People visiting Mount Austin Nanyang Street for the first time often face the same small problem — there are simply too many places to eat. Restaurants, cafés, dessert shops and small eateries line the street, and walking around only makes the decision harder. Many people just walk one round, look for shops with more customers, or follow the smell of food coming from the kitchen.After spending time here, it becomes clear that the crowd didn’t appear overnight. These places slowly became part of the area’s daily lifestyle. So after a few visits and meals around this street, I decided to put together a simple guide of Top 5 Nanyang Street Foods based on real dining experiences and observations.
Top 1 (ShuDaXia Hotpot 蜀大侠火锅)
For groups of friends or colleagues after work, hotpot is usually the easiest dinner plan. When you walk into ShuDaXia, most tables are already filled with ingredients waiting to be cooked. The signature butter mala soup base arrives bright red and aromatic. It smells strong, but the taste is not overly spicy or dry. As the meat cooks in the soup, the flavor slowly becomes richer.
The beef slices are cut quite large, tender and juicy when cooked. One popular side dish here is the brown sugar glutinous rice cake. The outside is lightly crispy and golden, while the inside stays soft and chewy with a gentle sweetness. The restaurant uses warm lighting and wooden tables, giving the space a comfortable atmosphere. In the evenings you’ll usually see groups of friends chatting while cooking their food together.
Address: ：No 9, 11, 15, Jalan Austin Heights 7/8, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim
Opening Hours: 12:00AM-12:00PM
Phone: +60128825858
Top 2 (Wu Gu Yu Fen 五谷渔粉)
Sometimes a simple bowl of hot noodle soup is already enough for a satisfying meal. Wu Gu Yu Fen is known for its fish soup noodles. The broth looks clear, but it carries a naturally sweet flavor that feels like it has been slowly cooked with fish bones.
The fish slices are thick and fresh, soft when you bite into them, and you can still feel the natural texture of the fish. The noodles absorb the soup and become soft without turning mushy. Adding a bit of fried garlic and spring onion makes the soup even more fragrant. During lunchtime, you’ll often see nearby office workers sitting down quietly for a quick meal. Some people scroll their phones while eating, others slowly enjoy the soup before heading back to work.
Address: ：31, Jln Austin Height 7/5, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim
Opening Hours: 11:00AM-12:00M
Phone: +60103091359
Top 3 (Da Napoli Cafe)
If you are looking for a place to sit longer and have coffee with friends, Da Napoli is one of the cafés people often mention in this area. Their traditional charcoal-baked pizza has a slightly smoky aroma. The crust edges are lightly crispy, while the center stays soft and chewy.
When the cheese melts, it stretches nicely with each slice. The Aglio Olio pasta has a strong garlic fragrance. The garlic slices are lightly golden and slightly crispy, while the pasta remains firm and smooth. The café has large windows that allow natural light to fill the space during the day. Tables are spaced comfortably apart, so it’s common to see people working on laptops or friends chatting over coffee.
Address: 地址：26, Jln Austin Height 7/10, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim
Opening Hours: 12:00PM-11:00PM
Phone: +60182622235
Top 4 (Nanyang Old Street Kway Teow Kia 南洋老街粿条仔)
Some diners prefer traditional and simple comfort food. A bowl of kway teow kia served hot with light steam rising from the soup can feel very satisfying. The rice sheets are smooth and slightly springy, holding their shape well when picked up with chopsticks.
The soup broth tastes clear and lightly sweet, with hints of pepper and garlic. The handmade flour dumplings are soft and silky rather than thick or heavy. During lunch hours, the shop can get quite busy, and sometimes you may need to wait for a table. Many customers finish their meal with a cup of kopi and spend a few more minutes chatting before leaving.
Address: ：35, Jln Austin Height 7/3, Taman Austin Heights, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim
Opening Hours: 8AM-10PM,monday closed
Phone: +60143122002
Top 5 (Ben Gong’s Tea & Dessert 本宫的茶)
After dinner, many people still feel like having something sweet. Dessert shops naturally become the next stop. One of the popular items here is the Da Hong Pao snow ice. The ice is shaved very finely, almost like soft threads of ice. It melts gently in the mouth with a light tea aroma.
The sweetness is balanced, and the tea flavor leaves a mild aftertaste. Their milk tea also has a stronger tea fragrance compared to many typical bubble tea drinks. The shop uses soft lighting and has a relaxed atmosphere in the evening. People usually sit here after dinner, ordering drinks or desserts while chatting casually with friends.
Address:地址：38-G, Jalan Austin Heights 7/8, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim
Opening Hours: 11:00AM-1:00PM(mon-wed),11:00AM-11:55PM(Thu-sun)
Phone: 073510581
