JB isn’t the only place with good food. Here’s our comprehensive food guide on things to eat in Skudai — covering restaurants, cafes and bars!
As someone who loves food and enjoys reviewing it like a wannabe critic, I’m always down for a foodventure. And what better place to truly go on one than Skudai in Johor?
Just 30 minutes from JB checkpoint, Skudai is lesser-known and fairly new, so it could be daunting for newcomers to find eating spots from scratch. Still, this underrated neighbourhood is worth a visit if you’d like to try something different from the crowded and all-too-familiar JB!
That’s why we’ve put together this Skudai food guide, covering everything from aesthetic cafes and delicious local eats to uniquely-themed bars.
Without further ado, let the feast begin!
Read also: Best Things to Do Near the JB Causeway — JB Sentral, Mount Austin, Skudai
Authentic Food
1) Madras to Malaya Cafe Taman Universiti
Madras to Malaya is a well-known Indian eatery in the Taman Universiti area. When we went there, it had a good crowd with mostly locals! Their menu has a wide range of food such as Mee Goreng, Chappati, Nasi Lemak, and 60(!!) variations of thosai!
We couldn’t decide what to eat, so we asked the staff to give us what HE liked the most! That’s how we ended up with a Chicken Masala Thosai (RM7.90) and Biscoff Milkshake (RM7.90).
The thosai came with chicken masala stuffed in it — the filling was generous with its potatoes and the shredded chicken was tender. The best part was the spicy kick the thosai had, which hummed on my lips. Interestingly, it was cut into equal pieces, which was a different way of plating compared to Singapore!
Meanwhile, the biscoff milkshake had a lovely mountain of whipped cream plus sprinkles.
The cafe is also known for its nasi briyani; we didn’t get to try it but we heard from a local that it’s good!
Opening hours: 7AM – 8:30PM
Address: 1, Jalan Perdagangan 1, Skudai, 81300 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 29min drive from JB Sentral (Google Maps)
2) SUP by SUPER KIMCHI
Run by a Korean family, SUP by SUPER KIMCHI’s food is pretty authentic. Their specialty is the kimchi, as it’s made in-house. Plus, there’s a whole shelf of it!
For mains, we tried their Kimchi Jigae (RM28). The soup was mildly spicy and not too sour.
The Grilled Pork Belly with Himalayan Salt (RM32) was salty enough that we didn’t need to dip in any of the given sauces. But the star of the show has to be the Chunky Kimchi Jeon AKA kimchi pancake (RM25)!!
The pancake strikes a perfect balance between the sourness of the kimchi and the savoury flavour of the batter.
Unlike some pancakes that skimp on the kimchi, this had plenty! It was very crispy and the kimchi was so fresh that when you bite into it, the juice bursts in your mouth. Make sure you eat it while it’s hot!
Opening hours: 11AM – 10PM (Mon – Thu), closes 11PM on Fri and Sat
Address: 37, Jalan Sutera Tanjung 8/3, Taman Sutera Utama, 81300 Skudai, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 23min drive from JB Sentral (Google Maps)
3) Thong Bowl
Craving something big? Thong Bowl’s food sounds about right. In fact, it’s so big that they hold the record for the BIGGEST Thai Beef Noodle and Milk Tea in Malaysia!
The restaurant specialises in beef noodles, but there’s also chicken/beef porridge, Tom Yum, and chicken noodle/rice. Seeing how beef noodle is their specialty, we got one bowl of Sliced Australian Wagyu Noodle (RM36.90) and another Creamy Tom Yum Mama Mee (RM19.90).
The broth for the Sliced Australian Wagyu Noodle was incredibly flavourful, with a perfect balance of salty and sour. The dish is generous with its fried garlic chips and has two big pieces of wagyu. Besides Australian Wagyu, they also have the cheaper alternative of Australian Beef and the posh option of A5 Miyazaki Wagyu.
On the other hand, the tom yum bowl was spicy and packed with seafood like cuttlefish balls and prawns.
Of course, we can’t forget about the Mega Thai Milk Tea (RM29.90). This gargantuan drink holds a whopping 1.5L of milk tea! It’s definitely something to share with friends — or for yourself if you’re obsessed with milk tea.
Opening hours: 11AM – 10PM
Address: Lot HY-01, Level G, Paradigm Mall, Lbh Skudai, Taman Bukit Mewah, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 19min drive from JB Sentral (Google Maps)
4) Cosmo Seeds (Sky Farm & Cafe)
Cosmo Seeds Sky Farm & Cafe offers a unique hydroponic farm-to-table dining experience — i.e, they grow their own vegetables without soil using advanced technology and harvests them fresh for their dishes!
