A restaurant that will cater many people that they have actually taken up about 2 shoplot that offer lots of space.

Their business is quite good as when we left all the tables outside were taken out.

For me I still prefer to have my steamboat inside with some air condition if not I will be drench in sweat.

An advantage of this outlet is that they do offer bbq section with chicken wings. . .

BBQ Seafood like crab, sting ray, satay, prawns and squid.

On the inside for you to choose to hammer inside your soup base quite a selection of fish ball. . .

noodles and the usual item that we have.

Seafood lovers this section certainly is your choice with many types of seafood for you to choose from.

cold platter

Some mini buffet pan fried section . .

Fried stuff. . .

Best of all also you get to have free flow of slice meat which is my favorite

There are 5 soup base for you to choose from . . .as was told by one of the staff that Fish Head soup is one of the preferred by customer.

We tried on the Tom Yam Soup and Umami Chicken soup. Both of the soup turns out to be better than alot of places that we have tried before. . .

As for desert they do have jelly and Ice Cream to offer you  . .

Overall, with about total RM30 per head I find it quite okay on pricing and quality. If you ask me to choose, I would opted for other choices but if you plan to have a great steamboat range, Umami can be one of the choice in my list as I have tried others which is much worst that I don bother even to blog about it.

On the up side, this outlet is pork free that I see a few malay families dine in here.

I am keen to try out another outlet in Wangsa Maju as I was told by a friend that they over a very good range and cheap too. Will arrange to go luuu . . .

Pricing
Adult: RM26.80++

*Pork Free

-= KA CHING =-

Food rating 7/10 , not bad Lah~ -Stamped-

Location:
Umami Steamboat
12a (Ground Floor),
Jalan PJS8/17,
Dataran Mentari,
46150 Petaling Jaya.

Operation Hours: 11am – 12midnight

Tel: 03-56222663

Website: http://www.umamisteamboat.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UmamiSteamboat
Twitter: https://twitter.com/umami_MY

This street is very near to 1st Avenue mall which is like 2-3 streets away from the mall that if you plan to walk here from 1st Avenue, it takes about 10 minutes walk. This hawker center area is located the same street with Kwang Hwa newspaper factory.

This is the street hawker center of Sah Tiau Loh (三条路小贩中心) which many kind of food to offer with the corner shop is a coffee shop that host many hakwer stalls and those that spill over to the road side. Some of the street hawker food unable to serve food into the coffee shop due to some conflict. It is best you ask them before you order if you are seated inside the coffeeshop.

Well, anyone of you heard about the recent competition of Hokkien Mee in Penang? It was held at Times Square on December 2011 that  Penang Best Hokkien Mee stalls in the state were spotted and came by to compete to emerge the best as these were voted by the public.  888 Hokkien Mee emerge as crowd favorites and won the best in this catagory (click here for The Star News also to spot top 3 hokkien mee stalls in Penang) I am not sure that the winner of 888 hokkien mee is the same as this or not as they mention near Sunshine Square. and this is at Town area but to me still the same name and take it as another branch.

Before the wont this category, this stall had already been very famous among neighborhood and since when I was a kid I came by to eat with my grandfather and recently been craving for it so bad and manage to get my satisfaction. In the order you can choose to add on some ingredient like pork ribs, intestine, and others.

You can add on some ‘siew Yuk’ too but the siew yuk for the day not so nice.

This is how cramp the place look like that solely sole for Hokkien Mee only. To get a spot is pretty fast as the turn over per table is quite quick.

This is my order of Hokkien Mee @ RM 3

Why is it one of my favorite is definitely because of the soup base, its sweet with prawn taste and know that its cook along with prawn shells also, not only that its also cook along with pork bones and meat that make it so nice. It is serve along with small prawns that cook inside the soup for long time and some pork. I wanted to add on some pork ribs and other ingredient was sold out.

It is best advise to go before 10.30pm as most of their add on ingredients get sold out very very fast.

Pricing of add ons:

Normal Noodle @ RM3

In front of the Hokkien Mee stall comes this very busy Wan Tan Mee Stall also. I see alot of people flock on this stall and decided to give it a try too . . .

