CRIZ BON APPETITE

If you are in Malaysia, you should try out the famous local fried chicken, the Belacan Fried Chicken. Belacan is actually a shrimp paste or sauce, made from fermented blended shrimp, sun dried and then cut into fist-sized rectangular blocks. It is raw and need to be toasted before use. Many foreigners are unfamiliar with this condiment as the smell could be too repulsive for them but it is one of the most important ingredients for most of the Malaysian cooking. Nowadays, you can get the processed version of the belacan (Maggi) in bottles, selling widely in the local supermarkets.

I have tried many of such belacan fried chicken stalls in Penang but none can beat the taste and crispiness of the one selling along Kimberley Street. The chicken meat is tender and the belacan taste is well marinated into the meat. The taste is just nice for my taste bud as it is not overly pungent. There are many choice of the chicken that you can buy from the stall, namely the chicken wings, drumsticks, thighs, breast meat, etc.

If you are in for other parts of the chicken, there are also the bishop noses, necks and other intestinal parts.

While you are there, do try out their homemade salty fish tofu. The tofu cubes are deep fried until golden brown color. It has the softness of tofu and the fragrance of salty fish. This stall can be considered for party ideas as the food here is cheap and good.

The stall is situated by the roadside along the busy hawker area of Kimberley Street. If you are coming from Penang Road into Jalan Dr. Lim Chwee Leong, turn left into Jalan Sungai Ujung. When you reach the junction of Kimberley Street, turn left and you will see the stall.

Name: BELACAN CHICKEN HAWKER STALL
Address: Kimberley Street, Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 016-451 5007 (Ah Tong)
Opening Hours: 5.00pm – 11.00pm (Closed on Friday)
GPS: 5.416478, 100.332298

RATING:
Ambience: 5/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 6/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 9/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 5/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 7/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

Note: The stall would be relocated to a few shop houses away at Kedai Kopi Bee Hong on 12 May 2012 to enable some construction works

Maybe some of the foreigners may not know what is Tang Yuan but I can assure you that this dessert is very delicious. Tang Yuan is made out of glutinous rice flour mixed with water and form into small balls, either plain or colored. They can also be eaten unfilled or filled. You can opt for plain syrup or brown syrup cooked with or without old ginger slices. The most common filling would be red bean paste, black sesame paste or peanut paste. My grandmother used to fill them up with minced pork, cook them in boiling water and served them with chicken soup and vegetables. I really missed that and could not find anyone else selling it this way. I guessed the recipe went with her as well.

Anyway, Tang Yuan was originally served only during Lantern Festival, Winter Solstice and Chinese New Year. Today, they can be found easily in the frozen food section of any Asian supermarkets around the world. No matter what, I would still prefer those made fresh as they are softer. It has always been a tedious job and time consuming rolling the glutinous rice flour into balls but now you can just get them easily throughout the year. Where would you find the best Tang Yuan shop in Penang? The stall is right in the heart of Georgetown.

Recently, I visited the famous stall to savor the yummy dessert. My friend and I ordered two different combinations just to show you what Tang Yuan looked like. One bowl was filled Tang Yuan in gingered brown syrup whereas the other was unfilled Tang Yuan in plain syrup.

Just look at the fully filled Black Sesame and Peanut Tang Yuan. Don’t they look yummy?

Do not miss the opportunity to try out this wonderful dessert when you are in town during dinner time. The stall is situated by the roadside just diagonally opposite Traders Hotel, Magazine Road as well as Lebuh Lintang leading to Sushi King Prangin Mall. It is right after the second traffic lights on your left if you are coming from Jelutong Expressway towards town.

Name: TANG YEN HAWKER STALL
Address: Magazine Road, Penang, Malaysia. (Opposite Traders Hotel)
Contact: 016-477 7764 (Ah Hock), 016-454 4031 (Anna)
Opening Hours: 7.00pm – 12.00am (Closed on Wednesday and Sunday)
GPS: 5.413039, 100.330603

RATING:
Ambience: 5/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 5/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 8/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 7/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 7/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

There are also many different versions for the Curry Mee of Penang. You get the salty, sweet, salty sweet, spicy with lemon grass or chicken curry. Some would be cooked with thick creamy coconut milk, evaporated milk, full cream milk whereas some could be of almost clear soup type. Some stalls would also have an array of curry chicken, chicken legs, fish/meat balls, chicken intestines, squids, cuttlefishes, clams, tofu balls, prawns, pig blood gelatin, processed pork skin, long beans, etc for customers to choose.

The one I went to was located along Chulia Street. The crowds there were usually big and waiting for a bowl of noodle would take up to half an hour or more. The Curry Mee soup is not like those selling elsewhere. It has the taste of some curry spices and comes with a big fish ball, garnished with lots of tofu balls, cuttlefishes, clams and pig blood served with a spoonful of fragrant chilly paste. We ordered four bowls and they cost us on RM10.00. Do try this stall out when you are along town area. The Wan Than Mee and Apom stalls there are just as good.

