老黄的店 LaoWang's Steamboat

It’s always a joy when a friend makes an impromptu call and asks you to hop into their car for a day trip to JB. No elaborate planning, just a spontaneous getaway, good company and a new place to explore.

This time, our destination was Laowang’s Steamboat 老黄的店, a new find recommended by my friend for a seafood feast served over the steamer. The concept immediately brought back memories of Captain K Seafood, which went viral some years back.

Located at Mount Austin, the restaurant has a rather distinctive storefront with its large Laowang’s Steamboat sign and traditional Chinese touches. There is also plenty of outdoor seating along the side, making it quite easy to spot when you arrive.

We were here mainly for the seafood steamboat, so we were naturally curious to see what this place had to offer. With a table filled with fresh seafood cooked over the steaming broth, it was definitely a different kind of JB food adventure for us.

Laowang's Steamboat

The interior certainly carries a dramatic old-school charm. The sturdy wooden tables and long benches give the dining space a nostalgic feel, almost like one of those old roadside rest stops we used to see in period dramas.

Faux paper lanterns hang from the ceiling, adding to the vintage atmosphere, while the exposed concrete screed walls and flooring give the space a raw, rustic touch. Paired with the traditional wooden furniture, the whole setting feels like a modern restaurant designed with a throwback to the olden days in mind.

Rustic old-school interior

Before settling in for the steamboat, we took a walk over to their live seafood corner, where we could pick the seafood we wanted to have cooked in our steamboat. With tanks filled with fresh seafood, it was quite fun choosing what would eventually make its way onto our table. And guess what we picked?

Pick Your Own Live Seafood for the Steamboat

Nothing beats freshly steamed prawns! These were incredibly fresh, with that natural sweetness and juicy, firm texture that you get from properly steamed prawns. No need for fancy sauces either, as the freshness really speaks for itself. Simple, fresh and absolutely satisfying!

Freshly steamed prawns served at Laowang’s Steamboat in JB

We had Lala on the steamer too and these were a great addition to the seafood spread. Once steamed, the shells opened up to reveal plump, tender meat with a naturally sweet and briny flavour. Best enjoyed while they were still hot, especially with a little dip on the side.

Steamed Lala

Lastly, we had the crabs, which were steamed right under the glass dome. The portion was just right for us to share, making it a nice addition to the seafood spread without being overly heavy. Steamed simply, the crab had a naturally sweet taste and was best enjoyed while hot.

Fresh crab steaming under a glass dome

Finally, they were cooked and ready to be enjoyed! The crabs came out beautifully orange with the shells still holding onto that tempting aroma from the steamer. Time to get our hands in, crack open those shells and savour the sweet, juicy crab meat. 

Cooked Crabs

Good stuff doesn’t end here yet! Once all the seafood has been steamed, the juices and flavours from the seafood drip down into the pot below, where they are mixed into the porridge.

The result was surprisingly delicious. The porridge had a naturally umami, sweet and savoury flavour, soaking up all those wonderful seafood juices. It was a simple yet satisfying way to end our meal, and definitely a bowl worth saving room for.

Seafood Porridge with Natural Seafood Juices

Besides the good selection of sauces that we could help ourselves to at the side station, we also ordered a drink to pair with our seafood feast. We went for the 枸杞子冰茶, a refreshing goji berry iced tea that was light and cooling. It made a nice accompaniment to the steaming hot seafood, especially between bites.

Goji Berry Iced Tea 枸杞子冰茶 

Besides the good selection of sauces that we could help ourselves to at the side station, we also ordered a drink to pair with our seafood feast. We went for the 枸杞子冰茶, a refreshing goji berry iced tea that was light and cooling. It made a nice accompaniment to the steaming hot seafood, especially between bites.

Menu

Besides the steamboat, there are also plenty of other choices on the menu if you are looking for something different. They have Chinese-style dishes, skewers, snacks and other cooked dishes, so there is something for those who may not be in the mood for steamboat.

The menu also includes a selection of drinks, including Chinese tea, bottled drinks and their house-special drinks. So, even if seafood steamboat isn’t your only plan, there are still quite a few options to explore here.

Menu

A spontaneous JB trip that turned into a satisfying seafood feast! From fresh live seafood to the delicious seafood porridge, Laowang’s Steamboat was a fun find worth exploring with friends.

