When it comes to exploring Johor Bahru, there are indeed endless cafes and cool places to check out. From the café-filled enclave of Jalan Dhoby to the hipster area of Taman Mount Austin, we’d totally understand why their café food appeals to the crowd, especially with its affordability.

But there is something about local foods that no amount of rainbow-coloured, aesthetically-pleasing café grub can level up to. Cheap, delicious and providing a sense of comfort unlike any other, local food in Johor Bahru is unparalleled. Period.

If you’re sick of cafe-hopping and are just looking for a few eateries to head to and simply enjoy the likes of char koay kak, kway teow and bak kut teh, here are 12 local eateries in Johor Bahru you should head to during your next day trip.

GO NOODLE HOUSE

For comforting bowls of ban mian, head over to GO Noodle House which has multiple outlets across Malaysia. Each bowl is customisable to each diner’s liking—choose from various options of noodles, from thick to thin, spiciness level as well as whether you’d like to have your noodles in either soup or sauce.

We particularly love their Superior Soup Ban Mee (RM10.50) as the broth was fragrant and piquant. For those who prefer a drier version, the Trio Special Dark Sauce Ban Mee (RM10.50) would be a good choice as every strand of noodle is nicely coated with a sweet and savoury dark sauce.

GO Noodle House
88 Jalan Wong Ah Fook
Lot J6-10 Johor Bahru City Square Mall
Bandar Johor Bahru
80000 Johor Bahru
Johor, Malaysia
Daily: 10.30am – 10pm

SANG HENG

Nestled along the Jalan Tan Hiok Nee stretch in Johor Bahru lies Sang Heng, an age-old noodle stall that has been dishing out comforting bowls of fishball noodles for the past 50 years or so.

Their unassuming bowls of noodles are ones we could have every day for breakfast—homemade fishballs, perfectly cooked noodles and fresh minced pork, all tossed in a lovely, lip-smacking chilli sauce is what you can expect!

Sang Heng
1 Jalan Tan Hiok Nee
Bandar Johor Bahru
80000 Johor Bahru
Johor, Malaysia
Mon to Thu, Sat: 7am – 2pm
Sun: 7am – 1pm
(Closed on Friday)

HO SENG KEE WANTON NOODLES

Having been around for more than 81 years, Ho Seng Kee is an established brand among locals and even Singaporeans today. This popular dining establishment serves authentic Malaysia-style wanton mee and takes pride in making noodles from scratch in-house daily, using their own recipe.

While you’re there, make sure to try out their Handmade Pandan Mee (RM9.50), which features smooth, handmade noodles that carries a hint of pandan essence.

Ho Seng Kee
88 Jalan Wong Ah Fook
Lot J6-07 Johor Bahru City Square Mall
Bandar Johor Bahru
80000 Johor Bahru
Johor, Malaysia
Tel: +60 012 710 7140
Daily: 10am – 9pm

QIN GARDEN KOPITIAM

Helmed by an Indonesian man and chefs all being native Indonesian, Qin Garden Kopitiam is where you can indulge in a buffet of authentic Nasi Padang dishes in the likes of Beef Rendang, Assam Pedas Fish, Chicken Curry, Crisp Fried Fish and Chilli Quail Eggs which are all available from 10.30am onwards.

Their array of Nasi Padang dishes will leave you spoilt for choice but if those aren’t enough, this humble coffee shop also serves a variety of a la carte Malay dishes.

Qin Garden Kopitiam
12 Jalan Trus
Bandar Johor Bahru
80000 Johor Bahru
Johor, Malaysia
Sat to Thu: 6.30am – 4pm
(Closed on Friday)

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 traditional kaya toast and soft boiled eggs.

For those having their nasi padang, we highly recommend getting the begedil (fried potato patty) and their fried chicken. Subtly spiced and mildly charred, the begedil pairs exceptionally well with a touch of sambal.

Restoran Kin Wah
8 Jalan Trus
Bandar Johor Bahru
80000 Johor Bahru
Johor, Malaysia
Mon, Wed to Sat: 7am – 12pm
Sun: 7am – 5pm
(Closed on Tuesday)

PETALING STREET HOKKIEN MEE

Venture out into the area of Taman Mount Austin—a hipster area 25-minutes away from the checkpoint—and you’d find a handful of local eateries as well, one of which being newly-opened Petaling Street Hokkien Mee.

Their KL Hokkien Mee (RM8.50 for small) is their signature dish and for good reason. Thick noodles are stir-fried with eggs, greens, pork slices and a dark sauce to elevate the overall flavour and boasts a prominent ‘wok hei’ aroma. Other items you may look forward to, include the Spicy La La (RM15) and Yang Zhou Fried Rice (RM8.50 for small).

Petaling Street Hokkien Mee
61 Jalan Austin Heights 8/5
Taman Mount Austin
81100 Johor Bahru
Johor, Malaysia
Tel: +60 16 668 6101
Wed to Mon: 3pm – 10.30pm
(Closed on Tuesday)

168 PENANG CHAR KOAY KAK

A popular street food in Penang, Char Koay Kak is hard to find in Singapore but thankfully, Johor Bahru has at least a couple of vendors serving this delightful, fluffy goodness.

