I am a big asam pedas fish fan, so I am always on the look out for good places for this delicious National Heritage Dish of Malaysia. Went to Beletime Mall Danga Bay to hunt for the best at Port Asam Pedas by Sang.
Beletime Mall is the mall of Country Garden, a massive condominium development just 10 minutes' drive from JB CIQ.
Beletime Mall is highly accessible by bus but in my opinion, if you are traveling in a group, Grab is still the best option for public transport.
If you use public transport, enter via Gate 1, the main entrance to Beletime Mall. Once past the door, turn to your right and walk straight ahead about 50 metres.
It's actually two restaurants side by side both by the Sang Group - Port Asam Pedas by Sang on the left, and Sang Gerai on the right. Sang Gerai serves Halal chicken rice - I will try it another day (today my mind was set on asam pedas 😀 ).
The interior has a capacity of about 100 pax, simply but comfortably furnished, bright and clean. The vibes are relaxed, casual and inviting.
There is a semi-enclosed "Glasshouse VIP room" available for private parties (by pre-booking and at additional charge).
Port Asam Pedas by Sang's signature dish is created by Chef Abdul Kadir Bin Razak who hails from Kajang and lived in Johor Bahru during the past decade as Sang Group's executive chef.
To create Port Asam Pedas by Sang's signature, chef travelled throughout the Malay peninsula to study all the regional versions of the iconic dish.
Chef Kadir Razak strived to create the ultimate asam pedas which was launched with the opening of Port Asam Pedas by Sang in Dec 2025.
Port Asam Pedas by Sang's spicy stew is Johor style with use of bunga kantan (torch ginger bud), daun kesum (laksa leaves), pineapple puree, ground black pepper, in addition to other defining asam pedas ingredients like tamarind juice and chili pepper. The base stock for the spicy stew is made by boiling fish bones for at least four hours.
The result is a rich, relatively heavy stew with depth of flavours and complex blend of spicy heat, savoury umami, and underlying tangy notes that unifies and balances the myriad flavours.
Port Asam Pedas by Sang's signature dish is asam pedas with ikan merah (red snapper fish). Port Asam Pedas by Sang's fish are daily fresh, never frozen, never pre-cooked en masse. The fish is cut up, head, body and tail then stewed a la minute on order, before serving bubbling, steamy hot in a claypot that keeps the dish warm throughout our meal.
With ikan merah fish, the spicy hot, savoury, tangy stew took on the fresh fish's natural sweetness.
The thick meaty chunks of ikan merah were soft tender and moist inside with its own natural sweet juices.
Besides the standard ikan merah fish, Port Asam Pedas by Sang offers options for other fresh fish and seafood. We can choose any combination of fish and seafood we like (but cooked with the same asam pedas stew).
Vegetables like ladies fingers and tomatoes are essential ingredients in asam pedas and we can request for more at additional charge.
My idea of ideal asam pedas fish is ikan pari or stingray fish.
Aiyoh.... I love it lah... 😋
I love the sweet juicy tenderness of fresh stingray flesh and skin, and how I can chew up all the soft crunchy cartilaginous bones.
Then, there's prawns and squid.
What prawns and squid do to the asam pedas stew is transformational. I mean, on top of spicy hot, savoury, tangy and sweet flavours, add crustacean umami from the prawns and from squid.
Kaki kaki know how I dislike peeling prawns as it would make it impossible for me to take photos - I mean I need my fingers free to use my camera... mah... .
So kaki kaki kindly peeled for me on the condition of anonymity 🤫🫢 Thank you!🙏😀
Our prawns and squid were slightly overdone for stewing too long in the hot spicy soup because I took too long to take photos. Don't be like Tony 🤪
Asam pedas is a traditional coastal village or kampung dish. For generations, the sour and spicy stew is enjoyed with down-to-earth side dishes.
Many like to complement their asam pedas with ulam kampung, fried omelette (telur dadar) and stir fried cabbage with dried shrimp (kobis goreng udang kering). These three familial and comforting dishes are the most popular pairing choices.
Sis Norfy from The Iskandarian enjoying asam pedas the traditional way.
Boiled rice banjir (flooded) with asam pedas stew, chunky piece of fish, some fried egg (telur dadar), stir fried cabbage, and ulam (raw vegetables). Mix it all and enjoy the magical alchemy of flavours with fingers 🤌
That's the best way.
Other sides available are peria goreng telur (stir fried bitter gourd with eggs), stir fried sayur kangkung with belacan, Muar otak otak tengiri, etc.
Besides asam pedas fish, there're also other traditional kampung style fish dishes like Gulai Ikan and Singgang Serani fish.
More heritage dishes to try with asam pedas - Ayam Masak Merah, Ayam Masak Kicap, and Ayam Goreng Berempah.
Port Asam Pedas is just beside Gate 2 (side entrance leading to Country Garden residential units and the beach).
Gate 2 opens out to a row of mamak & mala type restaurants and sundry shops on both sides of a passage which leads to the Country Garden clubhouse about 50 metres away.
Beside Country Garden clubhouse is a man-made beach, a re-creation of the nostalgic Lido Beach. Take a walk here, before or after Port Asam Pedas by Sang.
Nostalgic place for me as I hung out here often - there were many indie experimental type restaurants and cafes here when Country Garden was at the marketing stage (in 2014).
A model of Country Garden development inside the clubhouse. The arrow points to Beletime Mall main entrance (Gate 1).
Restaurant name: Port Asam Pedas by Sang
Address: G-68, Ground Floor, Beletime Danga Bay, Country Garden Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Public Bus: From JB Sentral bus interchange take JPO1, J30, J31, J32, J33, J34
Tel: +6019-735 7556
Hours: 10am - 10pm
Certified Halal
Read more 👉
I also enjoyed Sang Seafood Halal at Damansara Aliff
Reminiscing the old shops at Country Garden back in 2013 / 2014
Follow me on Facebook & Instagram
Written by Tony Boey on 11 Apr 2026
Who is Tony Johor Kaki?
Hey Tony,
ReplyDeleteIs this part of the Sang umbrella group where you recently introduced their cze char?
I haven’t been there yet—we were planning to go this week, but I’m now vacillating which one to try.
I absolutely love a piping hot assam pedas, but Gobal and I only have one stomach each 😆 lah!
Yes they are from the same Sang Group :-D
DeleteIs this the same one as Family Port Asam Pedas Claypot @ taman melodies?
ReplyDeleteThis is a different, unrelated restaurant by the Sang Group. Shall try the one you mentioned at Taman Melodies next time
ReplyDelete