Ah Heng Char Kway Teow 亞興炒粿條 in Stulang Laut, Johor Bahru, Malaysia (This Shop is Closed.)

Look this plate of delicious char kway teow from Ah Heng Char Kway Teow 亞興炒粿條 in Stulang Laut.

Ah Heng's char kway teow is made with very humble and simple ingredients - just kway teow and/or yellow noodles, bean sprouts, cockles, a sliver of spring union and an egg with condiments like green chili pickle, sambal chili (if you ask for it). No fish cake, lup cheong, prawns or other frills. Has always been like that - this is Teochew char kway teow, Ah Heng proudly declares.

Ah Heng's char kway teow uses no lard and is fried with peanut oil.

 

Ah Heng wields the spatula like a magic wand that turns humble ingredients

into a mouth watering, smokey plate of char kway teow

Simple as it is, Ah Heng's char kway teow has been attracting generations of fans for nearly forty years. Ah Heng's customers include generations of students at the Foon Yew high school near by, guests from the nearby Zon hotel, day trippers from Singapore, and out of town folks who know their JB food. 

With forty years of wielding that time worn spatula and wok, Ah Heng mastered the art of turning the humble ingredients into one of the most popular char kway teow in JB.

 

The kway teow is slightly charred - I love my char kway teow this way.

 

The slightly charred bean sprouts remained plump, juicy, crunchy and sweet. Now, that's mastery :)

 

As I like my char kway teow spicy hot, I asked Ah Heng for his homemade sambal chili. I love it as the sambal was loaded with fresh ground chili, unions, and garlic.

 

Look at these plump, fresh cockles. Ah Heng buys live cockles and patiently shells them, one by one every day. On customers' special request to have their cockles medium rare, Ah Heng will just put the hot char kway teow on top of the cockles.

As Johor Kaki was car less for a few days because my car was in the workshop for repairs, I walked to Ah Heng's famous char kway teow stall from the CIQ. It was a hot day under the blistering sun but the scenery along Jalan Ibrahim Sultan was pretty and there was a constant sea breeze from the Johor Straits.

 

Ah Heng char kway teow is the corner stall in Khye Cheang kopitiam. We can see the Straits and enjoy the sea breeze from here too.

Click on the picture of the see ham to watch the excellent Fatbook 非食不可 programme featuring Ah Heng Char Kway Teow.

Restaurant name: Ah Heng Char Kway Teow 亞興炒粿條
Address: Junction of Jalan Ibrahim Sultan and Jalan Serai
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/k4oHL
GPS: 1.468616,103.780438
Hours: 7:00am to 3:00pm (Closed on alternate Weds)
No pork, no lard

Date visited: 12 Sep 2012

Look this plate of delicious char kway teow from Ah Heng Char Kway Teow 亞興炒粿條 in Stulang Laut.

Ah Heng's char kway teow is made with very humble and simple ingredients - just kway teow and/or yellow noodles, bean sprouts, cockles, a sliver of spring union and an egg with condiments like green chili pickle, sambal chili (if you ask for it). No fish cake, lup cheong, prawns or other frills. Has always been like that - this is Teochew char kway teow, Ah Heng proudly declares.

Ah Heng's char kway teow uses no lard and is fried with peanut oil.

 

Ah Heng wields the spatula like a magic wand that turns humble ingredients

into a mouth watering, smokey plate of char kway teow

Simple as it is, Ah Heng's char kway teow has been attracting generations of fans for nearly forty years. Ah Heng's customers include generations of students at the Foon Yew high school near by, guests from the nearby Zon hotel, day trippers from Singapore, and out of town folks who know their JB food. 

With forty years of wielding that time worn spatula and wok, Ah Heng mastered the art of turning the humble ingredients into one of the most popular char kway teow in JB.

 

The kway teow is slightly charred - I love my char kway teow this way.

 

The slightly charred bean sprouts remained plump, juicy, crunchy and sweet. Now, that's mastery :)

 

As I like my char kway teow spicy hot, I asked Ah Heng for his homemade sambal chili. I love it as the sambal was loaded with fresh ground chili, unions, and garlic.

