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YamCha Hong Kong DimSum in Johor Bahru Taman Orkid 饮茶港式点心 ⭐⭐⭐⭐✱

YamCha-Hong-Kong-DimSum-Johor-Bahru-Taman-Orkid-饮茶港式点心

This little shop, YamCha Hong Kong DimSum 饮茶港式点心, tucked away in quiet Taman Orkid serves one of the best dim sum in Johor Bahru.

When I arrived at the nondescript looking shop this morning, I didn't expect myself to say this by the end of brunch.

饮茶港式点心. 看来不起眼的点心店, 竟然是卧底藏龙. 点心师傅有十五年经验. 出道时跟香港点心师傅学习. 曾在新加坡著名的利苑酒家当点心厨师. Alan 师傅做出来的点心精致美味. 价钱又很合理. 是值得一试的点心店. 营业时间每天7点半到五点. Jalan Seri Orkid 31, Taman Seri Orkid.

YamCha-Hong-Kong-DimSum-Johor-Bahru-Taman-Orkid-饮茶港式点心

YamCha Hong Kong DimSum looks like any typical Malaysian shop lot eatery in a laid back residential neighbourhood. Inside, decor is non existent - just some simple furniture and ceiling fans - no air con.

But, there is much more than meets the eye.

YamCha-Hong-Kong-DimSum-Johor-Bahru-Taman-Orkid-饮茶港式点心

Partner and chef, Alan has a strong dim sum background. The Penangite started work at a dim sum restaurant 15 years ago in his hometown under a Hong Kong dim sum chef. From his HK sifu (master), Alan learnt Cantonese and a solid grounding in HK dim sum. Alan then worked in dim sum restaurants in Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur, before going to the famed Lei Garden in Singapore.

YamCha-Hong-Kong-DimSum-Johor-Bahru-Taman-Orkid-饮茶港式点心

Two years ago, Alan partnered buddy Herman to launch YamCha Hong Kong DimSum 饮茶港式点心 in Taman Orkid. Herman is the brother of Adrian, owner of the popular Chang Man dim sum in Taman Nusa Bestari 👈

YamCha HK DimSum has an intimate kampung feel - Alan and Herman were constantly engaging their customers, most of whom are regulars from the neighbourhood.

YamCha-Hong-Kong-DimSum-Johor-Bahru-Taman-Orkid-饮茶港式点心
YamCha-Hong-Kong-DimSum-Johor-Bahru-Taman-Orkid-饮茶港式点心

The menu is on the wall. The prices are very reasonable.

YamCha-Hong-Kong-DimSum-Johor-Bahru-Taman-Orkid-饮茶港式点心

Herman invited me to drop by his shop to try Alan's dim sum and started us off with Dumpling Soup (price RM6).

YamCha-Hong-Kong-DimSum-Johor-Bahru-Taman-Orkid-饮茶港式点心

One mouthful of this broth.. and wow! it immediately got me sitting up. The broth has a robust crustacean savouriness balanced with sweetness. Alan made this broth by boiling prawn heads, pork socket bones and old hens.

YamCha-Hong-Kong-DimSum-Johor-Bahru-Taman-Orkid-饮茶港式点心

Tenderly juicy minced pork filling with bits of carrot wrapped in smooth wanton skin.

We enjoyed all the different dim sum that followed. The ingredients were fresh and every piece was made in YamCha's kitchen by Alan and his crew.

YamCha-Hong-Kong-DimSum-Johor-Bahru-Taman-Orkid-饮茶港式点心

Fresh shrimp dumpling.

YamCha-Hong-Kong-DimSum-Johor-Bahru-Taman-Orkid-饮茶港式点心

Shrimp Mai.

YamCha-Hong-Kong-DimSum-Johor-Bahru-Taman-Orkid-饮茶港式点心

Spicy Sichuan (Pork) Dumpling.

Alan created this when he was working in Singapore which he made for his co-workers from Sichuan, China. Just a slight spicy hint.

YamCha-Hong-Kong-DimSum-Johor-Bahru-Taman-Orkid-饮茶港式点心

Deep Fried Carrot Cake. Nice crisp outside while the inside is a soft radish mash punctuated with bits of savoury lup cheong (Cantonese wax sausage).

