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Café Racer by Grillbar in Pelangi Johor Bahru Update 2018

Café Racer by Grillbar in Pelangi Johor Bahru Update 2018

We had afternoon tea at Cafe Racer by Grillbar today. Love the American style food and biker theme of this unique little eatery in Johor Bahru 🏍


Café Racer by Grillbar in Pelangi Johor Bahru Update 2018

Cafe Racer owner Chef Gary is an avid biker. Gray's infectious passion with bikes and riding can be seen and felt in every corner and even ceiling in the restaurant 🏍

Café Racer by Grillbar in Pelangi Johor Bahru Update 2018

I remember Chef Gary told me before he opened Cafe Race (in 2015) that he wanted to create a hangout for all bikers 🏍



For starters we had Nachos Enchiladas Chicken Melt.

Café Racer by Grillbar in Pelangi Johor Bahru Update 2018

It's fried corn chips with minced chicken enchiladas dressed with mozzarella cheese sauce, cheddar cheese sauce, chopped bell pepper, chopped capsicum, pickled jalapeno, spring onion, and kidney beans served in a crispy taco shell bowl.



Jumble of robust salty-savoury and sweet flavours with mix of crisps and soft textures. From my memory, this is no different from those that I tasted in USA (perhaps, a tinge less salty than over there).

Café Racer by Grillbar in Pelangi Johor Bahru Update 2018

Fried Onion Blossom - a popular starter from Grillbar Steakhouse, Gary's other restaurant. It's a large American white onion, specially cut like a blooming chrysanthemum, seasoned with Southwest spice rub, fried till golden brown and served with three different American style dips.

Café Racer by Grillbar in Pelangi Johor Bahru Update 2018

Bite through the savoury crisp outside into the moist sweet inside of the onion. The three different flavour dips add more savoury, sweet, sourish, toasty tastes to the fried onion. Eat it like fries and best to eat while it is still hot.

Café Racer by Grillbar in Pelangi Johor Bahru Update 2018

New York Burger.

Café Racer by Grillbar in Pelangi Johor Bahru Update 2018

House made 9 oz minced beef patty with cheddar cheese, fried egg and lettuce etc between pan seared sesame buns.

Café Racer by Grillbar in Pelangi Johor Bahru Update 2018

Traditional Outlaw Beef Stew.

Café Racer by Grillbar in Pelangi Johor Bahru Update 2018

Chunks of tender juicy beef with squeaky bite in a thick savoury sauce with underlying beefiness and sweetness from caramelised onion, mushroom and carrot.

Café Racer by Grillbar in Pelangi Johor Bahru Update 2018

Served with pan seared garlic soft bread.

Café Racer by Grillbar in Pelangi Johor Bahru Update 2018
Café Racer by Grillbar in Pelangi Johor Bahru Update 2018

Recommended for you 👍 I like it that Cafe Racer has a clear theme which is carried consistently throughout. Cafe Racer's food is a taste of America, serving is American size but fortunately prices are JB standard. Two of us, we enjoyed our food but struggled to finish them due to the large generous portions. Service is attentive and warm, yet there is no service charge. It's a memorable JB foodie experience you'll love to tell your friends about 🏍

Café Racer by Grillbar in Pelangi Johor Bahru Update 2018

Restaurant name: Café Racer by Grillbar
Address: 72, Jalan Pingai, Taman Pelangi Johor Bahru 
GPS1°28'57.5"N 103°46'29.7"E 🌐 1.482646, 103.774916
Hours: 12:00 noon - 11:00 pm 
Tel: +60 7-335 0000 

No pork, no lard, Halal certified supplies



Date visited: 22 Dec 2018


Café Racer by Grillbar in Pelangi Johor Bahru Update 2018

My friend Chef Gary from Grillbar Steakhouse has been sharing with me his vision of a simple cafe where he welcomes all with high quality yet affordable food. That was months before he opened Cafe Racer. It's been 5 months since Cafe Racer opened it's doors and it's only today that I managed to pop by for a visit ;-p

Restaurant name: Café Racer by Grillbar
Address72, Jalan Pingai, Taman Pelangi Johor Bahru
GPS1.482819, 103.775137
Hours: 11:30 am - 11:00 pm
Tel: +60 7-335 0000
No pork, no lard, Halal certified supplies

Café-Racer-Grillbar-Pelangi-Johor-Bahru

The moment we stepped into Cafe Racer, I can see Gary's stamp at every corner of the two storey eatery. As Gary is an avid biker, of course his new baby must have the biker theme (just like at Grillbarhis first baby).

Café-Racer-Grillbar-Pelangi-Johor-Bahru

True to his vision, Gary wants Cafe Racer to be "a cool and chill hang-out place with reasonable pricing and Halal friendly menu".

Café-Racer-Grillbar-Pelangi-Johor-Bahru

Opened for less than half a year, it's already caught the imagination of net savvy youth with images of Cafe Racer spreading on social media like wild fire.


Gary wasn't in the house when we dropped by but he did mentioned before that food at Cafe Racer will be simple and casual.

So, we ordered 2 simple sets, a beef pie and a dessert.

Café-Racer-Grillbar-Pelangi-Johor-Bahru
Café-Racer-Grillbar-Pelangi-Johor-Bahru

The Tomato Basil Soup was a nicely creamy blend of savoury sweet flavours with very slight tangy notes. Lots of lovely soft bits of chopped vegetables inside. It was a great start!

Everything in the soup was fresh - none of those canned nonsense :-D

Café-Racer-Grillbar-Pelangi-Johor-Bahru

Rock and Roll Shrimp Burrito. (I like the fancy names Gary gave to his dishes.)

Café-Racer-Grillbar-Pelangi-Johor-Bahru

The fresh lettuce wrap was refreshing and had a surprisingly interesting crunchy mouth feel. Must Try (especially if you are a herbivore).

Café-Racer-Grillbar-Pelangi-Johor-Bahru

Good sized fresh shrimps wrapped and deep fried in crusty batter.

Café-Racer-Grillbar-Pelangi-Johor-Bahru

Grilled Chicken Chop with Rice.

Café-Racer-Grillbar-Pelangi-Johor-Bahru

Tender and juicy chicken leg grilled till golden brown and served with sides of grilled cherry tomatoes, buttery boiled rice and broccoli.

The savoury sweet mushroom sauce that held everything together was simply awesome.

Café-Racer-Grillbar-Pelangi-Johor-Bahru

Papa's Beef Pie (RM22).

Café-Racer-Grillbar-Pelangi-Johor-Bahru

Hearty juicy, tender, beefy meaty stew encased in a buttery flaky crust.


Ah, that splash of brown sauce and mushrooms again.

Just. Wow.

Café-Racer-Grillbar-Pelangi-Johor-Bahru

We wrapped up our lunch by sharing a Sizzling Brownie (RM18). The brownie is served warm, topped with a large scoop of ice cream. Just before serving, a staff poured hot chocolate sauce on the sizzling plate for a little steamy drama ;-p

Café-Racer-Grillbar-Pelangi-Johor-Bahru

Tender buttery sweet brownie with soft ice cream and crunchy toasted macadamia nuts set in a pool of warm chocolate sauce.

A nice sweet happy ending to our great lunch.

Café-Racer-Grillbar-Pelangi-Johor-Bahru

->> Cafe Racer by Grillbar is a simple, affordable fun dining hang out but there is no compromise on food quality at all.

Congratulations Gary for achieving your delicious vision.




Date visited: 4 Jul 2015



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