LaoWang's Steamboat
Location: Austin crest, 72, Jln Jaya Putra 7/8, Bandar Jaya Putra, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Malaysia

The Chicken Rice Shop

Despite making countless trips to JB over the years, The Chicken Rice Shop had never been on my radar. But as fate would have it, my friend decided to shortlist it for dinner this time, giving me the perfect chance to finally try it out.

The Chicken Rice Shop

Each of us went for our own individual set meal for one, which conveniently came with a 12oz drink included.

Drinks and Dessert

A wholesome, all-in-one set perfect for one person. It includes 2 pcs Nyonya Pai Tee, your choice of chicken (Steamed, Roast, Soy Sauce or Hainanese Curry), Ipoh bean sprouts or pak choy with oyster sauce, a bowl of fragrant chicken rice, soup of the day, a 12oz soft drink and a Rainbow Delight dessert.

Hainanese Chicken Rice Meal (1 Pax) - RM 19.690

Although the chicken looked appealing with its savoury seasoning and bed of cucumbers, it appeared a little underdone for our liking, showing some pinkness despite its otherwise inviting presentation.

Hainanse Chicken 

Nyonya Pai Tee also known as Kueh Pie Tee in Singapore, this version was a little lacklustre. The filling lacked aroma, and the pastry cups were soft rather than crisp, which took away from the usual crunch.

Nyonya Pai Tee

A complete and wholesome healthy meal featuring a single portion of chicken breast (choice of Steamed, Roast or Soy Sauce), one braised tofu and one braised egg, plus Ipoh bean sprouts or pak choy with oyster sauce, a bowl of chicken rice and soup of the day. The set also includes a drink (soya milk, Chinese tea or mineral water). We topped up RM3.90 to enjoy soft drinks instead.

Mighty Meal (1 Pax) - RM 21.90

If I were to compare with the Hainanese chicken, I would definitely prefer the roast. Overall, this chain’s chicken rice just didn’t fit our style, we prefer hot rice and aromatic chicken, but it was a far cry from any of our makcik’s chicken rice stalls back in Singapore.

Roast Chicken

The Chicken Rice Shop
Location: Bandar Dato Onn, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia, Floor 2. AEON Mall Bandar Dato' Onn
Website

Tasty Hotpot 回味锅

 A visit to Johor Bahru’s Taman Eko Botani for Tasty Hotpot – a hearty meal and a perfect spot for our gathering.

Tasty Hotpot

The restaurant exudes a modern yet cozy vibe with clean wooden lines, warm pendant lights, and marble finishes. 

Interior Furnishing

Booth seating adds comfort, while calligraphy on the walls brings a touch of tradition to the stylish space.

Diner's Seating

Like most hotpot restaurants, there’s a sauce station where diners can mix their own dips. What’s helpful here is the recommended sauce guide, neatly plastered on the wall for easy reference.

Sauce Station 

Here are the sauce mixtures we put together following the sauce guide: a vibrant mix of spice, aromatics, and nutty flavours that perfectly complement the hotpot.

Sauce Mixture

The restaurant uses a service robot to deliver dishes, stacking them neatly on its four-tier trays and gliding straight to the designated table.

Robot Helper

The dried sticks of Dao Xiao Mian were quite interesting. It was my first time trying noodles in stick form!

Dao Xiao Mian - RM 8

We also had Ee Mian and Soybean Rolls to go along with the hotpot.

Soybean Roll

Alongside our hotpot, we had a platter filled with tofu, meatballs, sausage slices, black fungus, vegetables, and mushrooms.

Platter with Mushrooms & Others

For seafood, we enjoyed a plate of fresh prawns as well as scallops served in their shells.

Prawns

Scallops 

We also savored their juicy pork cheese balls, which added a rich and flavorful bite to the meal.

Pork Cheese Balls

For the soup bases, we went with Garlic Chicken Soup, Pork Stomach Soup, Red Mala Soup, and Pork Bone Soup, a comforting variety to suit every taste.

Soup Base

Watermelon Grape Juice

While waiting for the food to cook in the soup base, we tried the Mala Fried Rice. It had a fiery kick, was fragrant with seasonings, and came with simple yet satisfying ingredients like eggs.

Mala Fried Rice - RM 10

Fried Golden Tofu - RM 8

The Fried Yam Balls were crispy on the outside, soft inside, and paired perfectly with a sweet condensed milk dip.

