Yes, cafe hopping in Johor Bahru (JB) is still a thing, and it’ll take more than the long queues at JB customs to deter Singaporeans from exploring good food across the border. For this guide, we’re diving deeper into Mount Austin, a bustling food gem in the city. A 20-minute Grab ride away from JB CIQ, this area is home to many hidden cafes and popular hawker stalls. Read on for our guide to the best JB Mount Austin food spots to visit on your next long weekend getaway!
Table of Contents
Step into Bloom by Mokmok and the first thing you’ll notice is the colourful ceiling, decked out with dried flowers. The garden-themed cafe is uber pink and floral, with fairy lights hanging from above for extra effect. Here’s a tip: the space is dimly lit, so if you’re here for the ‘gram, request a seat near the window for more natural light.
It’s not just about the aesthetics here, though. Bloom by Mokmok serves up a mean brunch, in the form of Baked Telur (RM32+/~S$9.09+), a dish consisting of the full works: chicken sausage, beef bacon, chickpeas, spinach, tomatoes, and eggs, served with warm pita slices for dipping.
For drinks, there’s a list of artisanal teas for you to choose from. A popular pick is A Bloom for You (RM15+/~S$4.26+), a floral blend of sakura, jasmine, and Earl Grey. Otherwise, wash it all down with an Iced Black (RM12+/~S$3.41+) if you need a caffeine boost.
Read our Bloom by Mokmok review.
Address: 87, Jalan Mutiara Emas 2A, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 12pm to 10pm
Website
Bloom by Mok Mok is not a halal-certified eatery but uses no pork or lard.
For a casual meal, head to Local House, which serves unpretentious Malaysian fare at reasonable prices. Kickstart your morning with an extra gao Iced Kopi (RM4.10+/~S$1.17+), and order some Toasted Hainan Bread with Butter + Kaya (RM3.20+/~S$0.91+) with Half Boiled Eggs (RM3.50+/~S$0.99+) to go along. The toast, grilled on charcoal, comes with a slab of butter and a generous smear of kaya spread—perfect for dunking into the eggs.
If you prefer something more filling, the KL Hokkien Mee (RM11.50+/~S$3.27+) doesn’t disappoint. This hearty dish comes with a generous amount of ingredients, including chicken strips, fish cake, and thick yellow noodles coated in a rich and flavourful dark soy-based sauce.
Finish off your meal with the Chicken Satay with Ketupat & Peanut Sauce (RM6.50+/~S$1.85+), a sweet and savoury combination you won’t go wrong with.
Read our Local House review.
Address: 91, Jalan Mutiara Emas 2A, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 8am to 9pm
Tel: +60 7-364 8338
Website
Local House is not a halal-certified eatery but serves no pork or lard.
Ukiyo Cafe is definitely one for the girlies with their pretty-in-pink space and dainty French-Japanese cakes. Terrazzo tables, rattan furniture, and blush tones make every corner oh-so-Instagrammable, but regulars return to the cosy spot for their delicious hand-crafted treats.
We were immediately drawn to the glass display at the counter, which showcases some of their best-sellers and seasonal specials. The Raspberry Mousse (RM26+/~S7.39+) is a popular pick, spotlighting lychee jelly and almond joconde. Alternatively, try the Matcha Chocolate Fudge Cube (RM22+/~S$6.26+) for its bittersweet tea notes. Order a cup of Caffè Latte (RM15+/~S$4.27+) to go along with the sweet treats, and you have afternoon tea sorted.
Read our Ukiyo Cafe feature!
Address: 17-02, Jalan Austin Heights 8/3, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 12pm to 7pm
Tel: +60 12-936 9760
Website
Ukiyo Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery, but their food contains no pork or lard.
Live out your Taiwanese high school drama moment at High School Kopitiam, a themed brunch cafe in Mount Austin. The cafe is fitted with wooden seats and tables that resemble that of a classroom, plus a massive chalkboard with hand-drawn illustrations on the side to complete the look.
