Jia Bin Klang Bak Kut Teh (嘉宾 巴生肉骨茶) @ Rangoon Road - Family Restaurant From Seremban, Malaysia Opens Outlet In Singapore

Are you a fan of white or black bak kut teh? More accurately peppery or herbal style bak kut teh? If you are the latter, then you probably should check out Jia Bin Klang Bak Kut Teh (嘉宾 巴生肉骨茶) at Rangoon Road. It originated from Seremban, Malaysia and now the family has brought the klang style bak kut teh to Singapore.

Jia Bin Bak Kut Teh 4/5

The signature here has to be the Jia Bin Bak Kut Teh ($8.80 small / $17.50 Large). The pot of dark coloured herbal soup comes with items such as pork belly, tau pok, pig stomach and pig intestine. The soup itself has a mild herbal taste while not too overpowering. I dislike those that has the strong "干甜 (Gan Tian)" taste, hence I find this has the right balance which will be more acceptable to most diners in Singapore/

You Tiao 4.2/5

Salted Vegetable 3/5

To complete the enjoyment of the bak kut teh, one can also order some sides like the You Tiao ($2.50) and Salted Vegetable ($3.50) to go along. I definitely recommend the you tiao to soak up the delicious soup.

Jia Bin Dry Bak Kut Teh 4/5

Besides the soup version, it also offers a dry version on the menu. The Jia Bin Dry Bak Kut Teh ($8.80) comes in a sweet reduced dark sauce. It is pretty good but we could help comparing it with Soon Huat's dry verson which is more flavourful because of the addition of chilli and dry cuttlefish.

Jia Bin Hua Diao Wine Chicken 4.2/5

Stepping into the restaurant, I could already smell the fragrant Hua Diao Wine in the air. It actually comes from the Jia Bin Hua Diao Wine Chicken ($8.80). It definitely allured us to order one to try. All of us enjoyed the tender chicken cooked in the sweet dark sauce, perfumed by the aromatic Chinese wine.

Jia Bin Spicy Pork Belly 3.5/5

After all the sweetness, maybe you want to try the Jia Bin Spicy Pork Belly ($8.80) to spice up the meal a little. It uses pork belly slices cooked in a spicy sweet sauce instead. I thought the cut was a bit thin which did not feel quite satisfying and substantial compared to the chunky pork belly cuts used in the bak kut teh.

Choy Sim With Oyster Sauce 3.5/5

With all the meats, the Choy Sim With Oyster Sauce ($5) is a good choice to complement the meal for a balanced diet.

Pig's Hock 4.2/5

Not to be missed is the Pig's Hock ($10). I simply could not resist the seduction of the wobbly gelatin skin and tender meat in braising sauce. It definitely hits the soft spot of me for the dish, done right. This is one dish I will go back for.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Jia Bin Klang Bak Kut Teh (嘉宾 巴生肉骨茶)
62 Rangoon Road
Singapore 218352
Tel: +65 69007708
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Nearest MRT: Farrer Park (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon, Wed-Fri: 10am - 3pm, 5pm - 10pm
Sat-Sun: 10am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Farrer Park MRT station. Take Exit B. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time 3 minutes. [Map]

You Kee XO Restaurant (有记XO烧腊之家) @ Joo Chiat Place - Lip Smacking Crystal BBQ Pork Belly Char Siu From Johor Bahru Opens First Outlet In Singapore

For foodie that frequent Johor Bahru, you will probably heard of You Kee XO Restaurant (有记XO烧腊之家) known for its tonic soup and roasted meats. I have visited You Kee XO twice during my trip across the causeway. I am glad to announce that they have recently opened a new outlet and their first outside Johor Bahru in Singapore, Joo Chiat Place.

The first thing you will notice when you step into the restaurant is the two giant earthen urns. This is their signature earthen urns that is used to boil the tonic soup under constant charcoal fire for more than 10 hours.

Tonic Soup 4.5/5

Everyday there is 1 to 2 type of Tonic Soup ($12) on the menu and limited to around 100 portions. One can taste the depth of the soup from the extraction of the ingredients through the long hours of slow cooking the soup. I can still remember the slogan of their tonic soup - 男人的加油站， 女人的美容院.

XO Signature Roasted Duck 3.8/5

Traditional Roasted Pork Belly 4/5

Crystal BBQ Pork Belly Char Siu 4.2/5

Another signature at You Kee XO is their roasted meats. We tried the XO Signature Roasted Duck ($8/$13.80/$15.80), Traditional Roasted Pork Belly ($6.80) and Crystal BBQ Pork Belly Char Siu ($9.80). My favourite is still their char siu for the glittering exterior sweetness and the crystal fatness. You can't hardly find this type of standard in Singapore. For the roasted duck and roasted pork belly, they are noteworthy but better ones elsewhere. Other roasted items available at the restaurant are suckling pig, roasted chicken, Pei Pa duck, as well as pork sausage Hong Kong style.

Ginger Onion with Slice Fish 3/5

Besides the tonic soup and roasted meat, You Kee XO also offers a selection of cooked dishes. We managed to try a couple of them such as the Ginger Onion with Slice Fish ($6.80) and Handmade Signature Bean Curd ($8.80).

Handmade Signature Bean Curd 4/5

I remembered having the Handmade Signature Bean Curd back in my trip across the causeway. Great to see that the dish is available on the menu. The dish is also known as volcano beancurd because it is served sizzling hot with the sauce bubbling like volcano eruption. The homemade beancurd is smooth and silky with additional textures from the greens and pork floss.

Steamed Fish Tail with Green Ginger Paste

You Kee XO also offers steamed fish on the menu. I didn't try it this time but I have a look at the menu and the same dish I tried last time, Steamed Fish Tail with Green Ginger Paste ($21.80) is available on the menu too. The remember the special green ginger paste together with the soy sauce complements the fish meat excellently.

In fact, the menu at the Singapore branch is exactly the same as in Malaysia. I secretly hope that they can sell their almond bak kwa next Chinese New Year. Finger crossed.


You Kee XO Restaurant (有记XO烧腊之家)
43 Joo Chiat Place
Singapore 427767
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Nearest MRT: Dakota (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 1030am - 3pm, 5pm - 9pm
Sat-Sun & PH: 1030am - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Dakota MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at block 99 (Stop ID 81181). Take bus number 33. Alight 5 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Bedok MRT station. Take Exit B or C. Walk to Bedok Bus Interchange (Stop ID 84009). Take bus number 33. Alight 11 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 20 minutes. [Map]