If you’re arriving in JB early to beat the Causeway jams, here’s a great breakfast option to consider. A mere five-minute walk from City Square, Padi Kopitiam is a popular breakfast cafe that opens from 8am, so you can head here for your morning kopi fix! FYI: they’ve got an outlet in Mount Austin too!
The casual eatery specialises in Nanyang cuisine: think Hainanese kopi, thick toasts, nasi lemak, and classic noodle dishes.
An interesting item on the menu is the Black Kolo Mee with Wonton (RM13.90++/~S$3.93++): QQ egg noodles tossed in a dark sauce, topped with minced pork, mushrooms, fishballs, veggies, and crispy wonton skin.
On our visit, we found the noodles springy with just the right amount of bite, acting as the perfect base for the sweet-savoury sauce that was darker than the traditional Sarawak kolo mee.
The noodles also came with a side of house-made wonton soup for a complete meal.
Padi Kopitiam is known for their fresh bakes, too. There’s the Padi Snowy Pop Bun (RM5.50++/~S$1.55++), the cafe’s rendition of polo bun.
This bun boasted a crispy and crumbly exterior while retaining a light and fluffy crumb. The flavour was milkier than the usual polo bun, which tends to lean buttery.
If toast is your go-to brekkie, you can give their Sambal Chicken Floss White Bread (RM5.90++/ ~S$1.67++) a go. You get thick toast slathered in a hae bee hiam-spiked spread, topped with shreds of sweet chicken floss.
Wash everything down with a cuppa Padi Kopi, well-priced at RM3.90++/~S$0.90++. This brew was strong and sweet with a roasted fragrance—great to kickstart your morning in JB!
For the full scoop on cafe-hopping across the border, read our guide to the best cafes in JB! Otherwise, we’ve got our Mount Austin food guide if you’re venturing a little further.
Address: 82-B1, Jalan Trus, 80000 Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 8am to 5:30pm
Tel: +601114395460
Website
Padi Kopitiam is not a halal-certified eatery.
Photos taken by Kia Ee Hor and edited by Casandra Nicholas.
This was an independent visit by Eatbook.sg.
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