JB flavours: What to try when you’re across the Causeway for the weekend

JOHOR BARU — The capital city of Johor state never disappoints me — especially its food. With hip and trendy hipster cafes popping up, there are more reasons than ever to go on a food hunt in Johor Baru or JB.

As a food haven, JB has a long list of must-try foods. My family and I can’t cover most of them as we only have the weekend, but we do try our best.

Upon reaching Johor Baru, my sister wants coffee so we check out one of the popular hipster cafes, Just Want Coffee, or JWC. It is a well-established concept cafe with outlets all over the city, with each one featuring different concepts and menus.

Our choice is Homies by JWC in Taman Molek (Jalan Molek 1/27, Taman Molek). It is a bit secluded as it is in a residential area and parking is limited but the cafe has a contemporary design with a bright interior and natural lighting, which makes it an Insta-worthy place to chill in.

My sister opted for iced-blended mocha, while I went for the hot chocolate, which offers a choice of chocolates: Original, royal, brandy, and grand marnier. We also order the highly recommended signature dessert, Hot Sizzling Chocolate Brownie, served on a hotplate with vanilla ice-cream on top , which is truly divine.

(The cotton candy affogato from Homies by JWC. Photo: New Straits Times)

But the cotton candy affogato — a combination of creamy vanilla ice-cream served with nuts and sweet cotton candy drowned with a shot of hot espresso — is the star of the menu.

The food truck scene is becoming a trendy hangout and Johor Baru isn't short on offerings. One hotspot for food trucks is at the Sentral Hotel Food Truck Carnival (17, Jalan Tenteram, Tanjung Puteri, Johor Baru) during weekends. There is free parking but it is limited, so our advice is to go for the paid parking space nearby.

The carnival is usually teeming with visitors and there are varied food choices. It is hard to make a choice since everything looks so good and smells delicious. But our favourites are Korean Hot Spicy Chicken by Deongy Food Truck and fusion pasta by Big Chef OTR.

Speaking of favourites, Md Aris Yong Tahu in Kg Melayu Majidee (Jalan Kenangan, Kampung Melayu Majidee, Johor Baru) is a steamboat legend in Johor Baru.

(Yong tau foo JB-style is quite different from the more familiar KL version. Photo: New Straits Times)

It opens from 5pm, and what makes this yong tau foo special is the addition of cow’s lungs as an ingredient. You just grab a bowl and pick ingredients from a bar and wait at your table while they are being prepared. The ingredients are cut into pieces, dipped in hot steaming soup and served with a fresh delicious broth.

Another dish to try is murtabak from Murtabak Majid in Kampung Kurnia (No. 38 Lot 5581, Jalan Kurniawan, Kampung Kurnia, 80250 Johor Baru). Yes, you can find it anywhere but it’s not the same. Available from noon, the murtabak here is bigger, thicker, stuffed with generous portions of meat and you can even put cheese in it. Eat it while it is still warm and you’ll enjoy its contrasts: Crispy on the outside, meaty and cheesy inside.

Restoran ZZ Sup Tulang (Jalan Petri 5/1, Kampung Bahru, Johor Baru) is another famous eatery in JB. This is the place to be if you want to tuck in and enjoy some lambshank (or “gearbox”, as they call it here).

(You can have lambshank in two versions here - with mee rebus (foreground) or in a soup. Photo: New Straits Times) 

The restaurant has a village feel as it offers little attap pavilions where you can sit cross-legged. Here, you can have lamshank in two versions: As a soup (which is the more familiar version), or together with mee rebus. The portions are big and they even provide you with a straw to suck up the marrow in the bone.

The sheer variety makes it impossible to try everything over a weekend, but that just gives us another excuse to return. NEW STRAITS TIMES