IN Penang, what you can do other than sight seeing is to eat, eat and EAT! For the past 3 days in the island, I have been trying some local delicacies and it really made me high. I am now missing the food there already. Ahh~
However it is not every food in Penang that I have tried. As time was quite limited, I only ate around the place that I stayed – Chulia street. And the place alone has already got what Penang food is like. Next time if I have the time, I’ll stay for a week there and taste the food bit by bit from Gurney to Batu Feringgi, and Air Itam, Batu Maung straight to Balik Pulau. Hehe.
That is enjoyment.
Here I’m just gonna recommend a few places that I have tried:
Lebuh Chulia (Chualia St.)
Just a short walking distance from the
guest house that I stayed, there are many stalls by the roadside that usually opens at 7pm up till midnight. During the weekends, this place is always full of people, like an eating haven.
The highlighted area
Wan Tan Mee
There are two stalls which sell the same thing but I suggest the one near to Lebuh Carnarvon junction where I usually eat. During my 3 days stay in the Banana Guest house, I ate 3 of its wan tan mee. I just couldn’t resist the mee with the black sauce and fried wanton. Motorcyclists could always been seen stopping by to order from it. There was even a customer who came to eat in her pyjamas. And talk about cheap, a plate of wan tan mee costs only RM2.40.
This is the hawker area
The wan tan mee stall
Char Kuey Tiao
There is a fried kuey tiao that Chin Keng and I enjoyed eating. The stall is located in a small alley next to the wan tan mee. The ah pek added a lot of chillies into the kuey tiao. If you can't take hot, please remind him on that. One plate of this char kuey tiao is RM2.50.
Lo Bak
Honestly, it was a mistake ordering this lo bak. It tastes just ok and it was quite cold already when we ate that. It was not crispy because I think the guy didn’t re-fry it when we ordered. The stall is just located outside the small alley, near to the fried kuey tiao. we paid RM6.20 for a two person share.
Lok Lok
Located at front of Lebuh Carnarvon (in the same area as well), this stall can be easily spotted with people standing around eating. Each stick of lok lok costs range from 30 to 80 cents.
Give it a try
Curry Mee
This famous stall is just right next to the
wan tan mee. Many customers were seen waiting to order. The curry was simply delicious. Not too spicy. Served with
tau fu pok,
si ham and
sotong, you may not wanna miss this, especially during a cool windy night. A bowl of curry mee costs only RM2.50.
(Cow) Milk
Choon Wah was looking for milk to drink and nicely there was an Indian stall which sells milk located just opposite the place we stayed. We gave it try and a glass of hot susu tarik is enough to fill the stomach. RM1.50 for a glass.
Susu tarik
Maize (Corn)
I bought this at the very last minute before boarding the bus which was about to leave. Added with butter and bit of salt, one stick of it costs RM1.60 and one cup is RM2.50. I took the former and kept it for the bus journey.
Lebuh Carnarvon (Carnarvon st.)
There is an old market building at the corner of the junction between Lebuh Carnarvon and Pesara Claimant street.
Soya Bean Milk and Bean Curd
Perhaps this is the cheapest tau foo far stall I ever came upon. One bowl of it only costs 60 cents. It was quite an average portion. And a glass of soya bean is 50 cents. You say cheap or not leh???
Cheap until take off your pants (便宜到拖裤子)
Jalan Penang (Penang Rd)
Penang Road is a long stretch of street beginning from KOMTAR until the Hotel Continental at the end, where all the clubs and pubs are located. At part of the street, you could still see the old tramline used during the older days.
Cendol
At Lebuh Keng Kwee off Jalan Penang, (refer to map above) there are two stalls of cendol. One, is the famous one. And the other, well, the imitation one. The first time we arrived there we went to the wrong stall as it is the only stall there (cuz the famous one hasn’t open at that time).
The first stall we went However on the next day, we managed to try the other stall at the opposite. There were many people standing surrounding the stall. Well, it tasted about the same for me but since it is so well-known, why don’t try it as we were already in Penang. A bowl of cendol costs RM1.60, same for both the stalls.
The famous one
Even Phua Chu Kang and Rosie has been there before.
Asam Laksa
Beside the cendol stall, there is an old shop selling laksa. The furniture inside the shop looks antiqued and it somehow brings out the old kopitiam feel. As we were already quite full, we ordered a bowl to be shared among us three. RM3 for one bowl.
Asam laksa here
Queensbay Mall
The shopping mall that we went during the last day of our trip. Just like any other malls, there are many restaurants and cafes inside it.
Just adding one more to the list. Nando’s Mild Peri-peri quarter chicken with two side plates.
And a free flow of soft drink at RM5.90
Bon Appetit! =)