Tip Top Ikan Bakar is probably the most famous BBQ stingray stall in Johor Bahru (yet it took me six years of blogging, one stall at a time before I got here 😂 ). The 30 year old stall certainly lives up to its formidable reputation, especially its killer sambal chili.
Thomas has been running Tip Top Ikan Bakar for 15 years now. Tip Top was founded by Thomas' father-in-law who started the stall over 30 years ago operating outside Sultanah Aminah Hospital. He then moved to Dataran Bandaraya before coming to Tepian Tebrau hawker centre 11 years ago. Thomas' father-in-law still comes to the stall occasionally.
Thomas is supported by a cheerful and friendly team.
Thomas personally handpicks his seafood at Larkin market before opening for business at 12:00 noon.
Besides ikan bakar, Thomas serves a range of other seafood dishes like chili crab, asam pedas, Indonesian style curry prawns etc.
But today, I am here just for Tip Top's legendary ikan bakar (BBQ stingray).
The big winner is the killer sambal chili piled thick and generously on top of the slab of stingray. It's one of the best sambal chili that I have tasted before.
It's a well balanced blend of tangy, sweet, spicy and savoury flavours from a mix of chopped shallot, pulpy chili, lime juice, cinchalok (fermented shrimps) etc. The sambal chili has a pretty sharp sting and a spicy aftertaste that fortunately fades quite quickly.
The slab of stingray which costed RM17 (depending on weight) was skilfully grilled. It was tender and juicy, with most of the flavours coming from the robust sambal chili. There was also a subtle pleasant toasty taste from the charred banana leaf underneath the slab of fish.
The fish, however, was of average freshness today.
Leftovers Analysis 👉 Nothing left really... just the charred banana leaf, which I didn't eat 😜 I ate the bones as well, as I like the tender crunchy texture. The sambal chili was slightly greasy but totally irresistible.
My favourite drink to go with ikan bakar is buah kedongdong or buah long long juice. I got mine from Anwar and Karl's stall #15.
👉 Tip Top Ikan Bakar has one of the best sambal chili for BBQ stingray in Singapore and Malaysia.
Restaurant name: Gerai Tip Top Ikan Bakar
Address: Gerai #11, Jalan Mohd. Amin, Sri Gelam, Johor Bahru
GPS: 1°27'40.0"N 103°44'17.4"E | 1.461102, 103.738157
Tel: 016-783 6966
Hours: 12:00 noon to 10:00pm (Monday off)
Halal
Date: 8 Nov 2017
Return to Johor Kaki homepage.
No comments:
Post a Comment
All comments submitted with genuine identities are published