While we were killing time waiting for our room at Capri by Fraser to be sorted, we thought, why not stroll down to JB Old Town for some grub? And hey, if you’re wondering how to get from Capri by Fraser to JB City Square, I’ve got you covered in my earlier blog post.

After exiting JB City Square, we strolled down Jalan Wong Ah Fook to Jalan Tan Hiok Nee to have lunch at Roast & Coffee. It’s been ages since we’ve been to JB, and we noticed the roadside had gotten a makeover and the pavement fixed up. Nice.

Roast & Coffee: The Trending Nanyang Kopitiam

Roast & Coffee is all the rage for Nanyang kopitiam vibes in JB at the moment. You can find it right across from Hiap Joo, the go-to spot for banana cake. They also have other outlets in Taman Desa Cemerlang, Eco Palladium, Taman Setia Tropika, and Taman Sutera Utama.

Dining Experience at Roast & Coffee

Once you’re there, let the staff know how many people are in your group, and they’ll show you where to sit. Then, just flip through the menu, jot down what you’re craving on the order chit, and hand it over to any staff member.

Menu

To see their full menu, just head over to their Facebook page here.

Our Orders

The dishes came out quickly, except for the Pan Mee, which arrived just as we were finishing everything else.

Coconut Ho Kar Sai (Cold) RM7.90

Literally means ‘Tiger Bites Lion’ in Hokkien. It was my first time trying this. Even though the menu picture showed Milo, I couldn’t really taste it. It was more like a blend of drinking chocolate, coffee, and coconut milk. The first sip was a bit confusing, but then it started to taste like a mocha, with chocolate being the main flavour.

It was thick, really thick, you could say it was ‘gau’. Overall, it wasn’t overly sweet because I asked for it to be less sweet when I placed my order—’kurang manis = -M’.

Double Butter Kaya Toast RM3.80

Good balance of butter and kaya. And the bread was nicely toasted too.

Salted Egg French Toast RM9.90

Oh man, talk about sinfully good! The salted egg sauce filling inside was intense, you could really taste the salted egg flavour. Plus, there were curry leaves and bits of chilli padi adding a kick.

The salted egg sauce paired perfectly with the French toast, which was soaked in melted butter. I mean, French toast is already a winner, but that salted egg filling? It’s a game-changer.

Salted Egg Chicken Chop RM19.90

Man, this beats the one I had at Hua Mui by a mile! The chicken leg meat was moist and fried just right—no grease overload or too much batter, so you don’t feel like you’ve overdone it. And how cool is it that they keep the sauce separate? Keeps the chicken crispy, not soggy. Oh, and don’t even get me started on dipping those fries in the sauce—so good! The coleslaw was crunchy and refreshing, the perfect side. Seriously, if you’re into salted egg, this dish is a must-try.

Fish Fillet Dry Chilli Pan Mee RM16.90

It was a bit too oily for my liking; I should’ve asked for it to be less oily. However, if you don’t mind the oiliness and you’re into spicy stuff, this dish will be right up your alley.

After mixing everything up, it’s a pretty fiery concoction that will have you sweating and your nose running. Just look at that amount of chilli given! There were loads of ingredients in there—ikan bilis, mushroom, fishball, fishcake, and fried fish. The ikan bilis added this awesome crunch and aroma, but the other stuff was just okay. Noodles were on point though—firm, al dente, and springy.

Ice Kachang RM6.90

We had to cool down from the spiciness with an ice kachang—it hit the spot! It was just the right size for two to share. The syrup was a mix of bandung and chocolate flavours, and since I asked for it to be less sweet, it was just perfect.

It came with grass jelly, sweet corn, red bean, attap seeds, and roasted salted peanuts, giving it a nice crunch. Definitely a must-try, especially on a hot day—it’s like a refreshing icy hug!

Final Bill

Oh, and just so you know, all the prices mentioned don’t include taxes. Our total bill, including 2 x ice water (non-refillable) at RM0.60 each, came up to RM74.50 (S$21.40) after taxes.

Overall Impression

Overall, it’s a pretty good spot for local grub. The place is nice and clean, plus it’s air-conditioned, so we could chow down comfortably even in the sweltering heat. It’s easy to get to as well. And hey, when you’re finished, you can just stroll over to Hiap Joo for some banana cake!