Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Recommended)
Address: Jalan Merah 1, Taman Pelangi, 80400 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Malaysia
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/BpoYuuRqPtspRMjH6
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)
San Low Fried Bee Hoon = RM15.00
Ginger & Onion Ostrich Meat = RM30.00
Service Charge 6% = RM2.73
Service Tax 6% = RM2.72
Here is the Full Menu of the Eatery/Restaurant.Prices are Accurate as of the Date of the Post.
A Brief History of San Lou Bee Hoon 三楼米粉
San Lou Bee Hoon 三楼米粉 may not be a Familiar Dish for some Singaporeans 🤔 but thats because we call this Dish "Chao Tah Bee Hoon" in Singapore. 😅 What it is, is a Plate of Fried Beehoon, that has a Distinct Sear so instead of the Usual Soft Texture of a Beehoon, you also get a Crispy Crunch from the Seared Parts. 😋 Similar in Concept to eating the Slightly Charred Pieces when you eat a Claypot Rice, but in a Beehoon Form.
So apparently, this Dish is invented? in Malaysia JB and Johorkaki has written a Very Extensive History about it that I would recommend to go read if you are interested. 📝
Basically, the Dish originated from this Very San Low Restaurant when it was orginally located along a row of 3 Level Shophouses (hence the name 三楼) along Jalan Biru in Stulang Laut. 🏠 The Chef who came up with this Dish is someone affectionately known as "Ah Kaw" 亚九. 👨🍳 Business boomed for the Restaurant and they moved from their original 三楼 at Jalan Biru to their Current Location in Taman Pelangi. "Ah Kaw" himself has since also left the Restaurant and set up his own Restaurant called "Restoran Ah Kaw" in Taman Pelangi. 🤔 Again, Full Credits to Johorkaki for all these details. 👍 What I have written is a Very Summarized Version of what he's written and I highly recommend to read his Blog Entry on this. 📝
Description of the Restaurant itself.
Wow they weren't kidding when they say Business Boomed and they had to move because this place was Huge! 😳 On a Saturday Dinner Primetime at 8.00pm, it was Crowded with Customers as you can see in the Video. 🎥
Interestingly as Crowded as it was, it still wasn't Full House and I could still get a Seat for a Solo Diner relatively easy without needing to Queue. 😅 As you can see, this is basically like a Classic Chinese Styled Big Scale Zi Char / Seafood Restoran. 🍽️ Its not Air-Conditioned and because of so much Customers, can feel Humid and Sweaty 🥵 even when they've tried their best to install Multiple Fans. 🌬️ If you are someone who cannot live without Aircon, this place might not be suitable for you. 😅
Protip: If you have a Personal Air Cooler or Fan, now would be the Perfect Time to whip it out. 🌬️😅
No Joke the Humidity here during Saturday Prime Time Dinner is Hardcore. 🥵
Most of the Serving Staffs are Myanmar Folks. They are Friendly, Polite, Mostly Keep to Themselves, and are Very Busy running around all over the Place. 🏃 Some Google Reviewers complained they are also Neither Conversant in either English or Malay. 🤔 Personally I feel the Staffs are all trying their Best as they're really busy. I had no issues communicating with them myself when ordering though. 👍
It took 18 Mins for the Ostrich Dish and 22 Mins for the San Lou Beehoon. Everything was served up within 22 Mins which although was a Very Long Time, for me was Understandable because it was a Saturday Primetime when I went. 👍
How to Order your Food
1) When you're here, just walk in and find an Available Seat yourself. The Staffs are simply too busy to Welcome you at the Entrance and lead you to your Seat.
2) Once your Seat is secured, browse thru the Menu Booklet to choose what you want. 📑 Or you can just refer to the Photos of the Menu I took.
3) When you're ready to order, get the Attention of any Roving Staffs and place your order with them. 🙋
4) Patiently wait for your Food to be served up.
5) Pay at the Cashier Counter at the Front Entrance after your Meal.
🌶️ The Chilli Condiment
This Chilli has an Intense Deep Earthy Robust Base. It looks, smells and tastes like those that would feel very Spicy but its not really that Spicy. Acceptable but also Very Normal Unremarkable type of Chilli.
🦚 Ginger & Onion Ostrich Meat = RM30.00
One thing I like about this Zi Char Place is that they actually have a Page in their Menu dedicated for Exotic Meats. 👍 Longtime Readers will know that I'm totally a Fan of Exotic Meats. 😅 Granted, its just Deer (Venison) 🦌and Ostrich 🦚, not Super Overly Exotic. But hey other than the 1 Time I had Ostrich in a Very Highly Processed Ramly Burger I am interested to try again. 😋
The Presentation of the Dish looks Decent. There is a Delicious Aroma of a Very Familiar Ginger Scallion Braised Flavour and the Zhup is also a Very Familiar Savoury, Sweetish, Slightly Gingery Saltish Braised taste to it. 😋
The Dish itself consists of:
🦚 About 28 Pieces of Ostrich Meat Cuts
🫚 About 1 Thumbsized Ginger (Sliced)
🥬 2-3 Scallion Stalks cut into Pieces.
🍯 And of course Plenty of that Braised Zhup.
