Penang Food 3

Local Penang Food. These 2 dishes were eaten consecutively during lunch. The first photo(top) was the famous Penang Laksa. 90% different from Singapore Laksa. Similarity lies only in the bee hoon (rice noodle). The store was located at Air Hitam, at the foot of the hill where Kek Lok Si Temple is. It was well known and cost RM3.3 (SGD $1.35). There was not many people at around noon time. The environment and condition of the store was less than ideal (next to a road and a wet market). Penang laksa has a strong dose of prawn paste (the type used in rojak) and it was towards a sour side (probably due to influence from Thailand). I would not say I like it but must give it a try since I came a long way.

The second food is wanton noodle. The impressive part was it costed only RM2.50 (SGD $1.03). It was value for money. Although the quantity was not substantial, I guess it would suffice for local. I saw an elderly gentleman had 1 of the same order. The stall owner had already started packing up when I asked for it. I went off disappointed. But she came back and said she would prepare one for me. I was absolutely delighted. The wanton noodle was prepared in dark sauce and it was to my liking. Incidentally, I just had the same quantity, a few days ago, wanton noodle in Singapore. The Singapore one cost me SGD $3,80 (RM9.2) in a local shopping mall and was cooked by some foreigners. I would take the RM2.50 anyday. The home-made barley cost only RM1 in the same coffee shop. The stall was located at the five foot way (corridor) of a coffee shop diagonally across the road where the Penang Laksa stall of Air Hitam is.

PS. Singapore has just been ranked the 6th most expensive Asia city for expatriate. The first 5 were all Japanese cities. Sigh.