Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

Hipster quarter

Johor Bahru’s heritage quarter, which consists of a network of lifestyle cafes and restaurants, is where the Instagram crowd flocks to for fresh hipster pastures. Jalan Trus, Jalan Dhoby and Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, landmarked by two street arches and the heritage building known as the Red House, are where pre-World War II shophouses have been restored and repurposed as F&B hotspots. Here’s a look at some of them.

Johor Bahru’s heritage quarter, which consists of a network of lifestyle cafes and restaurants, is where the Instagram crowd flocks to for fresh hipster pastures. Jalan Trus, Jalan Dhoby and Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, landmarked by two street arches and the heritage building known as the Red House, are where pre-World War II shophouses have been restored and repurposed as F&B hotspots. Here’s a look at some of them.

Kok Yow Yong
Where: 131 Jalan Trus 
Opening hours: 6am to 1pm daily, closed on Sunday

Chinese teas, brewed using dried herbs and flowers from China, may not be everybody’s cuppa. Yet, this 100-year-old herbal drink stall is an institution. Proprietor Wong Oi Fah, 71, has been brewing tea for the past 40 years with her younger sibling, Wong Oi Ling. Pick from two standard brews: Bitter herbal tea or sweet chrysanthemum at RM1 each. Every time Mdm Wong dispenses a dosage, she automatically rattles off: “Don’t drink cold beverages. Come back again if you’re still unwell.” 

Shakespeare Milkshakes
Where: 9 Jalan Trus
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday, 1pm-11pm; Wednesday closed; Friday to Sunday, 1pm-midnight 
facebook.com/shakespeare.milkshakes

If you’re looking for luscious specialty milkshakes and croffles (croissant sandwiches), this is it. All the milkshakes are blended with home-made ice cream. 

There are three classic flavours: Vanilla, milk yogurt and dark chocolate (RM10 each), and six specialty mixes (RM16 each) like the Matcha Adzuki, a dreamy blend of green tea ice cream with sweet red beans topped with a crunchy blend of cookies, rice crackers and toasted rice tea. Berry Sparkle, an antioxidant-rich blend of raspberries, blueberries and strawberries blitzed with yogurt, has popping candy powder bursting on the palate with every sip. For pure dark chocolate indulgence, you can’t go wrong with the wickedly tempting Kinder Bueno Shake. 

Ehhe Art Cafe
Where: 1 Jalan Trus
Opening hours: 7am-5pm daily

The cafe’s name is a contraction of the words “earth” and “heart”, minus the common word “art”. The art gallery is on the second floor, while the cafe takes up the ground floor.  

Stepping in, one might expect art buffs steeped in discourse over latte or coffee. After all, this purpose-built establishment showcases the work of local Malaysian artists. Instead, you’ll find diners tucking into MSG-free Hainanese chicken rice (from RM13), the cafe’s top-seller. 

It took head chef Paul Lam 30 tireless attempts to tweak the recipe. Naked-neck chicken, a peculiar breed originally from Holland but reared locally in the town of Pekan Nanas (famous for its pineapples) is used. Raised free range, the hormone-free birds are fed corn to yield a smooth, yellow-skinned chicken with firm, succulent meat. 

The chicken is doused with a light sesame-oil-infused soya sauce, and  paired with Thai fragrant rice simmered in chicken stock. You’ll want to dip the meat slices into the homemade chilli-garlic sauce and a locally sourced caramel dark soy sauce.

IT Roo Cafe
Where: 17 Jalan Dhoby 
Opening hours: 10am-9.30pm daily

The cafe was founded by the late Jian Kai Xiang, an ex-Kuomintang officer who fled from Hainan to Johor Bahru in the 1950s. At that time, it sold Hainanese kopi. 

His son Jian Hye Jeoin learnt cooking from a British chef and picked up tips to cook the perfect British-styled chicken chop. He tweaked the recipe, added it to the cafe’s menu in the 1970s and it became IT Roo’s golden goose. The dish was even named Best Chicken Chop in The Star in 2003.

The meaty chicken thigh comes pan-grilled or deep-fried in breadcrumbs at RM16 each (S$5.12). Robin Jian, the current third-generation owner, says that it has taken over 40 years to master the technique of achieving a crackly coating that conceals a juicy, moist and tender fried chicken chop. 

Complementary sauces include the robust black pepper sauce, the herb-infused mushroom sauce, ketchup and a specially sourced bottled chilli sauce. For a sip of nostalgia, order the root beer float (RM6.50). 

Getting there
Once you’re in Johor Bahru, head for City Square Mall. Exit the mall on Jalan Wong Ah Fook. Walk towards the Indian temple across the road and head towards Jalan Trus.

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.