Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (Average)
Address: Jalan Ibrahim Sultan, Kampung Stulang Laut, 80300 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'zim, MalaysiaGoogle Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/HZBw1Q6kZQJWQQeNA
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)
Fried Carrot Cake (Small) = RM12.00
Stir Fried Chinese Green Tender with Pickled Vegetables (Small) = RM20.00
Stir Fried Chinese Green Tender with Pickled Vegetables (Small) = RM20.00
Braised Lala (Small) = RM25.00
Service Charge 4% = RM2.28
Total SST (6% & 8%) = RM3.42
Click here for the Full Menu and Receipt
(Opens in a New Tab, Price is accurate as of Posting Date)
This is a Large Chinese 酒楼 Banquet Restaurant that looks like the sort of Place that People hold their Weddings in.
The Interior also gave me the feeling that this place has been around for quite awhile too.
Not sure if the Aircon was Spoilt that day, but it was also Warm although Not Humid. Even on a Saturday Long Weekend Evening at 6.00pm, there weren't much Customers but more people did start streaming in though it still wasn't Crowded until like Full House even at 7.00pm
Service Charge 4% = RM2.28
Total SST (6% & 8%) = RM3.42
Click here for the Full Menu and Receipt (Opens in a New Tab, Price is accurate as of Posting Date)
This is a Large Chinese 酒楼 Banquet Restaurant that looks like the sort of Place that People hold their Weddings in.
The Interior also gave me the feeling that this place has been around for quite awhile too.
Not sure if the Aircon was Spoilt that day, but it was also Warm although Not Humid. Even on a Saturday Long Weekend Evening at 6.00pm, there weren't much Customers but more people did start streaming in though it still wasn't Crowded until like Full House even at 7.00pm
Staffs were Generally Polite, Friendly and Keep to Themselves. The Male Chinese Server that attended to me looked like he is one of their 老员工. As I observed from his Body Language and Tone of Voice, he has a "Trying to behave Polite and Friendly but not really Truly Friendly" type of Stance is how I would describe it.
Because this is a More Atas Level of Restoran, I requested if they could serve up all the Dishes together. As I observed, he eyed me with a Strange Look and appeared Noticeably Confused but gave a Generic Reply of "They are served as Normal". They are not able to fulfill this Request. The Dishes are served up 1 by 1 by Different Myanmar Staffs.
Because this is a More Atas Level of Restoran, I requested if they could serve up all the Dishes together. As I observed, he eyed me with a Strange Look and appeared Noticeably Confused but gave a Generic Reply of "They are served as Normal". They are not able to fulfill this Request. The Dishes are served up 1 by 1 by Different Myanmar Staffs.
Anyway, all the Dishes I ordered are listed as Chef's Signatures on their Menu. It took 10 Mins for the Lala, 11 Mins for the Fried Carrot Cake, and 13 Mins for the Veggies. Everything was served up within 13 Mins.
If you are a 1st time Reader of this Food Blog, requesting to serve up all Dishes together is only something I reserve for more Atas Level of Restorans and I don't mind even if they are unable to fulfill this Request. I am actually more interested in how they go about in their Response to this.
Lack of Staff Communication that I feel could be Improved.
One thing I do need to point out is that, I had already specifically requested not to order any White Rice from this Main Chinese Server who took my Order, and yet after Every Dish was served up, each Different Myanmar Staff kept asking me if I want White Rice. There were a Total of 3 Dishes I ordered, so I was asked 3 Times in Total.
Now I get that it is Unusual that a Customer do not order White Rice in a Restoran like this, but if I had conveyed my Initial Request to the Main Server about it, I shouldn't have to be asked 3 Times again. For a More Atas 酒楼 of this Level, perhaps they should look into improving this Customer Experience by having Better Staff Communications.
The Chilli Sauce they have on the Table was Bright Orange in Appearance, not unlike a Chicken Rice Chilli. Taste is Noticeably Sourish with a Slight Sweetish and a Gritty Texture of Chilli Pieces.
Really taste almost like Chicken Rice Chilli but not quite. Very Mildly Spicy to the Point of Almost Not Spicy actually that I think even Children may be able to take this.
