The tambun biscuit is perhaps the most saught after gifts from Penang when it comes to food, I guess it’s just as well since stale char kueh teow or laksa isn’t exactly great. Tambun biscuit, or tau sah peah (豆沙饼) in Hokkien, is basically a baked biscuit with thin and slightly oily layer of skin wrapping a lot of green bean paste.

Him Heang Tambun Biscuit
Authentic Him Heang biscuits

There are many brands of tambun biscuit in Penang, but Him Heang is so far the best that I’ve tried. It hits the taste bud just right, the ingredients not too wet nor dry, the thin crust, and just the right level of sweetness.

Him Heang Tambun Biscuit
yum.. yummmm

A box of biscuit costs RM 9.20 and comes with 32 biscuits nicely arranged in two layers of 4 x 4. It is ready to eat, and best served with some tea or coffee, since tambun biscuits tend to stick to the upper ceiling of the mouth without some liquid to wash it down.

Do not get fooled into buying other brands of tambun biscuits, as they usually imitate the design of the box and carries the name ended with “Heang” as well. Him Heang does not have any branch anywhere other than the main shop at Jalan Burma. They are opened from 8:30am to 5.00pm every Monday to Saturday. You can call to book for your biscuit if you have a large order, and I would advice you do so to avoid the huge crowd.

Him Heang Tambun Biscuit
this is where to get some if you’re in Penang

Address:
162A Jalan Burma, Penang
GPS: 5.423848, 100.321210
Tel: 604-228 6129

KY eats – Him Heang Tambun Biscuit from Penang (馨香豆沙饼)
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88 thoughts on “KY eats – Him Heang Tambun Biscuit from Penang (馨香豆沙饼)

  • September 13, 2006 at 1:19 pm
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    they are damn nice 1!!! but try talking with two in your mouth…..ilove these with a nice hot cuppa java 😛

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  • September 13, 2006 at 2:08 pm
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    Keep some for me ya! 😀

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  • September 13, 2006 at 3:52 pm
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    FYI….
    CRC not CSC…it stands for Chinese Recreation Club.

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  • September 13, 2006 at 4:25 pm
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    omg!! omg!! omg!!! i WANT!!! :p *salivating*

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    • August 21, 2019 at 11:49 pm
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      Its halal food???

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      • August 22, 2019 at 12:26 pm
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        Hi im mila: I think it’s not certified halal

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  • September 13, 2006 at 4:49 pm
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    haha ya wei! him heang is the best ever. when i came back from penang i brought like boxes and boxes back 😀

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  • September 13, 2006 at 5:04 pm
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    Try and catch a batch which is straight out of the oven… words can’t describe the taste… 😉

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  • September 13, 2006 at 5:09 pm
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    ewwww…….. can’t stand him heang or ghee hiang.

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  • September 14, 2006 at 12:22 am
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    Just to let you know, actually Ghee Hiang is the original “tambun” biscuit confectionary in Penang but most people nowadays prefers Him Heang. So Him Heang isn’t exactly the most original “tambun” biscuit around but I prefer Him Heang too.

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  • September 14, 2006 at 2:31 am
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    Mouth watering by just looking at them. Can anybody send a box over to UK?

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  • September 14, 2006 at 10:22 am
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    FYI…The owner of Him Heang originally worked in Ghee Heang before he started Him Heang… Too bad for Ghee Heang as Him Heang has a better marketing strategy.

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  • September 14, 2006 at 2:39 pm
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    Actually if you find Him Heang main and only branch is closed or they have no more stock, you can head over to Penang road near the old main police headquarter there. Some shops opposite MyDin do sell Him Heang’s tambun biscuit at a higher price, RM0.50 more expensive if I’m not mistaken.

    Hope this piece of information helps ppl from outstation. 🙂

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  • September 14, 2006 at 8:14 pm
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    man, you got the box of 32s! dammit. when i was in penang, i went there and they only had boxes of 16s left. 🙁

    so i had to get 4 boxes of those, just to make up. they were more expensive, too. ugh.

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  • March 3, 2007 at 12:34 pm
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    How long do their biscuits keep? Do you need to put in the fridge? If cannot keep for very long I might buy ghee hiang’s as theirs is wrapped in plastic, and I need to transport and hoard a lot of these halfway across the world (US). 🙂

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  • March 4, 2007 at 10:37 pm
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    ashan,

    I believe the biscuits should last about 3-4 weeks. 🙂

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  • April 4, 2007 at 6:31 pm
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    Hmmmm……. That’s a lot of biscuits shop in Penang. My mum brought some from Penang when she came to Australia last month. But I think what she bought is different brand. Something like “Sheng Hiang”!!
    I got they website from their box, http://www.shenghiang.com.
    I like Penang and missing Penang food so much, hopefully can finish my study and go home soon 🙂

