Ol’ Skool Makan #2: The Original Kluang Station, Since 1938

Confession: Growing up in JB, Kluang was just a name I’d heard -- one of those small Johor towns people said had good food, friendly folks and a slower pace of life. (And yes, I did assume there were keluang -- bats -- flying all over the place!) I never made it there back then, but these days, every time I drive back to JB, it’s almost an automatic stop.

And the first order of business? The legendary Kluang Station, of course.



This beloved spot started as a humble canteen inside the Kluang Railway Station in 1938, serving kopi and roti bakar to railway workers and passengers on the North–South Line. Back then, the town was an important stop for trains carrying tin, rubber and troops -- so a good cup of coffee was practically essential.



Run by the Lim family for four generations now, the little canteen has grown into the well-known Kluang RailCoffee, with several modern outlets across town. But ask any local or old-timer, and they’ll tell you -- the original station café is still the one. Step inside, and you’ll see why. The old wooden shutters, the metal fans lazily turning above, the smell of freshly toasted buns -- it all feels like a time warp to pre-war Malaya.



Unlike the newer branches with their expanded menus, the original outlet keeps things beautifully simple: a glorious range of breads -- roti bun bakar, roti gandum, roti keping bakar -- plus steamed buns, local favourites like mee siam, nasi lemak and laksa Johor, and of course, a full lineup of beverages.




The bun bakar is crispy outside, fluffy inside; the laksa warms the soul; and the coffee -- thick, dark and aromatic -- could probably power a train, let alone your road trip home. If you’re there with friends or family, don’t overthink it -- just order everything and share. That’s the true Kluang experience.


About Ol' Skool Makan

Ol' Skool Makan is my little tribute to Malaysia’s timeless eateries -- the ones that fed us before hashtags, food apps, and fancy plating. It’s about real food, real people, and memories that still smell like sambal and kopi-O.


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Dapatkan buku 'Kisah Hidup & Budaya Pop Anak Gen-X' di SINI


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