Food trails around Malaysia

Get out of town and make a (food) road trip to these locations

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Thursday 22 October 2015

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The best way to get to know a place is through its food. Check out these top food trails and the local prides these Malaysian states have to offer.

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Restaurants in Kuantan, Pahang

Restaurant Kwong Fatt

Located on the ‘old street’, Kwong Fatt has locals queuing up at the crack of dawn for their fix of hearty beef noodles.

B1705 Jalan Berserah (016 951 8338). Daily, 6am-3pm.

Sungai Lembing Station

The water from the mountain streams at Sungai Lembing contributes to the superbly smooth noodles and tofu. For locals who find the 45-minute drive a bother, Sungai Lembing Station brings in the delicious noodles and tofu to Kuantan daily. The noodles are promptly sold out before noon.

A249, Ground floor, Jalan Air Putih (012 951 9533). Daily, 6am-2pm.

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Cendol Air Putih

Cendol Air Putih has upgraded from a humble roadside stall to a restaurant of its own, selling consistently delicious cendol. Their secret: home-cooked red beans.

Ground floor, B260E, Jalan Berserah, Air Putih (016 933 3111). Tue-Sun, 11.30am-6.30pm.

Restaurant Phin Ju

Phin Ju has a decent dim sum selection (try the prawn fritters, stuffed beancurds and yam balls with char siew), but locals recommend the Chinese-style kuih bakul (glutinous rice cakes sandwiched between sweet potatoes before being deep fried).

A129, Tingkat Bawah, Jalan Air Putih, Air Putih (012 962 8825). Mon-Tue & Thu-Sun, 7am-5.30pm.

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Ana Ikan Bakar Petai

For seafood, one can find some juicy deep-fried squid and addictive sambal petai grilled stingrays at this decrepit single-storey wooden shack in Tanjung Lumpur.

Pantai Selera, Perkampungan Tanjung Lumpur, Jalan Tanjung Lumpur (019 987 8155). Daily, 1pm-12midnight.

Restaurants in Kuala Selangor

BREAKFAST
Kedai Kopi Shin Lok
Savour an assortment of bao with either peanut, coconut, vegetables or curry chicken filling. Another popular item is the woo kok (yam puff).
1 Jalan Kenari 1, Taman Kenari, Sungai Sembilang, Jeram (03 3264 7591). Daily, 7am-5pm.

LUNCH
Restoran Makanan Laut Sin Hai Ping
Discerning diners would know that they serve the best seafood porridge and fried mee hoon with crab – in Kuala Selangor at least.
97 Pasir Penambang (03 3289 2365). Daily, 12noon-11pm.

Cendol Bakar
Unlike your usual bowl of cendol, the gula Melaka here is roasted for that smoky flavour. Choose from a variety of toppings such as pulut, nata de coco, selasih (basil seeds), tapai and even durian.
Lot 1195-1196, Batu 1, Kampung Assam Jawa, Jalan Bukit Rotan (014 731 1181). Daily, 11am-7pm.

DINNER
Restoran Makanan Laut Jeti
Restoran Makanan Laut Jeti keeps it fresh and simple with dishes like Butter Crab and Deep Fried Squid, and the view of the Selangor River is an additional plus point.
T26, Jalan Pasir Penampang (017 349 7713). Mon-Fri, 11am-11pm; Sat-Sun, 11am- 10.30pm.

River View Seafood Restaurant
For fresh seafood, the mustorders here are the Thai Style Fried Sotong and Golden Aroma Cockles.
1 Jalan Besar, Pasir Penambang (03 3289 2238). Daily, 11am- 10pm.

Restaurants in George Town, Penang

Pitt Street Koay Teow Th’ng

Restaurants
Hawker
George Town
price 1 of 4

While the name says Pitt Street, this famous bowl of kuey teow th’ng is now located on Lebuh Carnarvon. Their version of kuey teow th’ng is topped with flattened pieces of pork (fried on the spot at the back of the restaurant) and handmade eel balls that are sweet in taste and firm in texture. Eat the eel balls with the kuey teow in one bite and a dash of the homemade chilli – you won’t be disappointed. Don’t forget to order the iced honey lemon tea to wash it all down.

183 Lebuh Carnarvon, George Town, Penang. Tue-Sat, 8am-4pm; Sun, 8am-1pm.

Old Green House

Restaurants
Chinese
George Town
price 1 of 4

Old Green House is a popular supper spot among Penangites. Famous for its Penang Hokkien mee (prawn mee) and lor mee, what’s special about this stall is that you can customise your noodles, adding toppings like roast pork, braised egg, chicken feet, shrimps, meatballs and even cocktail sausages. The soup is milder in taste but once you add a dash of sambal, it really hits the spot. Open till 4am, the restaurant also has bak kut teh, oh chien, chicken rice and ikan bakar.

223 Jalan Burma, George Town, Penang. Mon-Sat 8pm-4am.

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Tiger Char Koay Teow

Located in Kafe Ping Hooi, what sets Tiger Char Koay Teow apart is their use of duck egg (you may request for chicken egg instead) and bamboo clams instead of cockles. The current chef has been making this quintessential Penang dish for 39 years and has even created his own sauce to go into each serving. While the kuey teow holds the desirable wok hei flavour, the real stars of this dish are the juicy and succulent prawns. We can assure you one plate isn’t enough.

179 Lebuh Carnavon, George Town, Penang. Daily, 8am-2.30pm.

Cafés in Johor Bahru, Johor

Flowers in the Window

Littered with ferns and flowers, the first floor of this cosy two-storey café can feel a little cramped – what with plants, display shelves and the drinks counter along with tables and chairs all placed a bit haphazardly within the space – so head upstairs for more comfy seats to lounge on. Flowers in the Window is the other venture by the same people behind the popular Roost café, and offers up a similar menu.

