I recently made a quick trip to Johor Bahru for my partner’s best friend’s wedding. At first, we weren’t sure if we could make it; a 4-hour drive (without traffic!) sounded like a lot, but at the last minute, my partner decided we should go. And I’m so glad we did. Luckily, traffic was smooth, and we arrived right on time.

Since it was a long drive, we planned to stay overnight at a friend’s place to make the most of the weekend, and their place had the most stunning view. You could actually see all the way to Singapore! During the day, it was already impressive, but at night, it turned magical. I couldn’t help but wish I had a view like that from my own home. 😄

Since we were only in Johor Bahru for a short time, there wasn’t much sightseeing we could squeeze in. So, being the foodies that we are, we made it our mission to visit as many good eateries as we could and eat our hearts out.

Dinner: Modern Fishing Restaurant (Nasi Goreng Seafood Stulang)

My partner knew how much I love grilled fish, so we decided this restaurant would be the perfect spot. The place is usually packed, but since we arrived quite early for dinner, we didn’t have to queue. Lucky us!

The ordering process was simple: we headed to the counter to pick our fish and place our order, then paid and chose our table, bringing our tag number with us to wait for the food to arrive. We decided on grilled stingray and seafood fried rice.

The grilled stingray was absolutely delicious. Normally, grilled stingray can turn a little tough, but this one was soft, juicy, and full of flavour. The sambal paired with it was just perfect—spicy enough to kick, but not overpowering. Honestly, when I first saw the size of the stingray, I thought there was no way the two of us could finish it. But it was so good that we ended up clearing the plate. They also had air asam (a tangy dipping sauce) available for the grilled fish, and the best part? You could take as much as you wanted with free refills. It was so good, I found myself going back for more!

As for the seafood fried rice, it was just okay. My partner said it used to taste better, but to me, it was still decent, not amazing, but not bad either. Plus, the portion was generous, which is always a win.

Supper: Medan Selera Tepian Tebrau

After dinner, we weren’t ready to call it a night just yet. So, we decided to go for a late-night snack. We picked this food court because there was a variety of options to choose from. Since we’d already had a pretty filling dinner, we were craving something light. We ended up ordering Warm Lai Ci Kang and Tauhu Bakar (Grilled Tofu), both of which I had never tried before.

I’ve always loved Lai Ci Kang, but I’d only ever had it cold, so when I tried it warm for the first time, I was hooked. Thanks to my cough (of all things), I discovered that it can be served warm! I honestly don’t think I can ever go back to the cold version now. It was so comforting and perfect for a cool night.

As for the Tauhu Bakar, it was my first time trying it, and… well, it was just okay. Nothing special, to be honest. The tauhu was stuffed with cucumber, carrots, and bean sprouts, and the dipping sauce was the same one used for fruit rojak. I absolutely love fruit rojak, but having that same sauce as a dipping sauce for Tauhu Bakar felt a bit odd and I wasn’t a huge fan. It wasn’t terrible, but I’m not sure I’d order it again.

Unfortunately, we completely forgot to snap any photos. 😅

Breakfast: Restoran Kacang Pool Haji, Larkin

The next morning, we decided to hunt for a classic Johor breakfast — Kacang Pool, the famous red bean gravy dish served with toasted bread. To be honest, I wasn’t exactly excited about it at first. I had tried Kacang Pool once before and didn’t quite enjoy it, maybe because I’m not a big fan of red beans to begin with.

You can find Kacang Pool restaurants all over Johor, but we chose to go to Kacang Pool Haji, one of the more well-known spots. The place was packed with customers, but lucky for us, we managed to find a small table for two.

I decided to order Mee Rebus for myself, while my partner went for the Kacang Pool, of course.

When my Mee Rebus arrived and I took the first bite, I was pleasantly surprised — it was delicious! As someone who rarely orders anything with mee kuning, I have to say, this bowl was really something special. The gravy was rich and flavorful, and the noodles had just the right texture. I finished the entire bowl and felt completely satisfied.

My partner encouraged me to at least try a bite of his Kacang Pool. Hesitantly, I agreed… and to my surprise, I actually liked it. It tasted nothing like the version I had tried before. The gravy wasn’t overwhelmingly red bean-ish at all. Instead, it was a perfect blend of savory flavours, with minced meat, a hint of calamansi, and a beautifully soft egg on top. It was rich, comforting, and honestly, very delicious.

I ended up sneaking a few more bites and secretly wished I had ordered one for myself, too. 😄 

Quick Snack: Murtabak Singapura Sungai Chat

Before heading home, my partner insisted that I try Singapore Murtabak — something I had surprisingly never had in my life. I’ve only ever had the regular Malaysian murtabak, the kind you can easily find at night markets across the country.

He brought me to a spot that’s a favourite among his family, and I have to say, he was right — Singapore murtabak is definitely different from the typical Malaysian version. From what I heard, the murtabak actually originated from Johor, but Singapore later adapted it and made it their own. Honestly, I’m not entirely sure about the history, but either way, both versions have their own charm.

Singapore murtabak is generously topped with eggs and minced beef, and is usually paired with a chilli sauce and curry for dipping. Flavour-wise, it’s rich and hearty. However, when it comes to the dipping, I have to say I still prefer the Malaysian style — I love the combination of curry and pickled onions with my murtabak.

As for the bread itself, both versions have their unique style, and I genuinely can’t pick a favourite. Each one has its own character that makes it special in its own way. Definitely worth trying if you ever get the chance.

Until Next Time, Johor Bahru!

Even though it was a quick trip, it was exactly the kind of getaway I needed — a little break to explore another city and enjoy some of the amazing food. I hope this little food journey gives you some ideas for your next trip to Johor Bahru. Catch you next time, JB! 😄

X, Hani.