Going on a short weekend trip or being a traveller in general, you will definitely be working with a limited amount of time, so instead of a hit or miss approach to your meal itinerary, why not read through this list to see where we would recommend you go for each category of food, be it Japanese, local Malaysian food, Chinese, Italian or Thai.
Warong Pokok Ceri
Photo by Burppler Ivan Teh
For Local Malay Johorean And Kelantanese Food
This is a popular spot for breakfast among Johoreans, and for good reason, mainly because they have a wide variety of local delights such as nasi lemak, laksa Johor and even Kelantan's Nasi Kerabu. The restaurant is located across the street from Persada Johor, and it is advised to go there via e-hailing or taxi, as getting a decent parking spot is a feat by itself. It's a self-service eatery (similar to mixed rice stalls at hawker centres) where you are expected to pick and choose whatever dish you fancy, as such the pricing is rather ambiguous, but you can expect a plate of Nasi Lemak, fried egg and fried chicken to cost around RM5, which is pretty reasonable. There are bowls of beef, chicken, fish or vegetarian curry which are RM6 per bowl and can be shared between two people. With that said, the average price per pax should be around RM10 (SGD3.30) or lower. Recommended items are definitely the fried chicken, Ulam (raw vegetables eaten with belacan), fried catfish, and the Ayam Masak Merah.
Yaoki
Photo by Burppler Man in Blog
For A Wide Selection Of Japanese Food
The finest ingredients are freshly imported from Japan, menu items cooked to order, and a wide selection of traditional Japanese dishes, this is Yaoki, and you can be certain that they will not disappoint. Diners can choose from a selection of Izakaya bites, Ramen, Sushi and Teishoku (set meals), we recommend trying something of everything to get a good grasp of what the quality is like at Yaoki. Regarding pricing their Sushi range from RM6 to RM22, with the later being a Maguro Nigiri, which is a pretty decent price for two cuts of premium bluefin tuna. As for Ramen go for the Shio Buta Tonkotsu Ramen (RM25), to savour a creamy Umami filled pork bone broth with a generous serving of Chashu. After all that food, why not wash it down with some Sake or Japanese beer? A slightly sweet and easy to down 300ml bottle of creamy Nigori (cloudy) Sake goes for RM36, this bottle has hints of white grape and cherry blossom which is a good choice for first-time sake drinkers. For beers, if you're in luck they might just have a few cans of Suntory Strong Zero, which is actually a Chuhai (a Sochu Highball, Sochu being a Japanese clear spirit not to be mistaken with Sake) that they sell for RM18 a can and RM30 for 2 cans, but be warned as this drink packs a punch with its whopping 9% alcohol content, and tastes like a regular fizzy beverage to the point it is easy to over drink it. For a more casual drinking experience, have the regular Highball (RM22), made with Suntory whiskey and sparkling water.
Bharat Curry House
Photo by Burppler Joyce Teo
For South Indian Cuisine
This place is synonymous with variety, and amazing tea, this ensures that nobody will be left without something to order. Banana leaf is the name of the game here, and knowing what to add to it is how you win. With the vast array of dishes to choose from, most will be lost as to what to order, so for starters, it's best to pick your base and work your way up from there. You can't go wrong with any Biryani option on the menu, as the basmati rice is flavored with a myriad of Indian spices that just work so well to make a hearty base for your plate. You can now go the vegetarian route and get some deep fried bitter gourds, vegetable curries, and bathed them in dhal, or opt for protein with a selection of chicken and mutton curries, fried chicken, hardboiled eggs, omelets and fish. A plate of banana leaf will cost you between RM14 to RM22 depending on your selection, with the higher priced ones being those containing meats. Bharat is also popular for their Teh Tarik and masala tea (RM2 each), and for those who would prefer something cold, try out their Lassi (RM9.50), which come in either plain, mango or orange.
Dragon-i Restaurant
Photo by Burppler Alvin Ong
For Chinese Food
Famous for their La Mian and Xiao Long Bao, this authentic Chinese restaurant serves up some of the best dishes the mainland has to offer. For Xiao Long Bao try out the Shanghainese steamed meat dumplings (RM12), which is a thin dough wrapper that encases the juicy pork as well as broth, giving you an explosion of rich flavour the minute you bite into it. There are also variants that have black truffle (RM18), and even yam paste (RM10). Now let's take a look at their main courses, specifically the La Mian, have a bowl of the braised beef brisket La Mian (RM28), which is the base noodle and broth with three large pieces of beef brisket, marinated and braised to compliment the light flavour of the broth. For those looking for some heat, order the Szechuan La Mian in Mala soup (RM18), which comes with pork slices and one half of a tea egg. We would recommend visiting the Mid Valley Southkey outlet which has multiple drop off spots and ample parking for visitors, check out their menu here.
Jeju Korean Restaurant
Photo by Burppler Junhao Tan
For Authentic Korean BBQ
Being operated by a Korean family you can be certain that this restaurant is as authentic as it gets. Lauded for hearty servings, Jeju is certain to satiate your appetite with a variety of meats and side dishes. Needless to say, as with most Korean BBQ restaurants, that this place is good for groups, and they have a few sets that are good for 2 to 5 pax. Our recommendations would be the set F (RM190), which comes with grilled pork belly, beef ribs marinated in soy sauce, marinated pork neck, chicken bulgogi, Haemul Pajeon (Korean seafood and scallion pancake), and either a Kimchi or seafood casserole. This set is good for 4 to 5 pax and allows for a sample of most of their meats. For those who wish to go all out and try almost everything Jeju has to offer, order the set H (RM380), which comes with 7 different meat dishes that include beef, chicken and pork, as well as grilled shrimp, and the aforementioned scallion pancake and casserole. This set also includes a free Tteobokki, which can be replaced with Soju if you wish as well as 2 cans of cola. Visit their Facebook page for the complete menu.
Amphawa Boat Noodle
Photo by Burppler Tasty Tested
For Thai Food
Known for their RM1.90 (SGD0.61) boat noodles, Amphawa also has a large selection of delectable Thai cuisine for you to indulge in at a reasonable price. At the moment there are three outlets in Johor, one in Sutera Tanjung Skudai, Austin Heights in Taman Mount Austin, and another along Jalan Ibrahim in the city centre. At the time this article is written, the outlet along Jalan Ibrahim is temporarily closed, so it is advised to head over to Mount Austin or Skudai. Their sample sized bowls of boat noodles come in either chicken, beef or even Tom Yam, and you can select between rice vermicelli or Thai glass noodles. We would also recommend their Pad Thai with prawns (RM12.90), which is not premixed with peanuts or chilli flakes, and you are able to tweak the spiciness to your liking by adding in the chilli later. Another popular item on the menu is the Thai teas, which are priced at RM8.90, and come in either regular Thai milk tea, green tea or rose milk tea. If you still have room definitely give their Mango sticky rice (RM11.90) dessert a go. Made with a very ripe and sweet half cut of mango, and served with sticky rice and coconut milk, this dessert will surely be a great finisher to your Thai meal.
