What to Eat in Tampoi, Johor Bahru? Plenty & Here's 10 of the Best

Tampoi is a sprawling residential and light industry area in Johor Bahru generally around 20 minutes to 30 minutes drive north of JB Immigration. Food choices are plentiful and diverse. Here are my 10 favourites which I go back to regularly.

I bring friends to Hin Hock often as it is one of JB's definitive culinary experiences. The fish preparation is unique - fast boiled and served with savoury sauce with a thick blanket of fried garlic. This dish is not found anywhere else, besides Hin Hock. Their bak kut teh have lots of loyal fans too, though I am not one of them. I come here mainly for the fish, specifically the boiled tilapia.

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Am I the odd few that at times prefer the humble tilapia over sea fish because they taste better with certain preparations? http://johorkaki.blogspot.com/2013/10/fish-at-hin-hock-in-tampoi-johor-bahru.html?m=1

A post shared by Tony Johor Kaki (@johorkaki) on Aug 13, 2019 at 7:03am PDT

Restaurant name: Kedai Bak Kut Teh Hin Hock 兴福肉骨茶
Address: Jalan Dato Mohammed Seth, Tampoi, Johor Baharu (near Plaza Angsana)
GPS: 1.496813,103.702429
Hours: 08:30am to 3:30pm (Mondays off)

This was one of my best finds of 2018 which went viral. The food is authentic, delicious and very good value for money. This is the top nasi kukus in Johor now.

Restaurant name: Nasi Kukus D'Cempaka (Nasi Kukus Gulai Kawah)
Address: Gerai No. 11, Medan Selera Taman Cempaka, Taman Cempaka, Johor Bahru
GPS: 1°30'54.1"N 103°41'50.9"E 🌐 1.515033, 103.697476
Waze: Medan Selera Taman Cempaka
Parking: Ample free parking at the hawker centre
Tel: 013 734 8178
Hours: 10:00am - 10:00pm (Monday off)

Fresh sea bass and pork soup served with rice cooked with pulpy mustard leaves (which is rarely sold at food stalls). The light body soup has a nice natural savoury sweetness. The tender pork is fresh and sweet. The sea bass though sweet have a subtle earthly taste. I always get the fresh fish stomach whenever it is available.

Restaurant name: Ang Moh Pork Organ Soup 紅毛豬雜湯
Address: Intersection of Lorong Bedik and Jalan Dato Mohammed Seth, Tampoi, Johor Bahru
GPS: 1°29'52.3"N 103°42'05.6"E 🌐 1.497846, 103.701552
Hours: 7:30am - 3:00pm (alternate Tues off)

I come to Onn Kee Jaya for their claypot fish head with yam. I like the layers of mild savoury sweetness and aromatics in the the soup thickened with nearly dissolved yam. Can be inconsistent occasionally - best when the fish are freshest (subject to availability). The vinegar stew pork and stew pork with salted fish are more consistently good.

Restaurant name: Restoran Onn Kee Jaya 安记砂煲鱼头汤
Address: 76, Jalan Dato Mohammed Seth, Tampoi, Johor Bahru
GPS: 1°29'52.3"N 103°42'06.6"E | 1.497854, 103.701839
Hours: 11:00am to 9:00pm (Weds off)

Hj Wahid mee rebus is one of Johor's iconic brands. The savoury sweetish sauce is rather mild which can be boosted with cut green chili. Hj Wahid mee rebus still enjoys a large loyal following. They have many outlets, this one in Plaza Angsana (Tampoi) is one of the oldest.

Restaurant name: Haji Wahid Mee Rebus @ Plaza Angsana
Address: Stall at Plaza Angsana, Tampoi, Johor Bahru
GPS: 1.495183,103.705229
Tel: 07-235 0443
Hours: 10:00am to 9:00pm

Youthful boss serving old school wanton mee. Light, springy, crunchy egg noodles with quite robust savoury lardy sauce which can be spiced up with chili paste (on request). This is one of Johor Bahru locals' favourite wanton mee. I loved it too.

