重香麵 Smoke Meat Noodle

Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (Average)

Address: 36, Jalan Kebudayaan 16, Taman Universiti, 81300 Skudai, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Malaysia
(Located within Restaurant Number One Kopitiam)
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/RG1QWFayjzkHd3xG6
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)

Teh O Kosong Ais = RM2.40
重肉麵 Zhong Rou Mian (Small) = RM7.00

No Service Charges

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

This is a just one of the Food Stalls located within this Kopitiam Restoran Number One 美食街 which itself has a Very Vibrant Evening 美食街 Food Street Vibe.

I was drawn to this because of a Youtuber's Vlog showing how the Meat Protein uniquely looked close to a Japanese Cha Shu that you'd normally find in a Ramen. The Stall Owner is a Friendly and Welcoming 大哥 who was Patient to explain the Dish that was on offer. It took about 4 Mins for the Dish to be served up.


Teh O Kosong Ais = RM2.40

Nothing particularly special about this, this was of course ordered from the Kopitiam Drink Stall itself.
Robust, Not Diluted and also No Siap Siap Taste, I liked the Decent Tea Flavour in this. Not Bad.

重肉麵 Zhong Rou Mian (Small, Least Spicy) = RM7.00

When the Dish was served up, I thought it was a Tad Underwhelming. Compared to the Menu Picture and the YouTube Video, the Actual Meat I got were Much Smaller and don't really look like a Japanese Cha Shu as its shown in the Menu Picture IRL. 

They were still Unique and Cute Looking though. That said, this was a Small I ordered.
Maybe you will get Larger Slices if you order a Large Bowl instead?

The Dish itself comes with :

Noodles
2 Fried Wantons.
6 Slices of Pork "Cha Shu"
Sprinkling of Spring Onion for Garnishing

Quality of the Sambal

Fuiyoh this was an Intense Sourish Quick Shot of Spiciness. More Watery in Texture compared to a Classic Sambal.

The Spiciness doesn't bite hard but leaves a Gentle Heat in the Mouth. This was really More Sourish than Spicy. Pretty Decently Made.


Quality of the Pork "Cha Shu" Slice

Looking like little Meat Coins, these are Not Japanese Ramen Styled of Cha Shu, but are still Classified as a Type of "Cha Shu" I guess. Tender to the Bite, but not those 入口即化 Melt in Mouth Quality, it was a Decent Mix of Fat and Meat.

I do like some of the Meat Parts tasting like eating a Meaty Lup Cheong. The Best Part of this is the Roasted Smokiness that I tasted that actually won't be out of place if served in a Higher End Restoran 酒樓. Culinarily, this was a Very Decently Done "Cha Shu" with Effort. You can see the Long Tubes of Uncut Char Siew how decently Roasted and Caramelized they were.
Quality of the Fried Wanton

Fried Wanton was Freshly Fried and Nicely Crispy, not the type that has already been sitting on the Shelf for awhile. The Meat Filling within was a Rather Bouncy Texture Pork Filling that isn't Porky or Salty but just a Generic Meat Taste.

Quality of the Noodles

Amount of Noodles looks little at first, but is actually Acceptable once you mix everything up. This is basically Mee Kia used in a Classic Wanton Mee. Unfortunately, the Texture of this Noodle does not do it for me.

It leans more towards the Softer Bite and Not QQ. I am also put off by the Noticeable Sweetness of the Sauce that was lum on it making this Noodle taste Oily and Sweetish.

The Sweetness is like somone putting a Generic Bottle of Ketchup into WTM sort of Sweetness. This may appeal to some people however, but it is not a Taste that I am keen on. The Least Spicy that I ordered is indeed Very Negligible Spicy, just a Mild Tingle Tease on your Tongue.

Eating the Whole Dish together, I felt that the Very Decently Made Cha Shu seems to be doing most of the Work supported by a Weaker Noodle Carb. Adding that Sourish Chilli improves the Dish tremendously by introducing a Much Needed Sourish Kick to combat the Sweetness I tasted.


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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts

At the Price of RM2.40 (S$0.90) for this Teh-O-Kosong Ais was a Decent Price for this.
Robust with a Decent Tea Flavour that wasn't Diluted or had any Siap Siap Taste, this was a Decent Cup.

At the Price of RM7.00 (S$2.40) was an Affordable Price for this 重肉麵 but you need to have the expectation that this is like a Slightly Different Variation of a WTM. While the "Cha Shu" wasn't as Visually Impressive as it looked in other people's Video or their Own Menu Picture, it was still Culinarily Impressive for me because of how Decently Smokiness it was. Although it wasn't those Melt in Mouth type of Quality, the Quality of this Cha Shu would not look out of place if served in a Higher End Restoran actually.

Having said that, as good as the Cha Shu was, unfortunately it felt like it was the only one pulling the weight in this Dish. Not as well supported by a Weaker Noodle Carb with a Soft Texture and a Sweetish Ketchup type of Sauce that I felt clashed harshly with it. The Dish doesn't feel "Harmonious" for me if it makes any sense.

Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with this Noodle and some people might like this type of Sweetish Taste for their Noodle, but it is not a Taste that I feel fits with this Cha Shu. Its hard to describe this further unless you yourself come give this Noodle a try to taste what I mean.

Don't let my Average Score deter you from this Place. I liked the Friendly Owner 大哥 who is Very Welcoming. If you are OK with the Price, I can still recommend to give this a Try because the Cha Shu here is definitely something Unique that isn't usually tasted in a Standard Kopitiam like this. 

Even if you do not wish to eat from this Stall, I can still recommend this Restoran Number One 美食街 Kopitiam because of its Very Vibrant Evening 美食街 Vibe.