Tom Yam, Melaka

Pakcik Tom and Makcik Yam. Not all Thai Food restaurants are equal. All depend on their owners. Some seem to have a high taste but very few. Asal ada serai, bawang, ayam daging sotong udang dan berair macam sup.... That's what they call Tomyam.

In Melaka particularly Melaka Tengah I have tasted few famous restaurants. They are Ikan Bakar Malim, Naiman, Sri Melaka, Restoran Alai, and Tomyam Klasik. There is another one along Pantai Puteri, I cannot remember the name. But I can always "Remember The Time" by Jacko ok. Always in my mind :)

Ikan Bakar Malim
Well...there are 3. One in Cheng Height, 2nd in Ayer Keroh and last one in Duyong. I visited the first two. The restaurant is a typical Malay undecorated with not much invested for interior. As long as there are chairs, tables and covered roof, the owner will be happy to serve you. Maybe a litle bit of smiles will be an added value but not too much like McD or Pizza Hut. "welcome again", "thank you...." not really come out from their heart. I would rather like someone greet me like...ermmm... "dari mana bang? Or "masuk la bang, hujan kat luar..." if it's really raining outside. It sounds more friendlier than 5 star places.

Ok, back to my comment about Ikan Bakar Malim. It serves nasi campur, Thai foods, ikan bakar and roti canai. The main dish is of course Ikan Bakar but not really bakar because they wrap them with banana leaf and fry on a hot plate. But it's still acceptable anyway. If you really look for Ikan Bakar then go somewhere else like Umbai, Alai, Duyong.

The only dish which is acceptable to my appetite is Roti Canai. Softer than Kedai Mamak and served with Dal Saurce mixed with sambal. They have Murtabak but not recommended if you ever eaten Pak Din's in Kuala Lumpur. It's dry and tasteless!! In term of service, do not compare with Restoran Subaidah. All Mamak Restaurants are equally excellent in service. Fast and perfect except when kira-kira time. Charging you few ringgit extra not a big deal. Dalam hati.."Kedai mamak selalu tipu.....nak marah tak boleh". But if Malay cheats, report to Harian Metro or The Star.....hahahahahaha. Fact of Life.

What's not good (I dont want tu use the word "bad") about Ikan Bakar Malim is the staff especially Ayer Keroh Branch (MITC). I once had a dinner with my family next to its "drink factory". Few of them shouting at each other and laughing without bothering customers having their meals. I wanted to call the owner but no number was available.

The 4th time, probably the last, the service was extremely and totally unaccepatable at all. In the first place I wanted to bring my brother and his family to Naiman but its MITC branch was closed. I had no choice but to land at Malim's reluctantly. "Langkah Kiri" the Malay says. We ordered Nasi Goreng Cina, we got Nasi Goreng biasa. Nasi Goreng Ayam turned out to be Nasi Goreng untuk ayam. My Nasi Goreng Belacan also jadi Nasi Goreng biasa. Macam cerita P Ramlee. We'd been waited almost an hour to be served (didnt mind if there were many customers) and another half raising up and down our hands for complaints. Thank you Ikan Bakar Malim, well served. I would recommend the owner to properly train the staff well in order to compete with other operators. No more Ikan Bakar Malim, pretty bad experience.

Naiman

According to a friend of mine the first Naiman is located somewhere in Alor Gajah or Masjid Tanah. In fact I have never visited the "Head Quaters" but I will do someday. The other one is in MITC, Ayer Keroh. Used to be two but Bukit Katil's closed down already. I always go to MITC which is more comfortable and relaxing. Sometimes it's windy too so it's good for a family dinner or just for a cup of Kopi Jantan!

How to reach? If you come from Ayer Keroh Toll, take right at the first traffic light. Go straight ahead and continue 12:15 (a bit tricky roundabout) O'Clock. If you take normal 12:00 O'Clock it will bring you to Ancasa Hotel/MITC which is parallel with the main road to Naiman. If it does happen to you, just return to the same roundabout. Naiman is just few hundred meters from the spot. Don't speed and always keep left. Take the first junction then you will see Naiman on the right, an end lot of a long row of business premises. Lights up with an extended well renovated Malay decorative type "house".

It serves Thai and Malay delicacies. Most dishes well prepared, delicious, and appetising. Mederately priced and pretty fast in term of service. Kailan freshly cook with clear type Tom Yam (although I still prefer Tom Yam Chengmai by D'Nangka). My "Ikan Kembung Goreng 3 Rasa" always consistently cooked and never changed in taste. Even the drinks especially my favorite Watermelon juice is pure unadultered with "air sirap" :)