I was sitting there for 45 minutes, and this guy was so busy for 45 minutes and its non stop action. I forgot to take the picture of Wan Tan Mee but I find it nothing much to shout about as the unique is the noodle which is just a bit springy as I have better ones in other coffee shop in Penang.

Overall, if you are in Penang to hunt for very nice Hokkien Mee (prawn Noodle) this is one of the stall highly recommended by me, as during CNY holiday I came here 3 times. .

-= Ka Ching =-

Food Rating 10/10,very good, highly recommended Hokkien Mee!!~ -Stamped-

–Warning– This is based on my individual taste. Try it at your own risk-

Location:
Presgrave Street Hawker Centre
Lebuh Presgrave

*NON-HALAL

Closed on Thursday
Daily 4.30pm-12.00am

View Presgrave Street Hawker Stall in a larger map

Well, the auntie previously did their business at a kopitiam behind KFC and now they have move to Millennium Eighty Six still inside seapark. thanks to Bangsarbabe as I borrow her pics. . , the sipek good in food hunting, introduce us this auntie which is from Penang that cook authentic Penang Curry Mee. We used to dine alot and now she move we also follow along.

a simple stall that locate inside the shop which is next to the kopitiam coffee making stall.

This picture was taken at the old stall in Seapark but I did not retake the new one at the new stall as the most important is the curry mee still the same.

They have a few condiments that is available in the stall as it depends on what you order.

This is the thing that you must not MISS. A bowl of simple Penang Curry Mee @ RM4.50 for small bowl and RM5 in big bowl. The auntie is really generous on the portion.

This simple Penang Curry Mee is the killer that often makes me crave for it. A bowl that comes along with tofu puffs, prawns, cockles, cuttlefish and best of all got pork blood, mine this round I add on with Pork Ball (RM0.80 additional each). The important is the soup base that hint of coconut, a bit clear, sweet that the auntie use alot of prawn heads to cook the soup and with a hint of pandan too. Then the chili that given separately, as I prefer mine to at least add on 1 spoonfull of chili to make it super chili red and spicy.

Anyway, if you do crave for Penang Curry Mee, I rate this by far the best and its a MUST TRY! The auntie also used to serve Koey Teow Soup and Penang Hokkien Mee (prawn Noodle) which is good too, as currently this is her new location, she will bring back her signature soon. Do watch out if you do go . .

*NON-HALAL

-= Ka Ching =-

Food Rating 10/10, SIPEK good..highly recommneded -Stamped-

–Warning– This is based on my individual taste. Try it at your own risk-

Location:
Restaurant Mellenium Eighty Six
Jalan 20/22,
Taman Paramount, Petaling Jaya

GPS: 3.108099, 101.623983

Operation time:
Monday – Sunday : 7.30am – 2.30pm

It might look very empty, as I was their during dinner hours, which they just started operation, as it heads towards woo hours, the crowd will start pouring in.

In their menu, they have limited choice of food to chose from as this is what they are good at according to my friend, also very reasonably price.

This is what they are famous for, wet version of Char Koey Teow or what I called it Koey Teow Basah as I order a small one, because I just had dinner at another place before heading here. One reason that attracted many people to drop by is their soup base koey teow, taste a bit sweet, salty and a bit thick in flavour, every spoonfull you get to drink with soup that is just perfect. Portion is just right at RM3 for small. You can try their special as filled with  more seafood that price at RM5. Pretty good deal.

I have tried before a few Malay version Char Koey Teow and definately this stall hit the top at the moment. Its a crowd favourite around the neighborhood, if you do drop by, you can give it a try. . .

*HALAL

-= Ka Ching =-

Food Rating 7.5/10, pretty good~ -Stamped-

–Warning– This is based on my individual taste. Try it at your own risk-

Location:
Char Keoy Teow Lorong Alka Ria,
Jalan Bunga Raya,
14000, Bukit Mertajam, Penang
(at the corner junction next to Pos Office)

Operating hours:
7.30pm – 2am (i think)

GPS Coordinates: N5.36485,E100.45956

View Char Keoy Teow Lorong Alka Ria in a larger map

This shop is located at one of my favourite Pork Ball Noodle Kopitiam (click here) which is directly behind is this Hailam Kopitiam, also facing directly Bangsar Village.

A place that you can dine quite cozy with marble tables and wooden chairs, as there are alot of fans in the ceiling that keeps the cool air around.

They have pretty wide range of food and drinks and price wise I find it rather cheap compare to another 2 brands. One good thing about this shop as it is a HALAL kopitiam.

Traditional Hazelnut White Coffee, Ice Roasted Coffee and Hailam Milk Teao

Passion Fruit & Dragon Fruit Shake @ RM 7.50

Traditional Hailam Tea and Traditional Hailam Roasted Coffee @ RM3.20

I am not really a coffee drinker as most of my friend know, as I drink coffee I have the opposite effect which is getting sleepy. One thing that really love is the coffee here. Certainly beats quite a number of places that the taste of coffee is robust, well blend, strong in aroma and did not go too milky. If you are here, certainly its a recommended drink!

A simple Toasted Sliced Bread with Butter & Kaya @ RM2.50 where you think most of us can do it at home, I just do not know what is the trick that it can be toasted out crispy and with one bite, you can see the crumbs dropping off and a simple spread of butter and kaya makes it a simple bites to be wobble down. Must eat it while it is freshly out from the toaster! If you pair this with the hot coffee and  half boil egg it would be the most perfect combination of all!!

For the price of RM 7.20 for Chicken Deluxe Sandwich, it is certainly reasonable in price with generous amount of ingredient added in, chunks of chicken and vege with sauce evenly spread makes it nice to eat.

Tuna Egg Sandwich @ RM5.20

Star of the night is this Hailam Chicken Chop with Original Sauce. We never expect a chicken chop will taste so good and impress us so far at this kind of restaurant chain. It is juicy and tender, as the meat is not dry, sauce is well balance that I just requested for another bowl of sauce to make it gravvyyyy enough for me on the chicken and fries. Recommended!  RM14.20

A dish of Mix Fried Mee (Fried Ying Yeong) especially with HALAL status, caught us by surpise that it was fried perfectly with wok hei, that certainly can match with many chinese hawker center area on quality. I just had this again when I was meeting my friend there 2 hours ago. It is satisfied, and my malay friend find it delicious.Recommended! RM7.80

I always love to try tomyam fried rice, not many places that can fried this to my likings, either too powdery, or the taste is too strong. Then find that Hailam Tomyam Fried Rice offer in this shop is well balance in taste, with a bit of sourish and spicy that comes to my liking. RM8.80

A simple malaysian delicacies which is Nasi Lemak Special with Rendang Ayam, with rice is very fragrant with coconut milk that serve along with thick curry gravy and eat along with the sambal just goes along very well. RM9.60

Fried Kuey Teow another dish that surprise us. Fried with enough wok hei, till the koay teow is very fragrant and while smelling it, already makes a lot people hungry. After the first bite into our mouth, we were stun! the taste is very similiar to the ones in Penang, not only that, it was fried without pork lard and we just cannot imagine that if the chef can fried with pork lard, this dish will be a big hit among many people. Recommended!

Hailam Fried Mee/ Hailam Mee @ RM8.50

Curry Noodle

I know that many franchise chain food are quite disappointing, but when comes to this outlet, I would want to say that their food certainly outstanding compare to other shops and I have went back here a few times since I was brought by Carmen that I must thank her now, even now I know where to bring my Malay friends when they crave for nice chinese  HALAL food.

Location:
Hailam Kopitiam Bangsar (opposite Bangsar Village)
25 & 25A Lorong Ara Kiri 1
Lucky Garden Bangsar,
59100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Contact No.: +603-2201 2307

Opening Hours: Sun – Wed (7:30 am – 12:00 am), Thu – Sat (7:30 am – 1:00 am)

Then we were brought to this lovely kampung (village) after 35 minutes ride from the hotel which is quite a journey . ..

Honestly, this is my very first time visit a rumah kampung that I step my foot inside it which I am excited. No public that can come to this area as this house was specially choosen by the hotel team as to promote local culture food and dining experience to their customers.

