Post by Chiefeater RQ

On a recent trip to the East Coast, my hunger for fresh seafood led me north of my digs at Cherating. Sometimes you have to keep heading down a road to find whatever lies at its end. Sometimes you get an empty stretch of beach; sometimes you get a pretty decent seafood restaurant. Seaview Ikan Bakar Kuala Kemaman is an unassuming surprise at the end of a road that winds past the small, quiant fishing village of Kuala Kemaman.

Driving through the area at night, it was hard to spot the restaurant located on a patch of sand just behind a rocky seawall. While the lighting might be dim and not conducive to capturing Instagram shots, the focus here is on the fresh and affordable food it offers rather than aesthetics.

Upon arrival, the stiff ocean breeze and tantalizing scent of freshly cooked seafood welcomes diners. I headed up to the dining platform perched on stilts above the seawall. At dusk, there's a lovely view (hence the name) of the estuary to the north and the South China Sea to the east. Diners get to choose from the day's catch of fish, squid and shellfish laid out on ice on a long table. Everything looks fresh - clear eyes on the fish and squid, pink gills and not a whiff of off-smells anywhere.

You can ask the staff at Seaview Ikan Bakar about which fish goes well with being deep-fried, steamed or grilled in various sauces, and always confirm the price before your choice gets carted off to the kitchen.

After some confusion about what fish to go for, given the large selection and my utter inexperience with marine life, I decided to go for the false trevally fish (RM60 for a big specimen including the cost of cooking it). The kitchen had worked their magic by steaming it to perfection, accentuating its creamy flesh and flaky texture. The Thai-style sour and spicy paste made from lemongrass, ginger, tomatoes and a light smattering of birds' eye chillies helped to tone down the fatty mouthfeel from the fish.

Next was the grilled squid (RM35 for two big fellows). It was slathered in a sambal sauce that was an explosion of flavors. The fiery kick of the spices was complemented by a subtle sweetness, made just nice by the squid not being overcooked to the point of being rubbery.

Don't forget to add some greens to your meal. All in all, seafood, veggies, rice and drinks came up to a bit over RM100 for our group of four hungry visitors.

As I indulged in the seafood delights, I couldn't help but notice a few stray cats roaming around. They didn't bother me personally but some diners might find their presence irritating. On a busy night, expect to wait at least half an hour for your food, but it's definitely worth the wait.

Business Hours
Monday, Wednesday to Thursday
04:30 pm - 11:00 pm

Friday to Sunday
04:30 pm - 10:30 pm

Closed on Tuesday