Motormouth From Ipoh – Malaysian Food & Travel

Motormouth’s disclaimer : Wherever you are, Whatever you’re doing; STOP FOR A MOMENT and embrace this series. You really should view this series with an empty stomach.

One. Chapter. At. A. Time.

For it has been ages since I have done anything vaguely similar to this in nature; a food hunt series in a not-so-familiar setting (unlike the routine Ipoh Food Hunt); this time taking precedence on the island that rivals Ipoh when it comes to cheap, varied and delicious hawker food; PENANG.

Gone within minutes, you have to be fast and on time to witness the dainty pieces of “Nyonya kuih” being snapped up in a frenzy @ Kheng Batu Lanchang Nyonya Kuih stall No 29

Batu Lanchang Food Complex is a good place to start for a variety of cheap and good hawker fares in Penang. Biased view? Okay, maybe slightly. Since I visited this food centre the most amongst all the others, back when we were still students on the island.

But I can’t forget the sheer satisfaction from ordering plates after plates of the famed Chinese “pasembor” (or rojak, or a type of mixed salad in a spicy and starchy potato-based gravy), fiery Char Koay Teow, seafood Char Koay Kak, Nasi Tomato and chicken rice, then washing them all down with a refreshing and freshly grated sugar cane juice. That’s the end? Nah …. not forgetting to ‘ta pau’ (taking away) an array of Nyonya kuih for consumption later in the day. Burp?

Colourful array of Nyonya kuih; though a bit costly when compared to some other stalls. When everything can be bought here, and you’re scrambling for that last piece of Kuih Bingka with the crowd, your kuih seems to taste much better!

Crowded especially during lunch-late lunch hours, the complex may not offer the most hygienic dining environment, but when you’re willing to eat by the roadside, under some leafy trees, or by the drain even, why not in a food complex with roofs and fans?

Fresh Sugar Cane Juice from Stall No 5. (RM1.00/USD0.30 per glass).You have to sit nearby the stall (at least within range) else you will be forced to order at least a beverage from the competing stall.

Spicy Char Koay Teow from the Stall No ?? next to, or a stall away from the Nyonya Kuih stall. Wouldn’t say this is the BEST on the island, but really delicious for the fact that the noodle is spicier, with a fragrant hint of seafood-infused oil.

And the cream of the crop; Chinese style of Pasembor @ Stall No 8. MUST add those crunchy jellyfish for the best clash of texture and flavours.

“Kembalikanlah Sinar Pulau Mutiara” Noted. Done. Burp.

What Else To Eat? : The Chee Cheong Fun from a stall wedged between some others on the second alley in the food complex is seemingly good, but personally I found that to be nothing special. Especially not when compared to Seow Fong Lye‘s 30 minutes+ version on Lorong Macalister. Or even Kimberley Street’s Chee Cheong Fun stall. Chicken Rice is also a good bet, especially if you’re craving for a more substantial meal. Order from the stall with the red signboards facing the second alley. Nasi Tomato from stall no 9, beside the Pasembor stall was one of my favourite back then. Seafood Char Koay Kak‘s supposed to be the bomb, with added crab meat, prawns and all, but not to my liking. Take note that there are TWO such stalls; one proudly proclaiming its Fettes Park origin, while another right by the entrance is the more famous one, with coverage from various media and guide books.

BATU LANCHANG FOOD COMPLEX
@ Medan Batu Lancang, off Lebuhraya Batu Lancang
Business hours : Varied, but generally most stalls would be opened during lunch hour – early evening.
GPS Coordinates : E100 18′ 21.3″ N5 23′ 22.7″
Google Map to Batu Lancang Food Complex

Read also my first review of Batu Lanchang Food Complex back in 2008. Or browse the list of Penang Food for more delicious Penang hawker foods.

- TO BE CONTINUED -