JB Trip Preview - Gelang Patah (Re-Visit!)

Hey Westies,
Yes, I'm back exploring Western Johor Bahru again! 😄

I was truly surprised when my Last Month's Preview Post of Gelang Patah became one of the Most Viewed Post in this Food Blog. 😳 You can of course view it right here if you're interested: 👉 JB Trip Preview - Gelang Patah

Thank you so much for your Support! 🙏

Because many people seems curious about this place, I figured I'd continue my exploration to uncover even more of what Gelang Patah has to offer! 😄 No need to describe this Suburb further I guess. 😅 Feel free to read up on my Earlier Write-Up of this Neighbourhood. 📝 And yes as you can see, There are Crabs. Plenty of Crabs. 🦀😋

Actually come to think of it, perhaps its also not that surprising. 🤔 I reckon Most Westies Singaporeans would more likely bypass this Suburb to visit the More Popular Bukit Indah Area? 🤔 I also don't really see many SG-Based Food Blogs really focus much about the Eateries here as Gelang Patah leans more towards Kampung Kampung. No Singapore Cars around this area even on a Saturday Weekend as I explored. 🚗🤔

That said, for Folks who ARE Familiar with Gelang Patah, I can imagine many facepalming and complaining:
"Oei Oei Oei! Why that time you go Gelang Patah you never go to the 2 Most Famous Seafood Tze Char Restorans there? Have you truly visit Gelang Patah if you don't visit them?!?" 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♀️

Hahaha I hear you! 😅 Today's Preview will feature BOTH of them! 👍

Indeed there are 2 Very Famous 老字号 Chinese Tze-Char Seafood Place that Gelang Patah is famous for. 😋
蔡記海鲜 Restoran Chua Kee and 天来海鲜 Restoran Tian Lai Seafood Garden

They are particularly Famous and Well Known for their Crabs actually. 🦀😋

Culinarily, as I've cooked Crab Dishes before, they are actually not that difficult to make. 🦀🤔 The Dish may look intimidating, but the Actual Process is really not that Difficult. 😅 If you break it down, its just doing a Right Combination of Gravy Zhup to pair with Crabs. People who have cooked Crabs before will understand what I'm saying. 👍

Really, the 2 Main Factors in deciding the Taste of a Crab Dish are:
1) The Quality and Freshness of the Crab 🦀
2) The Quality of the Gravy Zhup 🍯

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

First up is 蔡記海鲜 Restoran Chua Kee who according to the Friendly Staffs here have been around for over 30 Years. Actually not that old lah come to think of it. 🤔 Anyway they are Famous for their Signature Black Pepper Crabs. 😋 I'm glad to report that Chua Kee indeed nails both Factors I mentioned very well. 👍

As soon as I tasted it, I fully understand why they are Famous. 👍 The Black Pepper Sauce was intensely Saltish with a Robust Smokey Flavour and it is this Smokiness Wok Hei in the Sauce 🔥🍯 that makes this taste Really Good. 😋

The Crabs themselves had this Uniquely Gentle Tender Soft Textured Meat that paired Superbly with this Sauce. 🦀😋 I reckon these must be specially sourced Young Crabs? Really Tender Soft Meat. 🦀👍

All 3 Dishes you see here were RM199.30 (about S$63.00) as you can see. While they don't get my Highest Top Score, its still a Recommended from me. 👍

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Next is 天来海鲜 Restoran Tian Lai Seafood Garden
Also another 老字号 in Gelang Patah. 🤔 From what I understand they are Famous for their Salted Egg Crabs and their Curry Pork Ribs. 😋

I enjoy the Salted Egg Cream Sauce as the Salted Egg Taste is Gao Gao. 😋 Having said that, I feel Tian Lai uses Older Crabs? 🦀🤔 The Crab Meat seems to taste More Firmer, More "Mature" in comparison. 🦀😋 It also seems to have a More Crabby Flavour if it makes any sense.

I really like their Curry Pork Ribs though. 🍖🐷 Admittedly not alot of Pork Ribs given for a Small that I ordered, but the Gravy is Robustly Earthy Gao Gao. Really Good Curry. 🍯👍

All 3 Dishes you see here were RM263.50 (about S$84.00) as you can see. Significantly More Expensive compared to Chua Kee. 🤔 Although to be Fair, the Crabs I got were Bigger and Fatter. 🦀 Again they don't get my Highest Top Score, and its also a Recommended from me. 👍

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Alright with that aside, here are a Couple of More Places I visited and a Sneak Peak of the Other Dishes I ate! 😄

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Below are the Complete List of Eateries I visited if you are interested. 👍
(Hahaha again yes, I made an Unannounced Surprise Visit earlier in the Month so thats why you are seeing so many of them.
Of course its impossible to eat so many in just 1 day lah.) 😅

蔡記海鲜 Restoran Chua Kee
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/TyZPmT6TdNu9wdR8A

天来海鲜 Restoran Tian Lai Seafood Garden
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ymTMu2iVZGtsFpi19

星和粿条汤 Restoran Xing Hoo

Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/T9MWMn7usoSNbSx76

Kanteen 31 (Gelang Patah)
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/euBUEQWmp8QMnxxy9

Bubur Nasi Lany
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/PxviYTWpdopy8u4R6

阿華牛肉面 Ah Hua Beef Noodles
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/R4YmUad6HB3KSKNZ9

XL Waffle
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/GzbhUc1Q4YMgxxix6

Bakeri Keto
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/k2YzYMzsv6ApE4RT9

This ends Day 1 of my July 2026 JB Exploration of Gelang Patah. 👍

What will I find Tomorrow Day 2?
As always: Queue? What Queue? 😄