Brian Kennett
Amateur Chef and Boozy Traveling Foodie Extraordinaire
Kampung Carabao Restaurant Review:
Kampung Carabao Restaurant Review: A Thai Feast in the Heart of Johor Bahru – Kampung Carabao Restaurant
I suggest there are likely two types of eaters in Johor Bahru: those who get their Thai fix from faceless delivery apps, and those who book a table at Kampung Carabao and prepare to visit this most-vibrant place and shout “khop khun ka!” from pure, chilli-charged joy. Located just out of central JB but worth the Grab ride (and, let’s be honest, maybe two), Kampung Carabao Restaurant is where classic halal Thai cuisine meets fallen treehouse charm.
Forget the glitzy downtown steakhouses and frosty chain “tom yum and Chinese hotpot” experiences (yes the Chinese Ozarks are here as well)—this is a proper kampung house, a sprawling, pond-adorned wonderland that could pass for a movie set in The Lord of the Rings.
Turn up hungry, we did, and leave stuffed, we did. That seems to be the unofficial mantra for Kampung Carabao Johor Bahru, Malaysia’s answer for anyone with a love for halal-friendly, big-hearted, and outrageously flavourful Thai grub. Walk through the carpark and you’re greeted by rustic timber, striking neon, and a menu groaning under the weight of more Thai classics than the Bangkok airport duty-free. It’s all halal/Muslim-friendly—so everyone can dig in, share, and debate the chilli-to-coconut-milk ratios without worry or wallet pain: it’s frickin’ cheap.
Kampung Carabao Thai Restaurant Table of Contents
Experiencing Muslim-Friendly Thai at Kampung Carabao Restaurant JB
There’s nothing half-hearted about the food here. Start with tom yum, which arrives in a bubbling cauldron worthy of a witch’s coven, fragrant clouds of galangal and kaffir lime leaf rising up across the table. There are seafood versions loaded with plump prawns and fish chunks for that surf’s-up attitude, and chicken or vegetarian if you prefer to ease into the spice. Next up, a parade of sharing plates: pandan chicken parcels piping-hot from the fryer, salads of green mango laced with peanuts and chilli, and fish cakes so bouncy they may just roll off the plate.
A trip through the Kampung Carabao menu reveals a greatest-hits line-up: deep-fried snapper blanketed in fiery Thai chilli sauce; creamy, coconutty green curry that’s as rich as a durian farmer in Singapore; beef satay grilled to smoky, sticky perfection. Even the omelette comes out golden, puffed to cartoonish proportions, perfect for tearing and dunking into whatever sauce or soup happens to be closest. For those with strong willpower, the deep-fried kangkong is so good it briefly made me forget about meat altogether.
Kampung Carabao Restaurant Review: Menu:, and what did we eat today...?
Padthai @ RM18.90
Padthai is a popular Thai dish that typically consists of stir-fried rice noodles, eggs, tofu, and a combination of tamarind paste, fish sauce, dried shrimp, garlic, red chili pepper, and palm sugar, giving it a unique blend of sweet, sour, and savory flavors. It often includes ingredients like chopped peanuts, bean sprouts, and lime wedges, which are added either during the cooking process or as toppings.
This came very late, in fact we had to remind them we ordered this. So it was like to late to the table to really be enjoyed. Strawb picked and poked and didn’t really do too much damage to it, so not much I can really say about it. It looks OK.
Steamed Fish Lime Thai Style
Fish steamed and flavored with a zesty lime sauce. The sauce typically includes lime juice, fish sauce, garlic, and chili, creating a harmonious blend of sour, salty, and spicy flavours. Wifey gave this a “meh”. Reason being it is a river fish, and she doesn’t like that earthy taste. Sauce was divine though, so cut paste this fish with snapper and this would be rocking – to the palate of Wifey.
Thai Style Crispy Kang Kong @ RM19.90
Loved it. We totally devoured this dish. It was gone, gone, gone. Not oily, and perfectly deep-fried to a crunch you could hear back in Singapore. And that dippy sauce: WOOF. This is another must-try here, folks. Seriously good.
Fried Sun Dried Beef @ RM25.90
Ooooh this took me back to Baggie’s Biltong and Gerardas in Tagbilaran. This is like Thai Beef Jerky. You have to order thie one. A standout for me on the menu. The toasted sesame seeds added a real nice flavour punch too. Great dish.
Spicy Cashews
I saw these and immediately made the decision to order. Crazy good snack attack (if only I had my icy cold Tiger). Roasted cashew nuts with birds eye chillies and a squeeze of fresh lime. Yummo. OK, I am plagearising this for The Kapre Restaurant & Bar – including beer.
Beef Ginger With Spring Onion @ RM24.90
Yeah this was great, akin to what you can get in a Singaporean Zhi Char with that perfect sticky gravy augmeneted to umami by MSG: maybe just a little more ‘temperature’ to this version. I added the spicy cashews to each spoonful, and man alive that became a perfect bite.
Kampung Carabao Restaurant Photos
Kampung Carabao Restaurant Atmosphere and Crowd
The setup at Kampung Carabao brings authentic kampung vibes front and centre—plenty of natural timber, gazebos, open-air terraces, and private dining huts where you sit on the floor. It’s the sort of venue where every seat feels like a prize, and food-obsessed Instagrammers will manage a selfie or two between courses. It’s busy with families, and packs of friends celebrating birthdays, graduations and so on. It was mobbed.
Service here deserves applause. Staff are fast, friendly, and unfazed by even the most sprawling tables. Water gets topped up regularly, recommendations are confident, and no one blinks if diners politely ask for more rice five times (which, trust me, happens – hey, I was with Filipinos). With the stress of downtown JB left at the entrance, chowhounds can focus on what matters: sharing, chatting, eating, and plotting their next return. The food was OK, not stunning or stellar, just OK, but the vibe and decor was uber-cool, and the price more akin to a hawker.
Kampung Carabao Restaurant Menu
Voice of the Restaurant: Kampung Carabao Restaurant Review
“The moment you step into Kampung Carabao, you will know that it is a very special place indeed. Made entirely of wood with interesting pieces of teak wood furniture, the ambience is truly relaxing.
The restaurant can accommodate up to 200 people, whereby you can choose to dine on regular tables and chairs at the main dining hall or you may prefer to dine in a featured Chiang Mai “Kantoke” cubicle style seating (which is dining by sitting on the mats).
The entire surrounding is very windy, and the choice of location evokes a sense of being on a beach resort. The architecture is a mix of Malaysians and Thai style inspired.
In the kitchen, all our chefs are experienced, especially Chief Chef SAKKARA LAK, who has learned his culinary skill from a great chef master in Thailand.”
Why Kampung Carabao Thai is a Must for Halal Foodies
Let’s get one thing straight: Kampung Carabao Restaurant is the kind of Muslim-friendly Thai restaurant in JB that makes you wish there was JB frequent flyer cards. The portions are generous, the flavours big, and the meni is a collision of crunch, zing, and fire. If you’ve ever doubted that Muslim-friendly and Thai can coexist without compromise, get your bum down here.
Kampung Carabao Restaurant Review: Final Thoughts
Here’s the bottom line: Kampung Carabao Johor Bahru stands out as a really good Muslim-friendly Thai restaurant with honest “kampung hospitality,” with heaps of Thai classic offerings. This isn’t a pretty Instagram set that disappoints with each bite—instead, every morsel lives up to its good looks, with classic recipes honed over years and service that juggles crowds with a smile. Our visit felt a little like a celebration, as we were surrounded by families just having fun over food. You gotta love that.
So why put Kampung Carabao on your “must-eat JB” list? It’s the whole package: Muslim-friendly Thai food with soul, generous helpings, and an atmosphere that leaves you grinning long after you’ve waddled back out to the car park. If you’re a needy Muslim-friendly foodie, a fan of Thai spice, or just hungry and indecisive in Johor Bahru, this is a great spot to try. Bring a crowd, and come hungry. Kampung Carabao proves Muslim-friendly food in JB isn’t just about rules—it’s about riotous flavour, shared joy, and Malaysian Kampung spirit by the bowlful.
Kampung Carabao Opening Hours
Seven days a week: 12–3 pm, 5:30 pm–12 am
Kampung Carabao Thai Restaurant Address
Is Kampung Carabao Restaurant Halal?
It surely is Halal and Muslim-friendly. Not so friendly for me tonight as I love an icy-cold beer with Thai food haha. So I was Bandung’s all the way, which also helped with the spice attack.
What is the Kampung Carabao Restaurant Dress Code?
Casual, hey it’s a family restaurant in Johor Bahru. We had dinner and I rocked up in shirt, shorts and flip flops. It seemed OK, all around were dressed the same. No speedos: budgies are not allowed to be smuggled at Kampung Carabao.
Kampung Carabao Restaurant Reservation
Kampung Carabao Restaurant Contact Details
- Kampung Carabao Telepone: +6012 305 6933
- Kampung Carabao eMail: kampungcarabaothai@gmail.com
- Kampung Carabao Web Site: https://www.kampungcarabao.com