Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Recommended)
Address: BT 5, Jalan Garuda, Larkin Jaya, 80350 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Malaysia
(Located within Larkin Sentral Bus Interchange)
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Kv3M49duQpjWbbxa8
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)
🦐🍜 Prawn Mee (Soup, Yellow Noodles) = RM6.00
☕ Kopi-O-Kosong (Cold) = RM2.80
No Service Charges
Here is the Full Menu of the Eatery/Restaurant.Prices are Accurate as of the Date of the Post.
Other than Ho Chuai Yong Fish Soup, this may be the Next Most Famous Food Stall in the Non-Muslim Section of this Hawker Centre at Larkin Sentral that is always being mentioned in Food Blogs. 👍 Praised by Many People, this is also one of the 1st Stalls that Local Grab Drivers will mention when I asked for their Recommendations on what to eat in Larkin Sentral. 🚗
The Stall itself is located right beside Ho Chuai Yong Fish Soup and is also a Very Non-Descript Stall selling Chinese-Styled Prawn Noodle Soup. 🦐🍜 It was also the Only Stall that I see that has a LCD TV right infront playing some Chinese Teochew? Opera Shows likely for Customers to watch. 📺 So Cute! 😄
It is also one of the stalls that has a Fairly Late Opening Time (11.00am) according to Google Maps. 🤔 That said, the Actual Stall itself also doesn't open on the dot too. 🤔 Even so, at 11.03am, I could see a Couple of Customers waiting for him already although there isn't a Massive Queue type of Situation on a Weekday.
The Owner himself is a Very Friendly Elder 大哥 whom every Customer and and Every Other Fellow Hawker greeted as 阿贵. 👴 As I observed him, he really was a Very Joyful looking Chap always with a Smile on his Face. 😄 There is a Sense of Community you can feel as he seems Very Well Known to Many People here in this Hawker Centre. Many were teasing him "Oei 阿贵, you still haven't open your stall ah?" 😅
He is the Only Person manning the Stall with No Assistants and it was interesting to observe him Solo Handling everything. 🤔 Not sure if he usually opens late or if that day was particularly late. So if you are someone who is Impatient or Rushing for Time, 🕜 this is not a Place I would recommend to visit. 🙅♂️
The Stall finally opened at 11.22am and even so he worked on some Orders that his Regular Customers have already pre-ordered from him. 🤔 Despite how Busy he was Soloing Everything, I noticed he serves Each and Every Bowl to Customers directly to their Table instead of Self-Service. 😳
For an Elder Gentleman of his Age, this must be Super Tiring. I admire his Strength and Fortitude. 💪 So if you are here, I implore you be kind and Auto Self-Service yourself or at least try to sit nearer to the Food Stall so he doesn't have to walk too far to deliver your Food. 👍 Anyway it took about 6 Mins for my Bowl to be served up after I ordered.
☕ Kopi-O-Kosong (Cold) = RM2.80
While waiting for the Prawn Noodle Stall to open, I also ordered a Cup of Kopi-O-Kosong from Tan Cheng Yong Drink Stall. Very Friendly and Polite Owner manning this place. 😄
Solid Robust and Gao Gao. 👍 It had a Noticeable Bitter Note and is the type of Strong Brew that can Smack you Awake. Solid Coffee to wake up in the Morning. At the Price of RM2.80 (S$0.90) this is worth the Money. 👍
🦐🍜 Prawn Mee (Soup, Yellow Noodles) = RM6.00
Before reviewing how this taste, I'd like to add that the Prawn Noodle here is Highly Customizable. 👍 You can choose to have Soup or Dry, whatever Noodles you prefer, Only Put Prawns, or Only Noodles. Just let him know what you want and he'll make it for you and tell you how much it is. 👍 The Version I've chosen here is the Most Common Basic Option. So you can perhaps take this as a Base Price on how much you can expect to pay.
The Dish itself comes with:
🦐 3 Shell-On Prawns
🐷 4 Pieces of Lean Pork Slices
🍜 Yellow noodles
🥬 Some Veggie, Fried Shallots
🍲 Quality of the Soup
The Soup Broth has a Very Nice Robust Aroma of Prawny Essence wafting from it. 🦐😋 Taste is Not Overly Prawny, but also Not Overly Bland.
It strikes a Nice Balance leaning towards a Lighter Taste. Saltish, but Not Overly Salty, although I did detect a Faint Amount of MSG used, but also Not Alot.
🦐 Quality of the Prawns
The Prawns given here are Slightly Smaller than Mid Size. If I remember correctly, these are the Size of Prawns that are best used for the making of Prawn Broth. 🍲🤔 Prawn Meat is not Super Bouncy type but also Not Mushy with an Acceptable Bite and Taste thats also Not Overly Prawny. Decent but also Unremarkable.
🐷 The Lean Pork Slices
Firmish with a Juicy Bite, they are Not Porky at all. 👍 Interestingly, I didn't taste any sort of Marination on them, not even Salt. 🤔 They have a Very Meaty 原味 Sort of Taste so I was surprised they didn't taste Porky at all. Must be Very Fresh I reckon.
🍜 The Yellow Noodles
Amount of Noodles were Very Ample and Reasonable. 👍 Although most certainly from a Package, they don't taste Alkaliney and have a Decent Bite Texture although not Super QQ type. Decent Quality and Filling. 👍 Eating Everything together had a Decent Prawn Noodle Taste that you'd expect, and Everything Worked Together with Nothing Clashing and Disrupting the Overall Harmony. 😋
Having said that, as Decent Tasting as this was, this is still at its Heart a Regular Prawn Noodle Soup, so don't come here expecting to be Completely Blown Away by it. 🤔 This is a Very Decent Prawn Mee, but ultimately still just a Prawn Mee.
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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts
At the Price of RM6.00 (S$1.90), this may be the Most Affordable Bowl of Prawn Noodle that I've found so far in Singapore and even Johor Bahru so far. 🤔 Now don't get me Wrong and I'm not trying to dismiss the Hardwork and Effort by this Food Stall, but I personally feel that this Affordable Price Point is perhaps the Real Reason why this Food Stall is Famous. 🤔 RM6.00 (S$1.90) for 3 Prawns, 4 Pieces of Lean Pork and a Very Decent Amount of Noodles that is Actually Filling and 吃得饱 is Practically Unheard of in Today's Economy especially in JB where an Average Meal already cost RM10.00 and Above. 😞
I thought it was Especially Amusing that the Owner himself is called 阿贵, but his Dish is actually Not Very 贵 at all. 😅 (For Non-Mandarin Speakers, the Word "贵" can also translate as "Expensive") Again, I must emphasize, I'm not saying that the Price is the Only Thing that this Eatery is Well Known for and bring down its Achievements. 🙅♂️ Although not Super Amazing Mind Blowing, the Taste of this Prawn Noodle itself is still Very Decent. 👍 It was Well Made and not just a Simple Slapped Together Low Effort Dish.
Always with a Genuine Smile on his Face, I am awed by his Strength, Fortitude and Sheer Tenacity in Soloing Everything. From Prep Work, Cooking, and even Personally Serving up the Dishes all by himself even at his Advanced Age. 💪 Watching him work and interact with his Friends and Old Customers 老顾客 was Fascinating. 😄 This is a Type of Real Friendship and Customer Relationship that is built over the Course of Many Years. 👍
If you are here in Larkin Sentral, I can definitely recommend to come visit this Stall to give him your Support. 👍 Do try to visit as soon as you can because as 阿贵 himself is Advanced in Age, it may not be too long before Age finally Catches up to him and forces him to Retire. 🤔
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