TANJUNG DAWAI REVISITED - THE THIRD TIME

25TH OCTOBER 2025 ~ This was my third time visiting Tanjung Dawai after a wedding reception in Kedah. The main reason: to eat Mee Udang [TRANSLATE: Prawn Noodles] and buy seafood products to bring home.

I am always thankful to have friends who really enjoy exploring places and trying local food at the same time. Puan Aunillah Hilmi and Puan Hanna Sheikh Mokhtar, with their spouses and daughter, decided to get our Mee Udang at this place called Port Lepak Pantai. Fortunately, the eating place was not full at the time when we arrived.

This was also my third time having Mee Udang in Kedah, and at another different place.

not mine

A bowl of the cuisine, which came with six big prawns, cost only RM15 - something that I could not get in Johor Bahru.

After the gastronomic adventure, we then went to Hajjah Siti Hasil Laut to buy some seafood products as well as other food items. The place was buzzing with activities and there was still a big crowd doing their shopping there.

I successfully grabbed a few things from the shelves like anchovies, dried shrimps, locally produced coffee powder and coconut sugar. That should end my gathering with my TESL friends in Kepala Batas/Kota Kuala Muda. We shall meet again during other receptions, most probably in January next year.

TANJUNG DAWAI REVISITED

   16th MAY 2025    ~ I did not have this place in my itinerary list; actually, I did not have any specific itinerary during my stay in Sungai Petani. However, a friend of UPM TESL Class of 1993, Puan Zur'aiza Abd. Hamid [and her husband] was kind enough to take me to Tanjung Dawai that Friday afternoon. This was my second time visiting Tanjung Dawai. The first time was two years ago [READ HERE].

The first pit stop was a shop called Legasi Cikgu Fauzi. The mission was to buy salted fish to bring back home. And mission was successfully accomplished. The shop was huge and modern, and one good thing they received payment using credit card.

The next pit stop was to embark on another gastronomic adventure. The visit to Tanjung Dawai would be complete without eating its popular Mee Udang [TRANSLATE: Prawn Noodles].

Puan Zur'aiza took me to this place called Rumpun Mambu. There were many diners eating when we arrived. According to my friend, this place was popular for its signature cuisine, and on weekends, people had to wait in line to be seated as it was always crowded. I had my first Mee Udang in Tanjung Dawai somewhere else [READ HERE].

The Mee Udang here was commendable and hopefully there would be another next time.

I have to thank Puan Zur'azia and her husband, Mr. Ismail, for the breakfast date in the morning [READ HERE] and the trip to Tanjung Dawai in the afternoon. They came all the way from Jeniang to entertain me during my stay in Kedah. May we meet again some other day, perhaps when there are other wedding invitations.

TRYING THE POPULAR MEE UDANG SUNGAI DUA

1st JUNE 2024 ~ My gastronomic adventure in Kepala Batas continued after attending the wedding reception in the afternoon [READ HERE]. This time, an ex-classmate of Budiman class [of SMS Muar] fetched me at the hotel and brought me to this restaurant called Restoran Aur Gading located in Sungai Dua which should be famous for its Mee Udang [TRANSLATE: Prawn Noodles]. I was told that Sungai Dua is already in Butterworth district, not Kepala Batas.

When we arrived for dinner at about 7:00 p.m., the place was quite empty. There were people but the dining area was big. And it was raining heavily when we were ready to order our food.

Of course, we had the famous Mee Udang and my friend was very happy to finally get the food he was craving for.

One could also get fresh seafood to be cooked here.

The Mee Udang was good, and it tasted much better when someone paid it for you. 😀

I have to thank Mr. Shamsul Akmal Shamsuddin and wife for kindly taking me here for dinner, which was something I had never expected and had no chance to say "No" when told about the plan at the reception. And thanks also for the treat. I wonder when will our next gastronomic adventure be after this as they are residing in Bangi and seldom come to Johor Bahru anymore.

EATING IN A PALM SUGAR PLANTATION BY THE PADDY FIELD

THE EATING PLACE

    15TH JULY 2023     ~ This place was unique as it was located between rows  of palm sugar trees and with vast, green paddy fields on both sides. Definitely the place for people not only to enjoy the food, but to blend with nature. This should excite people like me who do not get to see paddy fields and mountains every day.

The name of the place was Ladang Nira Nipah Napiah [TRANSLATE: Napiah's Palm Sugar Plantation], located somewhere on the main road from Sungai Petani to Tanjung Dawai, in Merbok district. Thanks to my friend of UPM TESL class of 1993, Puan Suhana Abdul Jamal cum the official tourist guide, for introducing this place to us for our gastronomic adventure trip.

You could see the palm tree bearing fruits and the sugar was being collected. The palm sugar should be one of the attractions in the menu for people to try here.

THE FOOD

The signature dish would be its popular Prawn Noodles cooked in a small pan. There were also other variety of food available, and you could even get western food like fries here.

squid noodles

To me, the Prawn Noodles had a similar taste to Johor Mee Bandung.

THE PHOTOSHOOT

There are a number of scenic spots for all the Facebookers, Instagrammers and TikTokers out there. Here are some photos of my friends and I when we were there at Nira Nipah Napiah. One place I don't mind going back again, for both the food and the picturesque panorama.