IT Roo Cafe

Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (Average)

Address: 17, Jalan Dhoby, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Malaysia
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/E8nsY3vtWQi5bAyE8
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)

Kopi-O-Kosong (Cold) = RM3.50
Chicken Chop (Mushroom Sauce) = RM19.50

Service Tax 6% = RM1.38

 Here is the Full Menu of the Eatery/Restaurant.
Prices are Accurate as of the Date of the Post.




This Eatery got really Famous when it was crowned "Best Chicken Chop in Malaysia" back in 2003 by The Star Newspaper apparently. Not just Johor Bahru mind you, but the WHOLE of Malaysia. I've visited myself back in 2023 but was honestly not impressed by them due to various factors. As I've lost the Original Review I had of them, I thought I might as well give them a Re-Review 3 years later to see if anything has changed.

The Eatery itself is a Relatively Large Shophouse with both an Aircon Interior and a Outdoor Dining Space. That said, the Aircon also isn't that Cold either but it was at least a Relief from the Scorching Heat when I visited. The Interior of the Place has a Very Old School Kopitiam Look decorated with Historical Photos of JB itself making it quite a Museum of JB History. As you can see, it is rather Popular with Customers even on a Weekday when I visited.

The Staffs were Soft Spoken and Polite and some of them can speak English well. One Particular Abang among them I thought was especially Friendly and Jolly with a Nice Smile. The Service Level felt noticeably improved compared to the last time I was here that I remembered. 

There will be a Plate of Peanuts served up but of course this is Not Free of Charge. Feel free to reject it if you don't want. I'm glad to see there was no 死人脸 when I rejected. Anyway it took 1 Min for the Kopi-O-Kosong and 4 Mins for the Chicken Chop. Everything was served up within 4 Mins which was Impressive considering the Level of Customers when I was there.

Kopi-O-Kosong (Cold) = RM3.50

Not Very Gao Gao Type, its not strong enough to wake you up, but yet it also doesn't taste Overly Dilluted. No Siap Siap, this was a Classic Kopitiam Type of Taste. Not a Strong Kopi, but also Not Bad either.

Chicken Chop (Mushroom Sauce) = RM19.50

When this arrived, the Fried Aroma wafting from this was Delicious. I also like its Presentation which I thought looked Really Nice and Appetizing. The Chilli served with this was Thick and Sweetish Sourish and wasn't Spicy at all. Tasted like its from some Bottle tbh.

Quality of the Mushroom Sauce

Compared to the Last Time I was here, I definitely could taste an Improvment. Last time, I thought the Gravy tasted like a Very Simple 5-Spice Mix thickened with Cornstarch, but this time it actually had a Slightly More Complex Mushroom Taste with quite a Few Pieces of Mushroom Slices too.

Naturally Mushroomy, Not Overly Salty or Sweet, this tasted like they actually took effort in cooking it themselves, not from some Canned Product. The only issue though was that the Chicken is resting on it, making it Nua Nua which brings me to...

Quality of the Chicken Chop

They call it a "Chicken Chop" but its more like a "Fried Chicken Cutlet". Coated with a Thick Batter, it looked like a Big and Fleshy Thigh Cut. Upon biting into this, the First Thing that came to my mind was that this tasted like a KFC Flavoured Chicken Chop. Hahaha if KFC ever make a Chicken Chop, I reckon it will probably taste like this.

I appreciate that this is Freshly Fried and the Meat is Tender, but something about this Fried Batter they used got very Jelak for me very fast at my 3rd or 4th Bite for some reason. Try dipping it in the Mushroom Gravy helps abit though.

As for the Sides, in my Past Review I mentioned about them using Supermarket Potato Wedges. The ones that I had this time don't look like Skin On Potatoes, but they also don't look like Supermarket Types. Not sure about them.

But they do taste Nua Nua, not Freshly Cut and Fried, Skin wasn't Crispy. If you like your Potato Wedges more Soft and Fleshy, you will probably enjoy this more though I reckon.

The Coleslaw was a Relief from the Jelak Chicken Chop for one thing and it tastes like they made it themselves. Cream was not too thick and Veggies tasted Fresh and Crunchy. I like that its not Overly Sweet too. I appreciate the effort in this.


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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts

At the Price of RM3.50 (S$1.20) for the Kopi-O-Kosong, I thought this was actually a Decent Price for an Eatery like this.

That said, this Kopi wasn't a Strong One but it also didn't taste Diluted. Nothing Amazing but also Nothing Particuarly Wrong. Its ok I guess.



At the Price of RM19.50 (S$6.30) isn't Very Affordable but compared to the time when I first visited them back in 2023, I could definitely see improvements. There was much more Culinary Effort in their Mushroom Sauce, no longer just a Simple Chinese 5-Spice Thickened, and I was surprised that the Coleslaw tasted like they made it themselves, Veggies Fresh and Crunchy.


Having said that, I'm still ambivalent towards their Potato Wedges and their Signature Chicken Chop although Decent for some reason tasted Jelak for me after 3-4 Bites of it. Dunno is it due to the Oil they used this time? Or something in the Fried Batter? 越吃越油腻. Overall, because of the Noticeable Improvements I've observed, I have decided to lift its Former Lowest Score to an Average now. Nowhere close to being a "Best Chicken Chop of Malaysia" for me, but noticeably improved from 2023 at least.

Don't let my Average Score deter you from this. While this Chicken Chop is Jelak for me and not to my taste, maybe it will appeal to someone else. I appreciate the Noticeable Improvement I've observed in terms of Overall Quality and Service Level compared to when I visited back in 2023 at least. If you are ok with the Prices in the Menu, I can still recommend to give this a try to see if it is a Chicken Chop that is suitable for you.