If
you are looking for a Chinese restaurant in Johor Bahru where traditional
flavours meet a fresh and modern presentation, TS Treasures in Taman Molek is
certainly a place worth discovering.
Located at 26–28, Jalan Molek 1/13, Taman Molek, Johor Bahru, TS Taison offers a comfortable dining environment suitable for families, gatherings and special occasions. Current listings show the restaurant serving both lunch and dinner, with reservations available.
For our latest food adventure, we decided to explore a selection of dishes from their menu and discover what this restaurant has to offer.
A
Restaurant With a Story
TS Taison Chinese Restaurant traces its roots back to April 1995, when it was founded by Mr. John Ng.
The
restaurant quickly became known among diners in Johor Bahru, developing a
reputation as one of the early-generation eateries that gained strong
word-of-mouth and popularity.
The name itself carries an interesting story. The business began around the time the founder's eldest son was born, inspiring the name "Tai Zi", meaning "Crown Prince".
Over
the years, TS Taison has built its identity around Chinese cuisine, seafood
and its own collection of signature creations.
One of the restaurant's notable claims is its early association with salted egg-style dishes, including creations such as Salted Egg Crab and Salted Egg Squid.
Beyond
salted egg dishes, the restaurant's menu features a variety of specialities,
including Deep-Fried Pig Intestines, Dragon and Phoenix Cold Platter,
Stir-Fried Yam Cake, Oyster Omelet, Fried Rice Vermicelli and Baked Green
Mussels.
Another
dish worth highlighting is its Authentic Hakka Poon Choi, also known as
Treasure Pot. The recipe is said to have been acquired through an exchange with
a chef from China, adding another interesting chapter to the restaurant's
culinary story.
A
New Chapter for a Familiar Name
After being away for a period of time, TS Taison has returned with a new team and a renewed approach.
The
idea is not simply to recreate the past, but to bring the familiar flavours
into a new era.
The
restaurant's philosophy of combining heritage with innovation can be seen in
its approach to ingredients, cooking techniques and presentation.
This creates an interesting balance between old-school Chinese flavours that longtime diners may remember and a more contemporary dining experience that can appeal to younger food lovers.
It
is essentially where classic meets new flavours.
Our
Food Adventure Begins
For our visit, we ordered a selection of dishes so that we could experience different flavours and textures throughout the meal.
Our
table included Steamed Clams with Ginger, Lotus Leaf Steamed Chicken, Dragon
Beard with Chinese Lettuce and Bean Sprouts, Tofu with Preserved Radish, Minced
Pork and Wheat Grass, Braised Pork Belly with Rice Vermicelli, Black Sweet
Vinegar Pork Trotter, Crispy Spring Rolls and Thai Sauce Cold Squid Platter.
We also had a jug of Hawthorn Juice, followed by Fried Ice Cream for dessert. Before we started, one of the F&B staff kindly helped us slice the Lotus Leaf Steamed Chicken.
Even
before tasting it, the aroma from the freshly steamed chicken was already
inviting. The chicken also looked tender and juicy, making it one of the dishes
we were eager to try.
Braised
Pork Belly with Rice Vermicelli
We started our food adventure with their Braised Pork Belly with Rice Vermicelli. The pork belly was tender and succulent, carrying a savoury and aromatic braising flavour with a subtle sweetness.
What
made it even more enjoyable was the rice vermicelli, which absorbed the
braising sauce beautifully.
Each
bite brought together the soft vermicelli and rich pork belly, making this a
comforting dish to begin the meal.
Lotus
Leaf Steamed Chicken
Next came their Lotus Leaf Steamed Chicken. Since the chicken had already been sliced for us by the F&B team, it was easy to scoop up a piece and give it a try.
The
chicken was tender and juicy, with a lovely savoury taste and a subtle
fragrance from the lotus leaf.
The meat was soft and easy to bite, while the aromatic flavours gave the chicken an extra layer of character.
It
was a comforting dish that was enjoyable on its own and also worked well with
rice.
