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.

#1 RESTORAN AH KOONG

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

#2 HIAP JOO BAKERY

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

#3 HO SENG KEE

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

#4 RESTORAN KIN WAH

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

#6 QIN GARDEN KOPITIAM

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

With the vast availability and affordability of multiple cuisines, Singaporeans are evidently very spoilt when it comes to food. Yet, we find ourselves constantly lamenting that we do not know what to eat.

Should you ever find yourself sick of the choices in Singapore, perhaps it is time to make a trip across the causeway to savour all that Malaysia has to offer.

Johor Bahru is less than an hour away by car or bus, and is a foodie paradise with its amazing variety of street food.

From old-world Salahuddin Bakery to the obscure bustling Meldrum Night Market, here is our guide to 5 Secret Street Food Destinations in Johor Bahru, Malaysia that you should check out during your next day trip to Johor Bahru.

Read: 10 Must-Try Street Food in Johor Bahru

#1 HIAP JOO BAKERY & BISCUIT FACTORY

Family-run Hiap Joo Bakery & Biscuit Factory sells an assortment of buns and cakes, but is most famous for their freshly baked banana cakes (RM4.80 – small, RM9.50 – large). The fragrant cake is sliced into smaller portions and served in takeout plastic boxes. We love how the cake is slightly crisp on the outside, yet soft and moist inside. It was definitely one of the best banana cakes we ever had.

The wining formula behind Hiap Joo Bakery’s irresistibly delicious baked goods is no secret – they take immense pride in baking buns and cakes in their age-old traditional wood fire oven with zero artificial enhancements and preservatives. As a result, these sweet treats should ideally be consumed fresh within three days.

Do note that butter and coffee cakes are only available on Thursday mornings.

#2 HUA MUI COFFEE SHOP

Established since 1946, Hua Mui Coffee Shop is one of Johor Bahru’s oldest eateries. The unassuming two-storey shophouse is a beloved breakfast haunt amongst natives, where both Chinese and Western cuisine are prepared and served here. Pair your soft-boiled eggs and grilled kaya butter toast with an aromatic coffee brew.

Eggs and toasts aside, the halal-certified traditional shophouse’s best-selling dish is its signature Hainanese Fried Chicken Chop. In an attempt to retain Hua Mui’s enchanting old-world charm authenticity, operations have remained retro and dishes are actually being delivered upstairs with a mechanical pulley system.

#3 MELDRUM NIGHT MARKET

Walking through the hectic Meldrum Night Market is almost akin to time travel. Located just a stone’s throw away from the modern infrastructure City Square, the rundown back alley is lined up with vendors selling a a mind-boggling array of Malaysian food. From Apam Balik Pancakes to Char Kway Teow, there is so much to pig out on.

While not everyone is comfortable with the idea of sampling street food due to questionable hygiene, it is still fun to take a stroll down Meldrum Night Market. We enjoyed watching the Malaysian hawkers whip up a storm in their own stalls, and it also offers an opportunity to learn about the locals’ livelihoods!

#4 SALAHUDDIN BAKERY

Opened since 1937, Salahuddin Bakery is possibly Jalan Dhoby’s oldest occupant. While most youngsters flock to the café-saturated neighbourhood for its various new café openings, it is Salahuddin Bakery that has touched the hearts of generations with its freshly baked curry puffs and wood-fired bread loaves. We are so glad that the bakery has remained unfazed by Jalan Dhoby’s gentrification.

Salahuddin Bakery is a testimony that passion can indeed overcome all barriers – including the test of time. Majority of its loyal customers have been visiting the Indian bakery since childhood days.

Despite the convenience and availability of modern electrical and gas ovens, Saladhuddin’s descendants insist to prepare breads with their almost ancient wood fire oven to keep things like they were before.

#5 SHOON HUAT BAK KU TEH

As its name suggests, Shoon Huat Bak Ku Teh is a specialty Bak Ku Teh diner. The flavour of the pork ribs soup served here at Shoon Huat is far from the peppery ones Singaporeans are familiar with, and basically, nothing is similar to the ones we usually have. Instead, the clear broth is characterized by its distinct herbal tastes.

Similar to most Bak Ku Teh stalls, Shoon Huat offers free top-ups of soups. You can also choose to add ingredients such as fish maw and tau kee into your soup.

Read: 10 Cafes in Johor Bahru You Must Visit

About the writer:
Hui Jun Ng is a staff writer for ladyironchef. She previously worked in the food and marketing industry. She loves traveling and enjoys exploring underrated destinations. In her free time, you will find her indulging in coffee and her all time favourite local dish – bak chor mee.