Glorious food: Homegrown Favourites

Penang and hawker food are inextricably linked. Never the two be torn apart! It is not very surprising then that when one thinks of Penang food, the mind automatically conjures up visions of freshly cooked hawker fare. Whether you are a local or a tourist, hawker fare has something to satisfy many palates. Best of all, eating out at hawker stalls would not break the bank.

The varieties of hawker fare and hawker centres are seemingly endless, and there are plenty to choose from at almost any time of the day. It is prudent to leave your stomach with a little room for some of Penang’s famous dessert or snacks – before or after a meal.

Ice kacang

ice kacang © Adrian Cheah

Ice kacang, the mother of all Malaysian desserts, is also known as ang tau s'ng (Hokkien for iced red beans) or ABC (ais batu campur in Malay). Although “kacang” means beans in Malay, this jubilant offering contains more than just ice and beans. Brimming in a bowl, the colourful concoction is made of a tower of shaved ice swirled with a mixture of red beans, leong fan (grass jelly or cincau in Malay), creamy sweet corn, chewy tapioca pearls and translucent attap chee (nipa palm fruit), smothered with at least two types of syrup and evaporated milk. You can further top it with a scoop of ice cream (especially durian, making it even more sinful).

If you are visiting Penang, this is a super-cool dessert that you have to add to your list of must-try items. It makes a rewarding icy treat especially in the tropics when the sun shows no mercy. Ice kacang is available at most food courts throughout Penang including some roadside stalls. Here are some venues where you can enjoy a bowl of good ice kacang (in no particular order):

  • Kek Seng Cafe, 382 & 384, Jalan Penang
  • Swatow Lane Ice Kacang, E, 102, 1, Jalan Burma, George Town
  • Medan Selera at Taman Free School, 75, Jalan Terengganu, Taman Free School
  • Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul, 27 & 29 Lebuh Keng Kwee, George Town
  • Presgrave Street Hawker Centre, 67D, Lebuh Presgrave, 10300 George Tow

Cendol/Chendul

cendol © Adrian Cheah

Cendol/chendul is an iced sweet dessert that contains strands of green jelly served with fresh coconut milk and fragrant gula Melaka (palm sugar) syrup. This humble-looking offering certainly has its irresistible charms. Cendol tastes even better under the sweltering tropical heat. The cool, refreshing concoction is commonly found throughout Penang. Some stalls offer additional toppings such as boiled kidney beans/red beans, pulut (steamed glutinous rice), sweet corn, sago pearls, diced jackfruit, ice cream and even durian.

For good cendol (in no particular order):

  • Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul, 42, Lebuh Keng Kwee, 10100 George Town. Opens daily: 10:30 am – 7:00 pm
  • Penang Road Famous Chendul, 25, Lebuh Keng Kwee, 10100 George Town. Opens daily: 10:30 am – 7:00 pm
  • Cendol Asli Pak Haji, Pantai Miami, 11100 Batu Feringghi, Penang. Opens daily: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm except for Fridays and Sundays (12:00 – 4:00 pm)
  • Kulim Best Cendol, No 12, Tingkat Tenang, Taman Tenang, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Penang. Opens daily except Mondays: 11:00 am – 5:30 pm
  • Hawker centres and food courts. Most hawker centres and food courts in Penang would sell cendol including New World Park Food Court, New Lane Hawker Centre, Air Itam Market Food Court, Taman Free School Food Court, Batu Lanchang Food Court, Sungai Pinang Food Court, Presgrave Street Hawker Centre, Long Beach Food Court, CF Food Court and Cecil Street Food Court. Some coffeeshops would serve them as well.

Rojak

rojak © Adrian Cheah

Fruit and vegetable salad consisting of cucumber, pineapple, nutmeg, unripe mango, cuttlefish and jambu air (rose apple), mixed in a potent sauce of prawn paste, chilli, belacan and crushed groundnuts.

rojak © Adrian Cheah

You could also ask for a slice of bang kwang (turnip) topped with rich rojak sauce and grounded peanuts. This is very popular among local kids. 

For good rojak (in no particular order): Hock Seng Rojak King at Gat Lebuh Cecil, Gurney Drive Hawker Centre and Esplanade Food Court.

Sotong bakar (grilled squid)

sotong bakar © Adrian Cheah

Thin strips of dried squid gently roasted over a charcoal fire eaten with a sweet and spicy sauce, topped with grounded peanuts. The texture of this fishy delight is crispy, brittle and uber delicious. For the best sotong bakar in town, head over to the hawker stalls at Gurney Drive and Esplanade.