The Hainanese chicken noodles dish is unlike anything we’ve tried: the noodles are thick, chewy and sticky, perfect with its sweet and spicy sauce. The chicken is lightly battered and fried, but not too greasy. Drinks and desserts pick up on the floral theme – try the lavender pineapple juice and lemon meringue curd.

9 Jalan Dhoby (07 222 7489). Mon & Wed-Sun, 10am-10pm.

Bev C

Don’t be confused when you first step into Bev C and don’t see the café – it’s on the second floor. The first floor is a retail space that houses fashion basics, mostly in either black or white. Once you’re happy with your purchase, climb up the narrow staircase and order yourself some coffee and snacks to refuel.

Snacks come by way of charcoal toasts and cakes, while the house special espresso ice cube is a favourite. Shots of coffee are frozen into cubes and served with a side of milk – this way, you can enjoy a cold cuppa without diluting it with ice.

54 Jalan Tan Hiok Nee (07 221 3530/www.bevcclothingbrand.com/cafe). Tue-Sun, 11am-8pm.

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Shakespeare Milkshakes

The newest café on the stretch, Shakespeare Milkshakes’ specialty is, well, milkshakes. The advantage of this cosy little café filled with natural light is that the team doesn’t go completely over the top with saccharine concoctions that have ‘diabetes’ written all over them. Try the Kinder Bueno Shake comes in a tall glass with a rim coated with Nutella, and topped with a cookie and half a Kinder Bueno.

If you’re feeling peckish, waffles served with soft serve ice cream and other toppings like chocolate banana are available. And if you’re looking for something savoury, we recommend getting a ‘croffle’ – croissants stuffed with cheese along with ham, tuna or beef pastrami before being pressed in a waffle iron.

9 Jalan Trus (016 421 8530/fb.com/shakespeare.milkshakes). Mon-Tue & Thu, 1-11pm; Fri-Sun, 1pm-12midnight.

See more places to eat in Johor Bahru

Restaurants in Kemaman, Terengganu

BREAKFAST
Sukiyang Coffee by Hai Peng
Those familiar with the now-closed Hai Peng Kopitiam (opened in the ’40s) will be pleased to know that the owner’s children have just opened Sukiyang. A continuation of their father’s legacy, Sukiyang still doles out the same kopi-o gao, nasi dagang and curry toast regulars crave.
PT11283, Tingkat Bawah, Jalan Kubang Kurus, Taman Chukai Utama, Fasa 3 (019 915 0923/www.facebook.com/sukiyangcoffeebyhaipeng). Closed on Fri, 7.30am-12midnight.

LUNCH
Restoran Tong Juan
Tong Juan perfects Kemaman’s must-have dishes: stuffed fried crab (filled with crab meat and chopped onions) and fish ball soup. Dial up the heat with some spicy squid too.
K117, Jalan Sulaimani, Chukai (09 859 1346). Closed on Fri, 11.30am-3.30pm, 6-10pm.

otak otak

Warung otak-otak Che Wan
Karipap ikan (it’s fish inside, we kid you not), pulut bakar and bihun sup tulang are all-time favourites. You mustn’t leave without the otak-otak too, obviously.
Jalan Kuala Kemaman, Kampung Geliga, Chukai (013 987 3557). Daily, 2-7pm.

DINNER
Restoran Selera Awie
You’ve had rojak mee; now imagine it topped with fried chicken pieces, potatoes, egg and tofu. A thick peanut gravy ties all the ingredients together.
479 Banggol Kiri, Jalan Kubang Kurus (019 943 1669). Closed on Fri, 8am-11pm.

Restoran Tong Cheng
Those in the mood for seafood will not be disappointed with Tong Cheng’s vast array of shareable dishes, namely the butter mantis prawn and steamed fish with soy sauce. Note: Their braised lamb will make you want to have lots of rice.
K334, Jalan Jakar, Chukai (019 929 9228). Closed on Mon, 11.30am-2pm, 6.30-10pm.

Restaurants in Taiping, Perak

kuey teow taiping

BREAKFAST
Larut Matang Food Court
With over 100 stalls, you’ll be spoilt for choice with dishes like char kuey teow with fish balls, mee rebus, laksa and more. Complete the meal with Nyonya kuih and Ipoh’s white coffee.
Jalan Panggung Wayang. Daily, 11am-7pm.

LUNCH
Yut Sun
Yut Sun sticks to true Hainanese flavours with their house speciality, Roti Sayur – think of it as a variation of Roti Babi but topped with a sunny-side-up, and sautéed vegetables on the side. Order their Hainanese chicken chop too.
78-80 Jalan Pasar (05 808 3250). Mon-Sat, 8am-9pm.

Ansari Famous Cendol
Ansari tops their cendol with red beans and pulut, making it a satisfying dessert on a hot day. If you’re still feeling peckish, try the pasembur.
92 Jalan Barrack (012 562 9440). Mon-Sun, 10.30am-6pm (closed every second Fri).

Aulong Biscuit & Confectionery
One of the best heong peah biscuits in Perak can be found in this wooden house at Aulong Baru.
768 Lorong 29, Aulong Baru (05 808 7608). Daily, 8am-7pm.

DINNER
Simpang Char Kuey Teow
The queue here may be long but your patience will be rewarded with an excellent plate of duck egg char kuey teow.
Jalan Besar, Jalan Simpang (opposite McDonald’s Drive-Thru). Mon-Sat, 7-11pm/12midnight.

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