For a taste of the nostalgic and traditional Penang Curry Mee you may head to Air Itam‘s market for it. A pair of sisters have been selling curry mee for decades there and another interesting thing is that you won’t be eating at a proper stall with table and chairs. You could choose to eat via the old style, which is to sit on the stools provided right in front of the sisters, or at some coffee shops nearby.
Due to their old age they get extra help from the younger generation to do the dishes especially during public holidays. But the cooking and preparation of the noodles and all are still done by them, such is their dedication and passion.
A very old school kandar (used by Nasi Kandar sellers in the past, peddling it by carrying it on their shoulders) made of rattan used to keep the chopsticks, chili paste, noodles and other ingredients in place.
The curry mee’s soup is still cooked using charcoal stove, giving it a very classical and distinctive taste. This practice is almost extinct in Penang.
Self service is expected here where the noodles are passed from hand to hand.
Taste wise, it is very different from the other curry mee you would find in Penang. The curry soup tastes much lighter and the self-made chili paste is really spicy instead of being sweet flavored. Mixing only one spoonful of chili paste into the noodles would easily make it three times spicier than the rest in the island, no kidding. As for the ingredients, they are are simple but sufficient: dried curry squids, pork blood cubes and tofu pok. I don’t remember seeing any cockles inside though, which is quite rare for Penang style curry mee.
If you are planning to try, I highly suggest you to park your car near the police station and WALK. Failure to do so will result in regret, tension and frustration of having to face the bad traffic jam here. It is an unwritten rule of Malaysia that you should never drive into a wet market, moreoever a Penang one. Right?
Sister’s Curry MeeAlley off Jalan Paya Terubong,
Air Itam, Penang
GPS Coordinates: N5 24.020 E100 16.695
Open 8am to 1pm
Looks really old skool and nice to eat!
Looks like nothing on Johor. Please consider Johor or Johor Bahru as we have great food down here.
Yeah, I had to agree with you on the last sentence. I drove once into the Chowrasta morning market. It was a horrendous experience, no doubt.
went there before, nice curry mee especially the feel lol
and yes, air itam market is 1 of the worst lol. so how i went there? by motorcycle of course!! LOL
wow these pics are amazing and mouth watering this is what food is all about :)
been there too.. its very classic eh . .
She is still using charcoal to heat up the curry. What an awesome ratan made tray she have there. I would love to try this the next time I go to Penang. :)
When I was a kid , my father and my mother would take us to Penang Island on weekend and sometime get the curry mee breakfast from there.
I grew up eating it and now that I recently in more then 1000 miles away from home, I miss it a lot ! Part of my childhood and I will always stop by when I had the opportunity to come to Air Itam. Irreplaceable and cannot be duplicated.
Aways bring back Lots of memories! I really enjoyed it. Thanks for all the years !
Serving the customers with humility. I take my hat off to the two sisters. Will visit their stall when next in Penang. Lived near Ayer Itam in 1960/1970s. Still remember the wet market after more than 35 years. Always nostalgic looking at those pictures.
Thanks Vkeong.
The curry noodles look good! YUM! Do you know if they’re open on Sundays?
hi AT honestly I have no idea.
This curry noodles reminds me of my childhood curry noodles which they don’t make it anymore these days.
Penang has several sites labelled as Unesco World Heritage Sites. If there was an award for Unesco World Heritage Food, this would be it!
This is a definite MUST TRY for all foodies! Eat it before it’s gone!