Coconuts Hot Spot: Crab Factory, SS2 Petaling Jaya

COCONUTS HOT SPOT — Now you don’t have to go to the USA to experience an “Original Louisiana Boil”.  Just make your way to Crab Factory in SS2 Petaling Jaya. As the name implies, the whole setup in this restaurant much like a factory.

The exposed brick wall, the utilitarian wooden tables and metal chairs and the exposed ceiling beams give it a functional and practical theme.  It’s simple, rustic and comfortable.  People come here to enjoy their seafood, particularly of the crustacean type.

The menu and ordering at Crab Factory is very simple.  Choose your fresh seafood, choose your sauce, decide on the level of heat (spiciness) and add on your choice of sides. 

Prices of the fresh seafood are at market rates and are indicated on the board.  Prices are stated based on 500g and 1kg. Take your pick from meat crabs, lobsters, yabbies, baby octopus, prawns, mussels, Japanese snails, scallops and the super sweet Japanese prawns (Amaebi).

There is no crockery used here.  The seafood is boiled in the various sauces and tied up in food-grade plastic bags before being served at the dining tables.  Diners can choose to eat from the plastic bags or have the entire contents poured out onto the table – I’d recommend the latter.

This is when you roll up your sleeves, get comfortable and dive in with bare hands!  Yes, in Crab Factory, that’s the only way to eat your pile of seafood which is poured out onto the table.  No plates, no fork, no spoon.  Just get into some good finger licking action here. 

You really have to get down and dirty and eat with your bare hands to fully enjoy the meal.

I would recommend to have your seafood cooked in the different sauces.  The garlic butter is aromatic and appetizing but I find the Southern Bang to be more fun and exciting.  I have tried all the 4 levels of “heat”: mild, medium, holy crab and death valley – the last one being the most lethal. 

Be warned; the super heat from “death valley” will slowly burn a deathly trail from your tongue down your throat and it takes quite a while for the fire to subside!  I also love the milder Jamba Jamba sauce which is tomato-based but packed with a zesty edge and enough chilli heat to excite the tastebuds.

Their sides are known as “Bag Buddies” because they are added on to the seafood bags. Bag Buddies include button mushrooms (RM7.90), (RM4), potatoes (RM5.90), sausages (RM4.90), enoki mushrooms (RM6.90) and sweet corn (RM4).  

To mop up the sauces from your seafood, order some crusty garlic bread or even the Hush Puppies which are deep-fried golden balls made from oatmeal and lightly spiced.

There are several choices of non-seafood items too.  One of their latest additions to the menu and a big hit is the Waffles and Southern Fried Chicken.  The waffles are light and fluffy and so good when dipped in the maple syrup.  The fried chicken is tasty too – tender and juicy despite it being a breast cut.

There are additional dishes like Cajun garlic fries (RM6.90), chicken wings (RM16.90), Pollock fish fingers (RM12.90) and Gumbo (southern soup) at RM12.90.

Crab Factory has a little something for every palate although a large portion of its menu caters to seafood lovers.  Eating those with bare hands, communal style is certainly fun, different and infinitely satisfying.

Crab Factory
21, Jalan SS2/64
47300 Petaling Jaya
Tel: +603-7865-5850

Chris Wan also blogs at Pure Glutton