My previous Johor Bahru Food Trail V.1 & V.2 were gone due to hosting migration issue. So, I am posting this new post that I have compiled since last year. Hope you guys find it useful when you are going across the causeway, Johor Bahru for cafe hopping and foodtrail.
All the restaurants and cafes mentioned here are by foot (10 minutes walking distance) and easily accessible once you step out from Johor Bahru custom or City Square Mall.
Before I start off the list, here is the summary in table form :
7Pace Café8节令鼓Drums Cafe8Flowers in the Window
BREAKDOWN LISTS OF THE CAFES ACCORDING TO ROAD NAME
No.
Jalan Wong Ah Fook
1
Kam Long Fish Head Curry
No.
Jalan Tan Hiok Nee & Jalan Ibrahim
1
Eh He Cafe
2
Hiap Joo Bakery
3
Maco Vintage
4
Chaiwalla Co.
5
Bev C
6
Bunkers Café (Previously known as Table for Two)
No.
Jalan Trus
1
Faculty of Caffeine
2
Restoran Hua Mui
3
Coffee Valley
4
Shakespeare
No.
Jalan Dhoby
1
The Replacement-Lodge & Kitchen
2
TIP, Ice-cream Project
3
KOONE
4
Salahuddin Bakery (opposite IT ROO)
5
IT ROO
6
Roost Café
7
Sangkaya
No.
Jalan Pahang
1
Coffee Time
DIRECTIONS
1
After you clear the Woodlands Checkpoint, walk towards City Square Mall and look for McDonalds at Level 1.
2
Exit the entrance and turn left and walks straight until you see Hong Leong Bank and cross over. Continue to walk few minutes and you will see Kam Long Fish Head Curry on your left or maybe the long queue outside the shop.
3
If you want to walk to the cafes, there are currently constructions going on and it blocked the shortcut of cross over after you exit McDonalds. So, if you are going to have fish head curry as first stop, you can continue to walk straight until the end and cross the road. You will see OCBC Bank and Jalan Tan Hiok Nee is next to it.
4
If you are not planning for the fish head curry, exit at McDonalds as well but cross to the opposite side of the road before the construction. Walk towards the Hindu Temple, Sri Raja Mariamman and you will come across like ‘Little India’ streets. Turn left to the cafes listed in the table form below and turn right to Faculty of Caffeine.
Kam Long name is no longer stranger to most Singaporean for its’ well-known dish. The business has been running for more than 30 years and it is still going strong. You will expect a queue if you turned up late. The fish head curry was served in a claypot and it is still pipping hot when it is served on the table.
2. Hua Mui Restaurant 华美茶餐室
Photo Credit to Hua Mui Restaurant FB Page
131, Jalan Trus
80000 Johor Bahru
Johor, Malaysia
Operating Hours: 8:00AM – 6:00PM
Tel: +607 2247364
WIFI: YES
RECOMMENDED TRY: Hainanese Chicken Chop | Traditional Breakfast
One of the traditional breakfast option if you arrive JB very early before the cafes are open for business. Hua Mui is an old school kopitiam with long history since year 1940s and they have expanded to 2 levels. They are also well-known with their hainanese chicken chop and old style breakfast set. I love their traditional breakfast set with kaya and butter toast.
Bev C was founded by Beverly and Cally with their identity in clothing label. However, it is well-known in social media as a fashionable and artistic trendy café. It is also known with the instagram-worthy ‘bed’ seats and also the designs of the interior.
Container Café anyone? Chaiwalla & Co. is an unconventional container café that serves coffee and tea. It is located at the open space car park facing Maco Vintage and easily noticeable as it is in black colour and is the only container at the car park. It is just a few steps away from Hiap Joo Bakery. Either you choose to sit down for the drinks or simply just take away on the spot. Customers can customize drinks by selecting their size, base, flavour, toppings and sweetness level.
Located at level 2 of a coffeeshop, Coffee Valley offers an extension varieties in their menu. So, besides coffee and teas, you can enjoy desserts such as quesadillas, waffles and croissant. I personally do not enjoyed their waffles as I find it lack of taste and texture. As for the rest of their foods, you might want to visit and share with me then. Perhaps their savory dishes are better.