 

Look at these plump, fresh cockles. Ah Heng buys live cockles and patiently shells them, one by one every day. On customers' special request to have their cockles medium rare, Ah Heng will just put the hot char kway teow on top of the cockles.

As Johor Kaki was car less for a few days because my car was in the workshop for repairs, I walked to Ah Heng's famous char kway teow stall from the CIQ. It was a hot day under the blistering sun but the scenery along Jalan Ibrahim Sultan was pretty and there was a constant sea breeze from the Johor Straits.

 

Ah Heng char kway teow is the corner stall in Khye Cheang kopitiam. We can see the Straits and enjoy the sea breeze from here too.

Click on the picture of the see ham to watch the excellent Fatbook 非食不可 programme featuring Ah Heng Char Kway Teow.

Restaurant name: Ah Heng Char Kway Teow 亞興炒粿條
Address: Junction of Jalan Ibrahim Sultan and Jalan Serai
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/k4oHL
GPS: 1.468616,103.780438
Hours: 7:00am to 3:00pm (Closed on alternate Weds)
No pork, no lard

Date visited: 12 Sep 2012

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Sweet Banana Pisang Goreng @ Stulang Walk in Johor Bahru, Malaysia

The famous Sweet Banana pisang goreng stall has moved to a new location further up along Jalan Stulang Laut.

 

It is easy to locate. At the first traffic light after the TNB station / Junction of Jalan Biru, you will see on your right the old 3-storey flats and the old Chinese temple. Turn right at the traffic light and you will shortly see on your left a small carpark and two pavilions. One is the Sweet Banana pisang goreng and the other is a famous nasi lemak (which I intend to explore soon).

This new location has proper free parking spaces and tables and chairs for a relaxing tea break with Sweet Banana's famous fried fritters and teh tarik. There is no longer the need to park along a busy major road.

 

Zul slicing lekor, fresh from Kelantan everyday

The boss Enche Zulkifli, whom everyone knows as Zul, had been running Sweet Banana for 25 years. Helping him now are his son and two daughters.

 

Since Sweet Banana moved here 3 months ago, Zul's regular clientele and new customers are finding their way to his spanking new location.

Sweet Banana is famous for their large variety of freshly fried goodies and their unique super crispy batter that is not-too-oily.

 

 

Lekor from Kelantan

 

 

The ever popular fried bananas

 

 

Fried sweet potatoes. Note the super crispy crust that makes Sweet Banana's fried goodies so special.

 

 

 

Fried tofu, crispy on the outside, nice and tender on the inside.

 

 

Fried boiled and mashed yellow beans (the kind used to make tau suan).

 

 

My favourite - fried boiled and mashed mung beans. Sweet, soft and nutty inside, crispy outside. 



 

 

 

Customers are welcome to help themselves to these bits and pieces of Sweet Banana's signature, super crispy batter.

 

Again, with the kind permission of Zul and family, I indulged myself in watching with fascination at the frying process.

 

 

The mushrooms in the batter, ready for frying.

 

Frying the marvellously delicious mushrooms.

The fried bananas are ready :)

One of Zul's regular customers is the Johor Royal household whom frequently buys Zul's fried goodies. Zul's new location was granted by the Sultan of Johor.

While enjoying my fried goodies, I noticed workmen busy knocking and chiseling away at the pavilion. So I asked Zul what the renovation work was about. Zul said that when the Sultan of Johor passed by in his car one day, His Highness saw how to improve the appearance of the pavilions. And, His Highness's household sent workmen over to work on the improvements.

 

Sweet Banana Pisang Goreng as tasty as ever and now better than ever with cosy seating and ample parking :) The best getting even better.

(I had earlier written about Sweet Banana when they were at their old road side push cart location.)

Restaurant name: Sweet Banana
Address: Off Jalan Stulang Laut (opposite 3-storey flats and old Chinese Temple)
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/p3hZF
GPS: 1.473341,103.778942
Hours: 1:00pm to 6:00pm (closed on Sunday)
Halal

Date visited: 7 Sep 2012

The famous Sweet Banana pisang goreng stall has moved to a new location further up along Jalan Stulang Laut.

