Ah Leng Char Koay Teow, Kafe Khoon Hiang @ Jalan Dato Keramat, Penang

According to a food survey, Char Koay Teow is the number one food most sought after in Penang by the tourist and even locals. As such, you can actually find Char Koay Teow stall in Penang virtually almost everywhere from the roadside to the coffee shop.

Frying a plate of Char Koay Teow is not hard but to result in a good taste is hard. I have been disappointed countless times by the taste of a supposed good Char Koay Teow. There was this stall in Penang along Jalan Dato Keramat that served really good Char Koay Teow. By the name of Ah Leng Char Koay Teow, it is located in Khoon Hiang Cafe and it is one of the famous Char Koay Teow in Penang.

Khoon Hiang Cafe, along Jalan Dato Keramat

Ah Leng Char Koay Teow

The boss aka Ah Leng

You can never see Ah Leng stop frying the koay teow. He don't even smile, and just glance at you when you placed an order before switching back his focus to the wok.

Focused on the wok most of the time

Char Koay Teow is prepared by frying the flat thin noodles (koay teow) together with egg, garlic, bean sprouts, and prawns. It is optional to be fried spicy or non spicy.

The art of frying koay teow

It was almost 2pm on my previous visit, and the place was still largely crowded with people waiting for their orders.

Crowd patiently waiting for their plate of Char Koay Teow

I'd ordered a plate of special Char Koay Teow and it was served after 25 minutes of wait.

Ah Leng Special Char Koay Teow (RM 9)

The special plate came with extra fried mantis prawn on top of normal ingredients.

Big, succulent and juicy prawns

The scent from the Char Koay Teow proved too hard to resist. You just can't wait to have your first mouth on it.

One of the best Char Koay Teow in Penang

Fantabulous! It was full with flavour and the wok hei was superb that it lingered in mouth for a while. Each bite on it unfolded the awesomeness of the flavour that packed with fragrance of the slightly charred chili that coated each on the flat noodles so well. It it neither too dry nor oily, just perfect for a great plate of Char Koay Teow!

Should you are not a fan of mantis prawn, you can opt for the normal plate of Char Koay Teow which tasted as great and come with 3 big prawn as well.

The normal Ah Leng Char Koay Teow (RM 5)

This is where famous Char Koay Teow equals to best that resulted a lip smacking good fried koay teow. One plate is never enough indeed. Definitely one of my most memorable Char Koay Teow to date.

Char Koay Teow: 9/10

Atmosphere: 5/10
Price: 4/10

Verdict: It is a little pricey but it is all well worth for a great plate of Char Koay Teow!

Ah Leng Char Koay Teow
Kafe Khoon Hiang (Opposite Federal Place)
Corner Lot
Jalan Dato Keramat
Penang
Tel: 012 - 498 3962
Business hours: 8am - 2pm daily, Closed on Thursday

Vest Inn Coffee Shop @ USJ 16, Petaling Jaya

I had been hearing from my parents that they did able to find a place that serves Char Koay Teow as good as the one in Lorong Selamat. Wow, that really amazed me, for as I know, I'd gave up ordering Char Koay Teow in the Klang Valley area even though I really love it. This is because they always never fail to fail me.

A sunday morning it was, I decided to wake up earlier than usual to follow my both parents for a breakfast. The coffee shop is located somewhere in a secluded area of USJ 16 housing area.


Time to get down to the business, to test the claim by my parents.

Uncle busy frying CKT
The uncle was friendly and he claimed that not many people knew about the existence of this stall since it was located quite secluded in the residential area of USJ 16.

After about 10 minutes of wait, the plate of Char Koay Teow was served on the table. Am really curious does the Char Koay Teow really lived up to my expectation as claimed by my both parents.

Fried Koay Teow (RM 4)
The "wok hei" was superb! First thought, am I still in my dreamland? The noodles were all evenly well flavoured and best of all, bean sprouts portion was generous. There is no chance for you to taste the raw smell of the flat noodles. Obviously there is no big prawns, but who cares, because this Char Koay Teow definitely is the best I have eaten in Klang Valley to date. And now I know why my mum said she will make it a monthly thingy to visit this stall even though she is a very health cautious lady. Two thumbs up for this exquisite CKT!

Mum loves fish head noodle, and she claimed the fish head noodle was great too.

Fish Head Noodle
The bowl comes with mee hoon, tao foo, pickled vegetable and Chinese cabbage.

