Dim Sum ??? Where to go in Penang ???

 To be honest ...

there really is NO good Dim Sum venue in Penang

please do not hesitate to suggest if you know of any :-)

I guess it may be due to the fact that majority of Chinese living in Penang are Hokkiens

ie the Cantonese has been overpowered

We cannot compare our standard with Hong Kong, Singapore and also Ipoh

Among the Dim Sum places that I can think of in Penang are as follows :

Goodall @ Abu Siti Lane

Tho Yuen @ Campbell Street

De Tai Thong @ Cintra Street

Maxim Dim Sum @ Pekaka

Ke Ren Lai @ Persiaran Gurney

Bali Hai @ Persiaran Gurney

Restaurant Zim Sum @ Anson Road

Chao Quan @ Jalan Ong Yi How

Yong Pin @ Jalan Sungai Ujong

Zhong Hua @ One Stop

then you may try the more high end ones ... like

Golden Phoenix @ Equatorial

and other Chinese restaurants in Penang

but these ones will be pork-free...

A personal choice, Maxim Dim Sum @ Bandar Baru, Air Itam is my best bet when I really, really, really need a Dim Sum fix.

Otherwise, the best deal is to fly to Hong Kong and get your annual fix and fly back.

Various promotions available especially if you are going on a short stint.

You will agree with me ... 

Otherwise if you are flying in to an 'ang moh' country ... even better ...

Go to Chinatown and walk into a Chinese Dim Sum Restaurant with an owner from Hong Kong.

Bet you the quality control is there, be wise, please walk into one which is relatively crowded, not super cheap like 'Wong Kei' and some place that is recommended by a local Chinese.

Happy 'Dim Sum-ming' folks :-)

Nothing like sitting down over a cup of good Chinese tea with a group of old friends and family, indulging away with all the Pork-Filled Yums

Well to summarise, best bet is to fly to Hong Kong.

If you are not ready to do that, drive to Maxim Air Itam :-p

When Cheap Ain't Good No More

Have you heard of Xin He Cafe @ Anson Road ?

If you have not, don't bother.

http://www.penang-traveltips.com/xin-he-cafe.htm

This place was once known for its famous Koay Teow Thing.

Unfortunately, my last visit there, April 2013 was a great disappointment.

Totally watered down soup base ie. literally near tasteless.

Home cooked instant noodle wound have taste way much better.

Kopi O was horrible.

It is pretty cheap though. 

I guess no where in Georgetown you could find Koay Teow Thing for only RM 2.50.

But that would mean you have to eat 3 bowls to be full!

And you would never do that cause after 1 bowl, you will start wondering why the hell you are wasting time eating it.

Sorry folks this is the worst Koay Teow Th'ng I have ever eaten !

It used to be way better 5 years ago ...

If you don't believe me, go try it ...

... on a day when you are in a GOOD mood ...

http://food.malaysiamostwanted.com/venues/xin-he-cafe-assam-laksa-anson-road

Ban Chang Kueh with An Attitude

Food Rating         :     5 stars
Value for Money     :     4.5 stars
No Kopi O
Ambience   :   Stand and eat by the stall

Close on Mondays
Lunch and Tea Time
12 noon till 5 pm

Anson Road
Opposite the market, in front of the 4D shop
GPS Coordinates N5.416235,E100.32081

Why is this Ban Chang Kueh with An Attitude ?
Have you ever ta pao (packed) Ban Chang Kueh, order and come back 15 minutes later to find that it is not ready yet?
Only 2 things can happen, too many customers so you wait for your turn.
How about no customers, and still not ready?
This is because the owner feels that his ban chang kueh has to be eaten nice and fresh.
If he waits 15-30 minutes for you and you do not come to collect it, he will either sell it to someone else if there is or he will THROW IT IN THE BIN !
I have seen him doing this.
He says that it's cold and not tasty anymore.
This is what we call Quality Assurance
This makes sure that it is always tasty, so if you are passing by Anson Road after lunch or during tea time, swing around for a tasty snack.
You will not be disappointed :-)

Price list and available choices

The man in action

Neighbouring stall is a Mee Goreng stall

Located opposite the 4D and Juventus Cafe, next door is Lok Pin
http://penangfoodie.blogspot.com/2012/11/cheap-good-lunch-suggestion-for-regular.html

Foodie's Choice
Original Ban Chang Kueh with Jagung add Brown Sugar
RM 1.30
Eat immediately off the stove, melts in your mouth
Brown sugar taste mix with the peanuts, sweet corn and melted butter
A moment in heaven ...

