Johor Bahru Eat: Chai Ji Fish Soup (财记鱼汤)

22 May 2025

Towards one end of Jalan Dhoby, adjacent to Tan Hiok Nee Heritage Walk, three shops, with distinct colour themes of red, green and yellow, had sprung up in November 2024. The shop with the red theme is Chai Ji Fish Soup (财记鱼汤), which specialises in a series of fish soup. Hailed from Kulai, Chai Ji Fish Soup has several branches in Johor Bahru, including one in Permas Jaya, and the outlet along Jalan Dhoby is the fifth one.

The new outlet is not very big and has an oriental feel. A large sign at the counter says “unlimited free top-up of soup”. Chai Ji’s menu has a unique fish-shape design, which is in line with their specialty. The restaurant serves fish-head pot, seafood pot, fish soup, fried fish soup, etc, with selection of various types of noodle. There are tasty side snacks as well as pork noodles. There are lunch sets at promotional prices on weekdays from 12pm to 4pm.

The Signature Fresh Fish Slice Soup (招牌鲜鱼片汤) is served with fresh fish slices (select from toman, sea barracuda or grouper), fishballs, bean curds, tomato slices, greens and desired choice of noodle in flavourful soup that has sourish notes of tomato and Chinese pickled mustard. The noodle dish is garnished with lots of fried shallots, seaweed strips, coriander, spring onions, etc, which add more flavours to the soup but not overly strong-tasting. The fish soup dish is delicious.

The Ultimate Fried Pork Noodle (无敌炸肉面) is served with selected kway teow dry-tossed in delightful dark sauce and fragrant oil and garnished with fried garlic bits, fried shallots and spring onions. The noodle is added with large pieces of fried pork, cut into strips, and fresh romaine lettuce and accompanied by a bowl of light-peppery soup. The noodle is flavourful and delicious on its own. The marinaded pork, with balanced fat and lean portions, is fried till crispy outside and tender inside. It has a nice aroma, tasty and irresistible. This is must-try too.