At Restoran Nelayan Terapung Ujong Batu, Butterworth, hot crispy Fried Pomfret wins hands down!
My friend Kak Izza brought me to this place, and what a lovely surprise!
You can imagine my face when I heard that we were heading to Restoran Nelayan.
I have an islander mentality.
Any location across the bridge to Butterworth is TOO far.
My friends on the Mainland think nothing of making a trip to Penang.
And those who live on the island, like me, tend to get lost driving.
Kak Izza: It’s easy; drive over more often, and you can recognize LAH landmarks.
Don’t worry; you can’t get lost in Malaysia.
Kak Izza says a few restaurants have a hot fried pomfret fish menu.
The most famous one is Restoran Nelayan Terapung Ujong Batu (closest to the Penang Ferry terminal)
Pro Tip: Arrive at the venue early to pick up all the dishes first.
If you had come close to 3 p.m., most side dishes would have run out, but you can still get a fried pomfret or two.
Where is Restoran Nelayan Terapung Ujong Batu?
The restaurant is difficult to find if you haven’t been here before and don’t know how to get there.
It is near the chain ferry in Butterworth.
Location of Restoran Nelayan Terapung Ujong Batu
Restoran Nelayan is on the banks of the Perai River.
It would be helpful to drive along a gravel road under the new bridge crossing the Perai River, which is not far from the ferry terminal.
So if you think you will get lost in Butterworth looking for the restaurant, try using Google Maps or Waze.
I prefer Google Maps for better accuracy; you can download and save the map if you drive offline.
When you see the sign, you drive below the flyover and turn on the small Kampung road.
Ambiance at Restoran Nelayan Terapung
The open-sided restaurant is not air-conditioned.
The choice seats are at the tables near the river, where you can have a good view of the river, sampans, and mangrove trees.
You can enjoy the breeze as you take your meal.
If you love to eat by the river, Restoran Nelayan is the place for you.
The place is a simple lunch stop full of local vibes.
Most customers are local Malays, and I knew I was lucky to experience authentic northern Nasi Melayu (Malay food).
Restoran Nelayan is operated by families of the local fisherman’s co-op; hence, seafood is fresh and the daily catch of the day!
It is a great place to tuck in local Nasi Melayu.
You can enjoy the breeze and view as you take your meal.
Hot Fried Bawal Menu
The top menu item is the hot crispy fried pomfret fish and other village items.
The spread of dishes is extensive.
Food is offered buffet style and is regularly replenished by freshly cooked items.
Fresh seafood consists mainly of fish, squid, and prawns, which are prepared in various ways.
The specials include “instant cook” curried, deep-fried, or grilled like Ikan Bakar. 😀
Various curries and ulam (Fresh Herbs and Salads) are available with stir-fried vegetables.
The fried and grilled Fish is eaten with locally prepared sauces.
The Sambal Belacan (pounded Chili Paste) and air assam (a dipping sauce made with Tamarind) are equally delicious.
These are charged according to the quantity you take.
Kak Izza: Dory, the fried Ikan Bawal, is freshly always caught off the day by the anglers. You must try this if you love fried Fish.
There were too many times that I wanted to try.
- Kerabu Magga (Green Mango Salad)
- Rendang Daging (Beef Rendang)
- Ayam Goreng (Fried Chicken)
- Udang Masak Lemak Cili Padi (Spicy Prawns in Coconut Milk)
- Sotong Masak Lemak Cili Padi (Spicy Squid in Coconut Milk)
Lots of dishes for your selection.
L to R: Kerabu Mango, Sotong and more Sotong!
Lunchtime at this restaurant is very popular as many people who love fried Fish come to enjoy this item.
The staff is friendly and helpful, speaks English, and provides good service.
Don’t go too late, as food choices will be limited.
L to R: Dory’s lunch, the Bawal Goreng and Kak Izza’s.
Cost of Lunch
Lunch is about RM10 per person, depending on what you order.
If you want to budget, you can look at the menu on the wall before ordering.
Seafoods like prawns, crab, and squids are not cheap.
Hot, crispy Fried Pomfret is about RM10 for a small fish and RM20 for a larger Fish.
Other types of Fish range from RM3 to RM6
The Ikan Bawal Goreng is very tasty.
If you want to budget, you can look at the menu on the wall before ordering.
Although deeply fried, it tastes juicy, and the Fish is fresh. If you love the crispy bits, the tails and fins are great, and you can even munch on the fish head.
- Prawns are RM3 to RM5
- Squids are RM5 to RM10
The only drawback is that the place can be hot at noon, and the smoke from the BBQ station billows into the dining area.
Freshly grilled fish and Ikan Bawal Goreng with Sambal Belacan, Air Assam, and Black Sweet Soy Sauce condiments.
Car Parking at Restoran Nelayan Terapung
There are ample free car parks on the restaurant compound.
The best is to go early and find a good parking spot as there is only a tiny area near some trees for shade.
Ample car parking spaces if you go early!
Restoran Nelayan Terapung Ujong Batu
Address: Bagan Dalam, 12100 Butterworth, Penang
Hours: 10.00 AM to 3.00 PM (Closed Sundays)
Tel: 04-331 7484
Facebook: Restoran Nelayan Terapung Ujong Batu