Dragon
Beard with Chinese Lettuce and Bean Sprout
Next up was their Dragon Beard with Chinese Lettuce and Bean Sprout. This was one of the more interesting dishes on our table, particularly because of its presentation.
The
crispy elements on top added a lovely crunch, creating a contrast against the
softer vegetables underneath.
The
Chinese lettuce and bean sprouts provided a fresh texture, while the crispy
topping added another layer of flavour.
It
was a simple combination, but the contrast in textures made it something
different for us to explore.
Crispy
Spring Roll and Thai Sauce Cold Squid Platter
We then moved on to their Crispy Spring Roll and Thai Sauce Cold Squid Platter. The spring roll was wonderfully crispy, especially when enjoyed fresh from the kitchen.
That first bite gave us the satisfying crunch we were looking for, while the filling inside made it a tasty little bite to enjoy between the other dishes. We also tried the Cold Squid Platter.
The
squid was nicely prepared and, importantly for us, it wasn't overly chewy.
It
was easy to bite and enjoyable with the Thai sauce, which added a refreshing
and slightly more vibrant flavour to the squid.
Tofu
with Preserved Radish, Minced Pork and Wheat Grass
Next came their Tofu with Preserved Radish, Minced Pork and Wheat Grass. Personally, I really enjoyed mixing this with white rice.
The
soft tofu worked nicely with the savoury minced pork and preserved radish,
while the flavours from the dish blended naturally with the rice.
Sometimes,
a dish doesn't need to be overly complicated to be enjoyable.
Once
everything was mixed together with the rice, the combination became really
comforting and satisfying.
Steamed
Clams with Ginger
For me, the Steamed Clams with Ginger was definitely one of the dishes to try. The natural sweetness and freshness of the clams came through nicely, while the ginger and garlic added a wonderful aroma.
The
sauce brought the different flavours together without overpowering the clams.
Every
bite had a nice balance of freshness and savouriness, making this a
particularly enjoyable dish for seafood lovers.
Black
Sweet Vinegar Pork Trotter
Then came another highlight of our meal — the Black Sweet Vinegar Pork Trotter. This was another game changer for us.
The
pork was tender with a satisfying texture, while the black sweet vinegar sauce
provided a balance of sweetness and tanginess.
The
slightly acidic character of the vinegar helped balance the richness of the
pork, making the dish surprisingly enjoyable.
This
was definitely one of those dishes that left an impression on us.
Hawthorn
Juice
Of course, with so many rich and savoury dishes on the table, we also had their Hawthorn Juice. Served in a jug, it was a refreshing accompaniment to the meal.
The fruity and slightly tangy flavour helped refresh the palate between dishes and provided a nice contrast to the richer flavours we had been enjoying. And yes, even the kids enjoyed it!
Fried
Ice Cream to Finish
And what better way to finish our food adventure than with their own version of Fried Ice Cream?
The
crispy outer layer gave us a lovely crunch, while the cold and creamy ice cream
inside created an enjoyable contrast.
It
was a fun dessert and a sweet way to bring our meal to an end.
After
exploring so many different flavours and textures, this was definitely a
satisfying way to finish our dining experience.
Classic
Heritage Meets a New Generation
What makes TS Taison interesting is not only the food itself, but also the story behind the restaurant.
It
carries a history that stretches back to 1995, while the renewed restaurant is
looking to introduce those familiar flavours to a new generation.
The combination of traditional Chinese cooking, signature dishes and updated presentation gives diners an opportunity to experience something that connects the past with the present.
Whether you are visiting with family, friends or a larger group, the comfortable dining environment also makes it suitable for different occasions. The restaurant offers group dining and accepts reservations, while its current listings also highlight features such as dine-in service and parking.
For us, it was more than just having a meal. It was about discovering the story, tasting the dishes and experiencing how a familiar name can return with a fresh perspective.
So,
if you are exploring the food scene around Taman Molek and looking for a
Chinese dining experience with a touch of heritage and plenty of dishes to
explore, TS Treasures is certainly one place you can put on your food discovery
list.
