Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Recommended)
Address: LOT F18, Aeon Bukit Indah Shopping Centre, Johor Bahru, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Malaysia (Located within Aeon Mall Bukit Indah)Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/64NDpPb52C65XVTV9
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)
☕ 555 Pure White Coffee O (Ice, No Sugar) = RM7.10
๐ 819B Hainanese Chicken Rice Ball = RM17.90
Service Charge 6% = RM1.50
Service Tax 6% = RM1.50
Click here for the Full Menu and Receipt (Opens in a New Tab, Price is accurate as of Posting Date)
Tea Garden is a Popular Modern Kopitiam Franchise that is a Mainstay in many Malls in JB. I've visited one of their Sub-Branch called ๅค Kuu By Tea Garden in Aeon Mall Tebrau City before. ๐ Its a Large Eatery, Cleanly Maintained and Nicely Furnished. Staffs are Friendly, Polite and Mostly keep to themselves. ๐
One of the Most Popular Eateries in the Mall, it is Crowded with Customers most of the time even on Weekdays when I went. ๐ณ No Kidding, even on Weekdays it can be Full-House during Meal-Hours as I observed. ๐ณ I only managed to visit this during a Off-Lunch Hour at 3.00pm.
Ordering of Food is via QR Code and although it needs a Malaysian Phone Number to proceed, you can just put any random number instead and pay at the Counter. Not as Strict as Jibril in Larkin as I visited previously. ๐
Both Items I ordered are listed under their Top 15 Signatures. It took 3 Mins for the Kopi, and 9 Mins for the Chicken Rice. Total it took 9 Mins for Everything to be Served up.
☕ 555 Pure White Coffee O (Ice, No Sugar) = RM7.10
Served in a Big Cup with a Frothy Top, Wow this Coffee is Strong Gao Gao! ☕๐ณ No kidding, if you felt Sleepy before, you will not be Sleepy after drinking this. ๐
Strong and Robust Coffee Bean Base and because mine was Zero Sugar, I thought the Strength of the Coffee seems Magnified. Good Brew. ☕๐
๐ 819B Hainanese Chicken Rice Ball = RM17.90
Ever since the Eatery that sold Chicken Rice Balls closed at Tanjong Puteri, I've been looking around for another place that sells it. ๐ค I was especially intrigued by a Google Review that specifically mentioned this Dish in Tea Garden. Apparently before Covid, it is so Popular and can even be Sold Out. ๐ค
This Reviewer was also correct. Not only do they not serve Dark Soy Sauce, they actually don't have it. ๐ค None of the Staffs know the type of Correct Sauce to serve for Chicken Rice as they passed me only a Light Soy Sauce. To me, thats ok because Modern Kopitiams like these are more of a Jack-of-All-Trades, Master of None and this isn't a Specialized Chicken Rice Eatery anyway.
๐ฝ️ Presentation of the Dish
When its first served up, there is a very Delicious Classic Aroma of Steamed Chicken ็ฝๆฉ้ธก. ๐ Served on a Wooden Tray with Matching Crockery, this looks like a Typical Meal Tray Set that you'd get from IKEA. ๐ฝ️ Looks Adorable though and have a Clean Presentable Faux Japanese Type of Look.
๐ถ️ Quality of the Chilli
This has a Very Strong Sourish Kick to it. Spicy but doesn't bite. It does have an Overall Classic Taste of a Chilli you'd expect for Chicken Rice. ๐ถ️ Not Amazing, I find this slightly above average compared to a Typical SG Kopitiam Level. If you like your Chilli to be those Sourish Type, you will probably enjoy this more.
๐ซ Quality of the Minced Ginger
Green in Colour, this was a Very Finely Minced Ginger that seems to also be infused with some Chicken Oil ้ธกๆฒน. ๐ Slightly Saltish and the Ginger is not Overly Strong. No Idea how the Green Colour is achieved, I'm guessing Parsley is also Minced in? ๐ค Not Amazing but Decent Enough Minced Ginger Condiment.
๐ฒ Quality of the Soup.
This was Alright. It has a Slight Chickeny Cabbagey Taste, not the Gao Gao Very Chickeny type of Soup. ๐ค Slightly Peppery, Not Overly Salty but was a Tad Oily. Again not Super Amazing type of Soup but Acceptable Tasting.
