Kampung Styled Seafood, Alai
September 25th, 2008.
Categories: Eating..., Eating... In Malacca
Instead of bringing my outstation friends for overrated and ridiculously priced Nyonya food, I prefer to bring them to this small fishing village in Alai for kampung styled seafood.
It is not exactly in town, but rather outskirt and a good old 20 to 25 minutes drive is required. Moreover, one needs to go through small roads and easily unnoticed junctions before arriving at the restaurant.
Upon entering the restaurant, you will see a big BBQ pit and a stall filled with seafood that are mostly just caught / brought up from the fishing boats. All sorts of fishes, clams, shells, prawns and even crabs (Only flower crabs though.) for you to choose from. They are just one step below from selling live seafood or rearing them in aquariums. The tray is reloaded every three to four hours, about two rounds per night, and the second batch of seafood also comes from the returning fishing boat.
The price is clearly written on the whiteboard hanging above the seafood. However, there’s no need to look at the whiteboard as it is reasonably priced or rather cheap, seriously. Once you finish selecting the seafood, you have to then decide on the cooking style by telling the guy managing the stall.
Instead of ordering a glass for each person, I reckon it is much cheaper to order a jug of whatever beverage you want.
Also, they will serve you plates of their specially made sauce, using onions, soy sauce, lime and etc.. Not spicy at all, to me.
Together with the special sauce, a tray loaded with steaming hot nasi lemak is put on the table at your expense. Each packet is priced at RM0.50-RM0.60, if not mistaken. It is really small and I can finish the whole packet in less than five spoons. Normally, I have to eat like six to eight packets each time I have my dinner at this place. It is not those super fragrant kind of nasi lemak, just good enough to gobble down together with your seafood.
Again, the otak-otak here is no where close to the Chinese’s counterparts in Muar but definitely far better than those what you get from hypermarkets.
There are many styles for you to choose from, goreng tepung, goreng sambal, masak kunyit dan cili padi, bakar, bakar sambal, sweet and sour, steamed and etc.. You can mix and match for all the dishes, but I reckon the prawns should be grilled only. Only that way, you can taste the natural taste of a fresh prawn.
I have been patronizing this particular restaurant for almost three to four years. No matter how much I order, the price per head always come to an average of RM25 or a maximum of RM30, be it a group of three or four or even up to six or eight people. The price always linger around that figure.
Some prefer the further and slightly more expensive Serkam or the nearer to town but slightly expensive Umbai, I have tried both and I still come back to Alai’s. Considering the money I am paying and the distance just to drive there, Alai offers the best value among all three. I have brought a number of outstation friends here and so far, if not, all of them enjoyed the meal.
Related posts:
- Revisitng Pantai Seafood Village
- Pantai Seafood Village, Round 3
- Stuffed Crab Kemaman Restaurant And Pak Su Seafood Restaurant
- Capitol Hainan Chicken Rice And Specky Guy Seafood Restaurant
- Thai Express And Pantai Seafood Village
September 25th, 2008 02:37
Dude, map map map map… :P
September 25th, 2008 10:28
Your jug of lime juice, I thought that was for washing
hands after eating prawns / crabs -_-”
Soli Soli !! Sekali after reading the post baru I know it
is actually a jug or bucket of drinkable, no ?
September 25th, 2008 11:59
MAPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
September 25th, 2008 13:40
The nasi lemak so small…but price is ok. Kuantan has similar restaurants like this especially for nasi lemak. One is right in front of our RMAF and another near the Kuantan stadium. Tanjung Lumpur district are full of seafood. Kemaman is famous for its seafood as well. In addition to that, they also have their ever famous keropok lekor and otak-otak…..if you do plan on coming down someday, do drop me a mail. Id be more than happy to take you around….cheers
September 25th, 2008 16:14
wahh….so tempting…
bring me go bring me go….
September 25th, 2008 21:03
Bring me go when I’m in Malacca, ok!
September 26th, 2008 10:21
Ya la that place no red crab as the Muslims are not allowed to eat that type… coz it can live on the land and also in the water. But I prefer red crabs… Alai is good. I like there more than other famous places too….
September 26th, 2008 10:46
aiyoh! i am so so so hungry, looking at the ikan bakar and the bamboo lala. i notice for restaurants like these, they usually charge according to the head instead of the food amount. lets say 10 ppl swim into the restaurant, they have a total bill in their head d, say like rm30/head. it is always like tht for me!
September 26th, 2008 13:42
Wowwwwwwwwwwwwwww
Delicious~~~:P
September 26th, 2008 19:16
mr jason im a new reader of ur blog here.i would to say eventho this is out of topic that theres a Jap res in gajah berang area which i think serves the best Jap food in mlk.The name of the rest is Kokiya.Its situated at the Jaymuda building opposite the Gajah Berang Secondary School.Would be happy if you could do a review here cos i really think it deserve one hehe.
