When I was talking to the Chinese Jawa Mee seller at Kek Seng I asked him about his favorite food. It turned out to be Koay Teow Soup. Then he recommended me to try one of his favorites at a nearby coffee shop called Kim Lee. According to him the stall has a long history and they use duck meat to boil the soup, which makes it really delicious.
“Just look for an old man preparing the noodles”, he said. And little did I know Kim Lee is located just next to Seow Fong Lye, where the delicious Chee Cheong Fun can be found.
Uncle Ah Hai (阿海) started following his father to sell Koay Teow Theng since he was 12. It was during WW2 and Penang was under Japanese occupation then. Their first stall actually started out at the old coffee shop where the Chee Cheong Fun used to be at too.
Later when Hong Leong bank purchased and turned the coffee shop into their branch, they shifted to the five-foot way just across the street. But continuous summons issued by the local council forced Ah Hai to move again five years ago, this time to Kim Lee – his current location.
Ah Hai’s Koay Teow Theng is still done according to the old recipe he inherited from his father and it still produces the same traditional flavor. While pork bones have always been used as the main ingredient to season the broth, chicken or duck can be included to improve the taste. But here both chicken and duck are used by Ah Hai, which makes the soup deliciously sweet despite its clear appearance.
A normal bowl costs only RM2.50 with toppings including mixed slices of chicken and duck meat, two fish balls then garnished with garlic bits for the extra aroma. The koay teow is exceptionally smooth and not clumped together like a ball of string too, which was great for me to slurp it up lol.
Whole chicken and duck can be seen next to his stall, carved into thin slices to be used for the topping.
To date, Ah Hai has been selling Koay Teow Theng for 60 years and his dedication to his profession is really worth respecting. Even more when he is the one and only person running the stall. This means the tasks of ingredients prepping, cooking, taking orders, delivering food and washing all fall on his shoulders. Aside being impressed, I can’t help but also feel pity for him for having to work so hard at his age.
Anyway I think many people out there already know about this Koay Teow Th’ng due to its long history. But for those who haven’t heard nor tried before just like me previously, do give it a try before Ah Hai decides to retire one day. I am sure you won’t be disappointed.
Kedai Makanan Kim Lee (behind Hong Leong Bank Jalan Burma)
Lorong Macalister, Penang
GPS Coordinates: N5 25.033 E100 19.746
Open daily from 7.30am to 3pm. Days off not fixed
Adding this to my to eat list when I go home next time. I love eating the hawker food prepared the old way.
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He used to have a stall in Hai Aun coffee shop, few steps away from the current shop. Then he moved out due to some conflicts. Was told he moved to padang food court along Perak Road, biz isn’t as good as he used to be in Burmah Road, thus, he moved to this Kim Lee coffee shop. His KTT is one of the best in town, best to have with lots of pork lard.
.-= NKOTB´s last blog ..Hot Wok =-.
Quite nice looking at the Kway Teow Soup, I’m sure it taste as good as it looks! However, seeing the uncle stil working hard is a bit sad. Hopefully he have someone to take over as well.
.-= JD´s last blog ..Hidden Gem – Lot 10 Hutong =-.
yeah, very old uncle who still got to work so hard. KTT looks delicious. Must try his KTT when i go to penang.
Watching him work his magic is like poetry in motion. The slouching posture, the white beard, and gray hair; very very classic. I am sure he is happy from all the patronage.
Thanks for this post. Very heart-warming.
.-= J2Kfm´s last blog ..Steak Factory – Teluk Intan – Halal Western Food =-.
aw man, beautifully written and your photography really captured the moment. love the 1st shot of the old man..Ah Hai.
Wow, chicken AND duck, no wonder the soup is so sweet:) must remember to check him out on Macalister when I am in town.
Thanks for sharing!
aw man, beautifully written and your photography really captured the moment. love the 1st shot of the old man..Ah Hai.
Wow, chicken AND duck, no wonder the soup is so sweet:) must remember to check him out on Macalister when I am in town.
Thanks for sharing!
What a nice Malaysian food! It’s cheap and delicious…try it!!
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Look at the passion! So inspiring :teary:
what’s the waiting time is like since he is doing everything himself?
.-= samlee860407´s last blog ..Wah Meng Coffee Shop Koay Chap – Penang =-.
I’d say it’s normal.. I didn’t feel it was long
yea….i just went to it just now. not bad eh
the duck is nice :D
.-= samlee860407´s last blog ..Xian Ding Way – Queensbay- Penang =-.
i cant never forget this uncle ktt. i ate his ktt on my every penang visit. the best and classic ktt taste. i just hope someone will take over his recipe/biz to continue the classic ktt taste..its sad to see that no one will take over when this ktt is taste so good. thanks for posting up this..remind me of the reason to visit penang again.. :)
Went there this afternoon. Uncle’s still there… good tasting koay teow… slick and smooth… :D
Went there last two week, Uncle Hai already admitted Hospital as per stall owner due to leg problem, can’t stand at all, hope can get well soon…
that’s sad news. but I quite pity him having to work even at such an old age.. his dedication is really commendable
This Uncle Ah Hai’s father was the Original Koay Teow Th’ng seller in 1960s. Hawker food in the 1960s are much better tasting & original than today.
I used to eat regularly as a child at 20 cents per big bowl in the mid-1960s. The fragrant aroma would waft up to the 1st floor.
The original Seow Fong Lye coffee shop was situated at the present Hong Leong Bank site.
This Uncle Ah Hai’s father was the Original Koay Teow Th’ng seller in 1960s. Hawker food in the 1960s were much better tasting & original than today.
I used to eat regularly as a child at 20 cents per big bowl in the mid-1960s. The fragrant aroma would waft up to the 1st floor.
The original Seow Fong Lye coffee shop was situated at the present Hong Leong Bank site.
wow i like the way you telling us baout articles above, in Bandung we call ‘Mie Ayam’ for those food…