The Replacement - Lodge & Kitchen, Johor Bahru

Cafe-hopping in Singapore might burn a hole in your wallet, but at Johor Bahru, you get to leverage on the currency, and yes, that means you get to eat great food at 1/3 the price. On our recent trip, we had plans to visit Coffee Valley, but was disappointed that it was in the process of moving to Sutera Mall (update: they are opened now at Sutera Mall!). We decided to explore around the corner and found another gem - The Replacement instead (how apt, because it actually replaces one of our cafe-hopping location).

This dainty, modern cafe sits at a prominent spot in Jalan Dhoby (aka Jalan Cafe or Jalan Hipsters, just kidding) and features an exterior of clean white walls - now this is worth mentioning because buildings are generally old and torn down around the area. To start off, The Replacement is seriously, and I'm saying it with a serious face, seriously insta-worthy. OMG, damn it, just look at this.

Coffee Valley @ Jalan Trus, Johor Bahru

Like its name literally suggests, Coffee Valley is a quaint cafe located at an (v)alley off Jalan Trus, a stretch of road which inhabits old-fashioned shop-houses and eateries, such as the Faculty of Caffeine. With the aroma of freshly grounded coffee beans whiffing through the air and soft music serenading in the background, it is no wonder why this cafe never fails to attract both regulars and newcomers.

Faculty of Caffeine @ Jalan Trus, Johor Bahru

Situated along Jalan Trus, Faculty of Caffeine (FOC) is the brainchild of two childhood buddies, Vinc and Edward, who are both enthusiasts of coffee and design. The exterior is difficult to be missed, with its hipster-matte-looking black-and-white signboard set upon walls of pastel blue. Given that most of the shop-houses along the stretch were unfurnished and old-fashioned, FOC sure sticks out like a sore thumb.

As expected, its interior were designed with no less thoughts. With a combination of chic and vintage, it allows a cosy space for timeless furniture, such as a vintage sewing machine and a huge mirror with Chinese characters, completed with artwork designed by the owners - a place where coffee meets art.

Restoran Ya Wang (鸭皇药材烧腊大王) @ Jalan Segget, Johor Bahru

Self-declared as the "king of ducks", Restoran Ya Wang holds a high and mighty reputation for their herbal roasted duck. Furthermore, they are also the appointed advisor and consultant for Dian Xiao Er's herbal roasted duck in Singapore. Together with my friend's recommendation, that already gave us three good reasons to visit Restoran Ya Wang. The restaurant is not difficult to locate with its convenient location at 28 Jalan Segget, which is just a stone throw away from City Square in Johor Bahru.

At Ya Wang, they serve duck prepared in several ways, such as the more well-known choices of original and herbal, as well as various dishes, like roasted pork, braised tofu and assorted seafood. Besides a la carte items, two set menus are available too. 

Canton-i @ City Square, Johor Bahru

It just took a single gastronomical trip down to Canton-i for me to get hooked up and begging for seconds. The reason is none other than a table filled up with tantalizing wanton noodles, century egg porridge and a few baskets of steamed buns and dim sum. That is why on a recent getaway to Johor Bahru, we decided to bring along a few friends for some good and affordable dim sum. I mean, who doesn't adore cheap and awesome dim-sum?