Medan Selera Mutiara: Unity at Its Finest

Located at Tanjung Bungah, Medan Selera Mutiara is one of the rare eateries in Penang that house Muslim and Chinese hawkers under one roof. Although the area may look a bit run-down, some food gems can be found within the hawker centre.

The first gem is Special One Nasi Lemak Daun Pisang. Wrapped in banana leaves, the traditional nasi lemak at this stall comes with rice, a hard-boiled egg, crispy sambal anchovies, and roasted peanuts. Each packet is infused with spices from the sambal anchovies. Although the mildly spicy sambal can be a bit salty on its own, it blends really well with the rice. In addition to the traditional version, customers can also customise their nasi lemak by adding ingredients such as chicken sausages.

SPECIAL ONE NASI LEMAK DAUN PISANG STALL

TRADITIONAL NASI LEMAK (RM 2.00)
Personal Taste Rating: 8/10

 

Another food gem at this hawker centre is Tony Ais Kacang. This ais kacang is widely enjoyed by locals and tourists. The colourful ingredients present in this dessert include creamed corns, kidney beans, grass jelly strips, jelly cubes, and Nipah palm seeds. The dessert is also served with a splash of sugar syrup and a drizzle of evaporated milk. Besides ais kacang, the stall also serves milkshakes and cendol.  

TONY AIS KACANG STALL

AIS KACANG (RM 3.80)
Personal Taste Rating: 9/10

Here’s the location of Medan Selera Mutiara: 

Thanks for reading!

KCCHIAK

Food Architect: Sir Pork Patty Meets Madam Pastry Puff

Food Architect is a new restaurant that is trending among burger lovers. Located at the busy street of Kampung Malabar, the restaurant is famous for its fusion dishes.

FOOD ARCHITECT RESTAURANT

KCChiak ordered the all-day set, which included mushroom soup, one main course, and one drink.

The mushroom soup had the right texture – rich, creamy, and mushy. Unfortunately, it tasted rather bland.

MUSHROOM SOUP
Personal Taste Rating: 6/10

For the main course, KCChiak ordered the restaurant's signature dish – Porky Puff with Bacon. Fortunately, this dish managed to impress KCChiak's taste buds! The juicy pork patty and bacon were sandwiched to perfection by crispy pastry puffs. The puff also came with crispy onion rings and salad.

PORKY PUFF WITH BACON
Personal Taste Rating: 8.5/10

THE PATTY WITHIN

Food Architect is open daily for lunch (from 11.30 am to 3.00 pm) and dinner (from 6.00 pm to 10.00 pm). For reservations, call 016-4205590. For more information, check out Food Architect's Facebook page. Here's the location:

Thanks for reading!

KCCHIAK

Chef's Delights Western Food: A Legend

Hello Kaki Chiaks!

Today, KCChiak is going to feature another one of his favourite kopitiam Western food stalls in Penang - Chef's Delights Western Food. Chef's Delights has been delighting its patrons with a variety of Western dishes in Sin Hup Aun Cafe at Pulau Tikus for more than a decade.

CHEF'S DELIGHTS WESTERN FOOD STALL

CHEF'S DELIGHTS MENU

KCChiak's favourite at this stall is Pork Cordon Bleu. The tender piece of pork contains the delicious filling of ham and creamy cheese! Although the crispy batter coating has grown 'thicker' throughout the years at the expense of the size of the pork, the well-balanced proportion of the ham and cheese filling still makes this one of the best street-style Cordon Bleu dishes in town. 

 

PORK CORDON BLEU (RM13.00)
Personal Taste Rating: 8.5/10

Besides typical Western food, Chef's Delights also prides itself with its unique East-Meets-West dishes, especially its signature Fried Rice. Despite the dish's unassuming visual appeal, the fried rice is truly special! The rice is stir-fried with butter, egg, mixed vege, pineapples, and pork luncheon cubes, resulting in a light, sweet, and fragrant dish. It's the perfect example of a fried rice dish that does not require condiments to elevate its flavour! 

FRIED RICE (RM 5.50)
Personal Taste Rating: 9/10

If you are not a fan of pork or rice, KCChiak highly recommends Chef's Chicken Special and Grilled Lamb Chop instead. Chef's Delights Western Food is open for lunch (from 12.00 noon to 2.30 pm) and dinner (from 6.00 pm to 10.00 pm) daily, except Tuesdays. Here's the location:

Thanks for reading!

KCCHIAK

Yaw's Roast & Grill at Gerbang Midlands

A few weeks back, KCChiak came across a hidden Western food eatery that is tucked away within the quiet neighbourhood of Gerbang Midlands – Yaw’s Roast & Grill. Feeling rather adventurous, KCChiak decided to give the eatery a try in the hope of discovering another food gem.

YAW'S ROAST & GRILL

 

Surrounded by tropical plants, Yaw’s Roast & Grill features a unique rainforest concept. 

YAW'S MENU

 

YAW'S WEEKEND SPECIALS

 

My meal started with home-made garlic bread. The garlic bread was decent but could’ve tasted better if both sides of the bread were coated with garlic-butter paste.

