Johor Bahru JB, Malaysia, 1-Day Trip (PART-ONE)

Dear food people,

It’s Sunday and I’m off on a day-trip to Johor Bahru (JB) with two friends, determined to check out a few food spots that have been trending online lately. One key mission: to see if these places are still as affordable as everyone claims. Hope you enjoy this review, especially if you’re planning your own JB food run soon!

If you haven’t crossed into JB for a while, a quick update: both sides of the border now have automated face recognition gates. This new system has made clearing immigration about ten times faster.

MYICA APP.

For Singapore residents, you can also download the MyICA mobile app, set it up using SingPass, and re-enter Singapore by scanning a QR code. You can even apply for your re-entry arrival card directly on the app. Honestly, it’s a game-changer for cross-border foodies.

Lately, I’ve heard quite a few rumours: Singaporean food businesses are relocating to JB, lured by the steady stream of Singaporeans crossing the border for quality food at wallet-friendly prices. Part of my goal today is to find out if prices really remain affordable or if some places are cashing in on the hype.

We reached Woodlands Train Checkpoint an hour early for the 8:30am train. If you’re a traveller planning a pit stop in Singapore, getting a train ticket from the KTMB website is your best bet. Tickets sell out fast, so book about 30 days ahead.

The train saves you from the infamous causeway jams and gets you into JB in record time.

First Stop: G. Cheong Fun Restaurant, Skudai

The restaurant serving counter. The queue starts here!

The restaurant serving counter. The queue starts here!

Restaurant was clean with nostalgic local vibes.

Pick your own deep-fried yong tau fu meats filled with surimi paste.

Pick your own deep-fried yong tau fu veggies filled with surimi paste.

Our dishes were served in this cute metal tier.

Deep fried yong tau fu with sweet red sauce.

Deep fried yong tau fu.

Steamed cheong-fun with light soya sauce and fragrant scallion oil.

Pan-fried cheong-fun with dried shrimp, preserved veggies bits and sesame seeds.

Pan-fried cheong-fun with dried shrimp, preserved veggies bits and sesame seeds.

G. CHEONG FUN RESTAURANT.

Our first destination was G. Cheong Fun Restaurant, located about 10 minutes’ drive from the customs. For convenience, just book a Grab ride and get whisked from point to point at published rates.

We arrived around 9:30am, and seating was still available. By 11am, though, the crowd started to pick up, so plan accordingly. For anyone unfamiliar, "Cheong Fun" refers to thick rice noodles, think of tagliatelle, but made from rice.

At this particular eatery, the noodles are more like rice linguine. Unlike wheat pasta, these rice noodles are steamed into thin sheets first, then blanched before being served with either sweet or savoury sauces.

Cheong Fun is versatile: perfect as a main for light eaters or as a side for those who want to sample a bit of everything.

We tried Cheong Fun served with three different sauces: curry, soya sauce with sesame oil, and a dark sweet sauce.

Both the curry and soya sauce versions stood out, each topped with a mix of dried shrimp and preserved veggies, then lightly pan-fried for extra flavour.

What makes G. Cheong Fun unique is that they also serve Yong Tau Fu—vegetables stuffed with a fresh surimi (minced fish) paste and then deep-fried.

What’s Surimi?

Surimi is a minced fish paste often used for imitation seafood, like crab sticks. It’s flexible, mild in flavour, and can be shaped and seasoned in various ways.

The Yong Tau Fu here features chunky vegetables filled with surimi, deep-fried in vegetable oil that’s changed regularly for freshness. The cooked version is caramelised, savoury bite with a hint of sweetness from the light red sauce that finishes each piece. Watching the staff prepare and stuff fresh veggies on the spot was reassuring—it’s clearly all made to order.

For me, the highlight was the Cheong Fun with that dried shrimp and preserved veggie bits and topped with a generous sprinkle of sesame seeds. The umami hit from the shrimp and veggies is next-level, making this a must-order for future visits.

Our total bill for enough food to comfortably feed 3 pax, with basic coffee or tea for everyone, came to RM58, which converts to SGD 17.50 (i.e., SGD 5.80 per pax).

The Verdict.

Cleanliness and service score a solid 4 out of 5, the dining area is tidy, and our dishes arrived within ten minutes.

Food quality also earns a 4 out of 5: great flavours, but the Yong Tau Fu wasn’t served piping hot since it had been pre-fried earlier. Otherwise, no major complaints.

If you’re after a quick, delicious, and still reasonably priced meal in JB, G. Cheong Fun Restaurant deserves a spot on your list. Would I come back? Absolutely, and especially for that umami-packed Cheong Fun.

Location: 新山, 176, Jalan Pahlawan 2, Taman Ungku Tun Aminah, 81300 Skudai, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Malaysia

Opens from 6:30am