Like many Singaporeans, I love heading to Johor Bahru (JB) for good meals. And this is why I brave the JB customs’ queues, which can sometimes mean a two-hour wait. Besides City Square Mall, which is located right beside the customs, KSL City is a popular mall that many visit to shop and dine at. Here is a list of must-try KSL City food spots I’ve compiled during my trip there to help you decide what to eat when you’re there!
What’s more, we’ve also got a selection of eateries near KSL City, because the mall is situated around some of JB’s most popular eats.
Table of Contents
Image credit: @genie_the_foodie
You don’t have to travel all the way to Penang for legit assam laksa with D’Laksa located in KSL City. They’re popular for their super flavourful laksa that’s spicy and delightfully sour, enhanced with a touch of belacan, and garnished with fish, as well as a medley of veggies. Definitely add a serving of Assam FIshball (RM8.50/~S$2.50), where large QQ fishballs are cooked in the same curry broth as their laksa.
Unit number: LG-63/64
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Website
D’Laksa is a halal-certified eatery.
The large urns on display outside the eatery are used to simmer the famous herbal soup that You Kee XO Restaurant sells. Besides their herbal soup, You Kee XO Restaurant also serves roasted meat that many rave about.
It was quite an experience watching the staff members reach into the urn with a rod to get my Tonic Soup (RM18.80/~S$6.40). It may not look like much, but after having my first mouthful, I was immediately reminded of the kind of soup my grandma would make when I’m sick. The soup is left to simmer over constant charcoal fire, which brings out the flavours of the herbs and meat used.
Unit number: LG-S33
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 9pm
Tel: +60 7-554 3879
Website
You Kee is not a halal-certified eatery.
Meng Meng Roasted Duck caused quite the splash when they opened in Singapore, and for good reason. They’re one of Johor Bahru’s most well-known roast meat stalls, and they’re especially famous for their roast ducks, marinated with Angelica root, AKA dang gui. Enjoy this with either rice or noodles, priced from RM14.80/~S$4.30, with a side of their tangy house-made chilli sauce.
Unit number: L2-132C
Opening hours: Sun-Fri 10am to 10pm, Sat 10:45am to 10pm
Meng Meng is not a halal-certified eatery.
Moonlight Cake House offers a variety of unique bakes, including eye-catching whole cakes. Their Fresh Cream 3D Durian Cake (RM138/~S$40) is a bestseller and looks like actual durian. There’s a touch of brown on the green cream added depth to the durian “shell”, and vanilla sponge mixed with MSW flesh within.
Unit number: LG-S43
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Tel: +60 7-362 1122
Website
Moonlight Cake House is a halal-certified eatery.
If you’re craving something spicy, try Cuan Yue Mala Tang. You get to pick from five different soup bases, from a not-too-spicy tomato soup to a fragrant, numbing mala broth that isn’t super oily either. DIY your mala tang combo from a wide variety of ingredients, including smoked duck, fried tofu, and plenty more.
Unit number: LG-02
Opening hours: Daily 10:30am to 9:30pm
Website
Cuan Yue Mala Tang is not a halal-certified eatery.
We’re adding some must-eat food places around KSL City, because that mall is surrounded by some of Johor Bahru’s most popular eats too!
Image credit: @nimmies.pastrycafe
There are plenty of JB cafes to check out, but if you’re looking for a spot for brunch and bakes around KSL City, check out Nimmies Pastry. The minimalistic cafe is housed in a stanadalone building that is beautifully decorated, both indoors and outdoors. They’re best known for the sheer variety of pastries they have, in a selection of unique flavours, think Chilli Crab Salted Egg Croissants (RM18/~S$6) and Hoe Lemak Croissant (RM16/~S$5), the latter featuring the flaky French pastry topped with an egg, sambal, anchovies, and a peanut.
Address: 171 Jalan Beringin, Taman Melodies, Johor Bahru 80250
Opening hours: Daily 8am to 11pm
Tel: +60 11-2078 1564
Website
Nimmies Pastry is not a halal-certified eatery but uses no pork or lard.
Image credit: @wander.maverick
Just a short walk away from KSL City is Yong He Kway Teow, a kway teow soup hotspot that’s a great pick for breakfast. You get to choose their signature dish in three sizes here: small (RM9/~S$3), M (RM12/~S$4), or large (RM16/~S$5). Each comes with your choice of noodle, though we obviously suggest you get the kway teow, and a flavourful clear pork broth that’s topped with a medley of ingredients, including veggies, pork, and pig’s liver slices.
Address: 165 Jalan Harimau, Taman Century, Johor Bahru 80250
Opening hours: Wed-Sun 8am to 8pm
Yong He is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @ollollollolloll
If you’re looking for a spot to enjoy dim sum, try Pin Ming Xuan. They have quite a wide variety of dishes, from classic dim sum to interesting options with a twist, most priced under RM8/S$2.40. Do note that queues start even before they open, so head down early if you want to be sure of bagging a seat! They’re also located a short walk from KSL City, which makes this a great pick for meals in between your jalan jalan.
Address: 10 Jalan Serigala, Taman Century Garden, Johor Bahru 80250
Opening hours: Fri-Mon 7:30am to 4pm, Tue-Thurs 8am to 4pm
Tel: +60 17-767 7399
Pin Ming Xuan is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @tofuxihuanchi
Da Cheng Lok Lok is where it’s at if you’re looking to have supper near KSL City. They’re open till 2:30am on Friday and Saturday, and till 2am for most of the rest of the week. Choose your skewers and enjoy them fried and seasoned, paired alongside their signature chilli and other sauces. Expect to spend around RM20/~S$6.65 to RM40/~S$13.30 when dining here!
Address: 284 Jalan Dato Sulaiman, Taman Abad, Johor Bahru 80250
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 6pm to 2am, Fri-Sat 6pm to 2:30am, Sun 6pm to 1am
Tel: +60 11-6204 3101
Da Cheng is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @yoshiko_lifeistravel
For Bali-style BBQ a la Naughty Nuri’s, swing by Kayuapi By Naughty Bali, located in the vicinity of KSL City. The lunch and dinner joint is known for their Indonesian barbecue dishes, including Signature Pork Ribs (RM68.90/~S$30), complete with a smoky-sticky glaze. Pair this with Nasi Campur (RM45/~S$15), which comes with pork cooked multiple ways, and you’ll feel like you’re in Bali.
Address: 195 Jalan Dato Sulaiman, Taman Abad, Johor Bahru 80250
Opening hours: Daily 12pm to 12am
Tel: +60 16-717 4628
Website
Kayuapi is not a halal-certified eatery.
Here are all the best KSL City food places, with some other spots to eat around the mall. For more JB food, check out our best JB hawkers guide.
Address: 33 Jalan Seladang, Taman Abad, Johor Bahru 80250
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