My JB Food Diary (June 21-22): Hakka Noodles, Tapas, and a “Go Out of Your Way” Dessert

The JB food scene can be a maze. For every legendary spot whispered, there are a dozen others that are just… fine (and before you know it, they would be gone in a flash given how competitive the F&B industry is). As a frequent visitor with family in town, I’ve spent countless hours searching for the next best place to eat.

This post is a little different from a curated “best of” list which you may be used to. It’s my honest, real-time food diary from a recent weekend trip. I’m sharing everything we ate – the memorable hits, the unfortunate misses, and the places that fell somewhere in between.

This is my second post in my new series about what I ate in JB, you can find the first post here for more inspiration!

Quick Rundown

My Detailed JB Food Diary & Reviews

I’m going to be trying out a new rating system for this series as below;

The Ratings:

• 💎 Go Out of Your Way: The highest praise. This spot is a destination in itself and is worth planning your day around. 
• 👍 A Solid Choice: A reliable, enjoyable spot that I would happily return to. It will likely deliver.
• 🤔 Worth a Shot: An interesting place that has potential but might have some downsides. Go if you’re nearby or curious.
• 💨 Good for a Quick Stop:  This is meant for simpler food stops like bakeries, snack stalls, or coffee shops. It’s not a destination meal, but it excels at what it does and is worth visiting to pick something up if you are nearby.
• ➡️ I’d Skip It: An honest take. This place didn’t meet expectations, and I think your time is better spent elsewhere.

📍 Tropical Coffee Cafe 晨阳: A Classic Kopitiam Breakfast

The Vibe: I started my weekend by taking my grandmother here for a classic Malaysian breakfast, something that I tend to do when I am able to come in early on a Saturday morning. Kopitiams like this are widespread in JB and popping up left right center, and often crowded but yet a hit or miss. I came in early right when it opened, and there weren’t many people. The decor and interior was simple.

The Food/The Experience:
We ordered a wide spread to share between the two of us. The real star was the Hakka noodles – the noodles were also QQ (al dente), served with a savory dark sauce, flavourful mincemeat, and wonderfully fried Hakka meat. The yong tau foo items we added to our curry (which in itself had a nice kick), especially the juicy fried tofu and substantial dumpling, were great. You can order yong tau foo items individually and served in a bowl of curry. They fry their items on the spot and served fresh.

I will always order the simple kaya toast at these kopitiams, for their version, the bread was light, airy, and toasted to a perfect crisp with a satisfying char. However, not everything was a hit, the mee siam wasn’t mixed well, resulting in some bites being bland and others intensely salty. The fried egg was overcooked as well.

The Verdict: 👍 A Solid Choice
This is a solid spot for a satisfying breakfast. While there were some inconsistencies, the quality of their signature noodles and toast makes it a place I would happily visit again. The only small downside was noticing our cutlery wasn’t perfectly clean 😞

📍 Seremban Kee Mei Siew Pow @ Setia Indah: Traditional Pastries on the Go

The Vibe:
This was a quick, functional stop. It’s a small, takeaway-focused bakery known for its traditional Chinese pastries. We just popped in to grab a few things to snack on later, so the experience was more about the baked goods themselves than any particular atmosphere.

The Food/The Experience:
I tried a few of their popular items.

• Hits:  The mini Tau Sar Piahs was what brought me back to the place (I tried it at another branch two weeks ago but didn’t have enough material to feature it in my previous post). The filling melts in your mouth with a good crust. The Hong Piah was beautifully flaky with a sweet filling that wasn’t overwhelming. The salted egg puff was also a winner, crumbly, buttery, and delicious.
• Miss: The chicken floss pastry was just okay (“meh,” as my notes say), though the filling was generous.

The Verdict: 💨 Good for a Quick Stop
This is a good place to stop for a few specific items, especially the tau sar piahs and salted egg puff. It’s a reliable choice for a quick and easy traditional pastry fix, and they have many branches.

📍 La Olla Tapas Bar: Ambitious Spanish Tapas in Setia Indah

The Vibe:
I was intrigued to find a dedicated tapas bar in JB. The atmosphere is modern and a bit trendy, aiming for a contemporary European feel. It was a nice change of pace from the more traditional eateries and felt like a place you’d go for a proper sit-down dinner or a date night. The restaurant is found in Senibong Cove, with direct access to the waterfront and marina, a great view while enjoying your food.

The Food/The Experience:
The patatas bravas were hearty, with a great char on the potatoes and a spicy aioli sauce that had a real kick. The fried manchego cheese had fried almonds which was sweet and complemented the savoriness of the strong cheese. The paella had a fantastic burnt crust (socarrat) and the seafood was cooked well, but some of the rice in the center was undercooked, a tough dish to get right (they would ask whether you want it al dente or well cooked as we may not be able to appreciate it). Similarly, the gambas (prawns) were cooked perfectly, but their flavour hadn’t infused into the garlic oil, which was a missed opportunity as it was served with a nice firm pita. The meal ended with a creme brulee where the custard was slightly overcooked, though the thick, burnt crust was satisfying.

The Verdict: 👍 A Solid Choice
La Olla has a lot of potential and serves up some genuinely delicious bites, but the execution can be inconsistent. It’s worth trying if you’re in the mood for Spanish food, but go in knowing it might be a mixed experience. The menu has a lot to choose from and I only chose a small selection hence there’s always more reason to come back.

📍 Kurēpu By Champs: Exquisite Japanese Crepe Cakes

The Vibe:
This was my final food stop of the weekend, a dedicated dessert spot for a sweet treat. The vibe is calm and simple, with the focus squarely on the beautiful crepe cakes displayed in the chiller. It felt like a peaceful place to unwind and enjoy something special, and it was crowded when we came. I ended up buying the cakes back to eat at home.

The Food/The Experience:
This was, without a doubt, a hit. The crepe cakes are masterful, with dozens of impossibly thin layers that create a delicate, soft texture. We tried three flavours, and each one was distinct and well-balanced. The Hojicha had a strong, roasted tea flavour, the sea salt version struck a perfect sweet-and-salty balance, and the original was light, subtle, and creamy. There were more flavors on hand which were sold out by the time we went (eg. matcha, hazelnut etc). We wife got a mocha which was strong and rich, and I enjoyed it despite not being a coffee drinker.

The Verdict: 💎 Go Out of Your Way
A clear winner and a must-visit for dessert lovers in JB. The quality and flavour of these crepe cakes are exceptional, and it was the perfect sweet note to end our trip on. I will definitely come back again to try the other flavors.

Final Thoughts on This JB Food Trip

This weekend was a great reminder of the diversity of JB’s food scene. It’s a place where a simple kopitiam can deliver more satisfaction than a modern, ambitious restaurant (and there is always more and more competition popping up). The key takeaway for me is the importance of balancing the search for new, trendy spots with an appreciation for the traditional food. Both have their place, but it’s often the humble, traditional fare that forms the reliable backbone of a great food trip. Regardless, I would say this was overall a good weekend for food.

If I were to recommend a day of eating based on this trip, it would be this: start your morning with the comforting noodles and toast at Tropical Coffee Cafe, and later enjoy a truly fantastic slice of crepe cake from Kurēpu By Champs for tea, and end your day off at La Olla Tapas Bar with the seafront view and great Spanish food. It’s a combination of classic comfort, refined dessert and dinner with a view that captures the best of what we found this weekend.

What are your go-to food spots in Johor Bahru? I’d love to read your recommendations in the comments, for my next trip!

For more of my travel guides and food diaries, check out my main Malaysia page, where you can find my Johor Bahru hub as well.