Johor Food trail

Johor Food trail shares about our best food.
Friends visiting our blog know SengkangBabies enjoy road trips up North, but we purposely avoid “notorious” places like Johor and Petaling Jaya (PJ).

When we visited Kidzania at PJ, we dine in and around the hotel, never venturing out. The nagging fear for us is to return to an empty parking slot, where our car was supposed to be!

Back to Johor, we know they have a lot of good and cheap food, but we are more acquainted with Legoland haha. Before the kids came out, we used to drive to Taman Sentosa on the spur of the moment and enjoy butter clayfish or BBQ sotong or whatever.

After the kids pop out, and with negative media coverage of crimes, snatch thefts, car jacking etc, it put a brake to our Johor trips. Even non-original DVDs and wildboar meat (野味) could not lure Daddy over.

Johor Food trail
Johor Food trail

Fast forward to 2013, we partner Heng Family and Tan Family on a Johor food trail recently. Heng Family are regular explorers in Johor Bahru.

And most importantly, we have Johor Kaki‘s blog for reference.

Tony’s food recommendation and GPS locations make it hard to miss good food in Johor, and Johor Bahru is easily 2.5 times bigger than Singapore 🙂

For our virgin Food Trail, we will only focus on Johor Bahru precinct (the capital of Johor).
KSL Resort hotel was our rest point over 3D2N stay. The ground floors belongs to KSL City, good for shopping and food.

We will share more about KSL hotel later, but you need to know that 2min across this hotel, lies more GOOD food !
Food outlets opposite KSL city, good food near KSL

There are a lot of F&B options in KSL city, but we strongly encourage you to be adventurous and walk across the street for some delectable street food.

In our First blog post, we will only feature the Street food which we consumed over 3D2N.
F&B restaurant KSL city, restaurant in Johor KSL

Day 1 Lunch – There are a few famous Bak Ku Teh in Johor, but none is nearer to KSL city than “Soon Soon Heng”. (Our favourite is Hwa Mei)

Name: Soon Soon Heng Bak Kut Teh Restoran (顺顺兴肉骨茶)
Address: 43, Jalan Serigala, Taman Abad, 80250 Johor Bahru
GPS: 1.486233,103.761647
Rating : 3.5/5

Good Bak Ku Teh Johor, Johor Bak Ku Teh review

The Bak Ku Teh (pork ribs) is more herbal than pepperish. Although the stall is seldom empty, waiting time is bearable. Kids must be hungry, we finish every last drop.

Daddy thought the meat was a tad too tough, and kids have problem chewing. We spent 44Rm for 2 adults and 4 kids, really value for money (read cheap).

Day 1 Dinner – Mixed rice dinner

We are still new with exploring Johor Bahru, so we went back to the row of eateries across KSL City (Same as our Bak Kut Teh lunch). Malaysia’s mixed rice is buffet style, you pick your own servings and gravy, and the boss will give you a price. The food might not look appetising, but do not let it deceive you.

Mixed rice is many office workers stable food option, as it reminds us of home-cooked food.

Char Kway Teow and soupy Yee Mian noodle. Daddy and Mummy wanted to try out everything. You can view Heng family’s satay here.
Recommend soup Kway Teow Johor

After our dinner, we were hunting for Tang Yuan to celebrate Dong Zhi (冬至汤圆), but alas no luck. We end up with some fusion dessert at BlackBall.

Day 2.1 – Md. Salleh is a plain looking shop. They do not serve fancy Roti Canai (or pratas), but their plain and egg servings are good. Crispy, paper thin foils, with a little burnt corners.

Name: Restoran Md. Salleh
Address: Jalan Pingai (Opposite Pelangi Leisure Mall)
GPS: 1.482377,103.773111
Hours: 7am to 3pm (closed on alternate Weds or Thurs)
Rating : 3.5/5


Popular Roti Canai Johor

The boys can easily consume three pieces of plain Roti Canai each, and we scooped every piece of morsel off the plates 🙂
Recommend Roti Prata Johor, Roti Prata or Roti Canai

Day 2.2 – Hengs Hengs Kopitiam

Name: San Ming Penang Prawn Mee (三民槟城福建虾面)
Address: 58, Jalan Perang, Taman Pelangi, 80400 Johor Bahru
GPS: 1.481779,103.775042
Hours: 7am to 2pm daily
Rating : 3.5/5

Hengs Hengs Kopitiam, good food Hengs Hengs Johor

Singapore’s Chee Chiong Fun is consumed plain, but Malaysia’s Chee Chiong Fun can go with side dish for a hearty breakfast (or any meal of the day).

Johor is not exactly near to Penang, but you will encounter Penang Rojak (fruit), Penang Laksa, and in this case Penang Prawn Noodle 🙂

Day 2.3 – Love Durian? Love Nian Gao? Remember Wah Cai (华仔).

