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.

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
Taste

Presentation

Ambience

Hospitality

Value

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
Taste

Presentation

Ambience

Hospitality

Value

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
Taste

Presentation

Ambience

Hospitality

Value

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
Taste

Presentation

Ambience

Hospitality

Value

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
Taste

Presentation

Ambience

Hospitality

Value

Pusat Penjaja Taiping is a hawker center at Jalan Tupai, right across the busy street from Novotel Taiping. As recommended by the hotel’s concierge, we are having dinner at a Malay stall called Yong Tau Foo Asra. This is just one of the several similar stalls here.

Malay-style yong tau foo is essentially Sotong Kangkong, i.e. boiled cuttlefish and blanched water spinach. Also included are familiar yong tau foo items like stuffed chili peppers, fish balls and fish cakes. The sweet-savory dressing is made from belacan (shrimp paste). Crushed peanuts and sesame seeds are sprinkled on top.

The dish, which includes a half portion of cuttlefish, costs RM17.50. Overall, the taste is acceptable but I think it is not difficult to find equally good stalls nearby.

Address: Jalan Tupai, 34000 Taiping, Perak
Contact: N/A
Business hours: 6:00pm-12:00am
Taste

Presentation

Ambience

Hospitality

Value

Kuala Sepetang, formerly known as Port Weld, used to export tin ore from the mines of Taiping. The first railway in Malaysia was built by the British administration between Port Weld and Taiping. Although the railway track has been decommissioned, the station’s signboard and ticket booth at Port Weld are preserved to this day.

There are several hawker stalls near the former train station. One of them is Kuala Sepetang Curry Mee (十八丁咖喱面). Operated by Ah Thai (阿呆), this family business serves noodles and drinks. The stall is open from 1:00pm to 10:00pm, and is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

The Curry Mee (咖哩面, RM4.00) is quite rich and tasty. Taking advantage of the abundance of fresh seafood in this fishing village, the recipe contains fresh prawns too. Also included in the bowl are pig blood curd (猪血), bean sprouts and tofu puffs (豆腐卜). Ah Thai serves Curry Mee from 3:00pm onwards.

Ah Thai’s Laksa (拉沙, RM4.00) is very similar to Penang’s asam laksa. However, the fish broth is not as thick as the typical Penang version. Nevertheless, it has a pleasant degree of sourness from tamarind (asam).

Hor Ka Sai (虎咬狮, RM2.30) is the signature drink in Taiping and nearby villages. It is essentially a mixture of black coffee and Milo. The drink literally translates as “tiger bites lion”. It is believed that this drink will make one as energetic as a tiger!

Iced Blended Red Bean (红豆搅, RM2.30) is another popular drink here. Bits of red bean remain suspended in the slushy beverage. It is the perfect drink to cool the body down during a hot Saturday afternoon!

Port Weld Prawn Fritters (十八丁大街虾饼) is another popular stall here. It is open from 12:00pm to 5:00pm. Fried items at this stall include Fried Prawn Fritters (炸虾饼), Fried Banana Fritters (炸香蕉), Kuih Bakul (炸年糕), Curry Puffs (咖喱角), Spring Rolls (春卷) and more. The wok is kept busy all the time due to the continuous flow of customers.

The Fried Prawn Fritters (炸虾饼, RM1.20 each) are made from flour batter, prawns, bean sprouts, onions and scallions. Crispy and scrumptious, the fritters are best enjoyed while they are still hot from the wok. Chili sauce is provided as condiment.

Address: Jalan Trump, 34650 Kuala Sepetang, Perak
Contact: N/A
Business hours: 12:00pm-10:00pm

Taste

Presentation

Ambience

Hospitality

Value

Not ordering a cup of White Coffee (白咖啡, RM1.80) here would be as sinful as visiting Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower. The familiar taste of Ipoh’s white coffee is always soothing to me.

Meanwhile, the Caramel Custard (炖蛋, RM2.80) is quite similar to crème caramel. The custard is rich in eggs and is served with caramel sauce.

As for Dim Sum (港式点心, RM2.00), the three pieces of siew mai (烧卖) are just mediocre in terms of taste. Nothing to shout about.

Kedai Makanan Nam Heong has several more stalls that sell various hawker dishes, but we have yet to taste any of them. The eatery is very crowded during peak hours, so you will likely need to share a table with strangers.

Address: 2, Jalan Bandar Timah, 30000 Ipoh, Perak
Contact: 012-588-8766
Business hours: 8:00am-6:00pm
Taste

Presentation

Ambience

Hospitality

Value

Pan mee is available in 3 forms: thick, thin and hand-torn (面粉粿). My lunch today is the thick noodle, soup version of Mushroom & Pork Pan Mee (香菇肉丝板面, RM8.20). The soup is prepared from anchovies and is rich in taste. Also included are sweet leaves (马尼菜), chopped scallions and fried shallots. Fried anchovies are provided in a separate bowl.

The self-service chili station provides 5 spicy condiments to go with pan mee: signature chili, sambal chili, green chili, ginger chili and Indo chili. However, I personally prefer to avoid using condiments when eating pan mee.

Overall, the bowl of pan mee tastes reasonably good. The ambience is quite comfortable and appeals to the younger crowd. However, I feel that the table service is extremely slow and disorganized.

Address: 22, Jalan Danau Niaga 1, Plaza Crystal Ville, 53300 Kuala Lumpur
Contact: 03-4141-9088
Business hours: 9:30am-10:00pm

Taste

Presentation

Ambience

Hospitality

Value