MUST-TRY: 陈旭年咖啡 (Tan Hiok Nee Coffee) | 小梦的天空 (Sky of a Little Girl)
EH HE Gallery & Ink Brew Café was opened early this year and well-received with its signature coffee story with arts’ theme café. There are art exhibition area and coffee place in the same level. The wooden settings with art mural wall give the place a sophisticated feeling. If you can’t find the café, spot Hiap Joo Bakery and it is just next to it. You need to take the steep staircase to proceed level 2. However, do check out their facebook for their latest renovation progress to avoid disappointment.
6 (a). EH HE ART CAFE墨跡手沖館
1, Jalan Trus
Bandar Johor Bahru
80000 Johor Bahru
Johor, Malaysia
Operating Hours: 7:00AM – 4:00PM Daily
WIFI: NO
The EH HE Gallery & Ink Brew Café was closed late last year and revamp into a cafe that offers traditional and local delicacies.Their signature Hainanese Chicken Rice and local kopi-o is recommended to try when you are exploring along Jalan Tan Hiok Nee. They also serves western cuisines as well. Read more about it here. MUST-TRY: Hainanese Chicken Rice
7. Faculty of Caffeine
New Interior
106, Jalan Trus
80000 Johor Bahru
Johor, Malaysia
Landmark : Beside Plaza Seni | Behind Public Bank Building
Opening Hours: Monday- Sunday 9:00AM-6:00PM
WIFI: YES
RECOMMENDED TRY: Pancake Series
This is the first café trending around City Square in earlier days before the rest cafes came popping. The interior of the café is the dark,raw and industry concepts that gives an artistic feel of it. The café provides outdoor seats. The outdoor seats can allow smokers to enjoy their coffee and foods viewing the old buildings behind the café.
But the cafe has recently revamped on March 2016 and changed their menu to pancake series. There are savoury and sweet series for you to choose but the choices are limited though. There is no more outdoor seating but the indoor seating area are more spacious now.
8. Hiap Joo Bakery & Biscuit Factory (HALAL)
13, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee
80000 Johor Bahru
Johor, Malaysia
Operating Hours: 8:00AM- 6:00PM
MUST-TRY : Banana Cake | Fresh Buns
Nothing taste delicious than a fresh bake pastries. Hiap Joo Bakery is the traditional bakery with its small space working place delivering fresh breads and cakes daily. Since it has limited space in the shop, you will easily identify the shop with the queue of people outside it. Everyone is queuing to go in to purchase the banana cake.
IT Roo is well-known for their chicken chop and it is halal. It is one of the oldest established Hainanese restaurants in town. Thus, don’t expect fancy ambience while dining here. The chicken chop along with 2 sides is served within 10 minutes time.
Maco Vintage has the spacious and relaxing interior space as a café. The café offers main dishes ,savoury foods and desserts. Customers can sit back and enjoyed the air-conditioned café with unlimited use of wifi here before heading to the next stop.
11. Salahuddin Bakery (HALAL)
33,34 Jalan Dhoby
Bandar Johor Bahru
80000 Johor Bahru
Johor,Malaysia
Operating Hours: 08:00AM-2:00PM
RECOMMENDED TRY: Curry Puff
A very old bakery shop for the halal community. You can see a very old man with white beards sitting in front of a row of bakeries and pastries waiting for walk-in customers. The old man was friendly enough to allow customers to take photos freely. The bakery here is also baked in the traditional way and mostly customers will just buy and go.
RECOMMENDED TRY : Rose Latte | Churros | Breakfast Brunch Menu
Following the success of Faculty of Caffeine (FOC), the owners decided to venture to this new concept with white theme and Kinfolk magazines as props by most of the instagrammers. Their well-known in-house churros were their signature ever since their opening in May 2015. The warm lighting and the cosy ambience attracts most youngsters to hang out and capture nice shots with white minimalist background.
It is located just opposite BevC café and not noticeable by social media. The café has the Old English style with the interior designs and detailing. There is collection of vintage items displayed in the café. Brunch items are available before 12:00PM and main courses are available after 12:00PM. I tried the Egg Benedict but it was kinda disappointing with its’ overall taste. The double cheddar cheese was overwhelming and we couldn’t taste the hollandaise sauce. The egg yolk was overdone as we were expecting egg yolk flowing out once we cut open. Nevertheless, the guava juice does not fail us.
Green mint or we named it tiffany blue exterior building located nearby to BevC is newly opened to public recently. The café also serve savoury dishes, cakes and drinks. I have yet to try but if you are hopping across the causeway, you can consider this in your list for instagram-worthy photo.
