The
opening of a Ho Seng Kee outlet in Johor Baru City Square, marks the dawn of a
new era for this Johor Baru brand of wantan noodle.
Yin, better known as Elton, at the entrance to their JB City Square outlet |
In the
early 1940’s handmade egg noodles by Ho Seng, was served from a mobile stall parked
outside Chuan Seng, a coffee shop situated at the corner of Jalan Siu Nam and
Jalan Meldrum. As it gained popularity,
the business moved to a permanent stall set up within the shop and fans enjoyed
their noodles here for more than 60 years.
Ho’s
skills in making the noodles from fresh ingredients that include duck and
chicken eggs, was passed down to his son, Weng, who took over the business in
the 1960’s. Still made fresh in the
original recipe every day, the noodles are free from preservatives and artificial
colours.
Besides
operating a coffee shop/restaurant downstairs, Chuan Seng was also a hotel that
occupied the upper floor. When the
property was sold in 2003, the food and beverage businesses in the shop had no
alternative but to shift to other premises.
Chuan Seng, the corner coffee shop where Ho Seng Kee noodles was first served in Johor Baru |
Fans of Ho
Seng Kee noodles followed them to their new location in a coffee shop at Jalan
Harimau in Century Gardens. The business,
then run by the next generations in a father and son team, moved into their own
premises at nearby Jalan Kanchil in 2009.
With the
brand firmly established, fans of Ho Seng Kee came from near and far to savour
these delectable noodles. Very often diners
from out-station would eat in the shop and order takeaways to put into
deep-freeze to take home to Kuala Lumpur and even abroad to the UK!
Elton Ho [Right] at the counter of the City Square outlet |
As Weng’s
son, Yin, better known as Elton, helped his father serve wantan noodles to
regulars, he took the business to the next level by developing a wider fan base
through social media and online on www.hosengkee.com.
Determined
to share the unique taste of their brand of wantan mee with new generations of noodle
fans, Ho Seng Kee has now increased their work-stations from just one in their
previous shop to three in their City Square outlet.
Prepared by a team of cooks and assistants,
fans of Ho Seng Kee are assured that they can now enjoy bowl after bowl of
tasty egg noodles that should be served within 10 minutes of receiving the
orders!
Elton [Left] with two members of the kitchen team |
Designed as
a café, diners at the Ho Seng Kee City Square outlet can select their noodle
meals along with a range of snacks, side orders and beverages from a menu. Just complete a simple order form and pass it
to the order-takers to place your orders.
Now you
can sit in air-conditioned comfort and still taste the unique flavour and
texture of Ho Seng Kee wantan noodles or kon-lo-meen
[Cantonese for dry-tossed noodles], just as they were served from a push cart back
in the 1940’s, at the nearby corner of Jalan Siu Nam and Jalan Meldrum.
A section of diners at Ho Seng Kee City Square |
Ho Seng
Kee [Non-Halal] noodle shop is located at Lot J6-07, Level 6 of Johor Baru City
Square, Jalan Wong Ah Fook, 80000 Johor Baru.
Open daily 10am to 9pm.
My favorite wanton mee. Best in JB
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