George Town, Penang - Street Food in the Morning
CHAR KOAY TEOW
Char Koay Teow - significant are the subtlety in fresh ingredients, how they are sliced, clever use of the wok heat and the texture of rice noodles.
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Suggested Other Sources of Char Koay Teow:
1. Ah Leng Char Koay Teow, at the Khoon Hiang Cafe, corner of Merican and Datuk Keramat Roads, a good stop by on your way to the Kek Lok Si Temple Complex in Air Itam (Black Water Village). Visit this stall early, as on popular days the stall is closed by 1pm. They have versions with duck egg or large mantis shrimp. (Please note that in the evenings the father of the family running Ah Leng, Mr Teoh Koon Leng, runs his pop up char koay teow stall in suburban Air Itam from 5pm in the evenings at Lorong Zoo 6, opposite a seafood restaurant.).
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We arrived too early for the char koay teow stall to open in the evening from 5pm - corner of Kimberly and Cintra Streets in the heart of Chinese Georgetown. |
BARISTA COFFEE
Suggested Other Sources of Barista made Coffee:
1. Coffee Atelier, 47-55 Stewart Lane, behind the Goddess of Mercy Temple (within the UNESCO designated heritage area) Open every day from 830am till late.
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WANTON MEE
(Note - within the Chinatown section of the UNESCO Heritage walking trail area) |
Suggested Other Sources of Wanton Mee:
1. Sai Lam where Chulia and Carnavon Streets
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BAK KUT TEH
PORK CONGEE
Modest looking as it may be, the pork based congee is one of my favourite comfort food dishes. With the stock soup brewed overnight, before being dished out in the morning, it is a benign choice for old and young alike. The key is in its stock - followed by the freshness and suppleness of its varied ingredients and garnishing. You have to slice it thin and bite-size, whether you just have the minced pork, pig liver, cooked innards, spring onions or more. A choice of good rice and pepper gives the X factor. The picture above shows the variety served at the Hon Kei Food Corner/ Cafe located at 45 Lorong Kampung Malabar in central Georgetown, open for business from morning. My score for this bak moey dish is a 7.5 out of ten.
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Suggested Other Sources of Pork Congee:
1. Pop up pork congee stall on street side in front of the Ho Ping Cafe at Lorong Kampung Malabar from 6pm to midnight every evening. You sit on chairs at tables just opened for the few hours and there is a community feel to the experience.
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LOBAK
Lobak, or deep fried soy bean skin rolls with a pork packing inside, accompanied by hay ken (or deep fried battered shrimp snacks) are great with beer and served with a choice of sauces (one brown and another chili hot) and cut cucumber slices. Servings are delicate and compact at this Hon Kei Food Corner/ Cafe outlet but every bite is yummy. I found this particular lobak shown above crunchy outside, not salty and with quality ingredients inside, with no over whelming hint of the Chinese five spice powder used to marinate the meat. |
(Note - within the Chinatown section of the UNESCO Heritage walking trail area) |
Suggested Other Sources of Lobak:
1. Kheng Pin Cafe, 80 penang Road, at the corner of Penang and Sri Bahari Roads. Backpackers can recognise this aging corner coffeeshop if they hang around upper Penang Road, buy their nutmegs at nearby Chowrasta Market and have their share of roti canai at roadside stalls and and consume their Nasi Kandar at Line Clear. Closed on Mondays, open from 7am to 3pm.
2. Kek Seng coffee shop, 382-384 Penang Road, open daily from 8am to 5pm.
Map of Georgetown - Copyright Chiang-mai.org |
The staff preparing the lobak at the Hon Kei Food Corner/Cafe are energetic, confident and know their stuff!OTHER DISHES RECOMMENDED:
1. Kaya spread toast, poached eggs and local Penang coffee - Toh Soon Cafe , near corner of Campbell Street and Upper Penang Road. 7 to 8am every day.
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