After few rounds of café hopping to JB, I finally tried this as the opening hours is pretty late. The Ice-cream Project is easily identified with a swing in front of the shop. It is also located few steps away from The Replacement Lodge & Kitchen. The ice-cream served here are milky and chunky. There are few options of flavours to choose from the menu. Once you place your order and payment at the same time, the staff will start to prepare your order on the spot. TIP stands out with their uniqueness of making their own ice-cream using fresh milk and their recipes are vega-friendly.
16. Coffee Time
No. 10 & 11 Jalan Pahang
80000 Johor Bahru
Operating Hours: Tuesday – Sundays 11:00AM – 6:00PM
Sundays 3:00PM – 10:00PM (Closed on Monday)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tofuflowercafe/
Instagram @Coffeetimejb
WIFI: YES
The shop (Tofu Flower Shop) was previously selling beancurd and now has turned into a cafe selling coffee and home-made cakes. Coffee Time also offers flavored teas and other desserts as well.
17. Burners Cafe (Replaced Table for Two)
25, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee
Bandar Johor Bahru
80000 Johor Bahru
Johor, Malaysia
A month old cafe which took over the previous cafe, Table for Two is just few doors away from Pace Cafe. Perhaps due to the black and dark colours of the paint was not easily identified. There is no much changes on the interior design of the cafe except the menus. The cafe here serves brunch, lunch and dinner. They recommended their signature dish, Curry Chicken with a plate of rice RM11.50 was homely feel taste. Although the curry taste wasn’t thick enough but the chicken and the potatoes were tender and soft. It is best to enjoy during rainny days.
WIFI: No at this moment
Striking pastel pink exterior shop is jut few footsteps away from The Replacement Lodge & Kitchen. This Ice-cream place had it’s soft opening launch on 12th November.Their signature is the liquid nitrogen where it is gimmicky but true enough to attract many youngsters to patron the place. The interior design of the 2 storeys shop are instagrammable. I trust instagrammers would love to explore the place for some minimalist shots. Read more in details here.
WIFI: No at this moment This is also a newly open soft serve outlet on 12th November. Their first outlet is located at Taman Pelangi that offers sweet treats dessert bar and savoury dishes. So, the outlet here serve 5 different flavours that come with the charcoal soft serve scent with earl grey. We had the Raspberry flavours RM18.90. It is self-service so orders and payment to be made at the counter.
20. Roost Café (Salad+ Bar)
9, Jalan Dhoby,
80000 Johor Bahru,
Johor, Malaysia
Monday – Saturday 12:00PM – 4:00PM | 6:00PM – 12:00AM
Sunday 6:00PM-12:00AM
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Roost-Cafe/
Located along Jalan Dhoby and just opposite Restoran Hua Mui, Roost café has recently revamped with 2 levels. Orders and payments to be made at the counter as there is no service charge applicable. The café has been around the area even before the cafes are trending. They offers brunch, lunch and dinner menu. Desserts are available as well. I read quite a few review saying that their frozen yoghurt received quite a number of positive reviews. You might want to check them out when you decide to dine in.
Miyakori Coffee is another café addition by foot in Johor Bahru. Their first outlet was located at Bukit Indah with cute theme interior design and menu. Congrats on the second outlet expansion and it is located just inside City Square Shopping mall. It’s an ideal location to have crowds coming in from Singapore. Miyakori Coffee is located at level 5 of the mall with a nice clean white furbished design. There are only coffee, tea, pastries and cakes available in this outlet.
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Sangkaya started off at Kuala Lumpur selling coconut ice-cream based desserts has expanded their outlets to Johor Bahru. Mount Austin was their first outlet location and Jalan Dhoby is their 2nd outlet in Johor. Sangkaya Jalan Dhoby is strategically located opposite KOONE and it is just few doors step away from The Replacement Lodge & Kitchen. Orders, payment and collection of the desserts are all one-stop at the counter.
You can read more details from my previous post here.
23. Flowers in the Window Cafe
Flowers in the Window Café
(Opposite The Replacement Lodge & Kitchen)
9 Jalan Dhoby
80000 Johor Bahru
Malaysia
Opening Hours:
Monday – Sunday 10:00AM – 10:00PM
Closed on Tuesday
NO WIFI AT THIS MOMENT
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Flowers-in-the-Window/960653454011468
Instagram @flowersinthewindow09
An addition hipster café along Jalan Dhoby, Johor Bahru was spotted. Flowers in the Window Cafe (just opposite The Replacement Lodge & Kitchen) is from the team behind The Roost Café, Bev C and Sea & Saw. The team has never failed to impress with their interior designs of the café. Each café has their own individualistic that never draws the attention of caféhoppers. As for Flowers in the Window, the café focuses on flowery theme. As you step into the café, you can feel the rustic and contemporary designs with flowery as the main focus. This-storey café is truly an instagram-worthy place for instagrammers. I kid you not. Read more about it here.
