Cheap and Underrated Food in Johor Bahru: 7 Local Gems Worth Seeking Out

Johor Bahru isn’t short on Instagrammable cafés and viral desserts, but if you look just past the glossy exteriors, you’ll find the true flavour of JB in its everyday eateries. Here, it’s not about how trendy the decor is. It’s about smoky wok hei, handmade kuih and noodles perfected over decades.

This is your 2025 guide to 7 underrated cheap eats in Johor Bahru: real local favourites, each with character, history and, best of all, prices that rarely cross the S$5 mark.

Also read: 6 Viral Johor Bahru (JB) Food Spots: Worth the Hype or Overrated?

Wah Cai 3‑in‑1 Fried Niangao

Price: The Niangao goes at around RM2.50 (~S$ 0.75) each

Address: 86, Jalan Pahlawan 2, Taman Ungku Tun Aminah, 81300 Skudai

Wah Cai’s “3‑in‑1” fried niangao is a cross-border snack legend. They sandwich chewy glutinous niangao between sweet potato and yam, coat the lot in a crisp, golden batter, and deep‑fry to creamy perfection.

What’s remarkable is that even hours later, the exterior remains satisfyingly crunchy, ideal to takeaway for your trip back to Singapore. A simple yet ingenious snack that locals queue for.

Warung Roti Canai Bukit Chagar

Price: From RM 1.50 (~S$0.45)

Address: 394, Jalan Tengku Azizah, Bukit Chagar, 80300 Johor Bahru

Just a stone’s throw from the CIQ checkpoint, this mamak stall offers roti canai cooked to golden-brown perfection. Daily from 6 am to around 11 am, the adept stall‑keeper flips and stretches each dough by hand, nailing that signature crispy exterior and soft, chewy interior.

Diners often dunk their roti in dhal, sambal or sugar, whatever suits their palate, while watching the vibrant morning bustle. A charming, humble start to a JB day.

Din Kee Beef Noodle

Price: ~RM 15 (~S$4.50)

Address: 56, Jalan Indah 1, Taman Bukit Indah, 81200 Johor Bahru

A corner shop that quietly excels in its craft. Din Kee’s broth simmers for over five hours, coaxing out tender beef, fat-rich tendon and chewy tripe.

You can opt for soupy comfort or dry noodles tossed in savoury sauce, often garnished with peanuts for a texture boost. Diners appreciate the hearty bowls and reasonable prices and the meaty portions vanish by late morning.

Ah Piaw Wanton Noodles

Price: Around RM 8 (~S$2.40)

Address: 20, 12, Jalan Kelewang, Taman Sri Tebrau, 80050 Johor Bahru

Open 24 hours, Ah Piaw Wanton Noodles serves comforting bowls of wanton noodles featuring thin, springy duck‑egg noodles tossed in a fragrant mix of dark soy, sesame oil and crunchy pork lard. Each bowl comes with generous, plump wantons filled with gently peppered pork, plus a light anchovy‑flavoured broth on the side.

Many regulars swear by the signature “black” version, where the sweet‑savoury sauce gives a gentle kick, while those after something richer can go for their abalone kway teow, loaded with prawns, scallops, fish‑balls and fish‑maw in a porky broth, perfect if you’re feeling indulgent.

Ong Shun Seafood Restaurant

Price: From RM 8.50 (~S$ 2.55)

Address: 67, Jalan Abdul Samad, Kampung Bahru, 80100 Johor Bahru

A halal zi‑char eatery beloved for its Moonlight Hor Fun: fresh flat rice noodles topped with a raw egg yolk. Once mixed, you get a creamy, silky sauce that turns a humble noodle dish into something indulgent and distinctive.

Portions are generous and reviews often credit its consistent flavour and budget‑friendly prices.

Restoran Kacang Pool Haji

Price: ~RM 7 (~S$2.10)

Address: 12, Jalan Dato Jaafar, Taman Dato Onn, 80350 Johor Bahru

A hearty adaptation of Middle Eastern fava bean stew, filling, spiced and crowned with a runny fried egg, lime, fresh onion and thick toast.

Locals swear by its comforting, earthy flavours. It’s casual dining with generous portions and fast service, perfect when crossing into JB hungry and ready for something warm and filling.

Restoran Yew Swee

Price: ~RM 6–10 (~S$1.80–S$3) per bowl

Address: Restoran Yew Swee, 64, Jalan Harimau Tarum, Taman Century, 80300 Johor Bahru

Hiding behind a modest storefront, Yew Swee Curry Mee delivers a bold, authentic take on JB-style curry noodle. Their coconut curry soup is fragrant and creamy, balanced with a spicy shrimp-belacan kick, and generously studded with toppings like pig skin, char siew, fried tofu skin, beancurd, five-spice rolls, and beansprouts.

True to JB tradition, the noodles are supplied by Chop Eng Tin, giving them a satisfying chew and homemade texture that elevates the bowl well beyond the average.

Time to explore new eats

These aren’t the places you’ll typically see on TikTok or Instagram feeds, but they’re where JB locals actually eat, morning, noon and well past midnight. They’re affordable, flavour-packed, and most of all, genuine.