Famous Steamed Tilapia @ Lan Je, Rawang
February 13, 2009 | 9,169 viewsA restaurant so famous for its steamed tilapia (Fei Zhou Yue or African fish, anyone?), one has to endure the horrendous traffic at peak hours (a good half an hour from the toll exit in Rawang), brace the heat (the restaurant ain’t air-conditioned nor shielded from the sweltering heat fully, aside from the misty air blown from the many fans with vapours), and patience tested to the limit from the 15 minutes stand-by mode at the sidewalk waiting for a seat, AND roughly 20 minutes cooking time. Phew.
Astro AEC fans would recognize this show, Taste With Jason on every Sunday 10.00pm that introduces a lot of Chinese food from all over Malaysia
But when such simple and unassuming outlet has got the legendary boo_licious and so many others singing praises, you know it’s gotta be good!
Blink and you’ll miss this restaurant by the roadside …..
The intimidating crowd …. do NOT expect a comfortable tete-a-tete or a relaxing yumcha session with your pals here.
Refrain from arriving during peak hours. The shop’s opened for lunch and dinner, but come public holidays/weekends, the queue for a table can be a rather …. unforgiving ordeal. Fortunately, the staff are helpful, and thankfully remember who’s first, and who’s last, and who’s the impatient in-betweener who’s trying to sneak up and play dirty. =P
Steamed Tilapia with Ginger, Bird’s Eye Chillies (yup, potent ones!), and Garlic (RM12.50 onwards)
If you’re wondering, Lan Je refers to the lady owner who’s been manning this restaurant for a good many years. She does help out running the place, especially during peak times, when the place looks like helter-skelter, but instead rather systematic.
Ordering your food here is a breeze. No menus, no daily specials. Steamed Tilapia is a MUST, hence if you’re bringing one who doesn’t value his/her seafood, tough luck. Choose from mild, spicy, or extra spicy. Go for normal spicy, as you wouldn’t want the excessive ginger+chilli padi to burn your tongue and risk tasting none of those firm, sweet flesh. Most patrons order a fish each, to fully savour his/her own fish, without the need to fight over the best parts.
Kung Pao Chicken
They do not serve pork, so for your other carnivorous needs, you have chicken cooked either Kung Pao style (with onions and dried chillies) or Sweet and Sour style.
Without much expectation, the Kung Pao Chicken was nearly mind-blowingly good. Really thick, sweet, spicy and glistening gravy coating the slightly fried cuts of chicken. The difference between Lan Je’s version and the average out there lies in the sauce definitely. With a lot of chopped garlic, for that special flavour. Minor gripe? The cuts of chicken should be deboned 100%, so that every bite is a bliss.
Stir-fried Four Angle Beans with Dried Shrimps
Not much choices when it comes to the greens, with many ordering their famed “4 Dim Dau”, or Four-Angle Beans fried with Dried Shrimps. Crunchy, tasty, and not spicy at all, the vege was pleasing to the palate, as well as the wallet. Hahaha ….
The meal was cheap, with dishes ranging from RM6-RM7 per plate, and the fish at about RM13 each. Another one of their specialty includes the deep-fried prawns, which we did not order that day, at RM19 per serving.
Location : Kedai Makan Lan Je Steamed Fish @ 27-28, Block C, Jalan Rawang, Gerai MPS, Batu 16 Rawang.
Tel No: 012-227 0037
Tel No: 012-227 0037
Directions : From Rawang toll exit, go straight until the traffic lights. Turn right and go straight along the long and winding road, which I believe is Jalan Batu Arang. You’ll pass over the railway beneath you, and KTM station on the left. Turn right at the traffic lights at the intersection, then go straight along Jalan Rawang, the main road. You’ll pass by the mosque on your left, and Maybank on your left further down the road. Lan Je is situated on your left, a single-storey shoplot tucked between some Malay shops and such.
wow..me luvv steamed fish! prices r cheap too! hhmmm..must get a gang to go w me for this one!
