Kacang Pool Haji

Forget the standard café hopping; if you want a real Johor Bahru breakfast, head straight to Larkin. Kacang Pool Haji is a local heavyweight that operates daily from 7:00 AM to 12:00 AM, churning out hundreds of bowls of their signature dish. Located right in the middle of a residential housing area, it boasts a frantic, fast-paced kopitiam atmosphere that gets heavily congested during public holiday weekends.

The undisputed star here is the Kacang Pool. Think of it as a localized, heavily spiced cousin of English baked beans or Middle Eastern ful medames. The kitchen serves up a thick, creamy gravy made from fava beans, aromatic spices, and minced meat—usually beef or Kambing (mutton). You mop up this savory, comforting stew with a slab of thick, butter-slathered toast.

If beans aren't your thing, the supporting cast is equally strong. Regulars consistently praise their Mee Rebus and Soto, both of which deliver rich, refreshing, and deeply flavorful broths that easily hold their own against the signature item.

Be prepared to hunt for parking. Because the restaurant sits in a neighborhood zone along Jalan Sabar, patrons are forced to parallel park randomly along the roadside or near neighbors' houses. Service is generally rapid-fire and efficient, though you should expect to wait for tables to be cleared and orders to be taken when the public holiday crowds descend.