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 Eat: Kuey Tiau Leng / Ah Leng Fried Kuey Tiau (笨珍古早味亞龙黑面) @ Pontian Kechil

Ah Leng Fried Kuey Tiau, is an iconic food stall in Pontian, is famous for its old-school fried kway teow, also known as “black noodle” (黑面).
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 Eat: Pontian Coffee 9 (笨珍亚九咖啡) Kopitiam @ Pontian Kechil

Pontian Coffee 9, a Nanyang kopitiam, is popular for its Nanyang black coffee. Aside from dining in, their self-roasted coffee products are for sale too.
Pontian Cafe: Yearn Cafe Asian Delights @ Pontian Kechil

Yearn Cafe is a hidden gem for homemade cakes and Asian delights — Japanese-style rice bowls, Chinese-style sour-spicy dishes, baguettes and Chinese dumplings.
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 Noodle House (亚泉面店) Pontian Wanton Noodle @ Pontian Kechil

Kedai Mee Ah Chuan is one of the eateries in Pontian that offers Pontian-style tomato-sauce wanton noodle, run by daughters of the creator of the dish.
Pontian Eat: Tong Heng / Dongxing Bak Kut Teh (东兴肉骨茶) @ Pekan Nanas

Tong Heng / Dongxing Bak Kut Teh serves their claypot bak kut teh in the morning. Generous amount of ingredients, flavourful soup and cheaper than in JB.
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 Eat: Mu Wu Kitchen (小木屋.厨房) @ Pontian Kechil

Mu Wu Kitchen serves light meals with options for chicken chop, fish steak or popcorn chicken with either rice, dry noodle or mala flavour.