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Hard to get a table huh…. *as seen in the TV show*
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Yea, I remembered I saw the introduction on TV.
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Definitely not comfy by looking at the pics but the dishes are cheap! That’s the key to attract crowds rite?!
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Er… somehow, I don’t see the wow factor here. Maybe cos fish is not really my cup of tea 😛
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You are so fast in action.
I watched that too, but it was still in my to-eat list.
Btw, I am going to Malacca next weekend.
Any must-eat?
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Me no likey fish too…but the four angle beans is one of my fave!
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We have sampled their Kota Damansara branch version and thought the signature fish was only average, tho it came out steaming hot ! We enjoyed tho the expecting anxious looks of the impatiently waiting patrons ( yeah beautiful people watching is one of our preferred side dishes , & esp when we are nicely positioned near that table with the all-knowing middle-aged man who just came in the Merc 320 with 2 feminine China looking companions , rambling on & on…, viola ! )
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thanks for the direction. we wanted to go there on our way to serendah but ended up getting lost..hehe
hey, there’s a branch at kota damansara as well. but closed when we went there..ARGHHH!!!
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now that’s 2 steamed tilapia places in rawang you recommended that i’m jotting down… but rawang feels so out of the way for me…
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I’ve seen the program few weeks back…such a normal fish Lan Je can make it so famous and tasty ya! Bravo to Lan Je!!!
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darn, we missed this place on the way to sekeping serendah….
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Rawang? so far la…
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must give it a try.
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We blinked. 🙁 Next time must open eyes big-big.
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whoa i have no idea where’s the place located at..anyone would like to organize a rawang trip?
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thenomadGourmand : yeah! but make sure not too big a crowd, else hard to find seats.
mimid3vils : yeah indeed. good thing they're rather organized when seating the patrons.
Little Inbox : it was that show that made me rmbr some blogposts on this place.
cariso : true! comfort comes second to taste, IMO.
jason & wmw : HA?!! dun likey fish eh? hmmm … like sister like brother.hahah …
soo sean : hi there, sorry late replying ur comment. Melaka wise, some swear by the sate celup, but i'm not a fan. go for the cendol, nyonya food, satay babi, and seafood in stead.
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BSG : so you guys were in stead, imagining and lusting over the CHina dolls by biting into the steaming hot tilapia? hehehe … no wonder the fish paled in comparison eh …
Nic : Kota Damansara? hmm … ok. if the craving ever comes again. but doubtful, as the prolonged wait was torturous.
jasmine : hey u rmbr! hahaha … i was wondering as well, Rawang’s fmaous for tilapia ah?
Simple Girl : yeah, i was having my doubts as well. though far from mind-blowing, the fish was steamed to perfection, literally.
FBB : hahaha… u, Nic and Ms Lemongrass. but it’s right by the road woh?
Jackson : erm, i’m from Ipoh. compare the distance? 🙂
foodbin : yeah, do so. esp if you’re in klang valley.
Lyrical Lemongrass : aiya, the picnic session at Sekeping more tempting ma… luxurious food with the perfect nature backdrop
kampungboycitygal : ask jason. and wmw. hahahah .. since they both dun like fish, u can take over their orders. mauhahah …
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I am definitely marking down this place to visit in Rawang. I am always at Kepong in the weekends ;D
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it looks delicious!!
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vkeong : so have you went over yet? 🙂
HC : justified the wait loh … but rather hot and uncomfortable only. if only there’s air cond …
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[…] Motormouth from Ipoh – “Steamed Tilapia is a MUST, hence if you’re bringing one who doesn’t value his/her seafood, tough luck. Choose from mild, spicy, or extra spicy. Go for normal spicy, as you wouldn’t want the excessive ginger+chilli padi to burn your tongue and risk tasting none of those firm, sweet flesh. Most patrons order a fish each, to fully savour his/her own fish, without the need to fight over the best parts.” (Rawang) […]
Even, this considered as an older post but the info still valid. Thanks for sharing
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