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Ratings and reviews

RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere

Details

CUISINES
Chinese, Seafood, Asian
Meals
Lunch, Dinner
FEATURES
Takeout, Seating, Serves Alcohol, Table Service
Reviews (141)
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83 results
Traveller rating
31
26
12
5
9
Traveller type
Time of year
LanguageEnglish
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Traveller rating
31
26
12
5
9
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Reviewed 5 days ago

It may not be the best restaurant in town but it seems consistently full of people. While they have a menu, for the seafood, you are encouraged to go to their holding tanks and choose what you'd like - crabs, fish, prawns, etc. It is...a bit chaotic and it helps if you are a bit loud and you need to be more pushy to get your orders in. Once in though, the cooking process is fairly quick and you'd be served in no time by pretty helpful folks.More

Date of visit: March 2024
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Reviewed 15 September 2023 via mobile

We were early but all the tables on the deck were reserved. The seafood was only average and the system of delivering food to clients can be fraught.

Date of visit: September 2023
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Reviewed 30 July 2023

bad service and no friendly , when asking about foods and price . environment also no clean and comfortable

Date of visit: July 2023
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Reviewed 4 June 2023

Qued on 3 different occasions on 3 different evenings to be told 45 mins wait for table rudely by Manager when locals were being accommodated with tables and orders in front and behind us. Don't waste your time queuing there are plenty of more welcoming...restaurants in the area.More

Date of visit: June 2023
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Reviewed 18 January 2023 via mobile

Adequate level of service, given the place wasn’t so busy at the time of my visit, approx 20:50. Menu offers basic English explanations, but this is pretty standard and as expected for the area. Beers were brilliantly cold, food was ok. Had sweet and sour...prawn with steamed rice. It was as described, but not mind-blowing. Price point was low, and reflective of the experience.More

Date of visit: January 2023
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Reviewed 19 November 2022 via mobile

We loved our food here, so much that even though we only had 2 nights in Semporna in total, we ate here for dinner on both nights. I had the shrimp fried rice both times (loads of shrimp). My husband had sweet and sour prawns...the first time and chicken kuey teow the 2nd. Neither time could either of us finish our food the portion was so big... and only 9RM per plate! It was very busy but they found us a table both times. The host speaks excellent English. Its a bit hectic by some people's standards but we found the staff to be very polite (even though they sometimes "shouted" to each other to get something brought to the table).More

Date of visit: November 2022
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Reviewed 9 November 2022

Nice food, reasonable priced. Ordered steam prawn, it was amazing! The Tom Yam Seafood soup is nice too. Must try the Special Tofu, yummy! The lady boss is nice. No worry about being hassled by street sellers here, they will just come and ask you...nicely if you would like buy their stuff, and leave if you are not interested. Place is clean,they provide handwash basin.Good location too.More

Date of visit: November 2022
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 13 May 2022 via mobile

We bought the fresh live seafood from the local peddlers , rm50 for 3 medium size lobster 🦞, rm50 for xl crab 🦀 , cooking fees fat mom charge rn25 for each dish , we ordered steam sea urchin from fat mom which cost rm10...each . The flavor was ok .More

Date of visit: March 2022
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Reviewed 19 March 2022

As read through Tripadvisor and Facebook influencers recommendation on this restaurant, thinking to give a try. Even local guide told us before hand that foods grading is bad,not as reviewed by social media page and we will regret it. Seriously he was right we made...the wrong choice!!!!!!!More

Date of visit: March 2022
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Reviewed 17 January 2022 via mobile

Border not open to foreign tourist. Not crowded what i like 1) fast 2) affordable 3) lunch up to dinner at 9 still available. Less than rm100.

Date of visit: January 2022
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 3 December 2021 via mobile

Restaurant is obviously overrated based on reviews. Food quality so so only.. but service level is terrible. No one serves us while we were there and captain was very rude when taking orders. You should think twice if you plan to visit, I am sure...there are still lots of nice seafood restaurant out there worthy for you to choose from.More

Date of visit: December 2021
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 20 September 2020 via mobile

We as a group of photographers had lunch here recently after our trip to the interior. The seafood is very fresh especially the steam crabs in eggs. The taufu is excellent too and are the other dishes. The view from the jetty is good. Beware...of touts though who try to sell you live .seafoodMore

Date of visit: September 2020
Helpful?2  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 28 February 2020

7 of us ate here for dinner and the food was great value and all very tasty. Rather basic surroundings but our food was excellent!

Date of visit: February 2020
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 14 February 2020 via mobile

they slow was very bad food we ordered seafood..fish steak..they bring us some sponge fish with so bad taste..french fries we been waiting 30 min.so we cancelled..only cold beer there save our lifes

Date of visit: February 2020
Helpful?
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Reviewed 21 January 2020 via mobile

Food was lovely. Large choice of sea food and the menu is in Chinese and English. The prices are great for what you get & the place sells beer which is rare in Semporna. They did get one thing wrong on our order after repeating...it several times to make sure they had written down what we ordered. No big fuss as it was still great. Would eat here again.More

Date of visit: January 2020
Helpful?2  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Fat Mother Semporna - Restaurant Reviews & Photos - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Fat Mother Semporna

Yes, Fat Mother Semporna offers takeaway services.

Fat Mother Semporna is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travellers:
  • Food: 4
  • Service: 4
  • Value: 4
  • Atmosphere: 4