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Posts tagged Penang
Tiger Char Koay Teow @ Ping Hooi Coffee Shop, Carnavon Street
May 31st
Char Koay Teow is no doubt the most iconic food in Penang. For tourists, if you left Penang without tasting a plate of this popular fried flat rice noodles then your trip is definitely in vain. Because of its immense popularity some hawkers had to have something special in order to stand out from the stiff competition and win more customers.
Nowadays having the option to top up extra ‘liao’ (ingredients, usually prawns) in your Char Koay Teow to make a premium plate is no longer a new thing. Cheaper ‘premium’ ones cost at least RM5 and the most expensive one I had so far is RM10 at Ah Leng.
We have seen before Char Koay Teow topped with humongous prawns and mantis prawns. But what about bamboo clams? Now that’s a first for me. Introducing Tiger Char Koay Teow 老虎炒粿条 at Ping Hooi coffee shop along Carnavon Street, which has seen operated by the Yeow family for three generations over half a century.
Tiger premium Char Koay Teow here @ RM6 is a healthy portion that consists of extra prawns, bamboo clams and fried using duck egg – something common in the mainland Penang but quite rare in the island.
The current chef of Tiger Char Koay Teow is the grandson of the first generation who officially took over from his father a decade ago. But his experience in frying Char Koay Teow is an impressive 30 years and counting. Penang’s famous philanthropist Tan Sri Loh Boon Siew was a weekly customer at Tiger Char Koay Teow when he was still alive, which contributed to their popularity considerably.
Ah Hock Wantan Mee @ Lebuh Melayu (Lorong Ikan Intersection)
May 27th
There is only one push cart stall along Lebuh Melayu (Malay Street) selling Wantan Mee and luckily it is a good one too. Actually, I happen to discover this stall by chance. One day I was driving along Lebuh Melayu and noticed an unknown noodle stall doing very brisk business despite its secluded location. At that moment I knew I had to explore it for myself.
The stall is run by Ah Hock, who has been selling his Wantan Mee here for a faithful 23 years and still counting. His specialties are his delicious self-made Wantan and sambal that not only adds a spicy kick into the noodles but also made it more appetizing. A small one costs RM2.50, RM3 for medium and RM3.50 for large.
I have to admit I am very skeptical when it comes to mixing any form of chili paste into my bowl of Wantan Mee – may it be chili oil, chili sauce or sambal because I am too used with having it with green chilies. But in this case, I highly recommend you to choose the sambal over the green chilies simply because the Wantan Mee just tastes much better with the former. In fact, I’d even suggest you to ask for more sambal!
Chinese Pancake (Apom Pisang & Raisins) @ Sim Kim San Coffee Shop, Rangoon Road
May 25th
Chinese Pancake is not a commonly available hawker food in Penang so you really got to know exactly where to find it. A popular stall, which is my mom’s favorite used to operate along Beach Street. It was so good she would travel all the way to Penang from Sungai Petani just to savour it. Recently she went back to look for it but the stall had mysteriously disappeared. To fulfill her cravings as well as my own curiosity, I did some research and found that the stall has moved to Church Street.
But what do you know? The unexpected happened again. When I went to the coffee shop at Church Street to look for the Chinese Pancake, I was told that the stall had shifted again. This time to Sin Kim San at Rangoon Road.
Luckily my perseverance paid off and I finally found the stall, currently operated by Madam Yeoh who took over from her aunt’s stall at Beach Street (during my mom’s time) years ago. When asked why she shifted to Sin Kim San, her reason was simple: at Sim Kin San she could sell everyday, while the coffee shop at Church Street closes on weekends because they only cater to the banking staff and customers.
If you didn’t know, this unique pancake is actually a Nyonya styled food. The pancake batter consisting of flour, sugar and alkaline water (air abu) is mixed and stirred on the spot for every fresh batch of pancake ordered.
Crispy Fried Oyster (Oh Chien) @ Lam Ah Coffee Shop, Lebuh Chulia
May 17th
I know that the Fried Oyster (Oh Chien) at the old New World Park coffee shop has always been great. But when I went back recently to savor it the taste was somehow different and not as good as I remembered.
After visiting Lam Ah Coffee Shop today to try a recommended Fried Oyster only I knew the reason for the deteriorated taste: the original Fried Oyster cook at New World Park, Mr. Gan has relocated to Lam Ah 2 years go after the opening of New World Park food court due to increased rent and diminishing customers.
He revealed that his Fried Oyster is done according to Thai style – dry and crispy by default. If you like the local style more, which is more moist and starchy, he also prepares it. Just let him know when you are ordering. The smallest portion starts at RM5 then followed by RM8 and RM10.
Only local oysters are used for his fried oysters, they are smaller in size but certainly big on taste. The oysters, ordered from a supplier to ensure daily availability is retrieved every morning to ensure the freshness. Because they are so fresh, they can be even eaten raw!
