With the blue sea on one side and the scenic beauty of Marine Drive on the other, enjoying fresh seafood has become an added attraction for tourists visiting Cox’s Bazar. Among the many varieties on offer, fresh marine red coral has become particularly popular with both local and foreign tourists.
Known for its white flesh, delicate bones and distinctive flavour, red coral is a favourite among seafood lovers. The fish features on the menus of hotels and beach cafés across Cox’s Bazar. Some tourists prefer it grilled, others fried, while many enjoy it with steamed or plain rice.
Mohammad Rahim, a Thai chef at the Bangkokian restaurant on Marine Drive, said the restaurant prepares a popular Thai dish called pla neung manao using marine red coral.
“The red coral has an excellent flavour. Cooking it in the Thai style makes it even more appealing. This dish is regularly ordered by tourists at our restaurant,” he said.
Faridul Hossain Sanju, manager of Sundancer Beach Café, said red coral features on the menus of almost every hotel and beach café in Cox’s Bazar.
“Tourists from different countries prefer to have the fish prepared in different ways according to their tastes. Many choose seafood for lunch or dinner. Sitting beside the sea and enjoying fresh fish is a particularly attractive experience for them,” he said.
Young, an employee at a seafood café on Marine Drive, said the café serves red coral as grilled red snapper, priced at Tk 280 per 100 grammes. Many tourists enjoy the grilled fish with fried rice or plain rice, he said.
Niaz Shahriar and his wife, Islam Pia, who came to Cox’s Bazar from Dhanmondi in Dhaka, were seen having a meal at a beach café on Marine Drive. They said they were enjoying not only the sea view but also the experience of dining beside the beach.
“If you want to enjoy fresh seafood, the beach cafés are a great option. There is something special about eating fresh fish while sitting beside the sea,” Niaz said.
Driven by growing tourist demand, beach cafés along Marine Drive are increasingly offering a variety of seafood dishes. Cox’s Bazar’s marine red coral is steadily finding a place in the culinary experience of tourists, with offerings ranging from Thai-style preparations at Bangkokian to grilled red coral at seafood cafés and the diverse selections at Sundancer.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Hussain Shetu
