Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (Average)
Address: 63, Jalan Harmonium 23/12, Taman Desa Tebrau, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Malaysia
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/C4eAzbfHiaRNMFxbA
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)
A1 招牌一品汤 Chao Jiang Superior Soup (Soup Only, Less Salt) = RM20.00
SST 6% = RM1.59
Service Charge 6% = RM1.59
Click here for the Full Menu(Opens in a New Tab, Price is accurate as of Posting Date)
This is a Chinese Soup Noodle sort of F&B Franchise that I've seen often in JB and when I saw this in Taman Desa Tebrau that I was exploring, I thought I might as well give it a try. Located as a Corner Shophouse, its Quite a Large Restoran that is Nicely Air-Conditioned and Cooling. Simple Clean Renovation with a Reddish sort of Theme.
Quite a Popular Place too on a Sunday Afternoon on an Off-Lunch Hour of 2.00pm when I visited. The Staffs here were Mostly Local Malaysian Chinese Elder 大姐 who are Polite and Reserved. Anyway it took about 5 Mins for the Luo Han Guo Drink and 9 Mins for the Main Dish. Everything was served up within 9 Mins.
E1 冬瓜龙眼罗汉果 Longan v Winter Melon & Luo Han Guo (No Sugar, Less Ice) = RM6.50
Although I selected No Sugar for this, I was informed by a Staff who informed that they cannot do it. Only Less Sugar (Kurang Manis). I told her its ok. The Drink itself is served in a Tall Glass Cup. Less Ice really is Less Ice making the Drink more Cool than Icey. There was a Decent Amount of what looked like Winter Melon Shreds and a Few Pieces of Longan.
The Actual Drink tasted more like a Canned Winter Melon Tea actually than Luo Han Guo. In fact I don't taste any Luo Han Guo in this Drink tbh. Since this Drink doesn't taste like Monkfruit (Luo Han Guo) and is actually Sweet, I would not recommend to order this if you are someone who is watching your Blood Sugar like me.
A1 招牌一品汤 Chao Jiang Superior Soup (Soup Only, Less Salt) = RM20.00
With only Soup and No Carbs, their Signature Dish looked Less Impressive than what their Menu suggests.
It still looked like Quite alot of Ingredients though and the Whole Thing smelled like a Classic Kway Teow Tng.
Of course I closely dissected it and it comes with:
2 Pieces of Flat Beancurd Skin
2 Strips of Long Beancurd Skin
2 Handmade Pork Cakes?
2 Strips of Sliced Pork Belly
1 Small Cut of Fish Slice
1 Pork ball
1 Fishball
1 Prawn Ball
1 Sotong Ball
1 Piece of Fish Paste
1 Piece of Minced Pork Bak Chor
3 Pieces of Pork Slices
A Few Pieces of Lettuces
Basically Every Ingredient that they claimed in their Menu are All Fully Accounted For.
Actually they even added Items which is not specifically indicated in the Menu. Not Bad.
Quality of the Soup
This was a Very Decent Tasting Pork/Fish Kway Teow Tng Soup that is infused with Fried Shallots.
Not Overly Salty, it tasted like Some MSG may be used but also Not Too Much.
Very Decent Classic Kway Teow Tng Soup. I've never eaten Authentic Real Chao Shan Cuisine before, so I'm not sure if its Truly Authentic, but it at least works as a Classic Malaysian/Singapore Style of Kway Teow Tng Soup.
Quality of the Flat Beancurd Skin and Long Beancurd Skin
The Flat Beancurd Skin had a Nice Soft Tender Chew to it with a Savoury Release of Fried Oil. Not too Oily, this was Acceptable with a Slight bit of Crispness. The Long Strip of Beancurd Skin is Not Just Beancurd Skin as I discovered as there were Some Fish Paste within. Not Bad Tasting. This was something Extra given that the Menu itself never mentioned.
Quality of the 2 Handmade Pork Cakes
Among the Ingredients, I feel these are the More Unique among them. Visually looking like a Fishcake, but the Texture is like eating Sardines. And yet, its not Sardines but Pork. Not Porky Too with a Savoury Meaty Taste.
Try to imagine eating a No Porky, No Salty Luncheon Meat that has the Texture of Sardines is how I would describe this. Most certainly Handmade, this was a Unique Item that I have not tasted in a Classic Malaysia Kway Teow Tng Eatery elsewhere.
Quality of the Strips of Sliced Pork Belly
Basically Standard Pork Belly Bacon Strip. The Amount looks like 1 Strip cut into 2. Lightly Salted and Not Overly Porky, I feel these are probably Supermarket Items.
Quality of the Minced Pork Bak Chor
This Bak Chor came in 1 Big Clump and interestingly seems to be Slightly Velvetted? with a Slightly Smooth Texture. Not Porky.
Quality of the Pork Slices
If I wasn't sure if the Minced Pork were Velvetted, these certainly were. I supposed they Velvetted and Marinated 1 Batch of Pork Meat and proceeded to mince 1 Portion into Bak Chor and Slice up the Other Portion into these.
Quality of the Fish Slice
1 Small Piece given, this contributes Nothing to the Dish. Meaty Firm and No Fishy, I just wished they gave a Bigger Slice for this.
Quality of the Fish Paste
Uniquely Shaped, again this is most likely Handmade. Noticeably Salty, this had a Good Juicy Taste of Fish but also Not Overly Fishy. Taste like a Pounded Fish Meat is how I would describe this.
Quality of the Pork Ball
Interesting Attempt at Presentation with a Criss Cross Cut, this was a Decent Sized One. Texture was Firmish with a Meaty Bouncy Bite and a Noticeable Saltish Taste. Porky but not Overly So. That said, this sorta tasted like a Supermarket Product and probably not Handmade by them.
Quality of the Fishball
Likely another Supermarket Product, this was Meaty although not Super Bouncy type. Clean Tasting with No Fishiness.
Quality of the Prawn Ball
Although probably another Supermarket Product, I thought this one tasted Decent. Visually Reddish, I particularly liked that it tasted like its made from Real Prawns pounded together with Not too Much Fillers added.
Quality of the Sotong Ball
Among the Balls, this was the Softest and Almost Immediately Falls Away and Disintegrates when I bit into it. Taste of Sotong is Faint. Not sure if this is a Supermarket Product due to its Soft Texture.
Conclusion and Closing Thoughts
At the Price of RM6.50 (S$2.10) for this Luo Han Guo Drink I don't feel its worth the Price because this doesn't taste like Luo Han Guo (Monkfruit) at all. While I appreciated the Pieces of Winter Melon Shreds and Longan in this, the Drink tasted more like some Canned Winter Melon actually. Quite Sweet Tasting, especially if you are someone watching your Blood Sugar, I would not recommend this.
At the Price of RM20.00 (S$6.30) for their Signature Dish was an OK Price for what is Basically a Kway Teow Tng with Extra Steps. There is a Wide Variety of Ingredients although understandably there aren't alot given for each.
That said, the Quality of Everything was a Mixed Bag tbh. Some tasted like they were Handmade, while some were More Likely Supermarket Products. Overall though, I don't really feel its worth the Price. I wish they cut down on the Number of Items but increase the Quality instead.
Don't let my Average Score deter you from this Place. While I don't find this Souped-Up Kway Teow Tng to be Super Amazing until Die Die Must Come Eat, there is also Nothing Critically Wrong with it either. If you are craving for Something Hot and Soupy in the Taman Desa Tebrau Area, I can still recommend to give this a try if you are ok with the Prices on the Menu and also keep your Expectations in Check.
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