Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (Average)
Address: 398, Jalan Kenanga 29/10, Bandar Indahpura, 81000 Kulai, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Malaysia
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/U95dMrPzJQm4W8KM9
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)
Siew Mai = RM5.40
Har Gao = RM5.40
Char Siew Bao CSB (1 Piece) = RM2.70
No Service Charges
Here is the Full Menu of the Eatery/Restaurant.Prices are Accurate as of the Date of the Post.
I did some Research on this place and this is a Pretty Famous 80 years old Dim Sum Restoran quite a 老字号 back when it was in Jalan Raya Kulai Besar. It has since shifted to Jalan Kenanga. (Source: J-Travel Blog)
Quite interesting this Jalan Kenanga. Both the Famous 莫搞牛肉面 Mok Jiu Restaurant and Restoran Hainan Hojiak Corner also move here. No Idea why Jalan Kenanga is so Special that Every Eatery also move here. Is it just Coincidence? Or something else? Any Kulai Folks care to share?
What I noticed in addition to their New Main Signboard was a Noticeable Older Smaller Signboard that can give you an idea how 老字号 it is. That said, despite the 80 Years of History that it has, the Quality of this Eatery seems quite Divisive with some Google Reviewers lamenting that they were much better when they were at the Old Place.
There are of course also People who swear THIS is the Best Dim Sum Place in Kulai. The Actual Restoran seems quite popular with the Locals. Air-Conditioned, it wasn't Cold, but it was Airy and Cooling at least. Although not Full House, there were still quite a Few Tables of Customers even at 7.50am on a Weekday when I was there. The Staffs were Polite, Friendly and Reserved.
As soon as you sit down, they will bring out 2 Trays of Dim Sum for you to take a look at how they look like before you make your selection. I thought this was quite interesting.
Long Time Readers of this Blog would know that as with any Dim Sum Eateries that I visit for the 1st Time, I will order only the Most Fundamental Basic Dim Sums to try. (Siew Mai, Har Gao, Char Siew Bao or Chee Cheong Fun)
Because if a Dim Sum Place cannot even do a Decent Job for their Basic Fundamental Dim Sums, there is really no point to try all the other Different Chapalang Varieties. Anyway it took 2 Mins for the CSB and 4 Mins for the Rest of the Items to be served up together. Pretty Decent Timing considering the Level of Customers when I was there.
The Chilli Sauce they have here is Garlicky and Noticeably Sweet. Slightly Spicy heat on the Tongue that doesn't bite.
Personally though I reckon its probably from some Bottle.
Siew Mai = RM5.40
Served on a Very Small Metal Plate, unfortunately I saw the Staff touched the Siew Mais when they were served up. If this bothers you, you might want to take note of it. Such a Pity to stumble at this. Also can't be helped la, serve in such a Small Plate, somemore Hot to the Touch with no Kiap Kiap Tongs, how to not touch the Siew Mai when serving?
Relatively Larger in Size, they look Decently Made. Taste not bad too, with a Good Mix of Prawn and Pork that is also neither Too Prawny nor Too Porky with a Nice Savoury Flavour. The Wanton Skin holding it has a Decent Melt in Mouth Texture. Not Bad Siew Mai.
Har Gao = RM5.40
Compared to their Siew Mai, these were served in a Standard Dim Sum Basket instead. Anyway these Har Gaos were Very Small Sized. Skin looks Dry and also tastes Dry. Although there are Decent Folds, this Thick Dry Skin is Very Unimpressive. Overly Dry and Just Simply Too Thick.
That said, I dissected the Inner Filling and is impressed to see an Entire Prawn within. No other padding, it is 100% Prawn with a Nice Firm Bouncy Bite. Not Overly Prawny Too. Such a Pity that such a Decent Filling is encased in such a Below Average Dough Skin.
Char Siew Bao CSB (1 Piece) = RM2.70
So apparently, this Eatery is more Famous for their Baos. Some people claim that these still maintain a 1950s taste. I'm unimpressed with the Dough Quality though. Appearance looks Dry and again Taste is Dry. In fact its so Dry, I even found it hard to swallow. Breaking the Bao apart, the Amount of Meat Filling within don't look Generous. This Bao is more Dough than Meat.
The Meat Filling is not the Ooey Gooey Sweet Type that I like, but it also isn't the Braised Type. It uniquely tastes like Bakkwa with a Smokey Presence. This tastes like they took Actual Bakkwa, chop it up and stuffed it into the Bao.
Bite Texture is not as Firm as Bakkwa luckily with a Soft Bite but this Bakkwa taste surprised me. In fact, this CSB tastes more like a Soft Bakkwa wrapped in Dough. A "Bakkwa Bao" rather than an Actual Char Siew Bao.
Is this how a 1950s style of CSB is supposed to taste like?
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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts
At the Price of RM5.40 (S$1.80), although not Super Amazing, the Siew Mai here was the Best of the Items I tried. I liked the Decent Meat Filling with a Melt in Mouth Wanton Skin.
Points deducted for the Staff touching my Siew Mais when serving them up though. If only they used a Standard Dim Sum Basket instead of such a Small Plate, this could have easily been prevented.
At the Same Price of RM5.40 (S$1.80) for the Har Gao was a Decently Solid Prawn Filling that was let down with one of the Driest Thickest Skin I've ever eaten for a Har Gao by far.
Probably one of the Meh Quality Har Gao Skin I've tasted so far. Also very funny they used a Dim Sum Basket for this, but not their Siew Mais. Wierd.
At the Price of RM2.70 (S$0.90) for the CSB was an Affordable Price, but I didn't like the Dry Dough and the Noticeable Stingy Amount of Meat Fillings given.
That said, I am impressed with the Unique Smokey Bakkwa Tasting Filling they used that I have not tasted elsewhere for a CSB Filling. Maybe this is how 1950s CSB is supposed to taste like I guess?
For a 80 Years old Dim Sum Restoran, personally I feel Process and Culinarily-Wise, there are Plenty of Hits and Misses (More Misses).
I feel this place can do alot better if they perhaps tweaked and improved some things. At the very least, use the Same Standard Dim Sum Basket for ALL the Dim Sums and use Kiap Kiap Tongs to prevent Staffs touching the Dim Sums when serving.
I'm sure they can definitely do better since they do make a Decent Siew Mai. I do like that at least it is not a Place where they rush to keep your Plates when you finished eating. Tested sitting there for about 3 Mins after the Meal and it is so.
Don't let my Average Score deter you from this Place. This is still a Pretty Popular Dim Sum Place for the Locals as you can see even on a Weekday Morning. Some people also do swear by this as the Best Dim Sum Restoran in Kulai. If you are ok with the Prices on the Menu, I can still recommend to give this a try if you keep your Expectations in check.
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