Kedai Ba Kut Teh Ah Soon 亞順肉骨茶餐室

Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Highly Recommended)

Address: 141, Jalan Keris 1, Taman Sri Tebrau, 80500 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/dZG326RZK18N1ifs6
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)

🐷 肉骨茶 Bak Kuh Teh 1 person (Basic, No Rice, No Addons) = RM20.00

🐔 麻油鸡 Sesame Oil Chicken (Regular) = RM17.00
(They charged me lesser at RM12.00)

No Service Charges

 Here is the Full Menu of the Eatery/Restaurant.
Prices are Accurate as of the Date of the Post.

First got to know of this BKT Eatery from JohorKaki. His Extensive Knowledge of the Backstory and History of this Place is Very Impressive as per his Signature Writing Style. 📝👍 As such, I would not elaborate on it and would recommend to visit his Site to learn more. 👍

The Eatery itself is Noticeably Crowded on a Friday Morning at 8.00am although Not Full House and I was still able to easily get a Seat. 🪑 The Staffs mostly comprised of Myanmmar Folks who are Polite but keep to themselves. The Whole Operation is being run by an Attractive Chinese Lady who is probably the Lady Boss. 💁

The Moment I stepped into the Place, the Lady Boss Immediately Very Warmly Welcomed and Guided me to my Seat. 👍 She provided me a Menu (which does not show any Prices) 📜 but Very Clearly and Patiently provided the Default Prices for all the 2 Dishes I ordered. 👍

I am Most Impressed when she did not give the typical 死人脸 that you'd expect from a BKT Eatery when you order just Basic BKT with No Add-Ons. 👍 I will elaborate more when I get to review the BKT section. Everything she did felt very Customer Service Focused with a Genuine Friendly Smile 💁 even though she was Obviously Very Busy running about and tending to all the other Customers Requests. 🏃‍♀️

The Eatery itself looks like an Old Kopitiam and while Not Airconditioned, felt Airy and Comfortable. 🌬️ Kudos to one of the Friendly Myanmmar Staff who provided a Chair for me to Put my Bag. 🎒 This brings back Fond Memories of my Travel in Hong Kong! 🇭🇰 Not many Eateries in JB does this tbh.

It took about 9 Mins for both Dishes to be served up, which was quite impressive considering the Amount of Customers when I was there. 👍

🐷 肉骨茶 Bak Kuh Teh 1 person (Basic, No Rice, No Addons) = RM20.00

Ordering BKT Basic with No Addon DLCs

Whenever I order BKT from a New Place, I will tend not to order any DLC Addons or Extra Ingredients. 😅 I prefer to taste the Basic Broth and Meat itself on its own first. 🍲🍖 Because if the Fundamental Broth is No Good, adding all these Chapalang Addons will not improve the Dish any further. 🍲🤔

Adding these Addons is what they want Customers to do because of course these are DLCs that they can use to Earn Extra. 💵 In Most JB BKT Eateries I've noticed, if you just order their Basic BKT with Zero Addons, alot of these Owners will give you a Very Noticeable 死人脸 and will treat you like a "Low Valued Customer" that they will not bother too much with. 🙄 As a Solo Traveller, you will especially notice this in their Body Language and Facial Expressions. 🤔 If you have eaten enough BKT in JB, you'll probably know what I mean. 😅

Which is why I am Very Impressed with the Lady Boss here. 👍 Not only did she not outwardly show any Signs of 死人脸, she did something Even Better which Exceeded my Expectations which I will elaborate later on in the Review. ♥️

How does the BKT itself taste?

Because I ordered Basic BKT with No Addons, the 1st Impression is that the Presentation is Very Plain. 🤔 Its just 4 Pieces of Ribs 🍖 + Soup 🍲 and a Sprinkling of Spring Onions. I reckon this is 1 Rib that is cut into 4 Pieces.

The Soup is certainly not the Very Deep and Herbal Klang-Style, but its also Not a Simple Soy Sauce Based Broth. 🍲🤔 The Presence of Porkiness is Noticeable but its not Overly Porky and has a Somewhat Meaty Taste to it. 🍖😋 Not Overly Robust, yet also Not Too Bland or Light.

What I particularly enjoyed was a Very Mild Subtle Undertone of Herbs within that you can taste. 🌿😋 I don't know what herb is this, but its presence helped Carry and Elevate the Soup from being just a Typical Simple Soy Sauce Based Broth. 🍲👍 The Mix of Meatiness and Subtle Herbal works very well here.

