Many years ago ( not so good with recalling exact numbers so I'll put it around 10 years ago ) , I found this stall at a foodcourt just behind the Shell station at the Tun Dr Awang roundabout in Bayan Lepas .
Beside them was the Sabah Pan Mee operator which became so successful that today they have taken up an entire shoplot a few doors down from the Kampar fishball outlet near the Queensbay roundabout .
Eyah ....kindly read that again . That is Penang today for you . People come from everywhere and they offer all that familiar hometown comfort foods to outstationers who now call Penang , home .
Nee wayyy , after a long goose chase I have finally , finally , fiiiiinally located them tucked away in Taman Sri Nibong at the second kopitiam just opposite Goh Teo Kee .
This is what the stall looks like below . Small batches are displayed on cooling racks for you to pick .
During their spell at the dingy old foodcourt , I managed to corner the old man one day when he was not so busy and asked him outright how he replicated the dish when no other Penangite could do it here .
He then revealed that he had worked in KL for a while and learnt the ropes from there .
Actually , I won't say that his version is exactly like Ampang Yong Tau Foo , it's close . More to a cross between what you can get in KL and Ipoh .
Since we so long never eat liao ah , I went a bit overboard .
This is for 2 of us and by island standards , some people will look at you like you are a glutton but once on the mainland , nobody bats an eyelid .
So yeah , this portion for 2 is considered a sin by old folks especially in the inner city but I really don't care because all I want to do is just eat .
Deep fried beancurd skin with fishcake paste .
There is another type , rolled up but it's not visible in this picture .
They will usually pour soup on this but I requested a separate bowl since I want to prevent it from getting soggy and lembik .
The operator is quite cooperative and friendly . Nothing is too much for him . If you want it this way , he will serve it to you this way after reconfirming with you that you indeed want it like this .
What I wanted boiled with soup , was the fish balls , ladies fingers stuffed with fishpaste , stuffed white tofu , long Chinese cabbage and fake crab craw paste .
Why would anyone even think of eating KL food in Penang ?
Because they either work here long term , have bought properties here , have Penang spouses , or set up businesses here .
Still other Penangites have worked in KL longer than they have spent their time growing up in Penang and thus their tastebuds have not only accepted KL cuisine they have also developed a craving for it once in a while .
These groups are the ones that need this fix the most .
One of the sure fire places where you can find a silent congregation of individuals will be at Chai Leng Park lapping up Hokkien Mee which they call Tai Lok Mee up north .
Well , I guess you have another place to add to that very small list of makan places that remind you of the capital city .
Hope you agree with me .
Location : Taman Sri Nibong , Penang ( island )
Landmarks : look for Goh Teo Kee restaurant , it is opposite
Timing : afternoons
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