On our recent trip to JB, we stumbled upon 168 Penang Char Koay Kak—a random stall at the roadside just a street across KSL City Mall. The owner of this humble eatery hails from Penang himself, so you can bet that food here is as authentic and real-deal as it gets.

SOON SOON HENG BAK KUT TEH

Situated just opposite KSL City Mall, it takes just a short 10-minute drive to reach Soon Soon Heng Bak Kut Teh from Johor Bahru City Square. It is one of the roadside eateries and we dare say that still humble eatery serves one of the best bak kut teh around.

Each serving is customisable to your own liking in the sense that diners get to choose what goes into their own portion. The star of the show, however, is definitely their broth which boasts the perfect balance of herbal and peppery flavours.

Soon Soon Heng Bak Kut Teh
43 Jalan Serigala
Taman Abad
80250 Johor Bahru
Johor, Malaysia
Daily: 9am – 9pm

AH HUA KWAY TEOW

An old-school noodle stall, Ah Hua Kway Teow serves traditional Teochew kway teow whose pork bone broth is brewed over a charcoal stove.

The small bowl (RM8) comes with silky smooth rice noodles (kway teow), tender pork slices, thinly sliced pork kidney and liver, soaked in a flavourful broth and topped with fried shallots. You can opt for the dry version if you prefer to enjoy your soup separately with your noodles.

Ah Hua Kway Teow (Restoran Sekee)
30 Jalan Segget
Bandar Johor Bahru
80000 Johor Bahru
Johor, Malaysia
Sun to Thu: 7.30am – 2.30pm
(Closed on Friday and Saturday)

RESTORAN AH KOONG

Restoran Ah Koong is an excellent fishball noodle restaurant located in Taman Sentosa district of Johor Bahru right across the border. The casual restaurant has been dishing out fishball noodles since 1987 and is now a respectable name in the F&B industry.

There are eight noodle options for you to choose from such as Kuey Teow, QQ Fishball Noodle, Mee Hoon, Mee Pok. Diners can opt for individual bowls (RM6.30) but opt for their set meals which will give you the ultimate bang for your buck!

Restoran Ah Koong
266 Jalan Sutera
Taman Sentosa
80150 Johor Bahru
Johor, Malaysia
Tel : +607 331 3621
Daily: 6.30am – 11.30pm

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.

The star attraction of this shabby, old-school coffee shop is hands-down their Hainanese Chicken Chop (RM15.90). Sitting atop a savoury gravy with some peas and a few potato wedges, the fried chicken chop itself was crispy beyond belief without being oily.

Restoran Hua Mui
131 Jalan Trus
Bandar Johor Bahru
80000 Johor Bahru
Johor, Malaysia
Tel: +60 11-3505 8916
Daily: 8.30am – 6pm

KAM LONG CURRY FISH HEAD

Kam Long Curry Fish Head has been a top choice of many locals and Singaporeans who frequent the eatery for its affordable and delicious Curry Fish Head and for good reason.

At just S$7 for a small portion (good for 2 to 4 people), you get a huge and delicious bowl of curry packed with incredible flavours, a generous helping of fresh fish meat, vegetables and bean curd skin.

Kam Long Curry Fish Head
74 Jalan Wong Ah Fook
Bandar Johor Bahru
80000 Johor Bahru
Johor, Malaysia
Tel: +60 16-752 8382
Daily: 8am – 4pm

All Singaporeans know that Johor Bahru is the place to go when you want a short escape from all things expensive in Singapore. Everything is cheaper there — shopping, massages, transport, and most importantly, food!

There are a plethora of well-known cafes near the causeway that many of us Singaporeans love to visit. Aside from that, however, there are a number of other fantastic eateries deeper within Johor that we feel you need to check out. 

With that, here is our list of our 23 favourite cafes in Johor Bahru that you can refer to for your next day trip over the causeway.

Photo Credit: Birdfolks

ATLAS COFFEE EMBASSY 

The interior of this place is minimalistic and has great lighting to take amazing photos of your food for the gram. This place, like its name, says, is must-try for coffee as the barista behind these brews is none other than Malaysian Barista Champion JH Yee. Do try their Atlas Signature Blend coffee for an amazing coffee experience!

Taman Mount Austin
32 Jalan Austin Heights 8/7, Johor, Malaysia
Johor Bahru 81100
Tel: +60 7-358 7546
Daily: 8.30am – 7pm 

BASILICO

Basilico is a tiny Italian cafe that is neatly tucked away in the Mount Austin area. The lighting here is pretty dim — not so good for taking photos, but great if you want a cosy place to have a chill hang out session with some friends. Basilico’s aim is to sell authentic Italian food at affordable prices, and they’re definitely doing that right.

Taman Mount Austin,
17 Jalan Austin Heights 8/1, Johor, Malaysia
Johor Bahru 81100
Tel: +60 7-364 7463
Daily: 12pm – 10.30pm

BEV C

Popular industrial-themed Bev C Café is located on the upper level of a restored shophouse in Johor Bahru and it is a well-loved destination for cafe hoppers and foodies. Cool yourselves down from the scorching tropical heat with Bev C’s popular espresso Ice Cube Drink with Chocolate or dig into their best selling White Chocolate Truffle Pie.