Koay Teow Thing with a touch of Gratitute

Food Rating                :    3 stars

Value for Money         :    3 stars

Kopi O Rating            :    3 stars

Ambience                   :    4 stars, market style, lots of things to observe

Closed on Monday

Breakfast Only

This is a Koay Teow Thing stall inside Anson Road market, Jalan Seang Tek who has made his name.
Many regular customers flock to have their regular bowl of noodles here.
It is already 8.15 am and the owner is still getting started with the preparation.
Lots of people waiting to be served, but have to say he is very fast and efficient.
I am not sure why though.
Soup base is 'sugar' sweet ... portion is small
Also rather oily ...
There must be something that I am missing cause the stall has expanded in man power, now there is an additional young man and I think an Indonesian maid helping out

My Koay Teow Thing normal with duck intestines RM 4.50 @ 8:45 am

Kopi O 90 cents - served with sugar on the side
The ambience is good though, people walking up and down, getting on with their daily routine. 

Parking is difficult, better to park a little further and walk
Nice short walk, plenty to see ...

As I sip my Kopi O and look around me, I see a sundry stall , selling water plastic tumblers, towels, slippers and a few other items.
This stall is manned by 1 mum, 1 boy and 1 mentally challenged daughter.
Suddenly it hit me, that life for them must be tough, how can this stall sustain this family ...
and the word Gratitude is a reminder for me today
while I have my 'sweet' koay teow

Cheap & Good - A Lunch Suggestion for the Regular Local

Food Quality             :          3.5 stars
Value for Money    :          5 stars 
Kopi O Rating          :          Yuck - NOT elligible for rating
Ambience                 :          Not great, dark and gloomy

Lunch Only

This Cheap and Good Indon Owned malay rice is located at Lok Pin Cafe, Anson Road.  This super hard working Indonesian has very good beef rendang, the friendliest smile you can get, a good selection of choices and the best part is nothing can beat her price, lunch for 7 pax and the total comes up to RM 31.00! Don't think you can find a deal better than this in the heart of Penang ...

Friendly and hard working owner

Selection of vege choices and below, curries, fried fish, egg, etc etc...
You got to get here and see it for yourself

You have 2 choices of rice - white rice 80 cents or nasi lemak RM 1.00
The not so healthy option is always more tasty :-)

Foodie's Choice :  Choose the Nasi Lemak

Must try the Beef Rendang, ikan bilis and kacang on the side, belacan

I normally 'bungkus' cause the I don't like the poorly lighted coffee shop ambience and the coffee is not great

The coffee shop serves other food, claypot rice is ok, other than that the rest is so-so ...

Best for you to try the nasi lemak

All these for RM 4.00

Kopi O - WORST coffee ever for 90 cents
2 sips and you will throw out

Related link and different opinions ... well 'One man's meat is another man's poison' ...
http://diehardowl.wordpress.com/2009/10/22/lok-pin-cafe-anson-road-penang/

Watching Life Pass Over A Plate of Wan Ton Mee, Kedai Kopi Tai Hin

At the junction of Lebuh Melaka and Anson Road, lies Tai Hin Cafe, an old colonial building.  A little bit of Penang heritage while enjoying a plate of wan ton mee, in the heart of the island.  Opposite the coffee shop is the Anson Road wet market.

Food Rating        :        3.5 stars
Kopi O Rating    :         3.0 stars - diluted, next time must order gao
Ambience           :         5.0 stars, just great
Value for money :         3.5 stars

Wan ton mee  -  Morning only
Chicken rice - lunch ( so-so only )

Ambience here is great, there is a mixture of people from all walks of life, the housewife who has just finished her marketing, the white collar man who is just about tho start work, the ah pek who has come for his daily routine, the chicken rice man starting up his stall, the old man waiting for his wife etc etc ....

loads to watch, loads to learn as I sip my kopi O and wait for the noodle

He looks over his shoulder and remembers the orders, everyone has their own way of remembering orders, the more I observe, the more I realise that most stalls are made of a husband and wife team.

Here's the regular for RM 2.70

My breakfast of RM 3.60, I think will last till 12 noon

90 cents

Coffee man works very hard, only 2 days off in a year, one man show, young man will take the orders, make the coffee, collect the money, clear the cups, wash the cups, very cool

I sat right at the corner, watching the world pass me by at 8am in the morning, a moment of quietness, observing people in Penang go through their daily routine and I wonder if people elsewhere are doing the same.
Once in a while, it is good to observe from afar and all these moments, we have it,

we have it all in Penang ... 

chicken rice man getting ready for lunch