Penang 2010: Day 3 - Final Burst of Eating!

We were up early for some power breakfast. The agenda was to head to the famous Lorong Selamat stall for some Char Koay Teow. Sadly it was closed. As we were starving, we decided to try the Prawn Mee Shop down the road.

The Auntie ask if I wanted small or big. Mistaken that she was asking if I wanted a small bowl or big bowl, I ordered small. And it turned out to be small prawns. The soup base is pretty spicy but Lilian loved it, saying its damn shiok. The pork ribs were tender and juicy but the prawns were a disappointment. Then again, it can't compare to the big prawn I had meant to order.

The address is at 127, Lorong Selamat, 10400 Pulau Pinang, Penang.

Feeling unsatisfied with the Hokkien Mee and with a fierce desire to try the Penang Char Koay Teow, we decided to walk the extra distance to what ieatishootiblog term as the "best plate of Char Kway Teow I have ever eaten." And boy were we glad we did.

This Char Koay Teow is gotta be one of the highlights of this Penang trip. Having walked additional 20 minutes from Lorong Selamat, I felt obligated to order the most expensive option the stall has to offer at RM9.50 and this was what I'm rewarded with.

Ah Leng's Char Koay Teow was covered with huge sea prawns and mantis shrimps (which Lilian initially thought were stuff from the insert world). It was so delicious that I couldn't help closing my eyes and biting slowly so that the moment last a little longer (machim like those TV food shows). And it wasn't oily at all, unlike the other we tried earlier.

The sea prawns were so succulent, so meaty, so juicy! Was so tempted to order another plate for myself.

The stall is located in Kafe Khoon Hiang, Jalan Dato Kramat/Jalan Dunlop (facing Honolulu Club), Penang.

We rushed back to the hotel as we have booked a massage (for me) and pedicure (for Lilian) session from Zen Spa. They have a free pick-up service and we dun wanna be late for it. My massage was pretty good as I had aches from all the walking. Felt so relaxed that Lilian said I snored a couple of times during the massage. Lilian however felt the Pedicure was lousy and she had to redo herself when she came back Singapore.

On the way to Zen Spa Lilian spotted the sign that says Hard Rock Hotel ahead. We asked the Spa how far was it or if there was any bus but the Korea guy at the reception offers little advise other than drive 5 mins, walk 20 mins.

So we decided to walk. And after 30 minutes of suntan walking, we finally spotted the famous hard rock logo on the hotel. The feeling was like seeing an oasis in a desert. Immediately we headed to the cafe for lunch and boy we were starving. We actually over ordered and had to cancel the dessert.

We had the Potato Skins and the Legendary 10 oz. Burger. When you are hungry, any food would taste good, especially junk food.

There is a statue of Michael Jackson outside the cafe as well. We grew smart on the way back to Zen and took their local bus (Rapid Penang) this time, after advise from the Hard Rock crew. It only took 5 mins and RM1.40 each.

By the time we were back in Georgetown, it was time for dinner. Following the Peranakan visit yesterday, we decided to have dinner at one of the Peranakan restaurants, Hot Wok. As we were not familiar with their signature dishes, we got the waiter to recommend to us.

Roast Pork Cincalok. Love the roast pork. Crisy skin, tender meat. Did find it a little too salty though.

Sambal Potato Leaves. Taste like ours back home.

Otak Otak. Soft like tofu. Seems to melt once you put it in your mouth.

Curry Kapitan has really thick curry, almost rendang like.

Assam Big Prawns. Simply yummy.

Address is at 124-E & F Jalan Burma, 10050 Penang, Malaysia.

We were filled to the neck when both of us finish all the dishes and had absolutely no space for desserts anymore. We took a slow stroll back to the hotel and waited for the Taxi to pick us to the airport. This Penang trip was a yummy and satisfying getaway.

Penang 2010: Day 1 - Let The Eating Begin...
Penang 2010: Day 2 - Food Worth Walking For... 

Penang 2010: Day 2 - Food Worth Walking For...

Day 2 begins with more walking, this time for Dim Sum at Restoran Aik Hoe. This Dim Sum place is amid the morning markets in Lebuh Carnavon.

This place is even more traditional that those pushcart Dim Sum places as they use people to carry the Dim Sums along as ask if you want them.

All in all the Dim Sum is pretty tasty. I especially like the Kong Ba Bao. The Kong Ba is so soft and fragrant. And the Fried Carrot Cake is a delight. The item below is unique and according to the locals, it not available everyday. The outer layer taste like Ba Gua (BBQ Pork Slice) and it wraps a small cube of pork meat and pork fats.

This place is packed with locals on the Sunday morning we were there and the regular locals have their own little tea pots, presumably with premium tea leaves. Overall a great Dim Sum experience.

The address is at No.6 & 8 Lebuh Carnavon, Georgetown, 10100 Penang.

We went for some sightseeing around Georgetown and spent most of our time at Pinang Peranakan Masion. The uncle at the souvenir store said Penang Lor Bak is a must try and since I have it on my list, off we went.

Penang Lor Bak is similar to Singapore Wu Xiang. As we were there at a busy Sunday lunch, the auntie taking order suggest we take the "mixed plate".

It consist of yummy wu xiang (minced pork wrapped with beancurd skin), fried squid, fried beancurd and prawn fritters (not sure if I missed something out or not). It also has the starchy sauce and chilli sauce. The Lor Bak is superb. Very crispy and not overly oily and you definitely can't stop till its all gone. Then you begin to contemplate if you should order another plate.

Here is the lady boss preparing yet another mixed plate while the boss in white in the background frying somemore yummy Lor Bak.

