If you’ve already been to Mount Austin, a trendy neighbourhood in Johor Bahru lined with cute cafes, restaurants, and boutiques, make Bukit Indah the next spot to visit when you go cafe-hopping in JB! Though underrated, the area hosts an array of hidden gems with different cuisines such as Japanese, Indian, Chinese, and Western. From viral burger joint Woodfire to lesser-known souffle pancake spot Interieur Cafe, you can satiate just any craving here.
The current exchange rate as of 26 November 2024 is RM1 = ~S$0.30.
Sorella Cafe, a Japanese-French patisserie, is one of the most well-known cafes in Bukit Indah, so it’s only right that we include it at the top of our list. They are known for their Western mains with the likes of sandwiches and pasta, as well as their gorgeous cakes and pastries. Plus, the space is super cosy and can hold plenty of diners at once.
Loyal customers return for their honeycomb-shaped Standing Waffles, which are made in-house with natural yeast fermented dough, giving it a flavour akin to sourdough. The waffles come in delectable variations such as Apple Crumble (RM28.90) and Mango Salsa (RM28.90), among others.
If you’re feeling a bit more peckish, go for their Carbonara (RM23.90) or Creamy Salmon (RM26.90). They also have moreish snacks such as Truffle Fries (RM19.90), great for sharing with your dining companions.
Address: 48, Jalan Indah 28/1, Taman Bukit Indah 2, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 9pm
Tel: +60 7-287 7779
Website
Sorella Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Huda Izzati
For wallet-friendly Western food, head to The Marco Polo Kitchen, which has over 2,000 reviews and a 4.3-star rating on Google. Whet your appetite with their range of appetisers from Salt and Pepper Calamari (RM22.49/RM45.99) to Nachos (RM23.99/RM47.99). As for your mains, whether you’re feeling burgers, pizzas, pasta, or meat chops, they have it all in their super extensive menu. For sharing, get their range of pizzas, including fusion flavours such as the Tandoori Chicken (RM24.99).
Image credit: rw
A crowd-favourite seems to be their Fish and Chips (RM21.50/RM42.99), which comes with two generously sized fish fillets, making it super value-for-money. Alternatively, if you’re more of a pasta person, you’d be happy to find that there are close to 20 types here. These include the Carbonara Crumble (RM23.50/46.99), Spaghetti Pesto (RM19.99/38.99), and the Penne Arrabiata (RM19.50/RM38.99). Finally, end off your meal with their artfully created Mocktails from RM14.99.
Address: 35, Jalan Indah 15/2, Taman Bukit Indah, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 11:30am to 10pm, Fri 11:30am to 10:30pm, Sat-Sun 11am to 10:30pm
Tel: +60 12-788 4046
Website
The Marco Polo Kitchen is a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Interieur Cafe
A well-kept secret of Bukit Indah is Interieur Cafe, which serves up a variety of rice bowls, pasta, breakfast platters, souffle pancakes and more! A must-order is their range of fluffy souffle pancakes, which are gram-worthy. Flavours include Matcha Red Bean (RM27) and Houjicha Sweet Taro Paste (RM27). Both feature house-made cream using the famed matcha powder from Niko Neko. To quench your thirst, get their pretty iced fruit teas for RM15 each as well, with variations such as Honey Lemon Oolong and Pink Grapefruit Jasmine.
Image credit: Gabriel Lee
If you don’t have a sweet tooth, skip the desserts and go straight for the their Japanese-inspired mains such as the Mentaiko Salmon Donburi (RM26), Black Pepper Beef Udon (RM20), and the Miso Soup Chicken Katsu Noodles (RM22). For all-day-breakfast options, order the Interieur Breakfast (RM32) starring all the good stuff: bacon, sourdough, scrambled eggs, tater tots, baked beans, mixed salad, and sausages.
Address: 2, Jalan Bestari 3/2, Taman Nusa Bestari, 81300 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Mon, Wed-Fri 11am to 10pm, Sat-Sun 10am to 10pm
Tel: +60 10-827 9187
Website
Interieur Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery.
