Menu Please Bistro at Taman Maju Jaya near Plaza Pelangi in Johor Bahru

Jayson the boss of Menu Please Bistro invited me to try their "Signature Dishes Sharing Set Meal". The idea is for two persons to share a set consisting of a pair of Menu Please's signature dishes. Jayson let me try "Set D" with the Oriental Duck Pizza and Braised Lamb Shank as the main courses. The Set D costs RM65.80 nett.



That's Jayson the boss, on the right taking orders. Co-incidentally, that's my friend Jason and his family :D



Jayson is a SHATEC graduate and he had worked in Singapore's Four Seasons Hotel and Marina Bay Sands Hotel before returning to JB to set up Menu Please Bistro.

Let's start our dinner.



The opening course is a choice of either the Soup of the Day or a salad. As I had tried Menu Please's tomato soup during my previous visit, Jayson let me try the salad.

Jayson's willingness to experiment is reflected in this salad. The jumble of shredded carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, onions, fried tofu and beansprouts is stuffed in a glass jar. At the bottom of the jar is a tangy, spicy, drippy Thai sauce and on top is a paste-like peanutty, sweet and savoury satay sauce. The idea is to screw on the jar cover, and then mix and blend everything by shaking the jar vigorously. Pour out and serve on a plate after mixing.

It's an interesting mix of textures, tastes and flavours. Try it and see for yourself.



Next up is Menu Please's signature Oriental Duck pizza.



Taste wise this innovative pizza has everything - the sweetness of the tangerine with a tinge of tanginess, and different sorts of savouriness from the smoked duck, melted cheese and char siew gravy. There was also a herbal fragrance from the basil leaf garnishing.



Texture wise, it was also interesting. Juicy spongy tangerine, tender duck with some fat, gooey gummy melted cheese on a thin crusty handmade pizza base.

I enjoyed this interesting pizza even though I am not a pizza fan.



The second main course was Menu Please's top selling braised lamb shank. This was my second time having the lamb shank at Menu Please, and I am still looking forward to it.



The meat was braised so tender that it fell off the bone like a coat dropping off a stiff hanger. The tender meat was rich. The gaminess and aroma of lamb which mutton fans love was only subtly present.



Finally, the Cake of the Day was this durian cake. It's a sponge cake with creamy real durian between the soft spongy layers.

To go with the cake, the Set Meal comes with two hot or cold drinks.

I think this set is ideal for couples - the dishes are tasty and interesting, and the amount of food is just nice for two people.



Restaurant name: Menu Please Bistro
Address: 25, Jalan Maju, Taman Maju Jaya, Johor Bahru (near Plaza Pelangi)
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/1vLa8
GPS: 1.480859,103.766314
Hours: Tues to Fri 12:00 noon to 3:00pm and 5:30pm to 12:00 midnight. Sat and Sun 12:00 noon to 12:00 mid night (Closed on Mondays)
No pork, no lard, no alcohol, no Halal cert

Date visited: 3 Apr 2013, 1 Nov 2013

Jayson the boss of Menu Please Bistro invited me to try their "Signature Dishes Sharing Set Meal". The idea is for two persons to share a set consisting of a pair of Menu Please's signature dishes. Jayson let me try "Set D" with the Oriental Duck Pizza and Braised Lamb Shank as the main courses. The Set D costs RM65.80 nett.



That's Jayson the boss, on the right taking orders. Co-incidentally, that's my friend Jason and his family :D



Jayson is a SHATEC graduate and he had worked in Singapore's Four Seasons Hotel and Marina Bay Sands Hotel before returning to JB to set up Menu Please Bistro.

Let's start our dinner.



The opening course is a choice of either the Soup of the Day or a salad. As I had tried Menu Please's tomato soup during my previous visit, Jayson let me try the salad.

Jayson's willingness to experiment is reflected in this salad. The jumble of shredded carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, onions, fried tofu and beansprouts is stuffed in a glass jar. At the bottom of the jar is a tangy, spicy, drippy Thai sauce and on top is a paste-like peanutty, sweet and savoury satay sauce. The idea is to screw on the jar cover, and then mix and blend everything by shaking the jar vigorously. Pour out and serve on a plate after mixing.

It's an interesting mix of textures, tastes and flavours. Try it and see for yourself.