The hotel team hunt down many kampung house, as they got a strict criteria to be in the list, 3 of the most important criteria is must be a rumah kampung, kitchen must be clean and always stay hygiene before, during and after cooking, lastly must be a low income group with skills that can cook.

They help to promote this selected village on food and also enables those family to get extra income to get into better living which I think they are doing a good job much better than our ruler.

all dish were prepared and we are just responsible to eat.

All this malay classic dish are home cook style.

ikan masin, homemade sambal, fried chicken, cekodok pisang, veggie are all old school .. .

This is by far one of the best malay food that I have come across, which is very authentic and old school, the ikan masin(salted fish) is fried to crispy and to get the perfect combination, you have to dip along with some sambal.

Sambal is so good that for the first few mouth, you do not feel the spicyness, as it progress, your tears and sweat will drip, spicy and sour blend very well and we are looking to ta pau back the sambal..to bad that the auntie do not do in mass as only to accommodate this few dish.

I have long not eaten cekodok pisang that I cannot remember how it look and taste like till I saw this back. Very soft, using bit rotten banana to get the strong taste of it and it was cook perfectly.

we enjoy the process of shooting the dish as this is the first time we all shoot by sitting down and the food is on the floor. .

This curry might look very simple, and watery, but it taste sooooo goood till we drink it like soup.

This teko is not meant for you to drink, as it is meant for you to wash your hand before you eat, as there are no fork and spoon are given, therefore the only option is you have to use your hand.

Why? they want all the people that dine in here, to blend in to the local malay culture which is using hand to eat your rice. The base at the bottom of the teko is to store the dirty water.

This is how we eat our rice, taking all the dish that you want, and put it on your plate, then use all your 5 fingers pressing it all together and use your thumb to compress it like a small solid ball so that you can bring it up, if not you will only ended up with a few rice drops on your finger before you putting inside your mouth.

Their homemade coffee is good too, not too robust in flavor, mild and aromatic which is a satisfaction ending after the meal.

This is how a malay house look slike and nearby some of these locations, they do offer homestay. Great to those of you like to experience our local Kampung house accomodation.

There are a few ways of calling this house:

1) Rumah Melayu

2) Rumah Kampung

For more info you can read in Wikepedia: Rumah Kampung 

The secret cook behind all the superb dish is this makcik and we did a little donation for her as her husband was diognose in hospital on that day. We wish him recover soon.

Found a perfect spot.. and just plank~

Well, it was a great dining experience that we do not get to do it everyday, and the only method to come in here is to stay in Sri Pulai Resort then they will arrange for you. This is by far the best malay food we have come across and if you do drop by Johor and happen to stay in the resort, this place is Highly Recommended!

*Halal

It was until few weeks ago, decided to head there again to visit the small little town located at another side of Penang.

When we reach,I just got to know that the market is under upgrading work and the laksa stall have move to the corner kopitiam which purely sell only laksa that located right at the T-junction if you are coming from Paya Terubong direction.

Looking at their stalls, with some advertisement, they had been feature food guide and newspaper.

Like any other laksa, the stalls is fill with lots of noodle, and other ingredient to be added in.

Its hard for you to find table in the shop, as there are many people that purposely came by for this Laksa only.

One of the signature drink you must try in this coffee shop is that ‘Fresh Nutmeg Juice with Asam’. I used to hate anything related to nutmeg as I dislike the smell and taste of it. Slowly I learn to drink and overcome hate of this drink.

Well, this drink is very refreshing, fresh and its pure whereby I think they used at least 3-4 nutmeg to blend in it. It was a hot day and this drink was a thirst quencher, that this drink is also good for health. I had 2 cups anyway. . Recommended!

You can do take away for the fresh nutmeg juice, which is very pure blended and need to be add on with some water. cost RM4 & RM 8 if not mistaken.

In this stall we order 2 version of its laksa, One is ‘Siam Laksa’ which is a bit more creamy or lemak as they added in coconut milk into it and I one of the catch in this the noodle, which is soooo smooth and a bit chewy.

Next is the normal ‘Asam Laksa’ that I like about it is, the fish are smash into very tiny pieces then every mouth you drink on the soup, you sip along with the fish. I prefer this version rather than clear soup with big piece of fish added on top.

