Located about a 10 minute walk from JB Sentral lies a
cluster of shop houses in Jalan Lumba Kuda with a Chinese restaurant named
Kedai Makanan Jadi Baru Botak. The restaurant’s fame has been known to extend
throughout the country as well as Singapore. About the slightly awkward name
(which translates to Becomes New Bald), it is said to come from the proprietor
of the shop who happens to be bald, hence the ‘botak’ nickname stuck and is now
used in the restaurant’s signage.
As far as the food is concerned, it is no question that
regulars and newer customers alike come to this restaurant for the assam curry fish head, to the point that most tables (if not, all of them) will have a
claypot of this signature dish. The dish features a red snapper head, ladies’
fingers, tomatoes, brinjal, and onions in an assam (tamarind) curry; all of
which are cooked in the aforementioned claypot. Its this simplicity and
effectiveness that keeps the regulars coming back for more.
Fortunately, there’s a lot more to be had here besides the
famous assam curry fish head to go along with it, as well as a plate of steaming
rice. Some of these include omelette, fried fish (i.e. threadfin fish),
otak-otak, bean sprouts with salted fish, stir fried vegetables, stir fried
squid with shallots, and a whole lot more.
In short, if you’re looking for a simple claypot of assam
curry fish head that’s still an absolute treat to eat, then Kedai Makanan Jadi
Baru Botak is the place to head to.