The location of the stall is very prominent. As you move along Chulia Street towards Weld Quay, you would see lots of hawker stalls on your right. The stall is just right in front of a furniture shop. Next to it is the famous Wan Than Mee stall.

Name: CHULIA STREET CURRY MEE
Address: Lebuh Chulia, Penang, Malaysia.
Opening Hours: 7.00pm – 10.00pm
GPS: 5.417892, 100.336595

RATING:
Ambience: 5/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 5/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 8/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 6/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 5/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

NOTE: Effective 19 December 2009, Francis Fusion Western Food will be relocated to Poly Cafe (opposite the present location, directly next to Bellisa Row/3rd shoplot after Lorong Leandros) GPS: 5.432602,100.310738)

Name: FRANCIS FUSION WESTERN FOOD @ Kedai Kopi Guan Hiang
Address: 38 Jalan Burmah, 10350 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 012-4930554 (Francis Cheah)
Opening Hours: 5.00pm -10.00pm (Closed on Monday)
GPS: 5.431613, 100.311613

RATING:
Ambience: 6/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 9/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 9/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 7/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 7/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

Note: Check out the new location at http://www.crizfood.com/118/mee-manja/

Name: MEE MANJA @ KEDAI KOPI CLG
Address: Lebuh Clarke, Penang, Malaysia.
Opening Hours: 5.00pm – 11.00pm (Closed on Tuesday)
Contact: 016-480 3568 (En. Aman)
GPS: 5.420195, 100.330775

RATING:
Ambience: 5/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 6/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 8/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 7/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 6/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

Note: This restaurant has ceased operation.

Ramen has been getting so many responses recently that my friend had even opened up a shop specializing in Ramen and Pasta in Taiwan. It would be absurd to fly all over to Taiwan just to have a taste of her wonderfully photographed meals, especially her XO Sauce Ramen and Fried Rice. I have been longing for that dish for so long until I found a shop right here in Penang along Jalan Burmah in Pulau Tikus itself.

The place could not be prominently seen along the main road as it was hidden behind a row of shophouses. I would not say that the restaurant is grand and heavily decorated but it has the quiet and relax ambience for some good food and internet browsing. They do provide wifi facilities but it is hotspot. It would not be as fast but still you can do some simple emailing and browsing.

Coming back to the menu, you will expect to see a thick menu book which has beautiful taken shots of ramen dishes ranging from Taiwanese, Western, Thai, and Japanese styles. All the dishes are pork free. Of course I opt for the XO Sauce Seafood Ramen. The taste is marvelous with big prawns, fish fillet, squids and green vegetables. Except that the squids are rather rubbery hard, everything was perfect.

Next in the list was the Western plus Oriental style of ramen. We ordered the Sesame Chicken Ramen. It looked like spaghetti with bolognaise sauce with deep fried chicken fillet but it has the taste of mild sesame flavor. Not a bad combination though. Something different compared to the norm.

We also ordered a set of 4 fried shui gao (dumpling) to try out. The skin is totally different compared to the Wan Than Mee ones as these are more springy. Not bad for a new taste but I would prefer the filling to be richer. It came with ginger strips pickle.

Presently for April and May, they are having promotion for every set meals ordered. You can get a drink and a shui gao soup free for lunch and a fried ice cream and a shui gao soup free for dinner. Overall, the food can be considered good but the portion served is not big enough for a hungry person. The pricing is slightly above average. Both ramen dishes plus the deep fried shui gao, excluding the two free chilled Jasmine Tea we ordered, we paid RM25.95.

It is not hard at all to find the restaurant. Just drive down Pulau Tikus area towards One-Stop Midlands Centre. As you reach the traffic lights at Jalan Cantonment / Jalan Burmah, keep a look out for Bee Chin Heang and Kassim Mustafa on your right. Turn into the road on the right. Move on and you see the shop on your left.

Name: RAMEN WANG
Address: 11-A Lintang Burmah, 10250 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-2277 298
Opening Hours: 11.00am -10.00pm (Closed on Monday)
GPS: 5.432659, 100.311420

RATING:
Ambience: 7/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 8/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 7/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 7/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 7/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

Do you still remember last year when the FM Radio channel kept on broadcasting where to go for lunch? Well, before they even came out with the idea of banana leaf rice, I have been going quite frequent to this Shusi Banana Leaf Restaurant along one of the famous lanes in Little India. The white hair boss is a friendly person to talk with (provided his wife is willing to cook her mouth watering curries right on time :P).

You can opt for her different styles of cooking which include vegetarian, fish, chicken and mutton curries. The banana leaf rice comes in sets for 3 different vegetarian appetizers and 2 pieces of papadam (wheat crackers) served with hot steaming rice with your choice of curry (vegetarian, fish, chicken and mutton). An average set will cost you between RM4.50 – RM6.00, provided you did not add additional meat dishes. Adding more rice and dhal (potato & bean curry) is free.

