There is a particular kind of comfort that only a mamak can give you. A hot roti canai torn by hand, a plate of nasi kandar drowning in a mix of curries, teh tarik pulled high and frothy, and a table you can sit at for hours whether it is breakfast or two in the morning. In Johor Bahru, the mamak is woven into daily life, from the office crowd grabbing a quick banjir lunch to families settling in for a late supper after a night out in town.
The trouble is that JB has hundreds of Indian-Muslim eateries, and not all of them are worth your ringgit. So we did the legwork. Every restaurant on this list holds a Google rating of 4.0 or higher from real diners, sits inside Johor Bahru, and is still very much open for business. We have ranked them by how many people have actually reviewed them, most-reviewed first, so you get the crowd favourites at the top. Here are the 10 best mamak spots in Johor Bahru to plan your next roti and teh tarik run around.
What Makes a Great Mamak in Johor Bahru?
A proper mamak is judged on the basics done well. The roti canai should be crisp on the outside and soft inside, the curries should have depth rather than just heat, and the teh tarik should be pulled properly so it arrives warm and creamy. Beyond the food, it is about the atmosphere: fast service, long opening hours, and a seat where you can linger. The spots below get these fundamentals right, which is exactly why JB locals keep coming back.
Are Mamak Restaurants in Johor Bahru Halal?
Mamak food comes from the Indian-Muslim community, so these kitchens are generally halal by nature and cater heavily to Muslim diners. That said, certification status can change and not every outlet displays an official halal cert on the wall, so if it matters to your table, it is always worth a quick check on the restaurant’s own page or a word with the staff before you order. Most of the places here are busy, family-friendly spots used to serving mixed crowds all day long.
Table of Contents
- 1. Nasi Kandar Hijrah (Taman Molek)
- 2. Nasi Kandar Marwah (Mount Austin)
- 3. Onn Kitchen (Kampung Bahru)
- 4. Restoran E&Y Sahul (Adda Heights)
- 5. My Biryani Palace (Mount Austin)
- 6. Restoran Sirap Selasih (Taman Desa Rahmat)
- 7. Restoran Habib (Mount Austin)
- 8. Restoran Al-Safa (Bandar Baru Uda)
- 9. Restaurant Reaz Corner (Jalan Dhoby)
- 10. Nasi Kandar Seri Mutiara (1 Tebrau)
1. Nasi Kandar Hijrah (Taman Molek)
If you ask JB folk where the best nasi kandar in town is, Hijrah in Taman Molek comes up again and again, and the sheer volume of reviews tells you why. The draw is the banjir treatment: a heap of rice flooded with a mix of curries, fried chicken, squid, and whatever else catches your eye at the counter. It gets seriously busy over the lunch rush, so arrive early or be ready to queue. This is daytime dining rather than a late-night haunt, closing in the evening, so plan it as a hearty breakfast or lunch. Come hungry and let the curry gravy do the talking.
Operating Hours: 8:30 am – 6:30 pm (Daily; shorter Friday hours)
Address: 25, Jln Molek 1/5C, Taman Molek, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor
Tel: 018-277 2951
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
2. Nasi Kandar Marwah (Mount Austin)
Neck-and-neck with Hijrah for the title of JB’s most-loved nasi kandar, Marwah at The Harbour in Mount Austin pulls a devoted crowd from morning right through to midnight. The long hours make it a genuine all-rounder, equally good for an early breakfast, a working lunch, or a late supper after the shops shut. Regulars rave about the ayam goreng and the way the curry mix soaks into the rice, and the spacious, brightly lit setting handles big groups with ease. If you are staying around Austin or Tebrau, this is the mamak to build your weekend eating around. Portions are generous, so pace yourself at the counter.
Operating Hours: 7:00 am – 12:00 am (Daily; short Friday break)
Address: The Harbour @ Austin Green, Jalan Mutiara Emas Utama, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor
Tel: 012-809 0786
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
3. Onn Kitchen (Kampung Bahru)
A Kampung Bahru institution, Onn Kitchen has built its name on hearty Indian-Muslim cooking that keeps the tables full from breakfast to late evening. The briyani is the order regulars point you to, rich and fragrant with tender meat, though the daily curry spread and the roti are just as reliable. It is a no-frills, honest sort of place where the food does the work, which is why it has racked up so many reviews. Note that it closes on Fridays, so plan your visit for another day. Easy to reach from the city centre and a solid pick when you want proper mamak comfort food.