The Taiwanese-inspired cafe serves a wide range of dishes, including local eats, but they’re most known for their toasts. Get the High School Pork Chop Sandwich (RM15.90+/~S$4.52+) with Charcoal Toast (RM1+/~S$0.28+), an IG-worthy sando stuffed with deep-fried pork chop, shredded veggies, mayo, cheese, and a fried egg.
Don’t miss out on their dan bing, too; familiar flavours such as Chicken Floss Egg Pancake (RM9.90+/~S$2.81+) with take you back to the streets of Taiwan.
A bestselling drink is the High School Special (RM8+/~S$2.27+), a sweet and milky combination of Nescafe, Milo, chocolate, and coffee for that caffeine kick.
Read our High School Kopitiam feature.
Address: 57, Jalan Austin Heights 8/5, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 8am to 6pm
Tel: +60 7-359 5412
Website
High School Kopitiam is not a halal-certified eatery.
Cam Tea & Ember Cafe is a Chinese-style teahouse with wooden accents and camping-style tables. We recommend trying their Roasted Black Milk Tea Set (RM36.80/S$10.50)—it allows you to brew your tea and enjoy it with snacks such as Glutinous Rice Cake, Black Sesame Balls, and Green Bean Cookies.
If you’d like something more refreshing, order the Gardenia Coconut Light Milk Tea (RM23.80/~S$6.73). This comes with seven different toppings, including Lychee Mochi, Peach Popping Balls, and Sweet Red Bean.
You can also live out your Chinese period drama fantasies with the cafe’s hanfu dress-up experience, priced at just RM29.90 (~S$8.54). You’ll be able to dress in one hanfu set of your choice and even have your hair styled.
Read our Cam Tea & Ember review.
Address: 12 Jln Austin Heights 7/7, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Mon-Tue, Thurs-Fri 12:30pm to 11pm, Sat-Sun 11:30am to 11pm
Website
Cam Tea & Ember Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery.
Just as most drivers top up a full tank of petrol before returning to Singapore, you should fuel up at Myeong Dong BBQ Buffet before heading back home. Opened by a Korean couple, this eatery offers an all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ meat feast at just RM39 (~S$11.09) per person, available from 12pm to 5pm. Fill up on unlimited pork belly, pork shoulder, tteokbokki, kimchi pancake, fried chicken and more!
Myeong Dong BBQ Buffet could be a great money-saving hack during your JB trip, but keep your dining expectations in check. While the place is air-conditioned, it does get hot when dinner time rolls around. Here’s a tip: sit along the open windows for a much-needed breeze. Service is also minimal, and don’t expect the staff to cook for you.
Address: 58-1, Jalan Austin Heights 8/7, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Wed-Mon 5pm to 11pm
Tel: +60 13-351 6748
Website
Myeong Dong BBQ Buffet is not a halal-certified eatery.
Check out CHADDEE, a lowkey teahouse in Mount Austin, for a wide range of Asian teas.
Try their more unique offerings, including the Phoenix Duck-shit Oolong Tea (RM21.50+/~S$6.12+), an intense, floral tea from China that has a lingering sweetness. If there’s someone in your party who isn’t a fan of tea, get them to order the Coconut Lemonade (RM15.50+/~S$4.41+). This drink features a hint of citrus that pairs well with the coconut’s sweetness.
Address: 2, Jalan Austin Heights 7/8, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 12am
Website
CHADDEE is not a halal-certified eatery.
Do not panic when you find yourself being driven to an ulu part of the city. Hidden amongst real factories and warehouses, JWC The Factory 30 is one out of four cafes opened by Just Want Coffee. You might be greeted with a “Welcome home!” when you’re at JWC Homies, but here at Factory 30 there is a cool, industrial-chic vibe going on.
Image credit: @c00.00_
Cafe-hoppers can enjoy their extensive menu of hot food and desserts. If you’re here for brunch, there’s the Hungry Jack Big Breakfast (RM30++/~S$8.53++), a smorgasbord of cheesy sausages, scrambled eggs, a bagel and more. A small selection of pasta, Western mains, and Japanese curry rice is also available.
