Malaysia Food

Penang Food Street
Pulau Tikus Market

Jalan Pasar. Open 5pm till late. Traders’ days off vary.

The Pulau Tikus wet market is one of the best places to head to for dinner if you are clueless as to what to eat. There are some 20 stalls offering a plethora of goodies such as mamak mee goreng, char kway teow, asam laksa, duck kway teow soup and char kway kak (radish cake).



The lok-lok, or steamboat, is very popular. With over 30 types of skewered items such as cockles, quails’ eggs, prawns, squid, fish balls and meatballs, the stall attracts a huge crowd every night. Just dip your skewer into the pot of boiling water , then pour the sauces – chilli, sweet bean or peanut sauce – over the cooked items.

The chai kuih with a choice of yambean or Chinese chives as a filling is also popular. The steamed dumplings can also be lightly pan-fried.

The char kway kak at Stall 17 (open from 7–11am) has a steady stream of loyal customers; its regular patrons include wives of ministers and other state officials.

The crowd is at full strength around 8pm, which is when the market acquires a festive atmosphere.

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Pudu, Kuala Lumpur
May King - Lam Mee

38, Jalan Yew, off Jalan Pudu. Tel: 03-9222 3740.

Open 9.30am-5.30pm. Closed on Mondays.

May King has been in business since 1969, and the signature dish here is lam mee. It is not the most common noodle dish around but owner Madam Chan has tweaked the recipe first taught to her by her mother-in-law – and turned it into a best-seller.



The full-bodied gravy sets the lam mee apart; bursting with flavours, the thick gravy coats every noodle strand. The roast pork bits that form a garnish give the dish a home-cooked feel.

The meatballs are also well known, thanks to the addition of cuttlefish bits in each ball.

Madam Chan’s attention to detail – and talent at balancing flavours – is evident in her delicious chicken soup kway teow. The soup is sweet, and the garnishing of shallot crisps and chives perk up the dish.

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Cameron Highlands
Yong Teng Cafe - Pancakes

Stall No 4 at the Majlis Daerah stalls (diagonally opposite Bank Pertanian Malaysia), Tanah Rata. Open 8am-5pm.

Head to this stall for a quick meal, which is one of the cheapest places in Tanah Rata for a simple, hearty fare. The place is run by Teng See Poh and his wife, Yong Oi Kim, who are both hearing-impaired. Communication with the friendly couple isn't a problem, however, as diners are given a piece of paper to write their orders on. There is also a full-length menu with items listed in both Chinese and English, so just point to what you want.



The food is simple but well prepared, and the pancakes are particularly good. Fruit toppings such as banana or strawberry accompany the crepes, and for an additional 50 sen, you can have a scoop of ice-cream as well. The stall also serves nasi lemak, burgers, hot dogs, toast and half-boiled eggs. -- The Sunday Metro

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