I was on a food trail in Johor Bahru with a group of Singapore blogger kakis. This was supposed to be a chicken wings trail as Nicole is a famous chicken wing fanatic.
So, the grand finale of our food trial was Kimdo BBQ 金都 for their famous 1-bone BBQ chicken wings.
As there were 5 of us, the restaurant staff ushered us to a large table. Kimdo is a large shop, serving BBQ and also seafood 海鲜.
Kimdo was our number 9 food stop of the day and so I mentioned to the staff, as we walked towards our table, that we would only be ordering a few chicken wings to try.
The staff flashed a reassuring smile and said that it is no problem at all "可以, 可以, 没问题, 没问题", as he took away the seafood menu. There wasn't the slightest pressure at all nor hard selling the more pricey seafood to us.
I like this.
The BBQ items skewered with slender wooden sticks were laid out in bundles on simple Formica laminate folding tables.
We picked the food we liked and the small squad of cheerful workers grilled the food we chose over charcoal fire.
Various meat and vegetable items grilling over the small charcoal stove.
This was the food we ordered - not much at all as we were all full by this time. But, it turned out that this was just our first round.
We liked it so much, we couldn't resist a second round just minutes later :P
The BBQ chicken wings (RM1.50 each) are in the unique 1-bone layang (kite) shape. Kimdo uses only the middle joint of the chicken wing for this, where the meat is the most juicy tender and has the best balance of fat, skin and flesh. (The remainder of the wing are the "drumlet" and pointy wing tip.)
The well marinated chicken wings were skilfully grilled. The grilled skin was crispy with charred edges, while the inside was still juicy moist.
The middle joint of the wing is most people's preferred section but is also the hardest part to eat due to the bones. Kimdo's unique 1-bone style, makes enjoying this part of the chicken wing so fun and easy.
(Kimdo's neighbour Restoran See Hai 101 新四海 sells a similar BBQ chicken wing.)
We tried a few other items, and especially love the petai (stinky beans). Went 2 rounds on the petai.
I should mention that the house blended chili dip that comes with the BBQ items packs a sharp hot sting. I liked it, and you have been warned :P
Elvis, Kimdo's second generation owner came to join us and shared about his family's business. Elvis' parents started the restaurant over 30 years ago in 1983. Elvis' sister runs the Kimdo branch in City Square mall. Kimdo supplies the 1-bone chicken wings to some vendors - one of which sells the wings at Cedar Point in Taman Century.
What is Nicole's final verdict?
Quote "insanely good!!!!" unquote.
P.S. Nicole tapau (packet) 10 wings back to Singapore.
Restaurant name: Kimdo BBQ 金都
Address: 23, Jalan Sutera, Taman Sentosa, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/Unjdf
GPS: 1.493030,103.768950
Hours: 5:00pm to 3:45am
No pork, no lard, no Halal cert (BBQ section)
Date visited: 28 Mar 2014
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