Enjoy a mini fire show during the preparation when you order an Irish Coffee (RM40++/~S$11.37++). The drink and theatrics will certainly not disappoint.
Address: 30, Jalan Mutiara Emas 5/3, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 11pm
Tel: +60 12-521 6442
Website
JWC The Factory 30 is not a halal-certified eatery but uses no pork or lard.
Some love has to go out to the delicious and affordable zi char fare in JB. Restoran Uncle Pou Wok is a popular zi char haunt amongst Singaporeans, and you can find multiple outlets around JB. There are both outdoor and indoor seatings, but opt for the former to fully experience dining on car park lots, the local way.
A dish not to miss is their KL Hokkien Mee (RM12.50+/~S$3.55+). It features thick, udon-like noodles stir-fried with prawns, slices of fish cake, cuttlefish, and lap cheong. Every slurp of the dark noodles was smoky, as they had been kissed by wok hei. Kids and adults alike would also enjoy their Sweet & Sour Pork (RM20+/~S$5.69+), which stays crunchy despite being coated in a sticky, tangy sauce.
Address: 103, Jalan Austin Heights 3, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 3pm, 5:30pm to 10pm
Tel: +60 19-857 6900
Website
Restoran Uncle Pou Wok is not a halal-certified eatery.
If you find yourself in Mount Austin, you have to make a pitstop at Restoran Hua Mui—its OG outlet in Jalan Trus has been around since 1946! Their Austin branch has the same classic brekkie fare, including Butter Kaya Toast (RM3.70/~S$1.05), which comes with two slabs of butter instead of one.
Their Hainanese Chicken Chop (RM18.90/~S$5.37) is not to be missed, too. This platter comes with a crispy deep-fried chicken chop that’s battered with crushed biscuits, alongside slaw, potato wedges, and roasted tomato. It’s also served with the brand’s signature Hainanese sauce on the side for dipping.
Read our Restoran Hua Mui feature!
Address: 9, Jalan Austin Heights 8/3, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 8am to 5:30pm
Tel: +60 7-364 4550
Website
Restoran Hua Mui is not a halal-certified eatery.
If you’re chronically on TikTok like I am, you may have come across OutLine Cafe, a popular glamping-themed cafe in JB. The cafe is spacious and boasts a striking feature wall adorned with a large illuminated moon, along with camping chairs and tables made from cinder blocks.
We were told that their most popular item is the Grilled Chicken with Cheese (RM24.90+/~S$7.11+). This hearty dish sees succulent chicken topped with flavourful cheese, served with fries and a side salad. For something sweet, consider getting the Banana Split (RM6.99+/~S$1.99+) or the light and fluffy Earl Grey Mille Crepe (RM16.90+/~S$4.82+).
Read our OutLine Cafe review
Address: 22 Jalan Austin Height 7/8, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Thurs-Tue 11:30am to 10pm
Website
OutLine Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery.
This nostalgic cafe offers a variety of local Malaysian dishes, including their Padi Snowy Pop Bun. Priced at RM5.50++ (~S$1.55++) per piece, you get a milky bun that’s crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
During our trip to JB, we also tried the cafe’s Sambal Chicken Floss White Bread (RM5.90++/ ~S$1.67++). While the dish looked unassuming, it surprised us with its piquant and savoury shrimp-based paste and sweet chicken floss.
We also recommend their Black Kolo Mee with Wonton (RM13.90++/~S$3.93++), which features springy kolo mee served alongside sweet minced pork, crispy wonton skin, mushrooms, fish balls, and vegetables.
Address: 15, Jalan Austin Heights 3, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 8am to 5:30pm
Tel: +60 16-799 1116
Website
Padi Kopitiam is not a halal-certified eatery.
After a hearty dinner at Mount Austin, head over to Four Beans, a Taiwanese-style dessert chain with nine outlets across Malaysia. They open till 10pm daily, making it a popular supper spot. The World of Taro Soy Beancurd (RM16+/~S$4.54+) comes highly recommended, as it comprises a generous bowl of soft beancurd, taro beancurd, taro balls, and orh nee chunks. This comes with brown sugar and soya milk on the side.
Their fruity Taiwanese Watermelon Shaved Ice (RM15+/~S$4.25+) is another popular dessert, as well as the Black Sesame Shaved Ice with Taro Ball (RM20+/~S$5.67+): shaved black sesame ice, sweet red beans, and chewy taro balls.
Address: Jalan Austin Heights 8/1, Taman Austin Heights, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 2pm to 10:30pm, Fri 2pm to 11pm, Sat 1pm to 11pm, Sun 1pm to 10:30pm
Website
Four Beans is a halal-certified eatery.
If you’re on the hunt for aesthetic cafes in JB, The Blue Door Coffee House should be on your list of must-visits. Upon entering the cafe, you’ll be greeted by a spacious dining area with a queen-sized bed in the middle, along with wooden furnishings and tons of natural light.
Their menu features a variety of pistachio and matcha-flavoured bakes, such as the Croissant Pistachio Mochi (RM18/~S$5.10), which stars chewy mochi nestled inside a flaky croissant, topped with luscious pistachio cream. We also enjoyed the Matchamisu (RM22/~S$6.24), a light dessert combining the sweetness of coffee-soaked ladyfingers with earthy matcha-spiked mascarpone.
Read our The Blue Door Coffee House review.
Address: 36A, Jalan Austin Height 7/8, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Mon-Wed 11am to 10pm, Thurs-Sun 11am to 12am
Website
The Blue Door Coffee House is not a halal-certified eatery but uses no pork or lard.
Ban Mian lovers, you’ll want to check out Lao Ban Mian, a well-known noodle spot in JB with a 4.7-star rating on Google Reviews! While they also serve regular Malaysian-style ban mian, we recommend trying their Mala Panmee (RM14.90+/~S$4.24+) and Creamy Salted Egg Panmee (RM15.90+/~S$4.52+).
The former boasts a super spicy kick, with thick noodles evenly coated in mala oil. Meanwhile, the latter offers a strong salted egg aroma, topped with fried bean curd skin and small pieces of crispy wonton.
Lao Ban Mian also serves sides for just RM4.90+(~S$1.39+), including Curry Fishball and Yong Tau Foo. We had the Fried Dough Sticks, which feature three deep-fried dough balls drizzled with sweet condensed milk.
Address: 16, Jln Austin Heights 8/2, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 10:15am to 9:30pm
Tel: +60 16-793 2854
Website
Lao Ban Mian is not a halal-certified eatery.
If you’re active on #foodtok, chances are you’ve heard of Dai Tao Lala Pot. Famous for their hour-long queues and delicious clam soup that’s cooked on a charcoal stove, the restaurant’s Dai Tao Signature Soup is also affordably priced at just RM38+ (~S$10.80+).
Get your phone ready as the staff stir-fries a kilogram of Sha Bai clams along with ginger and garlic, creating a dramatic, fiery spectacle. Later, Shaoxing wine is added to the mix, resulting in a rich broth that enhances the umami flavour of the lala and spices.
The restaurant offers over 60 ingredients that you can add to your soup, including Baby Octopus (RM16.90+/~S$4.81+), Lobster Ball (RM10.90+/~S$3.10+), and Thousand Layer Tripe (RM18.20+/~S$5.18+). FYI, you get unlimited broth refills for free too!
Address: No.49, Jalan Austin Height 8/5, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 5pm to 3am
Tel: +60 12-601 1788
Website
Dai Tao Lala Pot is not a halal-certified eatery.
Boasting a pink floral ceiling, elaborate mirrors, and elegant chandeliers, Knock Knock Cafe is the place to go for Instagram-worthy photos. Their food is equally on-theme and features edible flowers as seen in dishes such as their Brioche French Toast (RM28+/~S$7.97) and Rose Latte (RM14+/~S$3.98+).
The Brioche French Toast comes adorned with sweet fruits, edible flowers, caramelised bananas, and berries, accompanied by maple syrup on the side. Beautifully presented with pink edible flowers is the Rose Latte, featuring a creamy latte with floral notes.