Tong Sui (Chinese dessert)

tong sui © Adrian Cheah

Tong Sui is a Cantonese term to describe sweet soup or custard. It literally means ‘sugar water’ but contains more than just syrup. Tong Sui covers a wide range of Chinese desserts of fruits, beans and jellies in syrup served hot or cold. The choices are bountiful such as red bean soup, peanut soups, almond milk soup with eu char koay (deep-fried cruellers), bee koh moy (black glutinous rice porridge served with coconut milk), gandum (pearl wheat porridge with palm sugar) and bubur cha cha (pearl sago, sweet potatoes, yams, bananas, black-eyed peas cooked in coconut milk) and Leng Chee Kang (a lovely dessert with dried longans, snow fungus, gingko nuts and lotus seeds).

  • Dessert Old Time Delight Shop at 78, Lebuh Kimberley
  • Sweet Dumpling Tang Yuan at 33, Lebuh Kurau 5, Taman Chai Leng, Perai
  • Sweet-i Dessert House at 41, Jalan Nipah, Taman Lip Sin
  • Tong Sui Po at 64, Jalan Seang Tek
  • Mat Toh Yau at 22, Jalan Penaga, Jelutong
  • As well as most hawker centres and market areas throughout Penang

Other goodies

Take the opportunity to savour these specialities listed below

Apom balik and apom manis are among the most lovely delicacies that should never be missed.

Ah Guan apom balik © Adrian Cheah

One of the most popular apom balik vendors in Penang has to be Apom Guan at Lebuh Burma. Due to the sheer popularity of his apom, expect to wait for a while. Ah Guan adds pieces of bananas and sweet corn in his palm-size apom before folding it in half to form a delicious semicircle of goodness.

Apom Manis © Adrian Cheah

Apom manis is a wonderful snack in Penang originating from India that resembles crepes. Swee Kong Coffee Shop at Solok Moulmein in Pulau Tikus serves up good Apom manis. The family-run business has been for over 80 years. There are also many apom stalls dotted all over Penang. The key to a good apom is its crispy skirting and fluffy centre. These paper-thin pancakes are made of eggs and coconut milk – key ingredients in kuih kapit, thus the similarity in its fabulous aroma. Catch skillful apom makers in action as they swirl batter on clay pots.

Eu char koay © Adrian Cheah

Eu char koay (deep-fried Chinese crullers) is crispy when fresh and best eaten with a cup of kopi-o. It is also served with porridge, almond cream soup, bak kut teh and even in rojak. These golden brown Chinese puff breadsticks could also be stuffed with various fillings and cook as a dish. Top-quality ingredients and good heat control are key in making good eu char koay.

Available at most markets such as Ayer Itam, Lip Sin and Jelutong. 76, Cintra Street, and Kedai Kopi Kwai Lock in Pulau Tikus also offers good eu char koay.

Gado gado is an Indonesian salad of blanched or steamed vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, potatoes and fried tofu served with a savoury peanut sauce dressing. Sample this delectable dish at Mews Cafe, 77 Muntri Street and Cafe Lagenda at 43, Campbell Street.

ham chim peng © Adrian Cheah

Ham chim peng in Cantonese literally means "deep-fried salted dough-bread". It is a deep-fried snack made from salty and sweet dough, filled with red bean paste or glutinous rice. The strong five-spice powder gives ham chim peng its distinct flavour. This popular street food is absolutely delicious when eaten hot.

It is available at most marketplaces and hawker centres. However, the most famous in Penang is at a little unassuming stall located at the junction of Cintra Street and Campbell Street. It opens only in the evenings. This stall also sells pak thong kou (white sugar steamed cake).

Muah chee © Adrian Cheah

Muah chee is made from glutinous rice flour. When cooked, the soft sticky-gooey dough is diced into small pieces and rolled around in a sandy mixture of grounded peanuts, sugar and roasted sesame seeds. These nice little golden nuggets are soft and taste even better when topped with fried shallots.

Uncle Chee Muah Chee at 2, Lebuh Cannon seems to be popular. Sometimes at hawker centres, you can find muah chee vendors on motorcycles or bicycles.

Pie tee or "top hat" is a beautiful and petit hors d'oeuvre of deep-fried pastry shell 'hat' generously filled with a mélange of julienned vegetables topped with fried shallots and a dollop of sauce. The filling and ingredients are almost similar to that of poh piah and it is not surprising if some poh piah vendors do serve pai tee too.

Available at Nyonya eateries and most of the food courts in Penang.

  • Kek Seng coffeeshop at 382 & 384, Jalan Penang
  • Perut Rumah Nyonya Cuisine at 17, Jalan Bawasah
  • Food courts in Penang

goreng pisang © Adrian Cheah

Goreng pisang - crispy golden-brown, deep-fried banana fritters are difficult to stop once you start munching on one. Best fried fritters are extremely crispy. Besides banana, try yam, sweet potato, cempedak, green pea, tapioca rolls and tnee kuih (glutinous rice cake) sandwiched between a slice of yam and sweet potato fritters. This snack food is commonly available with street vendors throughout
Penang.