It seems like the brakes on the Japanese cafe streak won’t be pulled anytime soon. So here’s a new, underrated one to add to the list: Ex-tra by ORdinary. The interior adorns a minimalist, white and cream tinted furniture that perfectly complements the simple fare served here. You can choose from their Japanese-inspired rice bowls, breakfast platters, pastas, as well as a variety of coffees and matcha drinks. Top picks based on reviews online include the Pesto Pasta (RM28), Avocado on Toast (RM28), Salmon Bowl (RM24), and Japanese Katsu Curry Rice (RM21).
They even have local fares such as the Nasi Lemak with Rendang Ayam (RM15.90), Lontong (RM11.90), and Mee Rebus (RM11.90). Complete your meal with trendy drinks such as the Genmaicha Latte (RM12/RM14), Dirty Latte (RM12), or Strawberry Latte (RM14). FYI: they use Niko Neko’s matcha powder for their drinks!
Address: 34, Jalan Indah 28/1, Taman Bukit Indah 2, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 7pm
Tel: +60 19-728 6801
Website
Ex-tra by ORdinary is not a halal-certified eatery.
Beat the heat by tucking into shaved ice desserts at the popular Korean-themed cafe Bing Bingsu Cafe. Here, they have 16 types of bingsu and they are all priced under RM20, which is affordable compared to prices in Singapore. Their extensive range of Bingsu includes flavours such as Cookies & Cream (RM18), Honey Melon (RM18), Mango Cheesecake (RM19), Matcha (RM18), and Mixed Berries (RM19).
Although they specialise in bingsu, they also have a savoury food menu that sees all-day breakfast platters, pasta, appetisers, and waffles. Customers love their Chicken And Waffle Sandwich (RM21), which pairs crispy chicken and fluffy waffles. Alternatively, go for their popular, generously stuffed Korean Toast Sandwiches, with fillings such as Smoked Salmon (RM26) or Chicken Chop (RM21).
Address: 17A, Jalan Hijauan 3, Horizon Hills, 79100 Iskandar Puteri, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 10am to 10pm
Tel: +60 12-641 9455
Website
Bing Bingsu Cafe Johor Bahru is not a halal-certified eatery.
Nothing screams comforting more than a good hotpot meal and Good Family Hotpot offers one of the best in JB. Said to be both delicious and affordable, it is no wonder that they achieved a 4.3-star rating with over 300 reviews on Google. They have five popular hotpot bases to choose from: Fish, Tomato, Tom Yam, Mala, and Herbal.
Image credit: Good Family Hotpot
Load up on their wide assortment of ingredients, including Pork Belly (RM19), New Zealand Beef Slice (RM28), Premium Mutton Slice (RM20), and Pork Intestine (RM12.80). If you can’t decide, go for their set meal platters priced from just RM29.50, which gets you a good variety of ingredients. Plus, the seafood and meat are said to be fresh and of good quality.
Get some of their fried items on the side too, which include the Water Chestnut Wontons (RM14 for six) and Fried Fish Head (RM30). Lastly, don’t forget to order a good variety of their Steamed Dumplings (from RM8.50 for five), to plop into your soup at the end.
Address: 2 Jalan Indah 15/1, Tamah Bukit Indah, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 12:30pm to 12:30am
Tel: +60 14-758 7535
Website
Good Family Hotpot is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: 天来海鲜园
Zi char in Malaysia is so much better than what you can get in Singapore, and that’s a hill I will die on. There’s just something about Malaysian zi char that makes it different. One of the zi char restaurants lauded by both locals and Singaporeans alike is Tian Lai Seafood Garden in Bukit Indah.
Their most popular dishes are their Black Pepper Crab (price TBD) and Chilli Crab (price TBD). The two dishes are well-loved for the ultra-flavourful sauce and use of fresh seafood. Alternatively, other zi char classics that are popular among customers include Fu Yong Omelette (from RM10), Claypot Bean Curd (from RM12), Cereal Prawns (price TBD), Sambal Chilli Squid (price TBD), and Sweet & Sour Pork (from RM15).
