Hello foodies! I'm back after a lengthy absence. Not that I haven't been eating, I have been scoffing down food and reminiscing wonderful tastes but certain commitments had me tied down. From here onwards, I have vowed to myself to be more in track of my food blog to document my culinary adventures and share them with fellow diners out there too.
I seriously miss dining out especially during this MCO period so I'm going to relieve my experience of dining in one of Johor Bahru's top dining spots, Merah Kitchen & Bar. This restaurant located at Jalan Ibrahim looks unassuming at first. Your first impression would be of a tuck shop during colonial times with old biscuit tins and wooden structures. Flashy neon bulbs sign out the restaurant's name.
A flight of wooden stairs leads you to the dining area upstairs which has again retained a sense of antiquity. Wooden beams, exposed brick walls, mismatched loungers and rattan chairs with some neon lighting in strategic places reminds you of the comfort homes in years gone by. Even the tables are mahjong-themed with glass-enclosed mahjong tiles in them. The decor and atmosphere is quirky and adds to the charm of dining in Merah.
Let's hop into the food now! They have Japanese- and Korean-inspired dishes along with some local Malaysian delicacies. I was a bit apprehensive at first as normally an extensive menu meant a lack in quality and most often, taste. But I have to say, I'm left speechless by their exceptional food and very good customer service.
For starters, we ordered O.M.G Fried Oyster Mushrooms and Fried Mozzarella Sticks. The mushrooms were large and truly made me gasp, oh my god! Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, a dip in mayonnaise was all it needed to transform a humble vegetable into a decadent starter. My personal favorite was the Fried Mozzarella Sticks. Thick mozzarella sticks are coated with herb mashed potatoes than crumbed before frying into a golden crisp. Served with a cheesy sauce, it was a moreish comfort food that made my eyes twinkle.
I seriously miss dining out especially during this MCO period so I'm going to relieve my experience of dining in one of Johor Bahru's top dining spots, Merah Kitchen & Bar. This restaurant located at Jalan Ibrahim looks unassuming at first. Your first impression would be of a tuck shop during colonial times with old biscuit tins and wooden structures. Flashy neon bulbs sign out the restaurant's name.
A flight of wooden stairs leads you to the dining area upstairs which has again retained a sense of antiquity. Wooden beams, exposed brick walls, mismatched loungers and rattan chairs with some neon lighting in strategic places reminds you of the comfort homes in years gone by. Even the tables are mahjong-themed with glass-enclosed mahjong tiles in them. The decor and atmosphere is quirky and adds to the charm of dining in Merah.
Let's hop into the food now! They have Japanese- and Korean-inspired dishes along with some local Malaysian delicacies. I was a bit apprehensive at first as normally an extensive menu meant a lack in quality and most often, taste. But I have to say, I'm left speechless by their exceptional food and very good customer service.
For starters, we ordered O.M.G Fried Oyster Mushrooms and Fried Mozzarella Sticks. The mushrooms were large and truly made me gasp, oh my god! Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, a dip in mayonnaise was all it needed to transform a humble vegetable into a decadent starter. My personal favorite was the Fried Mozzarella Sticks. Thick mozzarella sticks are coated with herb mashed potatoes than crumbed before frying into a golden crisp. Served with a cheesy sauce, it was a moreish comfort food that made my eyes twinkle.
O.M.G. Fried Oyster Mushrooms
Fried Mozzarella Sticks
For main courses, we ordered Spicy Karaage, Fish Asam Pedas set and Chicken Rendang. We ordered three dishes to share among three people, but the generous portions made us pack some of the food back home at the end of the meal because we didn't want to waste such delicious food.
Spicy Karaage are bite-size chicken pieces which are batter-coated and fried. Then, it is tossed in spicy Korean gochujang paste (Korean red pepper paste) and sprinkled with sesame seeds. The taste was like eating fried chicken from one of those specialty Korean fried chicken establishments.
Next is the Chicken Rendang which was simply adored by my mother. Her favorite dish has always been rendang and it is very hard to satisfy her palate when it comes to this traditional Malay dish. This dish left a lasting impression on her palate meaning that it's given the thumbs up! Redolent of herbs like lemongrass and turmeric leaves, the spicy and thick gravy coating each piece of chicken was heaven in every bite.
My choice was the Fish Asam Pedas. My love affair with this dish started when I was a teen and I have certain expectations when it comes to this Johorean dish. My late dad used to bring me to Parit Jawa just to eat this dish as the area is famed for asam pedas. Eating asam pedas in Merah opened a floodbank of memories as the flavours were exactly the same as the asam pedas of Parit Jawa. The sour and spicy gravy was slightly thick with a thick slice of fresh red snapper. Served alongside this dish was a plate of rice with fried egg and lettuce. I didn't leave a drop of gravy in the bowl and ended up drinking the gravy once the last grain of rice on my plate was long gone😂.
From top left: Chicken Rendang, Spicy Karaage, and Fish Asam Pedas Set. Bottom: Raspberry Tea.
For drinks, I chose Raspberry Tea. Stop right there if you think it's a teabag in your glass. Freshly brewed raspberry tea is given a fruity twist in this refreshing cooler.
Dessert is a must after a meal so we shared a slice of Pandan Gula Melaka cake as by that time our stomachs were straining to pop out of our clothes. Soft spongy pandan cake layered with gula melaka buttercream and frosted with more gula melaka buttercream, it was a nice ending to a hefty meal. It was not too sweet so the flavor profile is more prominent.
All in all my dining experience was really memorable with the food definitely encouraging me to repeat orders in future. During this MCO period, Merah Kitchen & Bar is available on GalaEats for delivery. Without missing a beat, I ordered delivery from them on the 12th of May 2020 and was not left disappointed. Flavors were consistent and the same as when I dined in. Some special bento sets and combos are available for delivery during this MCO period so do give them a try.
Full-flavored food, generous portions and reasonable prices are what will make you clamor for Merah Kitchen & Bar's food. If you get a chance after the MCO, do dine-in for a rich experience and unforgettable memories.
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