Updated on 6Jan2019
One of Singaporeans’ favorite day trips or short trips these days will be crossing the causeway to JB (Johor Bahru) due to the attractive conversion rate. We have made numerous trips to JB and we have been stopped several times by visiting Singaporeans in JB on directions where to go, we thought it is quite timely to write and share our JB experience. This blog is dedicated for seeking out good, delicious & affordable food in JB by foot (food trail).
Transport
You can easily reach Johor Bahru via public bus, taxi, train or drive in.
(By Bus) If you are taking public bus to go to JB Sentral Bus Terminal (Woodlands checkpoint via Causeway Link):
- Take SBS Bus 170X from Kranji MRT to JB Sentral Bus Terminal (cost SGD $1.39)
- Take SBS Bus 160 from Jurong East Interchange (beside the Jurong East MRT) to JB Sentral Bus Terminal (cost SGD $1.81)
- Take SMRT Bus 950 from Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange to JB Sentral Bus Terminal (cost SGD $1.43)
(By Bus) If you are taking public bus to go to Larkin Bus Terminal JB (Tuas checkpoint via Second Link):
- Take CW1 Bus from Kranji MRT – Larkin Terminal (cost SGD $1.50)
- Take CW2 Bus from Queen Street Terminal – Larkin Terminal (cost SGD $3.50)
- Take CW3 Bus from Jurong East Interchange (beside the Jurong East MRT) to Bukit Indah/ Larkin Terminal (cost SGD 4.00)
- Take CW4 Bus from Jurong East Interchange (beside the Jurong East MRT) – Gelang Patah Sentral /Sutera Mall /Pontian (cost SGD 4.00)
- Take CW5 Bus from Newton Circus to Johor Bahru Custom (cost SGD 3.50)
- Take CW6 Bus from Boon Lay – Bukit Indah (cost SGD 4.00)
*Take note: From Jurong East Interchange, you can take any CW bus (only 1 bus queue). Once you reach Tuas Checkpoint and cleared Singapore immigration, go to the CW Bus stop and take any CW bus to CIQ Second Link (Malaysia’s Immigration). Once you cleared the CIQ Second Link, then you need to board the correct CW bus that takes you to your destination.
(By Train) If you are taking Train by Shuttle Tebrau from Woodlands CIQ to JB Sentral, it cost SGD 5.00 per pax one way from Singapore and MYR 5.00 per pay one way from JB Sentral. You can book the train tickets online via http://www.easybook.com.
(Self-Drive). We have observed the traffic condition to be generally more favorable at Tuas Checkpoint as compared to Woodlands Checkpoint, but do avoid the peak hours.
Below blog will share our experience going around from JB Sentral Station to nearby places within walking distance.
When you are at JB Sentral, Exit 6 goes towards the Bus Interchange and Exit 7 goes towards City Square.
If you take Exit 7 and goes towards City Square, you can spend your time at these places to shop or to eat.
Johor Bahru City Square Mall
City Square is a lively and happening place to be. There are lots of quaint or famous eateries, restaurants and shops here to keep you busy. There are many other shops which I may have missed out here, as there are just too many of them. Here are some that I am familiar with:
Once you walked over the bridge to City Square, taking the escalator to Level 3, you will be greeted by a Kueh Pushcart. They sell a lot of varieties of Nonya Kuehs, Zhu Chang Fen’s wrapped (with various vegetable fillings), etc.
City Square also sets up mega themes especially to promote upcoming movies. It was Ninja Turtle Theme when we arrived. The themes will keep changing from time to time, it is a good time for photo-snappy frenzy.
At Level 3, as you walked to the other end of the mall, just outside “Inner City”, you will see:
Level 3 – Gong Cha – This used to be a Must-Stop for visiting Singaporeans to relieve their thirst for favorite bubble teas. When I went back in Dec 2018, the whole batch of employees in the stall has changed. The milk tea tastes watery and really not worth queuing up at all.
Level 3 – Oleg by gCafe (this cafe is no longer there now). It is replaced by a Thai Milk Tea store. The Thai Milk Tea are pretty expensive, have not tried yet.
