We actually spent a total of 10 days in Penang over CNY, my longest stint back home since getting a job in KL some 10 years, and that explains the recent flood of Penang food posts. There will be just a few more before the more KL centric posts resumes.
The extended eating binge was of course, glorious!
Tua Pui curry mee at Weld Quay
On the last few days in Penang, I finally got a chance to try the famed Tua Pui Curry Mee at Weld Quay (situated right across Chew Jetty, now a UNESCO world heritage).
I’m a sucker for Penang style curry mee, and could eat them almost daily until my lactose intolerant body starts to complain. Doesn’t matter, had curry mee!
mine is with extra fish balls, RM 3.80
Tua Pui curry mee is a little bit different from the usual run-off-the-mill Penang curry mee. They have all the usual ingredients you’d find – tofu pok, coagulated blood, blood cockles, cuttle fish; but they also have quite a lot of optional items you can add in. There’s chicken gizzards, big prawns (the bare version has no prawns, bummer), chicken wings, fish balls, and more.
The soup too is enhanced with several types of curry, giving it a little more complexity, I like it.
My bowl was one with extra fish balls for RM 3.80. The two giant fish balls, though looking somewhat peculiar in a bowl of curry mee, did not disappoint, they were quite tasty in itself. Of course, the curry mee overall was as good as any. Well worth a try if you’re in Penang.
we shared a mua chee, and Haze had her 6th laksa or the trip or something
As for Haze, she had her laksa, again. That must be the 6th or 7th laksa of the trip and that girl can never get tired of it. According to her, this particular laksa was a good one too. I didn’t try it, but just by looking at it, you know it’s a winner. RM 3 for the laksa if I remember correctly.
Then there’s muah chee, we paid RM 2 for this excellent combination of flour, crushed nuts, sesame, and sugar that you can find pretty much anywhere in Penang, but for some reasons, not in KL.
I’m missing Penang already.
Address:
Village Coffee Shop
107-A, Pengkalan Weld (Weld Quay),
10300 Penang, Malaysia
GPS: 5.412652,100.338789
Everyone has their favorite comfort food, the go-to dish that you would want to have after a long trip, or when you are feeling less than 100%. For me, it has to be porridge, and among the different variations of this dish, nothing beats a good bowl of pork intestine porridge.
My go-to pork intestine porridge is the stall at New Lane, and in KL, the Jalan Sayur stall at night (tho it is a slightly different version)
a proper bowl of pork intestine porridge
Fortune favors those with a sense of adventure, and just a couple days ago while looking for something to fill my stomach between brunch and late dinner, I found myself at Kedai Kopi Khoong at Seapark. I sat my ass down and lo & behold: A pork intestine porridge stall! (well they also sell century egg porridge, raw fish porridge etc)
located at seapark, operates from noon till 5-6pm
For RM 4.50, I got myself a slice of heaven for some 15 minutes, the intestine was crispy, the porridge flavorful, and those yummy bits you see in the photos above that aren’t intestines? Those are pork tongue, if you haven’t tried pork tongue, you need to!
The operators are an old couple, and very kind one at that. I actually dropped my wallet after gobbling up the porridge, but they kept it and return to me after I figured out my pockets was empty upon heading to the car.
So yea, go have some porridge, and by the way, the Kampar fish ball noodle there isn’t shabby either.
Address:
Kedai Kopi Khong
Junction of Jalan 21/19 and 21/22,
Seapark, Petaling Jaya
GPS: 3.109749, 101.621357
After watching the epic Australian Open men’s final between Nadal & Djokovic where the joker prevailed after nearly 6 hours of tennis, it was time for my long overdue dinner.
This being the last night that we are spending over the long CNY break in Penang, I wanted to have something that isn’t easily found in KL, so we headed to Kimberley Street. A place that I know would have at least a few hawker stalls still operating even though it was already near midnight.
sky emperor chicken feet kuih teow soup stall at Lebuh Kimberley
Luckily for us, the famous Sky Emperor chicken feet kuih teow soup stall was still selling by the time we reached the destination. (I had initially wanted to have the koay chap, but they were already done for the night).
We ordered two kuih teow soup (dry version, they ran out of soup by then) and a small portion of braised chicken feet to share.
braised chicken feet, dry kuih teow, peanut soup “tong sui”
The kueh teow soup came with a couple fish balls and plenty of shredded chicken. The kuih teow soaked in dark sauce and topped with fried garlic and some spring onions. I liked the springy texture of the fish ball, but overall the kuih teow soup was actually just average. Not one of those “must try” items if you ask me, but something I don’t mind eating either. At only RM 3, there isn’t anything to complain for sure.
om nom nom nom, the chicken feet was excellent!
