Sek Bao (R&F Mall)

Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (Average)

Address: R&F, MERCU 1, L2-102, R&F MALL, Jalan Tanjung Puteri 1, Tanjung Puteri, 80300 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Malaysia (Located within R&F Mall)
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/aMGS3T1XZCsEWBXP9
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)

H002 Hong Kong Hot Milk Tea = RM6.00
B1 Black Truffle Cha Siu Bun = RM10.80
S023 Har Gow = RM8.80
S009 Siu Mai = RM7.50

Service Charge 10% = RM3.31

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




This was a Small Eatery located in a Relatively Obscure Corner of this Not So Popular R&F Mall. From the Name, you can also tell they are focused on HK Foods. "Sek Bao" means "Eating Buns" in Cantonese. Despite its Obscure Location, it was surprisingly quite Popular as you can see at 9.18am on a Saturday Morning. By 9.38am while I was there, it was very surprisingly Full House. Really a Rare Sight to see for an Eatery here in R&F Mall.

Its quite a Small Eatery with about 9 Tables within. There are More Tables outside if needed. The Whole Place is designed and renovated to look like a Classic HK Cha Chaan Ting. I especially liked the Benches they used too. Bright and Cheery Colour Scheme. Although Air-Conditioned, it wasn't Cold when I was there in the Morning. Amusingly the Music they used are Mandarin Versions of Classic Canto Pop Songs. They did play some Canto Songs eventually though.

LOL Of course it wouldn't be a "Hong Kong Cafe" without Posters of Bruce Lee on the wall, but I'm super amused to also see Stephen Chow's Kungfu Hustle too. Staffs were Polite and Reserved and Ordering of Food is thru Pencil and Paper.

I was nicely informed by them that their Rice Dishes are not available yet in the Morning which makes sense. Anyway it took 4 Mins for the Milk Tea, and 12 Mins for the Dim Sums. Everything was served up within 12 Mins.

H002 Hong Kong Hot Milk Tea (Less Sugar) = RM6.00

Unlike Actual Authentic HK Milk Tea I drank in Hong Kong, unfortunately, there is No Option to have Zero Sugar, Only Less Sugar. Served in a Simple White Cup, this Milk Tea also don't taste Authentic.

Its just a Classic Average Milk Tea, Slightly Milky and the Tea Flavour also isn't those Gao Gao Type. The "Less Sugar" Option still tasted quite Sweet for me so I didn't touch it anymore after a Few Sips. Nothing like HK Milk Tea. Skip this.

B1 Black Truffle Cha Siu Bun = RM10.80

Ordered this because of course how can you eat in a place called "Sek Bao" and don't actually Sek the Bao? Hahaha. Despite the Name, there is Nothing Black Truffle about this. Its just a CSB with a Black Food Colouring Dough.

That said, the Dough itself was Fluffy and Pillowy with a Slight Melt in Mouth Quality. Feels like its Freshly Made, this at least doesn't taste like its some Pre-Made Supermarket Product. 

The Filling within were cooked soft. I couldn't tell if they used Meat more or Fats more.
Sweet but Not Overly Sweet. Overall not Amazing, but Decent CSB.

S009 Siu Mai = RM7.50

Interestingly served sitting in a Pool of Oily Juice, the Siew Mais were amusingly all Fused Together.
Small in Size, the First Thing that hit me was that it tasted Very Oily. 一咬下去满口都是油. 

Bite Texture was Soft and Tender though which I liked and I don't know why but I thought it also tasted like a Lup Cheong? Slight Sweetish and Not Porky at all. Like a Very Soft Textured Lup Cheong. Actually not bad tasting, but its a Tad Too Oily for my taste.


S023 Har Gow = RM8.80

Also served lying in a Small Pool of Oily Juice, these were also Small Sized. Also amusingly fused together but this was was easier to pry apart. I do like the Attempt at Folds on them. Also Oily in Texture but not as Oily as the Siu Mai. Skin was Decent Not Too Thick although it does break.

The Filling is made of 1 Small Prawn and I liked that the Prawn Meat is Slight Bouncy which easily disintegrates into a Nice Prawny Flavour thats also Not Overly Prawny. Not Bad Har Gao although its a Tad Oily.



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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts

At the Price of RM6.00 (S$2.00) for the Milk Tea, this taste Nothing like the Real Thing.

Basically a Classic Malaysian Styled Milk Tea and its not even a Very Good One. Skip it. Don't waste your money on this.

At the Price of RM10.80 (S$3.50) for the CSB, there is Nothing Black Truffle about it. Not Surprising given the Price.

I did enjoy the Soft Fluffy Pillowy Dough Skin although the Fillings within didn't impress me as much. Not an Amazing Must Eat Bao, but it is Acceptably Decent.

At RM7.50 (S$2.50) for the Siu Mai was interesting because the Meat Filling tasted like a Soft Textured Milder Tasting Lup Cheong.

What I didn't like was how Oily it tasted, perhaps one of the Oiliest Siew Mai I've tasted.

At RM8.80 (S$2.90) for the Har Gao was ok. Also Oily but luckily not as Oily.

I won't call this Very Amazing Die Die Must Eat, but this was Acceptable.




I think why this Place is relatively Popular in this Quiet R&F Mall is perhaps because this is the Only Place in this Mall to offer Dim Sums. Hahaha Dim Sums is one of the Most Popular Food Items that Singaporeans go for when coming to JB. Their CSB was Decent, Not Amazing but I appreciate that it at least didn't taste like some Re-Heated Supermarket Product. Their Dim Sums however are overall so so. Nothing that I ordered really Wowed me to be honest.

If you are willing to come to this R&F Mall and just nice have a Craving for Dim Sums, is ok with the Prices on the Menu and keep your Expectations in Check, then perhaps this is still ok to visit I guess. At least they didn't rush to clear plates as I've observed.