Johor Bahru Vietnamese Restaurant Review: Chimmy Chummy at Plaza Mentari

Chimmy Chummy Johor Bahru Review: Best Vietnamese Restaurant in JB

Finding a genuinely good Johor Bahru Vietnamese restaurant is harder than it sounds. As a family of four now based in Kuala Lumpur, after five years living in Jeju Island and two years in Penang before that, we eat Vietnamese food often enough to know the difference between a place that gets the basics right and one that does not. Chimmy Chummy, tucked inside Plaza Mentari in Taman Pelangi, is the Johor Bahru Vietnamese restaurant that gets it right.

This review covers exactly what we ordered, what it cost, and why it is worth a stop — especially if you are passing through Johor Bahru on your way to or from Singapore.

Chimmy Chummy: The Johor Bahru Vietnamese Restaurant Worth Seeking Out

Why This Johor Bahru Vietnamese Restaurant Stands Out

Johor Bahru has grown into a genuinely solid food city across most cuisines, but Vietnamese food has been the one category where a truly satisfying option was hard to find — clean broth, properly rolled spring rolls, bread with the right texture. Chimmy Chummy is the rare Johor Bahru Vietnamese restaurant that has all three basics down.

Location and Parking

Chimmy Chummy is located on the ground floor of Plaza Mentari, Jalan Kuning, Taman Pelangi, 80400 Johor Bahru (Unit G-09). Searching “Plaza Mentari, Taman Pelangi” on your map app gets you there without trouble, and parking is available right in front of the building. For anyone navigating an unfamiliar city with hungry kids in the car, not having to hunt for parking makes a real difference.

View Chimmy Chummy Location

Opening Hours

Chimmy Chummy is open from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and closed every Friday. Worth keeping in mind if you are planning a stop on your way to or from Singapore — a Friday visit will mean the restaurant is not open, so it is best to build your route around the other six days of the week.

What We Actually Ordered

Our Order and the Bill

On the evening of December 7, 2025, our family of four ordered the following:

• Pho Beef Bun (rice noodle soup with beef) — RM 14.90
• Beef Bun Xao (stir-fried vermicelli with beef) — RM 14.90
• Vietnamese coffee — RM 7.90
• Iced honey lemon tea — RM 7.90
• Banh Xeo (Vietnamese crepe) — RM 13.90
• Goi Cuon (fresh spring rolls) — RM 11.90
• Grilled chicken banh mi — RM 12.90

With a 5% service charge, the total came to RM 88.50 — about RM 22 per person for a proper sit-down Vietnamese meal for a family of four, which is genuinely good value.

The Pho

The pho used thin bún noodles rather than the wider noodles typically associated with pho, giving it a lighter, fresher texture. The broth was clearly made with care — clear, aromatic, and tasting like it came from real bones rather than a powder base. Getting broth this good outside Vietnam is not common.

Beef Bun Xao

The stir-fried vermicelli with beef was the dry counterpart to the pho on our table, and it held its own. The beef had a good char from the wok, the noodles stayed loose rather than clumping together, and a handful of fresh herbs and bean sprouts on top kept the whole dish light instead of heavy. It is a good order for anyone at the table who wants something more substantial than soup without going for a fried dish.

The Fresh Spring Rolls (Goi Cuon)

This was the most popular dish at our table, and even the kids kept reaching for more. The rice paper was soft, the filling of fresh vegetables and prawns was clean and bright, and the dipping sauce was well-balanced rather than overpowering. If you are visiting with children, this is a good dish to start with.

Banh Xeo

The Vietnamese crepe arrived crisp on the outside and generously filled on the inside. Torn apart, wrapped in lettuce, and dipped in nuoc cham the traditional way, it delivered the crunch, softness, and freshness that makes this dish work — and it is easy to share, which suited a table with different appetites.

Grilled Chicken Banh Mi

The baguette was chewy with a light crust, and the grilled chicken inside was seasoned without being heavy. The pickled vegetables added just enough acidity to cut through the richness, making it an easy dish to share alongside everything else on the table.

Vietnamese Coffee

We finished with Vietnamese coffee — rich, strong, and just sweet enough from the condensed milk, a satisfying way to close out a table full of food without feeling overwhelming.

Why It Works for Families

Vietnamese food naturally spans light and hearty dishes in a single meal, which meant the kids stuck with the fresh rolls and pho while the adults worked through the banh xeo and banh mi. The restaurant itself has a relaxed, casual atmosphere, giving a table sharing several dishes plenty of room to eat at its own pace without feeling rushed.

Who Should Visit Chimmy Chummy

Chimmy Chummy is a strong choice for:

• Travelers stopping in Johor Bahru en route to or from Singapore
• Families looking for a varied, shareable Vietnamese meal
• Anyone seeking authentic Vietnamese cooking rather than a westernized version
• Visitors who want easy parking near their table

For a family of four, food and drinks came to under RM 90 total — reason enough on its own to make a stop at this Johor Bahru Vietnamese restaurant.

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FAQ

Q1. Where is Chimmy Chummy located in Johor Bahru? Chimmy Chummy is located on the ground floor of Plaza Mentari, Jalan Kuning, Taman Pelangi, 80400 Johor Bahru (Unit G-09), with parking available directly in front of the building.

Q2. How much does a meal at Chimmy Chummy cost? Based on our visit, a family of four ordering seven dishes (including two mains, two drinks, and several shareable items) paid RM 88.50 in total, or about RM 22 per person.

Q3. Is Chimmy Chummy halal? The restaurant’s own Facebook page is named “Chimmy Chummy Halal Food,” and multiple listings describe it as a halal Vietnamese restaurant. That said, we were not able to verify an official halal certification, so if this is important for your visit, we recommend confirming directly with the restaurant beforehand.

Q4. What are Chimmy Chummy’s opening hours? Chimmy Chummy is open from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily, except Fridays, when it is closed.

Q5. Is Chimmy Chummy good for families with children? Yes. The menu naturally covers both light dishes like fresh spring rolls and heartier options like pho and banh mi, which made it easy for our kids and the adults at the table to each find something they liked.