Kakilang Kopitiam ( 自己人美食閣） — Restaurant in Johor

This Kakilang Restaurant is now located 3 doors away at 8 Jln Abiad 1 JB since October 2024 JB from where It was previously located - at the corner of the same row of shops.

The number of stalls has reduced significantly and only two or three of the old stalls remains, namely the Wanton noodle ++ and Ming Kee roasted meat stall.

This is a review of Ming Kee Roasted Meat stall.

I have been patronising this stall in JB for more than 20 years and for a good reason. The char siew and roast pork is really good. So much so that I have almost never eaten these meat elsewhere. And I eat here quite almost every fortnight.

The meat are cooked to perfection with well charred edges of the char siew and crackling skin of the roast pork. The accompanying marinating sauce are thick and sweet.

Ming Kee also sells roasted chicken (edited on 24 Aug 2025: steamed chicken is also available) and it combines well with the roasted meat. However, for me, I feel that the breast meat is usually comes out a bit tougher than I would like. So I always order the chick-lower ( the red meat.) Which is spot on tender and juicy.

The chilli sauce matches well and one saucer served is often not enough for me.

They serve broken rice which is fragrant and not overly oily, so one can wolf down three bowls without feeling jilat.

But what brings me there over and over again is Ah Ming (the owner) who is very friendly and chatty and we usually having a lively chat when he is not too busy.

The Covid pandemic has hit many of these little hardworking stall holders hard and that he has survived the economic hardship that it brought is just an inspiring story in itself.

I will continue to patronise this stall for as long as I can ride my little two wheeler across the Causeway.

You should try it sometime or miss out on a great...

Was around the corner for the popular Spa Massage. Was there around 8pm, all the shops inside coffeshop was closed but there's some pushcart vendor around for the food.

Tried a few stuff, surprisingly good. Takoyaki - 4balls for 6RM , kinda love the flour mix, but cant seems to bites on any ingredient inside the balls. (Or too small i missed it.)

Satay - 1.20rm / stick AYAM. Good, but will prefer if its more charred. Sauce is very good !

BBQ Stingray - long wait, but worth while. Got a small one at 17RM. without rice. The chilli is really good, but spicyyyyyy !

Ayam Penyet , i will say the chili is quite authentic , very very similar to those that we tried in Indo. The chicken was well smashed also ! Everything is fried to perfection to me, at least. (I even dabao 2 more packet to SG)

Fried Rice Stall - tried jiaxiang fried rice, legit like mummy's fried rice you eat at home ! Not so bad, 8 RM ( for 1 pax , believe can ask for bigger portion la. )

Will definitely be back for the ayam penyet and...

Updated as at 19th March 2025. The same Kopitiam moved about 4-5 shops down the lane. Luckily the roast meat & char siew stall still around. Want to update this review to reflect this change. Still able to enjoy the thick thick succulent black black char siew.

Initial Review Giving very rave review for the dark honey char Siew. Came in to tabao the char Siew because heard that this stall that sells char Siew will not disappoint my taste buds.

Holly god, I’m not disappointed!! It’s fat, it’s juicy, it’s char, it’s sweet….all these just combo into your mouth. Every bite you take, you just go oooooohhhh….can’t wait for the chopstick to pick the next piece.

I would give 4.7/5. Will definitely remember this place and come back again to tabao the char siew to add dishes at...