Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Highly Recommended)
Address: 94, Jalan Dato Sulaiman, Taman Century, 80250 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Malaysia
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/RUggMYdHtnh5eFrQ9
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)
Popiah = RM8.00 for 2 rolls
Sambal Kangkong (Small) = RM11.00
Ikan Pari Bakar (RM11.00 per 100g) = RM34.00
SST 6% = RM2.70
Do take note that this Place only accepts Cash or Wireless Payment. Debit / Credit Card Payments are Not Available.
Here is the Full Menu of the Eatery/Restaurant.Prices are Accurate as of the Date of the Post.
This has got to be one of the More Famous Eateries in Taman Abad that is always being featured by Multiple Food Blogs and Food Influencers. The Actual Place is an Old Looking Non-Airconditioned Seafood Restoran that looks like it has been around for Many Years at least.
Because this Eatery is Famous, I specifically visited this on a Friday Weekday. There weren't much Customers around 5.22pm when I visited, although by 5.51pm there was a Sudden Swell of Customers. By around 6.10pm when I left, it wasn't Full House, but was definitely starting to fill up. Interestingly when I came back much later to observe them at 8.20pm, the Whole Place was Crowded already.
Even More Impressive was that all these Customers were probably Locals too as I don't think I saw any Singapore Cars nearby. Not Touristy at all, this is a Place that even the Locals visit. I can imagine the Crowd Level during Weekends to be even more Power.
The Eatery itself does not have any Menu Booklet per se, so you do need to be at least familiar with how to order Seafood. This might be a tad Challenging if you are a Foreigner. That said, there are also No Issues with Service as the Malay Lady who took my Order was Very Friendly and Welcoming and could speak Decent English.
She was so Patient and Polite that even if you don't know how to order, it will also probably not be an issue. (Provided you don't come during their Peak Crowded Hours of course) Anyway it took 5 Mins for the Popiah, 8 Mins for the Sambal Kangkong and 11 Mins for the Ikan Bakar. Everything was served up within 11 Mins.
Popiah = RM8.00 for 2 rolls
Before I feature their Main Dish, I feel I have to talk about this first. Yes, if you have eaten in a Ikan Bakar Place, this is probably an Unusual Item to order. This was what I initially thought too, but when I saw Multiple Good Reviews about this by Multiple Google Reviewers I couldn't help but give it a try.
The Popiah is actually sold by a Separate Standalone Food Stall that is different from the Seafood Location manned by a Very Friendly and Adorable Makcik. Even before eating it, I was immediately impressed visually when it was served up. The 2 Rolls that I ordered looked Quite Large with a Total of 4 Cuts each, and they were sprinkled with a Generous Helping of Crispy Goreng Goreng Flour.
And its not actually a Conventional Popiah wrapped using Popiah Skin. Its an Even Higher Level Version like a Pack of Veggies wrapped using Seaweed like some sort of Faux Sushi Roll. When I took a bite out of it, I immediately understood why this was so Highly Raved.
Upon sinking my teeth in, there was an Immediate Juicy Explosion of an Assortment of Fresh Tasting Veggie Slices/Strips all soaked in a Sweetish Cream with an Additional Crunch for even More Fried Goreng Pieces within.
This was an Amazing Blend of Cooling Fresh, Clean, Sweetish and Crispy all rolled into one that delivered a Terrific Playful Bite Texture and More Importantly was a Perfect Palette Cleanser for the More ้ๅฃๅณ Sambal Kangkong and Ikan Bakar later.
Quality of the Sambal
Before I describe the 2 Main Dishes, I have to touch upon this because of course this Sambal is the SOUL. Robust with a Grittiness, this was Saltish with a Strong Presence of Haebee. Oh I love Sambal that whack lots of Haebee like this. Sedap! Damn Solid Sambal Base, it was Spicy, but also Not Overly So, just the Right Level of Spicy Bite to kiss your Tongue.
Malaysia seldom disappoint with their Quality of Sambal and this is No Different. This is a Good Solid Robust Level of Sambal that you won't go wrong with. I've personally made Sambal myself and I could tell that there is definitely alot of Effort and Hard Work poured into this. With such a a Solid Sambal Foundation, I have 100% Confidence that the 2 Main Dishes that uses it extensively ๅบ่ฏฅๅทฎไธๅฐๅช้ๅป.