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  • April 26, 2007 at 10:36 am
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    I’m from Penang so let me tell you the actual story about Him Heang & Ghee Heang. Mel is right, the original Sifu of Tambun biscuits were from Ghee Heang, due to some unknown reason he left to Him Heang. And i think Ghee Heang is as good as Him Heang too. Many people think that Him Heang taste better & their biz is better, but in actual fact Ghee Heang’s biz is more on export and Him Heang is local. That’s why you can see the packing from Ghee Heang is nicer & more representable. I advise those who have not tried Ghee Heang, you may give it a try next time. The shop is nicely decorated and have lots of huge parking space and the service is better too. One thing i don’t like about Him Heang is the inconvenient parking space and the customer service is lousy. They put priority to outstation customers/tourist and do not respect local customers. I was once being chased away by the owner due to they want sell their biscuit to outstation customers first, if there’s any left over then i need to come again. This really piss me off. Whether the biscuit is good or not come from your own experience, it’s not from what people told you how good is it.

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  • February 20, 2008 at 10:38 am
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    there are still many shop selling good quality tambun biscuit, example sheng hiang n dragon pearl bizcuit.. they have their own style rather than juz ghee hiang n him heang which come frm same sifu…..try other n compare….u will knw…
    i m the supporter of dragon pearl biscuit…..
    they have few branches ard penang island, kek lok si,, air itam near chung ling , bukit jambul……n other la…i cant remember already. so …go n try ….

    Reply
  • April 22, 2008 at 1:17 pm
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    I would be pleased if open a branch in KL since here did not have a nice Tau Sah Peah. I would like to be a share holder and open in KL to cater the customer in KL. I love Tau Sah Peah very much and hope to open a branch in KL but the important problem is I cannot make a nice biscuit. Hope could learn from you all and to be a mechandised.

    Reply
  • April 22, 2008 at 1:23 pm
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    I like Penang tau sah peah.

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  • April 22, 2008 at 1:46 pm
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    Susy,
    They have one and one branch only, which is a shame I think. Chinese business mentality, want to control everything I guess

    lilian,
    Ditto! 😀

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  • June 18, 2008 at 2:35 am
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    Him Heang Biscuit famous but , i for penang people (Macalister Road) Hoh Heong Tambun is the best

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  • June 18, 2008 at 9:18 am
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    HOH HEONG BISCUIT,
    Are you from Hoh Heong? I am from Penang too by the way. 🙂

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  • August 2, 2008 at 12:02 am
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    what is the business hour of him hiang?

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  • August 2, 2008 at 2:36 am
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    chris,
    I think they open from morning till probably 6-7pm and closes on Sundays. Not very sure though

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  • September 23, 2008 at 4:53 pm
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    No la..Him Heang open until 5pm…office hour…

    I banned him heang as their service is so bad…parking so hard….

    Nowadays, i went to Ghee Hiang, their service is good and parking is big..most important things is they open until 9pm..so after work i still can grab it if they no finish their product la….

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  • September 23, 2008 at 11:06 pm
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    lily,
    Hahaha, usually my mom helps me buy them, she knows the boss, so. 😛

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  • November 16, 2008 at 4:17 am
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    Tao sah peah? Fail.

    Phong peah is where it’s at. People these days… don’t know how to eat. Try Phong Peah with Ipoh white coffee next time. You’ll thank me for awakening your taste buds.

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  • November 16, 2008 at 3:40 pm
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    hungry guy is hungry,
    Haha, actually I do like em both! 😀

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  • December 6, 2008 at 11:28 am
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    Now adays Him Heang Tau Sar Pheah totally cannot eat d…i bought few weeks ago..yeak~ until now still no one finish it…throw it in the rubbish d…

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  • January 15, 2009 at 3:25 pm
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    I wonder the quantity of tambun biscuit in that pink classic paper bag coz I m recently doing aan assignment based on biscuit packaging. Provide me more on the company details,like when it was started, or their website?

    Reply
  • January 15, 2009 at 3:32 pm
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    1 more thing 2 ask. Do you know how much is a box of 16pc Him Heang Tambun biscuit? How much is a box of Ghee Hiang Tambun biscuit (both 32pc & 16pc). Thanks…

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  • January 15, 2009 at 5:37 pm
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    Gyen,
    Ahh, i’m not sure of these answers, sorry sorry. But I am guessing the 32 piece is around RM 10 or so. Sorry can’t help you much here.

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  • January 25, 2009 at 2:24 am
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    Wow! 馨香 really brings back a lot of memories from when I was a kid!

    Although they came in similar type of boxes then, they weren’t in such “fancy” packaging, but something that reflects more traditional Chinese style. 馨香豆沙饼(or tehcnically should be called “汶莱饼” which I came to know about much later) has always been one of my all-time favorite.

