We had a simple, Malay-style seafood dinner at ๐ช๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ป๐ด ๐ง๐ผ๐ธ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ป๐ด in Tanjung Bungah last night. The somewhat hidden-from-view eatery was started by an old fisherman, Tok Mat, for his son and daughter-in-law. Both Pak Murad and his wife, Kak Rahmah, have had two-decades-long experience each cooking in hotels in Penang and Singapore, before they decided to run the seafood restaurant here.
Like most Malay eateries in the vicinity, itโs a simple zinc-roofed structure set amidst waving coconut palm trees, and a small stream which leads out to the sea. A small dilapidated bridge leads to the eatery from the sandy space where we parked our car.
Their eatery looks out to a secluded beach lined with fishing boats, and a view of the Floating Mosque in the horizon.
What we had there:
Ikan bawal set, with rice, ulam, kuah gulai ikan & sambal belacan (RM25/ยฃ4.50/US$5.90). This consisted of a freshly-caught white pomfret, simply pan-fried and served with a bouquet of โulamโ (Malay herb-and-vegetable salad, with a spicy sambal dip & a dark soy sauce/chili dip on the side), steamed white rice, and a small bowl of fish curry sauce. Itโs very rustic and simple, basic fare, but totally reflective of a Malay village meal.
Nasi goreng kampung (RM6/ยฃ1/ US$1.40) - this literally translates as โvillage fried riceโ, and was simply fried rice with small dried anchovies (โIkan bilisโ), springs of fresh coriander, and shallots, topped with a fried egg.
Sotong tepung goreng (RM15/ยฃ2.70/US$3.55) - batter-fried calamari rings, with sweet Thai chili sauce. What sets the version here apart from most other eateries we had was the freshness of the produce: most of the seafood used here were caught the same day, perhaps a few hours before. Nothing is frozen, but used immediately. The ones here were so light & tender, we finished the whole plate in minutes.
Butter prawns (RM25/ยฃ4.50/US$5.90) - this was the only item on their menu without a Malay name (it would have been called โudang mentegaโ otherwise). The use of English for this item signified itโs a โWestern-styleโ dish, rather than a Malay one. But the preparation was totally Malay-nised: crisp-fried shell-on prawns smothered in a buttery-creamy sauce, topped with crisp-fried shallots and chopped scallions.
Like all other items on their menu, the dish was treated with the lightest touch of spice or condiments, so as to let the freshness and natural sweetness of the prawns to shine through. Utterly scrumptious.
Mee Udang (RM25/ยฃ4.50/US$5.90) - Malay-style prawn noodle, which has a tomato-based gravy. The version here tasted blander than those weโd had elsewhere, which was surprising, seeing that the eateryโs name was translated as โTok Matโs Prawn Noodle Stallโ - so this was supposed to be their signature dish.
But the dish was rescued by their very fresh, meaty, large prawns.
The generous husband-and-wife team runs ๐ช๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ป๐ด ๐ง๐ผ๐ธ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ป๐ด with strong, steady hands, and warm, friendly smiles. Owner-chef Kak Rahmah (pictured below) was a large, genial woman with a gentle demeanour.
Address
Warung Tok Mat Mee Udang
Jalan Tanjung Bungah (near junction with Jalan Chan Siew Teong), Tanjung Bungah, 11200 Penang, Malaysia.
Tel: +60 11-2401 4303
Opening hours: 6pm till late (last orders: 10pm) Tue to Sun. Closed on Mondays.