54 Jalan Tan Hiok Nee
Johor Bahru 80000, Malaysia
Tel: +60 16-725 3530
Mon to Sun: 10am – 7pm
(Closed on Wednesdays)

BIG BITES CAFE

Big Bites Cafe is an artisanal café that is nestled within the café-filled enclave of Jalan Dhoby. Here, they specialise in coffee as well as a wide array of signature homemade Mille crepe cakes. For those of you who adore all things durian related, you need to try their Musang King Durian and it is one dessert that we would happily cross the border for in a heartbeat.

18 Jalan Ibrahim
Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Tel: +60 7221 1475
Mon to Fri: 10am – 6pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 10pm

CHAIWALLA & CO. CONTAINER CAFE

Housed in a shipping container and situated in a public parking lot, Chaiwalla & Co. Container Cafe is a hipster paradise for cafe hoppers. You should definitely stop by to try their satisfying signature iced cold Thai Milk Tea, which is a much-needed remedy to combat the sweltering heat.

Lot 2810, Tan Hiok Nee Street
Johor Bahru 80000, Malaysia
Tel: +60 12-735 3572
Sun to Thu: 12pm – 12am
Fri to Sat: 12pm – 1am

Photo Credit: Creamery_JB

CREAMERY BOUTIQUE ICE CREAMS

Creamery Boutique Ice Creams serves up some really good ice creams, but what they truly are famous for is their massive lava cookie. When they say lava, they seriously mean lava. These cookies have molten chocolate cores, so once you cut it open, thick, creamy chocolate oozes out, just like a chocolate volcano.

Taman Mount Austin
33 Jalan Austin Heights 8/3, Johor, Malaysia
Johor Bahru 81100
Tel: +60 7-362 1300
Daily: 2pm – 10pm

DING DING JI PAI

You don’t need to take a plane to Taiwan if you’re hankering for some solid Taiwanese food; all you need to do is hop over the causeway to Ding Ding Ji Pai! We absolutely love their fried chicken; it’s the real deal! They also sell scrumptious, comforting rice bowls that really hit the spot.

FACULTY OF CAFFEINE

Faculty Of Caffeine’s decor is a tasteful blend of old and new furnishings. The coffee here is brewed with 100% Arabica beans and served in unique takeout cups that resemble eye charts. They also have a wide range of delicious brunch foods that tastes great with the coffee.

106, Jalan Trus, Bandar Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru 80000, Malaysia
Tel: +60 16-713 2714
Daily: 9am – 5.30pm

FLOWERS IN THE WINDOW

Flowers In The Window is a cosy, picturesque cafe that promises a mixture of great food, beautiful interiors and Insta-worthy beverages. Boasting an indoor garden with rustic touches, the charming double-storey café has won the hearts of many ladies who make it a point to take their OOTDs there before leaving.

9, Jalan Dhoby,
Bandar Johor Bahru,
80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Mon to Sun: 10am – 8pm
(Closed on Tuesdays)

Photo Credit: gCafemtaustin

GCAFE

gCafe offers a wide variety of western style food such as salads, pasta, sandwiches, burgers and cakes. Our favourite dishes here has to be the Soft Shell Crab Pasta. They do their desserts and drinks really well too, and some of their customer favourites are the Lemon Cheesecake, Rosa Cafe Latte, Banana Crepe and Creme Brulee.

Taman Mount Austin
147, Jln Mutiara Emas 10/19, Johor, Malaysia
Johor Bahru 81100
Tel: +60 7-362 1261
Daily: 11am – 11pm

Photo Credit: muhdazizulhakim

JUST WANT COFFEE HOMIES 

Our favourite thing here at Just Want Coffee Homies has to be their brunch sets, which comprise a wide array of delicious brunch delights such as bagels, eggs, bacon and sausages. They also serve really good coffee, drinks and desserts such as Hot Sizzling Brownie and their Rose Latte.

Taman Molek,
Jalan Molek 1/27, Johor, Malaysia,
Johor Bahru 81100
Tel: +60 7-361 3338
Sun to Thur: 8.30am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 8.30am – 11.30pm

LA’FARINE

La’Farine is a gorgeous, newly-opened cafe in Mount Austin that serves up a delicious array of Western and local fare. They are also popular for their sinful, French-inspired desserts and freshly baked pastries that will definitely perk you up.

Photo Credit: Lamuse Coffee

LAMUSE  COFFEE 

Lamuse Coffee is a cosy cafe that serves western, Japanese and local fare for very cheap prices. Some classic local food that you should try here is their Nasi Lemak and Satay Chicken With Rice. They also have a newly launched Japanese menu that has classics such as Omurice Curry With Chicken Karaage and Chicken Katsu Curry.

Taman Desu Tebrau
28, Jalan Harmonium 23/13, Johor, Malaysia
Johor Bahru 81100
Tel: +60 7-351 8838
Daily: 7.30am – 6pm

LET’S GET CEREAL

This cereal-centric café is the perfect place to be at if you want to relive your childhood days. Here, they have over 20 local and imported cereal brands to choose from as well as a variety of flavoured milk to go with your cereal, making for one heck of a breakfast experience.