SIGNATURE DRINK: Homemade Herb & Spiced Infused Syrup
This is the latest addition cafe with drums as their theme that opened on early April 2016 along Jalan Ibrahim. Their soft launch was on 4th April 2016.The staff shared that the owner has an interest with drums and thus this is how the cafe started. The cafe is currently offering coffee, mille crepe cakes and Ampang Yong Tau Foo.I did not try their yong tau foo so couldn’t share more about it. But the coffee here is not bad though. The interior of the cafe is filled with drums as the table top, hanging decorations and the drum sticks were used to form the chinese word as shown in the photo.
25. 설원 – Seol Won
MKF 01&02 Level 3,
Johor Bahru City Square,
Jalan Wong Ah Fook,
80000 Johor Bahru.
Opening Hours: 10:00AM – 9:30PM
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seolwoncafe/
Probably the FIRST specialized Bingsu Shop in Johor Bahru. Seol Won was officially opened on 19 June 2016 at JB City Square Mall. They specialize in bingsu and toasts. There are quite a range of flavours to choose from. We had Matcha (Green Tea) Bingsu RM22.90 and was told that their green tea is imported from Korea. The shaved ice was fluffy and the matcha flavour was not strong though. As for the serving size, it is much smaller as compared with Singapore version. We also tried the toast. The best seller toast were injeolmi and marsmallow injeolmi toast but we decided to try Cheese Injeolmi Toast RM11.90.The toast was drizzled with honey syrup to give a tint of sweetness. It was pretty good though.
WIFI: TBA SIGNATURE TRY: MILKSHAKES, IRISH HOT CHOCOLATE
Shakespeare is the new family member along this hipster street that took over By Grace space. The cafe is operate by the same folks of The Replacement Lodge & Kitchen and Faculty of Caffeine. The concept of the cafe specialized milkshakes which is instagram-worthy to delight your visual. We checked out their signature milkshake, Kinder Bueno Shakes, croffle and Irish hot chocolate during our recent visit. The irish hot chocolate serves with chocolate ganache cube on a stick with warm milk and marshmallows that reminds me of the Mork Chocolate in Melbourne. Chocolate lovers? Definitely a place to hang out with some nice instagrammable shots in the cafe interior as well. The best part is that no service charge and GST applicable at this moment.
SIGNATURE TRY: Bingsu and Toasts
Caffebene is a large chain of Korean coffeehouse in Korea. The brand has been expanding overseas recent years. You can now have it here in Singapore and Malaysia! And Caffebene has finally opened their first JB outlet at JB City Square Mall recently. Their menu is rather straight forward. Their signature patbingsu – Korean Shaved Ice, toasts, waffles and coffee. Read more about my experience here.
28. Tokyo Secret
Johor Bahru City Square Mall
Level 4 Lot MS-03
Jalan Wong Ah Fook
80000 Johor Bahru
Opening Hours: 10:00AM – 10:00PM
SIGNATURE TRY: Cheese & Matcha Tarts
Tokyo Secret offers Japanese Hanjyuku Cheese Tart (Half Baked Cheese Tart) is originated from Hong Kong. The brand has finally expanded to Johor Bahru state recently. They are currently located at JB City Square Mall level 4 which I think is a good location. With such a strategic location, they can cater for the locals and also Singaporeans who love to shop across causeway. Read more on my experience here
Openwork Coffee is owned by Vinc, who previously one of the co-founder of Replacement Lodge & Kitchen. He has started this new café with ‘XiaoMing’ logo and a spacious interior that offers handmade gyoza and coffee bar at the same time. You can read my dining experience here.
SIGNATURE TRY: Gyoza and Donburi Bowl
30.Godiva Specialty Store Malaysia
Address: J1-18, Level 1,
Johor Bahru City Square,
No. 106-108 Jalan Wong Ah Fook,
80000 Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
Website: http://www.godiva.my/myen/malaysia
Now you can enjoy Godiva soft serve and chocolate delights at Johor Bahru City Square Mall. The store provides chocolates in gift boxes, signature pastries and chocolate drinks. Soft serve is available as well for RM23.00 each. Do note that there is no seating corner. You can order and take away at the cashier counter.
