Wan Li Restaurant Renaissance Johor Bahru

Wan Li Restaurant Renaissance Johor Bahru

There is a new excitement in Bandar Baru Permas, Johor Bahru. It is a brand new 5-star luxury hotel located between Johor Bahru City Centre and Pasir Gudang.

It is the Renaissance Hotel Johor Bahru and it has one of the largest event spaces in Johor Bahru and most important of all there are a few new good restaurants to dine in.

One of them is Wan Li Restaurant, an exciting Chinese restaurant offering contemporary Cantonese cuisine. How exciting? You won’t believe what I’ve tasted in this beautiful restaurant.

For starter, Wan Li Foei Gras Xiao Long Bao

Wan Li Foei Gras Xiao Long Bao is one of the least I expect in a Chinese restaurant. Well, it is not easy to mix foei gras in a xiao long bao. Saying is easy but implementing needs lots of skills and yet I was right, the soup in the xiao long bao overwhelmed the taste of the foei gras. Foei gras was mixed with minced meat and it didn’t have any significant scent or taste.

According to the chef, quite a number of customers complained of the taste of the foei gras so they toned down the quantity of foei gras used in the xiao long bao. Taste is a subjective matter but what really makes me wonder is why customers would order a foei gras xiao long bao without the aroma and scent of foei gras? I would prefer the whole piece of foei gras in the xiao long bao.

Crispy Mango Peking Duck

Crispy Mango Peking Duck, another special combo in Wan Li. I ordered half bird as they don’t sell quarters (usually everyone sell half bird or whole bird).

It is similar with the usual peking duck and the only difference is they substitute the spring onion with mango. With that, it has a different texture and the mango also gives extra sweetness. The meat will be cooked for another dish.

Signature Durian Crispy Prawns

This restaurant sure brings lots of exciting dishes. Signature Durian Crispy Prawns, how interesting. You won’t get fooled by this dish as this is as good as it gets!

The prawns topped with fish roe and compliments with chilli flakes and a sliced of watermelon. I love how taste of the durian paste gel with the crispy deep fried prawns. This is seriously addictive and this is a must for durian lovers.

Coffee Chicken

Coffee Chicken is yet another Chef’s signature. You might tasted butter chicken, Guinness chicken or even Marmite (Vegemite) chicken, coffee chicken was my first too.

Deep fried chicken cooked with coffee. The taste was bitter sweet with huge scent of coffee. This is something you must order to kick off your curiousity.

Stir Fried Duck with Spring Onion

Stir Fried Duck with Spring Onion. Remember that I had Peking Duck earlier on the meat was then used to stir fried with spring onion. This is a simple dish, nothing complicating and yet palatable.

Chilled Mango Puree and Pomelo

Chilled Mango Puree and Pomelo, a simple dessert to end the interesting dinner. This is a typical Malaysian dessert that is a favourite among the locals.

Overall, I enjoyed the food in Wan Li Restaurant. I loved the ambience, clean and bright, a typical high end Chinese restaurant. I spoke to some of their chefs and they are still fine tuning some of the dishes especially for the foei gras xiao long bau. I personally craved for the durian prawns and coffee chicken. If you looking for an adventurous Chinese cuisine, remember to call them to book your table, some of the dishes needed time to prepare.

Do check out their hotel rooms too, I stayed two nights in their Junior Suite and it was impressive. The story on my stay will be out soon.

Wan Li Restaurant Renaissance Johor Bahru Address, GPS and Contact:

No. 2, Jalan Permas 11, Bandar Baru Permas Jaya · Johor Bahru, 81750 Malaysia

Phone: 60-7-3813333

Fax: 60-7-3880000

Website: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel-information/restaurant/jhbbr-renaissance-johor-bahru-hotel/#

GPS: 1. 29 38 N,  103. 48 50 E

Wilson Ng