Johor Eats & Buys: Pontian & Pekan Nanas (柔佛.笨珍)

14 June 2025

Pontian District is located to the west of Johor Bahru, in Johor State of Malaysia, and encompasses Pontian Kechil (capital town of Pontian), Kukup Fishing Village (a popular holiday destination) and Pekan Nanas (or “Pineapple Town”, the second largest town of Pontian). Pontian Kechil is just 1.5 hours from Johor Bahru city centre by public buses.

The district is well-known for its agricultural produces, especially pineapples, and affordable fresh seafood in villages like Kukup. Beyond seafood, Pontian is famous for its distinct style of wanton noodles, diverse range of local eats and traditional Malay and Bugis (an ethnic group originating from South Sulawesi, Indonesia) culinary heritage. It is a place to hunt for hidden gems and experience back-to-basic rural lifestyle.

Food Places

Below is a list of food places, cafes and bakeries that I/we have visited in Pontian and Pekan Nanas.

Johor Bahru Eat: The Chicken Rice Shop @ JB City Square

The Chicken Rice Shop offers Hainanese chicken rice using a recipe passed down through generations. There are roasted, soy sauce, honey barbecued and grilled styles too.
Pontian Buy: Chai Huat Heng (再发兴饼家) Traditional Pastries @ Pontian Kechil

Chai Huat Heng (再发兴饼家), a family-run traditional bakery, makes a wide varieties of Chinese traditional pastries, wedding cakes, longevity buns, mooncakes, etc.
Pontian Buy: The Cookies Factory @ Pontian Kechil

The Cookies Factory, a premium cookies and biscuit manufacturer, offers a wide range of colourful cookies, and mooncakes, that are great as gifts or as party treats.
Pontian Eat: Ah Chuan (亚泉面店) Pontian Wanton Noodle @ Pontian Kechil

Kedai Mee Ah Chuan is one of the eateries in Pontian that offers Pontian-invented tomato-sauce wanton noodle. Ah Chuan has been offering it since 1948.
Pontian Eats: Pontian Lau Pasar (笨珍老巴刹) @ Pontian Kechil

Besides seafood restaurants in the evening, Pontian Lau Pasar is the next better option to go for cheap local food and experience how the locals dine.
Pontian Drink: Air Nira Kelapa (Coconut Wine) & Diamond Coconuts @ Pontian Kechil

The place that offers air nira kelapa (椰花酒), or local coconut wine / toddy, and diamond coconuts for sales is near Pasar Awam Pontian. Whatsapp / call before going.
Pontian Buy: Pontian Fish Market Fresh Seafood @ Pontian Kechil

Be it to buy fresh seafood to bring home or to have a sumptuous seafood lunch at a cook-on-behalf stall, visit Pontian Fish Market.
Pontian Eat: Kheng Guan Hiong (琼源香咖啡店) @ Pontian Kechil

Kheng Guan Hiong Coffeeshop is well-known for its self-roasted traditional coffee and charcoal-grilled toasts. Take their coffee home to self-brew.
Pontian Eat: Ah Huat Kitchen (亚发代炒) Cook-on-Behalf @ Pontian Kechil

Ah Huat Kitchen, located opposite Pontian Fish Market, is a nice spot to have your fresh seafood cooked on your behalf — you buy, Ah Huat cook and you enjoy
Pontian Eat: Kedai Mee Sin Kee (新記笨珍雲吞麵) Pontian Wanton Noodle @ Pontian Kechil

Kedai Mee Sin Kee is one of the pioneers of Pontian-style wanton noodle, using tomato ketchup as sauce. Sin Kee invented black pepper wanton mee too.