Over a decade ago, we used to go trekking at Bukit Timah Hill on weekends and then reward ourselves with a hearty good lunch. One of the most enjoyable places to replenish our energies was Joo Siah Bak Koot Teh at Yuhua Market & Hawker Centre. That was long before I started Johor Kaki blog, so this post is to make up for not recording one of my favourite old lunch haunts.
When we reached the familiar old Yuhua hawker centre, it was as crowded and busy as ever, despite the Covid-19 Circuit Breaker social distancing measures still in force 🤷 Joo Siah Bak Koot Teh is no longer at the hawker centre (they moved in 2015). A quick check on Google map brought us to Kai Xiang Food Centre kopitiam where Joo Siah Bak Koot Teh is operating now. It is steps from Yuhua hawker centre.
Ordering was quick and easy - fast food burger joint style. Look at menu overhead, say what you want, cashier pokes the panel, tells you the price, pay the bill, tell her/him your table number. Done. Go back to your table and wait. Food will be served to you. Everything here for $30.50 which is very reasonable by today's standards. But, our favourite prime loin ribs were sold out when we placed our orders at 11:30am.
First things first, the soup. The thing I remember most about Joo Siah Bak Koot Teh and the reason I love it was their peppery soup - sharper than all the big brand peppery bak kut teh shops. Yes, it was still there on my first sip - that bite, the sensation and taste almost like fresh ginger juice. But, my tongue got accustomed to it after the first mouthfuls and it no longer bites or tingles. (Wish that could last longer.)
The meat was tender and juicy with a bit of chew to the bite. The meat tastes ok but I would really prefer the prime loin rib cut for its freshness and fat-meat ratio.
Small intestines and liver slices. OK.
Both the stewed peanuts and preserved vegetable were a little bland, lacking in intensity and depth of savoury flavour. There was no meat stewed with the preserved vegetables so that layer of flavour was missing. We also had stewed bean curd sticks and you char kway.
We like this stewed pork knuckle. The skin, fat and meat were fall-off-the-bone tender though the savoury flavour was slightly flat and doesn't have much depth.
The thing I like most about Joo Siah Bak Koot Teh is their peppery soup, and their generous free flow self service system makes it all the more attractive to me. (But, the free flow soup and soup with the pork ribs tastes a little different. Less peppery, less layers.)
Hehe.... I poured the soup into my rice... shiok.
With nice peppery soup and good company, we finished everything on the table. Next time, we shall be earlier or call ahead to reserve the prime loin ribs. (Look out for update on this post.)
Restaurant name: Joo Siah Bak Koot Teh 裕城肉骨茶Address: #01-1215 Jurong East Ave 1, Block 349, Singapore 600349Tel: +65 91118129 (call to reserve prime loin ribs)Hours: 8:00am - 7:00pm (Mon off | close at 3pm on Sun)
Non Halal Date visited: 2 Aug 2020
Reviewed by amfy
on
أغسطس 15, 2020
Rating:
ليست هناك تعليقات: