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Penang Food Tour. Let the eating continue.

September 8, 2013 by Tania 15 Comments

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Chopsticks at the ready. We delving deeper into Penang

Chopsticks at the ready. Delving deeper into Penang

There was a lot of positive agreement from all of you, that my first day in Penang was very exciting. The heat and the sights and the friendly people reinforced why I had stowed Penang in a happy place in my memory. So here’s Penang Food Tour. Let the eating continue.

Happy Penang

Happy Penang

The last time I was in Penang I slept all day and stayed up all night the whole time I was here, but that dear ones, is an incredible story for another time. For now, it is our second day in Penang and it’s breakfast time. None of that hotel stuff for for us, because Penang has more choices of food in the morning than any other time. Some street vendors and restaurants are open only up to lunch time, and even then their morning popularity means that most of their specialities are gone by about 11 am.  Don’t get me wrong there is interesting munchies everywhere all of the time but it seems everyone goes out for breakfast  and the choices are numerous. First stop coffee at Toh Soon cafe, without this coffee Birdie my friend in food and adventure would not have been able to start the day. Fair enough, the coffee at this little cafe is the perfect alarm clock.

The fried specialist

The fried specialist

This cafe on the corner of Jalan Penang and Jalan Sri Bahari near The Whitehouse Hotel is open early. Amongst other goodies they do a deep fried selection. We tried Penang White Prawns in batter ( Heehchee) and Lora Bak , Pork fillet rolled in bean skin and deep fried.

White prawns and Tau Eu Bak pork in beanskin

White prawns and Tau Eu Bak pork in beanskin

The heat is ramping up even though it’s only around 9 am. It’s a heat that zaps your energy and requires you to find another shady restaurant with a fan as soon as possible. We head for Lebuh Campbell  just of Jalan Penang, where we see a lot of people in Tho Yuen Restaurant at number 92. The tables outside are full but one of the staff see us peering in and usher us to a table under the fan just inside the door. Oh yay, yum cha!

tho yuen Staff here were lovely. An older lady sidled up to our table and asked us quietly if we would be wanting a custard tart. She explained there were only a couple left and she had put them away for someone but we could have one if we wanted?

Tho Yuen Restaurant
Chicken Rice
Yum cha

Rolls filled with chicken curry
Egg tart
pork fillet roll i bought for the starving pussy cat outside the restaurant

While enjoying our feast a skinny pregnant cat rubs itself on my leg before being shooed out.  I order a delicious BBQ pork fillet sausage roll, and taste it but save the rest for Mummy Pussy, giving it to her as she waits outside, purring at her good luck. A walk is in order before the next stop. There’s a lot of street art around George town, quirky signs, paintings and lots involving animals and cats. Some of this art is sponsored by the Australian owners of China House , a massively popular cafe/ music art space. There is now  a festival and street walk to raise money for homeless animals in June.

saving the cat

saving the cat

Street art

Street art

Cats

Aww cute family

Aww cute family

tree

tree

So what’s China House? China House is three heritage listed buildings cobbled together fronting onto Beach Street ( Jalan Pantai ) and Victoria Street behind. There are restaurants and cafe spaces. A wine bar, art and performance space and a Mexican canteen and a bar a cafe and formal restaurant all in one place. It has a huge afternoon tea spread along with all day breakfast and a good latte if you are looking for one. Part of all takings go to looking after street animals. The reason I went for coffee and cake (if I needed an excuse).

China House exterior

China House exterior

china house cakes afternoon tea

china house cakes afternoon tea

China House The bar at China HouseIMG_1716

Wine bar

Wine bar

On to places less good looking but very tasty all the same.  Birdy and I were told to high tail it over to the Sky Hotel, 348 Chulia St for BBQ’d meats. They are best known for Char Siew Rice but we are after a snack of roast duck and pork. The crowds are already there at 11.45, with lines out of the door. When we get a table we are seated and consulted by a middle aged lady who suggests the mixed plate and rice with greens. We wait our turn as the man at the front chops and slices like his life depends on it, till we are delivered our delicious fresh roasted meats

Shy Hotel picture taken by www.whattwoeathere.com

Sky Hotel picture taken by www.whattwoeathere.com

The meat chopper

The meat chopper

Sky

Sky

The Sky Hotel Roasted Meats

The Sky Hotel Roasted Meats

It’s hot now, the heat is melting our overstuffed backs as we trudge down through the backstreets of heritage listed Georgetown on the way back to Jalan Penang. Even though their is a pool at our hotel we hop on a bus to Tanjung Bungah where there is rainforest, and Monkeys and a small respite from the city and we can go for a paddle at the beach. A bus is very easy to catch from just about anywhere in town. It’s a 1 hour journey that passes through forests of apartment blocks, shops and hotels and resorts that cling to the edge of the waterfront . There are lots of great restaurants and a food night market but we are heading out here for a little break.

