PPT Kopitiam

Rinse and shine! We finally made our way into Johor Bahru, kicking off the day with a hearty local breakfast at PPT Kopitiam. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling breakfast fare immediately set the tone for a day of exploring this vibrant city.

Ppt Kopitiam

Menu

Kopitiam

Their Mee Siam comes with several variations, and one of us opted for it with Ayam Goreng Berempah. The Mee Siam itself was served with cucumbers, lime, roasted peanuts, boiled egg, and chili as the baseline. Visually, the Berempah chicken looked a bit dry, but it still added a flavorful punch to the dish.

Mee Siam Ayam Goreng Berempah 米暹马来香料炸鸡 - RM15.90

We also tried the Mee Siam Otak-Otak. The photo on the menu looked quite promising, but the actual dish turned out rather different, just two small pieces of otah sitting beisde the noodles.

Mee Siam Otak-Otak 米暹乌达 - RM13.90

he Almond Polo Bun looked irresistible with a thick slice of butter sandwiched in between. Its crusty, golden top was especially appealing, made even more inviting by the almond flakes clinging all over the bun.

Almond Polo Bun 

For the dry noodles, I went with the braised chicken. The meat was evenly braised, though nothing particularly outstanding. The noodles were nicely tossed in seasoning, giving a simple yet satisfying flavor.

Braised Chicken Dry Noodle 香卤鸡肉干捞面 - RM15.90

One of us ordered the Chicken Chop with Mala Dry Noodle. The chicken appeared slightly on the dry side, though the seasoning leaned towards a bold mala flavour that might appeal to those who enjoy a numbing and spicy kick in their meal. The noodles were tossed evenly in the mala sauce, giving each bite a consistent heat and aroma.

Mala Chicken Chop Dry Noodle 麻辣炸鸡扒捞面 - RM 14.90

When it comes to the Chicken Chop with Nasi Lemak, the rice was fragrant and carried a luminous yellow hue. Its presentation resembled a Mee Siam style, served on a banana leaf base and accompanied by classic sides like peanuts, ikan bilis, sambal chilli, cucumber slices, egg, and a generous slab of chicken chop. The combination offered a familiar local comfort with a slightly creative twist.

Nasi Lemak Fried Chicken Chop 椰浆饭炸鸡扒 - RM14.90

For those who prefer rice instead of Mee Siam with their Ayam Goreng Berempah, this makes a good alternative.

Nasi Lemak Ayam Goreng Berempah 椰浆饭马来香料炸鸡 - RM15.90

While others kickstart their morning with coffee, I went for something different, a chilled cup of Cincau Longan, or Grass Jelly with Longan.

Cincau Longon 仙草龙眼 - RM5.20

If you’re thinking about toast, eggs, nasi lemak, or mee siam for your next meal, PPt Kopitiam is the place to visit.

PPT Kopitiam
Location: 41, Jalan Jaya Putra 7/6, Bandar Jaya Putra, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Malaysia

Chinchilla Trading

It had been a while since we heard about the chinchilla café in Johor, so we decided to make a spontaneous trip to check it out. The space was admittedly quite limited, but honestly, it was cozy enough for the experience.

Chinchilla Trading

One side of the café was dedicated to the adorable chinchillas, housed in clean, well-kept cages — and yes, they’re even available for purchase if you’re tempted to bring one home!

Meerkat

What made the visit more interactive was the option to feed the chinchillas with special feed available for purchase. It was such a unique and delightful way to spend some time up close with these fluffy little creatures.

Display

It feels oddly therapeutic being surrounded by posters and little Totoro figurines, a cozy touch that warms the space

Display

Posters Display

That’s so cute! They’ve even got the little Soot Sprites (Susuwatari) on display, such a whimsical Ghibli touch.

Soot Sprites

They have Totoro Plush too.

Totoro

We made our order next door at Chinchilla Fruit, where there were a few cakes in the chiller display.

