No offence to either brand, but Roast & Coffee Signature at SKS City Mall JBCC gave me a bit of Oriental Kopi déjà vu, though that may be the whole point of this new generation of modern Nanyang kopitiams.
You get the familiar mix of old school local flavours, glossy menu pages, retro looking interiors and Nanyang coffee, all served in a more polished café setting.
Roast & Coffee actually started as a small noodle stall selling Mee Rebus, before growing into a modernised kopitiam concept.
Its well-known Retro Garden 1968’s outlet located along Jalan Tan Hiok Nee is probably the one many visitors know.
And the brand has since expanded to several locations around Johor Bahru, including Desa Cemerlang, Eco Palladium, Warung Tropika, Sutera Cottage, Bukit Indah and SKS City Mall JBCC.
The SKS City Mall outlet has that ‘familiar’ look of green counters, cream pendant lights, patterned tabletops, rattan style chairs and tiled flooring.
The menu is huge, but you can always go for their “Top 10 Best Reviewed” items if decision making is tough.
These include the Signature Laksa, Salted Egg Chicken Fried Rice, Golden Char Kuey Tiaw Mee, Tiga Rasa, Red Bean Butter Polo Bun, Coconut Ho Kar Sai, Nasi Beryani Rendang Ayam, Otak Otak Mee Rebus, Madam J Seafood Mihun and Homemade Zui Kueh.
The Curry Chicken Meesiam (RM 16.90) came with a pile of mee siam, curry chicken, egg, cucumber, sambal and calamansi.
This bee hoon had that familiar sweet, tangy and mildly spicy profile, and reminded me of the dry mee siam I had after swimming classes as a child. So nostalgic!
What made this version feel more complete was the curry chicken served on the side.
It came in a small claypot, with chunky pieces of chicken sitting in a thick, orange hued curry gravy. The mellow flavour reminded me of home cooked curry. Better than expected.
The Butter Red Bean Polo Bun (RM 9.90) came as a soft polo bun filled with butter and red bean. The butter gave it that rich, slightly salty contrast, though this is definitely better eaten warm. Not bad.
Ho Kar Sai is that familiar Malaysian kopitiam mix of coffee and Milo, and this version came with coconut milk for a more fragrant, creamier twist.
It was quite indulgent, almost like a dessert drink, and would be delightful if you like your kopi with a malty- chocolatey note.
There are still quite a few items I would return to try, especially the Signature Laksa, Otak Otak Mee Rebus, and Homemade Zui Kueh.
Roast & Coffee has also been promoting Japanese style Shokupan, which would be worth checking out if you like soft, fluffy milk bread with your Nanyang coffee.
Roast & Coffee Signature
SKS City Mall JBCC L2-22, Jalan Storey, Bukit Senyum, 80300 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 9am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
Google Maps – Roast & Coffee Signature SKS City Mall JBCC
Roast & Coffee – Retro Garden 1968’s
62&63, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 7am – 5pm (Mon – Sun)
Google Maps – Roast & Coffee Retro Garden 1968’s
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