    They used to get “sold out” by late afternoon during the time when the store was still under the older management (my guess is the previous generation) and the manufacturing process not that modernized. I remembered we have to get there “early” just so we wouldn’t miss out these yummy mini-bites whenver we went to buy some at its main shop. 🙂

    Reply
  • March 30, 2009 at 2:09 am
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    Him Heang no longer best Tambun biscuit in Penang ! Anyway you can ask 9/10 Penang people also agree that .. The latest Top 4 biscuit shop all located at Penang Newlane somewhere near Sunway hotel

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  • June 25, 2009 at 6:01 pm
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    Every people is different taste,so dont give so strong and powerful comment of both company Him Heang or Ghee Heang.Both company bicuit also tastely.Is up to people to choose whic she like the taste.Almost all Tau Sar Pheh are some from content.maybe got 1 or 2 different content inside the biscuit.So for human being pls think b4 comment the product.Sorry is i have saying anything wrong comment in here.

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  • June 28, 2009 at 11:05 pm
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    JJ,
    I think your comment is one of the more insightful ones I’ve come across 🙂

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  • July 16, 2009 at 4:09 pm
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    Thanks KY.i just dont want to side either one,coz in Penang still got many shop are selling Tau Sau Pheh.Some of also tasty

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  • July 17, 2009 at 10:32 am
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    JJ,
    True, true, there’s no point siding anyone. Food, after all, is always a personal taste.

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  • July 25, 2009 at 1:39 pm
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    Nowadays it seems that Ghee Hiang is more preferred than Him Hiang because Him Hiang has attitude and parking problems. Also now Him Hiang going HALAL so taste different. Not as nice and tasty as before. Anyway, Ghee Hiang is still my preferred choice. Did you guys see the new gift packs, great gift idea for customers and friends.

    Reply
  • July 27, 2009 at 9:23 am
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    jane,
    I guess everyone has their favorite stalls and there is nothing wrong to prefer one over the other. Both are rather good in my opinion. 🙂

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  • July 30, 2009 at 11:02 am
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    Him Heang or Ghee heang, anyone knows where to get it in KL?

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  • July 30, 2009 at 5:11 pm
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    michael,
    him heang doesn’t have any branch, i’m not very sure about ghee heang tho

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  • August 13, 2009 at 12:20 pm
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    Hi..Michael..i think or maybe you can find the Ghee Hiang branch at some shop at KL but i dont know is where.Coz now Ghee Hiang are trying to opening branch round the Malaysia compare with Him Heang at penang only 1 stall.

    Reply
  • August 13, 2009 at 3:06 pm
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    JJ,
    Yah, Him Heang has only 1 branch and specifically states that they are not sold anywhere else.

    Reply
  • September 14, 2009 at 1:26 pm
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    Dear All,
    I’m from Penang as well. However, i do not purchase Penang Specialty biscuit from Penang Him Heang anymore due to staff attitude and packing space issue. I m currently working in KL. so whenever i go back to Penang, i prefer to buy DRAGON PEARL BISCUIT for my office colleagues and friends due to several reasons:
    1. Parking Space and Location wise.( i stay at Bukit Jambul, another store available at AirItam , near Chung Ling High School)
    2. Biscuit Availability (Never Out-of-Stock)
    3. Quality ( Freshness Guaranteed – with individual pack and handy plastic paper tray )
    This is my point-of-view honestly, Try the difference ! Everyone !

    Reply
  • September 15, 2009 at 9:55 am
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    Michelle,
    Interesting, but my mom knows the Him Heang aunty so we get preferential treatment. lol

    Reply
  • December 24, 2009 at 3:03 pm
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    is it “Halal”???Thanks.

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  • December 24, 2009 at 3:30 pm
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    Doris,
    Unfortunately it is not.

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  • December 28, 2009 at 11:28 am
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    From very young I ate Ghee Hiang (GH)when they were at beach street if m not mistaken n then when I grew up I went to buy Him heang (HH) when nobody knw them…today it is jam packed.Got to que up for so long & expensive d.

    Those days GH tasted good when HH was not there.Then I like HH better after that cos GH tasted dry. AFter seeing d que & causes d jam at d burma rd…i said 4get it.
    Last saturday, I went to tis new shop recommended by my aunty and a fren – it is call Ban Heang at Melaka street….ummmp no jam no que…ummm their Heong Pheah is so good is so soft inside (black sugar thingy)…I tried others before it was a hard filling inside and it is only RM3.00 a packet (HH is selling RM6.20…whoopy) and they hv “pua kiam tee tau sar pheah” a packet comes in 5 pcs only @ RM1.80…it is good as well. Sorry folks I din try the tambun pheah.They have got Phong Phneah & Beh teh saw but can’t make it on time so I din manage to buy that. How to get there…call them 04-2295018.If u knw how to go to GH is easy from GH head straight at the cross junction (GH must be directly on yr right..that means u r on Anson Rd) . After d traffic light,take a second left turn into the Melaka st. Ban Heang is on yr right….Try them !