We order a set each of the chicken and mutton banana leaf rice and we ate until our hearts’ content. The restaurant will also serve you plain iced water on the house but you can always try out the Indian Yogurt Lassi drink. There are also many other options such as tosai, puri, etc to go with your curries.

Going there would not be a problem at all as the shop is situated between Market Street and Chulia Street. As you move along the one-way Penang Street, you can see the shop on your left. As for parking wise, you have to try your luck in finding one along the busy street of Little India.

Name: SHUSI BANANA LEAF RESTAURANT
Address: 71 Penang Street, 10200 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 6016-476 2944 (Mr. Jaya)
Opening Hours: 12.00noon – 4.00pm and 4.00pm – 9.00pm.
GPS: 5.416275, 100.339583

RATING:
Ambience: 6/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 7/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 7/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 6/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 7/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

Penang is really a nice place to be in with so many varieties of food from the different Chinese community, namely the Cantonese, Hokkien, TeoChew, Hakka, Hainanese and so on. Do try out this wonderful Teochew cum Siamese restaurant, Goh Teo Kee along the Sg. Ara main road. They even have branches along Gurney Drive and Sg. Nibong areas. This double storey restaurant has the ideal place for family dinners, weddings, birthdays and company functions.

Recently I had a small group gathering for 30 pax and the restaurant gave us an impressive array of buffet line. The spread of food and cost for a person can range between RM30 to RM50 depending on the dishes you order. We had a mix and match of Chinese plus Thai seafood and poultry combination and everyone had their stomach full with sweet smiles on their faces. Maybe you can judge for yourself the quality for the food served.

You might get lost if you are not from that area. The safest way to go is to turn right into the Sg Ara Road just opposite the PISA stadium. Move on ahead. (DO NOT TURN RIGHT at the traffic light as it will lead you to Paya Terubong/ Bukit Jambul). After passing through TWO traffic lights, keep slow as the restaurant is just along the service road next to Sek. Keb. Sg. Ara.

Name: GOH TEO KEE (TEOCHEW & SIAM) SUNGAI ARA
Address:
78, Jln Dato Ismail Hashim, Sungai Ara, Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-644 0073
Opening Hours:
11.30am – 2.30pm and 6.00pm – 10.00pm.
(Closed on 1st and 3rd Wednesday)
GPS: 5.328172, 100.273386

RATING:
Ambience: 8/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 8/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 8/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 7/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 8/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

How would you like to have Japanese food without paying the price at a lavish Japanese restaurant? You can always try out this stall at the Macallum Street Ghaut hawker centre. There are many selections to choose from and all come with a touch of local flavors – sambal belacan (chili prawn paste) and lots of fresh vegetables garnishes. You would not believe that I have paid only RM6 for the two plates of Fried Japanese Udon and Teriyaki Fried Rice and it is tax free.

On top of the two orders I have made, you can also try out their Tori Teriyaki (chicken served with teriyaki sauce, salad and rice), Sakana Tei (breadcrumb fish with salad and rice), Salmon Teriyaki or Unagi Teriyaki (most ordered dish from the stall). As for price, nothing from the stall cost more than RM6 per plate.

To get there, just use Weld Quay and move towards the Jelutong Expressway. Turn into Macallum Street Ghaut and move towards Habour Trade Centre. The hawker centre is just your first turning on your right. There are many delicious food in the hawker centre too such as Thai Braised Pork Leg Rice, Salt Fish Fried Rice, Curry Mee, and Hokkien Mee. You should not miss the Fried Radish Cake, Fried Rice Cake and Fried Potato Groundnut Cake stall as the stall served one of the best fried local delicacies around town.

Name: KEDAI KOPI MING HOOI (Japanese Food Stall)
Address: 258 – 260 Macallum Street Ghaut, Penang, Malaysia.
Opening Hours: 5.00pm – 10.00pm (Closed on Thursday)
GPS: 5.406641, 100.332255

RATING:
Ambience: 5/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 6/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 6/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 3/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 7/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

If you are into light supper, you can always opt for some hot steaming rice cakes or fried pan cakes along the night street of Georgetown. This famous pan cake stall has been selling there along Lebuh Cintra for the past 50 years. The present owners are the third generation of the pan cake master. The steam rice cakes are made from white sugar, flour and rice wine. Normally those sold in the market for prayers purposes are in pink and brown (brown sugar). The pan cakes (Ham Chin Peng aka Salty Fried Cake) are with 3 different flavors – plain with 5-spice powder, red bean filling and glutinous rice filling.

There is no address for this place as it is just a stall by the roadside. You would not miss it as you can see many cars and motorcyclists stopping by to buy by the dozens. You can also buy some herbal tea from the stall next to it. Their famous is the boiled cane water which is believed to be able to cool down the body heat due to too much of fried and oily food.

Name: PAN CAKE & STEAM RICE CAKE
Address: Lebuh Cintra, Penang, Malaysia.
Opening Hours: 7.00pm – 10.00pm
GPS: 5.417867, 100.333382

RATING:
Ambience: 5/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 5/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 7/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 3/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 7/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)