Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (Average)
Address: L3-020, Sutera Mall, 1, Jalan Sutera Tanjung 8/4, Taman Sutera Utama, 81300 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia (Located within Sutera Mall)
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/iYtmU7ELnpsRjtR68
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)
Signature Ice Bucket HK Milk Tea = RM11.90
Jordan's Char Siew Rice = RM20.90Signature Tau Fu Fah = RM9.90
Service Charge 10% = RM4.27
Click here for the Full Menu and Receipt (Opens in a New Tab, Price is accurate as of Posting Date)
This is apparently quite a Famous Franchise in Hong Kong? And I understand that this Branch in Sutera Mall only opened very recently about a Month ago. This Franchise (as of this post) is not yet available in Singapore. I have never been to Hong Kong (yet) myself, and my only experience with HK Foods is the Xin Wang Franchise in Singapore. So this Review will be written from this Perspective. When this Restaurant first opened, I understand that it was so popular, it was practically 爆满. Now that 1 month has passed by, I don't know how is the situation on Weekends, but it was stilll Noticeably Crowded on a Thursday Afternoon although not Full House. I can imagine how Insane Crowded it would be on a Weekend!
The Google Maps Reviews for this are Terrible, with everything ranging from Mediocre Tasting Foods, to the Staff's Poor Performances and the most Prominent being that there are Noticeably alot of Flies buzzing about even when its located inside a Mall! And of course you know I have to visit this myself! Its a Big Nicely Furnished Restaurant that is located right at the Main South Entrance of Sutera Mall. I liked that they played Classic Evergreen Cantopop Tunes in the Background that I found myself humming to.
The Staffs here conduct themselves Professionally and are as Polite as you'd expect them to be for a Decent Restaurant. I thought it was quite amusing though when I was greeted with "欢迎光临" when I entered. Of course I appreciated the Gesture, but this Greeting felt more Taiwanese than Hong Kong IMO. The Drink was served first after 4 Mins, and everything else were served within a total of 8 Mins. Quite Impressive Timing, considering the Noticeable Amount of Patrons at that time.
Signature Ice Bucket HK Milk Tea = RM11.90
The HK Milk Tea comes nicely presented in a Cafe-Style in an Ice Bucket and is a Small Bottle. It has a Pleasing Rich and Creamy Taste of Tea, but I'll be honest, I felt this didn't taste very Different from the HK Milk Tea by Joy Luck Teahouse I had in Singapore.
For the Price of RM11.90 (S$3.41) they're asking for this Small Bottle, I feel its Expensive and not really worth the Money. It really didn't taste very special. I feel you are paying more for its Instagram-Worthy Presentation tbh.
Jordan's Char Siew Rice = RM20.90
This has a Nice Savoury Appetizing Smell when it was served up. Amount of Rice is Acceptable. Comes with an Onsen Egg, a Stalk of Veggie, and Most Interestingly Crispy Pork Lard Pieces. To me, the Dish looked Visually Pleasing in Presentation. The Beautiful Char Siew Slices helped alot here tbh.
There are No Chilli provided so as a Singaporean, this felt abit unusual compared to Malaysia or Singapore styled Char Siew Rice. When I asked for Chilli, there was a Malay Looking Serving Chap who handed me Green Chilli, which is not the Type of Chilli usually eaten with Roasted Meats. I had to ask a Seperate Chinese Serving Lady who automatically gave me the Correct Red Sambal instead. I won't fault the Earlier Serving Chap however as it is understandable that he culturally won't know what Chilli I really wanted with Roasted Meats. Although I feel the Service Training could be better here as this is a Chinese Restaurant after all.
As for the Char Siew, they were Cut Thin and the Layer of Fat is Nice and Fatty and Overall Beautifully Caramelized. They look like "不见天" Meat Cut, although in this context, its probably more accurate to call this "飞机肉" because thats what Hong Kong calls this particular Meat Cut. Taste Wise, it is Melt in Mouth Quality. The Sauce is the Soul here as I love the Deep Caramelized Sweetish Taste. Although Amount of Meat is not alot, this is still a Nice Restaurant Standard Char Siew.
Fried Pork Lard Pieces is a Very Welcome Addition to the Dish. This is not a Common Ingredient used in Roasted Dishes in Singapore and Malaysia but I thought it works very well here in providing a Delightful Crispy Crunch and added a Nice 猪油香味 to the Dish.
I like this plate of Char Siew Rice. This is Above Average in Quality and while its not Mindblowing, this still a Very Good Tasting Dish. That said, the Red Sambal really helped alot here and without it, I felt the Dish just lacked a certain Oomph to it. This Sambal also made me realize I prefer Singapore and Malaysian style of Roasted Meats as i'm sure Hong Kong Dishes would probably not provide any Chilli with their Dishes.
Signature Tau Fu Fah = RM9.90
Singapore calls this Dish "Tau Hway" (豆花) while Hong Kong (and I think Malaysia) calls it "Tau Fu Fa" (豆腐花) and this is my First Time tasting the Hong Kong Version and it is Very Different in Comparison. HK Tau Fu Fa is Very Milky in Taste and the Consistency is Very Much Firmer and "Elastic" compared to the Usual "Tau Hway" that you are used to. Its not as Fragile and is actually quite Stretchy and what I describe as a "Doing Doing" type of Texture.
Perhaps my Singapore Brain is already used to the Super Fragile style of Tau Hway, I couldn't quite understand and accept this HK Tau Fu Fah's completely Different Texture even though Visually there is almost No Difference. Eating this feels like a More Fragile Version of Mochi if it makes any sense. I also cannot get over how Prominently Milky this tasted too. The Brown Syrup on the Side tasted like Burnt Brown Sugar and adding it gives it a more Caramelly Milky Taste that I thought felt a Tad Jelak, although that Jelakness is not that Jialat.
I don't dislike it, yet I cannot find myself liking it too. I guess it's really more of a different style of taste. I reckon if I had grown up eating this kind of Texture, I might have accepted it more I guess? If you have never eaten HK Style of Tau Fu Fa, you really should come here to give this a Try. This really taste completely different texturally compared to Singapore and Malaysian Tau Hway/Tau Fu Fa.
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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts
Eating at this place reminds me that I'm really a Singaporean at Heart as I realize I prefer some Heat and Spiciness for my Foods if applicable. The Total Combined Cost of RM46.95 (S$13.50) feels a tad on the Higher Side even for me as a Singaporean, but I felt the Char Siew Rice and Tau Fu Fa are worth a try at least once, although I certainly would not rush to queue for them.
The HK Milk Tea was the one that I thought isn't worth the Money. If you have tasted HK Milk Tea before, it doesn't taste particularly different here. And yes, the Google Reviews were Correct. This place does have a Fly Issue. I had an Annoying Bugger constantly flying around. This Restaurant should do something about this especially as it is located in an Indoor Mall.
Certainly not as Bad as People review-bombed it on Google Maps, I suspect the Bad Reviews were given when they ate here during their Understandably Crowded Opening or on Weekends where Service Level will of course be Impacted. This is why I only try my best to review Eateries on Weekdays when the Staffs are at their Most Optimum Performance to give them a Fair Review.
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