Batu Pahat, Johor

A Johor river town with a well-preserved colonial-era shophouse district, Batu Pahat is celebrated among Malaysian Chinese food communities for its extraordinary culinary heritage — the laksa here uses a recipe different from any other in Malaysia, the cendol uses freshly pressed coconut milk, and the bak kut teh pork rib soup is ranked by serious Malaysian food writers among the best in the country.