Among those 2… I prefer Siam  Laksa as not many places can cook very nice siam laksa, as the normal laksa, I had better ones. For me, I would recommend their Siam Laksa if you do come so far. . .

More details of the shop and history you can read in this blog: mywisewife.com

-= Ka Ching =-

Food Rating 9/10, very good on their siam laksa~ Recommended! ~-Stamped-

–Warning– This is based on my individual taste. Try it at your own risk-

Location:
Balik Pulau Laksa at Nan Guang Coffee Shop
(next to former Balik Pulau Market)
Jalan Balik Pulau,
Balik Pulau, Penang, Malaysia

Business hours: 12:30pm – 3:30pm (Close on Wednesday)

Come earlier on weekends to avoid disappointment

View Food Spots in Penang Malaysia in a larger map

We were told that this restaurant serve authentic Klang homecook recipe Bak Kut Teh and immediately we arrange to drop by.

It was Sunday late lunch, and there are quite a number of crowds here too.  As we sat down, the crowd start pouring in till near full house.

Normal menu they have here, and one thing that caught our eyes was their pricing. I would say a bit cheaper compare to those places like Jalan Ipoh or KL area.

One unique thing in this shop is that, you can choose how your Bak Kut Teh to be served, can be either in Claypot or in glass bowl like those in Klang, pricing definitely will be slightly different as for me, I always prefer mine in Claypot.

We ordered, Dry Pork Ribs mix with Trotter pot to start off with and its quite a surprise to me that they add in ladies finger in it. It was cook till quite dry, that the think soy sauce able to coat with the meat, and you have to stir it fast to prevent the meat from sticking at the side or base of the pot. Will be a very good companion to eat along with rice, as it is not too salty that just nice.

Claypot Ribs @ RM 9 that served, just enough for me, if I am eating by myself, and by this time, I just cant wait to taste on their soup. The soup that definately comes to my liking, its a bit more strong in herbs taste that I have always like, and the soup is not too watery. Can just taste out that they use alot of pork ribs to cook along as the soup taste sweet too.

Best of all, the soup can be refill, and I had 4 bowls of the soup~

One of my favourite that I would not really miss is pig’s spare part. ‘Intestine and Stomach’ @ RM 8 as I find it cheaply price with the generous amount of spare part that they gave me. I love the intestine, as its been stuff into multi layer style, just nice to chew and its wash till clean that do not have those weird taste.

Claypot Big Bone @ RM 18, cook till the meat is soft and dip into my garlic chili with thick soy sauce is just perfect.

Vegetable in Garlic Sauce @ RM 7

Besides serving Bak Kut teh, they do have something special in da house with some of their dish are own creation and we try out their Apple Chicken which is something that I have never tried out before, deep fried first then shower with their own homemade apple sauce. Taste pretty unique, that have the sweetness of apple and crispy on the outer layer. I would say, worth to try~

I am just so jealous of you that work nearby the area, as they do have set lunch for their Bak Kut Teh just for RM 9 that served along with Rice + Bak Kut Teh + Vege + Chinese Tea. Where to find this kind of promo wor, where usually I eat myself also easily cost RM13-RM16.

Well, this shop also do have steam fish, that I accidentally deleted that picture in my camera, which comes in 4 flavours, I did try out their garlic ginger steam fish, that I like how they did their own mixture and strong in garlic taste and ginger taste.

This place had add into my list of bak kut teh hunting place, and I would say, worth recommending to try out if you love those kind of soup base, a bit stronger in herbal taste, soup is also a bit thicker. Recommended place~

Remark: The dish have 3 sizes to choose from, pricing above is base on our order as some is medium, some is small.

*NON-HALAL

Location:
RESTAURANT XINGANG
21, Jalan Manis 7, Taman Segar,
56100 Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 012 3932216 (Kenny Tee)
012 9071820 (Susan Tang)

View Larger Map

This place is no longer famous to only local crowds, whereby now it had attracted alot of people from other states and for so many havent been here, decided to take my KL friends to visit this place. I am quite surprise that its super pack that so many people are hunting for tables. Of course when you are talking about, holiday in Penang, most of the hawker center will be packed with people.

