Zakaria Laksa Teluk Kechai @ Alor Setar
Alor Setar, the capital of Kedah, is very very famous of it’s laksa. No, not the Asam Laksa you find it Penang, but rather a variant of it, known as Laksa Kedah.
The most famous Kedah Laksa is Laksa Teluk Kechai, and Zakaria Laksa is the best according to many people.
According to what I understand, Kedah Laksa is supposed to be very similar to Asam Laksa in Penang, and the only difference is the garnishing used.
Zai’s Char Koay Teow @ Sungai Petani
Due to the fact that my love in Char Koay Teow, not only Chinese one, but Malay one too, I was introduced to Zai Char Koay Teow in my hometown.
As for my experience, this is by far the tidiest Malay version Char Koay Teow that I ever had.
Hammer Bay Ikan Bakar @ Penang
Where is the best place for dinner? Yes, beach is the way man! Watching the sun set, enjoying fresh seafood while the natural wind blowing you is just…..awesome! Although the sea water is not crystal clear in Penang, neither the sand is silky smooth in the East coast of Penang island, but still, you can overlook the whole Penang bridge and looking at ships entering and exiting the port is quite a view too.
Hence this explains why restaurants are mushrooming along the East coast of the island, all the way from the start of Jelutong Highway at the end of Pengkalan Weld to Queensbay mall.
However, most of these stalls are just normal road side restaurant, not those classy type that you find in Batu Ferringhi area.
Nasi Lemak Cinta Sayang @ Sungai Petani
Nasi Lemak stalls are everywhere, as almost anyone who can cook can simply set up a small stall by the road. Basically no set up cost is needed, since one can use their house dining table for the stall, plates for putting the dishes, and most important, usually just a few dish will suffice. However, it’s very rare that these types of stall will success as usually they won’t have enough business and hence enough revenue to cover their cost of cooking materials. I don’t know if it’s because their cooking sucks, or did they think that it’s really so easy to simply just set up 1 stall in front of their house and expect customers to fly in.
HOWEVER, there is this 1 stall, just outside Cinta Sayang Golf & Country resort, whose business is really growing rapidly. Initially, they are also just another nasi lemak stall by the road side, but their business boom in just 1 year ++ and from just 1 more stall, it became something like this.
Amazingly, all their workers are also wearing uniforms! How professional! Besides uniform, this nasi lemak stall is clean too especially if you compare to their competitors. Well, sometimes I do think, referring them as a stall might be a bit underestimating them, but it’s ain’t a restaurant either.
Restaurant Kapitan @ Penang
There’s a huge red sign board at Lebuh Chulia, showing this particular shop, Restaurant Kapitan, which is also the place that sell Badam Milk. Since whenever I pass by this shop during night time, I always saw loads of head there, I know surely it’s something good and decided to give them a try 1 fine day.
And yes, the food served here is good!
Their Biryani Chicken rice come with a small claypot, which is kinda unique. The rice is nice but not as nice as you able to eat it itself. I will prefer to have some curry to go with it. However, the chicken is good stuff, very tender and fragrant! 7.3/10
Malay Char Koay Teow @ Alma Bukit Mertajam
I am a huge fan of Malay Char Koay Teow, and I always remember the 1st time I order it, it really shocked me.
The scenario was like that, I decided to give this Malay CKT a try since it’s really fragrant when it was cooked. Since I decided to take away, I stand there and watch how it was cooked. The procedure is basically the same like how normal CKT was fried, until suddenly the cook pour in 1 big spoon on god know what sauce into it.
My jaw almost dropped, and was stunned for few seconds….then was like what the hell? However, after ate it, I am in love with it! Hell yea! 9.5/10
Back to topic, loads of thanks to Vkeong for introducing this, the famous Malay Char Koay Teow at Alma, Bukit Mertajam.
Dataran Ikan Bakar @ Sungai Petani
Dataran Ikan Bakar, located by Sungai Petani (yes, Sungai Petani is the name of a river), serve some nice Malay ikan bakar. Well, usually if a restaurant is located by the river or sea, definitely the view and environment will be nice right? No, this is not the case here, as anyone who saw Sungai Petani before will understand it.
The place they “bakar” the fish is quite small, but they usually cook it earlier, which lead to most of the time the food is already cold when served.
Ah’ Basri Satay @ Penang
UPDATED on 16/04/2010:
Ah’ Basri Satay had moved permanently to D’ Piazza Mall at Bayan Lepas area (Jalan Mahsuri near PISA). Since is located inside a complex, the restaurant feel is something like Old Town Kopitiam now. Well, can’t say it’s bad but I sorta prefer their old shop style. Besides, ever since they move here, their business seems improved a lot, thus lead to customer service become lacking. Now you will have to order and pay at the counter 1st, and not like last time where you can just sit there and wait. This is not a problem for your 1st order, but if you were want to make more order, going to the counter again (especially if you are sitting upstairs) is quite troublesome. Also, the satay served was not hot at all. Sad to say, Ah’ Basri is never the same Ah’ Basri again.
Ah’ Basri Satay, some say serves the best satay in Penang. Besides, they do serve something really special, Horse Satay. Yes, you see it correctly, it’s horse. I personally never heard of any other restaurant serving horse meat, let alone in the form of Satay!
It’s interesting to see someone actually set up a shop to sell satay alone as normally people will just set up a small stall selling it. Besides, Ah’ Basri Satay is quite cozy to dine in if you compare to other place that sell satay. Clean environment with plants around the sitting area is another thumbs up too. Another good thing about here is they do provide a small parking area for their customers, however if you come too late it will most likely full.
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