Maneki-neko murals at Mall ' s Cafe - Prangin tomyam paradise on level 3

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 .

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

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

Canai Tomyam Cafe, Jalan Lembah Permai ( U )

Note : fast forward 2014. They have been chased out and replaced by a roti canai seller now. Was told that they have relocated a few doors down but when I tried out the food, the recipes just did not seem right. Tomyam was horrid, omelette terrible.
Well what to say when their chefs are now smoking keretek, an Indonesian ciggey. My guess is that Indons/ Suluks ( yes, they are here in Penang pretending to be Malays) have now resorted to hawking the popular Thai Malay food when they clearly have absolutely zero talent in cooking anything other deep fried fish. Sad case really but don't be fooled.

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The general complaint , is that the service here is incredibly slow. Not to worry. We weren't in a rush.

Ordered this huge basket of keropok with dip, to stave off hunger.
Wise choice on our part as other patrons were doing light neck and leg stretches every now and then as if we were all on board a long haul flight.

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.

Village Coffeeshop - World's Deadliest Tomyam

When we heard another patron holler for a Pink Lady today, we followed suit.  This ended up in front of us.

Stirred the leong fun jelly, syrup, evap milk, canned sweetcorn together.

It's basically an icey cold hybrid between air bandung and a rich ice kacang drink.

Super cold,super nice refreshment for a super hot day.

The drink acts as a kind of tongue extinguisher,in case you go ahead and order the world's deadliest Tom yam served here.

Seriously, if cannot stand chillies , this is NOT advisable.

Even if you do, Village's tom yam will give you a reeducation on what HOT really means. 

The spiciness of this dish is on a pyscho scale, meant only for the suicidal.

But I still like to get a little risky and put my life on the line, every now and then.

Cooked with instant noodles, quails eggs, meatballs, mushrooms .

Of course, you can always opt for the plain soupy version with fish meat and other 'safehouse' ingredients.

Not to worry.

Most Penangites will be too busy manouvering around their volcanic bowl of death , and will turn a blind eye to your sheer cowardice.

The deep fried sandpiper is another must order here.

Good if you need to catch your breath.

As eating the Tomyam is like running like the wind away from a man eating tiger, on the edge of a jagged cliff.

Total : no more cheap nowdays. Cost us $34 for 3 bowls of noodles and 4 small sandpipers. Not inclusive of drinks

Location : Weld Quay

Chowtime : Lunch to 10pm

Directions : Turn left from the ferry terminal, go straight.  Towards the end of the clan jetty area, keep a lookout on your left for a green signboard.

( U ) Nameless Tomyam shack, Tanjung Tokong

Update : Closed down due to the development in Tg Tokong
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This is another tomyam shop operated by a Thai-Malay husband and wife team.

Always friendly and obliging, they even help cook fish, that local villagers bring to their shop, for a small fee.

Tanjung Tokong Rempits often hang outside this pathway for a drink and a smoke.

( U ) Tomyam at Mutiara Ombak, Tanjung Tokong

Update : the outlet has changed hands . This review is no more relevant . As the other operators across from Tesco are Indons and Cambodians , if you want Southern Malay Thai cuisine , Nurmee Seafood just outside Fettes Park is the closest to this 


The people that run this Tomyam outlet are Thai-Malays .

This restaurant attracts a sizeable number of chinese customers because the chef whips out seafood dishes as if he had been under the tutelage of a chinese sifu.

As it is located along the main road

frontal, fringing the 100 year old or more, kampung Tanjung Tokong,

I don't know how much longer they can hold fort before UDA Holdings takes back the land.

Khun Thai, Permatang Tengah ( PF )

I've been wanting to come here for a long time but never found the time to do so.

Naturally I was delighted to discover that it was operating from this very cute looking, very long thai barn.

Being such a hot day, we decided to share a bottle of sugar cane. There's a label stuck on it and we were surprised to see that it came in all the way from Kedah.

Priced at an unexpected $12 for one litre, um, I think I might pass this and settle for warm water next time.

Not exactly fresh, smells like sugarcane fibres that have started to break down.