The menu offers drinks, salad bowls, pastas, desserts, and hotpot with plenty of sides to choose from! You can even buy their vegetables from as low as RM5.
Since vegetables are a big focus, we went for the customisable salad bowls where you can choose your meat/plant base, carbs (rice/noodles), veggies and sauce.
The ingredients here are FRESH and the portions are HUGE for their price (starting from RM18.90)! Presentation was also on point!
Plus, the space is huge and there’s indoor and outdoor seating. Psst, they also offer farm tours here for RM30 per adult (with a tour guide). We took a walk around and it was definitely fascinating to see all the vegetables growing, from lettuce to cucumbers!
Opening hours: 10AM – 10PM
Address: TGV Same Floor, Lot 4-39, Level 4 Rooftop, Tasek Central, 2, Jalan Pendekar 16, Taman Ungku Tun Aminah, 81300 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 28min drive from JB Sentral (Google Maps)
Aesthetic Cafes & Desserts
5) Layer Bakehouse
For some good basque cheesecake, look no further than Layer Bakehouse! They make their cakes in-house every day and there’s also brunch items like pizzas and sourdough sandwiches, which are all made from scratch.
The cafe’s vibes are super cosy, with perks of free WiFi and plugs for charging your devices.
We tried their Pistachio Cheesecake (RM25.50), which is one of their signatures. Its overall flavour leans toward the salty side, probably due to the savouriness of the cheesecake and the pistachios. I loved the pistachio cream at the top, and when the entire cake is eaten together, the mouthfeel is creamy and rich.
They also have other burnt cheesecake flavours like Dark Chocolate Ganache, Earl Grey Tea, and the original.
Opening hours: 9:30AM – 6:30PM, closed on Mon
Address: 24, Jalan Bakti 65, Mutiara Rini, 81300 Skudai, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 32min drive from JB Sentral (Google Maps)
6) Kafuka Cafe & Music Studio
Located on the second level of a shophouse, Kafuka Cafe & Music Studio is a quaint cafe that serves small bites, desserts, and drinks.
Their cheesecakes seem to be popular amongst customers, with plenty of positive Google reviews. Not to mention, when we went down for lunch, some of their cakes were already sold out!
We ordered a Passionfruit Cheesecake (RM13) and Black Sesame Cheesecake (RM15). Both cakes had a balanced flavour profile and a smooth and creamy texture. The great thing is they’re not too surfeiting, so one person could eat a cake without feeling too sick!
Another cake we had was a Hawthorn Chiffon Cake (RM17). The flavour of the hawthorn was light and pleasant; it was tangy and sweet but not too overpowering. The candied hawthorns at the top were cute and reminded me of tanghulu!
For drinks, we recommend trying their Pineapple Basil Americano (RM17). The drink was refreshing and didn’t taste like coffee at all, perfect for those who enjoy something fruity but still want a caffeine kick.
Opening hours: 12PM – 6PM (Mon – Wed), 12PM – 7PM (Fri – Sun), closed on Thu
Address: 16A, Jalan Bendahara 12, Taman Ungku Tun Aminah, 81300 Skudai, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 25min drive from JB Sentral (Google Maps)
7) Veelato
Located at the new wing of Sutera Mall, Veelato is an ice cream cafe to visit when you need a break from shopping. The best part is this place opens till midnight every day!
You can try as many flavours as you like before deciding on your ice cream, which I personally believe is a policy all ice cream stores should follow 😉
We got a waffle with the Pistachio and Biscoff Biscuit flavours for ~S$8.50. Both were creamy and rich! The waffle was also crispy at the edges and fluffy in the middle.
*Pro-tip: Get a discount off your gelato when you buy a voucher from Klook beforehand! There’s five packages available, each comes with two scoops of gelato and either a waffle or drink.
Opening hours: 10AM – 12AM
Address: G-006, Sutera Mall 1, Jalan Sutera Tanjung 8/4, Taman Sutera Utama Skudai, 81300 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 24min drive from JB Sentral (Google Maps)
Read also: JB Cafe-hopping — 13 Cool Cafes to Check Out in Johor Bahru
8) Lune24
Photo credit: Lune24 via Facebook
Lune24 is a hidden cafe in Skudai that brings together nature, coffee, and food all in one place. It’s a great escape from the city if you’re looking for somewhere serene.
