There’s more to Jalan Tan Hiok Nee and Jalan Wong Ah Fook than cafes and eateries. Here’s a guide on what to eat, see, and do along these two popular JB streets!
I visited Jalan Tan Hiok Nee in August 2023 during my first trip to Johor Bahru with my best friends. We didn’t stay for long, and the only memory I have of the street is a snaking line outside the famous banana bread shop, where a Malay busker sang Chinese songs with surprising accuracy.
So, as someone who rarely visits JB, all I can think of is food when I hear the name Jalan Tan Hiok Nee and its neighbour road Jalan Wong Ah Fook.
That’s why when I returned to this area in 2025, I challenged myself to look beyond the food and trendy cafes. From quaint shophouses to megamalls, there’s plenty to explore for a full day of fun!
Without further ado, here’s a guide on what to see, eat, and do for a more unique experience in this vibrant district.
Jalan Tan Hiok Nee VS Jalan Wong Ah Fook
First things first, let’s talk about Jalan Tan Hiok Nee and Jalan Wong Ah Fook. I don’t know about you but I mix them up pretty often, so here’s a quick guide to each street!
Jalan Tan Hiok Nee
Named after a successful Chinese entrepreneur, this one-way street commemorates the heritage of the Straits Chinese and Malays. It’s 250m long and lined with shophouses and buildings that still retain their original looks from a bygone era.
The street is also known as JB’s Heritage Food Trail, though modern cafes are more populous than traditional eateries there.
Jalan Wong Ah Fook
Also named after a Chinese businessman, this is a major road and one of the busiest in the city! The road passes by numerous eateries, malls and attractions like Johor Skyscape.
TLDR; Jalan Tan Hiok Nee is a 250m-long street with lots of cafes and eateries, while Jalan Wong Ah Fook is a busy main road near popular attractions!
Guide to Jalan Tan Hiok Nee
1) Go Shopping
Looking to ✨shop✨? Thrift and clothing stores are plentiful along Jalan Tan Hiok Nee that will please your shopaholic soul.
Nana
Nana is a chic shop selling women’s apparel and cute earrings, headbands, and clips. The clothes here are mostly pastel-coloured and have a very Korean vibe. Crop tops start from RM39, and earrings start from RM15 for two pairs! It’s tucked in a corner beside Tapu Tart Tan Hiok Nee, so keep an eye out for it!
Opening hours: 8AM – 5PM
Address: 15, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
How to get there: 1min walk from Tapu Tart Tan Hiok Nee (Google Maps)
Fara First
Spanning two floors, Fara First sells both thrift items and curated branded pieces ranging from apparel to accessories, including bags and earrings. The vibes here are minimalistic and clean, a great place to find casual wear! Clothes start from 5RM here.
Opening hours: 10AM – 10PM
Address: 52, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
How to get there: 1min walk from Nana (Google Maps)
Kedai Dhoby Shanghai
Amongst all the thrift shops we visited, my favourite has to be Kedai Dhoby Shanghai as the retro vibes here are quirky and impeccable. They sell everything from graphic tees, leather(!!) skirts and vintage cameras to old CDs and colourful Vans and Converse.
Opening hours: 11AM – 7PM, closed on Tue
Address: 53, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
How to get there: 1min walk from Fara First (Google Maps)
Bundle Bosque JB
If you’re looking for cheap footwear and don’t mind them being second-hand, there’s a thrift shop for that too! Bundle Bosque is like a shoe library — find shoes from brands like Nike, Adidas, Converse, and Vans, with the cheapest starting from just RM20!
Opening hours: 6PM – 2AM, closed on Mon
Address: 49, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 1min walk from Kedai Dhoby Shanghai (Google Maps)
And if these aren’t enough for you, there are more thrift shops selling clothes (like F2 Store and Red Chilli Vintage) along Jalan Dhoby, the sister street of Jalan Tan Hiok Nee.
2) Get Artsy at SENSO Art Gallery Cafe
Fancy doing something artsy? SENSO Art Gallery Cafe is a quaint shophouse that offers art workshops! The first floor is super cosy as shelves are decked with cute trinkets you can buy like tea cups, paintings, and keychains.
The upper floor is where you do your art workshops. We did the cyanotype workshop (RM80/pax), which is basically using an iron solution to produce beautiful blue and white flower prints! The staff were friendly and guided us through each step.
They also have a whole bunch of other workshops — there’s the classic painting and soft clay sessions, as well as more unique options like silk screen printing, flower pressing, and even cake painting (though that one requires advanced booking)!