Name: Wah Cai 3 in 1 Chinese Cake (华仔3合1招牌炸年糕)
Address: 86, Jalan Pahlawan 2, Taman Ungku Tun Aminah (TUTA), Skudai, 81300 Johor Bahru
GPS: 1.522640, 103.664664
Hours: 7am – 4.30pm daily
Rating : 4.25/5

Recommend Fried Nian Gao Johor, Skudai Fried Durian, where is Wah Cai Durian

Wah Cai’s best selling items are it’s 3-in-1 Nian Gao (三合一年糕) and the durian fritters. The Nian Gao is sandwiched between sweet potato and yam, thus the 3-in-1 name.

All delicious.
3-in-1 Nian Gao – 2Rm
Durian fritters – 2.50Rm

With every bite, durian aroma fills your mouth. The pulp will seep into the crispy exterior. One is never enough.
Fried Durian Johor, Wah Cai Fried Durian

Day 2.4 – We brave the rain for some splendid Banana cake, Hiap Joo has a Fanpage too.

Name: Hiap Joo Bakery and Biscuit Factory (协裕面包西果厂)
Address: 13, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, 80000 Johor Bahru
GPS: 1.456701, 103.764421
Hours: Daily 8am to 6pm (closed on Sunday)
Rating : 4.5/5

Hiap Joo is an old establishment, 1919 ! Look at the old school stove, the staff has to push the shovel deep inside the furnace to bake the pastries and cakes.
Best Banana cake Johor

At 12.30pm, thick Banana scent will fill the shop ! We advise you to arrive earlier to queue up in order to grab a box of banana cake. Limited edition :p

Banana cake shiok! Every tantalising banana chunk will melt in your mouth. You must order the upsize at 8Rm, and one box is never enough for hungry kids !
Best Banana cake Johor, Hiap Joo Banana Cake

Adults will love the coconut buns too.

Day 2.5 – If you arrive earlier than 12.15pm, go and enjoy a cuppa of Nanyang Kopi (coffee) across the street. Restoran Kin Hua and Restoran Hua Mui are both popular.

Name: Kin Wah Restoran (锦华咖啡店)
Address: 8, Jalan Trus, 80000 Johor Bahru
GPS: 1.456776, 103.764367
Rating : 4/5


Restaurant Kin Hua’s toast, egg and Kopi. Just add pepper and sauce to the half-boil eggs, they complement each other well, and perfect for a cool drizzling afternoon.
Kopi Toast in Johor, popular coffee shop Johor

Day 2.6 – Hiap Joo’s boss was even kind enough to recommend Uncle Barry to “The Best Chicken Chop in Town”.

Name: IT Roo Cafe Restoran
Address: 17 Jalan Dhoby, 80000 Johor Bahru
GPS: 1.456845, 103.763546
Hours: Monday to Sunday 11am to 10pm
Rating : 4/5

Ordering from the menu cannot be too difficult, as they are only two 5* items haha 🙂
IT Roo Chicken chop, Johor Chicken Chop

We love the Chicken Chop and the Root float ! Crispy, tender, with a huge dose of mushroom sauce.
At 13Rm only, this Chicken Chop is a steal.
Best Chicken Chop Johor

Day 3 – By now, you should realise that most good old fashion food stalls will use traditional rooster bowls. Is it a trademark for yummy food ?

Ah Hua Kueh Teow is on the same row as Soon Soon Heng.

Name: Ah Hua Kueh Teow
Rating : 3.75/5

Good food near KSL city

There are a few shops selling Kway Teow soup and we randomly pick Ah Hua. The tasty soup is filled with ingredients and we love the liver. Mummy confirmed no msg is added in the stock.

We pay about 22Rm for soup, dry Kway Teow and another bowl of fishballs.
Delightful and satisfying breakfast.
dry Kway Teow Johor

As Daddy is working on the Johor Food trail blog, he kept swallowing his saliva. We must plan for Food Trail 2, soon.

We would rate our experience 5/5! It was fun travelling with like-minded friends, sharing of food, driving adventures. we are now more confident to explore more of Johor 🙂

Do pop by Heng family’s food trail on our 3D2N trip here. Our 3D2N photos are already up on our Fanpage :

Johor Street Food
– KSL City’s Pasar Malam (Mon only)
KSL Resort pool and shopping
Safety driving tips in Malaysia

Johor Bahru family itinerary, Johor Bahru 2D1N, JB Kids activities, JB Food Hunt

Daddy sucks when it comes to food vocabulary, let MissTamChiak and Derrick impress you with more Johor Food porn 🙂

For those who still resist driving into Johor Bahru, fret not, Tony has a walking guide! Follow his Johor and Singapore hawkers Fanpage.

A lot of Singaporeans still have reservations about driving into Malaysia, do pop by our Driving and GPS tips for traveling up North.

* Daddy has copy the shop locations from Heng Family and Johor Kaki, if anything is not updated, please let us have the latest update.

** If you are taking Grab and heading back to Johor Custom, set destination as “CIQ Jalan Jim Quee”. In worse case (or to await jams), you might opt to drop off at City Square and walk across

* Massage recommendations in Johor (blog)

ps.. Follow our Instagram tag #SengkangBabiesJohor for more JB adventures

Author: SengkangBabies

I am a Blogging Daddy of four. Our kids are roaming Singapore to bring you FUN, This blog is use to capture our kids' growing up phases, and we want you to leave our blog with a smile :) View all posts by SengkangBabies

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