Pasir Penambang (巴西不南邦) is a fishing village just across the river from Kuala Selangor. Adjacent to the jetty is JT Seafood (码头海鲜楼), one of the more prominent restaurants here.

As the name implies, JT Seafood specializes in local seafood dishes. The restaurant is built on stilts over the water’s edge. The open-air dining section allows customers to enjoy scenic views of the river.

JT Seafood has a supply of live crabs. The best cooking style to accentuate the crabs’ freshness is Salted Crabs (盐焗螃蟹, RM58.00). A mallet is provided to crack the hard carapaces.

Next, Fried Tau Chu Baby Shark (鲨鱼仔炒豆酱, RM20.00) has an appetizing spiciness thanks to fermented bean paste. The fish is cut into small pieces so that it is seasoned thoroughly.

Meanwhile, Claypot Drunken Prawns (瓦煲醉虾, RM27.00) are cooked with rice wine to give the dish a lovely aroma. The soup is also infused with jujubes (红枣), wolfberries (枸杞), ginger slivers and shiitake mushrooms.

Tomyam Seafood Soup (冬炎海鲜汤, RM20.00) contains seafood ingredients such as fish, prawns and squids. The soup is extremely spicy that it causes a numbing sensation on the tongue.

The dishes that we savoured at JT Seafood are quite satisfying. Despite being located in a fishing village, the food pricing is not as cheap as one would expect. By the way, JT Seafood does not serve pork.

Address: T-26, Jalan Pasir Penambang, 45000 Kuala Selangor, Selangor
Contact: 03-3289-2917
Business hours: 11:00am-11:00pm
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Like its sister outlet, Bali Hai Seafood Market specializes in live seafood. There are several rows of fish tanks next to the dining area. The restaurant stocks a variety of exotic seafood like Australian Lobsters, Alaskan Spider Crabs and Canadian Geoduck.

Steaming is the best way to appreciate the freshness of grouper. The fish has a firm texture and is flavored with premium soy sauce and ginger slivers. Coriander is added for its refreshing aroma.

The next dish consists of mantis prawns steamed with salt and pepper. Thanks to excellent seasoning, the shrimps are appetizing indeed. I cannot recommend this delicacy highly enough.

Today’s vegetable dish is water spinach with spicy shrimp paste. This Malay recipe is known as “kangkung belacan” (马来风光). Besides the tantalizing spiciness, I also enjoy the silky texture of water spinach.

Last but not least, seafood noodle is fried with prawns, mushrooms, cabbage and scallions. Chili paste is provided as a condiment. Overall, I am satisfied with this dish.

Address: 90, Persiaran Gurney, 10250 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-228-8272
Business hours: 5:00pm-12:00am
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The signature dish of Hainan Orkid Tropica is Kari Kepala Ikan (咖哩鱼头). The restaurant uses wild caught fishes such as grouper. Actually, the restaurant uses the front half of the fish, not just the head. Although walk-ins are allowed, pre-ordering is highly recommended.

Kari Kepala Ikan (咖哩鱼头) is served in a large pan. Our fish head has a gross weight of 3.8 kilograms (3.5 kilograms after removing the gills). Despite the reddish color, the curry is not too spicy. In fact, it is rich in dairy milk and coconut milk. The fish head is cooked with eggplants (brinjals) and okra (lady’s fingers). Chopped shallots and scallions serve as garnishes.

One of our side dishes is Sotong Goreng Tepung (咸蛋炸苏东). The squid rings are coated with light batter, making them extremely easy on the mouth. I feel that salted eggs are not spread evenly; it would be nicer if they were thoroughly mixed with batter.

Another recommended side dish is Tauhu Tumis (红烧豆腐). In this dish, egg tofu is braised with scallions, eggs and savory gravy. I think the amount of scallions used is excessive. I prefer tofu to take a more prominent role.

Moving on, I enjoy the crunchy mouthfeel of Taugeh (豆芽) as it does a great job in cleansing the palate after a heavy meal. The bean sprouts are cooked with scallions and salted fish.

Our meal for 10 people totals to RM290.80 including rice and drinks. Overall, the food is gratifying to my palate. In particular, I find the Kari Kepala Ikan scrumptious to the last morsel. If you ever come to this part of Alor Setar, you should really visit this fine eatery.