The back streets

The back streets

Tunjong Bungah

Tanjung Bungah

 

The view from the restaurant at the tropical spice garden and cooking school

The view from the restaurant at the Tropical Spice Garden and Cooking School, Tanjung Bungah

There's Monkeys in the hills!!

There’s Monkeys in the hills! Aw Bless, he’ s watching his friends raid a rubbish bin

It’s amazing how a paddle in the Ocean and a walk under the trees can prepare you for dinner. We have decided to get off the bus before it gets all the way back to Jalan Penang, down town. There are several Nyonya Restaurants here on Lorong Abu Siti. Nyonya is described as an amalgamation of Chinese and Malaysian cooking. When the straits Chinese settled in Malaysia they had to adapt their cooking, using turmeric, lemon grass and chilli amongst a other local spices  This area is a gold mine of restaurants including several Nyonya. We are hunting down Nyonya Breeze which turns out to be a pristine, air-conditioned oasis with some of the most interesting food on the trip.

Clean and shiney

Clean and shiney

The food including Nasi Ulam,acar Hu, Kerabu Bok Nee, Sambal Udang Petai, Otak Otak, and Prawns with stink beans.

The food including Nasi Ulam,acar Hu, Kerabu Bok Nee, Sambal Udang Petai, Otak Otak, and Prawns with stink beans.

The stand-outs were the Pickled Fish steak in a ginger and turmeric oil and the Nasi Ulam a steam rice that has been tossed with salted fish, blachan and loads of finely sliced herbs and oh, the Prawns in a spicy tangy gravy with stink beans. ( yes they are stinkuy but look like broad beans and taste like cabbage.

Stink beans

Stink beans

Pickled Fish Steak

Pickled Fish Steak

Nasi Ulam

Nasi Ulam

At night walking seems so much less laboured, in the cool and feels quite safe. We cross over Jalan Burma and on to Jalan Nagor to find a street full of modern cafes and restaurants of every description including a bakery. Well worth a visit next time. We follow Larong Hutton back around to Jalan Penang and our Hotel about a 15 minute walk, past a mixture of the old and new, market eating stalls and large establishments like Hotel Penaga a large 2 story bar/ restaurant and hotel . The streets have come alive with locals eating and watching the world go by. It’s a place of great contrast with groups of pretty transvestites giggling together and people chilling, chatting and eating all out to sample the cooler air.

Main artery, Jalan Mcalister

Main artery, Jalan Mcalister

Alley

Lebuh Quee

Lebuh Quee

More interesting pictures coming up.  What’s KL like and what street food is called  “carrot cake” in Penang when it isn’t actually cake at all?

We stayed at “The Cititel” in Penang 4 star and right in the middle of George Town on Jalan Penang, if you need a hotel. Around $80.00 a night from Asia Rooms.

Nyony a Breeze: 3A-1-7, Straits Quay, Jalan Seri Tanjung Pinang, Seri Tanjung Pinang, 10470 Tanjung Tokong, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

opens 11.30 am

signiture

 

 

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Filed Under: Interesting ingredients, Travel Tagged With: China House Penang, Eating in Penang, Jalan Penang, Nyona Breeze, Shy hotel, Tho Yuen Restaurant, travel

Previous Post: « Penang – A Food Tour Day 1
Next Post: Smoked Eggplant, Toasted Chickpeas & Spek make a quick entree »

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Comments

  1. Amanda

    September 18, 2013 at 11:51 am

    Looks like you (and your stomach) had a fantastic time, Tania! Pleasure to meet you last night x

    Reply
    • MyKitchenStories

      September 18, 2013 at 6:03 pm

      Yes nice to meet you too. Look forward to your blog

      Reply
  2. GourmetGetaways

    September 11, 2013 at 5:47 pm

    I am so jealous!!
    I want to be back there now!!!
    You have really managed to make your way through so delicious looking food!
    YUM!
    So hungry 🙂
    GourmetGetaways recently posted..Hudsons Coffee Competition – Be BoldMy Profile

