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| Anjung Ketam, Crab Restaurant, Labuan |
Anjung Ketam, Labuan, Malaysia
Sitting on stilts poking out over the East coast of Labuan
sits Anjung Ketam (Crab Verandah). As part of an initiative by the Labuan
Tourism Board, the jetty was constructed to provide an opportunity for the
local fishermen to grow their businesses. Charged a very small fee for monthly
rental, the locals also received training from a chef and business experts from
KL. After a slow start, it is now one of the most popular restaurants on the
island. So popular in fact that you are well advised to make a reservation or
risk waiting hours for a table or worse still, missing out on the crab
altogether.
sits Anjung Ketam (Crab Verandah). As part of an initiative by the Labuan
Tourism Board, the jetty was constructed to provide an opportunity for the
local fishermen to grow their businesses. Charged a very small fee for monthly
rental, the locals also received training from a chef and business experts from
KL. After a slow start, it is now one of the most popular restaurants on the
island. So popular in fact that you are well advised to make a reservation or
risk waiting hours for a table or worse still, missing out on the crab
altogether.
The fishermen’s daily catch is served at the restaurant, so
inclement weather literally means no dinner. All seafood is cooked and eaten
the same day it is caught. Anjung Ketam is also a little different to some of
the other coastal restaurants as crab is prepared Malay style, an attractive variation
from the popular Chinese recipes.
inclement weather literally means no dinner. All seafood is cooked and eaten
the same day it is caught. Anjung Ketam is also a little different to some of
the other coastal restaurants as crab is prepared Malay style, an attractive variation
from the popular Chinese recipes.
Crab, of course, is the main attraction and Anjung Ketam
serves both varieties from the deep sea and the mangroves. Difficult to
highlight any one dish above another, as they were all so scrumptious, the
Buttermilk Crab though is a difficult choice to beat. The sauce alone could
make a rich meal soaked up with steamed rice. The dishes we eagerly devoured
were:
serves both varieties from the deep sea and the mangroves. Difficult to
highlight any one dish above another, as they were all so scrumptious, the
Buttermilk Crab though is a difficult choice to beat. The sauce alone could
make a rich meal soaked up with steamed rice. The dishes we eagerly devoured
were:
Guava with asamboi (a sour and salty sprinkling) served
as an appetizer.
as an appetizer.
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| Guava with Asamboi |
Steamed Crab
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| Steamed Crab |
Mussels in Lemongrass
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| Mussels with Lemongrass |
Buttermilk Deep Sea Crab
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| Buttermilk Deep Sea Crab |
Baby Kai Lan in Garlic and Oyster Sauce – fresh and slightly
sweet
sweet
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| Baby Kai Lan with Oyster Sauce and Garlic |
Salted Egg Prawns – with curry leaves
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| Prawns in Salted Egg |
Buttermilk Mangrove Crab – note the enormous claws
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| Buttermilk Mangrove Crab |
Anjung Ketam is a picturesque drive around 20 minutes from
the city centre. Any taxi driver knows the location and it should cost less
than RM15 for the ride. Alternatively you can hire a car and take directions
from the locals. There are not too many roads around Labuan so as long as you
see the coast on your right (if coming from downtown) you can’t go wrong.
the city centre. Any taxi driver knows the location and it should cost less
than RM15 for the ride. Alternatively you can hire a car and take directions
from the locals. There are not too many roads around Labuan so as long as you
see the coast on your right (if coming from downtown) you can’t go wrong.
Anjung Ketam is open daily for dinner from 5pm until around
10 or 11pm (depending on how late guests arrive or when the crab runs out – whichever
comes earlier). For a guaranteed table be sure to make a booking (ask your
hotel staff to call for you). Divided into a number of small cooking stations,
Stall Number One is where our delicious crab dishes came from.
10 or 11pm (depending on how late guests arrive or when the crab runs out – whichever
comes earlier). For a guaranteed table be sure to make a booking (ask your
hotel staff to call for you). Divided into a number of small cooking stations,
Stall Number One is where our delicious crab dishes came from.
Reason to visit: anything
crabby at very reasonable prices, local ambience
crabby at very reasonable prices, local ambience
Anjung Ketam
Gerai (stall) No. 1
Asliana Asmad
Tanjung Aru
+6 08 7424 366
Labuan
Malaysia
the ketams sure look delicious =)
Nice to have both sea and mangrove types too. 🙂
wow… crab haven!!! the prawns looked awesome too… take me there Right Now pls…
Yes maam. 🙂
The buttermilk crabs and salted egg prawns look excellent! Guava with asam sprinklings as appetizers must have been nice for a change, aside from the usual peanuts, haha.
Oh yeah, I did like the lightness of the guava as opposed to the oiliness of a peanut appetizer. 🙂
if i'm ever in labuan, i'll give this place a try. I'm still procastinating my trip there.
Oh, more to come on Labuan. Stay tuned. We had a great weekend there. 🙂
Definitely a feast to the eyes !
And to the tummy! 🙂
ooo, i've never been to labuan for food before. but with such succulent seafood awaiting, i shouldn't procrastinate! 😀
Cheaper too than what we find on the mainland. 🙂
Drool!!! Hope to hop over to Labuan some day. Not into the spotted crabs, the sea ones…but love those mangrove crabs. Slurpssss!!!!
What a coincidence, I was just chatting with a friend last night who said the exact same thing. 🙂