Penang » Malaysia Food

Fruit Garden Fruit Ice

Apr 042006

Location: N05 26.0732 E100 17.6353 Outskirts of Georgetown, Penang

Getting there: Go towards Botanical Gardens along Jalan Kebun Bunga. It is on the left, about 500m before Botanical Gardens.

Meal: Tea

A cosy spot out of town. Serves fruits on ice. Probably one desert worth of being labelled healthy unlike others masking healthy with unhealthy underlying ingredients. The shop owner is very friendly and seems to have a very good memory.

Had a fruit ice, looks quite plain at first sight, mango puree on ice. Underneath is a cocktail of tropical fruits. Initially, the mango puree looks yucky. After mixing the puree in to the ice, and syrup, it tasted much better. Not only a pleasurable desert, but a healthy one too.

Ratings:

Food: 6/10
Service: 9/10
Value: 6/10

Remarks: It seems they used to operate the whole premises and later scaled down to a corner of the premises and the main part of the premises is a batik shop.

fruit ice (ais)

Sri Ananda Bahwan Banana Leaf Rice

Penang 1 Response »

Apr 042006

Location: N5 25.045 E100 20.417 Georgetown, Penang

Getting there: At the junction of Penang Street or Lebuh Penang (not to be confused with the more popular Penang Road) and Lebuh Cina

Meal: Lunch

What seems to be the owner seems friendly to fair skinned visitors. A group of what seems to be Japanese was given a briefing on Indian Banana Leaf culture.

The rice is very fluffy, quite good texture to absorb the curry. The okra curry is very tasty.

Rating:

Food: 6/10
Service: 7/10
Value: 7/10

Remarks: Can be crowded during peak hours.

So Young Cafe

Penang No Responses »

Apr 042006

Location: N05 23.5519 E100 18.4377 Jelutong, Penang

Getting there: Along Jalan Tan Sri Teh Ewe Lim, Off Lebuhraya Batu Lancang

Meal: Breakfast

There is a stall here known for their oyster sauce chicken rice. I ordered a char siew fan instead. The idea is brilliant, roast pork with oyster sauce, but unfortunately, the taste seems unusual.

Char Koay Teow can come in Duck egg at a higher price. It is quite good, and I think it is better than Sister’s. Only complain is that it came in a soaking wet plate.

The porridge is quite good. The loh mee visually seems appealing but not tasty. Soya bean drink is very good.

Rating:

Food: 6/10
Service: 6/10
Value: 6/10

Remarks: Worth going for char koay teow and soya bean drink.

char koay teow

loh mee

poridge

char siew fan

KS Roti

Penang No Responses »

Apr 042006

Location: N05 25.1851 E100 19.9110 Georgetown, Penang

Getting there: Just beside Kayu Nasi Kandar off Penang Road.

Meal: Supper

This place serves Roti in unusual variations. I ordered a Roti Paris. Strange experience, a plate come and the guy was stating, Roti Brazil, I shook my head and said Roti Paris. He sort of woke up and said “Roti Peracis” and left it on my table. I was wondering if I had Roti Brazil, Roti Peranchis or Roti Paris, all valid on their menu.

Rating:

Food: 5/10
Service: 6/10
Value: 5/10

Remarks: A place to try novelty preparation of roti canai and roti john.

Roti Paris... I think...

Chulia Road Hawkers (Curry Mee)

Penang No Responses »

Apr 042006

Location: N05 25.0908 E100 20.1882 Georgetown, Penang

Getting there: On Chulia Street (Lebuh Chulia). Diagonally opposite 7-Eleven.

Meal: Dinner

A popular night hangout for hawker food. There are an assortment of hawkers, not all good. The place is famous for curry mee. However, the curry mee takes some time to be served.

The curry mee is served in batches, and remembering who ordered what in which order seems to be a problem. Had to remind a few times to get the curry mee and even getting the change back.

Rating (for curry mee):

Food: 7/10
Service: 3/10
Value: 7/10

Remarks: Curry mee is good, others are moderate.

curry mee

lobak

chee cheong fun

Batu Lancang Hawker Ice Kacang & Cendol

Penang No Responses »

Apr 042006

Location: N05 23.3525 E100 18.3770 Alt 45 ft Jelutong, Penang

Getting there: Off Jalan Batu Lancang, next to the Batu Lancang market.

Meal: Tea

When one think of snow, one think of soft cold ice. Almost all ice kacang and cendol places I have been serves shaved ice which is rather coarse. So ‘soft’ does not come to mind when having ice kacang (and cendol).

This place, however, serves ice kacang in soft ice, a rarity. Eating the ice kacang feels like eating a sarsi clowd. Sarsi flavour is very evident and the ice was ‘soft as snow’ so to speak; but I would term it as soft as cotton; cotton candy.