Cake Order

Chinchilla Trading and Chinchilla Fruit

When your buzzer rings, you can head over to pick up the order.

Ordering Buzzer

They also have a transparent cage with air holes that doubles up as a dining table, allowing diners to feed the chinchilla while enjoying their meal.

Chinchilla

Looking at this cute little chinchilla, a fluffy ball of fur while dining feels surprisingly therapeutic.

Fluffy Ball of Fur

Over at the back of the café, there are numerous breeds of chinchillas waiting for someone to take them home. For those interested, the café can even arrange delivery and purchase to Singapore with all the necessary documents.

How Adorable?

Do you want to take them home?

Cutely illustrated and thoughtfully presented in a carton box with faux newspaper, the Tiramisu Totoro was a feast for the eyes. Though visually delightful, it was a little firmer than the usual tiramisu I’ve had.

Tiramisu Totoro - RM 23

The Oreo mousse caught my eye too. Even though I’m not exactly a fan of Oreo-based desserts, I have to admit it looked irresistibly cute!

Oreo Mousse 慕丝奥宝- RM 23

To pair with the desserts, we had some watermelon beverages, light, refreshing, and just perfect for beating the heat on such a warm day.

Watermelon Jasmine Tea Smoothie - RM 13

And of course, for chinchilla lovers, I think you should definitely make a visit here. Watching those fluffy little ones while dining adds such a charming and therapeutic touch to the whole experience.

Chinchilla Trading
Location: 37, Jalan Bendahara 9, Taman Ungku Tun Aminah, 81300 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Malaysia

Le Gruyérien

 We settled at a restaurant near our hotel for dinner, and fortunately it could accommodate all 10 of us. The place is called Le Gruyérien. At first we thought the server wasn’t too pleased with our big table, as we were greeted with a rather stern, sulky expression. We were seated right beside the pizza-preparation counter, which gave us a good view of the action. For a small town, the number of diners in the eatery was actually quite good, creating a lively atmosphere.

In Le Gruyérien

We ordered the Funghi Pizza, made to order with a tomato sauce base, champignons, mozzarella and ham. The pizza turned out really tasty and satisfying. From our seats, we could watch the pizza chef busily taking orders and sliding pizzas in and out of the large oven, a nice touch that added to the experience.'

Funghi Pizza - 21 CHF

While cheese fondue is a must-try for anyone visiting Switzerland for the first time, I decided to tick it off my list. I ordered a Half Bread, Half Potatoes Fondue (230 g) and it was served in the traditional pot over a fondue burner to keep the cheese perfectly melted throughout the meal.

Half Bread Half Potatoes Fondue By J. Romanens 230g - 26 CHF

The cheese was served in a heavy pot set over the fondue burner. It was thick, luscious and wonderfully aromatic, just like a Swiss fondue should be.

Cheese

Looking at the half loaf of bread (I assumed) and the generous portion of potatoes served alongside, my Asian stomach was already hinting that I might be full. It felt like a lot of carbohydrates for one sitting. The bread came in a basket, neatly cut into slices, ready for dipping into the rich, cheesy fondue.

Bread

The boiled potatoes were baby-sized with clean skins, served in a basket lined with a cloth to keep them warm.

Potatoes 

With a gentle press of the fork, they pierced through easily, perfect for dipping straight into the pot of molten cheese.

Dipping in Cheese

It was a wonderful experience finally trying authentic cheese fondue, but the portion was definitely heavy for one person. Unless it’s for sharing, I don’t think I will order such a rich, hearty meal on my own again.

Le Gruyérien
Location: Grand-Rue 1, 1630 Bulle, Switzerland
Website

Hungry Mee 饿了食面

 Made it through the morning madness and Causeway crawl just in time for breakfast at Eco Botanic!

Hungry Mee 饿了食面

The gang decided on this Hong Kong Char Siew spot, partly because we were drawn in by its well-lit, eye-catching menu board. The menu cover was beautifully illustrated with glistening Hong Kong-style Char Siew and what made it stand out was the unique addition of salted egg yolk in the center.