    Reply
  3. ChgoJohn

    September 11, 2013 at 2:38 am

    Penang sounds like a foodie’s dream, Tania. You seem to have certainly taken advantage of the local offerings. Good for you! I wouldn’t know where to begin or what to order and would have missed out on some wonderful dishes. Can’t wait to see what else you’ve in store for us.
    ChgoJohn recently posted..Peanut Butter for Your PupsterMy Profile

    Reply
  4. Kari @ bite-sized thoughts

    September 10, 2013 at 4:08 pm

    I don’t know whether to be more dazzled by the food or the street art! I’ll go with both 🙂
    Kari @ bite-sized thoughts recently posted..Vegan coconut banana chocolate trufflesMy Profile

    Reply
  5. Celia

    September 10, 2013 at 6:37 am

    So much food, so little time! Pete loves stink beans, I love chicken rice, haven’t had breakfast yet and now I’m hungry! 🙂
    Celia recently posted..Mexican Chilli PasteMy Profile

    Reply
  6. Nami | Just One Cookbook

    September 10, 2013 at 6:24 am

    Penang has been on my bucket list to travel (and eat!). It was so fun to see your pictures! Thanks so much for sharing them!
    Nami | Just One Cookbook recently posted..How To Make BentoMy Profile

    Reply
  7. Diane

    September 9, 2013 at 9:03 pm

    Love the monkey!!! and all the rest!!

    Reply
  8. Claire @ Claire K Creations

    September 9, 2013 at 4:18 pm

    What an adventure. I can’t believe the selection of cakes in China House. I’d never be able to choose!
    Claire @ Claire K Creations recently posted..Harvest pumpkin bread with cream cheese icingMy Profile

    Reply
  9. Maureen | Orgasmic Chef

    September 9, 2013 at 3:04 pm

    I’m full and I’m sweating just reading this. What wonderful food and terrific experiences you’re having.
    Maureen | Orgasmic Chef recently posted..It’s Been Busy Around HereMy Profile

    Reply
  10. Angie@Angie's Recipes

    September 9, 2013 at 1:46 pm

    Exotic and fun! I would love some egg tarts and chicken curry buns!
    Angie@Angie’s Recipes recently posted..Purple Cabbage Fig Salad with Warm Walnut VinaigretteMy Profile

    Reply
  11. Joanne T Ferguson

    September 9, 2013 at 11:23 am

    G’day! I LOVE Penang! All the wonderfully exciting foods and sounds, true!
    So much to experience, and there are so many out of the way places that only the locals frequent, but with the right guide, you can discover those hidden gems too!
    Thank you as your photos made me smile of our wonderful and unforgettable last trip to Penang! Cheers! Joanne
    Joanne T Ferguson recently posted..Chinese Gardens Asian DelightMy Profile

    Reply
  12. Hotly Spiced

    September 9, 2013 at 10:33 am

    You’re so slim so where exactly do you put all that food? I love the look of that beach. And I’m so pleased you looked after that pregnant skinny cat – I do feel sorry for the animals in developing nations as there’s so much neglect xx
    Hotly Spiced recently posted..North Sydney CellarsMy Profile

    Reply
  13. yummychunklet

    September 9, 2013 at 9:26 am

    Wow. Impressive!
    yummychunklet recently posted..ffwD: Fresh Tuna, Mozzerella & Basil PizzaMy Profile

    Reply
  14. InTolerant Chef

    September 9, 2013 at 8:56 am

    What a lot you squeezed in to a day Tania! I adore Nonya food, can’t get enough of it. That is a huge afternoon tea spread, I hope they raise a lot of money for the animals, and the street art is very cool.
    Carrot cake is so good, I guess it’s called that because daikon is shaped like a monster carrot? Whatever you call it- it’s delicious indeed 🙂 xox
    InTolerant Chef recently posted..In My Kitchen- SeptemberMy Profile

    Reply

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Tania Cusack Hi, I'm Tania and this is My Kitchen Stories. I share all kinds of recipes here. Most recipes are quick and easy, just perfect for families. BUT, you could also find vegan, cakes and desserts too. Come and have a look around Read More
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