of unami savouriness from oyster sauce.  

Good char siew is sweet, savoury, slightly charred and caramelised with a pleasant smokey taste and flavour. The juicy grilled meat has a bite that is a little springy and bouncy. The best ones feel and taste like savoury sweet candy. I like my char siew in thick chunks with tacky firm outsides and juicy insides but in Johor, char siew that comes with wanton mee are always sliced thin.



Good wantons have slippery slurpy smooth skins wrapping a tiny ball of thumb sized tender minced marbled pork well marinated with sesame seeds and oil, soy sauce and white pepper. 



Good accompanying soup has body from hours of boiling with stock bones and has the comforting aroma and flavour of anchovies.



Last but not least, good green chili pickles in vinegar are fresh, crunchy as fresh green apples, spicy yet sweet and tangy.

While most wanton mee stalls or shops in Johor have at least a few of these good qualities, I have found none that has all these qualities together, at the moment.

The following are wanton mee shops in Johor, that I would make a special trip to, if I have a craving for wanton mee.

Yit Foh in Taman Century has their slippery, slurpy wanton noodles bathed in fragrant sauce that was drippy light yet heavy on flavour.



The noodles at Chin Chin 晶晶 in Skudai near the MPJBT Building is refreshingly light and crunchy. If you don't want to travel that far from JB, 許记 in Taman Sri Tebrau has similar noodles as they were disciples of the same noodle master. To me, Chin Chin has the edge because I love (crave) their wanton mee with their special braised chicken feet and braising sauce.



Sin Kee in Pontian though not related to the Loh family that originated the Pontian style of wanton mee, is probably the most popular Pontain wanton mee stall today. Sin Kee's handmade noodles were weighty and springy, and the sauce was spicy, tangy, sweet and savoury, in the signature Pontian wanton mee style.

Ah See Kee in Batu Pahat serves crunchy, al dente eggy noodles in a special savoury sauce loaded with delightful sesame fragrance. People from Batu Pahat are understandably proud of their Ah See wanton mee.

There are the other wanton noodles that I also like and would have them when I am in or around the area where they are located. You can view all of them by clicking on the picture below.

Wanton mee stalls and shops are found in many places in Johor. To me, the best wanton mee are those where good noodles, sauce, char siew, wanton, soup and the green chilies all come together perfectly.

Good wanton noodles are subtly crunchy, al dente and have an eggy taste as they are made purely with just eggs and flour 全蛋面. Good noodles have a certain energy that make them feel alive in our mouth and not lifelessly limp.

There are rather wide variations in the sauce depending on the stall and also the locality. In Johor Bahru, the sauce is typically light, has a sesame oil fragrance and balanced with a little lard. In Pontian, the sauce is a blend of spicy hot, tomato tanginess and sweetness with a bit of unami savouriness from oyster sauce.  

Good char siew is sweet, savoury, slightly charred and caramelised with a pleasant smokey taste and flavour. The juicy grilled meat has a bite that is a little springy and bouncy. The best ones feel and taste like savoury sweet candy. I like my char siew in thick chunks with tacky firm outsides and juicy insides but in Johor, char siew that comes with wanton mee are always sliced thin.



Good wantons have slippery slurpy smooth skins wrapping a tiny ball of thumb sized tender minced marbled pork well marinated with sesame seeds and oil, soy sauce and white pepper. 



Good accompanying soup has body from hours of boiling with stock bones and has the comforting aroma and flavour of anchovies.



Last but not least, good green chili pickles in vinegar are fresh, crunchy as fresh green apples, spicy yet sweet and tangy.

While most wanton mee stalls or shops in Johor have at least a few of these good qualities, I have found none that has all these qualities together, at the moment.

The following are wanton mee shops in Johor, that I would make a special trip to, if I have a craving for wanton mee.

Yit Foh in Taman Century has their slippery, slurpy wanton noodles bathed in fragrant sauce that was drippy light yet heavy on flavour.



The noodles at Chin Chin 晶晶 in Skudai near the MPJBT Building is refreshingly light and crunchy. If you don't want to travel that far from JB, 許记 in Taman Sri Tebrau has similar noodles as they were disciples of the same noodle master. To me, Chin Chin has the edge because I love (crave) their wanton mee with their special braised chicken feet and braising sauce.



Sin Kee in Pontian though not related to the Loh family that originated the Pontian style of wanton mee, is probably the most popular Pontain wanton mee stall today. Sin Kee's handmade noodles were weighty and springy, and the sauce was spicy, tangy, sweet and savoury, in the signature Pontian wanton mee style.

Ah See Kee in Batu Pahat serves crunchy, al dente eggy noodles in a special savoury sauce loaded with delightful sesame fragrance. People from Batu Pahat are understandably proud of their Ah See wanton mee.

There are the other wanton noodles that I also like and would have them when I am in or around the area where they are located. You can view all of them by clicking on the picture below.

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