Yunnan Vermicelli

Special thanks to Yunnan Vermicelli for extending this food review invitation.

Update: This business has ceased its operations.

Genting Cafe (云顶餐室) is perhaps the most popular hawker center at Island Glades. The eatery is packed with customers throughout the day. There are more than a dozen stalls here, selling a variety of hawker dishes from noodles to pastries.

Yunnan Vermicelli (云南过桥米线) is one of the busier stalls here. It specializes in Yunnan-style noodle dishes such as Guo Qiao Mi Xian (过桥米线). The proprietor was originally operating in Farlim but moved here about one year ago.

Wine Chicken (月婆粉, RM7.50) is the latest and bestselling dish on the menu. Using soup prepared from skipjack tuna (柴鱼), the misua noodle (面线) dish contains several pieces of chicken and a fried egg. The fried egg is supposed to include ginger, but ginger has been omitted because its pungency is not so well received by locals.

The most appealing element of Wine Chicken is glutinous rice wine (糯米酒). The sweet wine drastically improves the soup's rich taste, yet does not cause noticeable dryness on the tongue. In addition, a small amount of Shaoxing wine (绍兴酒) is also added in order to give the noodle dish a tantalizing aroma.

Similar to Pork Knuckles & Ginger Stew (猪脚醋), Wine Chicken is traditionally consumed as a remedy for women who are undergoing postnatal recovery. In fact, it is not uncommon for nearby residents to pre-order this dish for the entire month!

Name: Yunnan Vermicelli (云南过桥米线)
Address: 2O, Lorong Delima 6, Taman Island Glades, 11700 Jelutong, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 017-560-5108
Business hours: 7:00pm-4:00pm, closed on Wednesdays
Website: N/A
Coordinates: 5.38297 N, 100.30397 E
Directions: Genting Cafe (云顶餐室) is located at the corner of Lorong Delima 6 and Lorong Delima 3. Yunnan Vermicelli is one of the stalls inside the hawker center. There are parking spaces along Lorong Delima 6.

Laksalicious

Laksalicious is a small eatery near the intersection of Hutton Lane (Jalan Hutton) and Transfer Road (Jalan Transfer). As the name implies, the restaurant specializes in assam laksa.

I ordered the Nyonya Assam Laksa With Prawn Cracker (招牌古早味槟城娘惹亚参叻沙, RM8.50). The fish broth's recipe comes from Seberang Perai. It is not as sweet as typical ones on Penang Island. In fact, the broth feels sourer due to liberal use of tamarind.

As for the noodle, customers can choose between traditional rice noodle (传统叻沙粉) and lai fun (濑粉). Other ingredients are pineapples, cucumber, shallots, lettuce, torch ginger and mint leaves. Shrimp paste (虾膏) may be added but I think it is unnecessary.

I also ordered Crispy Cempedak Roll (招牌炸尖必拉脆卷, RM4.90) as a snack and Dried Bean Curd Barley With Ginkgo Nuts (白果腐竹薏米糖水, RM5.90) as a dessert. For the former, I think the aroma of cempedak is not sufficiently prominent.

Nyonya Sago Gula Malacca (蝶豆花纯椰糖西米, RM7.90) is another signature dish here. The sago pearls appear blue because they are dyed using butterfly-pea flowers. As sago is nearly tasteless on its own, gula melaka is provided to provide sweetness. The dish is also served with grated coconut and coconut milk.

Laksalicious has several more versions of assam laksa, but I have yet to taste them this round. By the way, the restaurant has a second outlet at Queensbay Mall.

Address: 123, Jalan Hutton, 10050 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-229-9178
Business hours: 11:30am-7:30pm, closed on Wednesdays
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Pusat Makanan 3939

This article is part of my 2018 Taiping and Kuala Sepetang trip series.

Pusat Makanan 3939 (3939饮食中心) is a popular hawker center in Taiping. Located at the intersection of Jalan Kota and Jalan Manecksha, it is actually one of the three kopitiams here. Customers are allowed to order from any stall regardless where they are seated.

The Batu Caves Fried Kuey Teow (炒粿条, RM4.00) is surprisingly good, as evidenced by its fiery aroma (镬气). The koay teow here is thinner than usual but still gets the job done. The dish is served over a large daun simpoh air (大叶婆). The leaf used to be the common choice to wrap food before the advent of plastic bags.

Another unique dish at this hawker center is O Bak Rice (黑肉饭, RM6.00). For this dish, the pork slices are fried on a griddle with dark soy sauce. The meal comes with a fried egg and white rice. I think the rice itself should be seasoned better.

