There are thousands of restaurants in Johor and countless possibilities on the street, where street sellers offer you variety of choices to taste. In this article, we will guide you through the must-try food in Johor, and where to eat it.
1. Laksa Johor
Laksa is a spicy noodle dish, and the Johor version is made with spaghetti and has a richer gravy. It is a superb combination of veggies and spices that merge beautifully in savoury and gritty fish gravy. The basic Laksa Johor would cost you roughly RM5, and adding meat, seafood, or veggies will provide more variety and up the price.
Recommended places to try the dish:
Restoran Bumbu Asli
Al-Ansar Cafe
2. Bak Kut Teh
There are mainly three types of Bak Kut Teh, the light colour or spicy type, the dark colour or more soy sauce or saltier type and the herbal type with strong herbal taste. Any of the three variants are available in Johor, with the darker or saltier form being the most popular. In many hawker stalls and restaurants, this dish is commonly offered for breakfast and lunch.
Recommended places to try the dish:
Kedai Bak Kut Teh Hin Hock
Ah Soon Bak Kut Teh
3. Roti Prata
This flat crunchy yet soft “pancake” can be found all around Johor, eaten with vegetables or meaty curries. Kids prefer to dip it in sugar. There’s a simple version and one with cheese, onion, or banana filled within. You can choose from a variety of flavours for RM1.50 per plain pancake.
Recommended places to try the dish:
Restoran Selera Selatan
Roti Canai Bukit Chagar
4. Fish Head Curry
This dish has a large red snapper head surrounded by a flavorful curry soup seasoned with herbs. To go with the head, you get fried bean curd skin, lady fingers, and long beans, creating the perfect combination of flavours and textures. There are both milder and sweeter varieties available to suit everyone’s preferences. This curry, which is spicy and sour, will tingle your tongue and mouth, and the experience of eating this foreign food is thrilling.
Recommended places to try the dish:
Kam Long Restaurant
Siang Yuan Restaurant
5. Otah Otah
Otah Otah is a combination of ground fish meat mixed with tapioca starch and spices wrapped in coconut or banana leaves. This is a popular snack that pairs well with other lunch or dinner fare. The steamed Otah Otah is traditionally covered in banana leaves, but most people prefer the one wrapped in coconut leaves since it is barbecued and has a stronger smokey fish flavour. Various versions can also be made with prawn or crab meat.
Recommended places to try the dish:
Xiao Mei Otak-Otak
Otak-Otak Cheng Boi