March holidays would be upon us in 2 weeks.
If you are looking for a holiday nearby, our neighbour Malaysia has plenty to offer.
It is convenient to drive up, the exchange rates are flavourable, and SengkangBabies got some family-friendly destinations (and food) for your research.
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a) Annual Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon is back, if you fancy getting up close to cartoon Hot Air balloons, mark your calender 27-30Mar.
b) Extend one day in Petaling Jaya (KL), because you wish to see kids play and work at Kidzania. Our kids are asking when they can go back and diy their own ice creams again !
Legoland is running a “Kids Go Free promotion” from now till 13Mar2014.
Standard Annual Pass holders will receive 25% off room booking and Premium Annual Pass holders will be entitled up to 30% off for call bookings.
Promotion is at this link but we suspect weekends are already fully booked.
*Room size for your consideration
– Theme & Premium (3adults + 2children or 2adults + 3children)
– Deluxe and Suite (4adults + 4children or 2adults + 6children)
d) If you prefer somewhere quite and nearer to the beach, and maybe some seafood, try Desaru !
You have Crocodile, Fruit farms, Ostrichs and seafood all within 30min drive. We recommend a stay at the budget but convenient Lotus Desaru.
The slides at Lotus might not be as thrilling as Legoland’s, but it still provides countless hours of Fun for our family. Click to read our Farm and seafood tours.
e) If you just wish to satisfy your food cravings, read our Johor Food Trail and KSL Pasar Malam! Cheap and delicious, do we really need more reasons?
We understand some families are still apprehensive about driving and holidaying in Malaysia, do pop by our Driving and GPS tips.
For more short holidays Malaysia or other destinations, checkout our Holiday page.
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 (ιε³) could not lure Daddy over.
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 π
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 !
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.
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 (ι‘Ίι‘Ίε ΄θιͺ¨θΆ)
Address: 43, Jalan Serigala, Taman Abad, 80250 Johor Bahru
GPS: 1.486233,103.761647
Rating : 3.5/5
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.
After our dinner, we were hunting for Tang Yuan to celebrate Dong Zhi (ε¬θ³ζ±€ε), 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
The boys can easily consume three pieces of plain Roti Canai each, and we scooped every piece of morsel off the plates π
Day 2.2 – Hengs Hengs Kopitiam
Name: San Ming Penang Prawn Mee (δΈζ°ζ§εη¦ε»ΊθΎι’)
Address: 58, Jalan Perang, Taman Pelangi, 80400 Johor Bahru
GPS: 1.481779,103.775042
Hours: 7am to 2pm daily
Rating : 3.5/5
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 π
Day 2.3 – Love Durian? Love Nian Gao? Remember Wah Cai (εδ»).
Name: Wah Cai 3 in 1 Chinese Cake (εδ»3ε1ζηηΈεΉ΄η³)
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
Wah Cai’s best selling items are it’s 3-in-1 Nian Gao (δΈεδΈεΉ΄η³) and the durian fritters. The Nian Gao is sandwiched between sweet potato and yam, thus the 3-in-1 name.
With every bite, durian aroma fills your mouth. The pulp will seep into the crispy exterior. One is never enough.
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 (εθ£ι’ε θ₯Ώζε)
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.
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 !
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 (ι¦εεε‘εΊ)
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.
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 π
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.
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
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.
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 π
Do pop by Heng family’s food trail on our 3D2N trip here. Our 3D2N photos are already up on our Fanpage :
Daddy sucks when it comes to food vocabulary, let MissTamChiak and Derrick impress you with more Johor Food porn π
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