Their selling point here is definitely the aesthetics. Located in a greenhouse, the cafe has plenty of greenery and is bathed in natural light!
Photo credit: Lune24 via Facebook
Online reviews say the food isn’t particularly remarkable, but the Insta-worthy presentation makes up for it. There’s options like breakfast sets, burgers, pastas, and fish and chips. We also heard that their pistachio cheesecake is worth a try!
Opening hours: 10AM – 6PM, closed on Tue and Wed
Address: 2, Jalan Roda 2, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 31min drive from JB Sentral (Google Maps)
Trendy Bars
9) Chill Oasis
Chill Oasis taught us that there’s more to what meets the eye. We had a lot of trouble finding the entrance to the speakeasy bar — the secret was to push the Vietnamese food cabinet, which is actually a door!
When we got in, it couldn’t have been any more different. The bar is actually Moroccan-themed, with beautiful rugs draped across the walls.
The menu is not exactly 100% Moroccan, but does incorporate the flavours creatively in their items, such as the Barramundi Linguine with Chermoula Sauce (Chermoula is often used in Moroccan dishes).
We got mains to share and recommend the Baked Brie Cheese with Mixed Nuts (RM38) and the Fried Choy Fleur Cauliflower (RM19). The cauliflower was our favourite — it’s very crispy and seasoned well with fried curry leaves! It was like eating popcorn.
You can’t go to a bar without drinks, so we ordered the Atlas Elixir (RM38) and Silky Dunes (RM36). Their presentation was very aesthetic and the drinks were delicious!
Opening hours: 5:30PM – 12AM
Address: Y4, Jalan Hijauan 1, Horizon Hills, 79100 Skudai, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 24min drive from JB Sentral (Google Maps)
10) The GRID Kitchen & Bar
My boss is not impressed by me…
With good food, drinks, and a karaoke corner, The GRID Kitchen and Bar is great for a chill night out with your friends.
True to their name, there’s a huge variety of Western and local food options. The staff and chef were super friendly in recommending us what to eat!
We enjoyed their J Famous Wings (RM21.90) and Kampung Fried Rice (RM18.90), both of which had a good spicy kick — perfect for pairing with drinks and great as bar bites.
For drinks, we got their signatures Long Island Tea (RM36), Pink Lady (RM32), and Whiskey Sour (RM32). Pink Lady was our favourite — it was milky, smooth, and sweet!
BONUS: If you’re extroverted and love singing (or had enough liquid courage), there’s also a stage where you can go up and belt out your favourite songs!
Opening hours: 4PM – 12AM (Tue – Thu, Sun), 4PM – 1AM (Fri – Sat), closed on Mon
Address: 19, Jalan Pertama 6, Pusat perdagangan danga utama, 81300 Skudai, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 21min drive from JB Sentral (Google Maps)
11) Cabinet 8 by JWC
Photo credit: @jwc.cabinet8.jb via Instagram
For high-quality and classy cocktails made by talented bartenders, check out Cabinet 8 by JWC! To enter, you’ll have to go inside a cabinet in an office — talk about a Narnia experience!
The drinks here feature local flavours like curry leaf, pandan, and mango lassi, but you can also get a personalised cocktail and mocktail to your liking. The bartenders are super knowledgeable and will come up with a concoction just for you!
All drinks cost RM48, whereas a customised one will cost slightly higher. When we went in July 2024, a customised cocktail was RM50. We asked for a sweet and fruity drink with a bit of alcohol, and they DELIVERED.
Opening hours: 7PM – 12AM (Mon – Thu), closes 1AM on Fri and Sat
Address: 102, Jalan Sutera Tanjung 8/3, Taman Sutera Utama, 81300 Skudai, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: min drive from JB Sentral (Google Maps)
Finding the Best Things to Eat in Skudai
Writing this article made me hungrier than ever and I definitely drooled at some point. This just goes to show that despite being relatively unknown, Skudai doesn’t fall behind on its food options!🙂
My personal favourites are Madras to Malaya for its delicious Indian food and Cabinet 8 for its superb cocktails!
Since Skudai is a relatively new area, one way to discover food options (besides reading our article😜) is to look up on social media like Tiktok and Instagram, as well as ask locals! In fact, that’s how we got to know about Madras to Malaya.
We hope this Skudai food guide will be useful for you on your next trip! Have fun, and enjoy the noms!
If we missed out on any places in this Skudai food guide, do let us know in the comments!
