Cultural Street, Johor Bahru

29 Nov 2018

Joan came from Singapore for a visit and brought her to the cultural street in JB city.

My sister told me the nyonya kuih on the cultural street is a must try! The stall has actually moved to the next street. The auntie owner is very friendly and pleasant. Now she has her own shop. Besides selling her handmade nyonya kuih, the shop also sells freshly baked sponge cakes and banana cakes. The sponge cake tastes very similar to the famous Japanese cheese sponge cake! It's moist and super soft! A must try too!

What I like most about these nyonya kuihs is that not only are they fragrant, they are also not too sweet!

This is the famous clay oven bakery. However, personally I feel that it's just a hype. Their buns are dry and their banana cakes oily. Customers would have to form a line entering the claustrophobic shop, quickly select what they want, pay up, and exit—all done in a single line, mechanically. The staff are impersonal with "just pay up and go" kind of attitude.

This coffee shop at the corner of the cultural street is probably the most prosperous one along the whole street, selling Malay/Indonesian style dishes, kaya toasts and some Chinese kuihs. I had been told that their mee rebus was superb but didn't have a chance to try. Keep it for my next visit!

An introduction of Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, the current cultural street. Jalan means road; Tan Hiok Nee is the name of a Chinese merchant.

On the other quieter side of the cultural street is the Chinese History & Cultural Museum of Johor Bahru. Ticket price is RM6/adult and RM3/child. The museum showcases many historical objects and information, detailing the arrival of the Chinese immigrants and their contributions to Johor Bahru in the early days. The museum is well-maintained and informative. Worth a visit!

The 24 Festive Drums was founded by two prominent artists—Tan Hooi Song 陈徽崇 and Tan Chai Pan 陈再藩 in 1988. This art form was listed as a Malaysian cultural heritage in 2009.

Old school abacus and weighing scale.

An old shop along the cultural street.

Old school biscuits tins at an Indian provision shop.