Menu

Cement screed flooring, neon signboards, and foldable chairs and tables set the scene instantly bringing back memories of a classic Hong Kong eatery. Well, minus the cramped space, thankfully! And of course, the impatient service we all remember experiencing in Hong Kong made a cameo too.

Interior

A bowl of wonton soup came first, 10 pieces to share among the crew, just right for a cold day. The wontons were snug in their wrappers, showing off those plump, tasty fillings. Total comfort food!

Wanton Soup 云吞汤 - RM 12.90 (10 Pcs)

While the others went for the wonton noodles, I decided to try their Braised Mushroom Chicken Feet. The braising sauce was mild, not too salty and quite clean-tasting. It was enjoyable, but if you're expecting those deep, intense flavors like in traditional Hokkien-style braised dishes, you might find this one a bit underwhelming.

Braised Mushroom Chicken Feet 香菇鸡脚 - RM 9.90

Tried the Hot Spring Egg Wonton Mee with white sauce, springy HK noodles, silky egg, and a light, flavorful base. Simple, but really satisfying

Hot Spring Egg Wonton Mee 温泉蛋云吞面 - $14.50

A few in the group tried the Shrimp Wonton Noodles with mee pok, and of course, added on some Char Siew for good measure. It even came with two fried wontons, extra points for that!

HK Shrimp Wonton Mee + Char Siew 港式虾仔云吞面加叉烧 - RM 12.90 + ?

To match the Hong Kong-style meal, I gave their Pineapple with 7-Up a go. Served with lemon and pineapple chunks, it was super refreshing and just the right balance of sweet and tangy.

7 Up Pineapple Ice 七喜菠萝冰 - RM 5.20

We also tried the Char Siew with Scrambled Egg served in a Pineapple Bun, a playful twist on the classic Hong Kong-style sandwich. The fluffy scrambled egg paired surprisingly well with the sweet, crumbly top of the pineapple bun, while the savory Char Siew added a rich, smoky depth. Sweet, savory, and satisfying in every bite.

Char Siew with Scrambled Egg with Pineapple Bun 叉烧滑蛋婆菠萝包 - RM 7.90

The Butter Kaya Toast was served as a long, paired set, crispy like a biscuit with a satisfying crunch. A simple yet nostalgic treat done right.

Butter Kaya with Toast 牛油咖椰面包 - RM 3.50

We also ordered their Salted Egg Char Siew (200g), which was suitable for sharing among 3–4 people. 

Salted Egg Char Siew 招牌叉烧皇 - RM 25.90

The combination of salted egg and char siew was something new to us,an interesting twist but the overall taste didn’t quite deliver a wow factor.

Close up piece of Char Siew with Salted Egg

It was nice discovering this spot in the mall. If you're ever craving Hong Kong-style cuisine, this place definitely fits the bill.

Hungry Mee 饿了食面
Location:  Eco Galleria, A0117, Blok A, Eco Galleria, 3, Persiaran Eko Botani, Taman Eco Botanic, 79100 Iskandar Puteri, Johor, Malaysia

BB.Q Chicken Myeongdong Star

Meeting friends who are also in Myeongdong during the same period as me for a BBQ chicken and beer dinner.

BBQ Chicken Myeongdong Star

The interior was kept simple, with an industrial vibe featuring cement floors and walls.

Interior

The cheese balls were a little on the dry side, which made them less enjoyable for me.

Cheese Balls

We went for the two-flavoured plate, featuring Soy Garlic and BBQ Seasoned chicken. Personally, I leaned towards the Soy Garlic, as its savoury profile suited me better.

Fried Chicken

Overall, the place was pretty noisy since it’s in Myeongdong, but I was glad the restaurant had an English ordering system, which made things quick and easy.

BB.Q Chicken Myeongdong Star
Loacation: 2 Myeongdong 4-gil, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea