Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Highly Recommended)
Address: 13, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Malaysia
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/FRX5oxoFpU6PuBbS9
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)
Banana Cake (1 Box 10 pieces) = RM13.00
No Service Charges
Here is the Full Menu of the Bakery.Prices are Accurate as of the Date of the Post.
This is One of the Most Famous Bakery in Johor Bahru that is Well-Known to Many Singaporeans. Even if you've never been to JB before, you will most likely come across this Name at least once in your Life. It is so Well Reviewed that it is usually on the Top 10 Lists of Every Singapore-Based Food Reviewer or Food Blog.
Not the First Time I'm here of course, I have also reviewed this in my Former FB Group back in 2023 and I'm re-reviewing them again actually because I've lost my Former Review. Meh, I figured its fine as it has been 3 Years.
Brief History of Hiap Joo. A Historical 百年老店.
Started back in 1919, this Bakery is currently over 105 Years Old. Year 1919 just imagine that. To put that in Perspective, World War 1 had just ended fighting in 1918 prior. World War 1, not World War 2. That's how Old this Bakery is.
Truly a 百年老店, this Place has survived not only World War 2, but also the Recent Covid Pandemic. Hahaha it is not just a Bakery, its a Living Historical National Treasure. I'm just not sure if its always located in this Jalan Tan Hiok Nee though.
Special Credit to Johorkaki for the below Old 1966 Photographs of this Place.
Amazing Article he's written. Please visit his Blog Post for More Old Photos.
Hiap Joo Today in 2026.
Despite it having such an Rich History, the Actual Bakery is a Fairly Non-Descript Shop located along the Street. No Modern Renovations, No Atas Looking Cafe Furnishings, No Flashy Signages. Just a Humble Little Place that most people won't bother to even give a 2nd Look if not for the Huge Lines of Queue that it usually has.
This Place is for Takeaways Only. Cash Only Transaction. The First Thing you will notice is a Friendly 大哥 right at the Entrance peddling some Kuehs. I'm assuming that this is the Owner. The Bakery is Famous for their Banana Cakes but they do sell other Pastries if you are interested.
Inside of the Bakery (which is out of bounds to the Public) is where you can catch a Glimpse of the Famous 105+ Years Old Stone Oven where the Cakes are being baked. The Staffs are Mostly Aunties who are working very hard baking the cakes. Really a Flurry of Activity within.
They used to allow Customers to take a Photo of their 100+ Year Old Traditional Woodfire Oven, but you are not allowed to do so nowadays. Its really quite interesting to see an Oven that is Older than Most Human Beings that are alive today. Oven Photo Credit: Channel News Asia
Protip: Because this is probably one of the Most Famous Bakery in Malaysia Johor Bahru, undoubtedly the Queue is going to be Insane at Peak Hours. They bake the Cakes in Batches so if the Batch for that Hour is sold out, you will need to wait for the Next Batch. So come early to avoid disappointments.
If you can, try coming here on Weekday Mornings. Despite how Legendary this Place is, there are Generally Not Much Queue before 10.00am as I've tried several times.
If you can only come here on Weekends, before 8.30am is still ok but try your luck. The Photo of the Queue you see was taken at around 9.00am on a Sunday Morning. Definitely come as Early as you can on Weekends.
Health Concern for the Auntie BakersBefore I review the Banana Cake, there is One More Thing I would like to Point Out first. Despite being Well Reviewed by Many Food Blogs and Food Reviewers, there is something I observed that Many Reviewers never mentioned. 🤔
If you notice in the Photo, the Oven where the Auntie Bakers are working inside with is constantly spewing Thick Smoke. In fact, its a Very Harsh and Humid Environment. You can even see in this Photo the Walls Blackened from Years of Usage. 🤔 As I observed, there are No Barrier or Partition between them and the Oven so they're constantly breathing in this Smoke all the Time as they worked.
The More I observed this, the More I feel Very Sorry for them. 我为这些大姐们心痛. 😢 For the Health and Well-Being of the Auntie Bakers, I hope that the Bakery would consider building some Partition in order to shield them from this Smoke. Or at the very least issue them Proper Face Masks (at least N95 grade). It cannot be Healthy to be breathing the Constant Smoke like this in the Long Run. 🤔
I'll be honest, the First Time I've tried this Legendary Cake was during COVID purchased through one of those Group Buys. Soft and Tender, the thing I liked about it was that it is Not Overly Sweet. Its also Not Overly Banana-ry if it makes any sense. Everything pretty much in Balance. I also liked how Light and Airy this tasted especially Freshly Bought.
What intrigued me Culinarily is this Unique "Old School Type of Moist Moist Texture 口感" that it has. I don't know how to explain this better, but if you have eaten Old School type of Pastries or Cakes before, there is this Unique Moistness that you will taste that isn't usually found in More Modern Cakes or Confectionaries.
Although Not Overly Sweet, I don't know why but it seems that the Batch I bought in 2026 seems a Tad Slightly Sweeter compared to the one I bought back in 2023? This was especially so when I tasted Actual Slight Unmelted Grains of Sugar in the Cake this time where I didn't tasted it before. Still Overall Not Overly Sweet, but slightly sweeter than 2023.
I have made Banana Cakes myself before and I was not able to achieve this Unique Old-School Type of Moistness. No Idea if there is a Special Technique or Ingredient to be able to achieve this.
Hahaha mine is considered Small Fry in comparison as they literally have Over 105 Years of Baking Experience after all. Hahaha perhaps Amelia can help me analyze how to achieve this as she is a More Experienced Baker than me.
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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts
At the Price of RM13.00 (S$4.20) I would say this is an Affordable Price for what it is. This is a Well Done Box of Banana Cake and I'm even saying this having personally baked Banana Cakes myself.
Try as I may, I cannot replicate the Same Level of "Old School type of Moistness" that they have. You can also visibly see that Hiap Joo's Crust especially has a More Delicate Caramelization compared to mine. Hahaha I guess this is the Power Level Difference between someone who have only baked for a Few Years compared to a Professional Bakery with Over 105 Years of Baking Experience!
Jokes aside though, what I am concerned is actually the Health and Well-Being of the Poor Auntie Bakers. Constantly having to breathe in the Thick Smoke coming out from their Famous 105+ Years Old Stone Oven cannot be Good for Health in the Long Run. 🤔
If you were to come visit, you will see exactly what I mean. I wish they built some sort of Partition or Shielding at least or ensure they wear Protective Face Masks. 😷 I'm truly surprised why No Food Reviewer or Food Blogs ever bother to mention this Aspect of this Bakery before. 🤔
Definitely can recommend this place. If you haven't already visited, this is a Well Made Banana Cake and even if you don't want to buy anything from here, the Bakery itself is a Over 100 Years Historical National Treasure that should be preserved. There are also 100 Year Old Bakeries in Singapore, but I think Hiap Joo may be even Older at 1919? I cannot confirm on this. Hahaha this is the kind of Historical Research that probably only Johorkaki would know. Once again, Special Thanks to him for his Old 1966 Photographs.
So yes, this Place earns my Highest Top Score simply for its Excellence and Literal Historical Significance to Malaysia Johor Bahru, but its also one of the Most Difficult Hard-Earned Top Score I've given because of the Poor Aunty Bakers who are literally suffering just to make this Banana Cake for you. Think about this next time when you pop a Cake Piece in your Mouth. 这个钱真的赚的很辛苦, 真的很不容易.
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