One restaurant that is truly fascinating is Ikan Bakar Samuperai Selera Bintang, well-known for its grilled fish and Thai cuisine.
It has a simple, open-air interior, and the tantalising aroma of grilled fish in the air will draw you right in. Even on a weekday night, the place was bustling.
Displayed around the restaurant are photos of the dishes on the menu and their names to help patrons decide what to eat, although most local patrons appear to know their favourites already.
Speaking with FMT Lifestyle, the restaurant’s owner, Mohamad Khairuddin Mat Lazim, said the business was started more than 20 years ago by his parents-in-law, and he joined it in 2020. “The dishes are curated by my mother-in-law, who is Thai,” the 31-year-old revealed.
Here are some of the highlights.
The Miang Pla Pao is utterly delicious. The fish – either tilapia or sea bass – is coated with salt and grilled to perfection over charcoal, which lends a tinge of smokiness to the dish.
The meat of the tilapia is soft and delightfully flaky, with a mild sweet taste that is nicely complemented by the salt. The dish comes served with noodles, seafood sauce and fresh lettuce.
The best way to enjoy this dish, according to Khairuddin, is to place a slice of fish on a leaf of lettuce, wrap it and enjoy it with the sauce.
If you’re up for something with a bit more punch, the Samuperai grilled fish would fit the bill as the fish is served with a rich, spicy and piquant sauce that has strong notes of galangal, lemongrass and ginger. It’s delicious.
And if you’re a big on all kinds of seafood, the Thai Mukbang, a heaping platter of prawns, crabs, squid, green mussels and clams, would be a dream come true. You’ll find that getting your hands messy is worth it.
The dish comes served with noodles, dipping sauces, and “somtam”, a Thai salad of green papaya, mango and corn, among other items. It’s really time to indulge.
What can be more Thai than tom yum? If you’re looking to satisfy your craving for tom yum and seafood, the Tom Yum Poktek is a dish worth trying.
A smaller seafood platter is Thai Mukbang. This dish has crabs, green mussels, clams, prawns and squid. Served in a thick, fragrant tom yum gravy with bold flavours, this dish is best savoured with steaming rice.
Another dish with robust flavours is the sea bass Phed Piaw. The fried fish, even on its own, is delicious. Its crispy skin encases tender and moist meat.
Yet, it is the piquant sweet and sour sauce that elevates the dish, being a perfect complement to the subtler flavour of the fish. Topped with chillies, peanuts, onions and lime, each bite is simply heavenly.
As an alternative to seafood, how about giving the Khaomok Rice a try? Khairuddin described it as the Thai version of chicken rice, although some may liken it to biryani.
The dish comes served with fragrant rice that is a perfect pairing to the juicy fried chicken. The chilli sauce is also a highlight here. It’s tangy with just the right amount of kick.
Pair your meal with any of the refreshing fruit juices served and you’ll leave this restaurant smacking your lips with delight.
Learn more about Ikan Bakar Samuperai Selera Bintang here.
Ikan Bakar Samuperai Selera Bintang
1, Sebelah JPJ Bukit Bunga
Kampung Bukit Bunga
17500 Tanah Merah
Kelantan
Business hours:
1pm-12 midnight
3pm-12 midnight (Fridays)
Contact: 017-906 0012