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Friday 20 May 2016

Eats & Treats: Ink 'N' Water

I'm so happy to be introducing another cafe in JB for you guys! For the past few months, I've been so tied up with work that I hardly have the time to do some cafe-hopping, something I really love. But now that I'm currently freelancing, I do have more time to myself and it's about time that I share the love and hopefully useful information with you guys on places to get your coffee fix/ Instagram-worthy shots! One of the latest cafes that I've been to is Ink N Water - pretty cool name, huh?

Ink N Water is located at the crowded Taman Pelangi where you can find lots of eateries. The cafe is situated opposite Leisure Mall and is just next to the infamous cybercafe/ hangout spots for teens, Kingsurf (KS). Haha. I believe youngsters like me love to hang out at cafes too so this post would suit you just well.


There is a small al-fresco dining area at the cafe for smokers. This particular table caught my eye because of the eco-friendly design and yes, those are real marbles on the seat! Quite an interesting piece, I would say.



At first impression, the cafe struck me as a no-fuss, no-frills sorta venue. Dubbed 'Your Daily Coffee Store', this place is suitable for a chilling sesh with a cuppa or for hosting mid-scale events. The cafe was founded by Dylan, an aspiring entrepreneur who has to balance his time between his job and managing the cafe. 'Coffee' is the inspiration and concept behind the name as well as the cafe itself. This place also serves as a great hangout spot for breakfast, brunch and coffee. I've been here a few times after this trip and found that as an avid Christian, the cafe is also a popular venue for various groups to hold sharing sessions and mini concerts here.

Mexican Tortilla | RM14.90
Let's start with some light eats. This tortilla is a mix of mildly spicy chicken thigh, sliced tomatoes, onions with a side of salad, all wrapped up in a crispy flour tortilla and finished off with homemade salsa sauce plus a dash of lime. The chicken is tender and well-marinated and goes perfectly with the slightly tangy & spicy salsa sauce and tomatoes. It's something fresh and appetizing, definitely a fuss-free and hearty starter for one or for sharing!

Baked Pasta | RM15.90
This is a new addition to the menu. Now, I love carbonara and cream-based pasta but it can get quite heavy to finish it alone. This pasta is cooked with egg, onions and cheese which is fragrant when combined. The icing on the cake is the oozing egg yolk at the top which adds that extra flavour to the dish!

Espresso Chicken Rice | RM15.90
This dish is quite unique because how often do you get coffee flavoured main dishes? This is a specialty dish at Ink N Water as the coffee beans used for the chef's specialty sauce are the same as the ones they used in their coffee drinks. Chicken thigh is prepared with freshly pulled double shot espresso (caffeine lovers, rejoice!), garnished with sesame seeds, and served with mixed corals and cherry tomatoes for that subtle hint of sweetness. I would've preferred if there was more sauce to go with the white rice, but overall, this is one of my favourite dishes at the cafe!

Turkey Ham Pizza | RM20.90
Who doesn't love pizza? I know people who doesn't like thin crust pizza but I love it. The pizza is made on a crispy tortilla base and covered with a bed of shredded turkey ham, fresh onion, olives and finished off with stringy mozarella & fresh pomodoro sauce. I think this would make a good sharing dish as well as it's not too filling. I like that it's not too heavy on the cheese yet still flavourful because of the turkey ham, and bursting with ingredients.

Brownie with Ice-Cream | RM12
I've had my fair share of brownie. It's such a simple dessert, yet it's not easy to make a great brownie. I have very simple expectations when it comes to brownies - it needs to be crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. This one hits the nail on the head by being just that! It's nice that they have paired the chocolatey brownie with sweet vanilla ice-cream, granola and strawberries for different textures.

Rose Cheesecake | RM12
This was my favourite dessert from the cafe. The cheesecake is not too sweet and has a lovely mouthfeel. What I love most is the strong rose scent and taste, even though the rose bits are just sprinkled on top of the cake and not baked into it. Two thumbs up!

Japanese Iced Coffee | RM18
This freshly brewed coffee is Ink N Water's signature drink. It is made with Japanese coffee beans, imported directly from Japan! It is served chilled in a coffee pot, and not with ice cubes as ice will dilute the drink. We even got to watch the barista brew this coffee right in front of our very eyes.

According to the barista, the iced coffee is made using the normal drip method whereby the grounded beans is filtered then brewed and slowly dripped onto ice. This ensures the right ratio of coffee and ice to maintain the taste without it becoming bland. The drink is especially fragrant with a lingering bitter taste for me. By the way, if you're an aspiring barista or coffee lover, you can request to watch the INW barista brew coffee or bring your own equipment and try your hand at brewing at their cafe! This gives the cafe that much more of a friendly and homely feel.

You can even request to add fresh milk in your iced coffee and for me, I personally prefer the coffee with added milk as it tastes less acidic.

Cold Brew Coffee | RM12.80 - RM14.80
Besides cold-pressed juice, another specialty of Ink N Water are these cold brew coffees from The Cold Brew Concept Company. Get your choice of americano, latte or mocha and experience the intense body and rich chocolate roasted taste through a straw. The bottle design alone is enough to catch my eye hehe.. The next time I'm back there, I'll definitely order this!

Craft Beers & Ciders
To my knowledge, not many places in JB offers craft beer so it was a treat to find these at Ink N Water. There are so many unique flavours and beer brands that I've yet to come across, they all seem quite interesting!

Ending the post with a hipster shot with the owner Dylan and friends from the media that I met that day XD I've been back to visit Ink N Water a few times since this review and it's always the same relaxing and quiet place to be daily, whether to do work alone, or have a chat with friends. You can have coffee, or hang out till midnight with some alcoholic beverages. I like how the place feels so homely and familiar, and all the food & beverages served are simple yet sincere with their ingredients. No fancy names needed, just real, honest food and service.
INK N WATER
Address: 46, Jalan Pingai, Taman Pelangi, 80400 Johor Bahru, Johor.
Tel: 07-3364766
Email: inknwatermy@gmail.com
Opening Hours: Mon - Sat: 1.00pm - 1.00am, Sun: 12.00pm - 9.00pm
For more information on Ink N Water, check out their:


Disclaimer: Even though the review is sponsored, it is based on my honest personal thoughts, experiences and preference after personally trying out the food and services offered.

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