18, Jalan Dhoby, Bandar Johor Bahru
80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Tel: +60 13-757 0703
Daily: 10am – 10pm

MACO CAFE AND BAKERY

This spacious, casual cafe specialises in traditional French pastries such as Mille Crêpes and Valrhona Chocolate Fondant Cake. They also dish out savoury French dishes and you can delight yourself in their all-time favourite Croque-Madame and other aromatic quiches.

65, Jalan Sutera Tanjung 8/2, Taman Sutera Utama
81300 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
Tel: +60 13-727 3366
Mon to Thu: 11.30am – 11pm
Fri to Sun: 11am – 11.30pm

MOK MOK BRUNCH AND BISTRO 

Mok Mok Brunch and Bistro is a gorgeous garden-themed cafe and here, they serve a mix of western and Asian fare which include rice bowls, burgers, soba, and brunch sets. A must-try has to be their signature Gyutan Bowl and for desserts, do try their famous Kumo Ultimo —  amazing pillowy cream cheese souffle pancakes that will satisfy any sweet tooth!

78, Jalan Pingai, Taman Pelangi
80400 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Tel: +60 18-270 6068
Daily: 11.30am – 11.30pm

OUR TOAST OUR TIMES

Our Toast Our Times is an old school cafe tucked away in a crevice of Mount Austin that serves up an array of comforting local and fusion dishes that sure to pique your interest. Ever thought of having both bacon and Nutella in your sandwich? That’s the kind of interesting food you can expect from this place!

Jalan Austin Heights 8/5, Taman Mount Austin
Johor Bahru 81100
Daily: 8.30am – 6pm

SHAKESPEARE MILKSHAKES

Shakespeare Milkshakes is the brainchild of the people behind The Replacement Lodge & Kitchen and this Scandinavian style cafe is a wonderful addition to the hipster enclave in Johor Bahru. Here, they specialise in decadent milkshakes, iced teas as well as a range of savoury croffles (croissant pressed between a waffle iron).

9 Jalan Trus
Johor Bahru 80000
Tel: +60 16 421 8530
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 11pm
Sat & Sun: 12pm – 12am

TASTEA

This rustic western cafe at Mount Austin serves up a variety of scrumptious nosh that is sure to warm both the heart and the belly. Besides their delicious brunch items, they also serve up some pretty damn good waffles that will leave you craving for more.

49, Jalan Austin Height 8/5
Taman Mount Austin, Tebrau, 81100
Tel: +60 010-766 0138
Mon to Thu: 12am – 4.30pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Fri to Sun: 12am – 4.30pm, 5.30pm – 11pm

Photo Credit: The Alley Malaysia 

THE ALLEY MOUNT AUSTIN 

The Alley makes their own in-house tea to ensure that they stand out from their competitors. A popular bubble tea item here would be their Royal No.9 Milk Tea, but what really got us excited are their Aurora Series drinks — Northern Lights and Morning Sunshine fruit beverages, which are the prettiest, most mesmerising drinks we have ever seen.

Taman Austin Heights
Jalan Austin Heights 1/8, Johor, Malaysia
Johor Bahru 81100
Tel: +60 16-726 9343
Daily: 11am – 1am

THE CHEESE LAB

Newly opened The Cheese Lab specialises in decadent, sinful cheesecakes that taste like a little piece of heaven. Aside from their cakes, they also have a variety of fruity, refreshing drinks that are perfect to combat the scorching heat.

39 Jalan Austin Heights 8/5
Taman Mount Austin, Johor Bahru 81100
Daily: 1pm – 11pm

THE REPLACEMENT LODGE AND KITCHEN

The Replacement Lodge & Kitchen is a café illuminated by its harmonious combination of white pastel presence and rustic wooden furniture. Not only is the overall design of the place visuaully pleasing, the food served here is pretty damn solid as well and this winning combination makes it the perfect cafe to chill and unwind at while on your day trip to Johor Bahru. 

33, 34 Jalan Dhoby
Johor Bahru 80000, Malaysia
Tel: +60 12-547 7885
Mon to Thu: 10am – 6pm
Fri to Sun: 9am – 11pm

VANILLA BEAN

Vanilla Bean is a speciality coffee shop and patisserie as well as an excellent addition to Johor Bahru’s luxurious integrated marina, Senibong Cove. The cosy third-wave café has a menu that includes Asian-inspired waffles, espresso beverages, artisanal cakes and a splendid selection of all-day brunch items.

Blk B, Pangsapuri Pinggiran Air
No.2 Persiaran Senibong,
Johor Bahru 81750
Tel: +60 7-380 4900
Sun to Tue: 8.30am – 6.30pm
(Closed on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays)

If you’ve ever travelled to Europe, you’ll understand the joy that walking up to a pastry stand would entail. The aroma of freshly baked bread comes second to none and the endless varieties of brightly coloured tarts and pastries never fails to seduce the senses. Over at La’Farine located in JB’s Taman Mount Austin, you can experience just that with their many numerous French desserts and pastries.

