Restoran Six One — Restaurant in Kajang Municipal Council

It was a one-day trip to Melaka to attend an event, and I was very well aware that it would end around 3-4pm. Thinking hard on what to eat for dinner - certainly not in Melaka because it would be late by the time we reached PJ - I suddenly recalled a restaurant in Kajang which I'd been meaning to visit for a long time.

Timing couldn't be more perfect as everything seemed aligned that day. I had to pass by Kajang on my way back anyway so I planned my drive to reach there right on time when they had just opened for business.

Exiting the highway and snaking through some trunk roads, we reached the huge purple corner-lot shop. Their signature dish is ikan haruan (生鱼 in Chinese or snakehead in English) done in 2-way.. my reason for making the detour into this township more famous for its satay.

◾Claypot Rice with Haruan Fish Fillet - think of it as Claypot chicken rice but with fish fillet instead. To my delight, the entire pot of rice was indeed fragrant and delicious until everyone fought for every bit of it. ◾Haruan Fish Bone Soup - the soup was boiled until murky. Slightly peppery the soup looked like godsent especially after a few scoops of the rice. ◾Deep fried pork belly with garlic - never had I seen the young ones gobbled up everything in such a fast speed, leaving a few pieces for me. ◾Grilled Calamari - the beauty of grilling perfectly is the texture, plus the addictive Thai style chilly sauce. ◾Stir fried bitter gourd with egg - best version that I'd ever tasted with the egg texture still runny just like a perfect scrambled egg with my favourite bitter gourd and lastly drizzled with soy sauce. I'm in love again!

Everything was perfect that evening - at least to me - after being on the road for so long. If I ever had the chance to come back, I'd do it...

This is a restaurant that I’ve been frequenting for maybe 20 years now. It was a regular place for simple fried noodles especially Hokkien Mee, which is still very good and a favourite with regulars. However they seem to have exploded with their signature Claypot Snakehead Fish Rice and accompanying Snakehead Fish Soup which comes as a set.

To start of the meal, we had the Salad with Deep Fried Salmon Skin. A simple salad with some peanuts, apple slices, tomatoes, mixed salad leaves and sprinkling of ebiko (fish roe) topped with Thousand Island sauce and crispy fish skin. A simple salad well executed and a great start to the meal.

Next was a chicken layered with salted egg paste and yam and deep fried. Sesame seeds add a nice aroma and texture. This was a great starter.

The signature Snakehead Fish soup was slightly herbal with a hint of rice wine and very flavourful. This may be the star of the entire dinner. The Claypot rice was well cooked and flavourful and topped with perfectly cooked snakehead fish slices. It reminded me of unagi (Japanese eel) but without the sweetness of teriyaki sauce. This was very good too and it’s great as a set.

Another signature dish here is their deep fried pork belly with crispy garlic skins. Very addictive and great when eaten with the Claypot snakehead rice. This is a Must Try here.

Finally, the grilled squid was nice and aromatic and not overcooked. Served with some pickled cucumber and carrots and a sweet spicy dipping sauce, this was pretty good too.

Overall it was a great meal and I would certainly return again. My only complaint is that they use MSG which triggered my sweating while eating and made me pretty thirsty after the meal. If only they can figure out how to maintain the taste without artificial...

I visited Restoran Six One after seeing a tempting food review reel on Instagram, and I'm happy to say it largely lived up to the hype. The star of the show was undoubtedly the Fish Claypot Rice. This was a completely new experience for me, used to the classic chicken version. The fish offered a surprisingly delicate and flavorful alternative, setting it apart in a positive way. It's definitely something I'd recommend trying if you're looking for a unique twist on a familiar dish.

However, not everything was a home run. The Garlic Fried Pork was, unfortunately, just average. It wasn't bad, per se, but it didn't stand out in any significant way and felt a bit like a standard offering.

The Fish Soup, on the other hand, was quite memorable. It packed a punch of flavor, with a distinct herbal undertone that suggested the use of Chinese herbs. While I personally enjoyed the strong flavor profile, it might not be to everyone's taste.

Now for the downside: in this increasingly digital world, Restoran Six One's cash-only policy feels incredibly outdated and inconvenient. It's a significant drawback and something to be aware of...