Gallery, Travel, Friends, Food
The Great Penang Food Hunt
In all my trips to the Pearl of the Orient, I had never gone food hunting the way I did last weekend. Our ‘tour guide’ Eric had prepared a comprehensive itinerary that promised us nothing but the best food on the island!
It was also a photography trip of sorts, because, armed with 3 SLR cameras, we snapped almost anything and everything we thought was interesting. Throughout the trip I was very satisfied with my 17-85mm IS USM lens, although there were times when I wished I had a 70-200mm L-series lens. Speaking of which… when will the next digital camera fair be?!?!
The popiah we had at Padang was said to be very popular among the locals, and I could see why. The good thing about Penang was that even on a hot afternoon, people would go out and have a munch at a nearby kopitiam. I think Penangites are among the luckiest people in the world :p
Since some of us had a ‘healthier’ appetite (whatever that means…), we ordered some Char Koay Teow as well. It was good, and not as expensive as the one found in Lorong Selamat (there, they throw in prawn-zillas into your Char Koay Teow, sure la expensive… hehe).
Like typical tourists (with lots of cameras, at that), we visited places where the locals rarely go. This includes the magnificent Kek Lok Si Buddhist temple in Air Itam. Located on top of a hill, the scenery from the temple was breathtaking. I’m sure it was even better at night, because we could see (almost) the whole of Penang island from up there!
And of course, how could we forget the famous laksa stall near the foothill of Kek Lok Si temple? Over the years, the laksa there has become synonymous with the name of the place, Air Itam. Think Air Itam, think laksa. The last time I had my laksa there was many, many years ago.
There was a lot of sightseeing (and photography) along the way, but I’m trying (hard) to just keep focused on food here! We went to the ‘Old Gurney Drive’ later that night for some good seafood. No I’m not talking about crabs and lobsters, but balitong (shellfish?) and houchien (fried oyster). Wah lau eh, it doesn’t get any more health-damaging than this.
After that, we were off to some Jalan Perak (I know it’s one whole long stretch) to eat the critically-acclaimed, highly-recommended Ramli burger. It was just a simple road-side stall where cars would pull over to place their orders. People actually didn’t mind waiting for more than 20 minutes for their burgers! We let our (food) tour-guide, Eric, do the job…
The next morning we attacked the dim sum restaurant near our hotel on Macalister Road. I forgot the name of the restaurant, but it was packed with people that morning. We were told that there were live performances every night - no wonder that place was dimly-lit at night. They also serve ji bao gai (纸包鸡 - wrapped chicken) there besides the usual dim sum.
Next on the itinerary was coconut drinks. I also forgot the name of the place, but it seemed like a popular stop for motorists to have a sip or two. After emptying the coconut, you can have it cut open and enjoy the coconut meat inside. The perfect place to quench your thirst on a hot Saturday afternoon!
We tried the famous roti bakar (toast) in this little road-side cafe (kopitiam? Stall? I don’t even know how to categorize it -_-”) called “Toh Soon Cafe”. Some of us had seen Smashpop’s blog where he said he visited that cafe during his trip to Penang. We couldn’t help but felt like we were following his trails. Let me assure you we were not! Hahahaha…
Penang being Penang, the laksa must be found in abundance. Kopitiams that serve famous laksa are usually crowded with patrons inside and out. It is not uncommon to stand and wait for a table to be vacated. What more when that kopitiam has been visited by the Ho Chak crew (you know, that programme on 8TV) before.
A couple of hours later we headed down to opposite Pin Hua Girls School for yet another round of laksa! *faints*. At the rate we were going, we could well be suffering from laksaphobia in no time. But seriously, the laksa there was pretty good too. The Pin Hua girls must have suffered from laksaphobia at least once during their schooling years :p
As for dinner, we went to this cozy kopitiam that served only western food. The unique thing about this place was that it had a small temple inside. In fact, the temple had been there long before the kopitiam was set up. Parking was a problem, and we had to wait for a table to become available. They served mouth-watering chicken chops…
Our day was far from over. According to our itinerary, we would still have kali mee (curry mee lor) before finally making our way back to the hotel. At that point, I thought, we had long ditched our ‘breakkie-lunch-dinner-supper’ routine. In Penang, as long as you’re not in bed, it could well be mealtime.
On the final day, Eric took us to this kopitiam called ‘Xin Jing Shan’ cafe for heko mee (prawn noodles). I would do anything to *not* eat laksa that morning. In fact I think I’ll abstain from having laksa for at least one month or so. The heko mee was ho liao (good stuff) I tell you.
On our way back to KL, it was only customary to stopover at Bidor, Perak for the famous duck noodles at Pun Chun Coffee Shop. You can choose to order your duck noodles served dry or with soup. Either way, you can be sure that nowhere else serves duck noodles as ho liao as Pun Chun’s!
That’s how I ended my one-week annual leave last week. I had a great time with my friends, and of course, my camera! I bought some cookies from Bidor for my colleagues in my department as well, since it has become a common practice for those who’ve just come back from holidays or sites.