For the love of Western pastries, local delicacies and everything in between, this is one place to visit to kickstart your JB day trip proper. For first-timers, Taman Mount Austin is just a short 15-minute drive from the checkpoint. We suggest hailing a cab or booking yourself a GRAB because it’s literally impossible to walk there.

Combining the best of Western bakeries and Malaysia’s local cuisine, La’Farine offers diners a well-rounded experience. We took a gamble and went for their Rendang Nasi Lemak (RM15.90) as opposed to the more conventional version.

There was nothing to complain about. The rice was fluffy and aromatic, the sambal was fresh, piquant and sweet and the chicken rendang was hearty, flavourful and extremely tender. The rendang gravy was thick, full-flavoured and paired exceptionally well with the rice.

A fried chicken rice dish stemming from Eastern Java, the Ayam Penyet Rice (RM14.90) impressed with its brilliantly seasoned, super crispy skin.

The chicken was succulent and the exterior, although crispy, was not oily at all. Served alongside it was a halved calamansi fruit which, when squeezed over top, gave the fried chicken a nice citrusy zing.

Their dessert selection is seriously off the charts. They have anything from cakes, crème brûlée, tarts and freshly baked bread with a selection of jams to pair with it. Many of the desserts seem to draw its influences from classic French recipes, especially their La’Farine Classic Dessert (RM15.90).

Without even taking a second to ponder, the wait staff confidently recommended it. Comprising layers of almond dacquoise—basically, a meringue made using almonds—fresh cream, diced fruits, toasted and toasted almonds, this dessert impressed with its many interesting textures underscored by a fruity, creamy decadence.

La’Farine (Taman Mount Austin) Jalan Austin Heights 8/1, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru Tel: +60 19-343 1415 Mon to Sun: 9am – 12am Tue: 11am – 10pm

Offering diners a spacious, charming respite from the midday heat, humble cafe, Restoran Tastea is one that deserves a stopover when exploring the cafe-laden enclave of Taman Mount Austin. Their menu focuses heavily on Western dishes, leaning more towards Italian comfort food with their wide spectrum of pasta dishes from the humble linguine to risotto.

If you’re on the prowl for a decent cafe-style brunch, we highly recommend coming here. Their food is delicious, portion sizes generous and above all, much more worth paying for than a cafe back in Singapore.

Hankering after a basic yet satisfying egg-forward dish, we settled for the Omelette with Mushrooms (RM16.90) over its slightly more expensive counterpart, smoked salmon.

Enriched with butter (lots of it), the omelette delighted with its savoury, creamy appeal. The flavour was spot on, striking a good balance between salty and creamy, nicely contrasting with the garlicky mushrooms served over top.

Their drinks menu is quite possibly one of the most elaborate we’ve ever come across with a healthy selection of classic coffee styles and some pretty unusual offerings. Feeling an itch for something sugary, we chose the Popcorn Latte (RM14.90).

In this fancy mix, the humble latte is topped with a mound of whipped cream before caramel popcorn is speckled around and over the glass. Taste-wise there was nothing spectacular. It was what it was, latte, whipped cream and caramel popcorn, that besides looking pretty in photos, didn’t possess much gastronomic value.

Restoran Tastea
49, Jln Austin Height 8/5,
81100 Johor Bahru,
Johor, Malaysia
Tel: +60 7-665 1538
(Closed on Thursdays)
Mon to Wed: 12pm – 10pm
Fri to Sun: 12pm – 11pm

No trip to Malaysia is complete without a piping-hot plate of KL-style Hokkien mee stall.

Brimming with intense charred flavours and heady wok hei aroma, the famous KL version is special in that it is stir-fried over a charcoal flame and is infused (heavily) with pork fat, a smattering of crispy golden pork lard and a dark soy sauce that gives it its signature dark colour.

While prowling the food-laden streets of Taman Mount Austin in JB in search of solid local Malaysian fare, we stumbled upon Petaling Street Hokkien Mee—or Lai Noodle House as they are also called—an unassuming eatery specialising in Malaysian-style zi char. Only a few days old when we visited, their food was remarkable

Boasting a smoky aroma and a myriad of savoury flavours, the KL Hokkien Mee (RM8.50) is not one to skip. Stir-fried to dark, caramelised perfection, each mouthful greets you with little surprises of crunchy lard morsels and a sweet, lip-smacking caramelised flavour courtesy of the dark sauce added.

The noodle variety used is also thicker (similar to Japanese udon) allowing more sauce to latch on and giving the dish more chew.

Adorned with many vibrant colours from bits of char siew, prawn, diced green onions and egg, the Yang Zhou Fried Rice (RM8.50) is great to have if you’re just looking for something simple to fill the tummy.

Their rendition of the popular Chinese fried rice dish is lighter in flavour and not as oily, which serves as a good option if you should decide to order cooked dishes to try.

A dish we were recommended to try was their Spicy La La (RM15), which ironically was disappointing, to say the least. Albeit the clams were fresh, the dish itself was bland tasting save for subtle hints of curry leaves, chilli and garlic.