Fried Carrot Cake (Small) = RM12.00
Served in a Unique Looking Plate, the Amount of Food looks like its meant more for 1-2 People. The First Thing I noticed was the Eggy 蛋香味 and 油香味 Aroma Wafting from it. Appearance 卖相 was Decent, made of Kueh Cubes, Lots of Eggs, Taugeh, Spring Onions and Not Much Chye Poh.
The Radish Kueh is cut into Relatively Large Bite Size. I enjoyed the Gao Gao Taste of Radish and this tastes like they made it themselves, and not some Supplier Provided Kueh.
That said, this Kueh isn't those Super Soft Melt in Mouth Creamy Texture but still had a Soft Tender Bite to it. I appreciate the Slight Charr on some of them with a Slight Smokiness Presence of Wok Hei. I also like the Slight Crisp to the Outer Skin as I bite through.
The Radish Kueh is cut into Relatively Large Bite Size. I enjoyed the Gao Gao Taste of Radish and this tastes like they made it themselves, and not some Supplier Provided Kueh.
That said, this Kueh isn't those Super Soft Melt in Mouth Creamy Texture but still had a Soft Tender Bite to it. I appreciate the Slight Charr on some of them with a Slight Smokiness Presence of Wok Hei. I also like the Slight Crisp to the Outer Skin as I bite through.
The Eggs, Taugeh and Other Stuffs make up the Rest of the Flavour and I'm surprised I don't taste any Chai Poh. Slightly Salty but Not Overly So. While it is Nice to eat at the 1st Few Bites, I found the 油香味 getting stronger and stronger with every Subsequent Bites and it got More and More 重口味 Jelak as I ate. I also realized it got More and More Oily.
It came to a point where I could not continue and couldn't finish the Dish. Partly because I am reducing my Carbs Intake and partly it got Too Jelak to continue. This Dish is best shared with 2 People. Not Soloable for me.
It came to a point where I could not continue and couldn't finish the Dish. Partly because I am reducing my Carbs Intake and partly it got Too Jelak to continue. This Dish is best shared with 2 People. Not Soloable for me.
Stir Fried Chinese Green Tender with Pickled Vegetables (Small) = RM20.00
Classic Stir-Fry Chopped Kailan Leaves and Stem, there is a Nice Aroma of Oyster Sauce.
There are also some Mui Choy and about 5 Small Prawns that are Chopped Up.
The Kailan had a Decent Firmish Crunch and were Cooked Thru with No Rawness. The Mui Choy however isn't the Soft Salty Type and are More on the Rawer Side. They are used More for their Earthiness in this Dish.
There are also some Mui Choy and about 5 Small Prawns that are Chopped Up.
The Kailan had a Decent Firmish Crunch and were Cooked Thru with No Rawness. The Mui Choy however isn't the Soft Salty Type and are More on the Rawer Side. They are used More for their Earthiness in this Dish.
The Chopped Prawn Pieces looked Firm and Bouncy but had a Tender Soft Texture.
Not Very Prawny, they're used more as a Protein Texture in this Dish.
The Whole Dish taste like a Mix of Crunchy Kailan Veggie with some Prawn Protein and occasionally injected with some Mui Choy Earthiness. Slightly Saltish in Taste, I also found this Noticeably Oily as I ate more of it. Dunno whats so Signature about this, this taste like a Classic 酒楼 Level of Stir-Fry Veggie.
Not Very Prawny, they're used more as a Protein Texture in this Dish.
The Whole Dish taste like a Mix of Crunchy Kailan Veggie with some Prawn Protein and occasionally injected with some Mui Choy Earthiness. Slightly Saltish in Taste, I also found this Noticeably Oily as I ate more of it. Dunno whats so Signature about this, this taste like a Classic 酒楼 Level of Stir-Fry Veggie.
Braised Lala (Small) = RM25.00
Of all the Dishes, I felt this one had the Most Impressive Presentation, especially with that Tuft of Coriander Leaves on top making it look like a Miniature Bonsai Garden.
Before I talk about the Lala's, I am actually more impressed with the Zhup they lum in this, which tastes like a Mix of Soft Creamy Egg, Tau Cheo and Hits of Curry Leaves.
This Zhup is Savoury Saltish and also has a Faint Mild, Almost Missable Peppery Spiciness to it.
Imagine a Seafood-Version of Zhup that you'd get for Tze Char Styled Mui Fan and you're close to how this tastes. Very Nice Zhup to lum and 下饭 with.