Have a good weekend, everyone ;)
P/s: A new album titled ‘Penang, Malaysia’ has been added in my Photo Gallery (which had not been updated for more than a year already, lol…). There’re a total of 242 photos in that album.
Related Entries:
10 Jan 2008 narrowband
Errr… that looks like a whole lotta food to consume in 2? 3? 4? days. But how I wish I could have a bowl of that Ayer Item longkang laksa! *drooling*
WAH, reminds me of all the food hunts my friends and I used to go on! I’m missing Pg already. Peng Hwa laksa’s pretty good. You didnt try the loh bak and chendol near Pg road? and Ice Kacang at Swatow lane? ..the list’s….. NeVERENDING!
I always pass by Bidor but never notice there got nice duck noodle worrr.. btw you din eat mua ji at pg?
Wherever you go, people are bound to say that this and that is nice :D Can’t avoid that :D
Wahlau! What a wrong, wrong, wrong time to visit this blog!! -_-”
SO MANY LAKSA SUMMORE! How can?!
But then, pardon me for being too frank, that char koay teow doesn’t look quite appealing to me. Hehe.
Btw, the duck noodles in Pun Chun jatuh standard already… have been eating since I was five (or six?) and it’s rather disappointing (besides more and more expensive) now. My parents said that a bowl only costed RM2.50 some ten to twenty years ago (and that was counted as “expensive” in those days already).
Wow…how many stomachs did you have there? I haven’t even tried most of the food you mentioned and I live in Penang!
u ate all those foodstuff within how many days or how many meals ah?
The lorong where u had your coconut drink is called Abu Siti Lane. I love their pandan coconut :)
The place u had the western food is it located in Mount Erskine Road?
Wa is the lau nuar liao!!
Looks like a Great Makan-makan Trip! Yeah man, what about the cendol?? And chee cheong fan?? And rojak?? ;)
@_@ when you messaged me saying that you are having food hunt in penang the other day, i didn’t expect to be until like this. hahaha. eat until wanna die like that.
sigh, even now that i am in penang i haven’t had the chance to go out and have a plate of char koay teow. sad case -__-”
David, i think you having trouble in answering those un familiar road name question, haha
Let me varify some question which david is not-too-sure on answering, haha
charng: we had the cendol from pg road, but loh bak not open that day, so sad. We are rushing to another location which is opposite direction from Swatow lane, but next time will be another meal place to go.
Vonne: pai seh, forgot to bring them eat mua chi…haha..but i think they will refuse to eat, coz all of them looks pregnant with food and drinks in it.
giddy tigress: totaly there is 7 stomach in the trip, hahaha, as a penang kia, must go eat and enjoy your life style while you stil young..^O^
Chen: we had all those meals approximately 2 days..and we are having pandan coconut…haha….you really a good “eater” too..hehe..and yes, the western food stall is at Mount Erskine Road, which we call in mandarine, bai yun san (白云山)
cant wait for another trip, til that time, i will get myself a canon EOS SLR or a Sony Alpha 500 SLR….^O^
well, I”m going to be going back to study in Australia for quite a while. These photos do hurt a little :(
Hahahahaha… My tour guide to the rescue. I tried to remember names of places - as much as I could but I got distracted by the food too often :p
Rinnah - Luckily there was no rice! If we took rice, I don’t know where else my body gonna store food -_-”. Ah that longkang laksa you like too eh??
Charng - YES!! The list is neverending!! That’s why I say Penang kias and zhabors are among the luckiest dudes and dudettes on Earth :P I have my Penang food sifu here to answer some of your questions… LOL! - Refer to Comment 10 -
YVonne - Wah you must try it! Didn’t notice? It’s very easy to recognize - The colour of the shop is orange colour. Let me share with you how to get there: Directions to Bidor Duck Noodles (that’s my friend’s blog, hehe…). Eric had left out mua ji from the itinerary. Must go scold him!
Pelf - Err… Don’t quite get it?
Day-dreamer - Ah it’s near your home eh? Well I’ve only eaten their duck noodles no more than 5 times in my life!! In all those occasions, I only remember leaving the shop in contentment ;).
Giddy Tigress - LOL… as Eric has pointed out, there were 7 of us. Later on, one more joined us. Ohhhh should go check them out once a while! But cannot eat too often because most of them are unhealthy food… -_-”
Chen - Within 3 days! Mostly wallop in the first 2 lah. Haha, Eric says you ‘know your stuff’ also eh! - Refer to Comment 10 -
Angel - Ooops kameh gia tissue!! We did have cendol in Penang Road, CCF however, tarak! Rojak got lar, one plate in that ‘old Gurney drive’ there… hehe. Wah wei, cannot fit already la puatoh, you know lar… ;p
Satkuru - Haha, eat to live eh? Damn jelak wei thinking about laksa now! Better go have a plate in Penang before returning to KL; can hardly find a good, cheap Char Koay Teow here!
