Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Recommended)
Address: A0138, Jln Ekoflora 7/2, Taman Ekoflora, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Malaysia
(Located within Eco Palladium)
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/YQQecgtfNg7j33eN9
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)
F11C Chinese Tea (Cold) = RM1.20
A01A Kway Teow Kia (Set A) = RM14.90
Service Charge 10% = RM1.61
Here is the Full Menu of the Eatery/Restaurant.Prices are Accurate as of the Date of the Post.
This is an Eatery that I specifically aimed to visit simply because of this TikTok Video I watched: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSuXGhRv9/ Long Story Short, basically there is a Regular 70 Years Old Singaporean "Uncle Lee" who will without fail visit this Every Saturday no matter how Jam the Kastam is.
So apparently he's a Former Malaysian and the Reason he keeps coming here to eat was "有我爸爸当年煮的味道". Heartwarming no? But of course, we see such Promo Videos all the time lah. Sometimes also dunno Real or Not. So I wanted to check it out myself.
The Actual Eatery is located within this Eco Palladium which itself is a Nice Upmarket Retail/F&B Neighbourhood. Airconditioned (not Very Cold though) and Simply Renovated as you can see, the first thing I noticed as I stepped in was a Delicious Aroma of Herbly Kway Teow Kia in the Air. The Staffs were Decently Polite and Reserved and I have no issues with the Service Quality overall. Not a Particularly Crowded Place when I visited on a Sunday Weekend Morning at 11.00am with a Few Tables of Customers.
Ordering is through a Typical QR Menu, or you can order directly if you want. Anyway it took only 1 Min for the Chinese Tea and 12 Mins for the KTK itself. Everything was served up within 12 Mins which I felt could be improved given that there were only 3 Tables of Customers that time.
F11C Chinese Tea (Cold) = RM1.20
Initially served up without a Straw, it was quickly and apologetically rectified when highlighted. Served in a Larger Cup, this is Legit Brewed Chinese Tea not from some Can or Teabag as I could even see some Tea Leaves Residue within. Ordering the Cold Version of this just means they add some Ice into the Default Hot Version.
Now I'm no Chinese Tea Connoisseur, but I wouldn't call this a Super Amazing Quality either. It does have a Decent Tea Taste and I would compare it to a Slightly Better Quality Teh-O-Kosong perhaps. The fact this isn't from some Teabag or a Can and is brewed from Actual Tea Leaves is already quite ok for me tbh.
Quality of the Chilli Sambal
Has a Robust Body Taste with a Surprisingly Tease of Sweetness.
Slightly Different from Sambal Chilli's in other JB Kway Teow Kia Eateries I've eaten.
Spiciness is Very Mild and in fact so Mild, that I feel even Children should have no issues with it.
This is a Not Bad Chilli if you are ok with a Non-Spicy Version.
A01A Kway Teow Kia (Set A) = RM14.90
Hahaha Long Time Readers of this Blog will know I'm happy to have a Simple Solo Cham Cham Set to select right at their Menu with No Stress or Frustrations.
As usual, I closely dissected the Dish which consists of:
Kway Teow Kia of course
7 Pieces of Pork Belly Cuts
5 Wrinkly Looking Large Intestines
6 Small Intestines
Half a Braised Egg cut in 2
4 Pieces of Taupok
Quality of the KTK Soup Broth
Giving a Noticeably Herbly Aroma, I was immediately impressed the moment I tasted this.
Wow, not just a Classic Simple KTK Braised, this Soup actually tasted Noticeably Herbly.
Its not Super Gao Gao Herbly, but certainly much More Herbly compared to Most KTK Soups I've eaten in JB by far.
It actually tastes like there is a Decent Level of Culinary Effort and Work being put into this rather than a Simple Typical Braised. Very Nice.
Quality of the KTK Kueh
Visually it doesn't look alot at First Glance but amount given I feel is acceptable for the Price. Although most likely from some Package, what I thought was interesting was they have a Almost Crystaline Look to them.