Petaling Street Hokkien Mee
61 Jalan Austin Heights 8/5
Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru
Johor, Malaysia
Daily: 10am – 3pm, 5.30pm – late

While Johor Bahru’s charm lies in its local food-packed nooks and crevices, it also has a massive hipster café scene to boast.

With an array of innovative and somewhat exotic creations that give even the most ambitious cafés here in Singapore a run for their money, we must say that when it comes to proper café-hopping, Johor Bahru is one great place to start—not to mention that prices are way cheaper there.

For the hipsters and those looking to liven up their social media accounts with pretty pictures and ever ready to try unconventional creations, this is for you. Here is our list of 11 cafés in Johor Bahru that’ll make your day trip worthwhile.

BEV C

Industrial-themed Bev C Café is located on the upper level of a restored shophouse and is definitely one of the most well-known cafés in Johor Bahru. Cool yourselves down from the scorching heat with Bev C’s popular espresso Ice Cube Drink with Chocolate or dig into their best selling White Chocolate Truffle Pie.

54 Jalan Tan Hiok Nee
Johor Bahru 80000, Malaysia
Tel: +60 16-725 3530
(Closed on Wednesdays)
Mon to Sun: 10am – 7pm

BIG BITES CAFÉ

Nestled within the café-filled enclave of Jalan Dhoby, Big Bites Cafe is an artisanal café in Johor Bahru that specialises in coffee as well as a wide array of signature homemade Mille crepe cakes.

For those of you who adore all things durian related, the Musang King Durian (RM12.50++) is just the thing you need to perk you up. Boasting a strong aroma of durian, this is one dessert we would happily cross the border for in a heartbeat.

18 Jalan Ibrahim
Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Tel: +60 7221 1475
Daily: 9am – 7pm

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CHAIWALLA & CO. CONTAINER CAFE

Housed in a shipping container and situated in a public parking lot, Chaiwalla & Co. Container Cafe is a paradise for all hipster café lovers. You should definitely stop by to try their signature iced cold Thai Milk Tea—a much needed remedy to combat the sweltering heat—or simply grab a bite.

Lot 2810, Tan Hiok Nee Street
Johor Bahru 80000, Malaysia
Tel: +60 12-735 3572
Sun to Thu: 12pm – 12am
Fri to Sat: 12pm – 1am

FACULTY OF CAFFEINE

Faculty Of Caffeine’s decor is a tasteful blend of old and new furnishings. Coffee here is brewed with 100% Arabica beans and served in unique takeout cups that resemble eye charts. While their all-day brunch menu does not serve pork or lard, it is important to note that the café is ultimately not Halal-certified.

Note that Faculty Of Caffeine’s Google Map location is currently wrong and we suggest you follow the coordinates 1.460700, 103.763443 instead.

106, Jalan Trus, Bandar Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru 80000, Malaysia
Tel: +60 16-713 2714
Daily: 9am – 5.30pm

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FLOWERS IN THE WINDOW

A cosy space to escape the overbearing midday heat, Flowers In The Window is one that promises a mixture of great food, beautiful interiors and Insta-worthy beverages.

Boasting an indoor garden with rustic touches, their beverages also adhere to the stunning flowery theme. The charming double-storey café has won the hearts of many ladies who make it a point to take their OOTDs there before leaving.

9, Jalan Dhoby,
Bandar Johor Bahru,
80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
(Closed on Tuesdays)
Mon to Sun: 10am – 8pm

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LET’S GET CEREAL

This cereal-centric café is where you get to feel like a kid all over again with over 20 local and imported cereal brands to choose from. Not only that, there are even options of flavoured milk to go with your cereal, making for one heck of a breakfast experience.

The humble cereal shop has their own clothing label so feel free to browse through some trendy clothing between spoonfuls.

Aeon Tebrau City
Level Two
Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Tel: +60 13-757 0703
Daily: 10am – 10pm

MACO CAFÉ & BAKERY

Maco Café & Bakery is a spacious casual eatery that specialises in traditional French pastries such as Mille Crêpes and Valrhona Chocolate Fondant Cake.

Several savoury French classic dishes are also available on the menu and you can delight yourself in the all-time favourite Croque-Madame and other aromatic quiches.

65, Jalan Sutera Tanjung 8/2, Taman Sutera Utama
81300 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
Tel: +60 13-727 3366
Mon to Thu: 11.30am – 11pm
Fri to Sun: 11am – 11.30pm

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MOK MOK BRUNCH & BISTRO

Escape from the mayhem of city life to this beautiful garden-themed café that is just 15 minutes drive away from the checkpoint.

At Mok Mok Brunch & Bistro, guests can look forward to fresh produce that are sourced from local farms and an exciting range of rice bowls and aesthetically pleasing desserts that are sure to impress.

78, Jalan Pingai, Taman Pelangi
Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Tel: +60 18 270 6068
Daily: 11.30am – 11.30pm

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SHAKESPEARE MILKSHAKES

From the folks that brought you The Replacement Lodge & Kitchen and Faculty of Caffeine, Shakespeare Milkshakes is a wonderful addition to the hipster enclave in Johor Bahru. This Scandinavian-style café specialises in decadent milkshakes (not meant for full stomachs).