Eric - Thank u for being my
spokeanswersperson to tackle the ‘tough’ questions thrown by my friends here… haha. Wei, what camera is Sony Alpha 500? There are only 100, and 700… and recently just released 200. 500 still on the drawing-board… hehe ;pJasonphoon - Haha… feel free to drop by my blog should you feel the need to satisfy some of your cravings… albeit visually ;p Well man, have a safe flight back down under!
i had 14 meals in 2 days when i was in penang lol
wah, mr. smash having a cow perut ah, can fill in so many thingy, hahahaha
David, i just saw the 500 on their website, but kind of expensive like that, but dunno whether release liao bui, this march will go buy, accompany me go ya, i will go pc fair look look…i teach u pc hardware thingy, you teach me cam thing ya, system barter ma…^O^
walau, the fried oyster looks very delicious!!! i wanna go there too!!!!
Dave,
my saliva almost drop on the floor when i saw all the food in your blog. make me feel like flying to penang in the middle of working hours.
Yummy.. my saliva is dripping and my tummy is growling~~ Penang food is almost same as my hometown food. How I miss all the taste and smell sooooo much…! Think of the food here… sigh.. even a simple char kuey teow also cannot find ar..
Cybie, i just know taiping have nice pohpiah only..haha
Din heard anything nice form there…haha
Singapore food i dunno lo, not my cup of tea, kakakakaka
PENANG BOLEH!
Wah lau eh……FOOD! FOOD! FOOD!
I’m full already. Haha
*Drools Drooooools Drools*
Damn I’m gonan go penang again for the food! haha
This is me saying I’ve read ur latest post and I love the pics!
Ask Eric whether is he interested in being my food tour guide when I visit Penang? Haha! I don’t mind paying too! :P
Smashie - Omg 14!! I didn’t bother to even try to remember!
Eric - I teach? You better consult Smashpop la LOL… Summore Alpha gang! You serious with the new SLR hor… Hope you will get one!
Esther - LOL… Where got fried oyster pic here wo? :p
Hui - When you go? Take me along! :D
Cybie - You sure Char Koay Teow cannot find? I think even if got, it may not be able to satisfy your tastebuds :p Anyway, this shows that you must come home more often! And look for us!
Che-cheh - By just looking and pictures of food? I *NEED* to learn your skill!! *Grins*
Victor - Haha, non-Penangites are flocking to Penang for their food!
Alicia - Happy to see you here!
Jason - Haha you can ask him yourself… ;) Still got money to burn after your combo-purchase -_-”.
LOL. Must have backup plans mah! :P
man bro u and vid and the some of the 7 kia damn bugger one lor.. showing off all those food.. ahhhh.. but thanks, i’ll always remember to check in here anytime i am so damn sick of meatballs and pastas..
ps: this post seems to be infested with an asshole eric who claims to be the mighty the sexy the leng zai the watever.. but we always love u are so funny and lovely.. :)
omigod i absolutely hate u for this post!!!! just when my cravings for laksa is at the pic..u posted not only one, but 3 pics of laksa!!!! heityu heityu heityu…
on another note..the western food u took at mt erskine temple isnt that good..next time try the western food at fatty loh’s! just abt 1km from the temple..u had chicken cordon bleu? nice…
laksa..*feeling feverish..yeap…penangites are probably one of the luckiest ppl in the world.hehe
I only want to eat asam laksa !
pembesar: You ate before the western food at dua pui lo ah?…that one not bad also…haha…but the environment not that good la….mt erskine punya more relax….another palce to have a nice cheap western food is at pulau tikus. You know there is a automobile shop name “Lancia”, just beside that automobile shop you will saw a small kopitiam, the western food is really nice, server with nice home made gravy and cheap as well. The coleslaw there is special, must try it…^O^
david: You photo is up in my blog..haha..have a look ya..^O^
[…] 计划了超过一年多，才去得成的槟城行，就这样圆满结束了。当然，真的真的很肥咯！还不止那样，过后还请了一天病假，这就是贪吃的代价。想了解更多关于槟城美食的详情，请参阅David和导游Eric的网站。 […]
[…] http://narrowband.org/2008/01/10/the-great-penang-food-hunt/ […]
ahh i will never forget about the air hitam asam laksa. i went to the same place twice in a single day! and i ordered asam laksa kosong without the noodles.
Alamak! You make me drool and long for the Penang Laksa! I also hate you! *piak piak narrowband*
See lah, now must try to find alternative. Singapore where got good Penang Laksa!!? Cham lah tonight!!
Jian - You’re showing signs of missing the Weso team. You must fly back for CNY I don’t care.
HC - Wei, anything about the Penang food you liaise with my tour guide, Penang food expert Mr Eric. Hahahha… Eh, even I look at the pics also can start to feel abit hungry liao. MUahahahah…
Keeyit - Yes Penang has plenty of that!
Eric - Thank you for publishing the nonsense photos -_-”. I am waiting for you to get your Alpha 500 and post up even more ‘interesting’ photos. I wonder how will it be like then……
Xin - Wow twice in a single day. You must have loved the laksa there very much!! Yes I can understand why you wanted laksa kosong - the soup too yummy liao :p
ECL - Aiyo, memang abit cham wan there. It’s okay… all you gotta do is come to Penang often, I’m sure Chen will be more than happy to show you around. If anything, my (food-) tour guide (who works in PJ, btw) can too :P:P