Vanilla Bean – First Hotcake Dessert in Johor Bahru

It’s a known fact that cafe culture is almost a norm worldwide and this culture is booming, especially in the Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore, Korea, Taiwan and others. So, how can Johor Bahru lose out! Many Singaporeans have been flocking there on weekends for their affordably delectable hawker and street food. Now, they have brought cafe-hopping to a whole new level, and this is evident along Jalan Dhoby, which “houses” many cafes side by side.

This brings the next question – how do cafes survive if there are so many of them serving up almost similar food offerings? Well, relatively new cafe, Vanilla Bean, located at the integrated marina, Senibong Cove, has something new up their sleeves in order to make them stand out from competitors. This cafe serves specialty coffee, artisanal cakes, waffles and scrumptious brunch items.

Looking at Singapore’s Curious Palette and Paddy Hills which are famous for their gorgeous-looking Berries Ricotta Pancakes, Vanilla Bean has recently launched their version of Berry Ricotta Hotcake. Rumour has it that it’s the first cafe in Johor Bahru offering hotcakes!

Blueberries Ricotta Hotcake (RM25 / S$8.50) contains toasted pistachios, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and colourful fruits such as blueberries, strawberries, kiwi and the uniquely tropical dragonfruit. It is served with a scoop of ice cream that’s the perfect remedy for the scorching hot weather, as well as, maple syrup, for that sweet finish. I find Johor Bahru’s version slightly more special as compared to those in Singapore as you can find blueberries hidden between the layers as you slice through the hotcakes. However, the hotcakes lacked fluffiness and thickness.

Besides coffee, Vanilla Bean also serves bottled cold-pressed juices priced at RM14 / S$4.75. I had their Watermelon Quencher to cool myself down. This comprised of white dragonfruit, watermelon and fragrant pear. What a refreshing concoction! Finally, did I mention that their artisanal cakes are made in-house on a daily basis? That’s a very good tactic of keeping customers in suspense so you can look forward to surprising flavours if you visit them over the weekend. One last plus point – there’s free wifi at this cafe!

Born in Malaysia, Hazel loves to travel and soaked herself with enrich cultures and food. Follow her food adventures on her blog.