Besides sweet treats, look forward to a range of savoury croffles (croissant pressed between a waffle iron) and a wide selection of hot beverages and iced tea that will keep you coming back for more.

9 Jalan Trus
Johor Bahru 80000
Tel: +60 16 421 8530
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 11pm
Sat & Sun: 12pm – 12am

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THE REPLACEMENT – LODGE & KITCHEN

Run by the same team that manages Faculty Of Caffeine, The Replacement – Lodge & Kitchen is a café illuminated by its harmonious combination of white pastel presence and rustic wooden furniture.

Food and beverages served here deserve a thumbs up and we thoroughly enjoyed the Croque Madame and Red Ranger Juice.

33, 34 Jalan Dhoby
Johor Bahru 80000, Malaysia
Tel: +60 12-547 7885
Mon to Thu: 10am – 6pm
Fri to Sun: 9am – 11pm

VANILLA BEAN

Speciality coffee shop and patisserie Vanilla Bean is an excellent addition to Johor Bahru’s luxurious integrated marina, Senibong Cove.

The cosy third-wave café has a menu that includes Asian-inspired waffles, espresso beverages, artisanal cakes and a splendid selection of all-day brunch items. Their Ole Ole Waffle—an ondeh ondeh style waffle topped with gula melaka sauce, ice-cream and pandan ganache—is absolutely to die for.

Blk B, Pangsapuri Pinggiran Air
No.2 Persiaran Senibong,
Johor Bahru 81750
Tel: +60 7-380 4900
Mon to Thu: 9am – 8pm
Fri to Sun: 9am – 11pm

Words by: Alvin Tan
Edited by: Julee Ooi

For more recommendations, read our Johor Bahru guides to discover the best places to visit.

Johor Bahru is a popular travel destination for many Singaporeans. Be it a day trip or a short weekend getaway, Johor Bahru is a haven for one to indulge, have fun and pamper yourself like royalty, regardless of age and interest.

From cheap local eats to fun group activities, Johor Bahru is never a boring place where you will run out of things to do. For those who have been frequenting Johor Bahru and are running out of ideas to do on your next trip, here are some recommendations on what to eat, do and see in Johor Bahru.

WHAT TO EAT IN JOHOR BAHRU

A food hunt in Johor Bahru is always fun, especially when it comes to the wallet-friendly local food, charming cafes and bustling night markets.

CAFÉS BEYOND THE AESTHETICS

The area around the Johor Bahru immigration checkpoint is getting increasingly populated with cafés that cater to the youngsters who often visit this region.

For those who are looking to café hop in Johor Bahru, there are several cafés just a few minutes drive away from the customs that are definitely worth checking out—from aesthetically-pleasing interiors to quality grub, venture deeper into the city and you would be amazed by what you can find.

Mok Mok Brunch & Bistro, L. Table and Ink N Water are some cafés situated not more than 15-minutes drive from the checkpoint that are worth a visit.

EATERIES THAT WILL NOT DISAPPOINT

If you are not one for cafés, fret not because we assure you that the local food in Johor Bahru is to die for.

Should you be a fan of curry fish head, Kam Long Curry Fish Head is a must-try if you are in Johor Bahru—the S$7 portion can feed up to 4 people.

Soon Soon Heng Bak Kut Teh is also somewhere you would keep going back to even after your first visit. All we can say is that if the stall was to open in Singapore, we would have it every week.

NIGHT MARKETS FOR STREET FOOD

Feeling hungry at 11pm? Johor Bahru has plenty of night markets for you to satiate your hunger with their local street food.

One great night market for those who are always hanging around the area close to Johor Bahru City Square is Meldrum Night Market. Nestled in a back alley behind Jalan Wong Ah Fook, this night market has an array of mouth-watering delicacies to offer.

WHAT TO DO IN JOHOR BAHRU

Besides café hopping, body massages and shopping, there are multitudinous activities that are excellent for families and friends to take part in.

Photo Credit: Laser Battle

Battle your family or friends in a round of Laser Tag at Laser Battle. Conveniently located on the 4th storey of Johor Bahru City Square, this place makes sweating it out enjoyable.

Costing no more than S$10 for a game, this place is perfect for families with children to have a bonding session that will forge great memories, as well as for a group of friends looking for some fun.

Laser Battle
Lot MS-11, Johor Bahru City Square, 108
Jalan Wong Ah Fook, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Tel: +60 07 207 0179

Photo Credit: Blue Ice Skating Rink

Johor Bahru recently opened its largest mall, Paradigm Mall which is located just a 20-minute drive away from Woodlands Causeway. Not only does it boast a myriad of food outlets and retail stalls, it also has a huge ice skating rink on its 3rd storey.

Escape from the glaring heat outdoors, put on some blades, and have fun at Blue Ice Skating Rink in Paradigm Mall. You can rent a pair of ice skates at RM25 on weekdays and RM30 on weekends.

Blue Ice Skating Rink
3F-30 Paradigm Mall
Taman Bukit Mewah, Johor Bahru Malaysia
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Tel: +60 11 6230 0366

Photo Credit: TGV Beanie

For those who want to relax after a long day of shopping and eating, TGV Cinemas has taken the movie-going experience a notch up with their Beanieplex, where you get to watch movies while lying on bean bags—you really cannot get more cosy than that!