September 26th, 2008 21:59
Yup…Alai…perfect setting too. By the way, the ’special sauce’ is a well known Malay sauce called ‘Kicap Tamin’ that gives a sweet sourish taste when mixed with lime and shallots, excellent for grilled seafood.
September 27th, 2008 02:54
The Dude with Blue Jersey : It’s easier to guide you there on the phone rather than reading the map. Haha! Give me a call whenever you feel like going.
Kai Hong : Where got people wash hand with sirap limau ais? :|
Edwin : Call me! :D
Calvin “Rainman” Soo : I know who to look for when I am in Kuantan. LOL.
Nkwai : Come Malacca and I shall bring you there.
Bryan : This place is always in my to-bring list, so, don’t worry.
Allison : Actually, there are Malays who eat the mud crab, according to some of my Malay friends. It depends on their preference actually.
Xin : Nolah, this one they charge according to how much you take or per kg. :D Just so happen the price always linger around RM25. :P
Emerline : It is.
Josh : Jaymuda is it? Will check it out when I have more money. :P
Martz : Oh, thanks for the info. I didn’t know that as I only know how to eat. Haha!
September 28th, 2008 12:24
Thanks for sending me again the Show’s pic. Thanks:P
September 28th, 2008 15:50
Ehem…very near my place! haha…Should call me out when u come next round!! haha
I used to eat here during my school days with family…later on we found Umbai is better (because Alai there too much of flies last time, not sure nowadays)…and now we changed to Crystal Bay Ikan Bakar one. Perhaps you should try Crystal Bay one also not bad. Then you compare which one nicer…hehe
September 28th, 2008 18:18
I happened to hop into your blog. It’s very interesting! The first photo is very nicely taken. :) The food looks so tempting! I’m missing Malaysian Seafood so much… otak-otak.. awwww!!!
September 28th, 2008 18:53
lai lai lai, lai Alai
September 28th, 2008 22:48
Alai in Thai means what ahaha
September 29th, 2008 00:59
Emerline : You’re welcome.
Yan Er : But I don’t have your number. Haha!
My friend said Umbai is much cheaper and tastier also, but I didn’t have much good impression of the place during my last visit.
Crystal Bay? The one further in? Hmm… There aren’t much flies whenever I dine in Alai, so I didn’t feel the flies are really a problem to me.
Will check it out. ;)
Ingchia : Thanks! Hehe. Do you feel like coming back to Malaysia for a holiday now?
Simon Seow : Lai Lai Lai! :D
Michy : Oo… Now I learned another new word. Haha.
September 30th, 2008 01:14
OMG OMG OMG..!!
i miss ikan bakar..!! i want eat..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 30th, 2008 23:47
i have tried the similar 1 in Umbai…but seems like u prefer this…LOL
btw…gonna see u 2molo oo…hehe
October 1st, 2008 01:23
wah lau, all these food ……… tak boleh tahan la
October 3rd, 2008 13:28
Lol, Alai Ikan Bakar…i know the place…nice mouth-watering food yeah !!!
October 3rd, 2008 22:22
Vian : Come Malacca and we go together, ok?
Hiew : Yes, prefer this. Hehe.
Johnny Ong : Haha. Go out and eat?
Daryl : Are you a Malaccan too?
October 4th, 2008 09:07
laparlah *grok*grok*
October 6th, 2008 04:15
Ahlost : Haha. Pergi makan!
October 9th, 2008 09:24
wld be nice to try this place out or other similar spots …… at a fraction of a cost compared to established restaurants or known makan area
October 9th, 2008 17:25
luks tempting lah..anw im gg over to malacca end of tis month..do u have e exact address of this place?wld luv to try out dis place since we are settling on seafood for dinner!
btw bro, is dis seafood place halal?
October 9th, 2008 20:55
Honny Ong : Yeah, but you have to come to Malacca first.
Jumirah : I don’t have the address and also, the place is kinda at the outskirt of Malacca. Not that easy to go if you don’t know where you are heading. However, you can give me a call and I shall direct you there. Yes, it’s halal and its operated by a Malay family.
October 10th, 2008 11:34
I remembered I’ve been there long long long long time ago, when I was still in secondary… Miss the food lar..how to get there ar? :p
October 10th, 2008 22:48
Jys : You been there too! Haha. Nice! Don’t worry. Come Malacca and give me a call, I shall direct you there.
October 14th, 2008 14:39
nice photos
October 14th, 2008 20:44
Lil prince’s mum : Thank you.