I’ll be honest yall, I’ve actually never heard of Mid Valley Mall until I went to JB 😬
After much nagging from my friends (and boss), I booked a GetGo car to JB and explored the mall to my heart's content. In the short span of one week, I’ve become a Mid Valley Master, nay, a PEAK Valley Master 😎 To honour this momentous occasion, I’m sharing the ten best eateries there for anyone looking to stuff themselves with good food.
01 • Ke Ren Lai
I can count on one hand the number of good Hakka restaurants I’ve been to, and Ke Ren Lai is one of those places. The meals here are really hearty and they hit the spot when I have cravings. Queues get really long during lunch hour, so come early if you want to escape the crowd and eat in peace 😌
🍽️ What I ate here: I had Leicha with Brown Rice (13.90RM/4.30SGD) and my sibling had Drunken Shrimp with Glass Noodles (27.90RM/9SGD). I really appreciated how their white and brown rice Leicha were the same price, since brown rice is often charged more at restaurants for being the healthier option 🥳
📍 Address: Lot TM-030, Third Floor Mezzanine, Persiaran Southkey 1, Southkey, 80150 Johor Bahru, Malaysia
⏰ Opening hours: Daily, 11am – 9pm
🍴Halal status: Not halal
🌐 Website: kerenlai.com.my
02 • Beauty In The Pot
This hotpot franchise has been accumulating fans worldwide with its famous healthy broths and exceptional customer service.
At Beauty In The Pot, you’re treated like a VIP from the moment you walk in. You barely have to lift a finger here, the staff takes care of it all. Food-wise, all of their soup bases are loaded with ingredients so nourishing, they’d make a nutritionist squeal with delight. To top it off, a single pot of their popular Beauty Collagen Broth only costs 46.90RM (14.50SGD). Who said eating healthy meant breaking the bank?
📍 Address: Lot F-027, Level 1, Persiaran Southkey 1, Southkey, 80150 Johor Bahru, Malaysia
⏰ Opening hours: Daily, 11.30am – 10pm
🍴Halal status: Not halal
🌐 Website: facebook.com/bitpjohor
03 • FUIYOH! It’s UNCLE ROGER
Missed out on the Uncle Roger hype? If you’re still FOMO-ing, you should consider going to Mid Valley Mall and eating at Johor’s first-ever Uncle Roger outlet. The signature Special Fry Rice (13.90RM+/4.30SGD+) features Uncle Roger’s Secret Sambal, and some say it's good enough to make you put your leg down from the chair 🤭 (IYKYK)
📍 Address: Lot LG-055, Lower Ground Floor, Persiaran Southkey 1, Southkey, 80150 Johor Bahru, Malaysia
⏰ Opening hours: Daily, 10.30am – 10pm
🍴Halal status: Halal
🌐 Website: facebook.com/fuiyohitsuncleroger
04 • Madam Kwan's
As the winner of Tourism Malaysia’s “Best Nasi Lemak” award, it’s no wonder that people continue to flock to Madam Kwan’s restaurant. Every dish here comes with ample portions of meat and vegetables, alongside a touch of TLC. If you’re looking for homely Malaysian cooking, this place has it all covered 💙
🍽️ What I ate here: I decided to forgo the famous Nasi Lemak with Curry Chicken (23.90RM/7.50SGD), and tried the Hokkien Mee (25.90RM++/8SGD++) with a side of crispy Lemon Chicken (29.90RM++/9.50SGD++). Both dishes were, of course, amazing, but I wished the Hokkien Mee had more wok hei fragrance 🥺
📍 Address: Lot F-052, First Floor, Persiaran Southkey 1, Southkey, 80150 Johor Bahru, Malaysia
⏰ Opening hours: Daily, 11am – 10.30pm
🍴Halal status: Halal
🌐 Website: madamkwans.com.my
05 • KyoChon 1991
This might seem strange to hear, but fried chicken can be healthy. Don’t believe me? Take it up with KyoChon 1991, a franchise that aims to make fried food healthy by only using premium ingredients in its dishes.
The chickens used in the restaurant are antibiotic- and hormone-free, fried with less oil in a thinner batter to prevent greasy textures. KyoChon’s sauces are also 100% natural with zero MSG, so you won’t have to worry about your face bloating from excessive salt. Try their 10pc Boneless Kyochon Mix Series (32.90RM/10.30SGD), or their Boneless Chicken Bibimbap (25RM/8SGD).