The first main course of the day was Fish Cordon Bleu, one of Yaw’s listed speciality. At first glance, the portion of the fish was impressive! Yaw’s was also generous with the coleslaw, garden salad, fries, and tartar sauce. Unfortunately, the fish and the side dishes tasted bland. The batter-coated fish was also slightly burnt.

FISH CORDON BLEU (RM 14.50)
Personal Taste Rating: 6.5/10

 

Next up was one of Yaw’s weekend special, Lemongrass Chicken. This Western-Thai fusion dish fared better than the previous dish. The piece of whole chicken thigh was splashed with creamy lemongrass sauce that had a hint of basil. The chicken was also served with corn kernels, cucumber-tomato salad, and potato wedges. 

LEMONGRASS CHICKEN (RM 14.50)
Personal Taste Rating: 7.5/10

In short, KCChiak’s food experience at Yaw’s Roast & Grill was a bit mixed. However, the service at Yaw’s was commendable. Yaw’s Roast & Grill is open for dinner (from 5.30 pm to 11.00 pm) from Tuesdays to Sundays. For reservations, call 04-2276273. For more information, check out Yaw's Facebook page.  Here’s the location of the eatery:

Thanks for reading!

KCCHIAK

Crepe Cottage: Loving Desserts

KCChiak's in a mood for some desserts because of the sweltering heat in Penang. Therefore, KCChiak decided to visit Crepe Cottage, a quaint cafe that is renowned for its unique crepe and ice cream fusion desserts. Located at the quieter section of Gurney Drive, Crepe Cottage prides itself as "the ultimate pancake and ice-cream parlour" in Penang. As a dessert lover, KCChiak is inclined to agree with the cafe's statement (more crepe than pancake though).

CREPE COTTAGE

Let's take a sneak peak at Crepe Cottage's impressive menu. First-timers at the cafe may find the variety of dessert choices and their respective "romantic" names slightly daunting - for example, Sweet Hearts and Love Story. Fortunately, each dessert choice in the menu comes with a beautifully written description to ease the patrons' understanding. Illustrations are also provided for certain dishes. 

SNEAK PEAK OF THE MENU

For this trip, KCChiak ordered one of the cafe's signature desserts, Hot Apple. The dessert is made up of a soft crepe packet that is filled with high-quality vanilla ice cream and topped with a generous portion of cinnamon-coated apple chunks. Dollops of whipped cream are also present around the crepe packet. Hot Apple is best savoured on the spot as the warm apple chunks slowly melt away the icy-cold ice cream within the soft crepe layer. This dessert is highly recommended!

HOT APPLE (RM 12.00)
Personal Taste Rating: 8.5/10

Slightly intrigued by the touch of romance, KCChiak also ordered Love Parcel. Love Parcel is another variation of the cafe's crepe packet dessert that contains strawberry ripple ice cream as its filling and a combination of strawberries, whipped cream, and marshmallows as its topping. The dessert is served in a little pool of chocolate syrup. Unfortunately, despite the dessert's visually appealing presentation, Love Parcel's taste pales in comparison with Hot Apple's flavour. In addition, the portion of the dessert is considerably smaller than expected. 

  

LOVE PARCEL (RM 12.00)
Personal Taste Rating: 6.5/10

Besides desserts, Crepe Cottage also serves Western food. The cafe is open for dinner (from 6.30 pm to 12.00 midnight) from Wednesdays to Mondays and closed on Tuesdays. For reservations, call 019-4481680. For more information, you can also check out Crepe Cottage's Facebook page. Here's the location of the cafe: 

Thanks for reading!

KCCHIAK

Char Koay Kak (Fried Rice Cake) and Oh Chien (Fried Oyster Omelette) at Goodall Cafe

Goodall Cafe, or locally known as "Ban Ho", is one of the most prominent hawker havens in Penang. Located opposite Penang Chinese Girls' High School, Goodall Cafe offers a wide variety of iconic Penang hawker delights such as Char Koay Teow, Laksa, and Curry Mee. In this post, KCChiak will be introducing his favourite stall at the hawker centre - the Char Koay Kak / Oh Chien stall.

CHAR KOAY KAK / OH CHIEN STALL AT GOODALL CAFE

KCChiak is a huge fan of the Char Koay Kak here! Imbued with enough "wok hei" (essence imparted by the wok), the rice cake dish is stir-fried with eggs, crunchy beansprouts, and fragrant Chinese chives. There's also a hint of preserved turnip that elevates the flavour of the rice cakes without compromising the overall saltiness of the dish. KCChiak also fancies the slightly firmer and chewier texture of the rice cake cubes here. 

CHAR KOAY KAK (RM 3.00)
Personal Taste Rating: 9/10

Besides Char Koay Kak, the stall serves pretty decent Oh Chien. The fried oyster omelette consists of a generous portion of succulent oysters and is stir-fried with a starchy egg mixture. The dish is then garnished with some aromatic coriander leaves and served with garlic chilli sauce. In terms of texture, the oh chien here leans more towards the softer and stickier side. 

OH CHIEN (RM 8.00)
Personal Taste Rating: 7.5/10

The stall is open daily from 6.00 pm onwards. Here's the location:

Thanks for reading!

