Somehow , Southern Thai tomyam seems to smell and taste better when served within air conditioned premises .
There's no way you are not going to get your appetite worked up when you pass by the shop . The aroma is enough to floor you .
That's how , even though Prangin Mall seems to be on the decline after the exit of their anchor tenant , the 4 main tomyam players on the 3rd floor , still manage to draw in all of us sadistic makan freaks .
I'll show you the first outlet . My personal favourite.
1. Mall's Cafe .
The ahbeng ahlian chop shop where I once scoffed at a Korean guy who popped in but was so shocked when he drank up every last bit of the soup without breaking a sweat .
Respect !
Was surprised to see that they now serve their tomyam maggi in nicer ceramic Maneki - neko bowls . Not only that , the entire shop is filled with Lucky Cat murals too .
This is my drug . Southern Thai tomyam whipped up by Malaysian
Chinese chefs . That singular exciting fix I need every now and then .
With just the right amount of sour , and spice level so lethal , instead of 1 , I have learnt to ask for 2 long cabbage leaves to bring the fire 3 notches down .
Added some fried beancurd skin , commercial crabclaw and a few types of balls....meatball , flat deep fried fishball ...sliced canned geoduck ( I think ) to the instant noodle and 2 slices of long cabbage I mentioned earlier .
Sooooo yummy .
To complement the nicer bowls , they've engaged a mural artist . Wonder if one of the 2 lengchai boys did this ( the smaller boy has grown into a really handsome chap already ) . If they did , then good on them . The effect is not too gaudy and the cats are drawn to proportion .
Entire look is very cheerful if I may add , I don't know why nobody is taking any pictures .
Oh maybe because they are hardcore fans and their tomyam makes everything else not seem to matter .
Expressions are very cute .
This pink one makes me very geram .
The murals begin from where the pick it yourself counter starts and ...
....ends with a yellow cat .
Waving cats of various sizes , shop logo beside the cash register , curtains on top of the entrance to the kitchen .....
...ah this is too cute !
Very creative use which incorporates the large mirror .
Was seated under this large black cat . Evil busting effect makes me feel at ease already . Lol no just kidding . Some of the black is coming off . A little touch up ought to maintain the cheer factor .
Like I said , this is an ahbeng ahlian shop . So before you get a shock , you'd better see how the patrons errr dress up . You can choose to dress up if you want to , this is Prangin after all , where anything goes .
One girl came in her blue cosplay hair and nobody batted an eyelid .
Plus it doesn't matter how old you are . You can be a lao lang and dress like a teenager . Maybe you are a 70 year old aunty still walking around in a teeny weeny mini skirt despite all those varicose veins showing . Nobody gives a sheeet . Just come as you are. That's the beauty of this place .
Cluster of cats here , is probably the most photogenic of the lot .
Right .
Will now show you the other popular operators on this floor .
2 .Shuan Shuan Le .
For tomyam steamboat .
More costly but has a strong and loyal crowd following . You get some occasional China citizens in the crowd but they will not take the tomyam and request for the plain soup instead .
3. Chin Noay Cafe .
Where Mall's Cafe used to hold court before someone bought it over and thought they could get their diehards to dine here .
Some didn't care who was cooking as long as it was tomyam ,thus they did manage to snare a sizeable crowd of diners .
4. Tong Seng .
All women servers and cooks over at the tomyam counter .
Never ate here but it also has its own loyalists .
Location : Level 3 , Prangin Mall , Penang
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