REVISITING WARONG BUNDA FOR THE THIRD TIME WITH ANOTHER TESL FRIEND [AND HER HUSBAND]

   24TH OCTOBER 2026    ~ Puan Hayati Ismail [a friend of UPM TESL Class of 1993] and her husband were in Johor Bahru [with their kids]. A breakfast date was set with the parents and she wanted it to be at Warung Bunda, the place where I had taken other TESL friends before.

I arrived there at 7:30 a.m. and there was already a large crowd occupying all the tables in the main eating area. Fortunately, there were still a few left at one part of the eating place.

Visitors could easily be impressed by the wide array of choices they had in the room where all the food was put on the counters.

Lontong Kering/Darat

everything mixed up

Lontong Kuah

Kuih-muih

We, on the other hand, were not extravagant with the amount of food taken for breakfast.

We could not stay too long in the restaurant as there were people standing everywhere, newcomers eyeing for empty seats. It was always my pleasure to entertain friends from near and far over meals and hopefully we could do this some other time, either here or in Kuala Lumpur/Selangor area.

Warong Bunda's Visit #1 and Visit #2

THERE IS ALWAYS A FIRST TIME FOR BREAKFAST AT PASAR TANI LARKIN

I had been eyeing this eating place. Today, I managed to get Puan Maslinda Mohd. Dahalan, a friend of UPM TESL class of 1993 from Kuala Lumpur, to go there with me. The venue was at Pasar Tani Kekal [TRANSLATE: Permanent Farmer's Market] in Larkin.

We were there at about 9:30 a.m. so there were not many people having breakfast.

Mee Bandung

Lontong Kuah

There were many food stalls and one might be spoiled for choice. I now know of a new place for breakfast when friends are here in Johor Bahru.

HAVING BREAKFAST AT WARUNG MAK PAH FOR THE FIRST TIME

There was this eating place called Warung Mak Pah near my house. This stall was quite popular as a few people who stayed far away from this are had mentioned to me saying good food for breakfast was served here. Finally, for the first time in my life, I set foot just to validate the statement.

I tried its Lontong and found that the gravy too thin and the "sambal" [ground chili] too sweet. I know where I could get better Lontong. Perhaps, I should try other breakfast food next time.

This was the second time my niece came to get breakfast with me, while waiting for her boys playing football somewhere else. I will have to think of other place to suggest her next time.

MY HOMETOWN GASTRONOMIC ADVENTURE - MURTABAK KAMPUNG MELAYU

9th MARCH 2018 ~ When Puan Maslinda Mohd Dahalan, a friend from UPM TESL class of '93. was in town, I took her again to my favourite eating spot - Murtabak Kampung Melayu right in front of Kampung Melayu Mosque. I discovered something new - we could get "lontong kering" there at 8:00 p.m. We only buy this local dish for breakfast or at the night market, and there were quite a number of friends who wanted to try "lontong kering" for dinner when they were in JB.

There were actually two more photos but someone instead of sending them to me via Whatsapp had accidentally deleted all. So we had just the photos of the food ordered and eaten. Luckily there was like 50% of the guest's face near the food in one of the photos, which should be good enough.

MY HOMETOWN GASTRONOMIC ADVENTURE - PETALS AND BAKES CAFE

Attending a meeting is something that I despise so knowing there was one I had to attend at District Education Department, a lunch date was quickly arranged with two more friends right after the session. Puan Mazzelina Mahmood, who is now attached to the Office aforementioned, chose "Kafe Petals and Bakes" located in Nong Chik, Johor Bahru. The other partner in crime was Puan Koh Poh Tan who was also attending the same meeting.

It was a small place which could accommodate about 32 people at one time. However, it was a comfortable place and most importantly, very clean.

I got excited to see the cakes on display once I entered the place.

Someone ate Lontong - compressed rice with coconut milk gravy and many other things inside. Her response when asked how was it: it was alright.

I chose Laksa Johor - spaghetti in fish gravy, also with many other condiments. Unfortunately, that did not taste like Laksa Johor at all. The ingredients and spices were just not right.

cheesecake for dessert

brownies

Surprisingly, someone was on diet and ate a brownie, topped with chocolate ice cream.

I had set my eyes on the carrot cake earlier and I knew I must have it. I must say it was superb. I don't mind coming back to eat the carrot cake again, or try other dessert available.

We are having another meeting next week and I wonder if there is another you-two-can-gossip-while-I-eat-my-cake session.