Penang

Penang Food Failures : 3 popular food favourites that disappointed

August 11, 2017

I recently visited Penang, the famed street food paradise so beloved by Malaysians. Having not been up North for quite a few years, we were excited to hit the food trail, and to eat at old favourite places.

What we did not expect, was to be sorely disappointed. Here are 3 old favourite food haunts we hit up, that we will likely never return to because it was no longer worth eating there.

Mee Goreng at Bangkok Lane

bangkok lane mee goreng penang

Although I don’t regularly eat mee goreng, the one at Bangkok Lane in Penang was a must visit over the many years. It was always well fried, with a hint of spiciness, and the addition of potato, and cuttlefish (sotong) made it special. This time, it was very wet, without any of the smoky flavour that comes from wok-frying (“wok hei”), and it was just salty. No piquancy in flavour, just salt. Suffice to say, any cravings I’d harboured for this old favourite is now gone.

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I Eat: Ming Xiang Tai Pastry Shop @ Jalan Burma and Lebuh Armenian, Penang

April 16, 2015

I’d never heard about this supposedly famous and very old pastry shop in Penang until quite recently. On a road trip with friends one day, we stopped by to take a look and try their pastries.

Apparently, the original shop is at Jalan Burma and I can tell you that it’s pretty hard to find because it’s quite a small, unassuming little shop. The bigger one is at Gat Lebuh Armenian offers more parking opportunities and is easier to move around in. That’s where these photos came from.

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I Eat: Best Penang Asam Laksa @ Pasar Air Itam, Penang

March 20, 2015

I’m sure people from Penang have their favourites when it comes to Asam Laksa or Penang Laksa, but as a visitor to the island, I too have mine.

Mine is the famous asam laksa at Air Itam, or sometimes also referred to the Kek Lok Si Temple laksa because it’s located at the foot of the hill leading to the famous temple.

The stall is opposite the Air Itam market and situated on the five foot way. You won’t miss it because it’ll be packed with people queueing for their laksa, or tables of people waiting for their bowls of noodles.

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I Eat: Baked Seafood at Sea Pearl Lagoon @ Tanjung Tokong, Penang

March 3, 2015

Sea Pearl Lagoon is a bit of an open secret. It’s not one that people talk about a lot nor rave, but ask the right people and most people have been there at least once. It’s located a little off the beaten track of the Penang food trail which might explain why it’s less visible.

To get there, use Waze or your GPS and you really do need a car. The road will take you through a narrow road lined with traditional houses, until you arrive at a wide open space, fronting a temple. This is the Tua Pek Kong Temple that fronts the sea. Sea Pearl Lagoon restaurant is a little further in.

My recommendation is to arrive here by 6pm or 6.30pm at latest as the place fills up quickly. Also, part of the fun is in the al fresco dining, which means that when it gets dark, it’s very hard to see what you’re eating.

The outdoor tables are placed facing the sea, so you get a lovely sea breeze although you’d still be sweating buckets at the end of your meal. But what you’re here for is the baked/grilled seafood!

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I Eat: 888 Penang Hokkien Mee and other hawker fare @ Lebuh Presgrave, Penang

December 18, 2014

I’m not sure how it is that I’d never come across the famed Lebuh Presgrave Penang Hokkien Mee before this, but I hadn’t! It wasn’t until a trip North with friends that I took the opportunity to try it.

Lebuh Presgrave is a street with numerous hawker stalls at one end and a serious parking problem (isn’t that true of everywhere in Penang?). The famous 888 Penang Hokkien Mee isn’t hard to find. It has a whole shop to itself within the row of shops, and in front of it is a wantan mee stall that does a similarly brisk business.

We tried the Lor Mee and Hokkien Mee (but of course!), with the difference in the two being purely in the sauce. The Lor Mee has a thick sauce ladled over the noodles, which come with slices of pork and some pork intestines. You can opt to add on some roast pork which is what makes this a more special offering. While tasty, I still prefer the one at Hai Beng Kopitiam, Pulau Tikus which I feel is more flavoursome and gets my vote as the best Lor Mee in Penang.

And what about that famed 888 Hokkien Mee?

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