Johor Bahru is a great destination for industrial-themed cafes, as proven by the popularity of Keijometo cafe and Brooos & Co. But the most well-known on the list would arguably be The FOUNDERS Cafe, where cafe enthusiasts wait in line to get a seat in this hidden, spacious spot. Intrigued by their huge online presence, my colleague and I set out to visit them.
My first impression of this cafe was: woah, it’s huge. One of my favourite things was the high ceiling that gave the illusion of a wider, more ventilated space.
When I came across their Tiramisu Cake (RM16.90++/~S$4.80) on the menu, I was fascinated by how tiramisu, a dessert typified by layers meant to be eaten with a spoon, was served in the form of a cake.
This easily became our top pick; the combination of coffee, almonds, and what tasted like pecans, made this dessert really moreish. And interestingly, you actually get both elements of a cake and tiramisu here.
Then, we tried the Thai Milk Tea Filled Donut (RM10.90++/~S$3.10). Cut open the doughnut, and you get a viscous Thai red milk tea cream in the centre. Their doughnut comes in several flavours, including Creme Brulee (RM10.90++/~S$3.10) and Brown Butter Walnut (RM9.90++/~S$2.80).
This one was sweeter than expected, and I wished the tea flavour shone through a tad more. Also, the doughnut was more dense than airy or fluffy, which helped to keep the cream in place.
To avoid a caffeine overdose, we opted for two mocktails: Secret Garden (RM16.90++/~S$4.80) and Rose in the Jungle (RM16.90++/~S$4.80).
The former was extra refreshing thanks to the addition of lemon, cucumber, thyme, and rosemary syrup. If you like fruits in your drinks, try their Rose in the Jungle instead—you get a lychee base with fresh lychee fruit in it.
After you finish the drinks and desserts, head outside and explore the graffiti walls. They make for a great spot to take pictures with your friends!
For less-known cafes in JB, check out D’ Cafe, a pretty glasshouse cafe near the customs with rosti and brunch under $10. There’s also The Blue Door Coffee House, a hidden cafe with pistachio mochi croissant and creme brulee latte.
Address: Tiong Nam Tebrau, 45, Jln Tiong Emas, Kawasan Perindustrian Tebrau, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 9am to 10pm
Website
The FOUNDERS Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery.
Photos taken by Paula Formantes and edited by Casandra Nicholas.
This was an independent visit by Eatbook.sg
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