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    • April 26, 2011 at 10:17 pm
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      Ban Heang Heong Pheah, Tambun Pheah are halal one! no worry. You can buy for Malay friends as well.

      Reply
  • December 28, 2009 at 11:42 am
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    Rockerteers,
    Ooo interesting, thanks for the head up. 😀

    Reply
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  • February 5, 2010 at 2:18 pm
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    The more you praise the price will definitely go up again. Becoming smaller in size.

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  • February 7, 2010 at 1:11 am
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    Ang,
    Hahah yah, tragically that might be the case.

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  • April 1, 2010 at 6:16 pm
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    Can u pls let me hv the address for Ghee Hiang,cos I’m gg to Penang in two weeks time.

    Reply
  • January 31, 2011 at 8:02 am
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    For Dragon Pearl Biscuit nearby Chung Ling High School is HALAL and suitable for VEGETARIAN too. (Making from Vege-Oil, packing in Green Box)
    Besides, it has non-halal version, which is using non-vege oil. Packing in Yellow Box.
    Hope these info helps.
    Gong Xi Fa Chai!!!

    Reply
  • February 16, 2011 at 6:29 am
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    Hello! I agree that Ghee Hiang has gotten rather dry. Ban Heang is very good, but the shops were being demolished when I went back at Chinese New Year. Anyone know what happened? The Eaton tambun biscuits and phong pheah are also quite good!

    Reply
    • February 20, 2011 at 6:58 pm
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      NT: demolished? O.o hopefully they’re just changing to a new location

      Reply
      • April 26, 2011 at 10:12 pm
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        Ban Heang have move to No 200, Macalister Road (Just right beside Red Rock Hotel). You might call up 04-2295018 for make an order.

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        • April 26, 2011 at 10:15 pm
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          You can get their update on facebook. Please search 万香饼家

          Reply
  • March 8, 2011 at 4:10 pm
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    Hi, do u know whether Him Heang trade their tao sha piah out of malaysia??

    Reply
  • July 27, 2011 at 10:54 pm
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    Where to buy Him Heang Tambun Biscuit in Thailand ?

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    • July 29, 2011 at 12:06 am
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      Warangkana: I don’t think you can buy them anywhere else other than in the branch in Penang.

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      • July 30, 2011 at 1:07 am
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        Do you have oversea delivery service?

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        • July 31, 2011 at 10:24 pm
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          Warangkana: i don’t think they do.

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  • December 1, 2011 at 1:20 pm
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    For me at least 2 boxes of the Tambun biscuits at one go!

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    • December 1, 2011 at 4:08 pm
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      wilbalan singh: only two?! hahaha.

      Reply
  • February 25, 2014 at 9:23 pm
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    Actually Him Heang biscuit used to have lard as one of their ingredients. But has changed to vegetable oil since… I don’t know when…. I think many years ago for reason which I also not sure.. I normally will buy some gift for my colleagues whom consists of Muslim thus I normally will chk their ingredients… And will avoid Him Heang at tat time due to tat reason. I normally buy GheeHeang. One fine day, I realised the lRd ingredients is replaced by vegetable oil. Tats why some people says the taste chg for Him Heang as lard taste so much better.

    Reply
    • February 26, 2014 at 10:05 am
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      Julie: ahhh, that’s a bummer isn’t it?

      Reply
  • July 21, 2014 at 7:47 am
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    Anyone knows where I can get this biscuit in kl/pj area?

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    • July 24, 2014 at 12:35 am
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      bella: unfortunately they don’t sell it outside of their one branch in Penang, in KL/PJ you can buy other brands, try the shops at Imbi.

      Reply
  • October 28, 2014 at 9:28 pm
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    who is the Him Heang Boss??

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    • October 29, 2014 at 9:01 am
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      Jovin: I don’t know his/her name

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  • November 18, 2015 at 2:00 pm
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    hi…is it halal ? feeling confius due my the box have not certified halal from JAKIM.

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    • November 18, 2015 at 6:47 pm
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      khasmiza: pork free I believe but I’m not sure if it’s halal

      Reply
      • August 23, 2018 at 4:25 pm
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        Him Heang and Ghee Hiang uses lard

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        • August 23, 2018 at 4:28 pm
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          Oops sorry according to Him Heang website they use vegetable oil.so i am wrong to say lard is used

          Reply
  • August 23, 2018 at 4:24 pm
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    Ghee Hiang biscuits are not up to par.previously before their fancy packaging was ok.now i go for him heang.Not really true Him Heang proud.unfriendly maybe but how is Ghee Hiang better in this aspect?

    Reply
    • August 24, 2018 at 7:46 am
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      Sam: the argument always go both ways depending on personal opinions.

      Reply

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