And hey, don’t miss the art gallery while you’re on the second floor! Senso partners with artists occasionally, and they were doing a Japanese art collective when we were there! It’s a mini visual treat that will definitely spark some creative ideas.
This cat painting was so pretty, this writer nearly cried (really).
Cost: From RM50/pax (~S$15.10) for 1hr workshop
Opening hours: 10AM – 6PM, closed on Sun
Address: 25 & 25a, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 1min walk from Hiap Joo Bakery (Google Maps)
3) Take IG-worthy Pictures at Old Shophouses and Murals
A heritage street isn’t one without shophouses and murals. At Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, there’s a couple that makes for awesome photo spots!
First is the iconic red Marrybrown building along the street, and opposite it is a colourful mural showcasing Malaysia’s cultural arts and food scene.
There’s also one at the end of the street, which depicts musical instruments.
Marrybrown Peranakan Heritage Restaurant
Address: 56, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 1min walk from Hiap Joo Bakery (Google Maps)
4) Learn about Local Chinese Heritage at the Johor Bahru Chinese Heritage Museum
If you’re a history lover, I strongly recommend visiting the Johor Bahru Chinese Heritage Museum. Not gonna lie, I thought this museum would be boring, but I had more fun here than expected!
For only 6RM per adult, you get to explore the multi-storey building and learn about the history of the Chinese immigrants in JB. The museum is humble and simple with its exhibits, showing old artefacts and explanations on the wall, but they were still engaging with the stories they told.
For example, one story they shared was the arrival of the Hainanese in JB. Since they were one of the last Chinese groups to move to JB, more lucrative trades (like business and medicine) had already been taken.
As a result, the Hainanese branched out into unpopular trades like running bakeries, confectionaries, and coffee shops! Could that be where our beloved Hainan coffee and chicken rice came from? ☕️
Entrance fee: RM6/adult (~S$0.30)
Opening hours: 9AM – 5PM, closed on Mon
Address: MY Johor, 42, Jalan Ibrahim, 80000 Johor Bahru, Malaysia
How to get there: 3min walk from Hiap Joo Bakery (Google Maps)
5) Satisfy Your Food Cravings
You definitely won’t go hungry at Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, with the plethora of food options it offers.
Roast and Coffee
Roast & Coffee offers tasty and authentic Malaysian dishes in an air-conditioned shophouse. We ate there during breakfast and ordered a set of kaya toast (RM3.50), Tiga Rasa (RM4.50) and Curry Lava Egg (RM7.90), with a drink of Coconut Ho Kar Sai (RM7.90) to share.
Our favourite is the curry toast! The curry was zingy from the spice, and the jaminess from the eggs was luxurious. The Coconut Ho Kar Sai was coconuty and sweet enough that it drowned out the coffee, a good option for sweet tooths who need a caffeine boost but can’t stand the bitterness of coffee.
Opening hours: 7AM – 5PM
Address: 62&63, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 1min walk from Hiap Joo Bakery (Google Maps)
Tapu Tart Tan Hiok Nee
Tapu Tart Tan Hiok Nee boasts fat egg tarts (a good sign for this writer) with unique flavours like Brown Sugar Mochi (RM5.50), Nyona Otak (RM6.90) and Curry Potato (RM5.50)!
I personally believe that the classic is best (and I wasn’t feeling too adventurous either), so I tried the original (RM4.90) and enjoyed its rich and creamy custard. While the crust was slightly denser than expected, the overall flavour was satisfying.
If you’ve tried Tapu Tart’s more interesting flavours, let us know how it’s like in the comments!
Opening hours: 7AM – 6PM
Address: 15, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 1min walk from Hiap Joo Bakery (Google Maps)
BONUS: Bei’s Pastry and The Ice Cream Project at Jalan Dhoby
At Jalan Dhoby (the street behind Jalan Tan Hiok Nee), there’s Bei’s Pastry and TIP, The Ice Cream Project which are worth a look!
鲍小贝 Bei’s Pastry
Fans of the pork floss bun should give Bei’s Pastry a try! The shop specialises in Chinese pastries, including snowy mochi and xiaobei, a kind of floss-bread ball that is very popular in China.
We tried the Seaweed Meat Floss Xiaobei (RM5.50), which is basically a bread ball coated with floss and crispy seaweed flakes with a creamy centre. The balance of sweet and savoury is delicious!
While we didn’t get to try all five flavours of the xiaobei, online recommendations suggest getting the Lemon Yogurt Xiaobei and the Salted Egg Meat Floss Xiaobei too!
