Warung Pok Nong (celup tepung) — Restaurant in Terengganu

For so many times I'd been to Kuala Terengganu which most people called KT, I would always follow wherever my customer brought me to... that was because I had no idea on what to eat due to the fact that I only go to KT once in a blue moon. In the land of nasi dagang and many other dishes that worth exploring, I slowly curate my list of places to go in this capital of Terengganu. But patience is what I need as I will only come here once every few months.

Warung Pok Nong without a doubt is the most popular fried seafood restaurant in KT. It has been in operation for over 20 long years. The family who were seated on the same table as me told me that the seafood here is as fresh as it can get - any fresher and I'll have to go out to the sea myself. Such is the friendliness of the local people here.

◾Nasi lemak packet - Terengganu style with sambal ikan tongkol (gasp!!), Ikan bilis, hard boiled egg (half) and cucumber. The sambal and anchovies came in separate packaging. Sambal is on the sweet side but I'm not complaining because the ikan tongkol made up for it. ◾Keropok lekor - 3 big pieces for RM2.. value for money. ◾Fried squid - the highlight of the meal. It was a giant squid which was longer than the spoon itself (look at the picture)! ◾Fried fish - my least favourite among the seafoods but it was fresh nonetheless. ◾Fried prawn - the size of each and every prawn was medium to large and very fresh, juicy and crunchy. Should have taken more of these.

Total bill for everything cost me only RM25! I was shocked when I heard the bill from the cashier. I quietly paid the bill happily and left. The queue was still very long when I left... A testament of how popular this restaurant is. I can see why - fresh seafood at affordable price is sure fire winner! Imagine how much it cost if I eat elsewhere.

My advise based on my experience :

1. they starts selling the fried seafood at 3.30pm but it's advisable to reach at least half an hour earlier. I count myself lucky because I reached around 3pm and the crowd was increasing steadily already.
2. Take your table and start ordering food other than the fried seafood ie. nasi lemak, mihun goreng, mee goreng, keropok lekor, etc - these are available earlier.
3. when you see the crowd started queueing up at the counter, please join in the queue before it gets too long.
4. Grab a plate and take as many prawns and fish as you want - they finish fast but will be replenished steadily. Only the squid will have to wait longer.
5. Enjoy your meal, pay at the counter (such is the trust) after you...

My first time here! Came here (on wednesday,4.30pm) there was a long queue. Its just like what we expected as we looked up on tiktok beforehand. This place was indeed busy/crowded due to it being famous. I personally think their service was great. Firstly you have to line up and the staff will give you a number & they’ll show u your table. Then, u sit at the table and u must wait. They will call your number that the staff has given just now. In the meantime u can go to the drinks/beverages counter, line up there and order ur drinks. They will quickly prepare it on the spot it took like 1 min (i ordered iced tea & coconut drinks). So back to the table u have to wait patiently bcs they want to make sure it’s systematic. They dont want the food counter become too packed & chaotic. Later they will call your number very clearly so u head over to the food counter and thats when u take the huge tray and choose what u want. They prepared on the plates so u can just take it or ask for it. In my case, the celup tepung sotong (fried calamari) was not hot as the food had already been prepared there. But then the celup tepung udang (prawn deep fried) had already finished so i got the ones that are freshly cooked. So it was very hot. Then there’s also deep fried fish & others. Afterwards, u can directly bring the food u have chosen to ur table. U can make payment after eating all ur food. Quite efficient. Don’t worry the staff are friendly you can just ask if you’re not sure of the things there. Oh and i think it was very affordable. The taste of the food & sauce matters the most. Overall it was a great experience, i’d come back here. Additionally, i like how this warung is located in front of the sea or the beach. U can cross the road to check it out. Extremely beautiful. (Parking can be limited btw so u gotta be patient, slow down and find ur...

Warung Pok Nong (Celup Tepung) – Total Disaster

With over 4,000 Google reviews averaging 4.3 stars, I thought this place would be a must-try. Boy, was I wrong.

The System (5/5): To be fair, the queuing system is impressive. You first queue for a number. An old chap sizes up your group and allocates a suitable table. When your number is called, you queue for drinks. Once you’ve got those in hand, you queue again for food—only when your number comes up. Sounds tedious, but it’s actually orderly.

The Food (2/5): • Fish ICT (ikan celup tepung, RM6 each): Zero seasoning. Just gutted fish dipped in flour and deep-fried. Crispy, yes. Flavor? Nonexistent. • Cuttlefish (RM17): I came expecting the glorious whole squid from Mark Wiens’ YouTube video. Instead, got sad, chopped-up pieces. • Keropok Lekor (RM2 for 3 pcs): Supposedly a KT specialty. Here, it’s fried in the same bland flour batter. Forgettable. • Cuttlefish Eggs (RM8): The only saving grace. Clean, creamy, no fishy taste. Decent portion too.

The Rest: • Chili sauce: Watery and bland. Calling it a “dip” is generous. • Environment: Hot, no AC. Located by the seaside, which sounds nice until you’re sweating while eating. View is good though. • Parking: A nightmare. Brace yourself.

Verdict: Portions are okay, prices are reasonable, seafood is fresh—but freshness alone can’t save tasteless cooking. Service? What service? You’ll likely spend 1-1.5 hours here. Try it yourself if you must, but don’t say I...