If you’re not big on rice, they also have a variety of noodle dishes to accompany your protein: Hokkien Mee, Mee Hun, and Kuey Tiao from RM18.
Address: 43 Jalan Indah 22/14, Taman Bukit Indah, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Thurs-Tue 12pm to 10pm
Tel: +60 7-232 7895
Tian Lai Seafood Garden is not a halal-certified eatery.
Fans of cult-favourite Malaysian burger joint Woodfire will be happy to know there’s an outlet in Bukit Indah. The joint is known for having one of the best burgers in the region, similar to or even surpassing the quality of similar offerings at well-known international burger chains. These burgers sandwich the thickest beef patties and a generous amount of other delicious ingredients.
They have seven types of cheeseburgers here: Stuffed Cheese (RM19.90), Gourmet (RM19.90), BBQ (RM22.90), Mushroom (RM22.90), Smoked (RM23.90), Double (RM28.90), and Brisket (RM38.90). If you wanted to try the viral Nashville Hot Chicken from the US, they recreated something similar with curly fries for RM24.90.
Address: Persiaran Afiat, Taman Bukit Indah, Millesime Hotel Iskandar Puteri, 81300, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Sat-Thurs 12pm to 10pm, Fri 3:30pm to 10pm
Tel: +60 19-252 5652
Website
Woodfire is a halal-certified eatery.
Praised for their affordability and incredibly generous portions, Jeju Korea BBQ Restaurant is a well-loved Korean restaurant worth crossing the border for. They’re known for the large assortment of free-flow banchan they grace every diner with as soon as they are seated at the table.
To make things easier, opt for their Pork or Beef sharing sets which can feed two to five diners. Their most basic Pork Set A priced at RM112 features pork belly, pork ribs, pork shoulder, and a choice of either soybean or kimchi stew. If you’re catering to a bigger crowd, get the Beef Set D (RM318) instead, which feeds four to five diners. The platter features beef ribs, marinated ribs, beef brisket, chicken chop, seafood pancake, and kimchi casserole.
Else, the individual plates of meat start from RM32 which is also pretty reasonable to add on. Another popular pick here is their Army Hot Pot (RM60), which has your usual army stew staples such as luncheon meat, enoki mushrooms, baked beans, fishcakes, tofu and more.
Address: 22, Jalan Indah 15/3, Taman Bukit Indah, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Tue 10:30am to 10:30pm, Wed-Mon 11:30am to 11pm
Tel: +60 11-1159 0465
Website
Jeju Korea Restaurant is not a halal-certified eatery.
The Spice Kitchen isn’t just any regular Indian restaurant—their menu is a cultural combination of Thai, Indian, and Chinese cuisine. If you’re wondering what led to such a unique creation, the chef was inspired by the early Hakka settlers in India, resulting in a marriage of the respective cuisines’ distinct flavours.
On the Chinese fare front, there’s the Hunan Lamb (RM33), Butter Garlic Prawns (RM51), and Kung Pao Chicken (RM27). Otherwise, they also have Indian classics such as Chana Masala (RM20) and Palak Paneer (RM28), which are curries of chickpea and spinach respectively, and Punjabi Chicken Tikka (RM26).
Address: Wisma S P Setia, S3-0120, Jalan Indah 15, Taman Bukit Indah, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 11:30am to 10pm, Fri-Sun 11:30am to 10:30pm
Tel: +60 12-788 4047
Website
The Spice Kitchen is not a halal-certified eatery.
We hope our list of places to eat around Bukit Indah helps you the next time you’re in a pickle. If you’re too lazy to plan your day trip to JB, check out our 1-Day JB Food Itinerary for loaded bagels, delicious zi char and more. Alternatively, check out our guide on what to eat at the newly opened The Commune Lifestyle Mall JB.
Feature image adapted from rw, D Z, Chriz Lim, Bing Bingsu Cafe Johor Bahru, Good Family Hotpot and Gabriel Lee
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