As much as Singapore remains the foodie capital of the world, there is still much that our country’s diverse culinary landscape lacks in. Either they have been lost through time, or people’s preferences simply changed. Thankfully, much of these iconic foods are still very much alive in our neighbouring state, Johor Bahru.
If you are thinking of taking a day trip out to Johor Bahru without any intention of driving, then here are a few eateries for you to check out that are mostly easy to get to on foot.
From tasty nasi padang that promises to fire up your palate, an age-old bakery with the best banana cake in the country (supposedly) to good ol’ local breakfast dishes, here is our Johor Bahru day trip food itinerary.
A bowl of fishball noodles works wonders when you are craving for something light and comforting. Right across the border, there is an excellent fishball noodle restaurant located in the Taman Sentosa district of Johor Bahru by the name of Restoran Ah Koong.
At Restoran Ah Koong Prices are kept affordable and servings are generous to boot. What we love most about their food is the high-quality ingredients that they use—their fishballs contain no preservatives at all!
Out of all their many noodle options, we urge you to get their black noodles which are springy, tasty and aromatic thanks to the addition of fried pork lard.
266 Jalan Sutera
Taman Sentosa, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Tel : +607 331 3621
Daily: 6.30am – 11.30pm
An old-school bakery that remains, till this day, a hit among both locals and Singaporeans alike is Hiap Joo Bakery & Biscuit Factory. Just a stone’s throw away from the customs, this humble bakery shop is never seen without a queue and for a good reason too—they are known to have the best banana cake in Johor Bahru!
13 Jalan Tan Hiok Nee
Johor Bahru
Tel: +60 7 223 1703
Mon to Sat: 7.30am – 5.30pm
Sun: 8.30am – 12pm
If you have yet to try authentic Malaysian-style wanton mee, one popular dining establishment to try it at is Ho Seng Kee which is conveniently located in City Square Mall. The wanton noodle house takes pride in making noodles from scratch in-house daily, using their own recipe.
What is interesting about Ho Seng Kee is that they also serve other creative styles of noodles such as their Homemade Pandan Mee. With both the classic and modern wanton noodle creations under one roof, you will never run out of options at this casual dining restaurant.
108, Jalan Wong Ah Fook
Level 6, City Square Johor Bahru Shopping Mall
Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Tel: +60 012 710 7140
Daily: 10am – 9pm
Restoran Kin Wah is a popular breakfast haunt that both locals and tourists flock to. Nestled along the foodie haven of Jalan Trus, this unassuming coffee shop serves up excellent nasi padang as well as kaya toast and soft boiled eggs that are pretty decent too.
Conveniently located right opposite the popular, Hiap Joo bakery and biscuit factory, there is no excuse why you should give this cheap and good breakfast spot a miss.
8, Jalan Trus, Bandar Johor Bahru,
80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Daily: 7am – 12pm
#5 RESTORAN HUA MUI
Nestled along the foodie haven of Jalan Tras and Jalan Dhoby lies Restoran Hua Mui, an old-school coffee shop that is said to be the birthplace of the original, authentic Hainanese chicken chop.
Although it may look unattractive at first glance, this shabby two-storey coffee shop is a huge hit among locals and tourists alike, who often pack it full from as early as 9 in the morning. From their popular charcoal grilled butter and kaya toast to other Eastern and Western food offerings, there is bound to be something to satisfy your craving.
Located just 15 minutes away from City Square Mall, Restoran Hua Mui is one spot that visiting Singaporeans should all check out to kick-start their day proper.
131, Jalan Trus, Bandar Johor Bahru,
80000 Johor Bahru,
Johor, Malaysia
Tel: +60 11-3505 8916
(Closed on Sundays)
Mon to Sat: 8.30am – 6pm
It’s hard not to love a dish as iconic as nasi padang. Essentially, it is plain rice with a smorgasbord of mouthwatering ingredients from saucy treats to fried delights ladled over top. Finding its roots all the way from Indonesia, Johor Bahru is no stranger to housing some of the best (and most affordable) nasi padang joints around.
Qin Garden Kopitiam along Jalan Trus is an absolute must-visit should you find the need to over-indulge. Do not let the simple hawker-like façade deceive you. The array of Nasi Padang dishes at Qin Garden Kopitiam will leave you with some tough decisions to make. Some of the eye-catching ones include Kupang (mussels fried in chilli and spices), Beef Rendang, Assam Pedas Fish, Chicken Curry, Crisp Fried Fish and Quail Eggs cooked in a spicy chilli paste.
12, Jalan Trus, Bandar Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru 80000
(Closed on alternate Tuesdays)
Daily: 7am – 6pm