Thamara Cafe at Taman Bukit Indah Part 2 (Halad / Second Link Exit 308 then 307c from Highway)

Daddy's Birthday. As he has never travelled via second link, I decided to bring him to Bukit Indah for a Birthday Lunch before going to Permas Jaya for his Birthday Dinner. As it seems, the best choice in Bukit Indah, Thamara Cafe......  For further information on this eatery, go to this link.




Beef Sirloin in Black Pepper Sauce

Lamp Shank for me

Fish and Chips for Mum.
Never heard her praising this dish for a long time.
Wake up, Singapore's Hawkers!



Amazing blending of cheese and wedges.



Yogurt Drink for Wifey.

As usual, the friendly boss took some time out to speak to me after the meal. I realised that he used to work in Singapore and served corporate cilents as a cook. It seems strange to me then, even in a certain Orchard Road hotel, which charges me $300 for a fish and chips, a fried rice and a curry bread as well as two coffees, I can't seem to find this quality of perfection in food and hospitality displayed by Thamara. Seriously, sometimes, I really feel silly eating in our Sunny Island's restaurants. Check out my Daddy's Birthday Dinner and you will know why I am ranting....

Overall Damage (including 2 coffees and a chicken chop for my wife) :

SING$30. 

Restoran Yi Bao (Non-Halal/Mee Hoon Kueh)

Are you sick of the "Ban Mian" or "Disguised Mee Hoon Kueh" served by our foodcourts? No offence to anybody but I am really sicked of the "thick" and "disgusting" Ban Mian served by our imported cooks. The only solution I have, head straight to JB's Restoran Yi Bao for the real authentic taste of "Mee Hoon Kueh". 


The eatery offers one of the best 'Mee Hoon Kueh' in JB. It is the only dish served in the restaurant. It's pieces of flour/noodles are cooked to perfection in a thick, tantalising soup consisting of meatballs, mincemeat, money-plant, fragrantly deep-fried anchovies(Ikan-Bilies) and egg. My seventy year old Grandmother-in-law commented that the use of money plant brings out the traditional taste of the dish. The restaurant usually has large crowds of office-going workers during lunch hours and on weekends.

 Information

Address : 5 Jalan Maju (across the street from Plaza Pelangi).

Opening Hours : Open Mon to Sun (930am to 8pm), closed on Thu.

Signature dishes:  Mee Hoon Kueh (Small bowl 4 RM, big bowl 5 RM. Drinks 1 to 1.80 RM). Remember to order extra anchovies, it is really crispy and sedap!

Humble Eatery

Always crowded even at tea-break time

Nearby is Pelangi Leisure Mall

Do not look down on their chilli,
it is "powerpack" of hotness. 

Must order the Barley,
it is so concentrated,
I swear I can even spill out the Barley Seeds

I ordered additional 4 sets of anchovies!
If the boss allows, I would have ordered
one whole packet home.

Noodles, Yummy!

MEE HOON KUEH EXCELLENCY!



DAMAGE : 3 Bowls, 3 Barleys, 4 sets of Ikan Bilies
SING$8 !!!!  

Nasi Lemak Senibong (Halal/Kampung Senibong)

Kampung Senibong is a remote Malay village in Permas Jaya overlooking the Strait of Johor and Sembawang. A former fishing village, it is now a thriving Malay seafood village. However, what brings everyone from all over Johor and Singapore is Nasi Lemak Senibong.


Nasi lemak Senibong is so famous in Johor Bahru (JB) even wikitravel has an entry about it as one of the best Nasi Lemak in JB. Try searching the internet for JB's Best Nasi Lemak and they will point you to Nasi Lemak Senibong. 


But, I must admit that I would say our Punggol Nasi Lemak and Power Nasi Lemak at Boon Lay Market are better in service and taste. I have to wait so long for the other dishes that the Nasi Lemak turn cold and sticky.  However, it is worth a visit for the ambience and experience of eating at a Kelong overlooking Sembawang shipyard. Other than that, it is definitely better to travel to Boon Lay to try Power Nasi Lemak. Still, let me make the introduction.....

Information

Address : Kg. Senibong, Mukim Plentong, Johor Bahru

Opening Hours : 5 pm to 12:30 am daily 

Tel : +013 773 3523

Signature dish description: 

• Fragrant Rice cooked in Coconut Milk.
• Fried egg, Vegetable, Keropok and Chicken. (Chicken comes in 3 different flavours: Rendang, Goreng and Sambal.) 
• Sambal, Spicy gravy and Peanut dip sauce which is mildly spicy with sweet taste.

Kampung Senibong. A relaxing Fishing Village

Malay Seafood Restaurants

Limited Parking Space and a parking fee of RM 2

Nasi Lemak Senibong!

Sideview of the kelong of Nasi Lemak Senibong

Great ambience eating Nasi Lemak in a Kelong

The scenery is just beautiful.....

People all over the country flocks here for the Nasi Lemak

Further evidence

Coconut Drink 

Lala in Sweet Sambal,  a must try!

