I have often been asked by Singapore residents for suggestions for a food trail in Johor Bahru.
Here's a suggested itinerary for a 2 days 1 night, food and shopping trail in Johor Bahru designed with Singapore residents in mind.
This itinerary covers the Skudai-Kulai sector.
(I am drawing up a series of several itineraries covering different sectors e.g. Tebrau-Ulu Tiram and Permas Jaya-Pasir Gudang.)
For this trail, the participants proceed to Johor Bahru via Woodlands checkpoint and back. The plan is to depart Singapore at 8:00am on Day 1 and arrive back in Singapore on 8:00pm on Day 2.
Here is the outline of the suggested itinerary. Timings are approximate.
Day 1
8:00am Depart Singapore and proceed to Woodlands checkpoint
9:30am Arrive at Tua Thow Teochew kway teow soup shop
10:30am Arrive at Taman Tasek kway teow kia stall
11:30pm Arrive at Taika Huat braised duck shop
1:30pm Check in at hotel
2:30pm Arrive in JPO (Johor Premium Outlets)
6:30pm Arrive at Sze Hwa Bak Kut Teh
8:30pm Arrive at Nasi Lemak Wak Kentut
10:00pm Arrive at hotel
Day 2
8:00am Check out and assemble at hotel lobby
9:00am Arrive at G Cheong Fun shop
10:00am Arrive at Wah Cai fried durian
10:30am Arrive at AEON JUSCO Bukit Indah
13:30pm Arrive at Hin Hock for poached fish
3:00pm Arrive at KSL City Mall
5:00pm Arrive at Ban Heong Seng
8:00pm Arrive at drop off point in Singapore.
Day 1
Tua Thow at Susur 4, Jalan Tun Abdul Razak, Johor Bahru
The first stop is at Tua Thow 大头餐室, the popular old style Teochew kway teow soup shop famous for their tasty pork bone soup, and fresh pork and seafood ingredients. Many Chinese residents in Johor Bahru are Teochews, and Tua Thow is a good example of the common Teochew kway teow soup shops popular among locals.
Taman Tasek kway teow kia at Jalan Tasek near the Maybank branch off Jalan Skudai, Johor Bahru
The second stop is the popular Taman Tasek kway teow kia stall. Kway teow kia is similar to kway chap common in Singapore. The main difference is, instead of the broad kway in kway chap, over in JB they use the much narrower kway teow kia 果条仔. The braising sauce is also much clearer and milder in colour and flavour compared to kway chap as Teochews like to taste the natural flavours of the pork and pork offal ingredients. The offal are very well cleaned and there is nothing but delightful flavours to taste.
八里半大家发鸭肉 at Jalan Kilang Nenas (Jalan Skudai Batu 8½)
The third stop is 八里半大家发鸭肉 Taika Huat braised duck which is located under the cool shade of a large tree. The Teochew style braised duck is cut in broad, thin, moist, tender slices. I like the gelatinous duck chins (not head or neck). Blood curd is also available (something no longer sold in Singapore).
8 Days Boutique Hotel at Jalan Impian Emas 5/2, Taman Impian Emas, Skudai
After Taika Huat braised duck, it is time to check in and freshen up at the hotel.
Jalan Premium Outlets, Indahpura, Kulaijaya, Johor
After freshening up, proceed for shopping and burning calories at JPO (Johor Premium Outlets).
Sze Hwa, 2, Jalan Seruling 1, Taman Sri Kulai Baru, Kulai, Johor
After walking off the calories, we are ready for Sze Hwa bak kut teh in Kulai. Sze Hwa is a well known name in Kulai. This is the original shop and it has a few franchisees in Johor Bahru. Sze Hwa BKT is mildly herbal and savoury with firm meat.
Wak Kentut, Jalan Susur Kulai 2, Taman Kulai Besar, Kulai, Johor
Next stop is at Wak Kentut nasi lemak which is a typical street side Malay warung. Crispy yet succulent flavourful Malay style fried chicken served with fragrant coconut rice, sambal chili and slices of cucumber. Add a glass of teh tarik for a perfect close to the day's food and shopping trail.
8 Days Boutique Hotel at Jalan Impian Emas 5/2, Taman Impian Emas, Skudai
Return to hotel and have a good night :D
Day 2
Check out of hotel
G Cheong Fun at 176, Jalan Pahlawan 2, Taman Ungku Tun Aminah, Johor Bahru
The first stop is G Cheong Fun to try chee cheong fun with the unique Malaysian touch. For example, taste chee cheong fun with curry gravy, eat it with yong tau fu style side dishes and try their signature sambal cockles (see ham or fresh cockles).
Wah Cai, 86, Jalan Pahlawan 2, Taman Ungku Tun Aminah (TUTA), Skudai
The second stop is a few shops away at Wai Cai fried food stall to try, especially, their fried durian puff.
There are fried durian puffs elsewhere in Malaysia and Singapore, but few have the skill of Wah Cai to turn out fried puffs as crispy outside and milky creamy inside.
AEON Bukit Indah Mall, 8, Jalan Indah 15/2, Taman Bukit Indah, Johor Bahru
Shop and burn calories at AEON in Bukit Indah.
Vivo Pizza has 13 branches throughout Johor
If you have room and like a sweet dessert or just want a cozy place to cool your heels, check out the lava cake at the Vivo Pizza outlet.
Hin Hock, Jalan Dato Mohammed Seth, Tampoi, Johor Bahru
Next food stop is Hin Hock for their poached fish and side dishes of toufu and blanched vegetables. Hin Hock uses the freshest fish from Pontian, blanch it, douse it in their own blended sauce and then smother it with a blanket of fried garlic. This blanched fish has been packing in loyal crowds and new converts for over twenty years.
KSL City Mall, 33, Jalan Seladang, Taman Abad, Johor Bahru
Shop and burn calories at KSL City Mall.
Ban Heong Seng, 34-B, Jalan Skudai, Batu 3¼, off Jalan Tahar, Johor Bahru
Our dinner and last food stop is at Ban Heong Seng, especially for their beggar duck or chicken. Ban Heong Seng is the only place in Johor and Singapore left that still makes authentic beggar duck or chicken. Do call 016-757-1887 or 07-237-5194 to pre-arrange dinner before setting off on the food and shopping trail.
Return to Singapore via Woodlands.
Some notes:
Order for sharing in your group, so that each person gets to enjoy just a tasting portion. In this way, we are able to try out more shops and know which are the shops that we would like to come back to in the future.
Drive safely, stay alert, look out for each other, and have fun.
.jpg "Tangkak · Muar · JB · Johor 1-Day Getaway · Food Trail Itinerary July 2022")