Texture is Superb, like a Very Soft Melt in Mouth Kueh and totally not a Typical Cheapo Kway Teow Texture.
Soaked thoroughly in that Herbly Broth, it was damn satisfying to 大口大口吃. Very Nice.
Quality of Meat Platter Zhup
The Zhup they lum for this Meat Platter is also Impressive. Its Thick, Rich with abit of Meaty Savoury Saltiness with even a hint of Herbal that does it for me. This Zhup lays a Good Foundation for the Rest of the Meat Platter.
Quality of the Pork Belly
Not those Melt in Mouth type of Creamy Fat, it still has a Slight Tender Bite to it. Meat is Meaty Firmish releasing a Nicely Juicy Bite. Together with the Nice Zhup, this was a Very Decent No Porky Meatier type of Pork Belly Cut.
Quality of the Big Intestines
I recognize these from the Wrinkly Skin Texture it had when I first had them at 汶強粿條仔 Restoran Woon Kiang in Taman Stulang Laut. Tender, Not Rubbery, the Pigginess in this is Slightly Elevated but still ok.
Thankfully No Unusual Bitterness compared to the one I had at Woon Kiang. If you are ok with a Tad More Pigginess, you will probably be ok with this. Dipping this into their Sambal Chilli helps alot to hit away much of the Pigginess.
Quality of the Small Intestines
Also a Tad Piggy for this but certainly much Less Piggy than Big Intestines. These were Clean with a Soft Inside that tasted more like Soft Fat with a Mushy Texture and No Bitterness. I like their Small Intestines.
Quality of the Taupok and Braised Egg
Zero Raw Tofu Taste, these were Tender and Soft Soaked Nicely with that Meat Platter Zhup. Not Bad Tasting.
Braised Egg was decently made with No Dry Texture. They taste as how you'd expect them to taste.
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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts
At the Price of RM1.20 (S$0.40) for the Chinese Tea is certainly Affordable. To be fair, it taste like a Slightly Better Teh-O-Kosong, Nothing Amazing. But the fact that its priced affordably, seemingly brewed from Actual Tea Leaves, not made using a Off-The Shelf Teabag or even from a Can is already quite impressive.
At the Price of RM14.90 (S$5.00) for this Solo KTK Set, I am already happy that I can order directly from their Menu without Frustrations and Stress. That aside, what impressed me is that among the KTKs I've eaten so far in JB, this is the one that actually has a Noticeably Herbly Broth instead of a Classic Simple Braised 卤水味. This Herbliness extended to the Zhup they lum for the Meat Platter elevating the Dish on a Whole.
Overall I would consider this to be one of the Better KTK in JB for me. Dare I even say Top 5? Its the Actual Herbly Broth and Zhup that did it for me. This KTK here uniquely taste like how a KTK should actually taste, not just a Kway Chup using Kway Teow.
And I must say this "Uncle Lee" in that TikTok Video certainly has taste. His "有我爸爸当年煮的味道" holds weight.
If the Story is true, then is this actually how JB KTK is supposed to traditionally taste like in the Past?
I also met the Frendly Jolly 大姐 in the TikTok Video and she is indeed Very Friendly. Hahaha I tried asking her about it and she insists that this "Uncle Lee" is Real. Ultimately, whether this Uncle Lee Story is real or not doesn't matter. I personally enjoy this Kway Teow Kia myself. There is a Decent Amount of Effort in this and is perhaps the 1st Actual Herbly KTK I've eaten in JB.
The Only Issue is that this place is located way up North in Eco Palladium which itself is not such a Popular Bustling Place from what I could see even on a Weekend. Unless you're "Uncle Lee", I don't feel its worth to queue 7 Hours in Kastam just to specifically come all the way here just to eat this. But if you are nearby the Area however, I would recommend to come give this a try.
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