Malaysia is a world of hidden gems when it comes to food, and when we began a weeklong road trip from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, each pit stop we made along the way proved to be more than memorable.
The road trip from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur gave us the chance to stop at different places to eat, which included everything from family-owned stalls in small towns to hawkers frequented by politicians to celebrity restaurants. Regardless of the size, we had a fabulous time at each and every pit stop we made along the way, and we hope you’ll also have the chance to discover some of these places too!
We ate our way around Johor, going across towns like Kulai, Yong Peng, Muar and Batu Pahat where people were warm and welcoming.
Driving up north to Melaka, it was indeed a walk to remember as we uncovered Melaka’s charms in the rich heritage & history of this city.
Finally, we arrived in Kuala Lumpur where we found passion for food all in the family, as we followed a pair of identical twin sisters who work at Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur.
1. JOHOR BAHRU
The state capital of Johor and home to around 1.4 million residents, Johor Bahru is the third-largest city in Malaysia. It’s a short drive from Singapore, and there’s much to enjoy from theme parks to sunny beaches and amazing seafood.
2. SENAI
This little town in Johor got its name from Sinai, a local tree that thrived around the area in the early 20th century. Home to around
68,000 residents, Senai’s economy is based around manufacturing.
3. KULAI
A small town in Johor, Kulai is surrounded by palm oil plantations and rubber estates. Once an important stopover on the Johor Bahru – Kuala Lumpur trunk road in the 1970s and 1980s until the North-South Expressway opened in 1994, which bypassed the town.
4. YONG PENG
With a population that’s just under 30,000, Yong Peng is a charming town renowned for its Fuzhou style cuisine. Not to be missed is the Yong Peng bread, a round-shaped yeast bread that is only available in this town.
5. BATU PAHAT
Located in the southeast of Muar, this district is home to about 470,000 locals. Its name means “chiselled stone” due to the nearby quarries. Today, it is famous for its hawker food and distinct street food.
6. MUAR
The second-largest city in the state of Johor is most famous for its food, coffee and historical buildings. Gorgeous pre-war buildings and Chinese-influenced architecture can still be seen in the town centre.
7. MELAKA
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is steeped in cultural history that is a fusion of Portuguese influence and Peranakan heritage. Take a stroll to experience the old world charms of its heritage buildings and culture.
8. KUALA LUMPUR
The largest city in Malaysia is also its capital and is visually defined by a mix of gleaming skyscrapers and colonial architecture. It is also the cultural, economic and financial centre of the country.