KCCHIAK

Roti Babi (Minced Pork Bread) at Pulau Tikus Market

This week, KCChiak will be introducing one of his all-time favourite snacks - "Roti Babi". "Roti Babi" is basically a type of fried sandwich that is stuffed with minced pork. It is a traditional Peranakan dish that has become pretty elusive these days. You can still find the dish in Peranakan restaurants, but it usually comes with a hefty price tag. Fortunately, one hawker stall at the Pulau Tikus Market Hawker Centre offers this dish at a very affordable price! 

ROTI BABI STALL

The batter-coated bread of this dish is delightfully crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Moreover, KCChiak finds that the bread is not too oily despite being deep-fried. However, the highlight of the dish is undoubtedly the generous portion of scrumptious filling inside the bread. The minced pork, carrot, and sengkuang (jicama) filling blends really well to create a sweet flavour. KCChiak particularly fancies the crunchy texture of the thick carrot and sengkuang chunks. Die-hard fans of "roti babi" will also be pleased to know that the dish comes with a tasty dipping sauce. 

ROTI BABI (RM 4.00 PER PIECE)
Personal Taste Rating: 9/10

If you are not a fan of bread, fret not! The stall also offers another great variation of the dish in the form of deep-fried poh-piah (spring rolls). 

SPRING ROLLS (RM 4.00 PER PIECE)
Personal Taste Rating: 9/10

The "roti babi" stall is open for dinner (from 6.00 pm onwards) on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Here's the location: 

Thanks for reading!

KCCHIAK

Tanjung Bungah Night Market (Part 2)

Welcome back to Part 2 of KCChiak's Tanjung Bungah Night Market food hunt! Click here for part 1!

4) Ah Hock's Chicken Rice

Ah Hock's Chicken Rice is tucked away inside the food court of the night market. One thing that separates this gem from the rest of the chicken rice stalls is its smooth and filling tau kwa (firm bean curd) that is served with soy sauce. Fans of tau eu bak (braised pork in soy sauce) are definitely encouraged to try the special soy sauce! The stall is also open for lunch daily. If you are searching for something to fill your tummy before snacking on the night market goodies, then Ah Hock's Chicken Rice is perfect for you! 

AH HOCK'S CHICKEN RICE WITH TAUKUA (RM 5.50)

 

AH HOCK'S TAU KWA WITH SOY SAUCE

5) Laksa

Craving for laksa? Then, satisfy your craving at this laksa truck! This stall serves one of the best laksa at Tanjung Bungah and Batu Feringghi. The sourish and spicy tamarind-based soup is delightfully appetising. Be sure to ask for the he ko (sweet prawn paste) to give your laksa an extra kick!

LAKSA TRUCK

LAKSA (RM 4.00)

6) Traditional Fried Bread (*Ceased Operations*)

This traditional deep-fried bread is a truly wonderful snack. It is crispy, crunchy, and, most importantly, not that oily! KCChiak highly recommends the curry filling as it's not too spicy. It's the perfect alternative to the usual curry puff. Besides the curry filling, there are a lot of other fillings to choose from. The snack is best eaten hot!

(Note: The operating hours are unfortunately a bit random. If you are lucky enough to see this stall, do not miss the chance to savour this snack!)

TRADITIONAL FRIED BREAD STALL

TRADITIONAL FRIED BREAD (RM 3.00 PER PIECE, RM 5.00 FOR TWO PIECES)

Thanks for reading!

KCCHIAK

Deli Diner's Galley Cafe - The Place for Street Western Food

Today, KCChiak is going to review a new cafe that serves one of the best street-style Western meals in Penang - Deli Diner's Galley Cafe. Previously known as Diner's Choice Western Food, this former Western food hawker stall was a local favourite among the Mt. Erskine community because of its classy, yet affordable, dishes. In short, five-star meals for your typical hawker prices!

KCChiak is glad that the chefs have managed to improve the quality of their Chicken Cordon Bleu and even introduce new side dishes. The tender, crispy chicken was stuffed with oozing cheese and a slice of ham. In addition, the savoury sauce brought the dish to a whole new level. It's definitely one of the best Cordon Bleu dishes I have ever tasted. The chicken also came with rose-shaped mashed potatoes, sweet baby corns, salad, and toasted garlic bread. 

CHICKEN CORDON BLEU SERVED WITH CHEESE AND HAM (RM 13.80)
Personal Taste Rating: 8.5/10

KCChiak also ordered something new from the menu, namely Grilled Kala Fish Topped with Mushroom Gratin. The dish was served with mushroom chunks, and the sauce was rich. The side dishes were similar to the ones served with the Chicken Cordon Bleu.

GRILLED KALA FISH TOPPED WITH MUSHROOM GRATIN (RM 18.00)
Personal Taste Rating: 7.5/10

Deli Diner's Galley Cafe is open for lunch (from 12.00 noon to 2.30 pm) and dinner (from 6.00 pm to 10.30 pm). The cafe is closed on Tuesdays. For reservations, call 018-766 2028. For more information, check out Deli Diners Galley's Facebook page.  Here's the location:

Thanks for reading!

KCCHIAK