JB Eat: Tangkak Beef (东甲牛腩面) Beef Noodle @ Taman Sentosa

Rick
May 22
3 min read

Restoran Tangkak Beef (东甲牛腩面) is from Tangkak District in northern Johor. Its beef noodle is well-known in Malaysia and is hailed as one of the best beef noodles in Johor, using 100% fresh kampung beef. I used to travel to Tangkak Beef @ Kluang to try their beef noodle dishes, but new branches have been popping up nearer to Singapore since 2023 — one in Kulai and two in Johor Bahru. The nearest outlet opened in Taman Sentosa, Johor Bahru, in July 2024.

Tangkak Beef (东甲牛腩面) @ Taman Sentosa, Johor Bahru

The new outlet in Taman Sentosa is conveniently located right opposite Marketplace by The Store @ Plaza Sentosa and is spacious. Posters on Tangkak Beef's recommended dishes decorated the walls.

Tangkak Beef (东甲牛腩面): Interior of Taman Sentosa outlet

Tangkak Beef's signature dish is their classic beef noodle. Apart from classic beef, there are mixes of beef brisket, cow's stomach / tripe and tendon. Special dishes comprising tendons, beef balls, tenderloin and short ribs are also available. Non-beefy options include fishball noodle soup, hot & spicy chicken rice, curry chicken rice, etc.

One of Tangkak Beef's special dishes is the Single Short Ribs with Beef Balls — I tried it once in Kluang and really miss it. Any staple ordered with the special dish is served separately. The kway teow soup is served in a beefy broth and topped with chopped spring onions and fried shallots. The noodle dish is flavourful and nice on its own.

Tangkak Beef (东甲牛腩面): Single short ribs & beef balls (单人排骨牛丸) with kway teow soup

The Single Short Ribs with Beef Balls (单人排骨牛丸) comes with two large meaty short ribs and two beef balls in darker beef broth. The tender ribs meat separate from the rib bones easily and the beef balls are bouncy and retained the taste of beef. The broth is clear with rich beefy flavours and flavourful. It is delicious without doubts.

Tangkak Beef (东甲牛腩面): Single short ribs & beef balls (单人排骨牛丸)

Finally! We go for the Signature All Mix Claypot that is meant for 2 pax. Accompanying the beefy claypot dish is a separate order of Dry Mee (干面). The dry-style noodle dish uses flat yellow noodle, tossed in delightful sauce, and topped with minced peanuts, chopped spring onions and fried shallots. Be it soup-based or dry-style, the noodle dish is flavourfully done and nice!

Tangkak Beef (东甲牛腩面): Signature All Mix Claypot (经典排骨全杂沙煲) with dry noodle

The Signature All Mix Claypot (经典排骨全杂沙煲) is a really beefy dish, for 2 persons, with meaty short ribs, beef balls and "mix of the day" — there are cuts of cow stomach, tendon, omasum, cow's tongue (not on the menu) — in clear broth. Enoki mushrooms is also added with spring onions and fried shallots. The beef broth seems lighter in appearance but is similarly flavourful and savoury. The tender short ribs and cow's tongue, bouncy beef balls, crunchy omasum and cow's stomach and gelatinous tendon with slight chewiness offer multiple textures and flavours. This is really marvellous!

And, the staff offered to add more broth when we are half way through the dish. 👍