Finally, after missing this asam fish for three years, I got to taste it again at "Come and Eat" Teochew porridge shop at the old three storey flats in Stulang Laut, Johor Bahru.
I asked the shop owners what is the asam fish made of, and they showed me this fish which they called 刺客鱼 (literally assassin fish). It looked similar to milkfish.
The 刺客鱼 is cut into large chunks and stewed till soft in the large pot of salted vegetables, assam, garlic cloves, dried chili and spices.
The asam fish has the same texture as canned sardine with mushy soft meat and tender chewable bones. But, the flavour is completely different. This asam fish has mildly sourish spicy flavours with the sweet taste of fresh fish.
I like this asam fish a lot. I also like to mix the stewing sauce into the plain white porridge and it tastes wonderful.
(Note: This asam fish is available only on Thursdays. Check "Come and Eat" Facebook page on the availability of asam fish.)
Craving for "Come and Eat" asam fish satisfied, we indulged in the little shop's other popular dishes.
The "Come and Eat" simple steamed fresh fish. Different fish every day depending on the catch of the day.
We had a baby Ikan Kurau (Threadfin) which tasted just great as it was very fresh. The fish was steamed and served "as is" with no sauces or dressing, and it can't be better.
I like this braised pig skin which was soft rubbery in texture.
Everyone I brought love this tender (not mushy) pumpkin fried with minced pork and dried shrimps for it's aromatic savoury sweet and crustacean flavours.
Eggplant stir fried with dried shrimps and a savoury sauce.
The "Come and Eat" boss is skillful in Teochew style braised meats. There's braised belly pork, skin and head parts like ears and snort.
Braised duck.
Basket of various braised items like eggs, tofu, pig skin and belly.
Preserved vegetables fried with minced pork.
Tofu.
Fried hae cho (prawn roll) and flat fish.
Braised chicken feet.
I like to add this fermented soy bean into my plain porridge for it's intense savoury flavour.
->> Simple and nice home style dishes to go with plain Teochew porridge at one of the oldest residential flats of JB.
Read about my earlier visits to Come and Eat 👈 click
Restaurant name: Restoran Come & Eat 吃又来潮州粥
Address: 34-2-A, Jalan Stulang Darat (shop lot at foot of 3-storey flats facing the highway), Johor Bahru
Map: http://g.co/maps/aut82
GPS: 1.47285, 103.77829
Hours: 4:00pm to 8:00pm (closed on Monday)
Non Halal
Date visited: 1 Mar 2012, 14 May 2015, 3 Dec 2015
Where is your favourite Teochew porridge place in Johor and Singapore?
Hi Tony, I think the fish is not called "刺客鱼" but is "chi kak" in Hokkien - the "kak " is "壳" (shell) in Mandarin but I forgot what is "chi" liao:-)
ReplyDeletePerhaps someone with a better command of Mandarin can enlighten us.
Thank you for pointing out. Hope someone can help us out.
DeleteI think it is called "刺壳鱼".
DeleteAh yes, I think 刺壳鱼 is it. Thank you :-D
DeleteAlas, they no longer serve assam fish. Lady boss attributed this to rising prices and scarcity of the 刺壳 fish. Their plain-steamed fishes are still nice.
ReplyDelete