Platter of Fried Fish Fillets
As opposed to the typical way of serving the fish fillets together with the soup, they do separate them into a different plate. I liked it this way as the fish fillets were not soggy. The fish fillets does not leave a fishy taste in your mouth and were crispy on the outside while smooth in the inside. To make things better, they come in a very generous servings.

Fish Head Mee Hoon (RM 5.50)
The soup was thick as they used ideal milk much to my liking. The soup does not have a "fishy" smell and it comes in a boiling temperature. Though I don't really fancied fish head noodles, but I would say this fish head noodles certainly deserved my credit. Maybe, I was disillusioned by other Fish Head Noodle all the while until I have tasted this.

We ordered yet another noodle, and this time it was the Wan Tan Noodle.

An auntie operates it

Wan Tan Noodle (RM 4)

I have always preferred the dry version one. However, this soup version does tasted decent. At least there were no smell of boric acid presence in this bowl. The Wan Tan was decent too as it was larger and have a nicer aroma than the usual one.

They do serves other food in the shop as well. My pick of the day was obviously the Char Koay Teow while the Fish Head Noodle really deserved some credits. It was as good as what my both parents have claimed.

Atmosphere: 5/10
Food: 8/10 (non-halal)
Price: 7/10
Verdict: The exquisite Char Koay Teow will be sure to put a smile to your taste bud!

Restoran Vest Inn
Corner Lot,
Jalan USJ 16/2G,
47630, Petaling Jaya,
Selangor

Pearl of Orient Get-Away Day 1 [11 Dec 2009]

It's year end. This time round, my family planned to visit Pearl of Orient. I've always love Penang, because of it mass varieties of delicious food and it's surrounded by sea. Besides, it has been a long time since I visited Penang and definitely it is the time to check out my Penang friends and it's surroundings.

We headed to the NSE Highway at 8am from Cheras and reached Sg. Buloh rest area about 8.30am. I don't feel well because I didn't sleep the night before. My stomach feel gg thanks to the previous night drinking session. Went to bought a KFC breakfast meal together that includes a Milo. Ate it while in the car and we continue the Journey to Bidor.

We reached Bidor about 9.40am. I went looking around for washroom because I feel like throwing out. My parents had the breakfast here but I didn't as my stomach still feeling upset. I just stole a fishball from my dad's meal. We left Bidor about 10.30am and I visited the R&R area again for the 3rd time..gg=.=

Mixed Fishball Soup @ Bidor Town
Can't make it. The fillings are just way too salty.

From this onwards, I slept along in the car. By the time I'm awake, I've already reached Bukit Mertajam. Feeling much better now. We crossed the Penang Bridge by 1pm and reached Sunway Hotel half an hour later. We were waiting to check in, while I called Pei Yee for a meet up.

Symbolic sign of Penang

We had Chicken Rice as our lunch before heading to the famous expensive Lorong Selamat Char Koay Teow. Since the weather is hot, we carry on with the famous Penang Road Cendol and Asam Laksa.

Roasted Meat Platter @Federal Restaurant, Lorong Susu
We ordered the roasted chicken, steamed chicken and the "Char Siew".
The Char Siew is a bomb. The meat is succulent, tender and it melts in your mouth. I just love the Char Siew so much. The rice is the shop specialty. The rice being served is in Hainanese Style. The rice is very aromatic, not forgetting to mention the texture of the rice that is very tender. You just gotta eat it to believe it. The Sour Vegetable Soup which come as a complimentary(not in the pic), is another wow. Spicy and sour, just exotic and you can't stop sipping it. Way too orgasmic. The both chicken meat though, tasted very average.

The famous Goggle Auntie that fries the famous Char Koay Teow @ Lorong Selamat.
But where is her goggle this time?

Famous Char Koay Teow @ Lorong Selamat
The charred-smell (wok hei) can be tasted in each of the koay teow. Just too good to be true. The best ever Char Koay Teow I ate in my life. This CKT which has just 2 big prawns and some slices of Pork Sausages, comes in a hefty price of RM 6.50. But it is worth every penny of it. Do expect at least half an hour wait for this CKT. Even, Dr. Choong Kwai Fatt (best tax advisor in Malaysia) quoted that "I feel like crying" when he ate this Char Koay Teow.

Look at people who is Q-ing and crazing for the Teowchew cendol @ Penang Road

Penang Road Cendul @ Penang Road, near Komtar
Still tasted good but somehow it not as good compared to my previous visit back in 2007. Was it because I am full already?
Nonetheless, the cendols, kidney read beans are very fresh. Remember to ask for less sweet upon ordering if you do not have a sweet tooth. Still one of the best Cendol around in Malaysia.

