Desaru Food Guide: What To Eat In Desaru (Local Suggest)

In our ultimate Desaru Food Guide, you’ll find the BEST Desaru restaurants!

Desaru is a little coastal town well known for its beaches and water sports.

This region is now thriving with a range of Desaru tourist attractions after a few years of expansion.

There is no doubt that groups of tourists often frequent many locations in Desaru.

To help navigate your meal planning here in Desaru, check out the list below!

Table of contents:
1. Super Lobster Restaurant
2. Jade Garden Seafood Corner
3. Nelayan Seafood By The Coast
4. Sengat Seafood Restaurant
5. Lotus Seafood Restaurant (Rhu Seafood Restaurant)
6. Desaru Seafood Corner
7. 899 Good Restaurant
8. YAM 918 Restaurant
9. Turmeric
10. The Mesh Restaurant
11. The Elephant & The Butterfly
12. Prego – The Westin Desaru Coast Resort
13. Ayam Penyet Z&Z Desaru
14. Yard & Co.

1. Super Lobster Restaurant

Lovers of seafood! Take a 30-minute drive from Desaru to the fishing village of Sungai Rengit.

Numerous well-known Desaru seafood restaurants are reasonably priced for some fresh seafood!

Don’t miss out on their lobster, deep-fried squid, chili crab, garoupa fish prepared in Hong Kong steam style, salted egg chicken, sizzling tofu, and veggies!

The restaurant is spacious and has ample parking space in front of the vicinity.

Price Range: $$-$$$
Cuisines: Chinese, Seafood, Asian
Meals: Lunch, Brunch, Dinner, Drinks
Remark: Serves alcohol

2. Jade Garden Seafood Corner 

You will not find a place else where you can indulge in flavorful seafood at a very affordable price!

Also read: 13 Best Things To Do In Desaru

Many families opt to dine here for their generous portions.

Give their Australian lobsters a try, as they are larger and meatier. There is a long list of other seafood dishes for you to choose from, such as crabs, shellfish, squid, oysters, prawns, and many more!

Price Range: $$-$$$
Cuisines: Chinese, Seafood, Asian
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Remark: Serves no pork, Muslim-friendly, Air-conditioned, Indoor or outdoor seats available

3. Nelayan Seafood By The Coast 

‘Nelayan’ in Malaysia’s local language, Malay means “Fisherman”.

Nelayan Seafood offers a spacious and unpretentious dining experience with both indoor and outdoor seating.

Located only 5 minutes from Bandar Penawar, drop by for some scrumptious seafood while enjoying the unobstructed view of Desaru Coast.

Here are some of the Chef’s Recommendations 

• Salted Egg Yolk Crab
• King Prawns
• Soon Hock Fish
• Deep-fried Squid
• Stir-fried Scallops
• and many other dishes

Price Range: MYR 5 – MYR 50
Cuisines: Chinese, Seafood, Asian
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Remark: Serves alcohol

4. Sengat Seafood Restaurant  

If you are staying in one of the hotels in Desaru, look no further for delicious and fresh seafood!

With just a short drive, arrive at Sengat Seafood Restaurant, which offers various seafood and non-seafood dishes to satisfy your hunger.

Select any of these signature dishes to start your meal!

• Nyonya Steam Fish
• Thai Style Fried Fish
• Steam Fresh Squid
• Butter Lobster
• Chili Crab
• Sengat Special Noodle

Also read: How To Go Desaru From Singapore

Price Range: $$-$$$
Cuisines: Chinese, Seafood, Asian
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Remark: Muslim-friendly

5. Lotus Seafood Restaurant (Rhu Seafood Restaurant) 

Within the Lotus Desaru Beach Resort’s grounds, the Rhu Seafood Restaurant is named after a huge Rhu tree that is the centerpiece of the restaurant.

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Specializing in Malaysian Chinese food with Thai influences, the restaurant also offers a special Western and Korean menu to broaden its appeal.

As you dine here, take in the sound of the waves crashing and the sea breeze as you enjoy the breathtaking view of the Desaru coastal line.

6. Desaru Seafood Corner 

Located in the heart of Desaru, Desaru Seafood Corner offers a selection of seafood delicacies.

Some local favorites are the black pepper crab, chili crab, salad lobster, pumpkin lobster, grilled fish, and scallops. Do give their poultry dishes (garlic chicken and sizzling smoked duck) a try too!

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Price Range: MYR 30 – MYR 300
Cuisines: Chinese, Seafood, Asian
Meals: Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Drinks
Remark: Muslim-friendly

7. 899 Good Restaurant 

Drop by this local Chinese ‘Kopitiam’ (coffee shop) in Desaru to grab your breakfast or brunch.

