As quote in
Wikipedia, Sekinchan is a small town located in the state of Selangor, Malaysia. Apart from being a lively fishing village, Sekinchan is one of the major rice producing areas of Malaysia. Sekinchan is often visited for its fresh seafood. Sekinchan had gain a large popularity recently especially from the drama series 'The Seeds of Life' which been release in year 2011/2012.
I had wanted to go since last year after my mother sharing her story and it sure tempting when you heard they offer fresh seafood with affordable price. So after planning and wondering for whole week, my husband finally say .. let go! no need to think and plan, ok? To my excited, here I come;
We started our journey as early as 8:30am, travelling from Petaling Jaya, Selangor to Sekinchan it took us around 1 and a half hour to reach there which we are using the LKSA highway, which exit and pass by Kuala Selangor before reaching Sekinchan. Once we passing by the paddy field along the road, we are sure that I am here at Sekinchan. Reaching there as early as 10am, I ought that we can have a early brunch, to my surprise the restaurant already pack with people and you need to waited to be seated. Wah Lau...
The Restaurant we had our brunch and the road along it
I am lucky to have a friend which staying Sekinchan and she recommend me to this Restaurant Guan Hwat. The restaurant is actually located next to the famous shark porridge, Jiaan Chyi Seafood Restaurant. Trust me the serving is very slow, since the restaurant is running full house and we had waited for half an hour for the food to be serve. Let see after half an hour my food finally;
Our Seafood Brunch
I can't really recall most of the dish name, since is already a month ago however, let me try to recap start from the top right is 'Cap Chay' or Mix vegetable, Chili Prawn, Slipper Fish, Lala, Shark Meat and 'Yaw Mak Tam'. We enjoy the food to the max, let me review the first dish;
Cap Chay - first Ito my surprise their mixed vegetable had fish head inside? something new for me though, about the taste is very appetizing and since they serve it inside the claypot which help to maintain the heat, it had make the dish to perfection.
Chilli Prawn - Slightly spicy but at the same time you taste the sweetness of the prawn and the saltiness of the spice which make one craving for more.
Slipper Fish with tauchu - This dish name is a direct translation from Chinese (Mandarin) therefore, I have no idea of the actual name for this. If you wonder about the fish and the taste, then yes! the fish really flat as it name, since there are less meat therefore, we are getting 4 pieces?! The taste is just as expected but what make it interesting will be the fish itself, you will find it really less meat.
Lala Kam Heong - I don't think there is any need to review on the nice food, which the food and picture had spoken for it self. The big and fresh Lala, who will make a pass?
Fried Shark meat - We did not order shark porridge even though had offer us, we still prefer rice. The perfect dish with rice is the fried shark meat, my husband love this dish, why? no bone ma....?! we might be too hungry from waiting, all the food seem to be very pleasant and tasty.
Yaw Mak Tam - This is the dish I don't think anyone will go wrong, just a simple fried vegetable.
Overall, with the big serving of each dish, we are totally full to heart content. What really amazed me is the total bill come to RM98.70nett for all the dishes and rice also the tea. Now, I feel like is worth traveling and waiting for the food. However, by the time we finish our lunch is already 12:30pm, we saw the long queue outside the restaurant so we decide to leave so the other customer can enjoy their food.
Next destination after lunch is the beach, Pantai Redang, Sekinchan. I heard this place is the famous tourist spot and also it had become popular thanks to the drama series which taken place here.
The sign you won't miss
Most popular - Wishing Tree
The small temple where you will get the wishing ribbon
The Huts along the beach side
Upon reaching there, we saw there lots of tourist bus and private car parking there. We realise getting a parking there is almost impossible so we had to park bit further and walk to the beach. First thing when we reach there is looking for the famous wishing tree and making a wish~ If you would like to make a wish, please get into the temple and make a donation before you get the ribbon to write your wish down. Once done, you will be find a way to throw and make sure it will hang on the tree. My wish is... Please get all my wishes to come true~ TQ
The temple is directly facing the beach, since we reach there by noon and it super sunny day so I only took some picture of the beach and stay in the hut. There is also some food stall, kite stall, souvenir stall and others which is like a bazaar. After taking some picture and roam around the beach under the hot sun, we decide to have something cold.
Cendol Coconut Special - RM5.00
Haha~ I found this, the cendol coconut special! The only thing which I think special is the cendol serve inside the coconut. if you ask me if worth the price, I would just say, I try due to my curiosity only and for the price is slightly pricy. The taste I would say nothing special at all.
Ice Kacang & Fried Prawn Cracker
The stall next to Coconut Cendol Special is selling ice-kacang and fried prawn cracker. I am not sure about the price since my friend ordered. I had try both but both dish not even meet my expectation, and at that point of time, I feel that my cendol taste is better. My friend actually wanted to ordered the fresh oyster from the opposite stall for us to try however, it sold out fast during the weekend.
