1 Day Food Trail To Johor Bahru
Went to JB with the boy on Christmas Eve in the morning at around 10am. Even though its Christmas Eve, the traffic towards JB was smooth so we cleared the custom quite fast. Our trip focus was to try all the famous eats near City Square. So the places we been to are mostly by foot as travelling to all other places the possibility of getting scam by cab drivers are high.
Our 1st stop was actually going to Hiap Joo Bakery to get their breads but we couldn't find the place eventually so we decided to go to Kam Long Curry Fish Head instead.
Note: The rate im using is SGD 1 = RM 2.58
1st Stop: Kam Long Curry Fish Head Restaurant
Guide to Kam Long Restaurant: After exiting from the McDonald's exit at the 1st level of City Square, turn left and walk all the way straight. About 2mins walk, you will be able to find Kam Long Restaurant. The destination is on your left. You will be able to spot a queue outside the restaurant and you know you are at the right place.
We reach there at around 10.50am and waited for about 10mins before we get a seat. The boss will take your order when you are waiting so once you get your seat, your food will be served.
We ordered a small portion which cost RM 20. When the dish arrives, it was sizzling hot bubbles. The curry was fragrant and its good to be just eaten alone with rice. The fish was tender and fresh. But i think that the most important in a fish head curry was the curry taste. If the curry doesn't taste nice, it will ruin the dish. This dish also comes with beancurd skin which is DAMN GOOD as it absorbs the curry in it. Their curry fish head was said to be sold out before 4pm.
Our bill came to a total of RM 26 (SGD 10) with a small portion of curry fish head (RM 20), 2 bowls of rice (RM 1 each) and 2 can drinks (RM 2 each).
Kam Long Restaurant
Jalan Wong Ah fook
80000 Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Operating hours: 8am - 4pm
Next, we decided to go to Ya Wang 鸭王 to try their duck as it was known as the consultant of Dian Xiao Er 店小二. But who knows, we found Hiap Joo Bakery as well at that place! We were so excited that we could eventually find this place.
2nd Stop: Hiap Joo Bakery
Guide to Hiap Joo Bakery: After exiting from Kim Long Restaurant, turn left and walk straight to cross the traffic. Cross another traffic on your right and you could see A SUPER HUGE DUCK SIGN displaying at Ya Wang Restaurant. But for Hiap Joo Bakery, after crossing the road, you will be able to spot Maybank on your left and as well as OCBC building. Turn right from OCBC building and head down straight and you will be able to spot Hiap Joo Bakery on your left. It is a very small place but filled with lots of people inside.
Hiap Joo Bakery was open since 1919 and they use the traditional way of baking which is by wood fire.
Reach here at about 11.30am. The Coconut Bun was said to be best seller here as it is soft and juicy based on many reviews. Everything from there is freshly baked as each bun was still hot.
We didnt try the buns once we bought it as we are leaving some space for the duck later on. Tried the banana cake and kaya once we reach Singapore at night. The kaya bun was still GREAT as the bun is still soft and with a fragrant aroma of kaya. Banana cake was moist and with a right amount of sweetness of the banana. The boy loves both of kaya and banana cake too.
Be sure to reach there before noon as most of the bread will be sold out by then.
Our purchases worth a total of RM 27 (SGD 10.50). 2 packets of Coconut bun (RM 3,50 per packet of 5), 2 packets of Kaya bun (RM 3.50 per packet of 4), 1 packet of Red Bean bun (RM 4 per packet of 4) and 1 box of Banana Cake (RM 9 per box).
Hiap Joo Bakery will still be operating business as usual on Christmas 25/12/14 and New Year 01/01/15.
Hiap Joo Bakery
13, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee
80000 Johor Bahru
Operating hours: 8am - 6pm (closed on Sunday)
3rd Stop: Ya Wang Restaurant 鸭皇药材烧腊大王
Guide to Ya Wang Restaurant: After exiting from Kam Long Restaurant, turn left and walk straight to cross the traffic, cross another traffic on your right. You will be able to spot A HUGE DUCK SIGN displaying from the restaurant. The destination is on your right. About 2 mins walk.