Even for a Small, This really is a Very Big Plate of Meat and is really meant more for 2-3 People. 🍖🤔 The Ostrich Meat themselves has a Very Velveted Soft and Smooth Bite Texture. In fact I felt this tasted no different from a Similar Velveted Lean Pork/Beef. 🐷🐮 You know that Lean Soft Velvetted Meat Slice you normally taste when you eat Zi Char Dishes? Exactly that same Taste and Texture. 🤔 Completely Not Gamey, if this is indeed Ostrich, then I feel it has been Overly-Marinated too much for me to actually taste the Original 原味 of the Meat. 😅
I'm not saying that what they are doing is wrong, but perhaps Zi Char Braised Style like this is perhaps not the best way to enjoy Ostrich. 🤔 One thing about this Velvety Texture, although it can taste very nice for the 1st Few Bites, the Smooth Softness can slowly make you Jelak quickly if it makes sense. 😅
🍜 San Low Fried Bee Hoon = RM15.00
THIS is the Main Reason why I'm here at this Restaurant in the First Place.
The Dish itself consists of:
🍜 Beehoon thats Fried with Egg
🦐 5 Small Prawns
🥬 1 Stalk of Chye Sim cut into pieces
🍥 1 Fishcake cut into pieces
🐷 1 Small Piece of Lean Pork
As I mentioned, the Whole Idea for this Dish is to fry Beehoon in such a Way so that it retains abit of Crispy Charr 🔥 that gives a Crispy Bite alternating between Crispy and Soft Texture of the Beehoon.
Quality of the Beehoon
The one here achieves this with a Charr Level that is Slight and not Overly Crispy but still Crispy enough for you to detect a Noticeable Difference when you eat it. 🤔 There is also a Slight Bit of Wok Hei to it, although its not the Gao Gao type. Decent tasting with a Fried 油香味. 😋 Think Economy Beehoon 经济米粉 but with a Slight Crispy Charred to it. 🔥
Admittedly, I have not yet eaten the Legendary Original Version by Ah Kaw himself, so I have no frame of reference if this is considered Authentic. 😅 If you're looking for a Very Crispy Bite Texture, this is not it. The Crispness is abit, but the Beehoon itself is Moist and Soft. Like a 经济米粉 with Extra Steps. 😅
The Rest of the Ingredients
🦐 Prawns were Small but they were Bouncy Fleshy to the Bite with a Noticeable Prawnyness. 5 Pieces of it feels decent for the price and I like the Occasional Meaty Prawn bite when you do bite into them. The Fishcake Slices had some Charr to them. 🍥 Acceptable but not particularly amazing.
What I found funny was that 1 Piece of Lean Pork though. It looked so Odd with the only piece lying there and I felt they might as well omit it if they're trying to cut cost instead of just 1 piece like this. 🐷😅
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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts
At the Price of RM30.00 (S$9.10) is not say Cheap for this Plate of Ginger & Onion Ostrich Meat but you are indeed getting alot of Meat here. 🤔 I reckon the 28 Pieces come up to at least 200g or so? ⚖️
Really Big Plate despite a Small, this is meant more for 2-3 People. Having said that, as I prefer to actually taste more 原味 Original Taste of the Meat, I feel these are Over-Marinated and Velveted so much that the Original Meat Taste is probably lost. 🤔
I'm not saying that what they do is wrong, its just that I feel perhaps Zi Char Style of Braised Marination Style is perhaps not the Best Way to taste the Meat's 原味 Original Taste. 🤔 After this place, I've since eaten a More Authentic Version of Ostrich Steak at Sizzling Stonegrill in Aeon Mall Bukit Indah. 😄
At the Price of RM15.00 (S$4.60) for the Signature San Low Fried Bee Hoon also isn't that Cheap given that this is essentially just Fried Beehoon if you think about it. 🍜🤔
Whether you like this Dish or not highly depends on whether you are ok with the Level of Crispness for this. 🤔 As I looked thru all the Google Reviews of this place, taste really is very subjective. Some people love the Crisp Level, while some others hate it. 🤔
I'm personally neither Wowed nor Disappointed by this. It was Decent Tasting but as I have never tasted the True Original Version by Ah Kaw, I will reserve my Judgement when I eventually taste his version. 🤔 What this Dish is for me however is that it is basically a Carb Canvas for you to eat with other Side Dishes. 😋 Its perfect to eat with a Protein or Veggie. I enjoyed the Alternate Slight Crisp and Softness of the Beehoon while I ate it with the Ostrich Meat although this isn't something that is absolutely Mind-Blowingly Amazing. It works well for what it is. A Carb Canvas.
Overall, this was a Decent Zi Char Meal. It wasn't Super Affordable and Taste wasn't Super Amazing Mind-Blowing Level, but they were Reasonably Tasty. 👍 Actually I'm more impressed with the 22 Mins it took to get my Dishes served up with No Mistakes and even Reasonable Acceptable Customer Service on such a Busy Saturday Prime Dinner Time. 😳 Every Staff Member I see is really trying their Best already, trying to maintain Sanity in such an Insanely Busy Work Environment. 🥵 I would LOVE to take a Peek into their Back Kitchen though because if the Front Facing Staffs are already so Busy, I'd imagine it must be an Absolute Madhouse in the Kitchen. 😅
The Only Issue I have is that this Place really is Very Humid and Warm, 🥵 so if you are someone who die die need Aircon, you might need to take note of this. 🌬️😅 If you are looking to enjoy some Zichar if you're in Stulang Laut, is Agreeable with the Prices on their Menu, and don't mind that this Place is Very Warm and Humid, I can recommend to give this place a try although you also need to temper your expectations. 🤔
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