Vogue-U Potion - Mahkota Belangkas Restaurant

May Peace Be With You....

What is Belangkas? It is a malay name for horseshoe crab....

A few weekends back, both hubby and me wanted to try the authentic and famous asam pedas belangkas in Kota Tinggi. The restaurant is called Restoran Belangkas Mahkota. The owner of the restaurant, Pak Hamid, said the restaurant was named after the the Crown Prince of Johor (Tengku MahKota Johor), who is currently the Sultan of Johor. It was told that he likes to eat asam pedas Belangkas. Pak Hamid, a former fisherman from Tanjung Buai said the restaurant gained famed as it is the only place that sells this rare delicacy. The crab does not have much meat. Only the female crab is cooked.

It is located along Jalan Tun Seri Lanang. When you go to Kota Tinggi via JB to Mersing, detour into Kota Tinggi, when in Kota Tinggi town, turn right upon reaching the town's square junction. If you come via Kluang, then you need to turn left at the square junction. After turning you will noticed a Shell petrol kiosk on the left, then ahead is a small bridge of a river (you may noticed small sailing boats on the right of the bridge. The restaurant is located just after the bridge on your left, however you need to enter via Esso petrol kiosk entrance and u-turn to enter a slit road leading to the restaurant. It's a bit confusing, and that's why we had difficulty locating the restaurant previously and ended up dissappointed coz the restaurant closed at 2pm.

In order not to miss the opportunity again as the restaurant only operates from 10am - 2pm, we set out early to Kota Tinggi and had an early and light breakfast in Old Town White Coffee near KIP Mart-Kota Tinggi. We are their first customer of Mahkota Belangkas restaurant that day and was told only the "gong gong shell fish" is not ready. My hubby said it's alright, both of us were there more for the asam pedas belangkas.

OK all, let's enjoy pictures of the food we ordered for our lunch that day......

Our lunch order is served

Meet the signature dish - asam pedas belangkas (it is always cooked dried or malay call it asam pedas kering)

Fish is normally cooked in wet version of asam pedas (this is asam pedas ikan sembilang (catfish)) - fresh and no fishy smell)

Lala goreng rempah (spicy shell fish) - this is a must try dish.... so delicious!!!!

Kerabu or some call it urap (mixed vegetable salad)

Let's tuck in..... start with the belangkas dish (horseshoe crab dish)

Look at the eggs!!!! It has a buttery taste and the best part no fishy smell as well

ooooo look at the eggs again.... it's finger-licking good!!!

Now a demo of how I tear open the horseshoe crab to reveal more eggs!!! FYI the female crabs do not have much flesh but lots of eggs!!!!

Asam pedas ikan sembilang...... must try as well.... so delicious

Lala goreng - the flesh is so fat and no regrets ordering it!!!

The damages from me



The damages from my hubby were more!!! He was enjoying the dishes until reluctant any photoshoot of him digging in the food....haha



The final damages by 2 adults.....

Still not satisfied and kept digging for the spices.... hahaha

Meet Pak Hamid who runs Mahkota Belangkas Restaurant.... a humble and chatty person, was a fisherman in Tanjung Buai. Chatted with us for more than 1 hour. He specialised in cooking the asam pedas belangkas and asam pedas ikan sembilang or any catfish species, whereas his wife cooks the kari ayam kampung (village chicken curry) and gong gong (white shell fish). Other non-signature dishes will be helped by his children and helpers.

The dishes counter.... just a small corner serving quite a handful of dishes.....

Pictures of the sultanate of Johor descedents placed on the walls of the restaurant and also paper cuttings of the restaurant in M'sia's media

Picture taken from inside the retaurant, see the Esso kiosk, you need to enter from there and u-turn towards the slit road to the restaurant. FYI the building opposite Esso is KIP Mart-Kota Tinggi

People started coming for lunch when we were about to leave the restaurant

So all.... if you are adventurous and daring to try such delicacies, why not drop by Mahkota Belangkas Restaurant in Kota Tinggi, one of these days..... BTW they closed on Sundays!

Lots of luv..... Mak Pah