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As a fellow JB-ite, Ikar Gourmet Fish Noodle has always been my go-to place for fish soup. They’ve remained committed to authenticity above all else since their establishment in 2003. Over the years, they’ve also expanded their menu to include an array of soup flavours. I was finally back there again to have their fish soup after a long time, and so I was really excited.
Ikar Noodle Fish Gourmet has a few outlets in JB. The one I went to is located at Eco Palladium. It is a quaint shophouse inspired by British architecture. The restaurant is not difficult to find— you can easily spot it from the main road.
As I visited during a non-peak hour, the establishment wasn’t overly crowded. Without wasting any time, I went straight to my seat and browsed through the menu. I was spoiled for choice as there were up to 15 types of soup flavours available.
The waitress told us that their signature flavours were Creamy Cheese Soup, Traditional Soup, Creamy Pumpkin Soup and Savoury Tomato Soup. You can customise your soup by choosing from various types of protein (a variety of fish and pork) and carbs (bee hoon, rice, vermicelli, buckwheat vermicelli, black rice vermicelli). You can even choose to have your carbs dry-tossed.
What I tried at Ikar Gourmet Fish Noodle
Even though it’s a fish-focused establishment, I opted for Creamy Cheese Soup with Pork Belly Slices and Vermicelli (RM18.50). The perfectly-infused broth came with a few slices of pork belly, carrots and tomatoes, topped with some spring onions.
I was amazed after the first mouthful of broth. The soup was rich and creamy, yet not too jelak. There was a bit of sourness from the tomatoes which flawlessly balanced out the creaminess of the soup — it will have you keep craving for another sip.
One might expect cheese-flavoured food to be very creamy, but this soup leaned towards a lighter taste profile, and you wouldn’ feel satiated even if you finish the whole bowl. I have since changed my opinion on cheese soup.
The pork belly was unexpectedly good. It was skillfully cooked, retaining a bit of tenderness. The meat was flavourful and excellently infused with the fragrance of the soup.
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For something more classic, get the Traditional Soup. I paired it with Fried Dory Fillet (RM16.50) and a bowl of white rice. The rich broth enveloped the salted vegetables, tomatoes and tofu. The fried fish was served on a separate side plate.
The broth was milky and seamlessly integrated with the fish and chicken bones. The soup typically contains milk and wine, but you can opt to exclude any of these based on your own preference. I ordered one without wine. After having a few sips, I realised it had a nuanced sweet and sour aftertaste.
I finally unravelled the mystery as I was almost finishing my meal— there was sour plum in the soup. The broth also had a hint of saltiness from the salted vegetables. All of the tastes were not overpowering, striking a good balance between each other.
The fried fish boasted a delightful crunch on the outside, complemented by a tender interior. I’m not sure if the fish was seasoned, but I noticed it had an alkaline taste. I felt it tasted better when paired with the cheese soup.
Final thoughts
Overall, I feel this is a good place for a hearty bowl of fish soup, and also for a reimagined classic dish. I personally prefer the Creamy Cheese Soup over the Traditional Soup as it surprised me with its light taste profile and subtle creaminess. In contrast, the latter seemed rather ordinary.
If you’re hanging around Johor Bahru and are looking for some hearty food, I recommend you to drop by Ikar Gourmet Fish Noodle. Try the Creamy Cheese Soup and tell me what you think!
Expected damage: RM13 – RM25 per pax