 

It is easy to locate. At the first traffic light after the TNB station / Junction of Jalan Biru, you will see on your right the old 3-storey flats and the old Chinese temple. Turn right at the traffic light and you will shortly see on your left a small carpark and two pavilions. One is the Sweet Banana pisang goreng and the other is a famous nasi lemak (which I intend to explore soon).

This new location has proper free parking spaces and tables and chairs for a relaxing tea break with Sweet Banana's famous fried fritters and teh tarik. There is no longer the need to park along a busy major road.

 

Zul slicing lekor, fresh from Kelantan everyday

The boss Enche Zulkifli, whom everyone knows as Zul, had been running Sweet Banana for 25 years. Helping him now are his son and two daughters.

 

Since Sweet Banana moved here 3 months ago, Zul's regular clientele and new customers are finding their way to his spanking new location.

Sweet Banana is famous for their large variety of freshly fried goodies and their unique super crispy batter that is not-too-oily.

 

 

Lekor from Kelantan

 

 

The ever popular fried bananas

 

 

Fried sweet potatoes. Note the super crispy crust that makes Sweet Banana's fried goodies so special.

 

 

 

Fried tofu, crispy on the outside, nice and tender on the inside.

 

 

Fried boiled and mashed yellow beans (the kind used to make tau suan).

 

 

My favourite - fried boiled and mashed mung beans. Sweet, soft and nutty inside, crispy outside. 



 

 

 

Customers are welcome to help themselves to these bits and pieces of Sweet Banana's signature, super crispy batter.

 

Again, with the kind permission of Zul and family, I indulged myself in watching with fascination at the frying process.

 

 

The mushrooms in the batter, ready for frying.

 

Frying the marvellously delicious mushrooms.

The fried bananas are ready :)

One of Zul's regular customers is the Johor Royal household whom frequently buys Zul's fried goodies. Zul's new location was granted by the Sultan of Johor.

While enjoying my fried goodies, I noticed workmen busy knocking and chiseling away at the pavilion. So I asked Zul what the renovation work was about. Zul said that when the Sultan of Johor passed by in his car one day, His Highness saw how to improve the appearance of the pavilions. And, His Highness's household sent workmen over to work on the improvements.

 

Sweet Banana Pisang Goreng as tasty as ever and now better than ever with cosy seating and ample parking :) The best getting even better.

(I had earlier written about Sweet Banana when they were at their old road side push cart location.)

Restaurant name: Sweet Banana
Address: Off Jalan Stulang Laut (opposite 3-storey flats and old Chinese Temple)
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/p3hZF
GPS: 1.473341,103.778942
Hours: 1:00pm to 6:00pm (closed on Sunday)
Halal

Date visited: 7 Sep 2012

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No Lard Fish Ball Kway Teow Soup @ Ah Hua 亚华 along Jalan Stulang Darat, Johor Bahru

I pass this Ah Hua 亚华 fish ball noodle shop a few times before but never stopped to try it as I somehow do not fancy franchises. I did notice that this corner shop is quite popular even though it is along, rather out of the way, Jalan Stulang Darat. I finally gave it a try on a day when all my favourites in the area were closed.

It turned out to be a surprise find ☻

First, this Ah Hua 亚华 has no relations with its famous namesakes sprinkled around JB. I found that out after asking the owner, if they are related. The owner told me they have no relations at all and their shop started as a push cart stall at the beach (facing Woodlands, Singapore.)  Ah…. another inspiring push cart to shop success story ☻

So, what is so special about this fish ball kway teow shop? After all, even handmade fish balls are everywhere in JB.

The first thing that struck me was the fragrant sauce. Its aroma was subtle and coated the kway teow with a light, fresh flavour. When I asked the owner did he use lard to make the sauce since it was so flavourful, he surprised me by replying, no.