📍 Address: Lot LG-048, Lower Ground Floor, Persiaran Southkey 1, Kota Southkey, 80150 Johor Bahru, Malaysia
⏰ Opening hours: Daily, 10am – 10pm
🍴Halal status: Halal
🌐 Website: kyochon.com.my
06 • Antipodean
Cafés are everywhere, but when do you ever get the chance to sip coffee at an internationally recognised roastery?
In 2025, Antipodean was awarded the titles: “Asia’s Best Café” and the “Best Coffee Roastery in Malaysia” at the International Restaurant Awards. If you’re interested, come and sample their renowned espressos (8RM/2.50SGD) and nibble on some Avocado Toast with Smoked Salmon (35RM/11SGD). They have an extremely extensive menu, so come with an empty stomach to make the most of your experience.
📍 Address: Lot G-072, Ground Floor, Persiaran Southkey 1, Southkey, Johor 80150, Malaysia
⏰ Opening hours: Daily, 8am – 10pm
🍴Halal status: Not halal
🌐 Website: antipodeancoffee.com.my
07 • VERRONA HILLS
I saw a bunch of people walking around the mall with fashionable orange bags marked ‘VERONNA’, so I assumed it came from a clothing store, but I was so wrong.
The Veronna brand might have the vibe of a luxury clothing brand, but they’re actually just an elegant bakery with premium-quality baked goods. Counter service moves slowly because of the crowd, but it's worth it for freshly-made goodies. Try their savoury Cheese Stick (4.90RM/1.50SGD), or their Strawberry Danish if you have a sweet tooth (9.90RM/3SGD).
📍 Address: LG-061A, Lower Ground Floor, Persiaran Southkey 1, Southkey, 80150 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Malaysia
⏰ Opening hours: Daily, 9.30am – 10pm
🍴Halal status: Not halal
🌐 Website: facebook.com/verronahills
08 • dipndip
Created by 2 friends who love chocolate, dipndip is a love letter to sweets enthusiasts everywhere. Everything at this store, from its desserts to its beverages, is crafted with the finest chocolate available. Dipndip is a castle of sugary goodness that will have you feeling like Hansel and Gretel (without the scary child-eating witch, of course) 🍫
🍽️ What I ate here: I had one of the strangest desserts I’ve ever had in my life: a Lotus Fettuccine Crepe (36RM/11.20SGD). Instead of regular fettuccine, they used crepes that had been sliced into ribbons to mimic pasta strands. I really wasn’t expecting it to taste as good as it did 😭
📍 Address: Lot G-017, Ground Floor, Jalan Bakar Batu, Southkey, 80150 Johor Bahru, Malaysia
⏰ Opening hours: Daily, 8am – 10pm
🍴Halal status: Halal
🌐 Website: dipndip.com.my
09 • Tonkatsu by Ma Maison
I love tonkatsu, but there are times when I don’t want to fork over $25SGD+ for authentic Japanese food. Tonkatsu by Ma Maison changed the game for me by being one of the most value-for-money Japanese restaurants I’ve been to.
For just 56.70RM (17.50SGD), you get: a deep-fried pork loin, homemade curry, cabbage sides, AND a refillable miso soup. You definitely can’t get that in Singapore for the same price. If tonkatsu isn't your thing, their mouth-watering Curry Udon (23RM/7SGD) might just be the thing to convince you to drive across the border ASAP.
📍 Address: Lot G-018, Ground Floor, Persiaran Southkey 1, Southkey, 80150 Johor Bahru, Malaysia
⏰ Opening hours: Daily, 10am – 10pm
🍴Halal status: Not halal
🌐 Website: mamaison.com.my
10 • Mr Dakgalbi Restaurant
The K-Wave is still going strong in JB, and it doesn’t look like it's dying down anytime soon. Mr Dakgalbi continues to ride this hype train with its selection of budget- and halal-friendly Korean meals. I would like to personally give a big saranghae to whoever decided to include Octopus Dakgalbi (79RM/24.50SGD) to the menu, because it looks sooo good 🥰🫰
🍽️ What I ate here: Unfortunately I was really full today, so my sibling and I shared a piping hot plate of Tteokbokki (19.90RM/6SGD). Since the side meal was so good, we’re aiming for the popular Cheese Falls Dakgalbi set (79RM/24.50SGD) the next time we’re here.
📍 Address: Lot TM-031, Third Floor Mezzanine, Kota Southkey, 80150 Johor Bahru, Malaysia
⏰ Opening hours: Daily, 11am – 10pm
🍴Halal status: Halal
🌐 Website: instagram.com/mr.dakgalbi
(Featured photo: Mid Valley Southkey)