The braised chicken feet (RM 3) however, was quite something else. Compared to the version usually served at many wantan mee stalls in KL, the chicken feet here has a much softer texture as well as the skin that isn’t prepared with a deep frying stage. It was succulent, juicy, and full of the flavor from the sauce. This is definitely a must try item for anyone who does not think chicken feet is gross. 
Other than chicken feet, they also offer drum sticks, chicken wings, and braised eggs prepared in similar fashion. I’ve never personally ordered other items, but I’ve heard that while they are good, it’s not the same as those yummy feet.
Address:
Sky Emperor Chicken Feet & Kuih Teow Soup
Lebuh Kimberley
10100, Penang
GPS: 5.416537, 100.332473
Hours: 7pm till late
I only have precious little memory of my late maternal grand parents. I remember tagging along with my late grandma to the wet market on most mornings. and after shopping, she would tapao a packet of my grandfather’s favorite oh chien (fried oyster).
Together with the day’s newspaper and coffee, that would often be a meal for the old man. He would then read the paper and update grandma on news, as she was illiterate.
the most glorious fried oyster (oh chien)
While my grandparents have passed on some two decades ago, their favorite oh chien place at Kedai Kopi Seng Thor on Lebuh Carnarvon is still going strong.
It must be years since I last had the fried oyster here, so over the CNY break back in Penang, I took the opportunity to do just that.
Kedai Kopi Seng Thor at Lebuh Carnarvon
By my observation (and most likely flawed), the dish is prepared in three steps – first starch & whatever concoction is placed on the frying pants; then eggs are added; finally, enough oysters for one serving is added and fried separately before being mixed together with the eggs, some cooking wine and fancy wok fire is involved too.
This way, the hawker can prepare 4-5 portions with one egg preparation stage, and at the same time ensuring the consistency as well as the number of oysters for each portion.
Three rounds of this was done before my dish was served thanks to the holiday crowd, but it was worth it.
the chili sauce is mixed with a bit of garlic too
The fried oyster was undoubtedly the best I’ve had, the omelette itself was so good even the oysters kinda became a bit of a second thought. The texture had a nice blend of crispiness with the familiar consistency of egg, and none of those sticky gooey half cooked starch that you sometimes find in less superior oh chien.
The taste too was spot on, and if you like it with a bit of kick, the chili sauce that came with is pure heaven.
The portion I had was RM 10, and I should have ordered more.
Address:
Kedai Kopi Seng Thor
160, Lebuh Carnarvon,
10100 Georgetown, Penang
GPS: 5.415495, 100.33468
There are plenty of people who are from Penang that will tell you that Lorong Selamat char kuih teow is over hyped, over priced, overly crowded, and that there are many better alternatives.
Well, I am from Penang and to heck with all those comments, I still love my Lorong Selamat char kuih teow, and whenever I’m back on the island, it is always one of my must-eat hawker food. The massive prawns is something you almost never find at any other places outside of this famous lorong.
every bit just as good as the “original” lorong selamat ckt
There are two big CKT stalls at Lorong Selamat. The so called “original” one is operated by an aunty who wears a red cap at Heng Huat kopitiam.
Today, we’re gonna talk about the “alternative”, the KTG cafe’s char kuih teow, manned by a dude with massive sun glasses wearing orange polo.
I initially had a bit of a doubt on this stall, but after a few trials back and forth, I believe that they are basically on par with each other – both are excellent and just about as good as CKT can get.
char kuih teow at KTG cafe, Lorong Selamat
The CKT comes with three massive prawns, cockles, lapcheong (Chinese sausage), egg, bean sprouts, and of course, kuih teow. The secret ingredients would be the usage of pork lard instead of normal vegetable oil. A plate of CKT goes for RM 7.50. For those prawns, hell ya it’s well worth it for me.
Don’t bother tapao the kuih teow though, anything that is fried with pork lard is best consumed piping hot, and will get a bit too “jelak” when the temperature cools down.
On a busy day, the waiting time can get quite long. For this session, the dude told me (in honest and almost apologetic tone) that the waiting time would be an hour. So I actually went off and ran some errands before returning, and sure enough, our CKT was up next.
Thumbs up for honest operator.
Address:
K.T.G. Cafe,
Lorong Selamat,
Penang
GPS: 5.417343, 100.324917
