So, you’re in Johor Bahru and you’re looking for good food to eat. You're in for a treat because Johor Bahru is home to some of the most delicious food this side of Malaysia! Foodies, brace yourselves, or should I say your stomachs, because you would definitely want to leave ‘em empty for all the seconds and thirds you’re going to be asking for?
Disclaimer: Most of the restaurants in Malaysia might not display their Halal certificate in plain view, but you can request to view them from the restaurant operator. The restaurants in this list are all Muslim owned and all the dishes are made by Muslim employees using Halal ingredients.
1. CATS Cafe JB
If you’re a cat lover, this is definitely a place to be! What better way to enjoy a meal or two, than being surrounded by your favourite furry companies? This cafe boasts a range of quality Western cuisine to satisfy your tastebuds. On top of that, there are numerous well-groomed cats you can play with to complete your eating experience.
Aside from their main dishes, the desserts served at the cafe are also something that you have to try. The fact that they decorate the desserts with adorable cat faces is a huge bonus for cat lovers!
Address: 31A, Lorong 2c, Kampung Bahru, 80100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 1:00pm – 9:30pm daily
Contact Number:+60 7-207 0399 | Facebook
2. Ejohng Concept
Ejohng Concept is a local favourite that serves quality good food at reasonable prices. The interior of the restaurant is designed to be airy and boasts a lot of space for big groups of friends or families, and it’s also fully air-conditioned which is a huge plus!
There’s a waiting area prepared for guests on a busy night (which is almost every day!), so be prepared to wait if you plan to eat there. But let me assure you, the food you'll get to enjoy at this restaurant is worth the few minutes wait!
#HHWT Tip: They’ve got duck rice, which is quite a rare delicacy in Malay restaurants, and we have it on pretty good authority that it tastes as awesome as it looks!
Address: 45, Jalan Pulai Perdana 11, Taman Sri Pulai Perdana, 81300 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 4:00pm – 11:00pm daily
Contact Number: +60 7-520 2457 | Facebook
3. Restoran Kacang Pool Haji
Located near the Johor Darul Takzim FA Stadium, Restoran Kacang Pool Haji is a sought after eatery for locals. Its best selling ‘Kacang Pool’ is arguably the best in town!
Kacang Pool is essentially a dish adapted from the Middle East, using fava bean (or broad bean) as the base ingredient. The restaurant has a cool and friendly eating atmosphere that can easily accommodate a family or large group comfortably.
Address: No. 3 Medan Selera | Susur 5 Jalan Tun Abdul Razak, Johor Bahru 80000, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 8:00am – 11:00pm (Daily)
Contact Number:(+60 17) 741 6843
4. Roslin Beriani House
If you’ve heard of ‘Nasi Briyani Gam’, you’d know that it’s a dish that is synonymous to the Johor name, and the best place to try it is here! Roslin Beriani House offers a number of briyani sets, including mutton, chicken, beef and even fish, if that’s your preference.
The place is so popular that the briyani dishes are almost always sold out after lunch hours, so make sure you come early to enjoy a scrumptious and fulfilling meal?
#HHWT Tip: The mutton briyani set is the best in the house! Be quick though, as it is also the fastest selling dish?
Address: No. 14, Jalan Rebana, Taman Perbadanan Islam, 80250, Johor Bahru, Johor
Opening Hours: 8:00am – 6:30pm daily
Contact Number: (+607) 3313310
5. It Roo Cafe
Anyone who passes by It Roo Cafe would not miss the big sign proclaiming that it has ‘the best chicken chop in town’, and the cafe certainly doesn’t disappoint!
It Roo Cafe offers two types of chicken chop - grilled or deep fried and both dishes are definitely worth trying. Your trip to Johor Bahru would not be complete without eating here!
#HHWT Tip: Mix some chilli sauce with your black pepper/mushroom sauce, you’ll definitely thank me later!
Address :17 Jalan Dhoby, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 10:00am – 9:30pm (Daily)
Contact Number: (+607) 2227780
If you’re craving for some lamb dishes, this is the place to be. Even if you aren’t craving for one, you definitely will after you’ve had a taste of the grilled lamb here. Merecik Straits Kitchen makes all their sauces and beef burgers with their own recipe. Believe me when I say they taste divine!