Next up is Menu Please's signature Oriental Duck pizza.



Taste wise this innovative pizza has everything - the sweetness of the tangerine with a tinge of tanginess, and different sorts of savouriness from the smoked duck, melted cheese and char siew gravy. There was also a herbal fragrance from the basil leaf garnishing.



Texture wise, it was also interesting. Juicy spongy tangerine, tender duck with some fat, gooey gummy melted cheese on a thin crusty handmade pizza base.

I enjoyed this interesting pizza even though I am not a pizza fan.



The second main course was Menu Please's top selling braised lamb shank. This was my second time having the lamb shank at Menu Please, and I am still looking forward to it.



The meat was braised so tender that it fell off the bone like a coat dropping off a stiff hanger. The tender meat was rich. The gaminess and aroma of lamb which mutton fans love was only subtly present.



Finally, the Cake of the Day was this durian cake. It's a sponge cake with creamy real durian between the soft spongy layers.

To go with the cake, the Set Meal comes with two hot or cold drinks.

I think this set is ideal for couples - the dishes are tasty and interesting, and the amount of food is just nice for two people.



Restaurant name: Menu Please Bistro
Address: 25, Jalan Maju, Taman Maju Jaya, Johor Bahru (near Plaza Pelangi)
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/1vLa8
GPS: 1.480859,103.766314
Hours: Tues to Fri 12:00 noon to 3:00pm and 5:30pm to 12:00 midnight. Sat and Sun 12:00 noon to 12:00 mid night (Closed on Mondays)
No pork, no lard, no alcohol, no Halal cert

Date visited: 3 Apr 2013, 1 Nov 2013

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Muar Soup House near Classic Hotel, Muar, Johor

It was the night after the "Big Haze" in Muar. The night before, Muar recorded a whopping PSI (Air Pollutant Index) of 741.

The famous Muar Soup House was on our supper plan arranged by Tourism Malaysia Johor. The haze had subsided considerably and Muar Soup House was temptingly just around the corner from Classic Hotel where we were staying. Peering through the receding haze and sniffing the air, we decided that it was safe enough to venture a little out of the hotel. So we pulled on our masks and proceeded for our soup supper as planned.



When we rounded the corner and arrived at Muar Soup House, there was already a big crowd of people out and about. Actually, it was Monday morning. LOL people were out perhaps celebrating an unexpected "public holiday" because schools and offices were closed on Monday due to the haze emergency.



Coming back to food, Muar Soup House started as a typical pedicab stall in 1958. Today, it occupies 3 shophouses in downtown Muar. Muar Soup House now has a full range of food and drinks like those at 24-hour Mamak cafes. But, at Muar Soup House, it is still their famous mutton and beef soups that are their main draw.  



Even today, the famous soups are served from this signature push cart, just like the old days.





The action at the soup cart was frantic and non stop.





The big pots of simmering soup and meat - not very photogenic but something that many crave for.



To stay out of the haze, we chose to sit inside the air con section which has plush seats and nice marble tables. Well past midnight and business was still brisk.



My sup kambing at RM5. The soup was spicy, herbal, robust and not overly oily (excessive oiliness is a common fault of average sup kambing). The bowl was loaded with generous chunks of tender mutton. It had that mutton flavour that I like and yet was not overly gamey, so most people would enjoy it too. Needless to say, I finished the whole bowl with gusto.



The sup tulang or lamb shank soup at RM7. (Another person's order, so I didn't taste this but everybody seemed happy and satisfied.)



The lady boss whipping up a Mee Bandung Muar - a Muar signature dish that I need to come back for at Muar Soup House. She is the second generation owner running this large shop with her younger brother. Her brother told me that a Muar Soup House branch will be opening soon in Johor Bahru :)

Restaurant name: Muar Soup House
Address: 47, Jalan Sisi, Muar, Johor (near Classic Hotel)
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/v2MPY
GPS: 2.045666,102.566455
Hours: 24 hours
Halal

Date visited: 23 Jun 2013

It was the night after the "Big Haze" in Muar. The night before, Muar recorded a whopping PSI (Air Pollutant Index) of 741.

The famous Muar Soup House was on our supper plan arranged by Tourism Malaysia Johor. The haze had subsided considerably and Muar Soup House was temptingly just around the corner from Classic Hotel where we were staying. Peering through the receding haze and sniffing the air, we decided that it was safe enough to venture a little out of the hotel. So we pulled on our masks and proceeded for our soup supper as planned.



