Koay Chiap, or braised duck noodle/porridge (鸭粥粿汁), is one of the lesser known Penang hawker dishes that is almost impossible to find outside Penang. (if anyone found one in KL, do let me know).
In fact, even in Penang itself, there are probably less than 10 stalls offering this unique dish, and it is not getting any more popular these days either. This is mostly due to the ingredients making up koay chiap, but incidentally, is also the very reason I love it so much.
lebuh kimberley koay chiap
As the name suggests, instead of normal noodle, koay chiap uses “koay”, the same substance with koay teow, but in a thicker, almost pan-mee style form. The “chiap” refers to juice, or a mixture of ingredients mainly made up from duck.
koay chiap goes well with the sweet peanut soup
In a bowl of proper koay chiap there’s duck meat, skin, intestine, blood, and braised duck egg. All immersed in a light herbal soup used to braised the duck. The dish is often served with a special chili sauce, but sometimes with chili padi too (like the koay chap at ayer itam)
this makes me a happy camper
The koay chiap at Lebuh Kimberley is as good as they come. It has everything that’s supposed to be in a bowl of koay chiap for RM 6, and unlike most hawker dishes in Penang, this one really fills you up. The meat are properly braised and soup isn’t bitter or overly flavored either. Best of all, the coagulated duck blood was simply superb.
I love it with a serving of sweet peanut soup (RM 1.30) to counter the meaty taste.
If you are in Penang and already had your fair share of laksa, curry mee, and char kuih teow, it is time to try something slightly out of the comfort zone, no?
Oh, while you’re at Lebuh Kimberley, check out this braised chicken feet place too.
Address: Lebuh Kimberley (just before the food court) Georgetown, Penang GPS: 5.416537, 100.322473 Operating Hours: 6:30pm – 11:30pm, close on Thursdays
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.
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.
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
