Motormouth From Ipoh – Asian Food & Travel Blog

A cup of pick-me-up latte from The Mugshot Cafe with brown sugar and plant in a jar, set on an ageing wooden table for a completely rustic effect

In an aggressive bout of makan-rage in Penang, you probably can’t avoid the lapses in continual street food run. There will be times, especially those odd hours in-between meals that you wished you could stomach another spoonful of laksa or cendol, but all you could think of was a secluded spot away from the maddening crowd, shelter from the sweltering heat and a cup of lusciously-brewed coffee to pick you up while you’re stifling another yawn.

Our acquaintance with The Mugshot Café was slightly different.

The elusive (still is, sadly) Moh Teng Pheow Nyonya Koay is a wholesaler of traditional Nyonya kueh; various morsels of sweet or savoury snacks meticulously made for tea breaks. But they chose to be either closed or not operational on the last two visits.

The initial plan was to drive over to Moh Teng Pheow Nyonya Kueh outlet, situated at a blink-and-you-will-miss alley off Chulia Street, where you turn in from the famous char siew rice shop named Sky Hotel. Since the Nyonya kueh seller is closed on Mondays, we briskly waltzed in with pride and full of confidence that finally we will be able to have our Kueh Talam, Kueh Bingka Ubi and curry puffs.

Lo and behold, the solitary Indian man seated by the doors promptly and nonchalantly told us that they are NOT selling any that Thursday morning. You can almost see the beads of sweat forming on my forehead. From the walk on that sunny morning along Chulia Street and the utter sense of disappointment.

But when life gives you lemons…..  Read the rest of this entry »

Uncle Lau and his amazing spread of Loh Bak / fried snacks at Kheng Pin Cafe on Penang Road

Oh wait, you mean we’re still on the Penang food run this week?

Yup, guilty as charged.

Okay. I will be truthful. The Penang getaway happened almost a month back, while I have not even gotten to the Cameron Highlands road trip two months back. Call it procrastination or sheer laziness. But finding time to write amidst the crazy schedule lately is a blessing.

The beauty of eating street food in Penang is the uncanny ability to really live up to the ‘street’ food moniker

Ultimately, I strive to complete at least, a few of the travel chapters before the end of the year. And yes, Motormouth will be going on a fairly long break during Christmas (more on that in the coming weeks), hence there probably won’t be any more updates to local eats for some time.

But take it with a pinch of salt. After all, here I am started drafting this post in Kuala Lumpur, and about to depart for Ipoh (on an emergency notice, no less) in an hour’s time.

Quit the yapping and start the erm, food-talking shall we? Read the rest of this entry »

This article was first published in The Malay Mail. Click HERE to read it.

Fried spring chicken and prawn fritters in crispy popiah skin are two of Ong Cheng Huat’s most popular dishes

No doubt when one mentions Penang, that haven of gastronomic delights, the first thing that comes to mind is the food found on the island and not on the mainland. Not many visitors would consider taking time out from their eat and shop on the island itinerary to explore the less flashy side of Penang: the mainland.

I remember a couple of years back we were introduced to Khunthai Restaurant that serves delectable Thai cuisine in Butterworth; a semi al fresco dining establishment occupying a relatively large plot of land (not as costly over on the mainland compared to the “diamond-encrusted” tiny island) and on weekends and public holidays the restaurant attracts bus-loads of people.

Although one could argue that Khunthai has three other branches in the country; one on Penang island, and two more in the Klang Valley, the authenticity, taste and experience simply cannot match the original outlet in Butterworth. But wait, we are not talking about Khunthai, or Thai cuisine for that matter. Instead, we scouted the vicinity for an equally impressive (if not more) hidden gem by the name of Ong Cheng Huat Seafood Restaurant. Read the rest of this entry »

This article was first published in The Malay Mail. Read it HERE.

As soon as we walked into Ang Hoay Lor, this half a century old restaurant situated along Jalan Gurdwara in George Town, we were hit by this overwhelming sense of nostalgia. Although we had never been there before, it felt like we were revisiting an old friend after an extended hiatus. The ambience was an unmistakably retro one; not manufactured like the many retro-fitted boutique cafes in town but the real deal.

In this laid-back setting, you will find dining tables in different shapes and sizes, somewhat dim fluorescent lighting and a whole lot of warmth. The restaurant is now run by the third generation of the Ang family, and there is another branch on Jalan Perak that opens only for lunch. Thankfully, this outlet on Jalan Gurdwara is equipped with air-conditioning and opens for lunch and dinner. Read the rest of this entry »

 “Reach Up & You Shall Be Rewarded” – One of the wall paintings by the artist that started this all; Ernest Zacharevic on the opposite side of the street (Lebuh Acheh) where Khoo Kongsi temple is.

If there’s one state in Malaysia that I don’t mind spending my traveling days in (aside from my hometown Perak, of course), it has to be Penang.

The thing about planning an excursion to the island proudly named “Pearl of the Orient” is that; the exploration possibilities are almost endless. If you’re a shutterbug with deep interest in taking photographs of heritage buildings, pre-war shophouses and street murals, then you will have a whale of a time around Georgetown.

Even if you’re looking forward to a beach retreat and a durian binge on the quieter, hilly terrains of the island; Penang’s the spot for you. And the #1 reason on why Motormouth kept returning year after year (this was my 3rd visit this year; twice for work)? The amazing Penang Hawker Food.

 Yut Sun Restaurant @ Jalan Pasar, Taiping – First stop for brunch in the midst of the journey up north.

Come along now dear hungry readers, and hop on the bandwagon. This journey up north spans 3 days, 2 nights in Penang filled with food stops, street walks and a whole lot of lip-smacking photos.

Read the rest of this entry »

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1. Journey to the West Side of the Island – Balik Pulau

Usually sidelined in favour of delicious street food, heritage sites and bustling tourist spots in Georgetown, Balik Pulau has more than a few aces up its sleeves. The Balik Pulau asam laksa (Nan Guang) for example, deserves more than mere compliments (and a few grumbles along the half hour-odd journey there). Wash everything down with a glass of fresh nutmeg juice, plus some durians on the side as desserts. Better yet? Venture over to the Tropical Fruit Farm for a feast of fresh fruits or juices, Bao Sheng Durian Farm for a durian buffet, or even Ghee Hup Nutmeg Factory for an educational (and shopping) tour of fresh nutmeg produce.

Read the rest of this entry »

There used to be this roti canai stall (Gerai Sheikh Usman) along Argyll Road in Penang that impressed me upon the very first visit. Their rendition of a dense “Malaysian pancake” filled with an omelette wrapped within an extremely thin (almost filo-like) crispy layer of dough (I had their roti telur), and paired with a tremendous beef curry was second to none.

At this roti canai stall along Transfer Road; the speed of churning out the flatbreads is a delight to watch

Then that stall moved to a shop and seemingly (from word-of-mouth, not 1st hand experience), the quality dwindles.

A recent sojourn to Penang led us to this other stall along Transfer Road; within a stone’s throw away from the aforementioned stall on Argyll Road. Difference is that; this by-the-sidewalk stall can seat an astounding capacity crowd of easily 50 or more.  Read the rest of this entry »