Sticking with my tried-and-true strategy, I let a local lead the way to another great meal across the Causeway. Hitting the road with JB resident and journalist David Ngiau, we ended up at his family’s favourite nasi padang restaurant, a short 10-minute drive from KSL City Mall (and if the traffic gods are kind, less than 20 minutes from Woodlands Checkpoint).

With a name like Restoran Arnasz Limo R, I half expected to see a swanky fleet of vehicles. In reality, it’s a modest restaurant in a nondescript shophouse located between Larkin and Taman Abad, where the focus is firmly on the food.

Its unique name is a family tribute – “Arnasz” combines the founders’ names and “Limo R” refers to their five children whose names all begin with the letter “R” (“limo” means five in their Minang dialect). To avoid confusion, most locals just call it “Balai Bomba Nasi Padang” because the Johor Fire & Rescue Station is a landmark directly across the road.

No air-con? No-frills? No problem for long-time regular David. "This restaurant has been around for about 40 years," he explained. "The second-generation owner, Mr Wan, is the son of the founder who actually came from Padang, so this is legit Padang cuisine." 

It’s that family-run touch that gives their nasi padang its authentic, home-cooked soul – the kind that leaves a lasting impression. In fact, David’s mother dreams about it. "When my parents come over from Singapore, she’s like, 'We have to go to Arnasz Limo R.' The variety is just mind-blowing."