Restaurant name: 淡杯阿B全蛋云吞面 (stall in Restoran Lee Soon)
Address: 34, Jalan Dato Muthuthambi, 81200 Tampoi, Johor Bahru
GPS: 1.498536, 103.702014 🌐 1°29'54.7"N 103°42'07.2"E
Tel: +60 16-727 8588
Hours: 10:00am to 5:00pm (Closed on alternate Fri)

Well loved 40 year old street side push cart stall. Medium body curry which is rich in well balanced umami savoury, sweet, spicy flavours. Must also order their fruit rojak and cuttlefish kangkong vegetable.

Restaurant name: Tampoi Laksa 淡杯辣沙
Address: 17, Jalan Dato Muthuthambi, Tampoi, Johor Bahru
GPS: 1.497811,103.703309 🌐 1°29'52.1"N 103°42'11.9"E
Hours: 5:00pm to 11:00pm (opens daily but no see ham on Mondays)

A simple comfortable banana leaf Indian restaurant that is popular with locals for decades. I like it that Agneey's food is nicely prepared, warm and consistently delicious. Worth the calories - yeah..., I always eat too much rice when indulging in banana leaf cuisine.

Restaurant name: Agneey's Cuisine Indian Restaurant
Address: 33, Jalan Titiwangsa 3/3, Taman Tampoi Indah, Johor Bahru
GPS: 1.505962,103.688573 🌐 1°30'21.5"N 103°41'18.9"E
Tel: +60 7-235 5063
Hours: 10:00am to 10:00pm

Not quite the Indonesian nasi padang, this Chinese operated shop is nonetheless very popular with locals. More like nasi padang with a heavy dose of Chinese elements, the dishes are tasty and I enjoyed it too, especially their kurma kambing. Reminds me of those Chinese curry rice shops in Singapore.

Restaurant name: Nasi Padang Tampoi 巴东咖哩
Address: 86-H, Batu 3½, Jalan Tampoi, 81200, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
GPS: 1.519067, 103.745026 🌐 1°31'08.6"N 103°44'42.1"E
Hours: 10:30am to 2:30pm (Closed on Sunday)

If you know Batu Pahat's famous Mohd Shah nasi briyani, MS Beryani is by their relatives in JB. Same aromatic, flavoursome basmati rice, same thick spice laden curry, same tender juicy rendang lamb or chicken (but, it is right here in Tampoi).

Restaurant name: Pondok MS Beryani
Address: 54, Jalan Padi Emas 2, Bandar Baru Uda, Johor Bahru (near Plaza Angsana)
GPS: Pondok M.S Beryani
Waze: MS Beryani
Tel: 019-720 1148
Hours: 10:00am - 2:30pm (Friday off)

Johor's most famous nasi ambeng. Nice well flavoured crispy freshly fried chicken but the killer for me is their punchy, zesty, spicy signature sambal chili. They also have beef rendang.

Restaurant name: Mat Corner (stall in Selera Mahsuri)
Address: Off Jalan Padi Mahsuri (opposite SMK Bandar Baru Uda), Bandar Baru Uda, Johor Bahru
GPS: 1.494920,103.718823
Tel: 019-7244 798 (Alwi)
Hours: 10:00am to 3:00pm (no fixed off day)

Ten years of countless foodie trips to Tampoi. These are my favourite 10. I have been to these 10 places many times (as well as many other eateries not in this list).

Details of the 10 best 👍

Hin Hock bak kut teh 👈 click
Ang Moh fish soup 👈 click
Onn Kee Jaya fish soup 👈 click
Tampoi Ah B wanton mee 👈 click
Tampoi laksa 👈 click
Nasi padang Tampoi 👈 click
Agneey's Indian cuisine 👈 click
Hj Wahid mee rebus 👈 click
MS Beryani 👈 click
Mat Corner nasi ambeng 👈 click
Nasi Kukus Gulai Kawah 👈 click

More good places to eat in Tampoi 👈 click