Fried Yam Ball - RM 12

Everything ended on a sweet note with a plate of fresh fruits, watermelon and guava slices, accompanied by traditional ice cream sticks.

Ending the Meal

Tasty Hotpot 回味锅 
Location: 51&51A, Jalan Eko Botani 3/4 Taman Eko Botani Iskandar Puteri, 79100 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Malaysia

5PM Lalapot 五点啦啦煲 (Sutera Utama)

I've been hearing quite a bit of buzz about Lalapot in Johor Bahru, with many claiming it's the better hotpot option. Intrigued by the hype, my friends and I decided to plan a day trip to Sutera Utama, with dinner at Lalapot set for 5 PM. I'm excited to see if it lives up to its reputation!

5PM Lalapot 五点啦啦煲

As we arrived at Lalapot, we noticed that the restaurant was quite empty. It suddenly dawned on me that their business name actually refers to their opening hours—they start operations at 5 PM. Stepping inside, I found the place to be spacious and well-suited for large groups, making it an ideal spot for gatherings. However, one pet peeve we encountered was an intermittent sour smell that occasionally lingered,

Restaurant Interior

In one corner of the restaurant, patrons can enjoy a free flow of condiments, including Hua Diao Wine, Sesame Oil, Dark Soy Sauce, Light Soy Sauce, Spring Onions, and more.

Condiments Area

Lalapot offers quite a variety of soup bases, leaving patrons spoilt for choice. If you're unsure which to pick, you can always opt for their Best Sellers, which include the Signature Soup, Flaming Mala Soup, Herbal Wine Prawn Soup, and Coconut Chicken Pot.

Our Spread

It’s become quite a trend for Lala Hotpot places to prepare their Lala in a special way, where the chef cooks them right in front of the patrons with a huge flame at the table. This not only attracts attention but also creates a memorable experience, with many patrons eager to capture the moment on video.

Fire from Hotpot

I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement when I spotted "炸蛋" (fried egg) on the table. Fried egg is always my favorite when it comes to enjoying hotpot, as it adds an extra layer of flavor to the soup.

Fresh Egg | 炸蛋 - RM 6

While most of the items we ordered required some time to be cooked and served, we decided to get the Fried Taiwanese Sausage to munch on while waiting for our hotpot. However, the taste of the sausage was quite different from what I had expected. Its flavor reminded me of "Lup Cheong"—the cured sausage typically used in Hong Kong-style Claypot Rice.

Fried Taiwanese Sausage | 炸台湾香肠 - RM 8

Looking at the marbled Pork Slice, I was amazed by the uniformity of the marbling. It looked so enticing, almost as if it was calling out, “Come! Eat me.”

Marbled Pork Slice | 松阪猪 - RM 15

All soup bases come with 1kg of S Class White Clams, adding a generous touch to the hotpot experience.

First Love Tomato Soup | 酸酸甜甜番茄汤 - RM 38

Before adding the rest of the food into the hotpot, we took out the cooked Lala to make space for the other ingredients. Just imagine the tangy sweetness of the tomato soup infused with the natural seafood sweetness from the Lala—an irresistible combination.

Lala

Next, let’s give their handmade shrimp paste a try! It’s always exciting to taste something made in-house—it adds a unique flavor to the hotpot.

Shrimp Paste | 招牌手打虾滑 - RM 15

Even after we were done with the hotpot, the charcoal heat didn’t go to waste. T

Biscuits and Marshmallow

hey took the claypot away but left the charcoal behind, giving us the chance to barbecue marshmallows—such a fun and delicious way to end the meal!

BBQ Marshmallow

It was a great idea to sandwich the barbecued marshmallow between two biscuits and enjoy it. The warm, gooey marshmallow paired perfectly with the crunchy biscuits, making for a delightful treat to round off the meal.

Marshmallow & Biscuits

Overall, I found the soup base to be to my liking. When comparing it to other similar hotpot restaurants a few doors away, I was quite surprised that 5pm Lalapot is the crowd's preferred choice. It definitely left a strong impression, and I can see why it’s so popular.

5PM Lalapot 五点啦啦煲 (Sutera Utama)
Location: 82, Sutera Tanjung 8/4, Taman Sutera Utama 81300 Skudai, 81300 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Malaysia