"Burnt" Stingray. Sedap, fresh from the Sea!

Finally, the famous Johor Nasi Lemak after half an hour wait.

Damage : SING20 for 3 plates of Nasi Lemak (RM5 per plate), 
1 Lala, 1 Sting Ray and 3 Coconuts.

(Too expensive and too long the wait in my opinion. 

However, for the experience, it is quite worth the price and trip.)

Restoran Shoon Huat (Bak Ku Teh/Non-Halal)

For all Bak Ku Teh fans, you must come to Johor Bahru to try this outlet.


Our Sunny Island's Bak Ku Teh eateries always sell you a miserable bowl at $6 and packed with 3 miserable pieces of bone (Not meat, I emphasis BONES!). Even if they do not give us "BONES", do they give us Fish Maw, Golden Mushrooms and Baby Abalones? Forget I even ask..... :)


Welcome to Shoon Huat Bak Ku Teh which is a shop famous for its Claypot Bak Kut Teh, served with soup that has a light herbal taste, definitely more to my liking than those in peppery soup.

Information

Address : 11 Jalan Sutera 1, 80150   (3 to 4 shops after Bamboo Restaurant)

Opening Hours : Around 10a.m to 8 p.m. (Will confirm on the hours again)


Signature dishes: Claypot Bak Ku Teh, Wine Chicken and Pig Trotters

Look out for the red signboard... 
It is near Teck Seng Restaurant.

It is always packed with 
Singaporeans on Weekends!

Starters....

Ooh Lala! Look at the Fish Maw 
covering the "treasures" underneath....

Uncovering the treasures.....Pork Ribs, 
Golden Mushroom, Baby Abalone and more.

Pig Trotters!

Steamy hot Wine Chicken......

Suitable for a platoon of at least 5 person...

Total Damage : Sing$30. 
To Peppery Island Outlets : "Beat it!"

Thamara Cafe at Taman Bukit Indah. (Halad / Second Link Exit 308 then 307c from Highway)

For many of you who are skeptical about travelling to JB, I will highly recommend Bukit Indah for the following reasons,

• Relatively Crime Free, unlike JB City near the first link
• Clean and peaceful town with modern facilities
• "Infested" with Singaporeans. (A lot of retirees stays there)
• Little chance of jam as it is through 2nd link
• Lots of shopping with Tesco, Giant, Jusco  and Sutera Mall.
• Most importantly, good food and THAMARA CAFE!

I will "promote" Bukit Indah in another page, watch out for it soon...

Coming back to Thamara Cafe. I found out about the cafe from friends who visited it after reading reviews on the internet. This cafe is selling popular western cuisine (all day) and also Indian food(during lunch time). What is impressive about the cafe,

1. The boss is friendly and really serves with an excellent attitude
2. The food's presentation gives you the feeling that you are in the midst of fine dining....

Information

Address : 14 Jalan Indah 16/7

FACEBOOK : http://www.facebook.com/pages/ThamaraCafe/323728716026

Opening Hours : 11:30 am to 10:30 pm daily 

Signature dishes: Indian Food / Pasta / Western Food with  a weekly special at discounted price!

Look out for the green signboard! 
Beside it is an "atas" hairsalon, check it out!

Nice interior, I expected a Singaporean 
"Prata" shop kind of environment...Boss Serving a customer

The boss must be an avid food photography fan...

Chicken Chop with Black Pepper Sauce

Chicken Chop with Mushroom Sauce. 
Salad with Thousand Island

Grilled New Zealand Tenderloin

Salmon Fish with Citrus Sauce. Look at the presentation!

 Total Damage : Sing$35 with four drinks. OMG!

Restaurant Teck Sing (Non-Halal)

I must really recommend this restaurant in JB near Taman Sentosa. It is really cheap for an air-conditioned restaurant and serves excellent food. Most Singaporeans have forsaken the famous Bamboo Restaurant for their neighbour, Teck Sing. Even our Singapore food show "Yummy King" has highly recommended this eatery. My favorite dishes are Teck Sing Paper Baked Chicken 14RM and Curry fish head 25RM. It's fish head can safety beat any self-proclaimed Fish Head Curry King In Singapore! Check out my experience at this superb restaurant. 

Information

Address : 3 and 5, Jalan Sutera 1, Taman Sentosa

Website : http://www.tecksing.com/our_menu.htm

Opening Hours : 11:00 am to 10:00 pm daily 

Signature dishes: Teck Sing Paper Baked Chicken, Curry fish head and Shark fins with crab meat soup.

Restarant Teck Sing - Beside Bamboo Restaurant

Starter Dish - Watermelon

Signature dish 1 - Paper Dish Chicken

Black Bean and Chicken Feet Soup 

Hotplate with Tofu and egg 

Omelette, ordinary but delicious

Signature dish two - Curry Fish Head. Sedap! Must Try!

Look at the spread!

Total Damage : An amazing SING$35.