Otak-Otak Cheng Boi (阿梅麻坡乌达), locally called “Ah Mui Otak-Otak”, is a highly popular shop that specialises in various types of Muar-style otak-otak (spiced fish paste wrapped in nipa palm leaves) — which is also a Johor-specialty invented in Muar. It is located in Taman Sri Emas, Muar, just a short walk from Muar Bentayan Bus Terminal.
Other than the usual fish otak-otak in nipa palm leave (called a stick), there are otak-otak made with prawns, sotong (calamari) and fish head too. There are also otak pau (乌达包) and otak cup (乌达杯). All products are frozen in packs and sold chilled.
Outside the shop, only the fish otak-otak will be grilled over charcoal-fire and sold as cooked food. Dine-in is not available since after the COVID-19 outbreak — the shop currently operates on a take-away only basis.
The skilfully-cooked fish otak-otaks have nice aroma, no burnt taste and with beautiful reddish-orange colours. They are delightfully sweet-spicy, but not very spicy, and the meat did not become drier as a result of grilling.
Do you know that “otak” means “brain” in Malay? The name was coined in the early days due to minced fish paste looking like brain matters. So, when addressing the food, it is often termed as “otak-otak” instead of just “otak“.
At Otak-Otak Cheng Boi, you can buy and eat the grilled fish otak-otak (away from the shop) or buy back the frozen ones to steam or grill at home.
Social Media:
Facebook
Address:
No 28 4, Jalan Bentayan, Taman Sri Emas, 84000 Muar, Johor, Malaysia
Opening Hours:
7am to 4pm | Closed on Wednesday
Nearby:
Leave a Reply