Batu Pahat food, Kluang and Muar: a Johor food trip by car
Written and reviewed by the Radiant VEP Solutions team.
A food trip past JB for a Singapore driver: what Batu Pahat, Kluang and Muar are each known for, which town suits a day or a night away, the E2 exits, PLUS tolls in ringgit, parking where a source states it, and halal notes.
In this article
Choose by the trip. Batu Pahat food makes the fullest day out: briyani, mee racun, asam pedas and kopitiam breakfasts, off the E2 at Ayer Hitam. Kluang shares that exit and fits a morning of coffee and charcoal toast. Muar is further up, at Pagoh, and has enough beyond its mee bandung and asam pedas to fill a night away.
PLUS's calculator charged a car RM11.55 from Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) to Ayer Hitam on 2 November 2026, or RM16.46 from Tanjung Kupang on the Tuas side. Pagoh cost RM18.52 or RM23.35. Malaysia's RM20 road charge comes on top.
The food list starts from Tourism Johor's district maps, uploaded in October 2025, and adds named reports from the last two years. We haven't eaten at these places, and the list isn't a ranking. Halal status appears only where a source states it. Opening hours and menu prices go stale, so we left them out.
Key takeaways
- Ayer Hitam, exit 244, reaches both Batu Pahat and Kluang on Federal Route 50. Pagoh, exit 238, is the first of three exits that list Muar.
- Federal Route 5 links Batu Pahat and Muar through Parit Jawa, so one trip can enter at Ayer Hitam and come home from Muar.
- Tourism Malaysia says Muar's river cruise runs at weekends or in school holidays, which settles when to go if you want it.
- A Tourism Johor trip report had people queuing for tables at Kluang Rail Coffee at 9am, so go early.
- Street parking runs on different apps: ParkMax@Johor in Muar and Setel in Kluang. We couldn't confirm Batu Pahat's, or whether either app takes a Singapore plate.
Driving in for the first time? We get your VEP ready
WhatsApp us a photo of the log card. We apply on vep.jpj.gov.my and VEPAMS, and fit your headlight tag in JB or at our Bishan office.
Which town suits which trip
| Town | Suits | Known for | E2 exit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batu Pahat | A day trip built around lunch | Nasi briyani gam, mee racun, asam pedas, wantan mee | Ayer Hitam |
| Kluang | A morning, or breakfast before Batu Pahat | Kluang coffee, charcoal toast, half-boiled eggs | Ayer Hitam |
| Muar | A night away, or a stop on a Melaka trip | Mee bandung, asam pedas, otak-otak, Kopi 434, mee siput | Pagoh |
The pairing is our call, and distance is the reason for it. Wikipedia's exit table puts Ayer Hitam at KM80 and Pagoh at KM141.1, so Muar's exit sits about 61km further up the expressway, with a side road still to go.
Ummi Around Malaysia's March 2026 guide allows 2.5 to 4-plus hours from Singapore to Batu Pahat, with immigration and traffic making up the difference. We found no named driving time for Kluang or Muar, so read your map on the day.
Two towns in one trip
Route 50 starts in Batu Pahat and passes the Ayer Hitam interchange on its way to Kluang, so breakfast in Kluang and lunch in Batu Pahat means driving past your exit once. Batu Pahat to Muar runs on Federal Route 5 through Parit Jawa, where Tourism Johor points you for asam pedas. The same road then crosses the Sultan Ismail Bridge out of Muar towards Melaka, which makes Muar a natural stop on that longer drive.