Unlike most kway teow soup shops that use lard, this Ah Hua uses only shallot oil  葱头油 – oil that had been used to fry fresh shallots. I like this healthy choice that does not compromise on taste and flavour.

The soft kway teow coated with a fine film of soy sauce and shallot oil blend was lip smacking delicious. The bean sprouts (tau geh) stirred into the kway teow were crunchy and fun to bite. The tau geh made a rather loud gashing sound in my ear bones as I chewed on it.

The unevenly shaped, homemade, handmade fish balls were bouncy, tender yet firm, and had a delightful fresh fish fragrance. These were one of the best fish balls that I have ever tasted.

Look, they take a lot of trouble to keep the fish balls fresh. The fresh fish balls are kept under a constant stream of cool running water.

The clear soup has that old time 古早 taste and aroma, triggering memories of my primary school tuckshop’s kway teow soup stall.

I took a look at their steaming big pot of soup and saw lots of soy beans and anchovies tumbling around crazily inside the furiously boiling, bubbling broth.

I love this Ah Hua 亚华 kway teow soup shop. This will be my kway teow soup of the day whenever I am on cholesterol quota preservation mode.

Restaurant name: Ah Hua 亚华 Handmade Fish Ball Kway Teow Noodles

Address: G-08, Jalan Pandan 1, Pangsarpuri Impian Stulang, Johor Bahru

Map: http://g.co/maps/wbuz2

GPS: 1.472768,103.77802
Hours: 12:00 Noon to 4:00pm (Closed on Monday)

Non Halal

Date visited: 22 Feb 2012

I pass this Ah Hua 亚华 fish ball noodle shop a few times before but never stopped to try it as I somehow do not fancy franchises. I did notice that this corner shop is quite popular even though it is along, rather out of the way, Jalan Stulang Darat. I finally gave it a try on a day when all my favourites in the area were closed.

It turned out to be a surprise find ☻

First, this Ah Hua 亚华 has no relations with its famous namesakes sprinkled around JB. I found that out after asking the owner, if they are related. The owner told me they have no relations at all and their shop started as a push cart stall at the beach (facing Woodlands, Singapore.)  Ah…. another inspiring push cart to shop success story ☻

So, what is so special about this fish ball kway teow shop? After all, even handmade fish balls are everywhere in JB.

The first thing that struck me was the fragrant sauce. Its aroma was subtle and coated the kway teow with a light, fresh flavour. When I asked the owner did he use lard to make the sauce since it was so flavourful, he surprised me by replying, no.

Unlike most kway teow soup shops that use lard, this Ah Hua uses only shallot oil  葱头油 – oil that had been used to fry fresh shallots. I like this healthy choice that does not compromise on taste and flavour.

The soft kway teow coated with a fine film of soy sauce and shallot oil blend was lip smacking delicious. The bean sprouts (tau geh) stirred into the kway teow were crunchy and fun to bite. The tau geh made a rather loud gashing sound in my ear bones as I chewed on it.

The unevenly shaped, homemade, handmade fish balls were bouncy, tender yet firm, and had a delightful fresh fish fragrance. These were one of the best fish balls that I have ever tasted.

Look, they take a lot of trouble to keep the fish balls fresh. The fresh fish balls are kept under a constant stream of cool running water.

The clear soup has that old time 古早 taste and aroma, triggering memories of my primary school tuckshop’s kway teow soup stall.

I took a look at their steaming big pot of soup and saw lots of soy beans and anchovies tumbling around crazily inside the furiously boiling, bubbling broth.

I love this Ah Hua 亚华 kway teow soup shop. This will be my kway teow soup of the day whenever I am on cholesterol quota preservation mode.

Restaurant name: Ah Hua 亚华 Handmade Fish Ball Kway Teow Noodles

Address: G-08, Jalan Pandan 1, Pangsarpuri Impian Stulang, Johor Bahru

Map: http://g.co/maps/wbuz2

GPS: 1.472768,103.77802
Hours: 12:00 Noon to 4:00pm (Closed on Monday)

Non Halal

Date visited: 22 Feb 2012

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