Jien and I have been patronizing Alor Akar Seafood in Kuantan for more than a decade especially when we started doing our food hunts outside of Klang Valley. This sought after establishment in Kuantan has it fair share of regulars (and naysayers) but one thing’s for sure – it’s perpetually crowded.
Alor Akar Seafood in Kuantan
Even during weekdays, expect to queue for a table if you don’t call ahead to book. Also, it’s wise to pre-book their signature baked salted chicken as they run out really quickly. I’ve learnt my lesson over the years so on our last visit, I made sure I booked a table and the chicken.
The crowd at Alor Akar Seafood starts from as early as 5.30pm when they open so if you’re not big on chaos, you might find the chaos overwhelming. It was our first time dining there with our two little ones and they were rather distracted by the chaos and chatter.
Steamed three-coloured egg
We ordered the salted egg yolk squid, steamed three-coloured egg, tofu with minced pork and salted fish, Thai-style steamed tilapia, baked salted chicken and kam heong lala. Way too much for us to finish, but it’s been years since our last visit to Alor Akar Seafood so we decided to go all out.
Kam Heong Lala
Salted Egg Yolk Squid
Since Kuantan is known for seafood, the lala was fresh and meaty. I liked that the gravy is aromatic and spicy, which complemented the lala well. We enjoyed the salted egg yolk squid as the squid was tender and the coating of salted egg yolk was generous. Even the kids liked this.
Tofu with minced pork and salted fish
An Alor Akar specialty
One of the must-order items at Alor Akar Seafood is the tofu with minced pork and salted fish, and the taste hasn’t changed since our first visit many years ago. The gravy is savoury with a pungent flavour and aroma from the salted fish – appetising and good with white rice.
Baked salted chicken
We all enjoyed the baked salted chicken, which tasted like a cross between herbal chicken and Ipoh salt-baked chicken. In fact, I like Alor Akar’s version better since it combines the best of both worlds. The chicken is juicy and tender; even the breast is cooked nicely so it’s not dry at all.
Thai-style steamed tilapia
The Thai-style steamed tilapia comes highly recommended by the staff – not my favourite fish to eat since I don’t fancy the “muddy” smell that tilapia fish have but Alor Akar Seafood cleverly masked it with their Thai-style gravy, which tasted more like assam fish gravy in my opinion.
Crowded at 6pm
Service is almost non-existent during peak hours (which is all the time) and don’t expect them to be hospitable or polite. The staff there are always in a hurry so it’s hard to get their attention, even when paying for the bill. We paid about RM170 for all the above which is reasonable.
Food is good and prices are affordable. Service however, isn’t great so keep that in mind.
It’s wise to order everything at one go because the waiting time for add-on dishes can be painfully long. So long as you keep that in mind and brace yourself for non-existent service, I reckon you’ll like what Alor Akar Seafood has to offer in terms of food.
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Ambiance: 5.5/10
Price: 7/10
Food: 7.5/10 (non-halal)
Verdict: Good, hearty dishes without denting the wallet.
Alor Akar Seafood Restaurant
Lot 7695 & 7696,
Jalan Kubang Buaya,
Taman Mariana,
25300 Kuantan.
Tel: 09-568 0720
Business hours: 4pm till 11pm
(closed Monday)