Expressway exits and tolls
Tuas takes the Second Link Expressway to Senai North. Woodlands takes the Eastern Dispersal Link to Pandan, then north past Kempas and Skudai. Both land on the E2, and our Woodlands or Tuas guide compares them. These are Class 1 fares from PLUS's calculator, read on 2 November 2026. Each pair gave the same fare in both directions.
| Exit | KM | Road and town | From BSI | From Tanjung Kupang |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 247 Simpang Renggam | 58.6 | Simpang Renggam town, then the Renggam road to Kluang | RM9.17 | RM14.09 |
| 244 Ayer Hitam | 80.0 | Route 50 to Batu Pahat or Kluang | RM11.55 | RM16.46 |
| 242 Yong Peng Selatan | 95.0 | Route 1, with Batu Pahat on the exit list | RM13.19 | RM18.10 |
| 241 Yong Peng Utara | 99.9 | Route 24 to Muar | RM13.77 | RM18.60 |
| 238 Pagoh | 141.1 | J32 through Panchor to Muar | RM18.52 | RM23.35 |
| 236 Bukit Gambir | 156.7 | J33 through Sungai Mati to Muar | RM20.24 | RM25.07 |
| 235 Tangkak | 169.6 | Route 23 to Muar | RM21.47 | RM26.30 |
A return to Ayer Hitam through Woodlands comes to RM43.10 with the road charge, plus S$0.80 leaving Singapore. Through Tuas it's RM52.92, plus S$2.10 each way. For Pagoh, the ringgit totals are RM57.04 and RM66.70. PLUS's FAQ lists the Touch 'n Go card and SmartTAG among its toll payments, so carry the card.
Which exit for Muar
Pagoh comes first of the three that list Muar, and it's the cheapest. Tangkak costs RM2.95 more, and PLUS has traffic diverted between Bukit Gambir and Tangkak going north, KM165.35 to KM166.60, until 31 December 2026.
Yong Peng Utara saves RM4.75 against Pagoh, because you leave the expressway about 41km sooner. Route 24 is 65.31km from there to Muar's Bentayan Roundabout, on Wikipedia's figure, and it passes Parit Sulong on the way.
Stops on the E2
Going north, the Machap R&R comes about 5km before the Ayer Hitam exit, and Wikipedia's table lists Petronas and Shell there. Muar drivers have the Pagoh R&Rs as well. Puyuh Best, the quail stop in Simpang Renggam, is the one reason to use exit 247.
Batu Pahat food
Tourism Johor's map gives the town a foodie trail. Ummi Around Malaysia's guide, updated on 31 March 2026, adds the Chinese shops it leaves out.
Briyani and mutton curry
Tourism Malaysia's Johor guide says nasi briyani gam comes from Batu Pahat. The rice and meat are sealed in a pot with starch, so the juices go into the grains. Tourism Johor names three places to compare: Nasi Beriani Mohd Shah, BP Bariani Power at 18 Jalan Tukas 2 in Taman Soga, and Nasi Pakistan No. 1 for a Pakistani-style plate. Kari Kambing 40 Hari is the thick mutton curry on the same map.
Mee racun
The name means poison noodles, and nothing in it is. Tourism Johor calls the dish native to Batu Pahat and points to the Taman Sri Jaya stall for a spicy tomato gravy with beef bone marrow. An older Tourism Johor page prefers Mee Racun 3G near the Tabung Haji building, which hands you a straw for the marrow and calls it goat. That page gives two street names, Jalan Timah Sari and Jalan Timah Hitam, so check the map pin.
Asam pedas and soup
Asam Pedas Kayu Api cooks over a wood fire, says Tourism Johor, and Ummi lists Asam Pedas Mak Limah too. For soup, Gaya Travel dates Sitam Sup Corner to the 1970s in a piece reposted on Tourism Johor's site. Order the tongue, the tail or the gearbox.
Kopitiam breakfast on Jalan Bukit Pasir
iPackTravel's June 2025 post puts four on this one road: Macau Kopitiam, where the writer had thick toast, half-boiled egg and a pork cutlet bun in the air-conditioned section, plus Han Kee Cake and Cafe, Local Aroma Cafe and Tsim Sha Tsui Kopitiam, which was shut that day. GN Food and Biscuits is the writer's stop for Teochew la piah and Hokkien hiong peah to take home. Mong Cafe and Bakery in Taman Banang is upstairs from a religious goods shop, with yam drinks and chiffon cake.