Also read: 19 Popular Desaru Trip Itinerary

The few hawker stalls and in-house Chinese kitchens offer various food choices.

Choose from traditional chicken rice, pan mee, dim sum, or any Chinese dish!

If you are feeling adventurous, try something unique like the herbal chicken soup or ABC pork rib stew soup to kickstart your day!

8. YAM 918 Restaurant 

If you are staying along the Desaru Coast and looking for an affordable seafood eatery, Yam 918 Restaurant is the way to go!

Portions are generous here.

Do try their signature fish head curry with spicy and thick broth, an omelet with oysters, salted egg yolk squid, hot plate beancurd, and stir-fried vegetables.

The restaurant provides delivery services by ordering through FoodPanda or WhatsApp.

Price Range: $$-$$$
Cuisines: Asian
Remark: No pork, no lard, no alcohol

Also read: Top 6 Desaru Resort

9. Turmeric 

Dine on a terrace overlooking the lagoon pool. Select any of the Thai-infused Signature Dishes while they are cooked to order at the live cooking stations.

The following are a few of Turmeric’s signature dishes

• Som Tam (green papaya salad with condiments)
• Tom Yum Goong (spicy seafood broth)
• Ikan Bakar (whole roaster fish in banana leave and sambal)
• Chu Chi Goong Mungkron (lobster stewed in Thai red curry)
• And many others!

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Price Range: MYR 12 – MYR 1,700
Cuisines: Asian, Thai, Malaysian
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Remark: Vegetarian-friendly, vegan, gluten-free options are available

10. The Mesh Restaurant 

Situated inside Four Points by Sheraton Desaru, this all-day dining venue provides a classic-modern-infused Malaysian menu.

The staff takes pride in providing excellent service and catering to their guests’ needs.

Try the Charred Caesar Salad, Crispy Chicken Sub, Beef Burger, Penang Style Fried Kuey Teow, and TSP Cheesecake, which are the chef’s signature.

Price Range: $$$$
Cuisines: Cafe, Asian, Malaysian
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Drinks
Remark: Vegetarian-friendly, Vegan option is available

11. The Elephant & The Butterfly 

This Mexican-inspired restaurant, located in the Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast, is well worth a visit!

Start with some appetizers such as mushroom quesadillas and Mexican chicken soup to pack a punch of flavor.

Try their highly recommended Signature Mexican Burger or Salmon Quetzal for a non-meat option. Other choices worth trying are

• Colossal Garlic Scilla (seafood)
• Bacalao (seafood)
• Campesina (beef)

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Wrap up the night with a dessert choice of

• Coconut Flan
• Mexican Chocolate Pot de Creme
• Bola de Nieve

Price Range: $$-$$$
Cuisines: Mexican, Bar, Pub
Meals: Lunch, Dinner, After-hours, Drinks
Remark: Vegetarian-Friendly

12. Prego – The Westin Desaru Coast Resort 

With the freshest seafood, stone-fired pizzas, and handmade pasta to tempt your taste buds, Prego offers a genuine Italian dining experience.

Start off light with Prego’s appetizers such as the Prego Caesar Salad and Funghi Gratinati. Give the slow-roasted pumpkin soup a try too!

Other recommendation includes the

• Prego stone-fired pizza
• Salt-crusted seabass
• Roasted free-range chicken
• and Tiramisu

Price Range: MYR 50 – MYR 350
Cuisines: Italian, Pizza, Grill
Meals: Dinner
Remark: Casual Dining, Family Friendly, Private Functions

13. Ayam Penyet Z&Z Desaru 

‘Ayam Penyet’ literally translates to “smashed chicken”.

Originating in East Java of Indonesia, the juicy fried chicken is served with rice, raw vegetables, fried beancurd, soup, and spicy sambal.

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Besides ‘ayam penyet’, customers can opt for other dishes like fried fish

The Westin Desaru Coast Resort is a 10- to 15-minute drive from this restaurant.

14. Yard & Co. 

About a 30-minute drive from Desaru is the cozy coastal cafe Yard & Co.

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You can eat your meal and sweets like milk mochi while overlooking the ocean.

The cafe’s food will captivate you if the ambiance and surroundings aren’t enough.

Here are some recommendations 

• Snooze Button (creamy egg benedicts with a bagel)
• Yard Breakfast (big breakfast plate)
• Sunbathing In The Midday (pan-seared barramundi)

Cuisines: Fusion
Meals: Lunch, Dinner

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