Kim Heng HK Roasted Meat (金兴香港烧腊), Serangoon Ave 4

It's been a while since the last visit to Kim Heng. I'm glad that everything was still as good as I remember it. This time round, the rice has gotten a little fluffier which is a good thing. I'm still not really keen on their sauces, but the meats are pretty much good on their own. And Botak Jones is no longer around it seems.

Restoran See Hai 101 (新四海101海鲜楼), Taman Sentosa, Johor Bahru

A co-worker recommended this place (33 Jalan Sutera, Taman Sentosa, 80150 Johor Bahru) to me for the day trip to JB. Even though I have been in this vicinity multiple times over the past years, I've never really gotten the location figured out until now, having recognized the Sri Tebrau food centre nearby.

Food was pretty decent. It's the ambiance that cannot be found back home any more. 

Those spicy sticks on the grill were cheap and tasty while the lou shi fun tasted comforting and home styled. I hadn't had fun eating crayfish in a while and these were really fresh and easily stripped off the shells. The nai you floss were pretty good. I'm not sure how are they made. They tasted slightly sweet, a little savoury and eggy with texture almost akin to pork floss scented lightly with curry leaves. Avoid the scallops with the stir fried kailan. The kailan was okay but the scallops were pretty much devoid of the proper texture and flavour. I wouldn't have been surprised if they had told me it was made of flour. 

I don't mind coming back but I think I might give the next door a try the next time to see if they're any better.

Canton-i, City Square, Johor Bahru

The main reason why we dropped by Canton-i (Lot J1-22 & J2-31, Johor Bahru City Square, 106 & 108, Jalan Wong Ah Fook) was for their char siew. In retrospect, that honey marinated and caramelized strip of barbecued pork with wobbly soft fat married with bitter accent of burnt ends was probably the only thing that we would ever be coming back for. Good stuff.

We did order some dim sum which I hadn't bothered with photos. Most of them were unexpectedly mediocre for Hong Kong styled food. Their har gao was sad and their fish maw low in quality. Special mention goes to the noodles with prawn roe which was nothing like what we imagined. I'm not sure what's the deal with the squares of sliced carrots and canned mushrooms that was thrown in with that gloopy sauce. This rendition appeared to be a mediocre knock off of a simple noodle dish. We know where to find better.

More of that ban mian from Toa Payoh Central...

This would be the "Chinese tagliatelle" option for noodles. So to speak. I'm more favourably disposed towards ee mee which was more toasty over this noodle which was slightly floury tasting. I'm not saying that I dislike this bowl, I just prefer the other much more. The ingredients as usual, are generous and good.

Luke's Oyster Bar & Chop House, Robinsons Orchard

I've been waiting for the opening of this new outfit of Luke's Oyster Bar & Chop House (#03-02, Robinsons Orchard, 260 Orchard Road, tel : +65 6733 4813) for a while and it's finally happened.

Honestly, I'm as impressed with this place as the original one down at Gemmill Lane. Even after the anticipation.

The Bloody Mary was one of the better ones I recall having while the starter of their crab cakes were delicious and packed with flavours of both the crab and the spices. Now, those were indeed a balance of flavours. 

I could go on about the nicely salted bits of lobster wedged in the heavily buttered and toasted rolls. Or the crusty & crisp on the outside beef patty with perfect (I'm entitled to this word) dusky pink medium doneness from their burger which seemed better than I last remember them. This one, is ahead of the little beast at Morton's on the flavour and is, I daresay again, one of the best few burgers one can get in this country. I recommend them without the additional kurobuta bacon because I think that the bacon does absolutely nothing making it any better.

And yes, I'm not forgetting that subtle stout shake that came with chocolate chip filled soft baked cookies.

Gyoza-ya, Robinsons Orchard

This was the newest shop (#B1-02 Robinsons Orchard, 260 Orchard Road, tel : +65 6737 5581) set up by the home grown Akashi Group. Of course they do gyoza. And what kind of gyoza? Apparently ones with ingredients imported from Japan, machine filled and crimped upon order so everything is freshly made.

Their gyozas were actually pretty good. The exterior of the dumpling was crisp; fillings were tender, juicy and it was all sufficiently flavoured. We tried the yaki ebi, yaki buta and even a sui buta ones. What was was mediocre was the fried rice. Nowhere close to the standards of some of the good ones that can be found in town. Enjoyed that bean sprout dish with minced meat. The tori nankotsu which was salty and crunchy.

With prices at Akashi going visibly northwards, I guess Gyoza-ya looks to be bucking some of that trend. Some. Let's hope it lasts at least for those gyozas. To footnote, I actually found the entire experience at the Gyoza King much more satisfying and less costly.