Address: Blok D-8A, Taman Setia Jaya, Jalan Langgar, 05460 Alor Setar, Kedah
Contact: 016-411-1162
Business hours: 12:00pm-3:00pm, 4:30pm-10:00pm, closed on Mondays
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Todak Waterfront is a popular eatery next to Pasar Besar Kota Kinabalu. Open in the evening, the open-air place is known for serving seafood at very affordable prices. There are more than 10 stalls operating here.

Raw seafood is displayed on ice in front of each stall. The price quoted is inclusive of cooking. It is common to see stall operators haggling with prospect customers. Most of them speak basic Mandarin since a significant number of visitors come from China.

After much consideration, we settled for stall # 4 called “Gerai Ummi & Family”. This turns out to be a good choice. This stall has a wider variety of seafood including fishes of various colors.

Meanwhile, crustaceans include blue crabs, spiny lobsters, slipper lobsters, tiger prawns, white prawns and much more. Not only are these delicacies larger than usual, they are extremely fresh too!

As for mollusks, we are intrigued by cockles and clams of various sizes. The most prominent one is a sea snail called “melo melo”. It is larger than one’s fist! Melo melo is sometimes called “bailer shell” because it can be used to bail water out of boats.

Our first dish is parrotfish (RM20.00), also known locally as “ikan bayan”. The fish is originally blue in color; the color fades away as the fish is cooked. Parrotfish is named after its parrot-like beak, which it uses to scrape algae off corals. In order to appreciate its delicate texture, we requested for the fish to be steamed with ginger and scallions.

Our spiny lobster (RM112.00) is cut into halves and cooked in two different styles. One half is baked with creamy sauce, while the other half is cooked with ginger and scallions. In both cases, the lobster’s meat is succulent beyond words. It is worth the hassle of prodding every morsel from the shell!

Melo melo (RM17.00) is cut into thin slices and then stir-fried with capsicum and chili peppers. Unfortunately, its rubbery texture does not really appeal to my palate. Nevertheless, I am glad that we have the opportunity to savor this delicacy.

Latok and agar-agar (RM8.00) are two types of seaweed algae. Latok, nicknamed “sea grapes” for obvious reasons, is a popular food among Bajau people. Meanwhile, agar-agar (eucheuma) is often raised in seaweed farms along the coast. The seaweeds are cooked by blanching in boiling water. They are eaten with an extremely spicy sauce prepared from chili peppers and lime.

Coconut (RM5.00 each) is an excellent remedy to quench thirst. Young ones are preferred as the pulp is softer. By the way, the jug of water on the table is not for drinking; it is meant for customers to wash their hands.

The seafood here is unbelievably cheap by West Malaysian standards. This satisfying meal only costs us RM167.00 including rice and drinks! Besides having fresh seafood, the chef’s culinary skill is commendable too. He knows the right amount of seasoning to accentuate the natural flavors of seafood.

Address: Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Contact: 014-626-7383
Business hours: 4:00pm-12:00am
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Jalan Sulaman is a road leading from Kota Kinabalu to Rasa Ria. There are more than two dozen food stalls along the road. The place is very popular among locals as evidenced by many parked cars on both sides of the road. As recommended by a Sabahan foodie, we decided to check out Gerai Sudi Mampir.

Like other nearby stalls, Gerai Sudi Mampir serves Lokan Panggang as its signature dish. Lokan is a type of shellfish that is commonly found in mangrove swamps. It is substantially larger than regular clams. Lokan comes in two sizes: medium and large. The latter is generally preferred.

Lokan Panggang (RM15.00 for large size) is grilled over burning firewood. Half of the shell is removed to expose the juicy flesh inside. Lokan is seasoned with a special homemade sauce that is extremely spicy yet addictive. The taste is exquisite indeed!

As for drinks, young coconuts are excellent in quenching thirst. There are also alternative choices like Puding Kelapa (coconut pudding) and Coconut Shake.

We opted for Kelapa Bakar (RM5.00). Using its shell as a pot, coconut water is served piping hot. I must say that cooked coconut is more aromatic than uncooked ones. Warm coconut water certainly casts the liquid in a different light.