When we rounded the corner and arrived at Muar Soup House, there was already a big crowd of people out and about. Actually, it was Monday morning. LOL people were out perhaps celebrating an unexpected "public holiday" because schools and offices were closed on Monday due to the haze emergency.



Coming back to food, Muar Soup House started as a typical pedicab stall in 1958. Today, it occupies 3 shophouses in downtown Muar. Muar Soup House now has a full range of food and drinks like those at 24-hour Mamak cafes. But, at Muar Soup House, it is still their famous mutton and beef soups that are their main draw.  



Even today, the famous soups are served from this signature push cart, just like the old days.





The action at the soup cart was frantic and non stop.





The big pots of simmering soup and meat - not very photogenic but something that many crave for.



To stay out of the haze, we chose to sit inside the air con section which has plush seats and nice marble tables. Well past midnight and business was still brisk.



My sup kambing at RM5. The soup was spicy, herbal, robust and not overly oily (excessive oiliness is a common fault of average sup kambing). The bowl was loaded with generous chunks of tender mutton. It had that mutton flavour that I like and yet was not overly gamey, so most people would enjoy it too. Needless to say, I finished the whole bowl with gusto.



The sup tulang or lamb shank soup at RM7. (Another person's order, so I didn't taste this but everybody seemed happy and satisfied.)



The lady boss whipping up a Mee Bandung Muar - a Muar signature dish that I need to come back for at Muar Soup House. She is the second generation owner running this large shop with her younger brother. Her brother told me that a Muar Soup House branch will be opening soon in Johor Bahru :)

Restaurant name: Muar Soup House
Address: 47, Jalan Sisi, Muar, Johor (near Classic Hotel)
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/v2MPY
GPS: 2.045666,102.566455
Hours: 24 hours
Halal

Date visited: 23 Jun 2013

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Nan Bei Restoran 南北 in Taman Gaya, Johor Bahru

Allan from Nan Bei 南北 restaurant messaged me inviting me to drop by his parents' shop to try their Hainanese mutton soup which they had just added to their menu. I was excited to try Nan Bei's Chinese style mutton soup as I love this dish that is rarely found in restaurants in Johor. I was also keen to enjoy Nan Bei's Tung Po Rou which I blogged about earlier this year.

I dropped by with blogging kaki Semi Han, creator of Bonding Tool, one of my favourite food blogs. Semi's good friend Tyng also joined us.

Allan and his parents whom I have met earlier this year received us warmly. We had an impromptu party and got a chance to try most of the food served at Nan Bei 南北 restaurant.



Semi is a very serious food blogger and Tyng a very supportive friend.



Semi is very meticulous and I learnt a lot about food photography from her today. We even roped in Allan to help in the food photography.


Hainanese Mutton Soup RM15

This is Nan Bei's Hainanese mutton soup. The soup is mildly herbal and it did well to balance the characteristic gaminess of mutton. Following the Hainanese tradition, black woodear fungus and fried beancurd sheets are used in the soup. The chunks of white radish added sweetness to the broth while soaking up the flavours. The crunchy chunks of radish are coveted pieces in the pot as they are loaded with flavours. 



The mutton was tender with smokey fatty streaks and only had mild hints of that distinct mutton flavour. We all liked Nan Bei's Hainanese mutton soup. For me, I liked it that the tastes and flavours of Nan Bei's mutton soup are mild with nothing overpowering.


Cabbage with Roast Pork in Claypot RM10



The Nappa Cabbage with Roast Pork in Claypot is another new dish at Nan Bei restoran. The soup is a tasty blend of savouriness from the roast pork and the refreshing sweetness from the fresh cabbage. I love the juicy cabbage as it sponged up the delicious soup and had a tender yet crunchy mouth feel. The Cabbage with Roast Pork won the hearts of the ladies through their stomachs.



We like the Tung Po Rou 东坡肉 or braised belly pork. Those layers of fat are to be enjoyed either fearlessly or recklessly. Today, the fatty layers weren't as thick as that during my previous visit, which would make this dish appealing to more health conscious people.



For me, I prefer my Tung Po Rou to have a thicker layer of savoury, sweet giggly fat since I indulge in this treat only once in a while.


