Being a food-obsessed nation, every state in Malaysia has its own ‘specialty’: think Penang’s char kuey teow, Kuala Lumpur’s curry noodles, and Sarawak’s delectable kolo mee. In the southern state of Johor, there’s Johor laksa (which uses spaghetti in place of yellow noodles) and otak-otak (spiced fish / prawn paste wrapped in banana leaves and grilled over a fire).

However, there’s one Johorean dish that I think deserves more lovin’, and that is kacang pool. Adapted from the Middle Eastern dish ful medames, its a stew made from fava beans, ground beef and various herbs and spices topped with a runny egg, typically served with toast.

When the fam and I were visiting Johor Bahru, I drove us to Restoran Haji Kacang Pool — widely considered to be a ‘pioneer’ in popularising the dish in Johor. The simple, no-frills shop occupies a corner lot near a residential area, and is very popular with the local community.

The reason why I said more Malaysians need to know about kacang pool – the elderly Malay couple seated next to us(it was packed so we had to share tables) expressed surprise to see us dining there (ie a Chinese family). “Pandai kamu cari makan ya! Biasanya Melayu je makan sini,” (You have a great nose for good food! Usually only Malays eat here,” the auntie remarked lol.

But isn’t that the beauty of food? When we sit together to enjoy different cuisines, we forge a bond of understanding and a deeper respect of each other’s cultures. And if more people did that, the world would probably be a better place!

Coming back to the food here – we ordered several dishes to try. Of course, it would be poor form not to get the restaurant’s signature, which is available with different meats such as beef and mutton. We got the beef since this was the bestseller, and it did not disappoint !

Kacang pool’s consistency is close to a thick, sloppy joe, which makes it great for dipping with toast. The best way to eat it in my opinion, is to break the silky egg yolk, spread it apart, then get a big spoonful of savoury meat and beans to enjoy! The version here is perfectly spiced: I could taste onions, cumin, fennel, and coriander, all coming together in perfect harmony without one overpowering the other.

Aside from the kacang pool, I highly recommend the lontong, which comes in three variations. The one Mi and I had was lontong basah (with gravy) but you can also get the goreng (fried) and kering (dry). The kuah lodeh (gravy) has that lip smacking ‘lemak’ taste thanks to the coconut milk, and just the right amount of sweetness. Surprisingly, the sambal is not too spicy despite its fiery appearance. Carrots and fried beancurd add crunch, while the compressed rice cakes are not too soft.

The Bro had the Mee Goreng, which came to the table with wisps of steam rising from the surface of the noodles. A tad sweet as is usual with this style of noodles served in Malay restos, but otherwise decent.

The Pops’ Mee Rebus – did not try it but he had no complaints so I’m guessing it was good lol.

You can also get Telur Pindang (tea eggs) which are placed at each table. Aside from the dishes mentioned above, the restaurant also serves nasi lemak, fried rice, and soto (soup).

To wash everything down, we got two glasses of Milo Dinosaur: essentially iced Milo topped with Milo powder – because we’re sinful like that.

Prices at the resto are surprisingly reasonable. I’ve heard how some places overcharge because JB is so close to Singapore and tourists have jacked prices up – but that doesn’t seem to be the case here. Service is friendly too, although do expect a short wait to be seated / for the food to be served, since they have to handle many customers.

Restoran Kacang Pool Haji

12, Jalan Dato Jaafar, Taman Dato Onn, 80350 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim

Opening hours: 7AM – 12AM

Phone: +6013-737 7997

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PS2: All expenses are out of my own pocket unless otherwise stated. Views here are my own and are based on my personal experience. They are not meant to endorse or disparage businesses/ establishments in any way.