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

Canton Route 廣東道

Canton Route is conveniently located near Grocer Jaya, which we visited during one of our trips to Johor.

Canton Route

Canton Route offers a variety of Dim Sum and Cantonese dishes, including claypot rice and Chee Cheong Fun. Join us to experience authentic Cantonese flavours!

Canton Route

The Crispy Tofu at Canton Route comes in a plate of five, with a little red flag signaling that it's a must-try dish. At first, the fried dried chili in the presentation made me think the dish would be very spicy, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it wasn’t spicy at all. The tofu itself was crispy on the outside, adding a nice crunch.

Crispy Tofu 金牌脆皮豆腐 - RM 9.90

The Stir-Fried Turnip Cake with Garlic and Chili at Canton Route was served in cubes, each coated with garlic and chili. I found it quite fragrant and unique in style—definitely another must-try dish. The balance of garlic and chili really enhanced the turnip cake, making it a flavorful treat!

Stir-Fried Turnip Cake with Garlic and Chili 避风塘炒萝卜糕 - RM 13.90

The Steamed Spare Ribs at Canton Route looked visually appealing, but I personally wished the ribs had a bit more meat on them. That said, the dish was complemented perfectly by the well-balanced Black Bean sauce, which added depth and flavor to the overall experience.

Steamed Spare Ribs with Black Bean Sauce 豉汁蒸鲜排骨 - RM 7.90

Those Signature Portuguese Egg Tarts sound amazing! The combination of flaky layers and caramelized, fragrant fillings is irresistible.

Signature Portuguese Egg Tart - RM 8.90

Surprised by the sweeter twist to the meat sauce. The sauce generously coated the springy thin yellow noodles, giving the dish a unique flavor. Though the sweetness was unexpected, I found myself comparing it to the non-sweet versions I'm more accustomed to.

Cantonese Meat Sauce Noodles 炸酱面 - RM 12.90

We tried their popular traditional Guangzhou Siu Mai, made with premium pork, fresh shrimp, and secret seasonings. The thin skin encases rich, juicy fillings, making each bite flavorful and satisfying.

Traditional Guangzhou Siu Mai 廣州鲜肉烧卖 - RM 6.90

The plump and juicy oil dumplings looked incredibly tempting. Their taste seemed catered and localized, as they weren't overwhelmingly oily. The vinaigrette paired perfectly with the sweet fillings, making each bite irresistibly addictive.

Sichuan Red Oil Dumplings 红油鲜味水饺 - RM13.90

The Guangdong Prosperity Chicken was addictive! Tender shredded drunken chicken mixed with roasted peanuts, vinaigrette, red onions, coriander, and a sprinkle of sesame made for a flavorful and refreshing dish.

Guangdong Prosperity Drunken Chicken 廣东道风生水起捞鸡 - RM 15.90

The luminous orange crust on the crispy polo bun was alluring. Flaky and crusty as the knife sliced through it.

God of Cookery Crispy Pineapple Bun 黯然销魂脆皮菠罗包 - RM6.90

With the fluffy bun and balanced sweetness of the filling, it was a delightful treat without being overly sweet.

Fillings of the Buns

The Smiling Char Siu Bun was soft and pillowy, with the pau perfectly cradling the juicy, sweet Char Siu meat.

Smiling Char Siu Bun (2 pieces) 笑口常开叉烧包 - RM 10.90

 I really appreciate this style as it gives you a nice textural bite from the filling—way better than the minced versions you often find at other pau places.

Char Siu Fillings

The Claypot Rice with juicy chicken thigh at Canton Route was surprisingly good! It had a fragrant aroma that stood out, and the style was different from the usual Singaporean version, offering a refreshing twist.

Claypot Rice with Juicy Chicken Thigh 鸡腿肉煲仔饭 - RM15.90

The Tofu Pudding at Canton Route had a flawless texture, which was impressive on its own. But what really elevated the dessert was the Red Bean Pearl. 

Red Bean Pearl Tofu Pudding 红豆爆珠豆腐花 - RM 7.90

The red bean had a unique coating, and when you bit into it, it would bubble burst in your mouth, adding an extra layer of fun and flavour to the dish.

Tofu Pudding

Thanks pal for the arrangement and for extending the invitation

Our Orders

Considering the quality and variety of dishes at Canton Route, I find that it’s more than enough to satisfy our cravings. The spread offers something for everyone, and each dish brings something special to the table.

Canton Route 廣東道
Location: Austin International Convention Centre - AICC
                2, Jalan Austin Heights 8/7, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru,
                Johor Darul Ta'zim, Malaysia