Noodles, hawkers and cendol
- Ah See Wan Tan Mee for handmade wanton mee.
- Soon Lai Kway Chap for kway chap.
- Riverside Hai Kee Hawker Center when the car wants different things.
- Swee Kee Tonic Soup for herbal soups and curry fish head.
- Akbar Cendol and B.P. Cendol Pak 'O' for afters.
- Kafe Kiri Kanan for nasi goreng, mee and asam fish.
All six lines come from Ummi's list.
Between meals
Tourism Johor's list starts at Dataran Penggaram, the town square with the chisel and rock sculpture, and its murals run along Jalan Ibrahim, Kampung Sateh and Jalan Rotan Utama. Old Street Commercial Centre has cafes in restored shophouses. If you'd rather sit, Yok BP Cruise leaves from a jetty on Jalan Shahbandar, or drive about 10km south to Pantai Minyak Beku.
Two stops sit closer to the expressway: Arena Warna in Ayer Hitam, for ceramics and dodol, and the 115-metre Fortune Dragon tunnel in Yong Peng, which you walk through.
Kluang food
Kluang Rail Coffee
It started in 1938 as a canteen for British soldiers at the railway station. Tourism Johor lists traditional toast, half-boiled eggs and coffee, and its older page adds the charcoal grill. A new station opened beside it on 3 December 2024, and Rail Travel Station reported the shop staying put in the old building. Bernama, in September 2025, gave the walk from the station as about 200 metres.
Railway Assets Corporation counts 11 branches, so set your map to Jalan Station if you want the original. A Tourism Johor trip report from July 2025 says people were queuing for tables by 9am.
Coffee to take home
Tourism Johor's trip report calls Kluang a coffee haven, with several local brands made there. Kluang Coffee Cap Televisyen has its factory and shop on Jalan Besar in Kampung Yap Tau Sah, and the name dates from the 1960s, when a television set was a household dream.
Other Kluang stops
- Restoran Bawah Kolong, under a building, for nasi lemak and roti canai.
- Old Alley Kluang, a backlane cafe for coffee and desserts.
- Kelypojawani Event Cafe for drinks and local-fusion plates.
- Nasi Briani Warisan Kluang, the briyani on that same trip.
- Puyuh Best in Simpang Renggam for crisp fried quail.
- Uptown Simpang Renggam, a weekend evening market with food stalls.
For the rest of the morning, Tourism Johor's map shows street art around the town and Rumah Seni Kluang, an arts space with exhibitions. Gunung Lambak, the hill just outside town, has marked and shaded trails if you want to walk the toast off.
Muar food
Mee bandung and satay
Tourism Johor credits Mee Bandung Abu Bakar Hanipah on Jalan Abdullah with serving the dish since 1930. An older Tourism Johor page spells it Hanifah. iPackTravel's day-trip post, updated in May 2025, finds the stall inside Wah San Kopitiam, with beef satay as well, and Bateriku's December 2025 guide says you can take the paste home.
Satay counts as breakfast here, and Tourism Malaysia's 2021 media trip started a morning with it. The Iskandarian names Satay Warisan and Satay Dhuha for lontong satay in its December 2024 report on a Johor tourism trip.
Kopi 434
Sai Kee opened in 1953. Its address is 121 Jalan Maharani, opposite the Bentayan bus terminal, and 434 was the shop's old phone number. M'sia Food and Travel's July 2025 piece recommends the Elephant bean coffee, Mee Bandung 434 and nasi lemak with otak-otak, and warns of a lunchtime wait. Sources disagree on which days it opens, so check before you plan around it.
Otak-otak and Glutton Street
Jalan Haji Abu is the street iPackTravel calls Glutton Street, with stalls for satay, wanton noodles and otak-otak, and a coffee shop at each end where you can sit. The same writer's April 2025 post describes a Thursday at Muar Food Street: wanton and satay stalls shut, mostly otak-otak and iced drinks on sale, and Hang Kee open for fish otak-otak. Don't count on a weekday.