Their ice shaver seems to be perpetually on when I was there and customer volume was low. I think their secret is to gently shave their ice so that it comes out in fine crystals rather than ice flakes.

Rating:

Food: 8/10
Service: 8/10
Value: 8/10

Remarks: Care taken to shave ice to a soft smooth texture; surely worth the effort. A nearby shop which opens from 3.30pm onwards selling kuih seems very popular.

cendol

ice (ais) kacang

popular kuih near by

Sister’s Char Koay Teow (Lam Heng Café)

Penang No Responses »

Apr 042006

Location: N05 25.1705 E100 19.0500 Alt 56 ft Georgetown, Penang

Getting there: On Macalister Road, right after Jalan Perak turnoff.

Meal: Tea

Operated by sisters, supposedly the best char koay teow in town. Ordered a regular char koay teow and it came in a glass plate.

Being known to be the best in town, I had high expectations. Maybe my expectations are too high, but I find it pretty ok, surely not much better than others I have tried. I was told their ‘Extra’ is what they are known for; I did not try that.

Rating:

Food: 6/10
Service: 5/10
Value: 6/10

Remarks: Shop charged RM0.30 if no drinks is ordered. I would suggest, if you are hungry but not thirsty, skip this place.

getting charged for not ordering drink

Swatow Lane Ice Kacang

Penang No Responses »

Apr 042006

Location: N05 25.2689 E100 19.6043 Alt 33 ft Georgetown, Penang

Getting there: Not to be confused, it is the stall by the roadside, not the shop by the roadside.

Meal: Tea

The place for Penang’s famous Ice Kacang. The once simple ice kacang with ice cream has taken a healthier path by having fruit as an option.

The presentation is such that all the jewels are served on top and the flavours melts through the ice as you eat. Nice place to hang out on a hot day.

Rating:

Food: 6/10
Service: 6/10
Value: 6/10

Remarks: The fruits seem to come about because of another popular shop which serves ice fruits.

Pulau Tikus Siam Laksa (Kedai Kopi Swee Kong)

Penang No Responses »

Apr 042006

Location: N05 25.8283 E100 18.7567 Alt 33 ft Pulau Tikus, Penang

Getting there: Getting there: Opposite Pulau Tikus Police Station. Solok Moulmein. Beside Kedai Kopi Kwai Lock

Meal: Late lunch

Urband legend goes, the shop was started by a Siamese pair, and that is how it got its name Siamese Laksa, not because it is from Siam. It is a slight variation of Penang Asam Laksa with coconut milk and turmeric.

I was there somewhat early, just after 1pm and was told to wait 5 minutes by a friendly plumb cock-eyed Siamese. It was about 1.30pm before I was the first to be served.

The asam laksa was very thick and a good strength of spice. The small portion will get you asking for more. I supposed he is used to people ordering more and if offered to pay when the food arrives, he holds back until you are satisfied before he gladly collects his dues.

I then tried the siam laksa, which he is famous for and supposedly invented; possibly too early in the day to order. The flavours are mild and could use some thickening. Maybe I was too early and have not had the thicker gravy later in the day. I think people would be glad to be bottom feeders for this dish.

Remarks:

Food: 8/10
Service: 9/10
Value: 10/10

Remarks: Starts late lunch. It seems, the Siamese Laksa gets better as the day goes; while stock last.

asam laksa

siam laksa

Penang Road Famous Teochew Cendol

Penang No Responses »

Apr 042006

Location: N05 25.0342 E100 19.8374 Georgetown, Penang

Getting there: Off Penang Road, on Lebuh Keng Kwee. There are 2 stalls; it is the one adjoining Joo Hooi Restaurant.

Meal: Dessert

This is where it all began: if you go to some Giant food courts and if they serve cendol, it is a franchise of this humble stall. They are still here despite of the hot sun. I have made a second pass after trying and there was a crowd of 30 around the stall. I was also told the Asam Laksa at Joo Hooi Restaurant is quite famous, but I was there too early to try. You can ask for the cendol to be served in the restaurant at a surcharge.

The cendol is served in a small bowl with generous spread of cendol and kidney beans. Being the benchmark of cendol, every cendol seems to taste like their. I guess it has not improved for a long time. I was initially having the cendol right above the flavoured drinks reservoir and could smell the strong artificial flavourings. Maybe that is what made it flavourful while eating. Would suggest enjoying the cendol a little further away from the stall to get its natural flavours.

Rating:

Food: 6/10
Service: 7/10
Value: 6/10

Remarks: Both stalls, both claiming to be famous (somehow every stall in Penang seems to self proclaim famous), one is more popular than the other. Some say the less popular is better; you be the judge. Maybe one should self proclaim notorious by improving the quality.