The Pork Ribs are not Fall off the Bone Type of Tender although they are still Tender and Soft to the Bite. 🍖😋 Not Dry, Not Overly Porky, Not Overly Salty, they have absorbed the Broth Well. This is an Acceptable Pork Rib. 🍖👍

🐔 麻油鸡 Sesame Oil Chicken (Regular, No Rice) = RM17.00
(They charged me lesser at RM12.00)

Now compared to the BKT, Sesame Oil Chicken looks Alot More Presentable with 4 Big Pieces of Thigh and Breast Meat. 🐔👍 There is a Reason why they Charged me Lesser which is also the reason why I gave this place my Highest Top Score. 🏆 I will elaborate this later in the Review.

The Soul of the Dish is that Beautiful Sauce. 🍯 It's Salty but Not Overly So. I love that the Sesame Oil Taste is Not Overly Vulgar but Very Elegantly Subtle. 😋 Not Overly Chickeny and has a Strong Undertone of Garlic 🧄 that gives it a Very Umami Taste. Slightly Viscous, this is an Amazing Sauce to 下饭 with. 🍚 Heck its so good, I even wanted to Drink it Dry! 😅

The Chicken Pieces themselves are Very Soft and Tender and are Soaked Very Well with that Lovely Sauce. 🐔🍯 I especially love the Parts of the Chicken where the Skin and Fats Clump together making this Really Delicious to Eat. 🐔😋 Hahaha this is a Fat Chonky Chicken they have here! 🐔😅

Interestingly, after eating the Sesame Chicken, Drinking the BKT Soup 🍲 gave it another Interesting Layer of Sweetness which was Not Present when I drank it first. Very Nice. 👍

Why I'm giving this Place my Highest Score.

So I've already mentioned how Customer Service Focused the Lady Boss was. What took it to the Next Level, was how she actually CUSTOMIZED the Menu for me. 📜😳

So the Sesame Oil Chicken originally cost RM17.00 and instead of 4 Pieces of Chicken I got, its actually alot more, and its actually meant more for 2 People despite it being the Smallest Regular Size on their Menu. 😅 She saw that I was a Solo Diner and actually took the initiative to make a Customized Smaller Version for me with Lesser Chicken Pieces because she was worried I may not be able to finish everything. 😳 As such she also shaved off RM5.00 and reduced it to RM12.00 for me. 💵😳

我真的没有话说. Truly impressed she is even wiling to earn lesser from me in order to let me have a Better Dining Experience. ♥️ Not many Eateries will bother to do this, especially not so for a BKT Eatery because of course they want you to order as much items as possible. 😅

This Lady Boss's Attention to Detail and Genuine Concern for Customer is Very Admirable. ♥️ This is almost like Japanese Level of Customer Service already. 🇯🇵 This Level of Customer Service completely exceeded my Expectation and is the Reason why I have Absolutely No Issues giving this place my Highest Top Score. 🏆

That said though, hahaha if only she knew how much I could eat! 😅 I would probably have no issues finishing off their Default Sesame Oil Chicken and would probably order a 2nd Pot too! 🐔😋 Hahahaha! Its that Good! So if you are also going to Solo Dine here and can also eat alot, remember to tell the Lady Boss you want the Full Original Size! Hahaha! 😄

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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts

At the Base Price of RM20.00 (S$5.70) for their Basic BKT without Addons, personally I felt its a Tad Expensive. 💵🤔 It's nice and there is effort that goes into this, but I don't feel there are enough Meat Pieces to really warrant the Asking Price IMO. 🍖🤔 Perhaps I'm abit biased because I would be more willing to pay this if it was more Deeply Herbly like Klang-Styled BKT. 🤔

The Price of RM17.00 (S$4.90) for their Sesame Oil Chicken though is Absolutely Worth the Money! 🐔😋 I feel that THIS should be their Actual Signature Dish. 👍 The Sauce is so Good that I legit really wanted to just drink it dry! 😋 LOVED their Fat Chonky Tender Chicken too! 🍗 Had I ordered Rice, I would have finished off Gallons of it with this Beautiful Sauce! Hahaha! 🍚😅

Although the BKT isn't worth the Price of Entry, I still feel these 2 Dishes Paired Very Well Together. 👍 The Robust Saucy Sesame Oil Chicken chased down with The Light Herbly BKT Soup with lots of Rice would make this a Very Satisfying Meal. 🍲😋

Ultimately, it is the Excellent Customer Service of the Lady Boss that Outshined Everything Else. ♥️ Her Willingness and Genkiness to Serve, her Amazing Service Attitude in her Care for Customers left me Extremely Impressed. ♥️ Alot of BKT Eateries can definitely learn from her. 👍 Don't miss out on their Amazing Sesame Oil Chicken 🐔🍯 served with a Friendly Genuine Smile! 😄 Highly Recommended!