Address: 60, Jalan Mutiara Emas 5/9, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 7pm
Tel: +60 19-725 5117
Website
Knock Knock Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery but uses no pork or lard.
If you’re looking for a more unique hotpot experience, give Xumiguo Hotpot a try. The restaurant specialises in coconut-winter melon hotpot, priced at just RM35.90+ (~S$10.22+) per pot. Xumiguo uses fresh coconut for this broth, pouring its juice straight from the fruit into a winter melon broth right in front of you. You can add various ingredients to your hotpot, such as salted egg yolk lala (RM27.90+/~S$7.94+) and mixed mushrooms (RM14.90+/~S$4.24+).
If you visit between 12pm and 5pm, you can also opt for their personal hotpot (RM16.90+/~S$4.81+) in four different flavours: Tonkotsu, Mala, Herbal, and Tomato. They also offer mains for two between 12pm and 3pm, including egg tomato soup noodles (RM16.90+/~S$4.81+) and lala soup noodles (RM19.90+/~S$5.66+).
Address: 68, Jln Austin Heights 8/2, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 4pm to 12am, Fri-Sat 12pm to 1am, Sun 12pm to 12am
Tel: +60 11-6313 9313
Website
Xumiguo Hotpot is not a halal-certified eatery.
You may already be familiar with the famous JB Da Cheng Lok Lok, but when you’re in Mount Austin, Bro Lok Lok is the place to be. Here, they serve the skewers straight from a food truck, so patrons can enjoy them by the roadside. While you can choose whether you want your ingredients fried or boiled, we highly recommend opting for the former.
The skewers are categorised into different price tiers, with the cheapest priced at RM1+ (~S$0.28+) and the priciest at RM8+ (~S$2.28+). Fans of Bro Lok Lok swear by their Hot & Spicy Tiger Prawn skewer, priced at RM1+ per stick with every 20 orders. Another must-try is their Mantou (RM1.50+/~S$0.43+), which oozes with savory nacho cheese.
Address: 41, Jalan Mutiara Emas 2A, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Thurs-Tue 7pm to 2am
Tel: +60 12-703 1418
Website
Bro Lok Lok is not a halal-certified eatery.
While it’s easy to mistake Eden by Wizards for a private spa or atas resort, it is actually a cafe. Originating from KL, every corner of the cafe, from its foliage walkway and water feature to the cosy seating nooks, provides an aesthetic backdrop for snapping your #ootd.
Food-wise, the cafe offers Western-Asian dishes, including Siamese Prawn Spaghettini (RM35++/~S$9.96++)—spaghetti with grilled tiger prawns tossed in tom yum sauce with ginger flower and kaffir lime, and Ocean Trout Mentaiko Pasta (RM35++/~S$9.96++): creamy spaghetti, mentaiko, sliced trout, egg yolk, and furikake.
Address: 19, Jln Tiong Emas, Kawasan Perindustrian Tiong Nam Tebrau 3, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 10am to 6pm, Fri-Sun 10am to 10pm
Tel: +60 11-5428 2184
Website
Eden by Wizards is not a halal-certified eatery but uses no pork or lard.
Time to make plans with your kakis for a foodie trip in JB! Bookmark this list of the best JB Mount Austin food spots, so you can have your fill without hurting your wallet. For more good food in JB, read our Johor Bahru hawker food guide. Else, read our guide to the best Malaysian food places in Singapore if you’re not crossing the border anytime soon!
Photos taken by Paula Formantes and Hor Kia Ee.
We spoke to the famous hawkers of Nam Sing Hokkien Fried Mee, Come Daily Fried…
L'antica Pizzeria da Michele has opened in Singapore, along Club Street! The famous pizzeria from…
New Station Rice Bar sells famous Salted Egg Pork Rice using the same recipe as…
Mr Mookata Plus, viral for their "Thai hunks", is opening in Singapore! The new Tanglin…
McDonald’s has brought back the Scrambled Egg Burger, available at all outlets during breakfast hours.
Old Airport Road Food Centre has always been an iconic hawker centre in the East,…