Opening hours: 8:30AM – 6PM
Address: 26, Jalan Dhoby, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 2min walk from Hiap Joo Bakery (Google Maps)
TIP, The Ice Cream Project
At TIP, the ice cream you get will definitely be creamy and luxuriously smooth. That’s because they make it on the spot with liquid nitrogen!! The result is both a sight and taste to behold!
Their bestsellers are the Brownie & Cream (RM13) and the Pistachio & Pink Salt (RM21). We tried the latter, which had a strong Pistachio flavour, and the soft and creamy texture was superb.
Opening hours: 12PM – 10PM
Address: 31, Jalan Dhoby, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 1min walk from 鲍小贝 Bei’s Pastry (Google Maps)
6) Go Cafe-hopping
Jalan Tan Hiok Nee and its sister streets are FULL of cafes, most of them situated along Jalan Dhoby. The well-known ones are The Replacement – Lodge & Kitchen, Flowers in the Window, and Palates and Bagels. But we also recommend:
Dona Bakehouse
Right beside Hiap Joo Bakery, Dona Cafe sells baked goods like bagels, cakes, and croissants. We got their popular item, Dubai Pistachio Croissant (RM16.90), and the Hazelnut Latte (RM15) which was recommended by their staff.
The croissant was chocolaty, though we wished it was flakier with more layers like a good croissant would have. The Hazelnut Latte had a strong hazelnut taste, though it was a tad bit too sweet for us.
There’s three floors to this cafe, and the ground floor sitting area has plenty of sunlight, which feels super chic and relaxing.
Opening hours: 10AM – 6PM, closed on Wed
Address: 14, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80888 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 1min walk from Hiap Joo Bakery (Google Maps)
The Rockstone Cafe and Music
Rockstone Cafe and Music is the go-to spot for Western food, great music, and a rock-and-metal vibe! Live bands used to play during the weekends, though that’s on hiatus now. But don’t worry — the boss keeps the vibes alive with recordings of himself rocking the electric guitar to head-bobbing tunes like MJ’s Beat It!
We ordered a Grilled Chicken Chop (RM19.90) and the Rockstone Pasta (RM23.90) to share. The chicken was juicy but lacked flavour, so we had to go ham with the sauce.
The Rockstone Pasta, on the other hand, is worth a try! The tomato and cheese sauce (something different from usual pasta!) worked well for a balanced flavour since the tanginess from the tomato cuts through the creaminess of the cheese.
Opening hours: 12:30PM – 11:30PM, closed on Mon
Address: 28, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 1min walk from Hiap Joo Bakery (Google Maps)
Read also: JB Cafe-hopping — 13 Cool Cafes to Check Out in Johor Bahru
7) Grab the Famous Banana Bread from Hiap Joo Bakery
While at Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, one mustn’t forget to pop by the iconic Hiap Joo Bakery. Their renowned banana bread is freshly baked in a wood-fired oven!
Queues start forming as soon as the bakery opens, but we can assure you that the wait is absolutely worth it! Each slice is fluffy, moist, and PACKED with banana flavour. YUMMY!!! 🍌🤩
Besides banana cake, they also sell an assortment of bread, and butter and coffee cake.
Cost for banana cake: RM13/box (~S$3.90)
Opening hours: 7:30AM – 5PM
Timings for banana cake: 11:30AM – 5PM (Mon), 7:30AM – 5PM (Tues – Sat), 7:30AM – while stocks last (Sun)
Address: 13, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 15min walk from JB Checkpoint (Google Maps)
Guide to Jalan Wong Ah Fook
1) Have Fun at JB City Square!
Situated right outside JB Checkpoint, JB City Square is easily accessible and massive. The seven-floor megamall has everything from fun activities like karaoke to leisure options such as beauty salons for hair and nails. Here’s some of our favourite things to do!
Thrillseekers can head down to Laser Battle for an adrenaline-rush challenge! There are over 55 different types of game play, from a standard team battle to a friend VS foe battle. Each session only lasts 10 minutes, but it’ll definitely make you break a sweat.
*Pro-tip: Book your tickets on Klook to secure slots in advance! Then, contact the local operator (+60-168686279 or +60-122659249) to confirm your preferred time slot.
For those who love to gamble surprises, City Square has DARUMA and DE FIGURELAB. The former is a gachapon heaven where you can get toys from various franchises like Pokemon and Sanrio! Meanwhile, the latter is more of an anime store with blind boxes. Time to collect your next Labubu!