Before I talk about the Lala's, I am actually more impressed with the Zhup they lum in this, which tastes like a Mix of Soft Creamy Egg, Tau Cheo and Hits of Curry Leaves.
This Zhup is Savoury Saltish and also has a Faint Mild, Almost Missable Peppery Spiciness to it.
Imagine a Seafood-Version of Zhup that you'd get for Tze Char Styled Mui Fan and you're close to how this tastes. Very Nice Zhup to lum and 下饭 with.
As for the Lala's, yes I closely dissected and counted all of them closely. There are 36 of them in Total.
The Lalas are Noticeably Fat and Fleshy. I'm not able to taste their Original Seafoody Flavour because the Taste Profile is dominated by that Zhup they lum. I don't really mind though because this Zhup is Delish.
Nice to Schluck them although the Dish does get Saltier and Saltier.
But hey, that's what you get when you Solo Schluck 36 Lalas like this. Hahaha.
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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts
This Carrot Cake isn't those Super Creamy Melt-In Mouth type of Kueh. Not Super Amazing or a Die Die Must Order Dish but it is Decent and Acceptable if you want an Affordable Carb Dish. Not Soloable due to it feeling More and More Oily and Jelak as I ate, I feel its meant to be shared with 2 or More People.
At the Price of RM20.00 (S$6.30) for this Plate of Veggies is not say Very Cheap. Its the 5 Chopped Prawns in the Dish that made the Price as it is.
Although a Competently Made Dish, I personally find it a Decent Acceptable but also Nothing Really Special and not really a Must-Order Dish despite it being listed as a Signature. This is a Standard (Noticeably Oily) 酒楼-Level of Veggie Stir-Fry and it is what it is.
The Presentation itself impressed me, and its the Nice Tasting Zhup that is the Soul of the Dish. Creamy, Savoury Saltish, this is Nice to Lum and 下饭 with. I enjoyed Solo Schlucking all 36 of the Fat Fleshy Lalas although it did get Saltier and Saltier as I went. The Dish isn't Super Mind-Blowingly Amazing, but I felt I enjoyed this the Most out of the Three.
I generally have Not Much Issues with the Place Overall, although I feel the Staff Communications could be better as I mentioned in the Main Review. Needing to ask a Customer the Same Question 3 Times even after I already conveyed my Request for No White Rice with the Main Chinese Server is something they can improve upon for a Better Customer Experience.
One thing to note is this Place do keep your Plates before your End of the Meal although they were Polite about it. When the Main Chinese Server who attended to me noticed my Unfinished Fried Carrot Cake, he noticeably had this Slight Apprehensive Look and asked if there were any issues and if I wanted to Dabao.
I shrugged it off and just told him its fine. Hahaha I really don't know how to tell him it was Too Jelak to continue and I'm also Cutting Carbs. I did compliment their Lalas though to make the Moment Less Awkward for him.
Overall, I would rate this as a Decent Acceptable Chinese Restaurant 酒樓 although Not Really a Super Amazing Mind-Blowing Die Die Must Come Place. I hope their repair their Air-Con or something though, it really was a Warm (Not Humid) Experience even when I was there at 7.00pm. Maybe the Aircon just turn on, and didn't have sufficient time to Cool Down the Area?
I shrugged it off and just told him its fine. Hahaha I really don't know how to tell him it was Too Jelak to continue and I'm also Cutting Carbs. I did compliment their Lalas though to make the Moment Less Awkward for him.
Overall, I would rate this as a Decent Acceptable Chinese Restaurant 酒樓 although Not Really a Super Amazing Mind-Blowing Die Die Must Come Place. I hope their repair their Air-Con or something though, it really was a Warm (Not Humid) Experience even when I was there at 7.00pm. Maybe the Aircon just turn on, and didn't have sufficient time to Cool Down the Area?
Prices generally feel Acceptable for what they are and Decently Acceptable. I did enjoy the Plate of Lalas myself. If you are coming as a Family looking for a More Atas-Level (albeit Older Looking) Chinese Restaurant 酒楼 for your Dinner in Stulang Laut, can accept the Prices on the Menu, I can still recommend this Place to give it a try if you keep your Expectations in Check.
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