  • Tanjung Bungah Goreng Pisang at the corner of Jalan Chan Siew Teong and Jalan Tanjung Bungah
  • Roadside stall at Jalan Free School
  • Weld Quay Goreng Pisang at 90-A, Pengkalan Weld
  • Market Cross Pisang Goreng

popiah © Adrian Cheah

Popiah – fresh Chinese spring roll with a filling of grated bang kwang (turnip), carrot, bean sprouts and a sprinkling of shredded omelette, diced bean curd and fried shallots. The name popiah in Hokkien means "thin wafer", which refers to the white crêpe skin which is made from wheat flour. You would find them at most hawker centers.

  • Hawker centers at Padang Brown, Gurney Drive, Sungai Pinang, Esplanade
  • Padang Brown Hawker at Jalan Perak
  • Joo Hooi Café at 475, Jalan Penang
  • Kek Seng coffeeshop at 382 & 384, Jalan Penang | T: + +016-412 1300
  • Apollo market at Jalan Raja Uda

putu piring © Adrian Cheah

Putu piring is a rice flour cake with jaggery filling cooked by steaming and best eaten with freshly grated coconut and brown sugar. Besides the traditional saucer-shaped putu piring, there are also other various shapes available. If you see a green version, then pandan extract is added to offer a fragrant aroma to the dish. Usually, putu pring vendors would also sell putu mayong or putu mayam (string hoppers).

putu mayong © Adrian Cheah

You can sample some of these humble yet wonderful offerings at stalls located at Pulau Tikus market area, Jalan Pasar at Little India enclave, Apollo market at Jalan Raja Uda and night markets throughout Penang.

Local fruits

local fruits © Adrian Cheah

There is nothing quite like a serving of refreshing local fruits, packed around with crushed ice to end a meal. It is also a good opportunity for one to experience the wide variety of local fruits that are in season. Because they are naturally rich in vitamins, minerals and fibres, you could find fresh fruit stalls at virtually every food centre. Should you decide to get some for later, wet markets and supermarkets would be an ideal place to shop.

Tropical Fruit Farm in Teluk Bahang list that they have over 250 types of tropical and sub-tropical fruits. That is indeed a fantastic place to visit of have a feast on local fruits. Recommended local fruits include durian (an acquired taste), rambutan, starfruit, campedak, nangka (jackfruit), mangosteen, dragonfruit, jambu air (rose apple), dukung, chiku, banana, guava, nutmeg, nona (custard apple), soursop, papaya and pomelo.

pickled fruits © Adrian Cheah

If you love pickled fruits (locally known as jeruk in Malay), head down to Chowrasta market in Penang Road. Pickled nutmeg, papaya, guava, mango, kedondong, salak, asam kelubi and cermai are among those you should try. They are also available at night markets. 

Lipsmacking local biscuits

tau sar piah © Adrian Cheah

When talking about Penang's biscuits, tau sar piah (pneah) reigns supreme. It comes with a roll of five pieces. They are available in two varieties – with green (mung) bean filling or with lotus paste filling. Tambun biscuits are a miniaturised form of tau sar pheah with green bean filling and are sold in a box of 16 or 32 pieces.

Freshly baked tau sar piah has a crumbly flaky crust. The savoury green bean paste filling should be soft and moist with a distinct aroma of fried shallots. Simply divine and suitable to be eaten any time of the day. They would also make great gifts.

Coming in at a close second at the popularity stakes is hneoh piah (pneah) – a flattish biscuit with a flaky crust and sticky caramel filling. Both biscuits are available from most shops selling local products or better still, get them fresh, directly from the source:

  • Ghee Hiang, 216, Jalan Macalister | T: +604-227 2222 (Penang’s oldest tau sar piah maker)
  • Him Heang, 162, Jalan Burma | T: +604-228 6129 (the superstar of tau sar piah)
  • Soon Hiang, 36, Jalan Kuantan | T: +6 04-229 5799 (still traditionally made by hand and with heart)

Little India © Adrian Cheah

Check out Little India for a variety of Indian crunchies like savoury muruku and kacang putih. If you have a craving for sweet and savoury nibbles Malay style, try pisang manis sira gula, bahulu, pisang abu masin, kerepek ubi masin, kerepek ubi and tempeyek. Available from Chowrasta, Lorong Kulit flea market and night markets (pasar malam) throughout Penang.

