Hai Kee Seafood Restaurant — Restaurant in Johor

1st encounter with Hai Kee was pleasant and hence brought our friends over to try their dishes. Took our order but didn't preempt us on long waiting time. After much patience of waiting for an hr plus, we were then informed that they do not have sufficient crabs as the so called "supplier "didn't answer her call. If u do not have enough crabs, why do u need to take so long to inform ur customer. What's more upsetting is when we approach them to ask how much longer do we need to wait? The auntie told us another additional 20mins for the rest of dishes to come. They will serve BBQ stingray in 5mins instead.But we didn't see our stingray being serve earlier nor any follow up or update from the auntie. Instead, she just pretended she didn't see us and ignore our presence when the table next to us called her over. If ur stall is overwhelmed with orders, then at least let ur customer know. We can accept it. But i doubt u even care about it as u still continues to take other ppl's order. This stall is simply too OVERATED as majority of the customers are Singaporeans. So even if 1 lesser order from us, it doesn't matter to them. In the end, we got FED UP and full of FRUSTRATION to continue further wait. Since u treated us transparent despite our feedback, we will just walk off. Im also doubtful our order is even prepare after almost 2hrs. No wonder the beside stall zichar auntie asked other customers are u sure u want to eat Hai Kee? Better ask how long is the waiting time. (This proves it is an ongoing issue). Oh please, i saw ur reply for other customer feedback on long wait is by asking ur customers to give u another chance by visiting ur stall on weekdays. U should reflect urself on how to improve ur service and attitude towards ur customer and how to cook faster too. Otherwise, u will eventually lose more customers. (Perhaps u don't even lack of customers hence don't bother). Good luck to those who want to visit on weekend. Be well prepared to wait 2 to 3 hrs. It's totally not worth it. Their staffs will have standard reply: 20mins more and ur food will then be ready. Or after 1 hr wait, they will come and tell u that they do not have enough ingredients to cook ur dish.

This is the most ridiculous and longest zichar wait i have ever encountered. Wasted our traveling and waiting time. Huge disappointment. Not to mention, i wonder if they will prioritize to serve their "regular" customers...

This seafood restaurant has been around for many years, and while the experience can be a bit of a mixed bag, there are definitely some standout dishes that make it worth visiting. One of the highlights for us was the clams — though the portion size was on the smaller side, the flavor more than made up for it. We ended up ordering them three times because they were that good: fresh, aromatic, and perfectly cooked with just the right amount of seasoning.

The chilli crab was another winner. Though the crabs were on the smaller side, the sauce was rich, spicy, and packed with flavor. If you’re a fan of heat and classic Singapore-style chilli crab, this is definitely a must-try. Despite the smaller crab size, the taste and freshness made up for it, and I would highly recommend this dish.

Unfortunately, not all seafood items were as satisfying. The prawns, for example, were a bit hit-or-miss. We tried both the drunken prawns and steamed prawns, opting for both large and small sizes. The larger prawns seemed to be frozen and pre-cooked, which affected their texture and overall enjoyment. The smaller prawns, on the other hand, were noticeably fresher and had better flavor and bite — a much more pleasant experience. If you’re visiting, I’d suggest skipping the big prawns and sticking to the smaller ones for better quality.

Service-wise, it was a little lacking. The staff were clearly very busy, and while they weren’t unfriendly, they often forgot things we asked for. That said, it’s understandable in a bustling seafood restaurant where turnover is high and things move quickly.

All in all, I would still recommend this place — the food quality (especially the clams and chilli crab) and its long-standing reputation suggest they know their seafood. Just come with realistic expectations, a bit of patience, and a plan to focus on the dishes...

Food was SUPERB!

Have been to Hai Kee twice, and would say that most of their dishes do not fail to impress, especially at a very reasonable price point.

The owner lady is kind as well and i loved their service to provide free gloves for the crab order, which might not be common for outdoor seating seafood restaurants in JB.

Chilli crab: crab meat was firm and fresh consistently for the two times ive been there. Super sedap with the chilli crab sauce which was actually spicy and not overtly sweet. Top must order dish here! A very slight disappointment was the deep fried mantou, as it wasnt crispy enough. But the delicious chili crab sauce made everything good so I still enjoyed it.

Sambal kang kong: similarly, ordered this dish twice for both times ive been. Super fragrant sambal/ belachan base, and paired very well with white rice. Very sufficiently flavourful and spicy to tingle the taste buds. A must order here.

Wan tan hor fun: this was super super umami with a super delectable wok hei fragrance. Noodles were coated with the delicious starchy sauce which i loved.

Har lok prawn: nicely flavoured har lok stir fry which i loved. 45RM for approx 10 large prawns, very decently priced as well!

Har jeong gai (prawn paste chicken): fried super crispy and flavourful as well. Eat this when its fresh out of the fryer!

Cereal Crayfish: i didnt eat this dish as i am not a fan of curry leaves, but my friends mentioned its good.

All in all, one of my favourite seafood...