Exploring Johor Bahru: A Culinary Adventure
Bernard and Jim of the Musa King Channel embark on a quest to discover the best eats in Johor Bahru (JB), Malaysia, moving beyond typical tourist fare and delving into local favorites. They encounter unexpected hospitality and hidden culinary gems.
Searching for Authentic JB Flavors
The duo begins their journey seeking recommendations from locals in Gu Miao. An older gentleman directs them to a "grandma's shop" known for its jui kueh (steamed rice cake), highlighting it as a breakfast staple.
Encountering Local Expertise
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They stumble upon a Nyo Nya coffee shop and inquire about Shui Gao (water dumplings), showcasing their desire to find lesser-known dishes.
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At one point, their companion voices a preference for Baohou's food over JB's, igniting a search for a specific fish dish: whole fish cooked in a special way, where customers choose their own fish.
The Surprise of Five Star Cleaning
A serendipitous encounter with a member of the Five Star Cleaning company leads to a unique dining experience. The family member offers to drive them to a restaurant serving a dish he enjoyed since childhood.
Discovering Braised Fish
They arrive at a house-like restaurant, where they are treated to exceptional service. The featured dish is braised fish, specifically red conger eel, recommended by Ken Ko.
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The dish is described as fresh and sweet, relying on the fish's natural flavor rather than heavy seasoning. Scallions add a crispy texture.
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They sample it with fish sauce, but find the original flavor satisfying enough.
The dish is accompanied by bean sprouts and minced meat. They agree that the dish is delicious, with a sweet and savory flavor profile and a pleasant, crispy texture.
The Quest for Dessert: Fried Durian Cake
Moving on, the team seeks out Chef Fuse, known for desserts, particularly fried durian cake.
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They encounter a man who knows someone who sells fried durian cake.
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San He Yi, a fried rice cake, is also mentioned but unfortunately is closed that day.
Queen Red Bean Ice Cream: A Mother's Favorite
With the fried rice cake unavailable, they turn to "mom" in the car for dessert recommendations. She suggests red bean ice cream.
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They arrive at Queen Red Bean Ice Cream, where they meet the owner and are treated to a large bowl of the dessert.
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One of the hosts, Yingjie, gives it a 9/10, indicating its high quality, only one point away from the red bean desserts his father used to sell.
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The owner's dedication to using homemade red beans is emphasized as a key factor in the dessert's appeal.
A Final Taste and Reflections
They sample the red bean ice cream, a mix of flavors and textures including peanuts and fruit. The experience of discovering surprising elements within the dessert is likened to finding treasure. The atmosphere of the shop is also enjoyed.
Haoxue and Japanese Rice Ball Sushi
The team looks for snacks and pastries. They discover sushi, specifically Japanese rice ball sushi, made by a local person. This type of sushi is rare.
Autumn Lunch and the Surprise Sushi
They visit the restaurant where Haoxuan eats, called "Autumn Lunch". He eats lunch here since he was small. He enjoys sushi, salad, spicy squid, and fried eggs. The salad is popular, featuring a marinated Japanese rice ball. They confirm it's better than convenience store sushi due to its freshness and quality ingredients, including Japanese rice.
Lasting Impressions and a Call to Action
The team ends their JB food adventure feeling satisfied. The boss promises to continuously create new dishes and thanks the team for the promotion. The episode is described as romantic due to the connections made with the people they encountered. They encourage viewers to share their own JB food recommendations and engage on social media.
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