YamCha-Hong-Kong-DimSum-Johor-Bahru-Taman-Orkid-饮茶港式点心

This xiao long bao is as delicious as any that I have tasted in Malaysia, Singapore or Shanghai. The delicate skin barely holding in the tongue scathing hot savoury sweet broth and soft minced pork ball inside.

YamCha-Hong-Kong-DimSum-Johor-Bahru-Taman-Orkid-饮茶港式点心

Signature (Mock) Shark Fin Dumpling.

The light tea colour broth was gently savoury sweet with distinct Chinese cooking wine taste.

YamCha-Hong-Kong-DimSum-Johor-Bahru-Taman-Orkid-饮茶港式点心

The fillings were mushrooms and prawns.

YamCha-Hong-Kong-DimSum-Johor-Bahru-Taman-Orkid-饮茶港式点心

Spicy Champion (Pork) Dumpling.

Pork dumplings in a watery soy based sauce garnished with spicy bits of chili and ginger.

YamCha-Hong-Kong-DimSum-Johor-Bahru-Taman-Orkid-饮茶港式点心

Deep Fried Taro Puff.

Extremely flaky and crispy outside with the feather light crisps falling all over the table with every bite 😂

YamCha-Hong-Kong-DimSum-Johor-Bahru-Taman-Orkid-饮茶港式点心

The mashed yam paste skin wraps well marinated sweet savoury minced pork.

YamCha-Hong-Kong-DimSum-Johor-Bahru-Taman-Orkid-饮茶港式点心

Liu Sha Bao.

YamCha-Hong-Kong-DimSum-Johor-Bahru-Taman-Orkid-饮茶港式点心

Many layers of savoury sweetness - from the sweet fluffy skin with real pandan flavour to the blend of sweet warm golden salted egg yolk custard inside.

YamCha-Hong-Kong-DimSum-Johor-Bahru-Taman-Orkid-饮茶港式点心

Malal Cake.

Old school sweet moist spongy cake.

YamCha-Hong-Kong-DimSum-Johor-Bahru-Taman-Orkid-饮茶港式点心

This house made sambal chili loaded with dried shrimps is full of savoury spiciness - it makes everything tastes better.

YamCha-Hong-Kong-DimSum-Johor-Bahru-Taman-Orkid-饮茶港式点心

Try this 三大民族 blend of pu erh tea, chrysanthemum and gan cao (licorice root) 菊花甘草和普洱 for it's layers of bitter, sweet and herbal taste.

YamCha-Hong-Kong-DimSum-Johor-Bahru-Taman-Orkid-饮茶港式点心

4-Star (out of 5). YamCha Hong Kong DimSum is a humble little eatery that serves one of the best dim sum in Johor made by a former Lei Garden (Singapore) chef. Prices are very reasonable too. Worth the drive to this residential neighbourhood off the beaten track but really not that far from food hubs like Taman Ungku Tun Aminah which is just 5 minutes drive away.

Disclosure: Please note that this was an invited tasting.

YamCha-Hong-Kong-DimSum-Johor-Bahru-Taman-Orkid-饮茶港式点心

Restaurant name: YamCha Hong Kong DimSum 饮茶港式点心
Address: 4 Jalan Seri Orkid 31, Taman Seri Orkid, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
GPS: 1°30'32.0"N 103°38'14.8"E | 1.508879, 103.637458
Tel: +60 17-772 7907
Hours: 7:30am to 5:00pm

Non Halal

Date visited: 6 Dec 2016

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5 comments:

  1. Hey Tony. Great post. Nice to see a Dim Sum place dishing out actual home made chilli paste instead of those bottled xanthan laced generic stuff, for that, and the authentic looking dim sum, I will definitely find the time for a visit soon.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, JT, this is one of my fav tim sum in JB now. It's restaurant quality at kopitiam price.

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  2. We had an excellent breakfast here this morning. Thanks to your review, we ordered the soup dumplings. We love the robust flavour of the soup. The owner was friendly and the shop was clean and comfortable. Good find, Tony.

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  3. Went for brunch on Saturday noon just before shop closed. A surprising gem. Worth the detour

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