Tiong Hua Restaurant
CUISINESChinese, Si Chuan, Hunan
MEALSLunch, Dinner, Supper
A Hidden Gem in JB: Tiong Hua Restaurant Review
If you’re a foodie who’s bored of the usual China-restaurant fare and want something with heart and flavour, Tiong Hua Restaurant (中华风味湘菜馆 / Traditional Szechuan & Hunan style) is worth a detour. On my recent trip to Johor Bahru, I visited their Taman Pelangi / Jalan Serampang branch and here’s my experience—warts and all, because real reviews help you save those chewing muscles.
✨ The History & Vibe
Tiong Hua has positioned itself as “中华风味湘菜馆”—that is, a Chinese restaurant specialising in Sichuan (Si Chuan) and Hunan (Xiang) cuisines, not just the Cantonese / “China food” that many are used to in Malaysia. The decor is fairly simple, warm lighting, traditional Chinese restaurant style; feels local, welcoming.
I couldn’t dig up detailed founding date or full history (if anyone knows, I’d love to add!), but Tiong Hua’s “新山分店” (JB branch) is well known among locals for its spicy, bold-taste dishes, and its willingness to put effort into soups and appetizers, not just big main dishes.
🍜 What I Tried (and Loved)
Here are the dishes we ordered, with my hot takes:
1. Duck Soup
Rich, concentrated broth; real ingredients in the bowl (duck meat, herbs), and the duck still soft and not overcooked. It works as a great starter. I ate Longan and nuts.
2. Fried rice
3. Steamed egg with clam
4. Pig ear cold dish
Crunchy, chewy, cold-seasoned just right; nice way to open up the palate.
5. Fried beef (slightly spicy)
6. Pork knuckles
Everything felt “special” in that I found textures and flavours not always offered in standard Chinese joints here. The soups especially: real ingredients, not just stock + filler.
👍 What’s Good, What’s Less Good
Strengths:
- Unique offerings (duck / deer soup, cold / appetiser plates) that differentiate it from generic “Chinese restaurant.”
- Soft steamed egg & clam; soups with body.
- Service: staffs greet you when you enter & leave, polite, attentive.
- Pricing: reasonable. Based on my meal (several mains, appetizers, soups, drinks), it came out to around RM 25–35 per person for a hungry dinner if you share. More if you order premium meats / extra dishes.
Things to watch out for:
- Lunch / dinner crowds, especially weekends: can get busy. Sometimes waiting time.
- Spice level: their Sichuan / Hunan flavour is there, but if you’re hardcore spicy, you might need to ask for extra (or adjust down if you can’t take heat).
- Bone-to-meat ratio in certain dishes (pork knuckle): sometimes more bone than meat, so taste vs effort trade-off.
🗺 Branch, Opening Time, Contact & Logistics
Here are the key details:
- Address: 18 & 20, Jalan Serampang, Taman Pelangi, 80400 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia.
- Opening hours: 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM daily.
- Phone: +60-7-331 5144.
🌱 Dietary & Other Practical Info
- Halal / non-halal: This is not a halal-certified restaurant. Pork, knuckles, etc. It is a Chinese non-halal setting.
- Vegetarian / Vegan options: Based on menus and online pictures, there are few meatless / vegetarian-friendly items (some cold dishes, some vegetables etc.), but not a dedicated veg menu. If you are vegetarian/vegan, best to call ahead to check if a dish can be done without meat / meat stock.
🗣 What Others Are Saying
Summaries from customer reviews:
- Many say it has good value: quality and flavour relative to price are solid.
- Some praise the appetizers (“dark fungus with vinegar and soy,” “fried green chillies in dark vinegar,” etc.) and mention that menus are now more English/with English translations than before.
- A few reviews say that flavour could be uneven (some dishes are saltier, or spice level milder than expected), but overall people say “delicious for what it aims to do.”
🛠️ 3-4 Practical Tips for Visitors
To make the most of your meal (and avoid regrets):
- Go with a group: Sharing helps—you can try several dishes without overordering. Best if 3-4 persons.
- Order soup first: Since their duck / deer soup is special, it’s good to start with that (letting it warm you up) before diving into spicy / heavy mains. It needs 35 mins to prepare.
- Adjust spice to your tolerance: If you prefer mild, mention “less spicy / mild” when ordering; if you like 🔥, ask for “extra spicy”.
- Timing matters: Try to go just when they open (10:00-11:00 AM) for less crowd; or early evening on weekdays. On weekends nights it can fill up fast.
🍽 Best Time & Meal Type
- This place is good for lunch, dinner and supper (since they are open until ~11PM).I don’t think their breakfast offerings are big / traditional (not Western breakfast or kopitiam style), so I wouldn’t go expecting bacon & eggs there.
- But for brunch / late lunch, the lighter appetisers + soup + fried rice are quite nice.Not your go-to for afternoon tea in the usual café sense, but a savoury tea-time snack style visit (sharing cold dishes, small soup) works.
✅ Conclusion
If you’re craving something more “Chinese but not the same old” in Johor Bahru—bold flavours, real ingredients, strong soups—Tiong Hua feels like a meal that delivers. It won’t be fancy fine-dining, but its authenticity, decent pricing, and friendly service make it a spot you’ll want to revisit. Just go with an appetite, and maybe bring someone who likes heat.
Have you tried any Si Chuan or Hunan dishes in JB lately that surpassed your expectations? What’s your favourite “soup-starter + spicy dish” combo? Share so I can try next time!
Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only. Prices and availability may vary. Please check with the place directly for the most up-to-date information.