Hopefully you guys find it useful. Do share with me other recommended food places within the walking distance from Johor customs. Till then…
Hello my family member! I want to say that
this article is awesome, great written and come with approximately all important infos.
I would like to look extra posts like this .
Thank God I chance upon your article. Have been searching around for directions from City Sq to Hiap Joo bakery and Kam Long fish head. I was told the construction made it very confusing. But now with your instructions guide, it certainly made it so much easier. Thank you sooooo much! Will definitely be back to read more of your recommendation 😉
Appreciating the time and effort you put into your website
and in depth information you present. It’s good to come across a blog every once in a while
that isn’t the same outdated rehashed material.
Great read! I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to
my Google account.
Thanks for the great effort in putting the details into this post. I’d like to point out that Hua Mui has free Wi-Fi, the password is pinned in a corner of the wall behind the cashier on level 1, not v obvious I must say. 😝
Hey there! Really love this post. But may I just enquire? Are all these food places situated in one area? It’s all around Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, JB. So is right to say that they are all walking distance from each other? 🙂
As I would be exploring these places, so it’ll be great to know if they are near each other 🙂
Howdy! Someone in my Facebook group shared this site with us so I
came to give it a look. I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m book-marking and will be tweeting this to my followers!
Yes just that you need to be alert of your surroundings. It also depends which part of JB you want to explore. You can always take Grab for further direction.
54 Jalan Tan Hiok Nee
RECOMMENDED TRY: Mint Pie | Espresso Cube MilkJalan Tan Hiok Nee
RECOMMENDED TRY : Milk Tea Flavors
SIGNATURE TRY: Mushroom sauce Chicken Chop
33,34 Jalan Dhoby
RECOMMENDED TRY: Curry Puff33,34 Jalan Dhoby
RECOMMENDED TRY : Rose Latte | Churros | Breakfast Brunch Menu
SIGNATURE TRY: Butterscotch Flavor
25, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee
No. 30, Jalan Dhoby
HazelDiary 
Am looking area to go near Jalan Tan Hiok Nee and happen to see your blog. This is really very helpful. Thank you very much
Glad to hear that. Hope you have an enjoyable trip!
Hello my family member! I want to say that
this article is awesome, great written and come with approximately all important infos.
I would like to look extra posts like this .
Hi Hazel
Thank God I chance upon your article. Have been searching around for directions from City Sq to Hiap Joo bakery and Kam Long fish head. I was told the construction made it very confusing. But now with your instructions guide, it certainly made it so much easier. Thank you sooooo much! Will definitely be back to read more of your recommendation 😉
Hi Karen
Thanks for taking time to leave a comment on my blog.Hope you have an enjoyable trip across the causeway
Appreciating the time and effort you put into your website
and in depth information you present. It’s good to come across a blog every once in a while
that isn’t the same outdated rehashed material.
Great read! I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to
my Google account.
Thanks for the great effort in putting the details into this post. I’d like to point out that Hua Mui has free Wi-Fi, the password is pinned in a corner of the wall behind the cashier on level 1, not v obvious I must say. 😝
Thanks for the information Rachel..
Hi there. Mind to check B.L.O.C. (Banana Lounge Café) formerly Pisang Café @ Block A, #1-40, Southkey, JB.
Hi Ismail..
Sure will check out soon! Selamat Hari Raya
Hey there! Really love this post. But may I just enquire? Are all these food places situated in one area? It’s all around Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, JB. So is right to say that they are all walking distance from each other? 🙂
As I would be exploring these places, so it’ll be great to know if they are near each other 🙂
Hi Lina… Yes it’s all situated in one area except some are in the City Square shopping mall.
Enjoy!
Howdy! Someone in my Facebook group shared this site with us so I
came to give it a look. I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m book-marking and will be tweeting this to my followers!
Excellent blog and great style and design.
Thank you Jimmy
Thanks!
Sure.. please credit me.. Thanks!
I always travel to JB but dare not get out of city square.
Is it safe to travel around for us (2 ladies & 1 old folk also lady who walk very slow).
Hi Teresa
Yes just becareful and be alert with surroundings…
Hi Teresa
Yes just that you need to be alert of your surroundings. It also depends which part of JB you want to explore. You can always take Grab for further direction.
Thank you