After lazing around and have our snack, we decided to go to visit a fruits farm - La Familia Orchard. The orchard location not far from the paddy field where we have to pass by a large paddy field and some other corn or vegetable orchard before reaching the fruits orchard. At first we are quite worry if they will allow us to visit take photo but upon entering the orchard, we been giving a warm welcome and greet even offer us to visit the fruits farm. The farm is not very big, as mentions by the owner it a 3 acre.
The view inside the orchard
Their famous local rose apple
Passion Flower
I am enjoying my stay there which after taking some photo and roaming around the orchard, there are some stall inside selling local fruits - rose apple, papaya, guava, mango (famous Sekinchan milk mango) and jack fruits. They also sell some fresh and fried fish paste, water and juices too. Due to I am too enjoying the scenery I forget to took picture of the food.
Not to forget the most important part of the trip is a must to visit Paddy Field. Even though we been passing by the paddy field every time we travel on the road but stopping by the road side is kinda dangerous and we might blocking others big vehicle like lorry too. My friend bring me to another temple to have a clear view the paddy field.
Yellow ribbon - Bamboo wishing tree
Temple near the paddy field
Tourist Shuttle
The view from the pagoda
I was amazed of the paddy field scenery, is totally awesome right? hahaha~
This time we did not go in to the temple or making a wish, may be due to we are too stunned of the scenery or too tired. Thanks to the hot sun, we are able to take so many nice picture but at the same time burning my skin. HOT!!! We climb all up the small pagoda and start taking picture, may be during that day which are less tourist which also not that crowded so we can enjoying our time there.
After the visit of the temple to have the overview of the paddy field, next we went to visit the paddy processing factory. Along the paddy processing factory there are some paddy which starting to ripe. The tourist can visit the museum and paddy plantation with the entrance fees of RM5.00 per person. There are lots of tour bus stopping along the side which making the road become narrow. We just went down to take some picture and check on the Sekinchan famous pearl rice. Trust me, is not cheap with minimum 2kg per pack is already cost us RM16.00.
Paddy Field near the factory
Due to there are too crowded in the evening so we didn't stay long in the paddy factory and we decided to have an early dinner as well. My friend recommend me this place for dinner, and they only open from 5pm onward and we are their very first customer since we arrive there almost 5pm.
Another seafood restaurant - Xi Ji
Haiwaii
Passion Fruits ice-blended
The place really do have the unique drink and I love my hawaii, which I thought is ice-kacang but to my surprise very nice and cooling to have the watermelon at the bottom and the sweetness which make one feel like in Hawaii. They ice-blended drink do look cool where they serve it on top of the drink instead of blended together and the taste is just how we wanted it.
Hokkein Mee - RM7
Wat Tan Hor - RM7
Mantis Prawn - RM23
Sotong - RM20
Balitong - RM18
Even though the price is slightly expensive than the lunch but the serving is big, and the seafood is no doubt of their freshness. All the dishes is cook with charcoal which bring out every dish aroma. About the taste of the dishes;
Fried Noodles - I prefer the Wat Tan Hor compare to the Hokkein Mee, may be due to the Hokkein is too watery and I prefer the one in KL better. The Wat Tan Hor is nice, not too salty and the noodle cook perfectly like char kway teow.
Mantis Prawn - So good and I can't stop eating it. The mantis prawn is so big with lots of meat inside. According to my friend, this is their most popular food in Sekinchan and is a must try dish. We are lucky because this is their last serving and most of the time their Mantis Prawn had reserved by their regular customer.
Sotong - Actually, we wanted the baby squid, however is not available. Therefore, they recommend us to have the normal fried squid, the taste is ok and not too oily.
Balitong - I not sure what is the English name for this therefore I check on
Wikipedia it commonly name as mud creeper. This is my husband favorite seafood, is like escargot, where we going to suck the meat out of the shell. I know this dish is a bit messy but the taste, will give you a feeling like it never enough. The Balitong is huge compare to the one I always had in PJ and not to mentions the serving is big which I think is still worth the price.
The total cost for the meal including the drinks RM10.50 is RM85.50, which I think is still affordable despite the big serving and all their dishes are cook with charcoal. Overall, we are satisfied with the food and the serving didn't take too long. By the time we finish our meal, the restaurant is already running full house with their customer that come for dinner.
We are leaving Sekinchan around 6:30pm, using the same road back to PJ which we will have to pass by the Kuala Selangor and I told my husband regarding the
Cendol Bakar which I had it once few year back, as well as they offer drive-thru, so he say; let go and try, ok?
Cendol Bakar - Drive Thru
I am so excited with the drive-thru of course. We had the cendol VVIP, which include the pulut, well trust me it was too sweet for me, even my tooth are acting up. Compare with the taste that I still remember, I believe it actually taste nicer the last time even though they forget to give me the cendol. Anyway, I don't think that we will back again and I still wonder why they are still open even though is already almost 7pm? May be their business are getting better and they are able to more as they price had increased as well.
Finally, we are reaching home almost close to 9pm and we are using the LKSA for our smooth journey back. Overall, we are enjoying the trip, food and scenery even is just a one day tour but for us, we feel that we had accomplish lots of things which make this trip very meaningful for us.
Thank you~ Can't wait to go Sekinchan again!!!