Asam pedas
Tourism Johor sends you to Parit Jawa, naming Restaurant Pak Daud, Mak Pon and Pak Yahya, and to the Jalan Junid stall for fish and beef versions. The Iskandarian adds Asam Pedas JJ and Warung Kilat.
Dinner
Medan Ikan Bakar Sabak Awor is an open-air food court by the river, about seven stalls of grilled fish. Muar Soup House on Jalan Sisi does mamak-style mutton, beef bone and oxtail soup, and Tourism Johor rates it as a night-time go-to. The Iskandarian ties rojak petis to Tanjung Emas.
Breakfast, snacks and cafes
Kedai Kopi Al Saeed is the vintage shop for nasi lemak and lontong kering. iPackTravel ate at Sam Kee Kopitiam in Taman Sri Tanjung, for Elephant bean kopi-O and corn buns, and lists mee siput at Seremban Siew Pow in the old town. Mee siput is a crisp fried spiral snack, and Tourism Malaysia counts it among Muar's signature foods. Libta Coffee covers specialty coffee in town, and Tomisstan Cafe in Parit Pechah has the sea view.
Things to do in Muar
This comes from Tourism Johor's Muar map and Tourism Malaysia's Muar feature. It isn't ranked.
| Place | What you do there |
|---|---|
| Muar River Cruise | A 30-minute boat ride from the Tanjung Emas jetty, weekends or school holidays |
| Dataran Tanjung Emas | Walk the riverfront at the estuary |
| Masjid Jamek Sultan Ibrahim | See a riverside mosque completed in 1930, Victorian and Islamic in style |
| Maharani Mural Lane | Walk a narrow backlane of murals on Johor's heritage |
| Muar Clock Tower and Sultan Ismail Bridge | Two landmarks facing each other, and the tower is lit in the evening |
| Muar Art Gallery | Look at rattan furniture, then taste local coffee at the cafe |
| Butik Songkok Masood Hussin | Buy a handmade songkok from a boutique dating to 1945 |
| Nasuha Herbs and Spice Farm, Pagoh | Take a guided garden tour in Pagoh, with a restaurant on site |
| Gersik Hot Spring | Natural pools of 50C to 70C on Tourism Johor's figure, and a separate children's pool |
| Galeri Darurat Bukit Kepong | Read about the 1950 police stand in the Malayan Emergency |
| Pantai Leka | Watch birds at a fishing village beach, early morning |
Parking near the old town
Nothing we read names a car park at Tanjung Emas or the mural lanes. iPackTravel covered the old town on foot from the Bentayan terminal, and Kopi 434 is opposite that terminal, so park once and walk.
Where to park in each town
Only a few sources state parking. This is all we could tie to a name.
| Town | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Muar | ParkMax@Johor is the only street parking app for Muar Municipal Council since 1 June 2026 | The Iskandarian, 5 June 2026 |
| Kluang | Street parking is paid in the Setel app, under Kluang Town. Chargeable Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm, free on Sundays and public holidays | Kluang Municipal Council; Setel help page, undated |
| Kluang | Ample parking at the new railway station, beside the old building that holds Kluang Rail Coffee | Rail Travel Station, 4 December 2024 |
| Batu Pahat | Parking spots around BP Bariani Power | Tourism Malaysia, undated |
| Batu Pahat | Free parking at Hotel Pintar, Pelican Hotel and Pinetree Hotel, and a car park at Maple Lodge | Ummi Around Malaysia, 25 March 2026 |
Batu Pahat isn't on The Iskandarian's ParkMax list, and we found no 2026 source for its street parking app, so go by the signboard.
Nothing says whether ParkMax@Johor or Setel accepts a Singapore plate. Try adding your car in each app at home, because a refusal is better found on the sofa than at the bay. If one won't take it, use a hotel or mall car park rather than leave the bay unpaid.
