Penang, Malaysia tastebuds
thepenangite@thepenangite
Outside Top Recs
Italian
“In Penang, stores with long queues are often scoffed as either overpriced or overrated.
Thankfully, that’s not the case for Casa Vostra.
The pizza dough is airy and the dfference is not felt until you try other Neapolitan pizzas.
The burrata is a delight with the right mix of pesto, sun dried tomatoes, fresh tasting burrata that comes together as well as the Italian national flag.
We usually have the Margarita, the simple unpretentious pizza — if yo can get the basics right, then the rest just builds on that foundation.”
“The bee hoon is mid — it’s even bland by my snobbish Penang standards.
But the queue is for the chicken wings.
Fair warning: the chicken wing’s aroma will quickly fill the airspace in a cab or bus.
And hungry eyes will follow you.”
“Here’s something I just found out: the good folks at Cantonese Delights prepare everyday fresh on the day (except the noodles).
It’s no wonder the queue stretches around the store before it opens.
While most people go for the curry yong tau foo, I prefer the rarity in Singapore: a good plate of wan tan mee.
Char siew is home made, and top off with a well seasoned chicken cutlet if you are feeling peckish.”
“Ask any Malaysian about wan tan mee in Singapore and you will be met with eyes that long for M’sian style wan tan mee.
There’s a reason for it — most stores in Singapore use the same noodle supplier.
In other words, limited differentiation leads to limited taste.
Yap Kee gets theirs from JB.
So, when you find a good wan tan mee store done the way you like it, you thank your lucky stars.
Ask for 黑 (that’s black in my broken mandarin) and you’ll be a happy camper.”
Halal
“West C’oz is an oddity, a Malay store in an old Japanese mall.
But their assam fish head is to die for — a friend (who will remain unnamed) even called it orgasmic.
It’s not curry fish head, mind you.
It’s ASSAM fish head — looks the same but miles apart to taste.”
“Chicken rice is a dish that Singapore does better than Penang.
But not just any chicken rice.
Margaret Drive Sin Kee Chicken Rice is my go-to place for a chicken rice fix.
Be prepared to queue, especially during the weekends.”