A short drive from the CIQ, lies this bustling restaurant with a crazy crowd who would brave storms to taste a flavorsome light brown broth. When I was a little girl, I would look forward to Saturdays because pa will bring us to this stuffy yet fulfilling restaurant if we manage to catch the morning church service!
Now that I’m a big girl, Ah Soon Bak Kut Teh is where I’ll head for piping hot herbal pork ribs soup with friends who don’t mind the heat! So last Saturday, I was there with Kelvin, Vic, Mariko and Cablenazi.
Vic looked like he was glaring at Cable Nazi for scooping ladle after ladle of broth from the claypot. Haha. By the way, Kelvin and Cablenazi was so pleased with the fare that they ate 2 bowls of rice which they really shouldn’t had. GUYS DON’T EAT SO MUCH RICE. Must remember to always leave some space for more yummy goodies when you’re in JB.
:S
Basically the most important feature of this dish is the broth: it is a balance between the herbal and peppery version of Bak Kut Teh. Ah Soon’s herbal version is a tad milder than Kedai Bak Kut Teh Hin Hock (another one of my favourite) but it is still delectable. I’m a really big fan of herbs and spices. It should contain star anise, cinnamon, cloves, dang gui, fennel seeds and garlic.
Well we were late, so there wasn’t much ’stuff’ in the Bak Kut Teh lest for pork ribs. Normally in the morning before brunch, we can find additional ingredients such as offal and pieces of dried tofu or fried tofu puffs added into this claypot delight at Ah Soon Bak Kut Teh. If you woke up late, just like us, then just be happy with the pork ribs.
Secret. The Bak Kut Teh tastes so good because uncle Ah Soon insist on using charcoal to prepare his specialty dish.
(:
The Bak Kut Teh came in a big claypot so we gotta scooped the herbie treat into individual bowls. Hm. It’s weird how I dislike to have my Bak Kut Teh served in little porcelain bowls.… If I can, I would just slurp the broth straight from the claypot because I like my Bak Kut Teh extra warm. Haha. Or perhaps it is the claypot illusion that there’s more broth and meat inside.
Oh when you’re here, do try the Yellow Rice Wine Claypot Chicken, Tau Pok/Fried Bean Curd and Salted Vegetables.
Yellow Rice Wine Claypot Chicken was awesome. The meat was so tender, moist and and we can tell from the taste of it that the usually dry and unspectacular chicken meat had successfully retained the sweet taste of rice wine! It must had been simmered really slowly over a small fire the entire morning.
Also, the soft and a little goey Tau Pok went extremely well with the thick soy sauce and cut chillies. Do remember to eat the Tau Pok immediately when it is served because it will not taste as nice after it turned cold. As for the salted Vegetables. In my opinion, Ah Soon’s salted vegetable is one of the best among the Bak Kut Teh restaurants in JB. It’s not too heavily salted yet briny enough to tantalise my taste buds with a slight hint of pickled sourness.
If you noticed, we didn’t have You Tiao/Chinese cruller fried bread stick. Another reason for you to have breakfast here instead of brunch/lunch.
For Bak Kut Teh (4 persons), Claypot Chicken (2 persons), 2 bowls of Salted vegetables and 2 bowls of Tau Pok, we spent roughly RM65 on lunch for 5 hungry adults. Not sure if Vic, Mariko or Kelvin gonna crave for this and be back again but I will definitely say yes if dad wants to date me for breakfast this coming week when I’ll be back in JB for holidays. He’s the best. Cablenazi shall tag along if he has been a good boy this week.
Ah Soon Bak Kut Teh
141, Jalan Keris 1
Taman Sri Tebrau
Johor Bahru
016-7152678
Ah Soon is just 5 minutes walk away from the ‘famous’ Bamboo paper-wrapped herbal chicken which I personally think is over-rated. Would not recommend that Bamboo chicken restaurant because quality of food deteriorated after the renovation.
Muahaha Ah Soon i like!
Haha ya when u back in town we’ll go ah soon!!! Faster la u
I bought my tix ystday! will be back on the 13th til 21st!!!!
You might try another Bak Kut Teh Restaurant. It’s name is called Soon Huat. Dont remember the exact address but it’s along the same row of shophouses as ah kun fish ball at Taman Sentosa.
It’s a corner lot and quite near to a pet stall. To get there, you need to drive along the road where the sultan’s prince resisdence is (accessed from the road where the golf course is near Jalan Jingga). One way road so that is the only way unless you are coming from the bridge from Permas Jaya
Cheers and enjoy.
Also, an authentic Jap restuarant is just opposite my mum’s shop, above the italian restuarant.
seriously? haha Jan or Dec? I will b in JB tmr – 27th Dec!
Oh oh yes i know which one. it serves the bak kut teh in small porcelain bowls right? yup it’s not bad too. i will write a post on it the next time i go there for makan.
OMG James. you’re tempting me. is the Italian restaurant Galiano? I’ve tried the Italian but never the Japanese restaurant. Will definitely give it a try since you recommended. Thanks for dropping by and nice to know you! Send my regards to your friendly ma and uncle. They are really cool!
Yummy! and great photos too!
I disagree with your point about not eating too much rice. The rice brings out the flavour in the bak kut teh!
(Ok, I’m just trying to justify my expanding waistline – JB is a dangerous place… cos it makes me fat!)
Should have a 24seven (and frens) outing to JB again – provided I don’t get lost this time.
Feb for CNYYYYYYYY!!! Mr EL has been pestering me to bring him to eat all the food in JB but most prob that will only happen in Dec when we go back to do the preparations.