A journey beyond the shopping malls
If you’re fed up with the usual, crowded shopping malls in Johor Bahru, it’s time you ventured deeper into the state for a real, raw culinary adventure.
Tucked away in Batu Pahat, there’s a local uncle who’s been busy flipping crispy, handmade roti canai for 36 years. He runs this humble stall, Su Wei Xiang Vegetarian, and honestly, the speed he works at every single morning is just ridiculous.
He shapes and flips every piece by hand with a rhythm that makes it look way easier than it actually is.
Breathtaking speed and skills
This guy only opens for three and a half hours, from 7:00 AM to 10:30 AM, Wednesday to Sunday.
It’s a super tight window, so if you’re a late riser, you’re definitely missing out. He works non-stop, feeding a constant line of hungry regulars.
He’s pushing out around 400 pieces a day, averaging about 100 every hour. Watching him is a total performance; he’ll throw the dough high into the air, laughing, and tell you he has to “dance” just to get the texture right.
True meaning of vegetarian
There’s a massive debate bubbling online right now because of one specific ingredient. The uncle keeps his main dough strictly egg-free to respect traditional Asian vegetarian rules.
In local Chinese Buddhist customs, pure vegetarian food can’t have eggs. However, he keeps a carton on his counter just for those who specifically ask for an egg-roti. It’s funny watching people argue about it.
Modern Western-style vegetarians usually don’t care, but the local traditionalists think having eggs anywhere near the stall is crossing a line.
Meat-free gravy and nostalgia
Because it’s a strict vegetarian spot, your crispy roti may come with a savory vegetable dhal instead of the usual chicken or mutton curry. Honestly, it’s much better.
The nostalgia hits hard with the price, too. The uncle remembers selling a plain roti for just RM0.40 when he first started decades ago. Today, it’s still an absolute steal at RM1.90, or RM2.90 if you add an egg.
Pin this for your next weekend road trip north, but seriously, don’t show up on a Monday or Tuesday unless you want to find the place locked up.
Watch the video here:
@notboringkl Vegetarian Roti Canai 36 Years！！！ 📍Su Wei Xiang Vegetarian (Batu Pahat) #food #foodie #localfood #streetfood #boringkl
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