Sambal Kangkong (Small) = RM11.00
Ordered this because why not. Amount given doesn't feel Stingy for the Price. Clean Tasting with No Sandy, this was Very Oily but also Shiok to Eat. Its the More Wet Wet type of Sambal Kangkong but its also Not Nua Nua type with a Decent Veggie Crunch.
I personally prefer a More Dry Rendition of this Dish but this isn't too bad although it is more suitable to eat with Rice, not eaten Plain. Their Robust Sambal totally works for me. Not Super Amazing, but a Decent Sambal Kangkong.
Ikan Pari Bakar (RM11.00 per 100g) = RM34.00
Ever since I first ordered Ikan Bakar WITHOUT Sambal slathered on it sometime in the past, I thought this is a Good Way to test how Fresh a Stingray actually is and to gauge a Ikan Bakar Eatery's Culinary Standard.
Hahaha because anything slathered with Sambal is sure to taste nice whether the Actual Stingray is Fresh or Not no? As such I specifically ask them to cook this separately with Sambal put at a side.
The Resulting Dish is Impressive. Without the Sambal, the Original Stingray itself was Soft, Tender and Actually Melt in Mouth Quality. I love the Nice Savouriness and Slight Saltiness it had. Zero Unpleasant Fishiness at all, the Whole Thing went down so Easy. Heck this Stingray was so Clean Tasting, I didn't even bother to add their Already Good Sambal on it or even squeeze any Lime for that matter. That's how Clean Tasting it was.
I'm no Stingray Expert, but this at least tells me that this is a Legit Fresh Stingray without the Need to hide behind any Sambal. Of course adding both Sambal and Lime enhances the taste. Eating that Fresh Seaweed Popiah really helps alot in Reducing any ๆฒน่
ป Tremendously and works Brilliantly as a Palette Cleanser.
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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts
I totally understand why Many Google Reviewers raved about this despite it not a Common Item that People would usually order in a Ikan Bakar Eatery. It worked Beautifully as a Fresh and Clean Palette Cleanser providing a Juicy Sweetish Shot of Veggies that paired very well with the rest of the ้ๅฃๅณ Dishes. Nicely Done, don't miss this out when you are here!
At the Price of RM11.00 (S$3.60) was Acceptable for this Sambal Kangkong. Whether you like this Dish or not really depends on whether you like this Sambal obviously and I reckon most people should have no issues with it as long as you enjoy a Haebee Based Sambal.
The Kangkong itself is the Wetter Type. It was Clean, No Sandy, and Not Nua Nua Slimy. My Preference for a Sambal Kangkong is the Drier Type but I also have not much issues with this one.
At the Price of RM11.00 (S$3.55) per 100g for their Signature Ikan Pari Bakar, mine came up to RM34.00 (S$11.00) which was Acceptable and Affordable for the Size I got. What I was Most Impressed with was How Legit Fresh, Tender and Melt in Mouth the Actual Stingray was even when Not Slathered in Sambal.
This is Really Impressive for me because there is No Need for it to hide behind the Sambal as how Ikan Bakar are usually served. In fact it was So Clean Tasting that if I didn't need to eat for the Review to test, I would have EASILY finished it without any Sambal or even Lime Juice.
If you are someone who enjoy Ikan Bakar, try ordering it WITHOUT the Sambal all over the Place to really test how good the Eatery really is. Doing this can also let you gauge the Grilling ๅๅคซ of the Cook. In terms of Value, Taste, Freshness and Quality, this Ikan Bakar easily passes all my Tests with Flying Colours.
Why am I giving my Highest Score for this Place?
Of course my Highest Score is given not only for Taste and Value but more importantly Customer Service Level. The Friendly Makcik that manned the Popiah Stall was Super Adorable and that Malay Lady who took my order was so Friendly, Patient and Welcoming that I faced Zero Issues when ordering from her.
Even when they had No Menu available, I reckon even Foreign Tourists who is Unfamiliar with how to order Seafood in a South-East Asia context would probably have no issues here. (Do visit them during Non-Peak Hours lah obviously)
I can confirm that this Place really is as Popular as its being described in the Various Food Blogs that has been written. Even on a Weekday Friday Evening it was pretty much Almost Full House with the Locals at 8.20pm as you can see, so I would expect Weekend Crowds to be even more Crowded.
One of the Easiest Top Scores I've given, I have absolutely no issues Highly Recommending this Eatery to anyone who is here in Taman Abad. This Place does live up to its Reputation indeed. Don't forget to order their Popiahs! They really are an Excellent Palette Cleanser and pair very well with the More Heavy ้ๅฃๅณ Dishes here.
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