Operating Hours: 7:00 am – 11:30 pm (Closed Friday)
Address: 29A, Jalan Tarom, Kampung Bahru, 80100 Johor Bahru, Johor
Tel: 019-799 9588
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
4. Restoran E&Y Sahul (Adda Heights)
When the craving strikes at an odd hour, E&Y Sahul in Adda Heights has you covered, because it never closes. This is the classic 24-hour mamak experience: roti canai and teh tarik at dawn, a full curry lunch, and mee goreng or maggi goreng deep into the night. The wide-open, canteen-style layout is built for crowds, making it a go-to for supper gatherings and post-match hangouts. It is not fancy, and it does not need to be, the appeal is dependable mamak staples served fast at any time of day. Keep it in your back pocket for those late-night JB hunger pangs.
Operating Hours: Open 24 hours (Daily)
Address: 119, Jln Adda 3/1, Adda Heights, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor
Tel: 07-361 7390
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
5. My Biryani Palace (Mount Austin)
The name tells you where to point your fork. My Biryani Palace in Mount Austin has earned a fierce following for its dum-style biryani, layered with long-grain rice and spice and served with the kind of gravy that has people going back for seconds. It leans a little more specialist than a general mamak, but the fundamentals are all here, generous plates, warm service, and hours that stretch to midnight for the supper crowd. It suits couples and small groups after something a cut above the everyday curry rice. If biryani is your love language, this is the JB address to save.
Operating Hours: 10:00 am – 12:00 am (Daily)
Address: G 02, Block B, Akademik Suite, Jalan Austin Heights Utama, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor
Tel: 011-1621 0059
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
6. Restoran Sirap Selasih (Taman Desa Rahmat)
Named after the rose-and-basil-seed drink that is a mamak classic, Sirap Selasih in Taman Desa Rahmat is a morning-to-afternoon favourite that nails the breakfast game. Think flaky roti canai, a good spread of curries, and of course a cold glass of sirap selasih to wash it all down. It draws a steady local crowd who treat it as their neighbourhood canteen, so the vibe is friendly and unhurried. Because it wraps up in the late afternoon, this is one for your breakfast or lunch plans rather than supper. A comfortable, no-fuss spot that does the everyday mamak staples properly.
Operating Hours: 7:00 am – 4:00 pm (Daily)
Address: 12, Jalan Kemajuan, Taman Desa Rahmat, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor
Tel: 012-738 1245
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
7. Restoran Habib (Mount Austin)
Habib is one of JB’s familiar mamak names, and the Mount Austin branch is the pick of the bunch for consistency and its round-the-clock hours. This is your dependable 24-hour stop for roti canai in the morning, a curry lunch, and tosai or nasi goreng at any hour after. The setting is roomy and casual, ideal for a big table of friends or a quick solo teh tarik while you catch the football on the screens. Because Habib has several outlets around town, always aim for this Mount Austin location for the experience regulars rate. Reliable, always open, and easy on the wallet.
Operating Hours: Open 24 hours (Daily)
Address: 1, Jalan Mutiara Emas 2A, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor
Tel: 07-351 7177
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
8. Restoran Al-Safa (Bandar Baru Uda)
Over on the western side of the city, Al-Safa in Bandar Baru Uda is the neighbourhood mamak that never sleeps. Open 24 hours, it is the sort of place UDA locals rely on for an early roti breakfast, a value-packed nasi campur lunch, and late-night mee goreng with friends. The spread is broad and the prices stay friendly, which keeps the tables turning all day and night. It has a lively social media following too, a sign of a mamak that has become a genuine community hangout rather than just a pit stop. If you are anywhere near Bandar Baru Uda, this is your all-hours anchor.