Halal status by place
This repeats what each source says. Muslim-owned and halal-certified are different claims, so ask at the counter if it matters to you. Ummi warns that not everything on her Batu Pahat list is halal, and every place missing from this table has no statement we could find.
| Place | What the source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| BP Bariani Power, Batu Pahat | Muslim-owned | Tourism Malaysia, undated |
| Kafe Kiri Kanan, Batu Pahat | Halal cafe | Ummi Around Malaysia, March 2026 |
| Kopi 434, Muar | Halal | M'sia Food and Travel, July 2025 |
| Kluang Rail Coffee | The brand holds halal certification from Singapore, with no outlet named | Railway Assets Corporation, page updated 31 October 2026 |
Staying overnight
Tourism Johor's maps list these, and we haven't stayed at any of them. For Muar, the river cruise timing makes a Saturday night the obvious one.
- Muar town: PPT Muar and Container Hotel on Jalan Bakri, Sabak Awor Resort by the river, MUO Resort on Jalan Abdul Rahman.
- Muar villages: Desa Keroma Eco Resort at Parit Keroma, Desastay Santai D'Sawah among the paddy fields at Semerah.
- Batu Pahat: Villa Kemboja Homestay at Kampung Peserai Pantai, which states plenty of guest parking, and Lover Bridge Resort at Segenting.
- Kluang: Kluang Container Hotel on Jalan 2, Taman Bersatu, and Te'Mola Gunung Lambak Resort at the foot of the hill.
What the crossing needs
LTA wants the tank at least three-quarters full leaving Singapore, a stored-value card with enough for the toll, and printed copies of your certificate of insurance and road tax validity. The checkpoints have no top-up machines. You also need a Touch 'n Go card with money on it: PLUS's plazas take it, and JPJ's FAQ says the road charge is paid by that card or the eWallet app. ICA's MyICA app makes the QR code for immigration. The Causeway checklist has the rest.
Look at the traffic cameras before choosing Tuas: ICA said in August 2026 that parts of its departure car zones would close in phases until late 2027, The Star reported. The JB traffic guide covers the timing.
On the way home, fill up with RON97 only. RON95 is barred to foreign-registered cars, and since 1 April 2026 the driver can be charged as well as the station, as our petrol guide sets out.
Frequently asked questions
What is Batu Pahat food known for?
Tourism Malaysia says nasi briyani gam comes from Batu Pahat, and Tourism Johor calls mee racun native to the town. Asam pedas, mutton curry and handmade wanton mee round out the list.
Which expressway exit do I use for Batu Pahat?
Ayer Hitam, exit 244, then Route 50 west. PLUS's calculator charged a car RM11.55 from BSI or RM16.46 from Tanjung Kupang on 2 November 2026.
What is Kluang food known for?
Coffee and toast. Kluang Rail Coffee has served toast, half-boiled eggs and coffee since 1938, and Kluang Coffee Cap Televisyen sells its own blend from a factory shop on Jalan Besar.
What are the best things to do in Muar?
We haven't ranked them. Tourism Johor lists the 30-minute river cruise from Tanjung Emas, Masjid Jamek Sultan Ibrahim, Maharani Mural Lane and Gersik Hot Spring, and Muar's food fills the gaps between them.
Is Muar or Batu Pahat better for a day trip from Singapore?
Batu Pahat, on distance. Its exit is at KM80 on the E2 against KM141.1 for Muar's Pagoh exit, and the toll is lower. Muar has more to fill a second day.
Is Kluang Rail Coffee halal?
Railway Assets Corporation says the brand holds halal certification from Singapore, without naming an outlet. Ask at the counter if it matters to you.