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Written and photographed by Adrian Cheah © All rights reserved
Updated: 7 March 2019


All things cendol and more

cendol © Adrian Cheah

Cendol/chendul is an iced sweet dessert that contains strands of green jelly served with fresh coconut milk and fragrant gula Melaka (palm sugar) syrup. This humble-looking offering certainly has its irresistible charms. Cendol tastes even better under the sweltering tropical heat. The cool, refreshing concoction is commonly found throughout Penang. Some stalls offer additional toppings such as boiled kidney beans/red beans, pulut (steamed glutinous rice), sweet corn, sago pearls, diced jackfruit, ice cream and even durian.

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How easy it is to make creative sandwiches in Penang!

creative sandwiches © Adrian Cheah

Let us make some creative sandwiches celebrating Penang's diverse culinary culture. Well, there are no rules here except good food between two slices of bread, bun, mantou or even puff pastry. And being in Penang, the choices of fillings available are aplenty.

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Penang's sizzling century-old oh chien (oyster omelette) recipe

Penang oh chien © Adrian Cheah

In Penang, "oh chien" (in Hokkien) means "fried oysters" but it commonly refers to the oyster omelette dish. There are many varieties available in Malaysia and even more so throughout Southeast Asia, China and Taiwan.

The main ingredients for Penang-style oh chien include a batter (tapioca flour, rice flour or a mixture of both), chopped chives, eggs, fresh oysters and a special blend of seasoning. The dish is usually stir-fried over high heat and served with a garlic chilli sauce on the side. Some stalls garnish their dish with coriander leaves, adding more aroma to the omelette.

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The best laksa in Balik Pulau

Balik Pulau laksa © Adrian Cheah

Penang laksa is extremely popular, especially among locals for its wonderful balance of spicy, sweet and sour flavours. This is strictly a hawker treat, as one is unlikely to find great laksa in a fancy restaurant.

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Ah Leng's supreme Char Koay Teow

Ah Leng Char Koay Teow © Adrian Cheah

Taste is very subjective and since Penangites are spoiled with choices, their discerning palate is indeed well-tuned to great food. Should you wish to see them enraged and in full disgust, just serve them a plate of something ordinary, or if you dare, something horrible. This only goes to illustrate how passionate they are about food, especially the local delicacies.

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The Craftisan, tea-inspired gelato and hand-crafted desserts

Adrian Cheah at Craftisan

When the sweet tooth comes a-knockin', head to The Craftisan for one of its luscious dessert options. Whether it is brownies, crepe or gelato that strikes your fancy, its delicious offerings should satisfy your cravings. Hand-dripped coffee and a selection of teas complement perfectly its creative desserts.

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Apong Guan – one piece is never enough

Apong Guan © Adrian Cheah

This is something I have recently noticed about Uncle Ah Guan. He has always been great fun to chat with but on my recent visit one afternoon, although he was smiling and friendly, he was not his usual chatty self. I realised that age is catching up and grinding over the stove in the scorching tropical heat, day in and day out, which cannot be an easy task for him these days.

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The ever-versatile Nasi Goreng (fried rice)

Penang fried rice © Adrian Cheah

Thanks to its unique cultural mix, food lovers in Malaysia get to enjoy a mouth-watering blend of various flavours in their victuals (or makan-makan in local speak). Think sambal belacan with wantan noodles, Nyonya curries, Malay char koay teow and the ever-popular and versatile nasi goreng or fried rice. It can be eaten any time of the day and is found on the menu of any Penang or Malaysian eatery, from street vendors to five-star hotels.

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Something blue, something rice, something nice at Mews Café

Yes, this blue-coloured rice dish from Mews Café that is simply delicious also titillates the senses. It looks amazing, smells appetising and tasted heavenly as well.

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Penang tau sar peah, food for the Gods

Penang's tau sar peah is legendary and spoken of in the same breath as Kuala Kangsar's pau (dumpling) and Kampar's chicken biscuits.

Indeed, conversations about Penang food inevitably turns to the celebrated Penang tau sar peah. For Penangites who work outside the state (and even those who live overseas) and return for periodic sojourns to their beloved hometown, the tau sar peah is invariably among the items that line their bags when they depart.

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Time always for Laksa

Penang Laksa © Adrian Cheah

Penang Assam Laksa is amongst the best-known and loved hawker fare in Penang. A bowl of steamed spaghetti-sized rice vermicelli is first generously garnished with finely sliced vegetables including onions, cucumber, red chillis, pineapple, lettuce, mint and pink bunga kantan (ginger buds).

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Durian, the sensational "King of the Fruits"

Penang durian © Adrian Cheah

“You should wash your hands using water poured over the inside chambers of a hollowed durian skin. It will remove the strong odour from your fingers", urged Mr Teh, my neighbour who accompanied me on a durian feast at one of the many durian orchards in Balik Pulau. That morning, we had a satisfying breakfast like no other, amidst the natural surroundings of the orchard, shaded by towering durian trees.

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