As the capital of Malaysia’s Johor state, Johor Bahru houses numerous attractions and things to do that attract countless tourists each and every year. And just like any other popular travel destination, Johor Bahru has a couple of must-try foods and restaurants. Johor has countless food stalls, cafes, and restaurants that all offer a wide variety of local specialties. We understand that choosing foods to try or restaurant to eat out can be daunting when you are new to a place. So, the good news is that I am here to help you discover the best foods and restaurants in JB. With that, let’s look at the 15 best foods to try in Johor Bahru.
- Nasi Lemak at Malam Indah Selalu
- Chicken Rice at Century Claypot Chicken Rice
- Char Kway Teow at Restoran Leong Seng Huat
- Lei Cha at Tai Hong Kopitiam
- Nasi Briyani at Roslin Beriani House
- Mee Rebus at Zainal Place
- JB Flying Wanton Mee at Tien Tien Lai Kopitiam
- Laksa at Ah Gong Laksa
- Kway Chap at Restoran Ka Hoe Kway Teow Kia (榕树下粿条仔)
- Dim Sum at Hock Chiang Hin
- Fish Head Curry at Siang Yuan Restaurant
- Otah Otah at Otak Shiduoli
- Seafood at Tian Lai Seafood Garden
- Bak Kut Teh at Ah Soon Bak Kut Teh
- Roti Prata at Roti Canai Bukit Chagar
Nasi Lemak at Malam Indah Selalu
Being Malaysia’s national dish, Nasi Lemak is definitely a must eat in Johor Bahru. It consists of rice that has been cooked in coconut milk. To give it an aromatic taste, pandan pine leaves are added to it. The dish is usually served with eggs, fish cake, anchovies, and buah keluak chicken.
Address: Jalan Permas 14/3, Taman Permas Jaya, 81750 Masai, Johor, Malaysia
Chicken Rice at Century Claypot Chicken Rice
This is one of the few Malaysian trademark dishes that have very many variations. The chicken can be fried with special spices, boiled, baked, or grilled. To bring out the aroma, the rice is usually cooked with chicken broth and butter.
Address: Jalan Serigala, Taman Abad, 80250 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Char Kway Teow at Restoran Leong Seng Huat
Featuring on the top three rated most popular Malaysian dishes is this mixture of flat rice noodles that have been stir-fried with eggs, shrimp, bean sprouts, Chinese lap cheong sausage, bloody cockles, and chives. To make it more mouthwatering, combine it with the right proportion of seasoning.
Address: 169, Jalan Simbang, Taman Perling, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Lei Cha at Tai Hong Kopitiam
This delicious and nutritious dish is a mix of healthy veggies in a green broth that is made from herbs. The taste gets betters as you pour the broth over the already mixed rice and vegetables and let them mix.
Address: 48-50, Jalan Kuning, Taman Pelangi, 80400 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Nasi Briyani at Roslin Beriani House
This popular Malaysian dish that goes well with eggs, meat curry, and vegetables are prepared using several spices. You can also opt for its vegetarian version which consists of natto, eggs, and either cooked or raw vegetables.
Address: 14, Jalan Rebana, Taman Perbadanan Islam, 80250 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Mee Rebus at Zainal Place
This dish consisting of boiled Noodles is among the most popular noodle dishes in Malaysia. Yellow noodles are boiled and mixed with thick gravy and finally decorated using boiled egg and vegetables.
Address: 89, Jalan Keris, Taman Sri Tebrau, 80050 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
JB Flying Wanton Mee at Tien Tien Lai Kopitiam
Compared to the Singaporean version, the Malaysian version of this dish is a bit salty with a slice of barbecue meat on the top. When you order this dish, you will receive two bowls, one with the noodles and the other with the broth.
Address: 59, Jalan Bakawali 50, Taman Johor Jaya, JB
Laksa at Ah Gong Laksa
Due to its very laborious preparation, this nice food in Johor Bahru is one food that you won’t find easily in most restaurants. Laksa is just a spicy noodle and the version that you will often find in Johor features spaghetti. The carefully mixed spices and vegetables blend very well in the savory and fish-made grainy gravy.
Address: 21, Jalan Harmonium 35/3, Taman Desa Tebrau, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Kway Chap at Restoran Ka Hoe Kway Teow Kia (榕树下粿条仔)
This dish comprises of rice sheets dipped in a soup that features dark soy sauce as a base. The dish can be served with braised hard-boiled eggs, seasoned meat, and vegetables.
Address: Jalan Maju, Taman Maju Jaya (near Plaza Pelangi), Johor Bahru
Dim Sum at Hock Chiang Hin
This Cantonese food is prepared in very small bite-sized portions and then served in small plates or wooden baskets. To completely enjoy the meal, complement it with a small pot of Chinese tea.
Address: 18, Jalan Siu Nam, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Fish Head Curry at Siang Yuan Restaurant
Combining the best of Chinese and Indian culture, this is another best food JB that you must try. The dish consists of a stew of Kerala-style curry that is cooked with vegetables and of course the whole head of a fish.
Address: 25, Jalan Indah 10/1, Taman Bukit Indah, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Otah Otah at Otak Shiduoli
This is a popular Malaysian snack that goes well with a variety of other meals. The dish consists of a combination of fish meat that has been ground and mixed with spices and tapioca starch wrapped in either banana or coconut leaves.
Address: 16, Jalan Maju, Taman Maju Jaya, 80400 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Seafood at Tian Lai Seafood Garden
Thanks to Johor’s rich sea fauna, you will certainly find a huge variety of exotic seafood meals to choose from. Some of the most popular delicious plates of seafood offered in the restaurants include oatmeal prawn, fried oyster, steamed fish, and Chilli or black pepper crab.
Address: 158 Jalan Leong Bee, 81550 Gelang Patah, Johor, Malaysia
Bak Kut Teh at Ah Soon Bak Kut Teh
The dish consists of a soup with a base made from pork ribs boiled in broth and then seasoned with herbs mixed with spices. Apart from the pork ribs, you can also find mushrooms, offal, and even tau pok in the soup.
Address: 141, Jalan Keris 1, Taman Sri Tebrau, 80500 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Roti Prata at Roti Canai Bukit Chagar
This is a flat crispy but a relatively soft pancake that is usually served with meat curry or vegetables. If you are looking for more than just than a plain version of this dish, you can get your Prata stuffed with cheese, banana, onion, or even chocolate.
Address: 394, Jalan Tengku Azizah, Bukit Chagar, 80300 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
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As you have seen, Johor Bahru is without a doubt a dream city for foodies. Whatever your taste or craving, you can be sure to find specialties that will make your taste buds thank you. So now that you have this list of what to eat in Johor Bahru, you can now begin exploring the various foods on this list. Don’t forget to let us know which ones you found to be your favorite in the comment.
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