Pig Trotters with Ginger and Vinegar RM7

The braised pig trotters with ginger and vinegar 猪脚姜醋 was quite mild in taste and flavour, so it would appeal to more people. I haven't eaten this dish for a long time and I always had the home made version which is more robust and more herbal.

All of Nan Bei's dishes are eaten with boiled rice. Semi and Tyng both finished their bowls of rice, which is pretty unusual these days especially for calorie counting ladies. When I commented about them finishing the rice, they mumbled something intelligible through their food but their expressions said that Nan Bei's dishes hit all the right notes with them.

Nan Bei restoran is a simple, basic shop serving delicious food at reasonable prices - definitely worth a visit.



Restaurant name: Nan Bei Restoran 南北
Address: 68, Jalan Gaya 1, Taman Gaya
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/sfGrT
GPS: 1.563158,103.800834
Hours: 10:00am to 6:00pm (Closed on Sunday)
Non Halal

Date visited: 16 Jan 2013, 21 May 2013

Allan from Nan Bei 南北 restaurant messaged me inviting me to drop by his parents' shop to try their Hainanese mutton soup which they had just added to their menu. I was excited to try Nan Bei's Chinese style mutton soup as I love this dish that is rarely found in restaurants in Johor. I was also keen to enjoy Nan Bei's Tung Po Rou which I blogged about earlier this year.

I dropped by with blogging kaki Semi Han, creator of Bonding Tool, one of my favourite food blogs. Semi's good friend Tyng also joined us.

Allan and his parents whom I have met earlier this year received us warmly. We had an impromptu party and got a chance to try most of the food served at Nan Bei 南北 restaurant.



Semi is a very serious food blogger and Tyng a very supportive friend.



Semi is very meticulous and I learnt a lot about food photography from her today. We even roped in Allan to help in the food photography.


Hainanese Mutton Soup RM15

This is Nan Bei's Hainanese mutton soup. The soup is mildly herbal and it did well to balance the characteristic gaminess of mutton. Following the Hainanese tradition, black woodear fungus and fried beancurd sheets are used in the soup. The chunks of white radish added sweetness to the broth while soaking up the flavours. The crunchy chunks of radish are coveted pieces in the pot as they are loaded with flavours. 



The mutton was tender with smokey fatty streaks and only had mild hints of that distinct mutton flavour. We all liked Nan Bei's Hainanese mutton soup. For me, I liked it that the tastes and flavours of Nan Bei's mutton soup are mild with nothing overpowering.


Cabbage with Roast Pork in Claypot RM10



The Nappa Cabbage with Roast Pork in Claypot is another new dish at Nan Bei restoran. The soup is a tasty blend of savouriness from the roast pork and the refreshing sweetness from the fresh cabbage. I love the juicy cabbage as it sponged up the delicious soup and had a tender yet crunchy mouth feel. The Cabbage with Roast Pork won the hearts of the ladies through their stomachs.



We like the Tung Po Rou 东坡肉 or braised belly pork. Those layers of fat are to be enjoyed either fearlessly or recklessly. Today, the fatty layers weren't as thick as that during my previous visit, which would make this dish appealing to more health conscious people.



For me, I prefer my Tung Po Rou to have a thicker layer of savoury, sweet giggly fat since I indulge in this treat only once in a while.


Pig Trotters with Ginger and Vinegar RM7

The braised pig trotters with ginger and vinegar 猪脚姜醋 was quite mild in taste and flavour, so it would appeal to more people. I haven't eaten this dish for a long time and I always had the home made version which is more robust and more herbal.

All of Nan Bei's dishes are eaten with boiled rice. Semi and Tyng both finished their bowls of rice, which is pretty unusual these days especially for calorie counting ladies. When I commented about them finishing the rice, they mumbled something intelligible through their food but their expressions said that Nan Bei's dishes hit all the right notes with them.

Nan Bei restoran is a simple, basic shop serving delicious food at reasonable prices - definitely worth a visit.



Restaurant name: Nan Bei Restoran 南北
Address: 68, Jalan Gaya 1, Taman Gaya
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/sfGrT
GPS: 1.563158,103.800834
Hours: 10:00am to 6:00pm (Closed on Sunday)
Non Halal

Date visited: 16 Jan 2013, 21 May 2013

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Kambing Soup @ Meldrum Walk in Downtown Johor Bahru

There are perhaps 6 or 7 kambing soup (Indian mutton soup) stalls in Meldrum Walk. They all looked popular and since I have not eaten at any here, I randomly picked one.

