Bali Hai Seafood Market @ Penang

Bali Hai is an eatery that serves almost every seafood that you can think of. Then again, their motto does explain it all, “If It Swims We Have It”. 

Lining the street of the famous Gurney Drive is a row of seafood restaurants not unlike our own East Coast Seafood Row. But curiously most of them were rather empty for a Monday evening except for one. Bali Hai Seafood Market seemed to be doing a roaring business when we dropped in. 

Bali Hai is a place known for its delectable sauces, such as chilli, garlic, butter, peppercorns, tamarind, and tom yum paste. Besides these, they offer fantastic and rare seafood options like spider crab, snow crab, and empurau fish. Also, other popular “tzechar” dishes with that special smoky wokhei. 

Bali Hai has been feeding seafood lovers with the freshest critters and best quality fish for over ten years. Pick your own catch at the live fish tank by the entrance. Specify the way you want them cooked – in Teochew, Nyonya or even Thai style. 

甘香炒啦啦 Kamheong Fried Venus Clams

The kamheong lala (kepah) was fragrant and packed quite a kick. The thick, dark gravy was made less spicy because some of my guests (and myself included) could not stand the heat, but you can ask to up the spiciness with plenty of chopped bird’s eye chilli. Though the venus clams weren’t that big, they were rather plump and juicy.

咸蛋黄炸苏东 Fried Squids with Salted Egg

The salted egg fried squid was very tasty. The batter was crispy and light and the squid rings were cooked just right and very springy. Went very well with the ice cold beer (or actually cold beer with ice).

三文鱼炒饭 Salmon Fried Rice

Ordered this for the colleague that does not eat any seafood other than fish. Spiced with turmeric and sprinkled with lots of cashew nuts, the fried rice was too moist for my liking.

澳龙刺生 Australian Lobster Sashimi

Sashimi is the best way to enjoy a live lobster IMHO and especially for one that was this big (1.8kg). There was enough meat for 10 of us to enjoy heartedly.

Nothing goes to waste with a lobster this size, you can do a second course FOC as the price of the lobster already included the cooking cost. You can cook the head in porridge or make a miso soup out of it, but the most popular second course is to cook the lobster in noodles.

澳龙焖生面 Australian Lobster with Deep-Fried Egg Noodles

Shang mee 生面 is simply deep fried egg noodles. The rest of the lobster was chopped into pieces and the saucy crustacean was poured over the crispy noodles. As the noodles soaked in the sumptuous sauce, it softened and became a really delicious eat.

杏香百花鸡 Roasted Crispy Chicken Stuffed with Fish Plate

They have a couple of non-seafood dishes, like venison and beef, but it was this chicken dish that caught my eyes. A very traditional way of preparation, chicken meat was carefully removed from the skin and minced together with fish to form a paste which was spread onto the skin and deep fried. Tedious, but a delicious way that is seldom seen in most restaurants. Served with a side of salad of ice plants and cherry tomatoes, and drizzled with lots of Japanese mayonnaise.

黑胡椒螃蟹 Black Pepper Crab

Although they were famous for their salted egg crabs (which was mentioned in the Michelin guide), I went for the more traditional black pepper preparation. The BP sauce was slightly sour, perhaps from the Worcestershire sauce that overpowered the flavour. Should have stuck to the salted egg version.

清蒸龙趸鱼 Steamed Dragon Grouper Fish

I was surprised that they had sliced up the fish before steaming it. I guess for Dragon Grouper or Giant Grouper 龙趸鱼, it actually tastes better sliced up.

叁峇臭豆龙角豆 Sambal Three Beans

Finally, a sambal vegetable medley that consisted of stinky beans (locally known as “petai“), winged beans (a cousin of the okra), and lotus roots. Delicious.

Bali Hai is not really a tourist trap like many other places are. It’s a money trap, so, if you agree to pay their prices, food quality is not an issue. There are other places in Penang that offer the same at a lower price, but the environment or the choices are limited. So if you have only a few days to spend, I would not waste time to go searching for the perfect one. The place is “pork free” but not Halal, so if your Muslim friends are particular then this is not the place to go.

Bali Hai Seafood Market 巴厘海鲜市场 
No.90, Persiaran Gurney, 10250, Penang, Malaysia. George Town, Malaysia, George Town, Malaysia
Tel : +60 (04) 228 1272; (016) 520 3024

Visited Jun 2024

Michelin Penang Guide Bib Gourmand 2023-24