When I was in Japan last week, I couldn’t stop thinking about bak kut teh and how delicious it would taste when consumed during winter. This herbal pot of porky goodness is already tasty when eaten in scorching hot weather and what more, when it’s below zero degrees?
This reminded me of the bak kut teh I tried in Johor Bahru but never got around to writing about it – Tian Hua Bak Kut Teh which is located down the road from the famous Soon Huat. Jien and I initially wanted to dine at Soon Huat but the place was a madhouse that weekend so we settled for Tian Hua instead.
Soup bak kut teh
Yau char kwai is a must when eating bak kut teh, I feel
Tian Hua serves dry bak kut teh and the soup version, with other accompanying dishes such as otak otak, tofu and steamed fish. We ordered the soup bak kut teh for two pax and a portion of house special tofu and otak otak to share.
While the broth colour is dark, it’s not as herbal or thick.
Truth be told, this bak kut teh is pretty average as the broth isn’t the thick, medicinal kind I enjoy. JB’s version of bak kut teh is lighter and less herbal so if you like your bak kut teh lighter in flavour, you’ll enjoy this more.
Otak otak
House special tofu
The otak otak was tasty enough but nothing to shout about – it’s basically the same frozen variety you can buy from Muar for home consumption. I did however enjoy the house special tofu, deep-fried and served with chilli sauce for more kick.
Overall, the food was average at best but if memory serves me right, Soon Huat’s version isn’t that much tastier. It is also lighter than I like it to be. If you’re in the area and don’t want to wait too long for a table, give Tian Hua Bak Kut Teh a try. 😉
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Ambiance: 5.5/10
Price: 6/10
Food: 5.5/10 (non-halal)
Verdict: Nothing great but if you’re craving bak kut teh in JB, this is an option.
Tian Hua Bak Kut Teh
2, Jalan Keris 2,
Taman Sri Tebrau,
80050 Johor Bahru.
Tel: 016-780 3304
Business hours: 11am till 3am
(closed Wednesday)