Kacang Pool Haji (Jalan Dato Onn Branch)

Review Rating: ⭐ (Not Recommended)

Address: 12, Jalan Dato Jaafar, Taman Dato Onn, 80350 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Malaysia
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/UVcMtEuqKLmutCw39
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)

Kacang Pool Kambing = RM11.00

No Service Charge

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

This Branch at Jalan Dato Onn was a Dedicated Restoran located at the Corner of a Street. 😳 Not Airconditioned but Airy. 🌬️ Its a Large Place and I thought the Middle Row of Metal Tables and Bench were particularly unique and gave it a More Factory Canteen sort of look. It wasn't particularly Very Crowded on a Weekday Afternoon when I was there.

What are the Little Plates of Braised Eggs on Every Table for? 🥚🤔

What I found interesting were Little Plates of what looked like Brown Braised Eggs on Every Table. 🥚 I have no idea what these are for. Are these Free Appetizers for Customers? 🤔 This was also something I noticed when I visited another Muslim Eatery Restoran Medina Baru near City Square that I reviewed previously although the Dishes they have there were Bananas instead of Eggs like these. 🍌

As I don't eat in Malay Eateries often, I'm not Familiar with the procedures myself. 🤔 Are these Free Appetizers or Desserts for Customers? I can understand if its Bananas for Customers to eat after a Meal but why Eggs? 🥚 Or is the Type of Item entirely up to the Restaurant?

Staff Service Level could be Improved

The Staffs were Acceptably Polite but also gave off a Very Noticeable Sian Sian Bored 无精打采 type of Vibe that I felt. 🙄 Especially when I finished my meal and was ready to pay, there were no one at the Cashier Counter and I had to go personally hunt for a Staff. 🤔

Not sure if its because this is a Lack of Manpower or what, but the Service could be improved especially with how Famous this Restoran is supposed to be. 🤔 Just my 2 Cents Observation. Anyway the Dish was served up quickly in 2 Mins. A Potential Red Flag as you will read what I mean. 🚩

Kacang Pool Kambing = RM11.00

Having eaten the Daging (Beef) Version of this Dish from the Earlier Locations, I was intrigued with this Kambing (Mutton) version which I've not seen before. 🐐 Slightly Pricier than the Daging Version, this is also Presented with the Same 2 Components: The Roti 🍞 and the Meat/Bean Dip. 🍖🫘
🍞 The Quality of the Roti

Among all the Versions I've eaten, I'm sorry to say that this Version of Roti Bakar is the WORST among them all. 👎 For one thing, the Roti isn't even Warm! 🙄 Cold to the Touch, this Roti was even Floppy as Heck! 👎 And to think I thought the one at Selera Johor was already Not Freshly Crispy. 😅 Ughhh.

And its not because its not supposed to be Grilled, because there are obvious Grill Marks on the Roti. 🤔 Its just that these have probably been Pre-Grilled and in Storage for so Long that they had turned Cold. 🙄 Even so, I am disappointed that they didn't even bother to Re-Heat it. 🙄 What I got instead, was a Cold, Floppy, Oily Roti that immediately made me lose my appetite for it. 🫤

🍖🫘 Quality of the Bean/Meat Dip

Luckily this Dip wasn't as Disappointing. 😅 Among the 3 Versions I've eaten, I feel this one may be Most Generous with the Amount of Meat within the Dip. 👍 Interestingly because the One I ordered is Kambing instead of Daging, I also felt this Kambing Version had More Fattier Cuts, resulting in a More Creamier Savoury Texture compared to Daging. 😋

Of the 3 Branches, the Dip here has a noticeably More Prominent Sourish Taste and is the one that very much don't taste like A&W Coney Dog Filling anymore but rather has its Own Unique Taste Profile. 🤔 This Dip here feels like how Kacang Pool's Dip is supposed to taste like if it makes any sense. 🤔



Just for Fun, here's a Taste Comparison and Overall Service Quality between the 3 Different Versions that I've eaten.

