Whenever I visit Malaysia, I always look for a good bowl of bak kut teh and my Malaysian friend highly recommended Restoran Bak Kut Teh Ah Peng (彬养生肉骨茶).
Singapore has plenty of bak kut teh restaurants, the Malaysian version is quite different. The biggest difference lies in the soup. Malaysian bak kut teh is typically brewed with a rich blend of Chinese herbs, creating a fragrant and deeply savoury broth. In contrast, Singapore’s bak kut teh is generally lighter in colour with a bold peppery kick. Both styles have their own loyal fans, but whenever I’m in Malaysia, I always make it a point to enjoy the traditional herbal version.
The biggest difference lies in the soup. Malaysian bak kut teh is typically brewed with a rich blend of Chinese herbs, creating a fragrant and deeply savoury broth. In contrast, Singapore’s bak kut teh is generally lighter in colour with a bold peppery kick. Both styles have their own loyal fans, but whenever I’m in Malaysia, I always make it a point to enjoy the traditional herbal version.
Our Orders at Restoran Bak Kut Teh Ah Peng
For our visit, we ordered quite a spread consisting of the herbal soup bak kut teh, dry bak kut teh, lettuce, braised sour vegetables, seafood tofu, and yam rice.
Herbal Soup Bak Kut Teh
The highlight of the meal was undoubtedly the herbal soup bak kut teh. As soon as it was served, I could smell its rich herbal aroma. The broth had a strong herbal flavour but was well balanced and not overpowering. It was also not overly oily, allowing the natural sweetness of the pork and herbs to come through.
Don’t forget to pair your bak kut teh with the condiments provided. The chopped garlic and chilli in soy sauce added extra flavour and gave the pork an even more delicious taste.
Dry Bak Kut Teh
The dry bak kut teh at Restoran Bak Kut Teh Ah Peng was equally enjoyable. Unlike the soup version, the pork was coated in a thick, savoury sauce made with dried chilli, soy sauce, and aromatic spices. Every piece was full of flavour with a mild spicy kick that wasn’t too strong. It paired perfectly with a bowl of rice.
Yam Rice
Most people would probably choose plain white rice to soak up the delicious sauce, but this time I decided to order their yam rice from Restoran Bak Kut Teh Ah Peng instead. The yam rice was fragrant and fluffy. It paired really well with both the herbal soup bak kut teh and the dry bak kut teh. However, I think the dry bak kut teh would taste even better with plain white rice, as it lets the rich and savoury sauce stand out more.
Braised Sour Vegetables
Another dish that stood out at Restoran Bak Kut Teh Ah Peng was the braised sour vegetables. The sourness was incredibly bold and pronounced, making it one of the strongest-tasting versions I’ve had. Personally, I really enjoyed its tangy flavour as it helped cut through the richness of the bak kut teh. In fact, I found myself wishing I had ordered a bowl of plain white rice to enjoy alongside it. That said, if you aren’t a fan of strong sour flavours, this dish may be a little too intense for your palate.
Lettuce
The lettuce was simple but fresh and crunchy. It added a nice balance to the meal and was a good choice to enjoy in between the richer dishes.
Seafood Tofu
One side dish I like most is seafood tofu at Restoran Bak Kut Teh Ah Peng. It was crispy on the outside and soft, moist on the inside. The seafood filling added extra sweetness and flavour, making every bite delicious. It was so tasty that we finished the whole plate in no time. This is definitely one dish I would highly recommend ordering.
To complete the meal, we enjoyed a pot of hot Chinese tea, which helped cleanse the palate and balanced the richness of the bak kut teh perfectly.
Is Restoran Bak Kut Teh Ah Peng Worth Trying?
Overall, Restoran Bak Kut Teh Ah Peng certainly lived up to the recommendation. From the fragrant herbal broth and flavour-packed dry bak kut teh to the delicious seafood tofu and memorable sour vegetables, every dish delivered plenty of flavour.
If you’re planning a trip to Johor Bahru, be sure to check out my other Johor Bahruhttps://www.crazyfoodgia.com/tag/johor-bahru/ food reviews for more delicious places to eat and hidden gems to add to your itinerary. You can also follow Crazyfoodgia on TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram.
Location:
10, Jalan Setia 3/2, Taman Setia Indah, 81100 Johor Bahru,
Johor Darul Ta'zim, Malaysia
You can find directions on HERE
Operating Hours:
Mon to Sun 10:30AM - 9:30PM