While waiting for the popular Lor Bak to be served, we ease our hunger with the 3-in-1 porridge from another stall in the coffeeshop. The 3-in-1 consist of century egg, salted egg and shredded chicken. Taste good and its very popular with the locals as well.

Kafe Kheng Pin is situated at 80 Penang Road, Georgetown, 10000 Penang.

If you are looking Tau Sar Piah, the two popular brands in Penang are Ghee Hiang and Him Heang. According to the uncle from the souvenir shop, Ghee Hiang is a 老字号 in Penang and recently celebrated its 150 years. Him Heang was started by one of the former worker in Ghee Hiang and he made it even better, or so we were told.

Anyway only manage to locate Ghee Hiang. Its so popular with the locals and tourists (saw a number of Singapore registered cars) that one outlet we went to only had the big beh teh saw and no tau sar piah and the other outlet we went at Macalister Road only had the mini tau sar piah and no beh teh saw.
The funny thing was we went back again on Monday morning (thinking its baked freshly in the morning and should have all stocked up), there were still only small tau sar piah. So does it taste good? For someone who is not a fan, it does taste good. I bought a box to office and its finished within 3 days. It's not overly sweet (like some I had before) and its very fragrant.

We headed to another food street for dinner, Kimberley Street. Here lies a legendary Duck Meat Kway Chap.Did it live up to its name? Hell yeah! The amount of ingredients in the bowl of kway chap is unbelievable. There are duck meat, pig intestine, duck blood, stew pork, kway, etc. Above you can see the amount of stuff just with one scoop. Even as I ate to half bowl, each scoop so yield so much stuff.

The taste is just right, not too salty, not too bland. It has a slight herbal taste and the different ingredients compliments each other well. A must eat if you are in Penang.

Lilian had been eyeing the Balacan Fried Chicken stall at the other side of the road and I'm glad she did. This stall served crispy chicken wings, drumsticks, chicken cubes, tofu and wu xiang. Fried to perfection, it crispy on the outside, tender on the inside. The belacan is nicely marinated into the chicken.

Here's Lilian deciding what to eat. We bought takeaway and took a short walk to E&O Hotel, Penang's equivalent of Raffles Hotel, just to see how is it like.

Penang 2010: Day 1 - Let The Eating Begin...
Penang 2010: Day 3 - Final Burst of Eating... 

Penang 2010: Day 1 - Let the Eating Begin...

We have not been travelling since our last babymoon trip to Osaka/Tokyo. So you can imagine my excitement when we were on the taxi to the airport for our Penang trip. Even the "budget" service level from our Budget Terminal did not dampen my mood, though I'm gonna avoid airlines using the Budget Terminal in future.

Anyway, less words more pictures. Let the eating begin...

First stop is Kek Seng Coffeeshop (格成) for their Ice Kacang. We found Penang's ice kacang a little different as they usually come with ice cream on top. Kek Seng has home made durian ice cream and their ice kacang also comes with jelly. I opted for non durian ice cream as Lilian dun take durian. The ice kacang is not overly sweet and its refreshing for a hot day.

Lilian also ordered the Kueh Pie Tee from one of the stalls in the coffeeshop and they are just so delightfully yummy. I took each of them in one mouthful and the flavours just explodes in my mouth. Its so addictive.

The address to Kek Seng Coffeeshop is 382 – 384 Penang Road, 10000 Penang (near Komtar).

We headed to Prangin Mall next for some shopping and chance upon the Penang Road Famous Teochew Cendol. I have marked out this cendol place elsewhere in the map but little did I know they have a number of branches. I later realise the original pushcart stall is like 200m away.

Just one spoonful and I realise why people rave about this dessert in Penang. The coconut milk and the Gula Melaka is so fragrant. And the green bean jelly and red beans are soft and they go down so smoothly with the coconut milk. And there are just so much of the ingredients that when we were half way thru the bowl, there are still so much beans and jelly. I'm so in love with this cendol.

Prangin Mall's address is Jalan Dr Lim Chwee Leong, 10100 Georgetown. The stall is outside the mall at one of the corners.

As we were gonna be eating alot, we balance out by walking to those eating places. So we didn't take any taxi at all except airport transfers. I had plan dinner at a Hainanese restaurant but Lilian wants to try Penang's famed street food. "Afterall, that's what we are here for right?". So dinner venue was changes to New Lane, which is just outside of Sunway hotel (33, New Lane (Off Macalister Road), Georgetown, 10400 Penang).

The street was lined with pushcarts selling wide variety of street food. We tried quite a number in small portions and below are those worth mentioning.

The chicken wings roasted over charcoal are just so juicy and tender, one is never enough.

Penang's Chee Cheong Fun is served with hae ko (thick black prawn paste that we usually find in Rojak). I liked the taste though Lilian prefer the usual sweet sauce and chilli. There is also another version with curry but we didn't order that.

The popiah sold here is so small and cute, yet when you put it in your mouth, each mouthful is moist and juicy. The auntie preparing the popiah would pour some of the bangkuang juice/sauce onto the popiah after cutting it.

The second last dish is Lilian's favourite; duck meat kway teow soup. It was the second dish I ordered but we waited forever for it as uncle's business was just too good. Lilian find the dish light yet tasty and uncle is generous with the ingredients.

Finally, my favourite dish; fried intestine porridge. I had an earlier post on fried intestine porridge in Chinatown Singapore but there are differences between the two. The one in Penang is fried till the intestines are very crispy. And they also have non-fried big intestine and char siew so you get many texture with every spoonful; from the very crispy fried intestines to the non-fried QQ big intestines.

The stall owners here all have super memories. You just order and point to a general direction where you are seated and the food never fails to find the right person. Amazing.

Penang 2010: Day 2 - Food Worth Walking For...
Penang 2010: Day 3 - Final Burst of Eating...