You're in Penang, and you are hungry. Where do you head to?
Lebuh Keng Kwee, a small junction off Jalan Penang, is your answer!
They even have a plaque with a whole history for this street put up.
This street/small ally hosts the best Asam Laksa and Ais Kacang that can surely satisfy any craving.
First up, the Asam Laksa, or plainly known as Laksa in Penang.
Located in the corner lot restaurant on the right side of the street (called Joo Hui Coffee Shop), seats are hard to find at any hour of the day, provided the stall hasn't run out of Laksa. They also have these little booth-like seats which are really close together and have 90 degree backs. Must be antiques too.
See how packed the place is?
One of the 90 degree seats on the right.
Back to the laksa.
The waiting time between the moment I ordered a bowl and it's delivery to my table wasn't long at all despite the many customers waiting in the shop mainly for two things - it's famous Char Kuey Teow (of which I didn't try out) and of course, the Laksa. And I even ordered 8 bowls.
7 for my family, of course.
I stood next to the small stall observing the amazing pace the two, yes TWO, stall owners were going at. One manning the soup and noodles, the other manning the toppings, and orders. So who takes cares of the food delivery? The people who place the orders. That explains why it took so fast for my order to arrive.
The self-delivery system seems to be a tacit understanding among everyone who placed an order. Heck, even I didn't know why I stood waiting to carry the bowls over to my table after ordering.
Waiting for my Laksa
Time to cut the crap and onwards to the Laksa. The portion was reasonable, and somewhat cheap, for the only RM3.00 bowl of noodles. It came with tonnes of mint leaves, onions, and strips of pineapple. The soup was amazing and steaming hot, with the right amount of sourness and spiciness to tell your brain you're eating laksa but not so much as to make your face shrivel. Just the aroma of it can make you drool buckets. On top of that, it comes with a whole spoonful of '
har ko' (prawn paste)! This
har ko is the crux of a bowl of authentic Penang Laksa. No har ko equals to no Penang Laksa.
Snapping this photo delayed my eating time.
My family was already gobbling away when I took this shot.
What do you do after eating a bowl of very delicious Laksa? Order another. Which I did. Or, you can walk a few steps out of the laksa place and grab dessert. Literally.
Just next to the corner lot that houses the laksa, is a small cart-like stall that houses the best Ais Kacang and Cendol around.
Since there isn't a place to sit and it's a roadside stall, everyone stands around eating the cool dessert. And you won't believe the crowd. Ordering a bowl is itself a Herculean task.
Try standing all the way here to place your order
My family and I ordered both the Cendol and the Ais Kacang. Both took a while to arrive. We were all hot and sweaty standing there waiting. I think they do that on purpose so you'd order another round.
When the bowls came, we instantly gobbled everything down and was immediately transported to paradise.
I didn't even manage to snap a photo of the initially very nicely presented Cendol so.. here's one of it all melted but still tasted really good.
So yummy I terus makan je and forgot to ambil gambar
But, I did remember to grab a photo of the great Ais Kacang.
Very colouful stuff. And I love the Atapchi/Atapchee/Atapji!
The crowd never died off and by the time I was done, even more people came.
A sign on the stall reads 'Penang Road Famous Teo Chew Chendul - Ais Kacang' and you definitely cannot deny this.
Even Phua Chu Kang and wife Rosie came all the way to Penang to eat here ah! So dun pray pray.
The Laksa and Ais Kacang stalls are both located at Lebuh Keng Kwee, Off Penang Road, Georgetown, Penang Island. Near the Chowrasta Market and the Police Station.
A map to the place can be found *here*
- Photos and reviews were done by DaHorse'sMouth while on holiday to Penang in late December 2009 -
...and you order this (the drink, not the boy). Coffee flavour's just nice, not too mild, not too strong. Icy cold to quench your thirst on a hot sunny day. And of course, the ice-drink ratio is not as bad as Oldtown's. Even non-coffee lovers will love it. How much? RM1.50 per glass, no tax.
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