班兰牛肉丸 (興和) Original Pandan Meatball

Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (Average)

Address: 8, Jalan Loo Hong Joon, Kampung Baru Pandan, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Malaysia
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/CUAV7yJh3JtyVSUG7
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)

Pandan Meatball Soup (Mixed, Small, No Carbs) = RM18.00

No Service Charges

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

This was a Very Old Looking Eatery that I passed by as I was exploring Kampung Pandan. Really Very Old Looking Place and from the looks of the Old Weathered Signboard, has probably been around for many years already.

Interestingly, the Menu states 班兰牛肉丸 but the Main Signboard shows 興和.
Not sure what is the Connection (if any).

Most of the Support Staffs look like Myanmar Folks who are Polite and Reserved and the Owner Main Cook is a Somewhat Middle Age Shy Chinese Lad. He's so Shy he specifically told me not to take photo of him but take Photo of the Ingredients instead. 

Btw, the Meats they sell here is Beef. So you might want to take note if you have a Dietary Restriction on this. I thought I'd mention it because I saw a Potential Customer asking about it and left because she was told its Beef. Not much Customers around when I was there even on a Saturday at 9.00am. It took about 4 Mins for the Dish to be served up.




Pandan Meatball Soup (Mixed, Small, No Carbs) = RM18.00

When it was served up, I was abit disappointed because visually it looked pretty small and doesn't look like alot of Food. Of course I dissected it closely, and the Dish consists of:

Soup of course.
4 Beef Slices
4 Beef Tendons
2 Pieces of Cow Stomach
2 Cuts of Beef Brisket?
3 Beef Balls


Quality of the Soup

Although this is a Beef Soup, it has an Interesting Taste, like a Flavour you would normally get for a Pork Porridge.
Really taste like a Pork Porridge but in a Soup Form. There is quite alot of MSG used and tastes Sweetish.

Quality of the Meatballs

3 Pieces of these of which 1 of them was a Rough Texture while the other 2 are Smooth. They're irregular in shape which makes me think they are probably Homemade. The Rough one was Firm Bouncy with a Clean No Beefy Taste. Its made up of many 牛跟 within giving it a Meaty Chewy Texture.

The 2 Smooth Ones has what I call "Tire Marks" on them. I suppose this is formed from the Process of Handmaking them. Also Firm Bouncy, Clean, No Beefy Taste but Noticeably Saltier.

Quality of the Cow Stomach

Chewy and Tender that does not taste Rubbery. Decent and Clean Tasting.

Quality of the Brisket

These were not Melt in Mouth Quality which means they probably weren't boiled for long.
They have a Decent Sweetish Marinated Taste, Juicy with a Meaty Beefy Chew.

Quality of the Beef Slices

These tasted like they're marinated in the Same Marinade as their Brisket with a Similar Sweetish Taste.
Not Overly Beefy with a Firm and Meaty Texture.

Quality of the Beef Tendons

Probably the Nicest of the Bunch, some were Creamy and Melt in Mouth Quality.


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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts

At the Price of RM18.00 (S$5.90) for No Carbs, this didn't feel very Affordable for what is basically Kway Teow Tng but using Beef. Amount of Ingredients given didn't feel like they are worth the Price tbh.

What I found interesting was the Quality of the Soup which for some reason tasted like a Pork Porridge but in a Soup Form. Unique, but also not particularly Amazing. The Signature Meatball (literally the Name of the Place) especially the Rough One was uniquely made up of many 牛跟 within giving it a Unique Meaty Chewy Texture. The Rest of the Ingredients were Quite Standard. Also Decent but Not Amazing.


Overall, this is not something I would specifically queue Kastam to come to JB to eat.
Even if you're around Kampung Pandan, I also feel its not a Particularly High Priority to come eat this.

Not a Loss if you skip this too to be honest. Its the Rustic Old Kampung Vibe of the Place that I appreciate more because its something that you really can't get in the Rest of Johor Bahru.