Restaurants & Parking at AEON Seberang Prai

I like AEON Seberang Prai, (at Bandar Perda) because in bring to the Penang (Mainland) some of the frills of Penang Island Shopping and KL Type Restaurants. I was there last night, not too crowded, but not bad. There is good parking space with sheltered walk way and the access is nice.

It even have a lot of handicap parking, spots, however i notice some not too civil conscious drivers will park their car at this location, when i walk past there was this merc and kancil, and they don't even bother to park properly. In the Restaurant Corner you will get all the usual suspects such as KFC, Mac D, Nando, Kenny Rogers, Starbucks, some KL grown restaurants like Secret Recipe, Nandos, Laksa Shack, White Coffee, and some local grown restaurants . . . . What i notice is some of the restaurant are pack, Mac D, Pizza Hut, White Coffee,while some business are not so good, like secret recipe, nando, kenny rogers, Is this due to the Penang Price Factor, and perceive value for money? The Main thing however as a person in the Hospitality industry is that all the workers seem to be FOREIGNERS, even some restaurant all the SERVERS and the COOK are FOREIGNERS including the captain, supervisors, managers. . . . One Restaurant though, (a KL Chain, on the 1st Floor) seem to be making a effort in hiring locals, there was a small banner up, Manager 3K, Supervisor 2K, etc, To me Salary seem to be on the higher side of norm, but there seem to be no takers? What Up? Locals are shying away from working in Restaurants? etc.

Hokkian Mee with a Twist

Let me introduce you to a Penang Dish that is not that well know, or shell i say a Penang Food that is presented in a different manner. I would say most people know about Penang Hokkian Mee Soup, or Prawn Mee Soup as it is know in the rest of the country. Well would you know of a dish call Hokkian Ta, Literal translation as Hokkian Dry?

.

Well this is Hokkian Ta, Just like Hokkian mee Soup, but there is very little soup, which is very concentrated, and garnish with pork ribs, shrimps and all the usual stuffs and Braised Chicken Feet. Also very different from the Singapore Version.

.

.

This was introduce to me about 2 years back, and that is the first i seen this dish. My reaction was what is this? After having it, I should say that it is Hokkian mee presented differently, but it has a charm on its own.

.

Well for those of you who would like to try it out, here are the following information.

The Coffee Shop which is the Home of Hokkian Ta

The Stall

Location : Exit Bukit Mertajam to Kulim via Convent School towards Kg Baru, Just before the traffic light where the road ture in to a one way road, you will see on your left this restaurant (PHOTO) before, Taman Sentosa, before the road that turn in to BM country club. Turn in and go into the lane beside this restaurant (City Restaurant), Then Turn right, the Coffee Shop is in front of you.

.

.

RM3.30 per bowl The Char Koey Teow here is passable.

BM Street Food

BM Street Food.

Finding Good Street Food at Penang Mainland, is always a big problem, So find a place with quite reasonable food in a big event by it self.

Located Near the Saint Ann Church in Bukit Mertajam near the turn off to BM Country Club (Caltax Station is your landmark) is a collection of "Food Shacks" which is clasified as Street Food, With among the Best Char Koey Teow, Laksa, Pasembore, and Mee Goreng Mamak style on the Penang Main Land. It wont be easy to find, but if you are in the area and looking for food, you wont be disappointed.

Name of Restaurant : No Name.

Location: Main Road out of Bukit Mertajam towards Kulim at the turn off to the BM Country Club. Caltax Petrol Station.

Type of Food : Char Koey Teow, Laksa, Mee Goreng (mamak style), Pasembore, Rojak, Coconut Water

Category: Street Food

Price : Cheep Penang Price ($)

Parking : Just don't park on the Main Road

Time : Afternoon Only

Non Halal Food (Char Koey Teow)

Halal Food (Mee Goreng, Pasembore)

The Pasembore and the Mee Goreng is located at the 2nd "Shack", run by malays, and is popular enough for you to have wait for your mee goreng. What special here is the Special Kuah which contains Dry Sotong, Aromatic to me, but Bitter in taste to my wife. I enjoy the Kuah, which is use for both Mee Goreng tambah (add) sotong (cutter fish) and the Pasembore, A type of Indian Origin Salad of Jullian Turnips, Carrots, Cucumber with various Fritters, with boil potato and egg added. RM2.50 (see picture above)

Laksa, (Rice Noodles in Spicy Sour Fish Gravy, topped with Prawn Paste) available here is good enough to fight it with the Penang Laksa Hawkers. In Fact a number of Laksa Stall in Penang Island loose out to this stall.

Char Koey Teow here, well i would rate it at in the 65%, which is far better then most char koey teow on the Main land, but below average on the Island. Edible to cure my addiction to char koey teow in an emergency situation.

Warning !!!!!! for City Folks.

As Mention this foods are located in 2 Food shacks, along the Main Road, Do not expect any amanities such as wash basin, toilet, fans etc. It is a Shack, with Plastic Table and Chair on earth floor, real street food at the purest.

For Drinks here you have a choice of Coconut Water Ice in Glass, or Coconut Water with out Ice in Glass or Coconut Water in Coconut. The Real MaCoy not the fake coconut water nowadays in preprepared coconut. The Nuts are unloaded and cut here, on your order.

Finally, Give the Rojak Here a Miss.