Restoran Sup Hameed ( U )

 Although this is the best place for sup kambing in Penang, I usually resort to takeaway because the whole restaurant from outside to inside is infested with smokers .

Thus today is the first time after many, many, many years, that I am eating in .

But it doesn't take long for me to regret that decision especially when I'm drinking mutton soup, under a choking haze of Marlboro and keretek.

Springs Town Restaurant ( NH )

Every Penangite worth their salt, knows how to sniff out and make a beeline, for an out of the way, gem such as this.

Prices of most dishes are so ridiculously low , you might want to pinch yourself,
 seeing that the setting inside, is almost palatial with nice airconditioning and lighting even

Passions of Kerala ( PF )

This restaurant combines the best of both worlds....

a nice banana leaf meal, in clean, air conditioned comfort .

One vegetarian set costs just $5.50

Char Mee Suah - Cecil Street ( NH )

While Penang is reknowned for its char koay teow, have you ever tried char mee suah ?

There's sawi, pork slices, prawns, eggs and taugeh inside.

All nicely charred and very yummy.

Noodle is of a thicker texture than the usual variety you find in soups.

A rare dish that's in danger of disappearing but available here.

There are two stalls in this wetmarket, hawking this dish.

Both are just as good.

Just look out for the sign hanging high above and you will find them

Nameless Nasi Kandar at Chowrasta again ( U )

Earlier post : http://gostansikit.blogspot.com/2012/03/6km-for-nasi-kandar-at-lebuh-tamil.html

It's been sometime already since my last visit and I'm thinking that this blog of mine is beginning to resemble some kind of food diary. Up to date Penang food reference this.

Rest assured the food here is always good. Acar is a must !

Sotong, beef, fried slice of bawal hitam

Omg...just looking at the picture is working up my appetite again.

2nd tongue burning experience at Mall's Cafe ( NH )

Earlier post : http://gostansikit.blogspot.com/2012/08/malls-cafe-prangin-mall.html

First mouthwatering bowl of the most mind blowing spicy, southern tomyam.

Selection of fishballs, 3 button mushrooms, tofu , 2 vegies, half a portion of instant noodles = $7

2nd bowl

Fishballs , 2 prawns, brown sotong , foochuk , instant noodle

$10

Merlin Nasi Kandar ( U )

This is one Nasi Kandar you absolutely must try.

But you might regret it because from then onwards you will always 'gian' for it thereafter

As you can see, the crowd comprises of a very muhibbah mix of young and  old, from labourers and cleaners, to bankers and office workers.

Penang Kueh at Cecil Street Market ( NH )

There are not many good kueh stalls around nowadays.

Although there are 2 operators in this afternoon market, I prefer to buy from this one.

888 Hokkien Mee, Sar Tiao Lor ( NH )

In the morning,there are a few great hokkien mee stalls on Penang island. Far less though at night.

This place ranks in my acceptable category when I'm looking for a decent bowl of Hokkien Mee after 8

There is a silly new rule in force now.

If you sit inside this shophouse where 888 is housed , you may order food from other operators.

But should you decide to sit elsewhere in other kopitiams, you can forget about trying it out because the others apparently won't allow you to call this hokkien mee over to their side.

Newday for teochew porridge ( NH )

At night this is the only place to go to for teochew moey.

Anything that runs out in this food station is replenished el pronto

Sin Chew coffeeshop - Lak Tiao Lor ( NH )

It's easier to walk here than to drive .

But who cares when they serve radish or lobak soup as good as this....

Kedai Kopi Soon Yuen ( NH )

What's there to eat here for breakfast?

Believe me....a lot ....

Start with the best game textured duck meat dish you'll ever come across.

 Garnished with fried garlic, sawi and beansprouts.

Make sure you order this early or they'll only have the kampung chicken left ( which is way tougher ).

Mall's Cafe, Prangin Mall ( NH )

Originally operating from the popular corner kopitiam on the same floor, today,they have relocated to this new spot .

Like other regulars I was not fooled. Checked out that original shoplot ( two new boy chefs in their place) before heading back here

Ang Hoay Loh ( NH )

If it gets too late for lunch or it's still too early for dinner, you can rely on this place to tend to your hunger pangs.