Not only are their main dishes of grilled lamb and burgers flavourful, the restaurant also offers Malay dishes including different varieties of fried rice, and sup tulang.
With towering, sweet jugs like Espresso Floatzilla, you'll be spoilt for choices here!
Address:Lot 403 Gerai Batu 49 KM Kg Air Tawar, 2, Jalan Endau Mersing, 86900 Endau, Johor, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 6:00 pm - 1:00 am (Daily)
Contact Number:+60 11-2949 3749
7. Restoran ZZ Sup Tulang
Another dish you shouldn’t miss while in Johor Bahru is Mee Rebus and Restoran ZZ Sup Tulang make theirs with a twist!
Mee Rebus is essentially egg noodles served in curry-based gravy and this restaurant is famous for adding ox bones into the mix. A must try for any travellers visiting JB!
Besides Mee Rebus Tulang, their other specialties include chicken rice and nasi ayam penyet or "smashed" fried chicken. If you're not a fan of ox bones, try their normal mee rebus which is just as delicious as their other dishes.
Address: 20, Jalan Petri 5/1, Kampung Baru, Johor Bahru 80100 Malaysia
Opening Hours: 10:00am – 10:00pm
Contact Number: (+6012) 7227 209
8. Azo 96, Medan Selera Kampung Melayu
If you’re looking for tasty yet cheap Murtabak, this is definitely the place to be! The restaurant is famous for its wonderfully fluffy, thick and filling murtabak?
Other dishes in the menu include sirloin steak, yong tau fu, chicken chop and lamb chop that are just as delicious as the murtabak.
#HHWT Tip: I heard that the Murtabak cheese is the best in town!
Address: 19 A, Jalan Masjid, Kampung Melayu Majidee, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: 8.00 am - 11.00 pm (Daily)
Contact Number: (+60 12)749 9696
9. Mat Corner Nasi Ambang
Next on the list is a Johor specialty, nasi ambang! Nasi ambang is a fragrant dish consisting of white rice served with chicken curry or chicken cooked with soy sauce, vegetables, fried noodles, salted fish and serunding (fried coconut flesh).
The combination of all the toppings on top of the white rice is what makes the dish so unique! The explosive and harmonious flavours that'll hit your tastebuds is something you wouldn’t want to miss out on.
Address: 22, Jalan Padi Mahsuri 13, Bandar Baru Uda, 81200 Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Opening Hours: Generally 10:00am – 4.00pm daily
10. Restoran Sayam
Located at Stulang Laut Johor Bahru near the duty free Zone Complex, Restoran Sayam offers a variety of delicious seafood dishes that'll keep you coming back for more!
You can even get to eat your way through your orders while enjoying the panoramic view of the sandy beaches of Tanjung Puteri. Oh, and did you know that you’re just a ferry ride away from Singapore?
#HHWT Tip: They recently opened another branch a few miles away, so if you happen to find the first restaurant full (which they almost always are), you can head over to the branch in Taman Kenanga to enjoy the good food Restoran Sayam has to offer!
Address:
1. Restoran Sayam: 109, Jalan Stulang Laut, Taman Stulang, 80300 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
2. Restoran Sayam 3: 01-01 Block 13 Jalan Kenanga, Taman Kenanga Tampoi, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor Malaysia
Opening Hours: 10:30am to 10:30pm daily
Contact Number: (+6012) 7448 999
11. Nasi Kukus Mek Joh
Nasi kukus started out as an east coast delicacy, but is now famous nationwide and you can enjoy a plate of nasi kukus almost anywhere in Malaysia, including JB. Nasi Kukus Mek Joh might just be a roadside food stall, but its food is definitely restaurant quality!
Here, the “nasi kukus” or steamed rice is served with either chicken curry or marinated fried chicken. And if you’re lucky, you can get a dash of sambal with your rice, which tastes absolutely heavenly!
Address: Taman Molek, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 6:00pm – 11:00pm
Contact Number: +6018 783 7574
So there you have it! A list of restaurants that serving unique and tasty food. We know there are more restaurants in JB that we've not featured here, and if you have eaten at or know of those awesome places, please feel free to share with us! Comment below and share more of the good food around?