If you’re in need of a quick snack, there’s the iconic Japanese franchise Family Mart and camping-themed Avery Day convenience stores!
Personally, I prefer Avery Day for its impressive selection of imported products from Japan, Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, and China. Apart from snacks, the store also offers blind boxes, anime figurines, and freshly made food. With cosy tents set up inside, it’s the perfect spot to unwind after a day of shopping.
Opening hours: 10AM – 10PM
Address: 106-108, Jalan Wong Ah Fook, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
How to get there: 5min walk from JB Checkpoint (Google Maps)
2) Explore KOMTAR JBCC
Photo credit: Komtar JBCC
KOMTAR JBCC is a less-crowded mall with entertaining attractions! Check some of these out while you’re here:
The first has to be Skyscape Johor Bahru, where you can get a lovely panoramic view of the city from the 33rd floor! You’ll be 149m above ground on a glass bridge, but we dare say the view is good enough to overtake the fear of heights.
*Pro-tip: Pre-book your Skyscape adventure through Klook, which includes access to the observation deck and other activities like virtual reality games!
For those who love cats as much as I do, Chucky Cat Cafe is perfect. It’s home to tons of cute and fluffy cats that will give you a cuteness overdose.
There’s two floors to the cafe, offering visitors and cats plenty of space to walk around. The cafe is really clean too, and there’s also a strict no-carrying rule. The cats here looked relatively stress-free with healthy coats, a good sign of being well-taken care of!
Opening hours: 10AM – 10PM
Address: Ibrahim International Business District, Johor Bahru City Centre, Jalan Tun Abdul Razak, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80888 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
How to get there: 5min walk from JB Checkpoint (Google Maps)
Read also: 2D1N JB Itinerary — The Broke Friends Getaway
3) Eat Curry Fish at Kam Long Ah Zai Curry Fish Head
Along Jalan Wong Ah Fook is the famous Kam Long Ah Zai Curry Fish Head. The pot comes with a generous serving of vegetables and fish, served piping hot!
The curry is rich, fragrant, and flavourful. It goes well with rice and isn’t too spicy! Plus, we recommend ordering the fried beancurd skin as a side ingredient to complete the dish.
Opening hours: 8AM – 4PM
Address: 74, Jalan Wong Ah Fook, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 4min walk from Johor Bahru City Square (Google Maps)
4) Check out Meldrum Walk Street Food
Photo credit: Amazing Terengganu via Facebook
Just behind the iconic Kam Long Ah Zai Curry Fish Head, Meldrum Walk Street Food offers an authentic taste of local flavours. Rows of hawkers sell yummy, freshly cooked food from Chinese, Indian, and Malay cuisines.
Photo credit: @bbjiaksimi via Instagram
One famous stall here is JB Fried Oyster, an oyster omelette stall run by an elderly couple. Zermatt Neo once ate 21 plates from them in a single sitting!
Opening hours: 1PM – 11:30PM, closed on Thu
Address: Jalan Meldrum, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 4min walk from Johor Bahru City Square (Google Maps)
5) Walk Around Pasar Karat
While in JB, visit Pasar Karat, a well-known night market that sells affordable goods and local delights.
Food stalls here offer delicious budget-friendly bites like fried carrot cake, Assam laksa and BBQ skewers from as low as RM2!
Besides food, you can also find affordable accessories like wallets, handbags, and apparel — including graphic tees, cargo pants, and shoes from RM10! And if you walk a little further, you’ll come across shops offering henna art services, with prices starting at RM10 for one hand and RM15 for both.
Opening hours: 6PM — 2AM, closed on Mon
Address: 26, 20, Jalan Segget, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
How to get there: 6min walk from Johor Bahru City Square (Google Maps)
Day Trip Itinerary for Jalan Tan Hiok Nee and Jalan Wong Ah Fook
Jalan Tan Hiok Nee and Jalan Wong Ah Fook are incredibly accessible from JB Checkpoint. You can reach the former on foot in 16 minutes, whereas the latter is directly outside the checkpoint.
For those looking to cafe-hop and enjoy some old-school charm, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee and the surrounding area is a good choice. Those who are more shopping-focused can head down to JB City Square and Komtar JBCC along Jalan Wong Ah Fook.
If you’re planning to explore both streets in one day, we suggest starting with the former — especially if you’re after freshly baked banana bread!
Here’s an infographic with recommended routes to help you plan your day, whether you’re visiting one street or both!
Let us know in the comments if you have any favorite spots or hidden gems in Jalan Tan Hiok Nee and Jalan Wong Ah Fook!
