A food journey through Malaysia - August 2009

I took a trip back to Malaysia in August 2009. The story of my travel will be told by the food I ate.

The first meal I had on my trip was on board Malaysia Airlines. I chose the Nasi Briani. Apparently, this is cooked to the recipe of Tun Abdul Razak, the second prime minister of Malaysia. It was quite good for airline food. As usual, there wasn't enough rice.

Nasi Briani

Upon arriving at Kuala Lumpur, I went to Pelita in Petaling Jaya and has my first taste of authentic roti chanai in a while. I also ordered the Indian rojak and teh tarik. What can I say? They were all delicious.

Roti Chanai and Teh Tarik

Indian Rojak

The next morning I had to have my favourite breakfast, curry mee. I went to the Lorong Seratus Tahun curry mee coffee shop in Petaling Jaya. I was surprised to find out that this place is now halal! While the curry mee is still good, it was not as good as before.

Chilli oil which is what "makes or breaks" the standard of curry mee

Malaysian Tea or simply "Teh"

It was off to my hometown Teluk Intan. Mumu prepared "Sambal Udang and Petai." I love this dish and my mum's is the best. Petai is an acquired taste and it makes your urine smell for a day or two.

Mum's Sambal Petai

From Teluk Intan we went on to Penang where I stayed at the G Hotel. I love this hotel. The rooms are spacious and the location is excellent.

The Gurney Drive Hawker Centre is virtually next to the Hotel. We went there for dinner. The food was not particularly good this time. In the past you could sit anywhere in the hawker centre but in this place to order from a stall in order to sit at "their tables." Problem is, it's hard to know whose table is whose.

I believe this is the famous gurney drive Char Keow Teow

Assam Laksa

Tau Hwa

The next meal was at "Song River" coffee shop. This place is also along Gurney Drive. Again, the food was a bit of a dissapointment.

Song River Hokkien Mee. It is usually good but this time it was not

Beef and Chicken SatayLor Bak
BBQ Chicken Wings

Otak Otak

The next breakfast was at the G Hotel. The G Hotel breakfast is not as elaborate as some of the others I have had there was still a good selection. Here are some of the food available. As Malaysia is a Muslim country, bacon is not served in any major hotel.

Congee With "Eu Char Koay"

Fried Eggs "Sunny Side Up"

Coffee and Guava Juice

Scrambled Eggs

Haha.. A mix of Nasi Lemak, Baked Beans and Sausages. Oh .. and Lor Bak!

What is a holiday if you don't catch up with old friends? A friend suggested we have lunch at a Thai restaurant in Nagore Place (near the old Great World Park.) I think the name of the restaurant is "Chilli." The food is good and the price was quite reasonable at Ringgit 200 for 7 person (by Australian standard. I don't know about Malaysian.)

Some kind of otak otak dish
Vegetables

Fish in Tom Yum sauce

Nangka (Jackfruit) dessert

Pandan Chicken

Prawn and Vermicelli

Salad with Sambal. I had forgotten about this vegetable. We don't have it in Australia.

Thai Omelette

Dinner that night was at a coffee shop in Burmah Road (junction of Macalister Lane.) I think the name is "Hai Aun." In the day time, the place serves hawker fare but at night it serves rice and dishes. The food is not as good as yo would expect in Penang but still good.

Tau Kwa, pring onions and Prawns. I cook this dish at home as well.

Pork Chop Hainan Style

Assam Curry Fish

Fried Chicken (Inche Kabin) with fried toasts

Choy Sum and Prawns

That same night I went for supper at a Nasi Kandar coffee shop on Burmah Road. I was not actually hungry but more "greedy."

Nasi Kandar. Rice, fried chicken, fish curry and okra (ladies fingers.) The nasi kandar at this place is delicious!

Having already tried the curry mee in Petaling Jaya, it was now time to taste the original in Lorong Seratus Tahun in Penang. This one definitely tastes better than the one in PJ, and much cheaper!