Sources
- PLUS: Toll fare calculator, Class 1, BSI and Tanjung Kupang to seven Johor exits, both directions (checked 2 November 2026)
- PLUS: Our expressways, Second Link and Senai North
- PLUS: Our facilities, R&R list (read 2 November 2026)
- PLUS: Machap R&R, northbound
- PLUS: Pagoh R&R, northbound
- PLUS: Pagoh R&R, southbound
- PLUS: FAQs, accepted toll payment methods
- PLUS: Media statement, traffic diversion KM165.35 to KM166.60 between Bukit Gambir and Tangkak, northbound (17 September 2026)
- LTA OneMotoring: Vehicles registered in Singapore, tolls, tank rule and what to carry (read 2 November 2026)
- ICA: QR code for immigration clearance at land checkpoints
- JPJ FAQ: road charge per entry and how it is paid (read 2 November 2026)
- The Straits Times, republished by The Star: Car lane closures at Tuas Checkpoint from Sept 1 (26 August 2026)
- Bernama: Enforcement of RON95 on foreign vehicles starts April 1 (26 March 2026)
- CNA: Driver of Singapore-registered car arrested in Johor over RON95 (11 April 2026)
- Tourism Johor: Fun map of Batu Pahat, foodie trail, places of interest and stays (uploaded October 2025)
- Tourism Johor: Fun map of Muar, must-see spots, places to dine and stays (uploaded October 2025)
- Tourism Johor: Fun map of Kluang, foodie trail and stays (uploaded October 2025)
- Tourism Johor: Kluang Rail Coffee, with Kluang Coffee Television Brand and Kopi 434 addresses
- Tourism Johor: Kluang district page, Television Brand Kluang Coffee
- Tourism Johor: Naik kereta api, jelajah Segamat dan Kluang (23 July 2025)
- Tourism Johor: Kopi 434
- Tourism Johor: Mee Bandung Abu Bakar Hanifah
- Tourism Johor: Muar district page, Mee Siput Muar
- Tourism Johor: Mee Racun 3G, Batu Pahat
- Tourism Johor: Sitam Sup Corner, reposting Gaya Travel
- Tourism Malaysia: Malaysia Travel Guide, Johor, nasi briyani gam
- Tourism Malaysia: 12 local eats in Johor, BP Bariani Power and its parking
- Tourism Malaysia: Exploring arts and culture in Muar, river cruise and Muar Art Gallery
- Tourism Malaysia: Program Ekspresi Media, Southern Hidden Gem, media trip to Muar (26 November 2021)
- Railway Assets Corporation: Kluang Rails Coffee, branches and halal certification (updated 31 October 2026)
- Bernama, in The Star: Kluang's popularity soars with new ETS3 service (16 September 2025)
- Rail Travel Station: New Kluang railway station opens on 3 December 2024 (4 December 2024)
- Kluang Municipal Council: Parking payment using the Setel application (updated 2 November 2026)
- Setel: Parking rules for Majlis Perbandaran Kluang (read 2 November 2026)
- The Iskandarian: MBJB extends grace period to December 2026, councils on ParkMax@Johor (5 June 2026)
- The Iskandarian: More of Muar, Johor to know and love (27 December 2024)
- Bateriku: Explore Muar, attractions and food (15 December 2025)
- M'sia Food and Travel, on Newswav: Kopi 434 in Muar (11 July 2025)
- Ummi Around Malaysia: Batu Pahat travel guide (updated 31 March 2026)
- iPackTravel: Johor 2025 Day 8, eats at Batu Pahat (updated 31 July 2025)
- iPackTravel: Muar 2025 Day 2 (updated 21 May 2025)
- iPackTravel: Muar 2025 Day 3 (updated 21 May 2025)
- iPackTravel: Day trip to Pekan Muar (updated 21 May 2025)
- Wikipedia: North-South Expressway Southern Route, exits, kilometre markers and R&R petrol brands
- Wikipedia: Johor Bahru Eastern Dispersal Link Expressway
- Wikipedia: Malaysia Federal Route 50, Batu Pahat, Ayer Hitam and Kluang
- Wikipedia: Malaysia Federal Route 5, Batu Pahat to Muar through Parit Jawa
- Wikipedia: Malaysia Federal Route 24, Muar to Yong Peng
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