Kway Teow Kia and Pork Offal, Johor Bahru

How do I begin to describe this place?

For starters, I am not from Johor Bahru. I could not find my way around even if I had a GPS because the roads are rather confusing. I totally had to rely on my colleagues to take me to eat the “legendary spare-parts of the pig” at this famous road side hawker.

Affectionately known as “kway teow kia” (mini/small kwey teow) this description is of the flat white rice noodles that accompanies the pig’s intestines and other delectable offal that comes with this dish. The kway teow is far smaller than the ones you get in Kuala Lumpur, hence the nickname “kway teow kia” , kia meaning small or little. The location of this famous stall is near the Stulang Laut area, and near Taman Pelangi. If you want to fine tune the directions some more, then this place is just next to the infamous San – Lou ( 3 storey apartments).

OK, that’s all I can tell you about the location of this place. The rest you will have to find out from a local JB-ian;)

Yes, if you have ever eaten kway teow kia before, then you must be a die-hard fan like I am, and know that it is similar to the kuey chap in Penang or Kuala Lumpur, including all the little piggy organs and spareparts. The difference is instead of the retangular “kway teow” that is used in kuay chap, kway teow kia uses small bite size, super thin, silky and flat kuey teow (flat chinese rice noodle). It is served in a bowl of delicious herbal-like soy-base soup, very similar to bakuteh. The accompanying mixed plate of braised goodies – portions of hard boiled egg, pig intestines, stomach, ears, neck and innards, taufu pok (bean curd puffs) and pig skin is simply to die for. You could say that the Pig, really put his best foot forward.

This place is closed on alternate Tuesdays. Opening hours are 0930 – 2000hrs. I very much appreciated the subtle chewiness of the cartilaginous parts of the pigs ears and neck. You could say that the Pig really stuck his neck out.

Squiggly intestine

hard boiled eggs

Do you want to taste my piggy unmentionables?

“I just want to feel.. safe in my own skin”.. says dido the pig

chewy skin

twisted intestines

If piggy spare parts and offal are not your thing, you can always have the curry laksa just opposite the Kway Teow Kia stall.

greasy and heavenly.. you can opt for as much stuff/ingredients (liao) that your bowl will permit you to take

The endless supply of thick coconut based curry laksa soup/broth

The curry is a coconut-based curry soup. The main ingredients for most versions of curry laksa include bean curd puffs, fish sticks, shrimp and cockles. Oo.. the cockles are a MUST. Some vendors add chicken to their laksa. Laksa is commonly served with a spoonful of sambal chilli paste and garnished with coriander, or laksa leaf, which is known in Malay as daun kesum. The black fish balls are legendary here – you must order them. And the white fishballs are not bad either. Quails eggs are my absolute favourite and I always add tons of these.

Over here, you just need to follow your heart, and pick as many types of ingredients that your hungry tummy moves you to pick. Beware, you will need to pay the price and exercise doubly hard tomorrow. But tomorrow, as they say, is another day.