๐ Chicken Rice Ball
Someone once asked what is so Special about having Chicken Rice in a Ball as compared to how its normally served on a Plate. ๐ My Answer to this is Bite Texture. When you have it in a Ball Form, you tend to get a more Stickier Texture which is why they are able to be formed into Balls wihout it breaking apart. ๐ For some people, a Stickier Rice Texture is what they go for. Plus it also looks more Unique, so there's that. ๐
Served in 5 Small Balls, they do have a Nice Fragrant Aroma that you'd expect from a Chicken Rice. ๐ Biting into it gives a Slightly Mushier Texture. Slightly Salty but Not Overly So, the ้ธกๆฒนๅณ is Noticeable. ๐ I wouldn't call this an Top Class Elite Level of Chicken Rice, its perhaps slightly above average compared to a Typical SG Kopitiam Level.
๐ Quality of the Steamed Chicken
They only have Steamed Chicken, Not Roast Chicken. I thought the Presentation of the Meat looks Messy. ๐ค This looks like it was hastily cut and hastily plated with no attempts at Presentation with the Meats and Skins all over the Place. ๐ค I won't fault this because this Place isn't a Specialized Chicken Rice Eatery.
Amount of Chicken given looks like 1 Breast with Pieces of Cucumbers as Padding below to make the thing look Bigger than it is. ๐
I also noticed that there is a Large Pool of Chicken Juice accumulated below. ๐ค
The Pool of Chicken Juice is important because even though Breast Meat, they were Wet and Juicy. ๐ I thought this was a Pretty Clever Way to keep the Meat from Drying Out although what you will get is a Very Wet Breast Meat. ๐ฆ Quality isn't Elite Tier however, this isn't a Super Obese with Globules of Fat under the Skin type.
The Pool of Chicken Juice is important because even though Breast Meat, they were Wet and Juicy. ๐ I thought this was a Pretty Clever Way to keep the Meat from Drying Out although what you will get is a Very Wet Breast Meat. ๐ฆ Quality isn't Elite Tier however, this isn't a Super Obese with Globules of Fat under the Skin type.
One thing I don't really like about this Meat is that I thought the ้ธก่
ฅๅณ Chickeny Taste is Noticeably Strong and can start to feel Jelak the more I ate it. ๐ค I personally prefer a Milder Less Chickeny Version so this did not appeal to me. ๐ค Eating this Chicken with Rice however will help tremendously to dampen this Overly Chickeny Taste.
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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts
At the Price of RM7.10 (S$2.20) isn't particularly Cheap for this Cup of Ice Kopi, ☕ but to be fair it is in a Mall. I still found this worth the price because of How Gao Gao Strong it was. ๐ No Scrimping, this was a Strong Robust Brew that certainly Woke me Up Fresh.
At the Price of RM17.90 (S$5.50) for this Chicken Rice Set is Slightly Cheaper compared to the RM19.90 (S$6.10) Set offered by The Chicken Rice Shop which is another Mall Level Chicken Rice Eatery that I reviewed previously in City Square ๐ค although to be fair, the Latter Set is alot more Full and Well-Rounded because it includes a Drink, Veggie-Side and even a Small Dessert. ๐ฅค๐ฅฌ๐ง
The Overall Taste and Quality of this Chicken Rice Set wasn't as Mind-Blowing or Amazing as its described in the Google Reviews for this Place. ๐ค I felt it was Decent and felt slightly above SG Kopitiam Level. I do find the Chicken here abit ้ๅฃๅณ Noticeably Chickeney for my taste though. ๐๐ค
For a Modern Kopitiam Franchise like this that is a Jack-of-all-Trades and Master of None, I feel this is considered Decent and Acceptable. ๐ Needless to say, if you are the type that is Extremely Particular about your Taste for Chicken Rice, this place is definitely not for you. ๐
♂️
Overall, I have no issues with Tea Garden itself. ๐ This Franchise gave me a Good Impression. Its a Decent Nice and Rather Popular Eatery that is Cleanly Maintained, Acceptable Customer Service. ๐ I would not mind re-visiting this again to try their other Dishes on their Menu in the Future.
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