The beanie movie hall is available at AEON, Tebrau City Shopping Centre, which is just a 10-minute drive away from Johor Bahru City Square. The only downside to the Beanieplex is that there is a minimum booking for two people, so bring a date or your mate along!

TGV Cinema
1 Jalan Desa Tebrau,
S01, 2nd Floor, AEON Tebrau City Shopping Centre
Taman Desa Tebrau, Johor Bahru Malaysia

TURN YOUR DAY TRIP INTO A STAYCATION

Most of us (if not all) will be able to relate to the disappointment that comes inevitably at the end of the trip. Some may consider extending the trip beyond a day and treat themselves to an impromptu staycation.

Thankfully, Johor Bahru is home to plenty of hotels with incredible amenities and some are rather affordable. For those looking for hotel rooms that will not break your bank, here are 13 hotels in Johor Bahru under S$150 you may wish to consider.

Opened by successful bakery chain Lavender, L.table is a full-service western restaurant in Johor Bahru that is part of a multi-concept space (also comprising the bakery, bistro and a cafe) at their Taman Pelangi Flagship store.

L.table’s team of chefs are trained to whip up hearty western-style dishes that are not overly pretentious yet presentable so it looks atheistically pleasing to the eyes. The restaurant prides itself on using only the best quality of ingredients that are all natural with the likes of organic Himalayan rock salt, free-range chicken and bronze-wire cut Italian pastas.

The dimly lit restaurant’s cosy ambience makes it a great spot for celebrating special occasions among couples and friends but you should also expect to be seated amongst large group of families as the wholesome food there can be enjoyed by both the young and old.

Starting off with a light appetiser, the Hearty Chicken Chowder (RM12.30) is a comforting option that came with generous bits of ingredients such as carrots, potatoes and peas so you know you are getting more than just plain soup.

While the soup was delicious, the same could not be said about the complimentary buttered bread that came with it—the toast was hard and even dipping it into the soup was futile.

The “Har Jiong” Chicken Burger (RM20.75) takes on an Asian approach which we appreciated. For those who are not familiar with Chinese cooking, ‘har cheong’ is essentially fermented shrimp paste and it is widely used for marinating chicken to make prawn paste chicken.

We were impressed with how succulent and full-flavoured the chicken patties were and the substantial meal came with piping hot deep-fried fries as well.

For something light to nibble on, we would highly recommend the Lemongrass Chicken Wings (RM15.10). Highly aromatic from the spices used to coat the chicken wings, the layer of fried skin offers a combustion of sweet, savoury and garlicky flavours.

Moving onto what will please the sweet tooths—desserts! Among the decent selection of desserts, we went for the Chantilly Cream Pancakes (RM19.80) which came with three stacked pancakes drizzled with chocolate sauce and topped off with a dollop of Chantilly cream. Alongside some nuts, you will also find various cut fruits such as strawberries, blueberries and bananas.

Those who are keen on dropping by have to take note that there is a minimum spending of one order per person (starter, side, main or dessert).

L.table by Lavender
64, 66 & 68, Jalan Serampang
Taman Pelangi
Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Tel: +60 07 339 1333
Mon to Fri: 11am – 4pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 5pm, 6pm – 11pm

Along the popular street of Jalan Dhoby, lies Flowers in the Window, a gorgeous garden-themed café by the folks behind Roost just a couple of units down on the same street. Jalan Dhoby is known to have some of Johor Bahru’s best cafés and the street is just a stone’s throw away from the border.

After clearing the immigration, you can easily walk over to the street and enjoy a huge range of popular restaurants and cafés. Flowers in the Window is hard to miss. Their gorgeous exterior is decorated with plants and so much greenery that you will feel like you are stepping into a secret garden café.

This stunning café occupies two levels. Level one features their main café area where the baristas do their magic with a few seated tables. Level two is the roof of the two-storey building and it features comfortable sofa seats in a spacious area.

This whimsical café is a sight to behold. Every corner of it is Insta-worthy and beautiful.

We waited around 20 minutes on a Saturday afternoon and was promptly seated on the first floor. During a second visit, we managed to snag a seat on the top floor sofa seats.

The first floor had an open kitchen and you can watch the baristas whip up your drink of choice while you marvel at the greenery within the café.

Flowers in the Window rotate their cake and dessert offerings every day. During our first visit, we went for one that stood out most to us–Earl Grey Cake (RM14). This grey cake was a sight to behold and it actually tasted even better, much to our surprise.

The buttercream on the outside was done just right, slightly sweet without overpowering the taste of the actual cake. The cake had a cake pop-like texture but the taste was just fantastic!

Flowers in the Window is definitely a place that you have to visit the next time you go for a day trip to Johor Bahru.

Flowers in the Window
9, Jalan Dhoby, Bandar Johor Bahru
80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Tel: +60 7-222 7489
Wed to Mon: 10pm – 8pm
Closed: Tuesday

For more recommendations, read our Johor Bahru guides to discover the best places to go to.