Address: Jalan Sulaman, 89200 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Contact: 016-814-7202
Business hours: 9:00am-8:00pm
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Jin Jin Foods Lintas (津津佳肴) is a Chinese-style seafood restaurant in Lintas Square. The eatery is mostly patronized by locals. It is not widely known among tourists, at least not yet.

Most dining tables are placed at the open-air area. The restaurant also has a small air-conditioned section. As a seafood restaurant, Jin Jin Foods has live seafood in fish tanks. However, seafood choices are limited compared to larger restaurants in Kota Kinabalu city center.

Curry Leaf Crabs (甘香蟹, RM47.00) are extremely fresh. This explains why the crab meat is scrumptious to the last morsel. The dish is wok-fried with “kam heong” spices and curry leaves. The pungent aroma is appetizing indeed.

Scalded Prawns (白灼虾, RM38.00) is the best way to enjoy fresh shrimps. Cooked with minimal seasoning, the juicy prawns present their intrinsic sweetness in the most delightful way. Soy sauce is provided, but I prefer to enjoy the prawns without condiments.

We ordered Coconut (椰子, RM4.00 each) for drinks. The cooling coconut water inside is an excellent remedy for quenching thirst. Unfortunately, the layer of pulp inside the fruit is extremely thin.

In summary, the food at Jin Jin Foods exceeds my expectations by a considerable margin. As the restaurant mainly caters to locals, the food price is pretty reasonable.

Address: 18-0, Lintas Square, Jalan Lintas, 88300 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Contact: 013-863-2299
Business hours: 11:00am-11:00pm
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Our meal begins with Steamed Silver Catfish (清蒸巴丁王, RM10.00 per 100 grams), which is caught from the rivers of Pahang. The fish has an oily texture; the belly contains lots of fat. The fish should be eaten when hot, otherwise its “earthly flavor” (土味) will kick in.

Vietnam Prawns (越南虾, RM100.00) are served in a claypot with tofu puffs (豆腐卜), eggplant and yardlong beans. Unfortunately, the curry is too watered-down; it does not have the creamy consistency that I was expecting.

Deep-Fried Meat Rolls (香炸肉卷, RM40.00) are made of minced pork. The taste is reasonably good thanks to the lovely seasoning.

My favorite dish today is Fermented Bean Curd Fried Chicken (南乳炸鸡, RM40.00). Red fermented bean curd (南乳) gives the chicken a savory taste. It is great that the marinade penetrates the chicken thoroughly.

Sweet & Sour Pork (咕噜肉, RM40.00) is delectable too. This stir-fried dish is a crowd favorite in most Chinese restaurants.

Double Variety Tofu (双根豆腐, RM30.00) is served with broccoli and oyster sauce. I enjoy the lovely texture of braised tofu sheets.

As for green vegetables, Stir-Fried Dragon Vegetable (清炒龙菜, RM35.00) is quite fibrous and may takes some time to chew thoroughly. We also ordered a plate of Stir-Fried Amaranth (清炒苋菜, RM25.00).

Although the seafood dishes here fail to impress, most of the other dishes are well prepared. In terms of affordability, the pricing here is pretty exorbitant considering the open air setting. By the way, Restoran Siu Siu has another outlet at Sungai Besi near the Sempang Air Force Base.

Address: 15-11, Lorong Syed Putra Kiri, Taman Persiaran Desa, 50460 Kuala Lumpur
Contact: 016-309-8038
Business hours: 11:00am-10:00pm, closed on Mondays
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We ordered Thai-Style Fish (暹罗鱼肉, RM36.00), which contains two slices of snapper. The dish is served with Thai-style curry, lemongrass and tomatoes. The curry is mildly sour and is quite appetizing.

Kung Pao Chicken (宫保鸡丁, RM10.00) is succulent to the last morsel. The bite-size chicken nuggets are stir-fried with dried chilies and shallots.

Dongpo Pork (东坡肉, RM12.00) is infused with rice wine, making the dish fragrant indeed. The pork belly has a nice mixture of fat and lean meat.

In summary, the dishes in Kedai Makanan Huat Siong Seafood are above par. The pricing here is also pretty reasonable. This explains why most customers are locals.

Address: 355, Jalan Bersatu 1, Taman Bersatu, 06600 Kuala Kedah, Kedah
Contact: 012-475-7784
Business hours: 6:30pm-10:00pm, closed on Mondays
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