Anjung Ketam, Crab Restaurant, Labuan, Malaysia

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.

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.

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:

Guava with asamboi (a sour and salty sprinkling) served
as an appetizer.

Steamed Crab