i always wanted to write about ikan bakar but often the motivation to post the topic diminishes everytime i satisfy my cravings for one! but not today, as i definitely have to share with you guys a place that serves really great ikan bakar… (more of the place later.)
for those who are unfamiliar with ikan bakar, it’s grilled seafood wrapped with banana leaf and laced with sambal.
for myself, i prefer stingray for my ikan bakar. bawal or pomfret is ok, but it’s stingray when covered with lipsmacking sambal and a dash of lime that really sets the mood for a sweating good time. many say it’s the sambal that makes or breaks a good ikan bakar, for me its more the freshness of the fish. ikan pari, if it’s past its due date, would have a really strong fishy smell no matter how much sambal you add to it.
you can generally get good halal ikan bakar at newton, simpang bedok, changi village and bedok corner. i used to go across the causeway to get my ikan bakar fix, usually at pantai lido, but their standard has really dropped, so i prefer to spend money eating in Singapore. although it costs more here, it tastes better and fresher.
my family SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) for bbq food during gatherings will definitely include ikan bakar. my late mother made one of the best sambal ikan bakar. she would add grilled coconut flakes in her secret recipe that until today, no one in the family could replicate. well, we DID manage to find a close replica of the sambal during the recent bbq gathering, and it came in a bottle from ntuc. 
so, anyway, the mess i would make when preparing the ikan bakar in the kitchen at home usually annoys my wife so much that it’s better to just eat out!
the place that a friend recommended has one of the tastiest sambal without the spicyness overpowering the dish. the stingray is fresh and the serving, generous, $10 can satisfy 3 persons. the grilling is perfect, not burnt nor too watery.
so where is this place? tucked in between geylang serai and the darul aman mosque, is a little eatery at PKMS. don’t let the simple decor fool you. it looks like your normal malay coffeeshop but the dishes there are surprising good. another good dish to try there is the hotplate tofu. topped with generous vegetables and seafood, you can just eat it on its own. simply delicious!
you guys can check it out at Ar Rifai Seafood Restaurant: 218 Changi Road, PKMS Builiding.
hmm, no need to dress up or spend so much at expensive restaurants for a good hearty meal, eh? 
ok, talking about food in the middle of the night makes me really hungry now…
Entries (RSS)
the PKMS building has ikan bakar!!! that’s new! we didn’t know that! =) thanks for the tip….aidil is a BIG fan of ikan bakar and your picture is making me drool too..the sambal, onions and cincaluk (!!!) Mmmm… shall go check out Ar Rifai soon!
neither do i shaz, my friend was the one who made the ‘discovery’!
anyway, if you go there, don’t forget to try out the makcik’s putu pirings, simply out of this world! can seriously challenge the one at haig road
best now can suprise Sham….the last time we had ikan bakar at Bedok Corner it was a dissappointment
woah izadd…great review..shall check it out pretty soon..
eh so this place sells tomyam and such also is it? as in the whole seafood getup?
aaah..yah..u guys like ikan bakar since way back! but that nyonya sambal from the botol not bad also eh..
heh
before newton renovation there is one halal seafood stall which is very popular (the one with large halal signboard). anyone knows where is it now? been trying all the halal stalls in newton eversince the reno but cld not find the one…
shireen: yep, they have crabs, prawns, squids, the works… can try lah!
hazrin: bedok corner, yah, not so good. we also tried it before and were disappointed!
is: the nonya sambal is hot but ok, nice!
the one at newton is Pirate’s Seafood, right? hmm, havent been to newton for a loooong time…. you mean it’s not there anymore?
*note to self* – gi check out the ikan bakar & seafood spread this weekend @ Ai Rifai Seafood Restaurant (excuse me – tumpang lalu Makmur Restaurant)….;)
thanks….
pirate’s still there.. but the standard dah drop abit la. u all shd try takara!
waduiiiiiiii read this entry during my lunchtime nih.that ikan bakar pic’s really drooling me.siap dgn cincalok sekali.craving for one right now.
ahaks yes Ar Rifai Seafood Restaurant ‘s very close to my home
ouhh, you stay ard eunos area eh? a lot of nice places to eat nearby seh!
esah, takara tu pat mana? ikan bakar jepon kot?! and hurhur… smalam beli ikan, nak masak apa ha….
saly, suka makan seafood eh… neway, ikan mahal skarang hor, my mum selalu complain!
takara kat newton jugak… smalam beli ikan tak tau lah nak masak apa. nak stock-up je heee. in the end, ako goreng je tu ikan haha
*eyes wide open*
i see something irresistable! believe it or not, i had a strange addiction to cincaluk just days b4 I found out I was pregnant! Ate the damn thing for 2 whole weeks – and i mean everyday ok? and also with everything! :p
prior to that? hated cincaluk to the core.
man, if that wasn’t a sign that I was pregnant…I dunno what to say!