With the Penang people Py that can't lead me to this stall..lols~=P

The Auntie that operates the Penang Road Laksa while the Uncle is preparing the noodle together with the vegetables.

Asam Laksa @ Penang Road, by the shop of the Famous Cendul
The soup is clear and not murky and it comes in a generous portion of lettuce, mint leaves and bites of fish. A different type of Asam Laksa but definiely one of the best around.

Rojak @ Penang Road, by the booth of the new shop setup by the Penang Road Famous Cendol to accomodate customers.
First rojak for this Penang Trip. Drizzled with lots of minced groundnuts making everybite of the fruits are well coated with the nuts. No complain at all, great stuff.

With both my parents @ the street off Penang Road

It's 5ish, when we returned to the hotel. We chilled a little while by the pool side. By 7.30pm, we continued on with dinner at the restaurant in Gurney Drive. After the dinner, we walked along the street and catch up some hawker food at the Gurney Drive.

Claypot Bean Curd @Restaurant 77 Famous Curry Fish Head, Gurney Drive
Passed my taste bud but little bit too salty but goes well with plain rice.

Stir-Fried Siew Pak Choy @Restaurant 77 Famous Curry Fish Head, Gurney Drive
A normal-taste of stir-fried siew pak choy, least the vegetables are fresh

Stuffed Lobak @ Restaurant 77 Famous Curry Fish Head, Gurney Drive
The lobak is stuffed with some tender chicken meat making this lobak is very unique from other lobaks. It's crispy from the outisde and tender inside. Another specialty in the house not to be missed. Both my parents love this dish alot even though they don't fancy lobak.

Steamed Otak-Otak @Restaurant 77 Famous Curry Fish Head, Gurney Drive
Another unique dish in the shop. The otak-otak served is in a flat layer instead of the usual thick layer. Alot of fish meat can be tasted together with the presence of strong aroma of the "Kalao" leaves herb. I find this dish so-so because I do not fancy strong aroma of herbs leave. However, my mum love this dish so much.

Curry Fish Head @ Restaurant 77 Famous Curry Fish Head, Gurney Drive
The signature dish. Fresh grouper fish head are being cooked in a curry sauce. This is not an ordinary curry fish as it is being cooked without the santan milk, making this dish a very healthy serving while maintaing the typical nice aroma of curry sauce. So good that the whole bowl was cleared up, even to the last sipping of the sauce.

The banner

The night scenes of the most happening street in Penang, the Gurney Drive

Lightings of interior @ G-Hotel, Gurney Drive

The usual view of the Busy Gurney Drive Hawker Fair

Rojak Stall @ Penang Gurney Drive
One of the proclaimed famous Gurney Drive rojak. It was good but could not match the one we had at the Penang Road during the noon time.

Fried Oyster @ Gurney Drive
First fried oyster in Penang. Disappointed! Too starchy with too much presence of corn/tapioca flour. However, the oyster are fresh though.

We head back to hotel about 11pm. My parents, auntie and uncle went for rest while I waited for Pei Yee and Phooi Khuan for the next session. Pei Yee arrived first while Phooi Khuan arrived about 11.40pm. We head off to Sunset Bistro for some chilling and catching up session. It was beautiful, I love the ambience very much.

Siew Mai @ Hawker Stall at New Lane
It's been long since I tasted a yummy street siew-mai. It just cost 40 cents a piece and it is home made. Best of all it matches the criteria of Cheap, Nice, Tasty. I wanted to have it a second helping on the next day, but just too bad, the stall was on leave!!=((

Us at Sunset Bistro~

We round the day off with the prawn mee at the Burma Road.

Prawn Mee @ Greenhouse, Jalan Burma
Only serves after 10pm. The only prawn Mee that I had for my this trip. So yummy that I finished up my bowl and Phooi Kuan's bowl at the wee time of 3am. Went there for the second time on the the next midnight. Just too unbelievably good. Many people cladded in clubbing attire visited this stall, supposingly for supper after their clubbing. A 15 minutes of wait is normal.

Thank you Phooi Khuan for bringing me to this stall=)

I drove Pei Yee back while Phooi Khuan escorted behind and fetch me back to hotel eventually. It's 3.30am by the time I reached hotel. Time for a short rest before I continue the next day.

It was great to see you again Phooi Khuan. Thanks for everything. Hope to see you again real soon=)