Penang Laksa at Sungai Bakap

I had some nice Penang Laksa at Sungai Bakap Town, at a Road Side Stall, Just the other day.

Location: If heading south, turn left, if heading north turn right, at the only turning in the Sungai Bakap town, drove straight till you see a temple, drive in and park, you will see the laksa stall, they also have Chendol here, which goes well with the laksa.

Penang Lakas is Round Rice noodles serve in a spicy sourish fish soup, garnish with cucumber onions and salad cut in Jullian, should be eaten with prawn paste.

Chendol is another famous Penang food, Mini Pandan Flavored Dumplings serve with coconut milk, and gula melaka, (coconut brown suger) and ice.

Road Decorations!

Looking at the Photos in the Main Stream Media, gives the impression that flags and banners are going up every where.

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Well not here in the Kawasan where the Penang Deputy Chief Minister is Contesting. Flags, banner etc are only at certain spots, which to me is funny as i would expect that in this area, all out efforts will be taken. Also there seem to be more Keadilan Flags put up here.

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Well, Both side are comming all out with catchy slogans, and advertisment. One example i have to show is this as i feel its funny! No Disrespect ment ok. And there are no other street decorations in this area, only this bunting.

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A Whole Black Forest Cake for RM13.80!

Eldest Daughter needed her Cheese Bun Fix of the week, so we when to the local bakery, (thank god that this bun is avaliable almost every where) which is actually the first time i have been here. Usually Mommy will be the "Bread" purchaser. After the RM128 Ice Cream Cake its a surprice that there are people and compenies out there, that are ensure that prices of things do not go out of hand. These Mini Cakes (Normal Cakes) are price at RM13.80. and are avaliable in 3 verities, one of which is Black Forest.

This Shop is located behind the Main Trunk Road (Butterworth - Ipoh) where it pass the Sungai Bakap New town. As you head to Ipoh it is on the right hand side, behind the Shell Petrol Station.

Here a picture of the shop if you need to drop by.

Sungai Bakap Roast Duck

Sungai Bakap is known for Chye Koey and Roast Duck. In this two street town, there are two Chye Koey & Tim Sum Restaurant in the Old Town, but there are 5 Duck Rice (Sole occupant) Restaurant in the old town within 500 meters of each other, out of the total of 10 Chinese Coffee shop in Town. That is a high 50% occupancy rate for Roast Duck Rice, and they are all doing good business.

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As with the Chye Koey (in a earlier post), People will travel 50Km plus to have lunch here, for the roast duck. My personal memories of this place, come from the time of my maternal aunt, was working here in the Government Hospital as a Nursing Sister around 40 years ago. My Mum visited, I did not remembered the Chye Koey and Roast Duck.

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These days there is this Duck Rice Stall I go to, Right at the cross road of the Town, Rice is serve in Bowls, Old style Coffee Shop table but with plastic chair. The Duck rice is serve with Cut Pickle Bird Eye Chill, though Chili sauce is available, along with char siew, siew bak and roast pork sausage.

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Will I travel 50Km just to have lunch here? Well, even though the Roast Duck is good, I fell that I will not travel a distance, but if I am in the area, why not. Give it a try. Non Halal

Pasar Ramadhan

During the Month of Ramadhan, you will find Street Food popping up on streets and roads all over Malaysia, selling traditionally Malay delicacy from 5pm onwards. In urban areas Non traditionally malay delicacy have started to creep in to the Menu.

Stall Selling Ikan Bakar

(Grilled Fish in Banana Leaf with a spicy Sambal sauce)

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Once the stalls have started operating, the horde of customers will descend and most of the Items will be sold out before the breaking of the fast time, (between 7pm to 7.30pm in malaysia)

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The horde of Customers!In General, Muslims will purchase the delicacy to take home, especially food difficult to prepare in small quantity, to be eaten with other home cook food. For the City Folks who do not have the time to prepare their own home cook food. they can buy all they need here to break their fast.

Now adays, the non muslim will also descend on to the Pasar Ramadhan to purchase the traditional malay dishes to have with their dinner.

Stall selling Nasi Ayam

In general the price are very reasonable, in fact much cheaper then the usual stalls or restaurants, this lead to more customers dropping by.

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More Ikan Bakar

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Satay

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The Pasar Ramadhan where I stay at the country side feature traditional Malay delicacy only. This year the mood seem to be dampen. This may be due to the recent sprat of price increase to the basic food stuffs. In particular, there was only one stall selling ayam percik, and one stall selling fried chicken.

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At a Pasar Ramadhan, you will usually find stalls selling Malaysian Style Burgers, Murtabak, Ayam Percik, Fried Chicken along with Fish Balls etc, Rice Stalls selling currys, Chicken Rice or rather Nasi Ayam, Malay Kuih, Noodles in a Spice Herbal Soup (Soto) Ikan Bakar, etc

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If you are a tourist do try out the food and wounder around the Street Pasar to get a feel of the Fasting Month. For us malaysians, this is a month of Happy Eating.

Chicken Rice @ Sg Bakap

Chicken Rice on the Penang Mainland is about the same as on the Island. While passing through Sungai Bakap New Town during lunch time I decided to stop by for lunch at this coffee shop which is next to a Chinese School.

Location: Off the Main Trunk Road, Next to a Chinese School, 2nd Row of Shop House, is this 99 Gamelan Coffee Shop that have a pretty good chicken rice.

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Parking: Big Parking Lot JUST IN FRONT.

The Food: Pretty Good Chicken Rice, Rice not Oily, Fair Size portion of chicken, no complains, only the gravy was a thicken soya sauce grave that i did not like, Chille was the green chillie version made from small green chillie.