This stall like the others sell meat, tongue, stomach, ribs, shank (tulang), intestines and what looked like unmentionable organs. I saw customers given a bowl and tongs to pick the parts they want, just like the way customers pick what they want at yong tau foo stalls.

I ordered a mixed bowl to sample all the different parts.

The locals eat their kambing soup with a plate of rice or bread. I ate mine on its own - the way I am used to.

This bowl of mixed kambing soup for RM6 (SGD2.50)

It was my lucky day as my random choice turned out to be a good food find. My first sip of the rich, creamy, spicy, tasty soup and I was impressed.

The rich, creamy, spicy soup was delicious and fragrant. The characteristic aroma of mutton was only slight here. The soup was very smooth and had just the right body and texture. There was also very little oil (excessive oil is the bane of average kambing soup).

My mixed soup had at least a dozen good sized chunks of tender meat, stomach, and tendon. It was all flesh though I wouldn’t mind some bones. There was a piece of chewy sinew that added texture and fun of this soup.

Kambing soup is one of my life long favourites and I have been eating it for years in Singapore. Tried the famous stalls over the years. This one ranks with the best.

Sometimes, I get lumpy lumps in the soup. This one is completely smooth. Sometimes, I get a film of heavy oil floating on the surface. This one is pretty clear on top though I won’t know how much oil is suspended in the soup. Sometimes, I get watery thin soup. This one is creamy smooth, though not too thick.

The stall owner and his sole helper were busy but very friendly. I guess competition does wonders to the benefit of customers, who get good food with friendly service.

I also want to try the other kambing soup stalls at Meldrum Walk to see which is the best of them all.


Restaurant name: A. Jabar Sup Kambing
Address: Stall in Meldrum Walk in downtown Johor Bahru

Map: http://g.co/maps/n7qhh

GPS: 1.460045,103.764673
Hours: 5:00pm to midnight

Halal

Date visited: 18 Feb 2012

There are perhaps 6 or 7 kambing soup (Indian mutton soup) stalls in Meldrum Walk. They all looked popular and since I have not eaten at any here, I randomly picked one.

This stall like the others sell meat, tongue, stomach, ribs, shank (tulang), intestines and what looked like unmentionable organs. I saw customers given a bowl and tongs to pick the parts they want, just like the way customers pick what they want at yong tau foo stalls.

I ordered a mixed bowl to sample all the different parts.

The locals eat their kambing soup with a plate of rice or bread. I ate mine on its own - the way I am used to.

This bowl of mixed kambing soup for RM6 (SGD2.50)

It was my lucky day as my random choice turned out to be a good food find. My first sip of the rich, creamy, spicy, tasty soup and I was impressed.

The rich, creamy, spicy soup was delicious and fragrant. The characteristic aroma of mutton was only slight here. The soup was very smooth and had just the right body and texture. There was also very little oil (excessive oil is the bane of average kambing soup).

My mixed soup had at least a dozen good sized chunks of tender meat, stomach, and tendon. It was all flesh though I wouldn’t mind some bones. There was a piece of chewy sinew that added texture and fun of this soup.

Kambing soup is one of my life long favourites and I have been eating it for years in Singapore. Tried the famous stalls over the years. This one ranks with the best.

Sometimes, I get lumpy lumps in the soup. This one is completely smooth. Sometimes, I get a film of heavy oil floating on the surface. This one is pretty clear on top though I won’t know how much oil is suspended in the soup. Sometimes, I get watery thin soup. This one is creamy smooth, though not too thick.

The stall owner and his sole helper were busy but very friendly. I guess competition does wonders to the benefit of customers, who get good food with friendly service.

I also want to try the other kambing soup stalls at Meldrum Walk to see which is the best of them all.


Restaurant name: A. Jabar Sup Kambing
Address: Stall in Meldrum Walk in downtown Johor Bahru

Map: http://g.co/maps/n7qhh

GPS: 1.460045,103.764673
Hours: 5:00pm to midnight

Halal

Date visited: 18 Feb 2012

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