Operating Hours: Open 24 hours (Daily)
Address: 60, Jalan Padi Emas 2, Bandar Baru Uda, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor
Tel: Not listed
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
9. Restaurant Reaz Corner (Jalan Dhoby)
Right in the heart of JB’s old town on Jalan Dhoby, Reaz Corner is a slice of the city’s mamak heritage. This 24-hour corner shop has been a fixture for locals and travellers passing through the city centre, serving the full run of roti, curries, and pulled tea in a setting that feels refreshingly old-school. Its downtown spot makes it a natural stop before or after exploring the heritage streets, and the all-night hours suit the after-dark crowd. It is unpretentious and steeped in character, the kind of place that reminds you what a proper JB mamak is all about. A must-stop if you are wandering the old town.
Operating Hours: Open 24 hours (Daily)
Address: 23, Jalan Dhoby, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor
Tel: 013-744 0089
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
10. Nasi Kandar Seri Mutiara (1 Tebrau)
Rounding out the list, Nasi Kandar Seri Mutiara at 1 Tebrau brings 24-hour nasi kandar to the busy Tebrau stretch. It is a handy pick thanks to its mall-adjacent location and never-closing kitchen, so you can swing by for a curry-flooded plate whether it is midday or the middle of the night. The counter carries the usual generous line-up of fried chicken, seafood, and vegetable sides to pile onto your rice, and the space is comfortable enough for a relaxed group meal. For anyone shopping or working around Tebrau who wants dependable mamak fare at any hour, this one earns its place. Solid, convenient, and always on.
Operating Hours: Open 24 hours (Daily)
Address: A-01-12, Block A, 1 Tebrau, Jalan Tebrau, Kampung Setanggi, 80250 Johor Bahru, Johor
Tel: 016-704 7860
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
Johor Bahru does mamak the way it should be done: honest food, long hours, and a seat you never feel rushed out of. If you are chasing the city’s most-loved nasi kandar, Hijrah and Marwah are the heavyweights everyone talks about. For a late-night fix, the 24-hour crew of E&Y Sahul, Habib, Al-Safa, Reaz Corner, and Seri Mutiara have your supper cravings sorted whatever the hour. And for something a little more specialist, My Biryani Palace and Onn Kitchen reward a proper sit-down. Every spot here clears a 4.0 Google rating, so you can pick any of them with confidence.
Opening hours and menus do shift, so a quick call or a glance at Google before you set off never hurts, especially for the daytime-only spots. Now round up your crew, pick a corner, and pull up a chair, the teh tarik is waiting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which mamak in Johor Bahru is open 24 hours?
Several on this list never close, including Restoran E&Y Sahul in Adda Heights, Restoran Habib in Mount Austin, Restoran Al-Safa in Bandar Baru Uda, Restaurant Reaz Corner on Jalan Dhoby, and Nasi Kandar Seri Mutiara at 1 Tebrau. They are your best bets for a late-night or early-morning roti and teh tarik run.
Are mamak restaurants in Johor Bahru halal?
Mamak food comes from the Indian-Muslim community and these kitchens generally cater to Muslim diners, so halal is the norm. Certification can vary between outlets though, so if it is important to you, check the restaurant’s own page or ask the staff to confirm the latest status before you order.
Where can I get the best nasi kandar in Johor Bahru?
Nasi Kandar Hijrah in Taman Molek and Nasi Kandar Marwah in Mount Austin are the two most-reviewed nasi kandar spots in JB, both known for their banjir-style curry-flooded rice. My Biryani Palace in Mount Austin is the one to beat if biryani is what you are after.
How much does a meal at a JB mamak cost?
Mamak dining is famously wallet-friendly. A roti canai with a drink can cost just a few ringgit, while a full plate of nasi kandar with a few sides typically lands in the RM8 to RM15 range depending on your choice of meat and seafood. Prices vary by outlet, so budgets stretch a long way here.
Disclosure: This list was compiled by the team at My Weekend Plan after extensive research and shared opinions to suggest helpful recommendations for the public. The sequence of brands is in no particular order so if you have any other great suggestions too, please email us support@myweekendplan.com.my. For more information, kindly refer to our copyright, privacy & disclosure policy.
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