Souper Tang @ City Square — Restaurant in Johor

I dine there in Dec, on a weekday. The mall was super crowded because of school holidays and of course a lot of diners from travellers and tourists. We went in just before 6pm. To start off, we were pretty upset when almost 40% of the items were out even due the dinner service for the evening had only start to begin. After we came in, and maybe another couple of customers more, the queue started to build up and there were still lots of empty tables. Then the manager at the cashier started to tell customers in queue, in a slightly loud voice (so that everyone in queue can hear) that if they were prepared to dine in, please expect a wait since there was manpower shortage. I think that is reasonable to do but i think it become unpleasant from me to continue and hear him tell the customers that there were 2 people in the kitchen and 1 service staff servicing the customers. I think as far as customer service is concerned, this was too much details and become of a ranting. Of course, i understand the manager's frustration because he was faced with this situation. He was equally helpless. I was probably more upset with how the Management run the restaurant at this location knowing that it is a prime mall and traffic is high. It only goes to show the poor planning by the management which is no fault of the staff. Staff shouldn't be felt they were alone to handle all these.

The other part was that they have a dedicated staff wearing red shirt focusing 100% on servicing the retail front. That staff acted like she was 100% on retail and restaurant matters were none of her concerns. I understand if she was on commission and doing extra work for the restaurant side won't do her any good but it did not reflect well on restaurant customers like me, waving my hand silly at her and getting an unfriendly response at all. She was also oblivion to the long queue that formed right in front of retail and continued to serve her customers. In an in between moment of rest where retail customers left after purchase, I am surprised when she boosted to the manager on how much sales she secured within 30 mins and sounded self-impressed. All these are good but i think it shouldn't be done in front of eating customers like us when I had to endure looking at the helpless long queue of people outside, staring at empty tables, me not ordering the food i want and lastly watching a boastful conversation from someone who ignored me when i asked for service.

I always love Souper Tang food but i will never ever visit this...

Disclaimer: sorry I did eat some food and then took the photo, my bad.

Total price : 240 ringgit ( including the lemonade with enzyme)

I didnt fabricated anything, it is exactly as how it went.

Went on Saturday 19th April 2025, around 12.30pm. Clearly almost everywhere is crowded because it's lunch hour.

Went in as there was no queue, but the restaurant was fairly crowded, and stepped outside to wait for someone to perhaps notice us and let us in since I didn't wanted to just barge in.

But I saw a worker but definitely an auntie from my perspective using phone and wasn't sure watching something or what, but heads down and engrossed on it while manning the entrance. 🤔 so I just approached and asked if there was table for two, which a lady guided us.

So we sat down and choose the menu and went onto order. Clearly understaffed. There are around 20 tables with 2-3 staff serving and taking orders.

So we had to caught the attention of the young female staff to take our order and she wrote it down and went to take another person's order and we waited afterwards.

Past 20 minutes no one came down to check on us or serve our food. So given that I've been in FnB, I gave the benefit of doubt, and just checked in with the same lady to perhaps pass us the order invoice and she told her she will get it but another 10 minute she breeze past us and didn't give us anything.

I don't mean to say anything bad, but it got me wandered, what could be the problem.

So we got the guy staff instead to check, and he got back to us stating that we didn't order anything and asked who took our order and when we shared, he just shook his head, so I guess he knew it as well.

Then we got our food.

As you can see in the photo, I got to say, the soup good. Everything else, pretty much suck. I gotta be honest. This place has some great soup and really I feel it's worth it. But everything else it's very questionable.

Also, it's seems specialised in soup, yet only when we are ready to order, the staff tell us 80% of the soup wasn't available? And it was only 12.30pm so if most of it is not available, what are they selling exactly???

Usually in msia, I don't get such unpleasant experience in terms of food, but this place wasn't beyond acceptable.

You can be the judge, and if you want soup, I'd recommend, but everything else, haha...it's entirely up to you.

I think they do excel at photo...

This is my second visit to Souper Tang, recommended by my Singaprean buddy. Last visit I was at Southkey branch. I was very impressed by this famous imperial soup place and fantastic dishes with a distinctive Souper Tang style that makes you want to come and quench your curiosity how other soups and dishes may taste! I brought my Dad and colleague to try Souper Tang at City Square outlet, before we head back to Singapore. We mark Souper Tang as a must visit dinner venue to complete our JB getaway. We ordered the Seafood Soup and the Yellow Wine Ginger Chicken as you just can't miss the fragrance in the air as we walked to our indoor table near the balcony. The very delicious side dishes are a hit at RM9-11. Even the side dishes live up to imperial class as I won't miss ordering side dishes to try every time I am at Souper Tang! My favorite is the thinly sliced sticks of Japanese cucumber with well-minced crispy fish bits and black and white sesame seeds. It has an interesting taste like that of tasty dried shrimps without chili and salt. We simply love this thoughtfully done side dish. We requested for least salt (or even no salt if possible) to try the ingredients at its original taste. We are certainly not disappointed. We will be back to try the chef's recommendation - black chicken with black garlic and american ginseng and more dishes on our next visit to JB for sure. Thanks for the lovely gesture of offering us beancurd dessert. We are so satisfied with the main dishes and soups we are too full so please pardon us for refusing but dearly appreciate the hospitality of the warm-hearted staff. Souper Tang City Square outlet has a great Kampong spirit in its typically contemporary classy and posh decor. It is such a pleasure dining here. Your chef's fine culinary skills have...