Level 3 – Nyonya Leaf (besides Gong Cha). We have tried their Kuehs (very delicious and fresh), Nasi Lemak and Chendol. The food quality here is generally good and affordable. I always buy back their packet Kuehs (One box of 5 Kuehs for RM5, which is value for money) on my way home.
Level 3 – the stall previously is Flour Mago is now replaced with Ming Ang Confectionary (opposite Gong Cha), just newly opened in Dec 2018. I was so happy, I packed a few packs of Heong peah home. The Heong Peah is fresh and crispy, no regrets. Standards are maintained.
Level 3 – Original Cake (inside Inner City). The long queues outside this store is a thing of the past now, due to the rapid popping up of competitors. The cakes quality is still very high, very soft despite us eating it on the 3rd day without refrigerating it. We bought a Chocolate Cake (RM25) this round, but the amount of chocolates inside the cake seems to have dwindled. They have just removed their Durian Cake from their menu, and push out new flavor – Chicken Floss Cake.
Level 3 – TeoChew Chendol (inside Inner City, besides Original Cake). This is also our must-stop point for our favorite Chendol @ RM 6.50 (you can also buy Chendol with a scoop of Durian @ RM9.90). They uses Coconut milk and gula melaka in their Chendol, their green jelly-like cendol is hand-made daily by the store themselves. Delicious!
Level 3 – Dontaku Japanese Restaurant (next to Teochew Chendol). This is another shop that sells high quality Japanese food. We have tried their Bento set (so-so), but what impresses us most is the Sanshoku Bento (that comes with 3 types of noodles, 2 califonia maki and chawanmushi and miso soup @ RM19).
Level 6 – Ho Seng Kee Wanton Noodle (go one level up from the Cinema). We have tried the Wanton noodles here, the noodles taste fresh and QQ. For dry noodle, you can select original, spicy, with black sauce, or spicy with black sauce. It costs about RM 8.90 for a (regular) bowl of noodle.
Level 6 – Go Noodle House – the noodles here, whether soup or dry, taste delicious. But we prefer the dry version more than the soupy version. The price is not cheap though, per bowl of noodle costs RM 10.90 & above.
Ground Level – MacDonalds. The vanilla ice-cream costs RM1, with Choco-top is RM2, Chocolate ice-cream is RM2.50. Their Happy Meals ranges from RM 6.95 to RM 8.50, and you can get a free toy for your kid, very worth it!
Other popular eateries are Canton-i (Level 3), Dragon-i (Level 3), Level 2 has Super Heroes Cafe, next to it is Ding Tai Fung (our favorite Xiao Long Bao store).
For Kuehs and Bread, there is Lavender and Seasons at Level 2. This Season’s Branch at City Square is the only branch that sells Ang Gu Kueh, with generous fillings. Our favorite used to be their peanut Ang Gu Kueh (Ang Ku Kuih). But recently, we found the quality of their Ang Gu Kueh seems to have dropped, with the skin being very hard when we bite.
For fast food, do check out Subway Sandwich (Level 3) for any promotions (they have 2 sandwiches on promotion price of RM 8.50 when we are there this month).
For Shopping, there is H&M (Ground level), Uniqlo (Level 3), Popular Bookstore (Level 4), Action City (Level 4), etc. There is also a movie complex, mmCineplexes (at #M5-03/04) if you wish to catch up on recent movies.
Will stop here for now. Please look out for more blogs on food trail around JB.
Komtar JBCC
Next to City Square Mall is Komtar Mall. This mall is the more “atas” cousin of City Square, the Mall has a lot of branded and luxury shops.
When you enter Komtar from JB Sentral, you turn left and take the escalator, you will go up to Level 3 where there is Daiso and Angry Birds Activity Park.
The big shopping chain here is Metrojaya, which has 3 levels (Ground level to Level 2). From level 2 on the side of Metrojaya, you will see a side door with an escalator that leads you up to Level 3, Kapitan Grocer (the supermarket). This supermarket is quite small, not much fresh produce, variety is quite lacking and price is also not competitive.
References:
- Bus Transportation to JB Sentral – sgmytaxi
- Causeway Link Prices