Ikan Bakar @ Umbai, Melaka

We went back to Melaka for a wedding and staying for the night at my in-laws in Alor Gajah.

Decided to have our dinner at Umbai. I could not think when was the last time we had ikan bakar so we decide to visit.

From Alor Gajah to Umbai takes more than an hour although it is just 27 km away. But thanks to Melaka dozens of traffic lights it really testing our patience. It was unbrlirvable sight. At 10 pm, the place is totally jammed pack with visitors from all over. From Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. To get a parking space is just like a wrestle in a Cage of Doom. You have to fight for the space. We were lucky enough to find a space in front of the restaurant.

10 pm with still long queue of customers.

This shop located at the end of the road, just beside the jetty to Pulau Besar. The restaurant name is "Ikan Bakar Paramesware". I am still at shock when seeing the queue is termendously long. It is a amazing when you know these people travel for 200 to 300 km just for dinner and they still have to queue for the food.Amazing!!!.

So I join in the fun to queue. For tonight, I choose Ikan Jenahak (Masak 3 rasa), Ikan Siakap @ SeaBass(Sweet and Sour), Squid(Masak tepung goreng), Prawns (Buttered) and Otak-Otak @ Fish paste.

Golden Snapper. Great fish for deep fried or any cooking like curry.

Ikan Jenahak @ Golden Snapper to cook into 3Rasa. 3 Rasa means three different taste which include sweet, sour and spice(chilly). The fish was deep fried to a perfection. It was deep fried just nice where it still maintain the juice of the fish and not dried up by the oil. Sucklen fish meat with sweet juice of freshness still remain in the fish. Recommended to choose the fish and 3 rasa cook.

Ikan Siakap @ SeaBass cook into Sweet and sour. I believe they have the art of deep frying the fish. Same goes to this Seabass where it juice and meat maintain it's originality. But sweet sour is a bit lame, nothing to shout about.

Deep fried squid is just a normal deep fried using a flour mixture. But I think the squid is a bit too big where it lost it's juice and the texture is a bit tough to munch..

Buttered prawn is a bit wet compare to a normal buttered prawn I have tasted before. Still, Chinese buttered prawn is something the Malay cheft have to learn and master.

Otak-Otak @ Fish paste - standard taste every where. Nothing special.

Nasi Lemak is a standard serving for people who eat Ikan Bakar in Melaka. Simple Coconut rice with a bit of chilly paste (sambal) to go with the other food.

Verdict:
It could be better. But if you in Melaka, a place you need to try for the food.Price wise, I feel it is about the same any where else. Maybe I am wrong. Well it is for you to decide. A plus point where they can cook the fish well, not like other places which I haved experience earlier.

Address:
Ikan Bakar Parameswara
Pengkalan Medan Ikan Bakar Pernu-Umbai
Tel: +606 2616106
+6012 315 2301