Ar Rifai ni yg tepi Makmur Restaurant is it?
If yes, then i totally agree with you, the putu piring there is actually quite worth a visit!
yup yup i stay ard eunos area.indeed very irresistable coz so many mkn places we can venture esp those 24hrs mkn places.waduiii danger jugak temptations of having late night meals..high chances! ;p
heriati, i think the day i eat cincaluk will also be a sure sign… coz i’d never touch the stuff myself otherwise, LOL!
dulu time naufal u only eat western rite… looks like this time round, baby ada ‘local’ flavour sikit! ;p
yup, the putu piring here can lawan the pakcik at haig road. mmm, yum!
mardiana, there’s also a mini-simpang bedok at geylang! maybe some other day we will review there…
esah, ko tau bila the last time kita pegi newton? before u kawin, ok! that long! :O
ooh.. we M’s family like to try new places and look forward to recommendations.. except Japanese food, i can’t tahan the fishee smell
.
sigh.. skrng nie, all things mahal… ! tak leh angkat terus.. my fav papaya at the canteen now is $0.40 (before GST only $0.30)
.
ikan bakar @ umbai(stall #9 ummi) n terapong(both in malacca) also sedap.. theseafood thrs so freash also. if bck frm kl or melaka i slalu stop over 2eat the seafood there..
saly, japanese food also not my cup of tea, macam tak kenyang gitu, dah lah tak spicy, takde ummph lansung!!
chuchu, ikan bakar kat malacca memang best! tapi kalau nak kunjung ke sana, jauh sangat lah beb!!
ooohhh…you must be referring to that 897 mkn place at the former McDonald’s Geylang Serai rite?Ahaks..yeah yeah a mini simpang bedok indeed!lol.i went there a few times with my family for late nite mkn session.lol.my favs are the roti john and ouh there’s also a Hawa outlet there.the buttered sotongs syiok lah.but only one prob jek if u wanna go eat there…parking place.
ahhh yes, 897! macam nama radio station… and yes, the roti john is SEDAP!!
*drools*
damn! the cincalok seems to be calling out sia…
i wonder how grilled stingray taste like….i dont eat stingray….tak tahan bau, rupa dan sewaktu dgn nya.
hated it since young…..
do their ikan bakar only comes in pari, bawal? ada ikan siakap tak? only eat that fish….heheheh! but the sambal on the fish looks red and cukup rasa eh….aduhh! dah berpeluh tengok gambar ajer nie….
WOW!my hubby & i pun hantu ikan bakar tau.. we only fancy ikan pari, nothing else. i’l definitely serbu Ar Rifai to give my hubby a treat since his birthday is coming.. yeah! & YES seafood at umbai(melaka) is a sure thumbs up!!
if newton, try going to Lucky Newton Seafood, No, 82. so far, i’ve been only been going since eons ago. dari tengah dating, sampai dah tunang and sampai dah kahwin ni, i still go to this shop. it’s halal. the 4 hot dishes, stingray (my all time fav giler!), black pepper crab (chilli crab not very nice), kangkong and of course, the CALAMARI!!
all are sedapgilerbetul.com
CALAMARI, my fav!!!
we always have the fried calamaris when we dine at fish n co, their calamari are da bomb!
maybe we should check out the lucky newton seafood this weekend ,eh??
excuse me mister, you kalau cakap pasal makan only, hidop eh! :p
(mana review putu piring smalam?)
check check check it out!! (kat atas tu!)
Just simply to add a note on this attractive responsive topic of ikan bakar.As a Singaporean living abroad for the last time 18 years. I do travel to Singapore extensively.My family and I do agreed Ar rifai restaurant PKmS buillding simply carries divine and succulent dishes.My husband is who’s an European and my son do enjoy the local dishes of Singapore, on each of our visits to Ar rifai.We felt so entertained and welcomed due to the charming and delightful way on the service.Well done on the simplicity nevertheless brings you to mouthwatering choice for your palate.