As for poultry, Peng Aun Inchi Cabin (平安胭脂鸡, RM8.00) is highly recommended. The Nyonya-style fried chicken is marinated with shallots (红葱头), turmeric (黄姜), lemongrass (香茅) and curry powder. The chicken is succulent to the last morsel.

One of the stall here sells Special Sauce Ikan Bakar (特酱烧鱼, RM14.00). Our choice of fish is the stingray (魔鬼鱼). The grilled fish is dressed with spicy-and-savory sauce, and comes with grilled vegetables on the side. The taste of fish is acceptable but I think it can be made more flavorful.

Yuan Yang Laksa (鸳鸯拉沙, RM4.30) is ordered from the opposite kopitiam, Prima Coffee Shop (百龄美食城). Known locally as "Lemak Sui" (Lemak 酸), Yuan Yang Laksa combines the flavors of asam laksa (亚参叻沙) and curry laksa (咖哩叻沙). Personally, I feel that former's taste overwhelms the latter's.

Pusat Makanan 3939 is frequented by locals. This is the type of place that I usually prefer to go as a tourist. Not only are the prices cheaper, the food is also more faithful to the authentic recipes.

Address: 19, Jalan Kota, 34000 Taiping, Perak
Contact: N/A
Business hours: 6:30pm-12:00am
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Larut Matang Hawker Centre

This article is part of my 2018 Taiping and Kuala Sepetang trip series.

Larut Matang Hawker Centre (拉律马登小贩中心) is probably the most popular local eatery in Taiping. It is just within a short walking distance from our hotel, Novotel Taiping. The hawker center amasses over a hundred stalls under one roof, serving all sorts of hawker dishes across many ethnicities.

Perhaps the most unique dish that I came across here is Goreng Koey Teow (炒鱼丸粿条, RM4.80) from stall number 63 (8:30am-5:30pm). Unlike Penang Char Koay Teow (槟城炒粿条), this recipe is a combination of braising and wok-frying techniques. The resulting noodle is mildly sweet and still moist with dark sauce. The fiery aroma (镬气) that is contained within is superb.

For the noodle, we opted for koay teow (粿条) because it gives the springiness that we desire. Other ingredients in this noodle dish are fish balls, fishcake (鱼饼), char siew (叉烧), sliced pork and choy sum (菜心). Overall, I cannot recommend this unique dish highly enough.

Hor Ka Sai (虎咬狮, RM2.60) is a unique drink from Taiping. It is essentially a combination of black coffee and Milo. The bitterness of coffee and sweetness of Milo seem to complement each other. We ordered this drink from stall number 65 (7:00am-7:00pm, closed on Tuesdays and Fridays).

Address: Jalan Panggung Wayang, 34000 Taiping, Perak
Contact: N/A
Business hours: 5:00am-9:00pm
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Kedai Makanan OK

This article is part of my 2018 Taiping and Kuala Sepetang trip series.

Kedai Makanan OK (OK茶餐室) is a typical kopitiam in Taiping. It is near the Taiping Railway Station (Stesen Keretapi Taiping) and Antong Coffee Mill. Most customers here are locals.

One of the stalls here is called "Sakai". Sakai is a derogatory name given to the people of Orang Asli, who are now better known as "Semang". The stall sells Seafood Porridge (海鲜粥) and Seafood Noodle (海鲜粉). In both cases, the broth is prepared from shrimps and jicama (沙葛).

The Seafood Porridge (RM10.00) is appetizing and quite gentle on my palate. It contains fresh seafood ingredients like grouper (石斑鱼), blue threadfin (马友鱼), fish balls and large shrimps. Also included are pickled vegetables (冬菜), ginger slivers (姜丝), fried shallots and chopped scallions.

Address: 25, Jalan Stesen, 34000 Taiping, Perak
Contact: 012-463-8866
Business hours: 5:00am-3:00pm
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PSL Goreng Pisang

This article is part of my 2018 Taiping and Kuala Sepetang trip series.

PSL Goreng Pisang (PSL炸香蕉) used to operate a roadside stall, but now it has a permanent shop at Jalan Pasar, Taiping. The family business is named after the proprietor's wife, Mdm. Phang. There is only one dining table in the shop because most customers opt for take-away.

As the shop's name implies, the specialty here is Goreng Pisang (RM1.20). The banana fritters are coated in batter and then deep-fried to golden crispiness. The banana used is sweet and soft.

Besides Goreng Pisang, other fried items here include Kuih Kelok (RM1.20) and Goreng Popiah (RM1.70). Sweet-and-spicy sauce is provided but I think it is unnecessary. These finger foods are best enjoyed while they are still hot from the fryer.

Address: 85, Jalan Pasar, 34000 Taiping, Perak
Contact: 016-516-1818
Business hours: 12:00pm-8:30pm
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