FRESH seafood is what you can expect at 5 to 9 Laos Thai Cuisine in Segambut, but the restaurant goes a step further, serving it raw.  

The restaurant’s menu may carry an “eat at your own risk” warning, but management provides assurance that strict safety standards are followed in handling freshly caught seafood that comes from Pantai Remis Village, a coastal fishing town near Sitiawan, Perak. 

I tried the raw, marinated crab. Having been refrigerated for two days, it tasted like ice-cream and came with a sprinkling of sesame seeds and seaweed strips, served with a green chilli dip. I found the dish intensely salty, sour, sweet, and hot, exactly what you would expect with Thai cuisine. 

Next, I had the oyster omelette that was rich with fat, premium oysters. It was lightly cooked and sprinkled with lots of onions and fresh coriander. I enjoyed it.

After this, I opted for the chicken rice. The chicken had a distinctive aroma and sheen, and the rice was fragrant.  

Next came the Thai-style stewed pork knuckle, served with a side of preserved vegetables. The meat was tender, and I liked the vegetables, garlicky and tart with lime. 

I followed that with the Laos braised lamb – flank and leg bones – that had been stewed in a claypot with carrots, potatoes, and white wine. It was flambéed with whisky at the table. I thought the lamb tasted bland and the meat on the bony parts was a little tough. 

For dessert, I was given complimentary mango sticky rice. The Thai mango was sweet and juicy, though the rice was a little too soft. 

5 to 9 Laos Thai Cuisine is at 69, Jalan Segambut Pusat, Segambut Pusat, Kuala Lumpur. Contact 016-264-9199 for enquiries. Parking is challenging in the day but easier in the evening. – March 11, 2023.  

* Eu Hooi-Khaw has been writing about food for the longest time, covering all aspects, from restaurant reviews to cooking and recipes, as well as the healthy side of it. She has written for major newspapers and magazines, published the cookbook Fresh Ingredients, and also writes for her website hooikhawandsu.com.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.