Pricing: $ RM3.00 for a standard portion. Slightly Higher.

Sungai Bakap Koey Teow Thng

Koey Teow Th'ng is flat rice noodles, serve in a broth with various ingredients topping it off. Some places offer Fish balls, other the spare parts of pork and the Ipoh version use Chicken and Tiger Prawns. . . If you are in the area, Sungai Bakap have a pretty good Koey Teow Thng, (with pork spare parts). Location, As from the North heading south, at the cross road in Sungai Bakap turn left, proceed 100meters plus till you see the sundry shop on the Right. The Koey Teow Thng is in the shop opposite, in a kampong house.

Price : RM2.50 per bowl standard upwards.

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It is a simple shop that only sell Koey Teow Thng with the rice noodles and other type of noodles with olden Aluminium tables and chairs.

Sungai Bakap "Malay" Pasar Malam

A "Malay" Pasar Malam is like any other pasar malam, with more verity of Malay items, Here at Sungai Bakap, this malay Pasar Malam is located on the south end of the town near the Hospital near Malay Villages, as such this Pasar Malam caters mainly for malays and their needs. However there are a number of non malays shopping and selling their wares.

Below are Snapshots of Various Stalls

The Entrance of the Pasar Malam is a Motocycle Park.

Fresh Chicken for Sale

Assorted Fishes for Sale at the Pasar Malam

Dry Seafood items, such as salted fish, belachan (Dry shrimp paste) which is use for flavoring, which Malaysian find in fragrant, which some tourist say is smell like unwash socks!

Various types of Salted Fish that is on sale here

Decorative Item Shop

Native Rattan ware

Pickle Fruits

Fried chicken (Of Various Parts)

More Fried Chicken (KFC type)

And More Fried Chicken again with Ayam Percik

Mutabak Stall, Roti canai with a egg, vegetable and meat filling usually serve with pickle onions

The same stall from Another Angle

Close up of the Pan

Putu Mayum an Indian Snacks made from rice flour and steam

The Putu Mayum & its steamer

Close up of the Putu Mayum, the green ones are flavoured by Pandan, the white are the normal ones, Normally eated with brown suger and grated coconut.

Fruit Stall, The Red fruits are rambutan, further away on the table are Chempedak, and on the road are the Famous Durians which taste of custurd but to certain person smells of unwash socks.

Ayam Percik or Grill Spicy Chicken (Lemongrass flavour)

A Ice Cream Stick maker?

Cucur Udang, various fried items serve with a peanut sauce dip

Map of Sungai Bakap, Penang, Seberang Prai Selatan

A number of Hits on this Blog is from either Google or Yahoo search looking for Sungai Bakap Map. So as a service to those looking for a map of Sg Bakap here is it, it is only a general map of the area.

Western Food in the Country Side

Finding a Place for Western Food in The Country Side away from the Main Urban Areas is difficult. Of course you can find the Ramli Burger Stall, and the KFC Shops which you will find all over malaysia. Well one night my wife decided not to cook and my daughter wanted Mushroom Soup (as usual, her second favourite food after slice process cheese). In Sebernag Prai Selatan there is this shop that sell Western Food as well as Korean Steam Boat.

Name of Restaurant : Westown Corner

Location: Main Trunk Road from Bukit Mertajam down to Nibong Tebal. After the Val D'or flyover at the 2nd Traffic light turn left, It's the corner shop

Type of Food : Western Food and Korean BBQ

Category: Air Con / Non Air Con / Alfresco Cafe

Price : $$ Normal Western Food Pricing for a Cafe

Parking : Just park anywhere NO cops around

Time : Dinner

When we walk in I have to say my expectation are high, Very High, Nice set up, shiny tables and chairs just like what a normal cafe in the Urban areas would have, with 2 projection TV's and Magazines (all Mandarin) The Menu was interesting with a large selection, even with Cod Fish, foot long sausage, giant burger for 4 persons, nice selection of beverage and coffee. The Service Staff Speaks Mandarin and look inexperience running around, after all what can you expect out here i thought.

I decided to have the Cod Fish, My Wife the Tomato Soup with Seafood, and Fish and Chip, and my eldest wanted her usual Mushroom Soup and a banana split.

After the Order was taken, the disappointment started, No Cod Fish, Ok I said , Give me a Teriyaki Chicken and a Tiger.

The Tiger Came, with a rock glass, request for a chilled glass resulted in a "What the #^%^& you want look" I ask for Ice in a glass. Banana Split Arrive, as well as my wife drink. Then the Tomato Seafood Soup arrive. Looks Good with a Fried Mantau (Flower Bun) on the side, No Spoon, I must say the soup is OK with a verity of Seafood in it.

Next came my Teriyaki Chicken, with the french fries facing towards me, and no fork and knife, again chicken with out head running around before i got the knife and spoon, which actually came after the tomato and chillie sauce. Of course the Tiger keep me occupied.....

I turn my chicken around and look again, to me it look like Chicken with Mushroom Sauce. With no sign of Teriyaki Sauce.... Sigh...... I said to my self, just eat it who knows, nice & simple decoration.....

the fish and chips arrive, no surprise, just the usual chicken with out head for the fork and knife. In all fairness, the cashier is good, the waiters are new and need training(could be part time staff, (no supervisor) Where is the mushroom soup, after some running around chicken with out head style, finally came the mushroom soup, it seem it was not ordered.

The chili and tomato sauce needs improvement,

The Gents was interesting, very clean and smell nice, look at the basket place in side.

I will give this place a A for Trying very hard, it look nice just like or even better then the cafe in Urban KL, but overall i feel that this place fall below expectation in the delivery.