Kacang Pool Haji (Selera Johor Branch)

Review Rating: ⭐⭐ (Below Average)

Address: 14, Jalan Garuda, Larkin, 80350 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Malaysia
(Located within Selera Johor Plaza Larkin)
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/o7nPuKksEcPEXN667
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)

Kacang Pool (Daging) = RM7.00

No Service Charges

 Here is the Full Menu of the Eatery/Restaurant.

Prices are Accurate as of the Date of the Post.

So after my 1st Taste of Johor's Iconic Kacang Pool Dish in Angsana Mall, I understand that the Original Stall originated from Larkin so of course I had to go give it a try. 😄 Little did I know what an Interesting Adventure this turned out to be! 😅 For one thing, there are apparently 3 Kacang Pool Hajis in Larkin itself. 🤔

I do still wonder though why there is a Need to have 3 Kacang Pool Hajis in Larkin. 🤔 Is this perhaps opened by another completely different person but sharing the same name? I'm not sure. So many Questions. Nevertheless it was still an interesting visit and not a Wasted Trip because of this Selera Johor itself is actually a Food Court solely dedicated to Muslim Foods.  I could see is a Very Popular Place for the Locals even on a Weekday. 👍 I'll be sure to explore more of this in my Future Visits to Larkin! 😄

The Kacang Pool Haji Food Stall itself

Located at a Corner of this Food Court, it was Relatively Non-Descript looking and Staffed by a Single Young Lady. One of the More Popular Stalls here, it enjoys Quite Good Business as I keep seeing Customers coming and going. 👍 Brisk Business indeed and luckily the Queue is never too long (at least on a Weekday) The Dish was served up quickly in about 2 mins after I ordered.
Kacang Pool (Daging) = RM7.00

Quality of the Roti

The First Red Flag I should have noticed is that unlike the Stall at Angsana Mall, there isn't any Hot Plate Skillet right at the Front where the Roti is being Grilled. 🤔 The Roti served here is more like already Pre-Made that are served up when ordered and Not Freshly Made. 🤔 You can sort of guess where I'm going with this Review already. 😅


Despite Pre-Made, the Appearance of the Roti looks Slightly More Burnt and Chao Tah compared to the One at Angsana Mall. 🤔 While it was still Slightly Crispy to the Bite, the Crispiness was of course not as Fresh Hot Crispy because it isn't Freshly Off the Grill.

Generally there are No Difference in Taste. Its still a Buttered Up Thick Slice of Roti. 🍞 I just don't like that its Noticeably Less Crispy compared to the one at Angsana Mall. 🤔

Quality of the Bean/Meat Dip

This Bean/Meat Dip is the 2nd Main Component of Kacang Pool. 🫘 Upon tasting it, it was very Obvious that there is Much Less Amount of Minced Beef and the Dip was More Beany 🫘 compared to the one at Angsana Mall. 🤔

What I was also surprised is that the Taste don't taste like A&W's Coney Dog Filling like how I described previously, but has a More Sweetish Taste actually. 🤔 It also noticeably lacks that Freshly Cut Onion Aroma that Angsana Mall had, and felt More Flatter in Taste. 🧅



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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts

At the Price of RM7.00 (S$2.20), this is priced exactly the same as the one I had in Angsana Mall. The Roti is Pre-Made and does still have a Crispy Bite, but it was nowhere as Piping Fresh Off the Skillet Crispy as the one in Angsana Mall. 🤔

The Worst Offender I feel, is the Meat/Bean Dip which showed Very Obvious Attempts at Cost Cutting 偷工减料. 👎 Angsana Mall's Version was Generous with the Amount of Minced Beef which i' I described previously as "口口有肉".

This Version in comparison had Very Noticeably Lesser Minced Beef and was a More Beany Version. 🫘 Hahaha its more "口口有豆" for this one. 😅 The More I ate this version here in Selera Johor, the More I felt this was Noticeably Less Effort 👎 compared to Angsana Mall especially where you can see Much More Care and Attention shown by the Pak Cik with Grilling the Roti Fresh on the Hot Skillet.

Having said that, the Overall Quality here is not Jialat until cannot eat lah. 😅 If you are someone who actually prefer a More Beany 口口有豆 version, 🫘 you might actually like this Version. If however, you prefer a More Meaty 口口有肉 version, 🍖 then definitely Angsana Mall's version. Other than a More Meaty Dip, I also prefer Angsana Mall's Version because of their Much More Freshly Off the Hot Grill Airy and Crispy Texture of their Roti Bakar lah. 🔥🍞