🍞 Quality of the Bread (Roti Bakar)

Jalan Dato Onn Branch:
The Absolute Worst Version of the 3. 👎 The Roti was Completely Cold and Floppy. 🙄 I'm most disappoitned that they didn't even bother to Reheat it. Eating this Version actually made me drastically lose my interest for the Dish on a whole. 😅

Angsana Mall Branch:
This is the Best Version among the 3. The Roti was Freshly Grilled and served Super Fresh and Crispy off the Hot Skillet. 🔥 The Nice Pakcik that Grilled this took Care and Effort in ensuring a Nice Sear, resulting in an Insane Delightful Crispy and Airy Crunch. 🔥❤️

Selera Johor Branch:
Noticeably Less Crispy than Angsana Version because this is Not Freshly Grilled off the Skillet although there is still abit of Crispy Bite. 🤔 Among the 3, this is also the one that was the Ugliest with the Most Burnt Chao Tah Marks. 😅

Quality of the Bean / Meat Dip

Jalan Dato Onn Branch:
Among the 3, this one may Arguably be the Best among them when it comes to Amount of Meat given in the Dip although Angsana Mall's version doesn't lag too far behind. 🤔 Because the Version I chosen is Kambing 🐐 which is not available in the other 2 Branches, I feel this is Better Tasting than Daging Version because I do like the Fattier Cuts in this. 😋

Among the 3, this is the one that Completely does not taste like A&W's Coney Dog Filling and feels like THIS is how Kacang Pool's Dip is supposed to taste like. 👍

Angsana Mall Branch:
Among the 3, this was the one that tasted the Closest to A&W's Coney Dog Filling. 🤔 In fact it tasted so close to it, I was wondering if this is actually Coney Dog Filling itself. 😅 Amount of Meat in the Dip was Generous 口口有肉.

Selera Johor Branch:
This was the Worst Version of the 3 because there are Noticeably Lesser Meat given and I can't help but feel that they are trying to Scrimp and doing Very Obvious Cost Cutting. 🤔 This is More Beany than Meaty, 口口有豆 🫘 instead of 口口有肉. 🍖 Doesn't taste like A&W Coney Dog Filling though. If you prefer a More Beany Version, you might like this better. 🤔

Side Note: This Branch focus on Cost Cutting so much that as you can see it is the only one that used Disposable Cutlery and Plates 🍽️ compared to Actual Utensils for the other 2. Maybe to avoid any Dishwashing Costs? 🤔

Service Quality and Customer Experience

Jalan Dato Onn Branch:
I feel the Service Quality could be improved. 🤔 Now they weren't rude or anything, but the Staffs gave off such a Sian Sian Bored Vibe that they cut my enjoyment of this place. 🤔

The fact I have to take time to hunt for a Staff because of an Unmanned Cashier Counter to pay for the Meal isn't the type of Experience I expect for a Restaurant thats supposedly as Famous as it is. 😅 Again, I'm not sure if this is due to Lack of Manpower or what. But the Service Quality definitely could be improved. 🤔

Angsana Mall Branch:
The Best among the 3 because of the Adorable Pak Cik and Mak Cik. ❤️ The 2 of them were so Friendly and Nice, and their Version of Kacang Pool just felt like they put in Alot more Hard Work and Effort into it. ❤️ Especially when you see the Pak Cik slowly grilling each Piece of Roti with such Care. 🔥 Their Version of Kacang Pool felt the Most Heart-Warming and Comforting among the 3. ❤️

Selera Johor Branch:
Nothing really of note, the Young Lady manning this place wasn't Rude or anything but neither was she Very Friendly. She was More Busy than anything actually and I don't blame her for it. Average Standard Customer Service. 🤔


And so this ends my Kacang Pool Adventure in Johor Bahru for now. 😅

This Adventure for Kacang Pool Haji originally started from the Medan Selera in Angsana Mall, to a Branch in the Selera Johor Food Court in Larkin and now here at the Jalan Dato Onn Branch. 

And i'm STILL not at the Original 1st Shop which is at the Anjung Selera Larkin Medan Selera near the Larkin Fire Station. 😅 (Credits to Amelia Seah for this information)

For now though, I think I have had my fill of Kacang Pool Haji already. 😅 If i'm ever back at Larkin, I will make it a point to visit the Original 1st Shop. 🤔 So Stay Tuned!