Types of lok lok that you can choose from, frozen food, to fresh meats and of course this were not only the option as the full option can filled up the whole table, as we ask the auntie remove those that we are not interested, and when we wanted, we can just head to their stalls and grab back to our table.

In this area, there are about 3-6 lok lok stalls and I guess their difference is their satay sauce. Usually I mix all in, as the smaller bowl is to add in more spicy, that I can even sweat after having a few sticks.

Of course one of the reason that many people are here is that, Padang Brown Lok Lok are consider one of the cheapest rate, whereby my KL friends also got shock on their pricing.

Next I was hunting for other food beside Lok Lok then I saw this stall located at the very far corner are packed with people, is this little Yong Tau Fu stall. Of course when you mention that Yong Tau Fu, mostly will relate back to Ampang, but Penang version of Yong Tau Fu is very much different compare to the KL version.

So I decide to join the crowd and wanted to test how nice is this stall since its packed with elderly also, and I guess its something healthy? :p Price is very reasonable as its stated up in the board.

and I can tell you that, all those ‘kiasu’ uncle and auntie is like rushing in clipping the choices of food they want, whereby its like a closing down sale!

So you queue up in one end, take a bowl and chopsticks, then with all the choices available on the table like pig intestine, pork ball, taiwan sausages, homemade fish ball, bean curd, that many more to offer, then you just pass your bowl to the owner and let him cut.

After 25 minutes in the queue, finally, this is my super big bowl of Yong Tau Fu filled with lots of ingredient, that I bring over to the table, the rest of the 4 of them their jaw dropped and ask me why so big bowl! Cuz I find it cheap and only cost me RM17 for this whole bowl.

Once I put down, they whole bowl starting to get drained out, the soup taste so good and sweet, that they keep drinking on the soup till the last drop and, homemade fish ball is superb, bouncy and soft, their own homemade items, I guess its a must take item that all make it very nice!

No wonder the queue is so long as this is one of a nice Yong Tau Fu stall that I have miss those kind of taste~

Its a highly Recommended stall if you do drop by at this area!

*NON-HALAL

-= Ka Ching =-

Food Rating 8/10, good place to hunt for food!~Recommended~ ~-Stamped-

–Warning– This is based on my individual taste. Try it at your own risk-

Location:
Padang Brown Food Court
Corner of Perak Road and Anson Road
Penang.

GPS coordinates : N05.414249 E100.316611

View Padang Brown Food Court in a larger map

Pak Putra is famous among local crowd and now which had grown to draw many attention from other local tourist to hit this place for night hang out area which is conveniently 5 minutes walk away from Jonker Street. It is one of a restaurant that serve Indian cuisine which most of the people are mainly coming here for their Chicken Tandori and Nan, at times it can take at least an hour to be served, that Jason mention that they do not have the man power to take charge off after they had expand.

This is one of the meaning of expansion.

Tandori Chicken was not up to my expectation and according to Jason, it doesnt taste like that, which normally taste much better, which he mention alot of crowd today. Well, still so far my all time favourite Tandori chicken stall is in KL, Ampang area (click here)

This is another thing must order, which I cannot remember what is the name.

This is the special nan that Jason ordered. We name it Jason Mumbles Nan!

AS this is a special customise nan that consist of double cheeze, double egg, double onion, double something else in total with 6 main ingredient to come out this nan.

Look at how the double cheeze ooze out when we tear it apart!

This is how much ingredient that we are talking a bout, with one small bites, its rich in taste, and remember that I said every one complain super full, the plate went out to another table never came back. Ended up we order another 3 more this special nan. IT just taste deliciously finger licking good!

Recommended for the nan if you do drop by in Melaka~

*HALAL

Food Rating 8/10, Good~

-Stamped—Warning– This is based on my individual taste. Try it at your own risk-

Location:
Restorant Pak Putra
Jalan Laksamana 4,
Melaka

Opening hours
Tuesday to Sunday (Closed on Mondays)
6 pm to 1am

GPS: N 2 deg 11.708 E 102 deg 14.613