Best Fish Head Noodle in Johor Bahru (JB)

After charming the taste buds of regulars for more than three decades at Johor Jaya Teratai, this renowned stall went hiatus and left everyone stumbled. Now the family-run stall has marked a comeback at Taman Jaya and it’s always teeming with patrons even before the sunrise shines over the city. Housed in Hou Kee Kopitiam, you’ll easily clap your eyes onto piles of fish fillets embellishing behind the glass shelves. The noodles are deftly done in an old-school hand-operated machine, constantly trundled as orders come flying in. The hearty bowl is chock-full with fried anchovies, a handful of greens, lacy noodles and thick slabs of fried fish drenched in a clear broth. Tingle in their homemade chili sauce for a dose of heat. 

Any conversation about fish head noodles in Johor Bahru, inevitably involves this famous restaurant, among the maestros of delivering impeccable bowls of fishy feast. Their soul-warming broth is meticulously imbued with evaporated milk, giving it a slightly creamy and thick base that complements the shriveled golden-brown fish, thick vermicelli and splash of herbs. And that’s not it, what sets them  apart from others is the additional toppings of julienned ginger, preserved cabbages, smatterings of grilled salted fish and pork crackles. Speaking off a mouthful of flavours that bursts with wonders, Fei Biao’s version is up there. 

Nothing to shout about the ambiance, it’s a typical timeworn interior that is filled with voracious fish lovers. Tucked towards the end is the bustling stall, which is masqueraded with bountiful fried fishes as well as the luscious fish head. The gilded-brown fillet is crispy on the outside and once you place it in your mouth, it just dissolves with the merest masticate. Be it vermicelli or kuey teow noodles, it’s topped with three fillets and greens with a price-tag of RM6, isn’t that value-for-money at its best?

Another humble eatery that has been earning accolades as one of the finest spots to devour hearty and tasty breakfast as well as lunch. A brimming bowl of noodles shrouded with bouncy fish balls, steamed fish fillets, crunchy greens, fish cakes and minced pork simmered in a crystal-clear broth, has been magnetising the locals over the years. The slurpy good bisque is spot-on, complementing all the fish goodness.

If you find fish alone isn’t satisfying your ravenous appetite? Make your way to this neat and clean restaurant where a team of amiable husband and wife has been churning out a drool-worthy bowl of fish noodles. Noodles of your choice doused in clear broth and blanketed with colourful greens, chunks of fresh fish and prawns, offering ocean goodness in a balmy bowl. The broth has a tinge of tangy overtone which comes from the salted vegetables and ginger while the fish is juicy, smooth and tender.