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| Picture taken after crossing the traffic |
We ordered a plate of small Ten Herbal Roast Duck (RM 16) to try. It comes with a drumstick and about 12 pieces of slice duck meat. Quite enough for the 2 of us to try. The meat was juicy with the sauce but the duck was not as tender as Dian Xiao Er's. The sauce was delicious with the herbal taste and its sweet which tasted like Dian Xiao Er's as well. The skin was crispy too. With this price, its considered cheap and good duck meat to satisfy our stomach.
Their menu also comes with 2 choices of set meal just like Dian Xiao Er's but the price was about half of it.
Our bill came to a total of RM 17 (SGD 6.60) for a plate of Ten Herbal Roast Duck (RM 16) and a cup of Soya Milk (RM 1).
Ya Wang Restaurant 鸭皇药材烧腊大王
28 Jalan Segget Johor Bahru
Operating hours: 8am - 6pm
After eating, we were still early before catching our movie at 5.30pm. So we went to City Square to walk around before finding a place to chill and rest our feet.
4th Stop: Hui Lau Shan 許留山
Ordered this Mango Romance (RM 12.90) as i find that there are many different choices of mango desserts in a plate. But once its served, we find it pathetic as it is super small. But the mango was good and fresh. I left the mango mochi at a side as its not my liking.
The boy ordered Mango Duet (RM 10.90) and it was good. It comes with condensed milk, slices of pomelo, mango ice cream as well as chunks of mango cubes. Everything from that bowl is rich with mango sweetness.
Hui Lau Shan
City Square Mall, Level 3 (J3-20)
After eating the dessert we were still early as its only 2.30pm. So we decided to shift out plan of eating seafood in the afternoon instead of during dinner time. We decided to head on for seafood at 3pm.
5th Stop: Hiang Kee Seafood
Guide to Hiang Kee Seafood: Hiang Kee Seafood is located at 大马花园 so its not reachable by foot. So we took a cab from City Square. I had done my research before taking the cab. The maximum cost will be RM 10 to reach. By meter will be around RM 6. Taxis in Malaysia is really cheap.
Read reviews stating that their signature will be Butter Crayfish. So both of us ordered 4 dishes in total.
1st dish that came was Hotplate Tofu (RM 10). We ordered the small portion was it was a lot. The taste of the sauce was salty. So everything from that plate was too salty for our liking. Even though the tofu was smooth and silk but the sauce is a more important factor to us.
2nd dish was Stir Fry Kangkong (RM 8). Huge amount for a small portion as well. The stir fry kangkong lacks the wok hei flavour like Singapore's so we left this plate untouched after we each tried a small amount of it.
The 3rd dish was my favourite which is the Butter Crayfish (RM 35) for 4 pieces of crayfish. The Crayfish is huge an meaty. The flesh can be taken out from the shell easily. The meat was tender and juicy. When eaten together with the buttery crumbs, there will be juicy meat and flavourful taste in your mouth. A SUPER GOOD COMBINATION.
Last dish was our Salted Egg Yolk Crab (RM 66) for about 700g of crab. My pincer was filled with fresh and juicy meat. The salted egg yolk was a more creamy type. Both of us prefers the salted egg yolk to be more watery. Nonetheless, it was still good.
Our total bill came to RM 125 (SGD 48.40) which consists of Hotplate Tofu (RM 10), Kangkong (RM 8), Butter Crayfish (RM 35), Salted Egg Yolk Crab (RM 66), 1 plate of rice and 2 can drinks.
SGD 48 for a seafood feast consisting of 4 dishes you wont be able to find it anywhere in Singapore. Will recommend this place for cheap seafood to satisfy your stomach.
Hiang Kee Seafood
Jalan Keris, Taman Sri Tebrau (Hawker Centre)
80500 Johor Bahru Malaysia
Left the place at around 4.30pm and took a cab back to City Square for our 5.30pm show "Rise of the Legend". Plus points for watching movie at Cathay City Square are cheap and they were speaking Cantonese instead of Chinese!
Went home around 8.30pm and there was no jam as well. Smooth traffic for the day and there were no queues as well. What a great day to spent with the boy on Christmas Eve.
