Finally, finally, the last instalment of my bak kut teh eat-venture. Before this, I didn’t fancy peppery BKTs that much so it had never really been a meal option for consideration. After trying some good BKTs in Singapore recently, I couldn’t deny that my taste buds had indeed changed over time and I’m already loving BKT like never before.

If you’re also new to bak kut teh, check out my earlier reviews:

Ng Ah Sio Bak Kut Teh @ Chui Huay Lim Club
Song Fa Bak Kut Teh @ Seletar Mall
Founder Bak Kut Teh @ Balestier Road
Ya Hua Bak Kut Teh @ Havelock Road

I decided that I needed something different after sampling all those similar peppery soups and then I recalled seeing this bak kut teh shop opposite KSL City in Johor Bahru when I was there a few months back. I wanted to try it then but I was just too hungry to join in the long queue so the husband and I specifically came by for an early lunch, hoping to get a table without having to wait too long.

For directions to KSL City from JB Sentral via shuttle bus, check out my post here. If you take IM17 bus to KSL City, you will alight at the roadside outside KSL City and just across the road, you should be able to spot Restoran Soon Soon Heng Bak Kut Teh.

Good thing we came by 11+, there wasn’t a queue and there were a few empty tables too. We just had to tell them how many pax were dining in, what extras (fried beancurd skin, enoki mushrooms, offals, fish maw, pacific clams, etc) we would like to add to our bak kut teh and the side dishes (you tiao, salted vegetables, braised peanuts, etc) we wanted and then we were ushered to a table which we had to share with other people.

The BKT here was charged by the no. of pax for either 1, 2, 3 or 4 persons. Besides the regular BKT, they also had sesame oil chicken, ginger & wine chicken and braised pig trotters.

And here was what we ordered for 2 persons as usual. Everything for just RM50.60 (approx. S$19). The homemade barley drink was excellent. Not too sweet and the whole barley grains at the bottom of the cup that could be easily sucked up with the straw gave a nice chewy bite.

It is not an overstatement to say this is the BEST bak kut teh I’ve had. This bak kut teh broth was somewhat between peppery and herbal. The aroma of garlic was most apparent and the broth had a perfect balance of pepper with a subtle taste of herbs and/or other spices. What I really liked about it was how robust and flavoursome the broth was because a lot of other ingredients went into it like the juicy button mushrooms and addictive fried beancurd skin (we requested for an extra serving) that would definitely flavour the soup even more. For a 2-pax pot, I must say this was a generous portion as there were plenty of pork ribs in it.

The you tiao was also the best I had so far from a bak kut teh stall. Unlike the ones in Singapore that are usually bready, old and cold, this was crispy and fresh with no reused oil smell.

The braised pig trotter was really tender and savoury as the full-bodied braise thoroughly penetrated the layers of meat. The trotter had a good ratio of fats and meat and was of a good size for two to share.

The braised peanuts were so soft and full of flavour just like canned ones.

The salted vegetables was equally tasty and crunchy too though taste wise, I still thought the one from Ya Hua was better.

Restoran Soon Soon Heng Bak Kut Teh
43, Jalan Serigala, Taman Abad
80250 Johor Bahru, Johor
Malaysia

And now for my final verdict…

Unfortunately, my most preferred BKT isn’t located in Singapore. The winner is Soon Soon Heng Bak Kut Teh in JB!!! But…I do think Ya Hua @ Havelock Road is a close second.

For braised pig trotter, I would have to go with Ng Ah Sio. For salted vegetables, Ya Hua. For braised peanuts and you tiao, Soon Soon Heng.

As I conclude this post, I’m already planning to go JB this weekend to get my BKT fix, lol. For good food, it’s worth the distance 🙂

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