Parit Jawa Sea Food Haven

Last night we brought along our special guest, Santiran from Sabah to Parit Jawa, a fishing village in Muar for seafood. It also was to celebrate Ah Ping’s birthday. Ah Ping, at 75 is a man who when provoked could stand his ground in a shouting match, particularly after a few beers.

We started from BP at 6.40 pm arriving at Parit Jawa at 7.25, a forty-five minute drive. The restaurant is not much to shout about, in terms of its surrounding; it borders on the untidy. But being in a fishing village, the restaurant is guaranteed of a regular fresh supply of seafood. As the night wore on the restaurant was packed with customers many of whom were from Batu Pahat. Ridiculous as it may seem, people will drive long distances to seek out good food.

The bill came to about RM 172.

Restaurant Hock Kee Yen

Our special guest, Santiran, from Sabah

The birthday boy, Ah Ping, in the middle

The first three dishes

Fried ikan lidah or literally 'tongue fish'

Spinach fried with diced century egg

Braised village chicken with onions, garlic, ginger and black sauce

Hot, spicy prawns and squids in assam pedas

Prawn and squid

Steamed tongkang fish in light sauce topped with fried crispy salted chinese radish, shallot, garlic and diced pork fat

Steamed ikan pari or stingray in light sauce topped with fried crispy salted chinese radish, shallot, garlic and diced pork fat

Squid rings and prawns fried with sambal and petai and onions

The stingray skin is a favourite among customers

50 sticks of 'otak-otak' spicy fish paste stuffed in coconut leaves and barbecued over a fire. 40 sen a stick

Fleshy otak-otak

The bill