Introducing Penang Hawkers

To many people in the West, the notion of hawkers, roadside stalls, and kopi tiams (coffee shops) is as blurry as a smoked mirror; the concept is vague and hard-to-grasp (no, they are not like a food cart selling cotton candy, nor are they a McDonalds or Starbucks).

Therefore I would like to take you on a journey through the narrow streets of Georgetown, Penang and introduce you to the hawkers that have shaped the Penang culinary scene. They are essential to Penang traditions and our everyday lives; without them this island state would be a hollow shell.

With this post I give my highest tribute to these masters; whose dedications and hard work I so admire and praise, and whose creations and concoctions I so relish and savor. They are the true unsung gourmet chefs and 4-star restaurateurs of Penang. So let the homage begin.

Penang Hokkien Mee Hawker

A Hokkien Mee hawker and his customer…

Char Kway Teow hawker

Taking a break during downtime.

A Chinese Java Mee Stall in a Narrow Alley in Georgetown

A Chinese Java Mee stall in a narrow alley.

Apong Hawker

Making mouthwatering Apong Manis is no easy task.

Cendol Stall in Penang Road

Cendol Stall in Penang Road, Georgetown.

Kacang Putih hawker in Little India, Georgetown

Kacang Putih (peanuts and snacks) hawker in Little India, Georgetown.

Roti Canani at Kayu Restaurant, Penang

Flipping roti canai is his passion; he does it with a smile on his face.

Roasted Chestnut / Lat Chee Hawker

A hawker with his freshly roasted chestnuts.

Stalls Selling Refreshments and Fruits

Stalls selling refreshments and fruits.

More Stalls

More roadside stalls.

A Mamak Hawker in Little India, Georgetown

A Mamak (Indian Muslim) busy frying his food.

Kek Seng Coffee Shop / Kek Seng Kopitiam

A typical Chinese kopitiam in Penang.

Inside a Not So Busy Kopitiam

A not so busy kopitiam with a few patrons.

Inside a Busy Kopitiam in Georgetown, Penang

A very popular and busy kopitiam with many patrons.

Hawker Center in Georgetown, Penang

A hawker center bustling with activities.

Pictures of mouthwatering Penang hawker food:

- Photo Blog: Penang Hawker Food
- Photo Blog: Penang Hawker Food – Part II
- Eating Penang: A Quick Snapshot
- Eating Penang: Nyonya Kuih

Wake Up and Smell the Layer Cake

Wake Up and Smell the Layer Cake

After an exhausting 26-hour Penang-Singapore-Taipei-Los Angeles journey (layovers included) and then another hour to drive south from Los Angeles International Airport, I finally made it back to my place (specifically my pillow) in Irvine, California. Sleep-deprived and physically-drained, I hit the bed and passed out slept for the next 12 hours.
Waking up in my place in suburbia, I immediately felt…

Photoblog: Penang Hawker Food

Photoblog: Penang Hawker Food

I’ll write a complete food guide soon. For now, here are some of the most famous hawker food in Penang.

Hainanese Chicken Rice served with fresh cucumber and chili sauce.

Apong Manis or simply known as Apong.

Apong Balik…

Assam Laksa.

Roasted Chestnuts. Locally, they are known as Lat Chee.

Hot food, curries, and home-cooked dishes served at a Chinese Economy Rice stall.

Nasi Kandar at…

Eating Penang: Nyonya Kuih

Eating Penang: Nyonya Kuih

While I had planned to share every single meal of my Penang culinary adventure with you, alas, my initiative and enthusiasm has been dampened by one unsurmontible obstacle: the painfully slow dial-up connection at my parents’ home…

Eating Penang: A Quick Snapshot

Eating Penang: A Quick Snapshot

Pictures of some of the scrumptious hawker foods and snacks I have been eating in Penang. Some street foods / hawker foods are inherently not photogenic, so I will save them for future narrations and postings.

Penang Assam Laksa

Penang Assam Laksa

Recently, a friend of mine in Hong Kong asked me about Penang Assam Laksa. She told me that she had it in Penang and has been craving it and requested me to give her the recipe. I told her that she will have to go back to Penang again if she really loves it as my recipe will not do…

Penang Hawker Food: Curry Mee

Penang Hawker Food: Curry Mee

There is a serious problem when it comes to living in the United States – the lack of choices when it comes to easily available food. Granted, one can pretty much eat anything they want in the U.S., but what I am talking about is food that you can get rather easily without having to drive your car, get into…

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