In the mood for fish today, the standard offering here is Kerapu or Garoupa.

Nicely deep fried, crispy on the outside, juicy inside,doused with sauce that is not too salty.

The fish tasted even better when we started on the underside as the fish had absorbed all the flavour from the sauce by then.

Yong Pin Restaurant ( NH )

9th January 2013 :

forget everything I said earlier. I ate here today and almost everything was capital FAIL . Only the Tai pau and a peanut mochi dessert wrapped in pandanus leaf passed the test.

Earlier post :

This is not your modern day typical Penang establishment although it spouts a new makeover .

Brightly lit, clean and almost spotless. What more can one ask for ?

Their flavours and recipes are mostly long forgotten but worth many repeat visits for the sake of experiencing the nostalgia of carefully made, good quality food .

Lean Huat for 6am Hokkien Mee ( NH )

Everyone refers to this famous stall as Swee Kong hokkien mee .

So did I until I snapped this picture and realised that they DO have a name after all ! 

Alila, Red Garden Food Paradise ( NH )

When I want cheap,good and authentic Thai food cooked by real Thai people , this is where you will find me.

Walk all the way to the back and look for this counter.

Duck rice in New Lane

Sometimes I wonder how come our many excellent roast duck rice stalls, are hardly featured on the must try list for tourists . 

Every neighbourhood on the island, has at least 2 stalls that specialise in this, with operators coming from as far as Kulim to tempt islanders tastebuds .

New Lane is no exception.

There are two rivals here, operating on the same street, opposite one another.

Although I prefer the younger man's juicier, more tender version, hard luck. He's sold out.

Thus here I am today, at the stall run by this older guy .

Check out the bottom left corner .

See how many duck heads there are ?

Eaten by Penangites not tourists .

My order.

Duck drumstick and breast meat $10 only for the entire plate.

Super cheap .

The thing about this older guy's version is, it is best to eat it on the spot .

Try not to take away, as the meat starts to get very greasy the longer it stays wrapped .

Where's my rice ? Who needs rice ?

Look, you're in New Lane.

Take the duck to a bowl of Curry Mee, together with not one but TWO spoonfuls of sambal, so you are guaranteed to spit fire.

Dragon breathing hot.

Extinguish the heat with a cooling bowl of Si Koh Thng

Location : Duck rice and si koh thng -entrance of Maxim Cafe, New Lane .
Curry Mee- the first stall on the right row, nearest to Maxim Cafe.

Directions : from Traders Hotel on Magazine Road, take the middle road at the intersection and heads towards Sunway Hotel Georgetown. The road is right in front of this hotel.  

Chowtime : the younger man who operates from starts at 5.30pm, the older around 7pm. Both sell out in 2 or 3 hours.

Pegaga Juice ( U )

The local name for this drink is Cheh Chao or green grass. Some people mistake this drink for wheatgrass when it is really Indian pennywort, or daun pegaga, a bitterish ayurdevic herb.

This herbaceous creeper is known as brain food that can heal and protect the nerves, heart and skin.

Malay and Indian people eat this raw like a salad, to reap its maximum benefits.

Penangites on the other hand,turn this into a juice, served with ice and syrup, for instant relief especially when the weather gets too hot .

As you can immediately feel the heat lifted from out of your head, it can be quite addictive.

Beneficial as it may be, it is better to go easy on the juice as you can develop giddiness if you consume this on a regular basis. Once a month at the most .

I know of only 3 places in Georgetown where you can get this drink.

Lebuh Cecil's afternoon wetmarket , a stall along Lebuh Keng Kwee and another stall at the entrance of  Datuk Keramat wetmarket before a fresh coconut water shop and the police station.

( NH ) Hokkien Mee, Lebuh Cecil

What I love most about Lebuh Cecil wetmarket, is the adjoining hawker centre, where prices of hawker fare is still so incredibly low.

My favourite Hokkien Mee stall is this one.

A short step away, in front of a Malaysian flag hung up on the roof. Nearest to the two red lanterns. Next to a small yellow telco booth.