CLOSED EHHE Art Cafe - Old Johor Bahru Tan Hiok Nee Cultural Street on Foot 中間旁邊陈旭年文化街

In a few days, Johor Kaki blog will be entering it's fifth year. Not surprisingly, the first Johor Kaki posts were about the eateries around the Jalan Tan Hiok Nee cultural district as these are interesting and nearest to Singapore. Though, Johor Kaki blog is basically the same, there are many changes. The same can be said of Johor Bahru's cultural district.



The Tan Hiok Nee cultural street has changed a lot. New eateries have added new variety and more buzz to the historic old downtown.



One of the transformational changes is the street art that has appeared at the Tan Hiok Nee cultural street. Some of the drab old walls are now dressed in eye catching art. Johor Bahru street art is captivating and as beautiful as any that I have seen anywhere.



These are the works of Pauline, a young artist who works with Ehhe Art Cafe 中間旁邊.



Ehhe Art Cafe 中間旁邊 is right at the gateway to Tan Hiok Nee cultural street. (Across Tan Hiok Nee street from old Kin Wah coffee shop and just beside the famous Hiap Joo banana cake shop.)



(View of Tan Hiok Nee street from inside Ehhe Art Cafe.) Don't be shy. Come right in :-D



I was invited by Joanne to visit Ehhe Art Cafe. The moment, I stepped inside, I was fascinated by it's unique decor.



I am not sure how to describe it as the pieces are artistic but eclectic. It all come together very well, reflecting the attitude of Johor towards all the different enriching influences that arrive on these shores.




There is plenty of earthly wood, giving the cool place a relaxing warm feeling.



There are many little nooks and cosy corners for quiet personal space and time.



There are some more interesting artistic spaces upstairs. This space is regularly used for art shows, so customers have a chance to enjoy art while having their coffee and meals.



The youthful staff was attentive and enthusiastic.



I took a peek at the open coffee bar.



Bucking the trend of serving fashionable specialty imported Arabica coffees, Ehhe Art Cafe offers traditional Johor style home grown coffee.


Kopi O RM2.20

The coffee here is the home grown type from "upstate" Johor known as "white coffee". This is the type of coffee we will encounter when we drive up windy single lane trunk roads in rural Johor and stopping at random rustic quaint old kopitiams (coffee shops).

It's called "white coffee" not because it is white in colour, but it has a lighter colour as the coffee does not have bulk fillers like charred maize. It is made with pure Liberica coffee beans grown in Senggarang (30 minutes drive south of Batu Pahat).



Senggrang coffee have a characteristic aroma and flavour which I have learned to appreciate like Johoreans :-D



Joanne let us taste a few dishes from Ehhe's extensive menu. It's a mix of traditional Malaysian and also Western style dishes. Overall, the food was tasty and very reasonably priced. (There is no service charge and GST at the moment.)



Egg Mayo on toast RM3.90.



Kaya Toast RM1.80. (Duck eggs kaya also available - ask for it.)



Crystal demonstrating the proper way to enjoy kopi and toast Malaysia style :-D



Signature Fish and Chips RM16.90.



Signature Fried Rice RM8.90.



Crispy Chicken Chop RM15.90.



Crispy outside and juicy inside.



Grilled Chicken Chop RM15.90.



Signature Fried Chicken (Korean style) RM13.90.



Nanyang Signature Spaghetti RM14.90.



Healthful Golden Immune Booster (cold pressed) RM11.90.



Home cooked style Red Bean Soup RM3.50.



Chendol RM5.50.



->> Ehhe Art Cafe is a welcoming, cheerful, comfortable pit stop to cool our heels when visiting the Tan Hiok Nee cultural street. We enjoyed ourselves here.



We bumped into Simon Murray, the famous spectacles maker from the U.K. who supplies custom eyewear for movies and television shows including blockbusters Harry Potter, Alien, and C.S.I. etc.

Special guest appearance by Crystal :-D

Disclosure: This was an invited food tasting.



Restaurant name: EHHE Art Cafe 中間旁邊
Address: No. 1, Jalan Trus, Bandar Johor Bahru 80000, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. Junction of Jalan Trus and Jalan Tan Hiok Nee (just beside Hiap Joo Bakery) 陈旭年文化街
Map: http://bit.ly/EHHEGallery
GPS: 1.456477, 103.764608
Hours: 7:00am to 4:00pm daily

No pork, no lard, no alcohol, no Halal cert

Date visited: 14 Dec 2015

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