Knowing I could have had more earlier that day, abstinence kicked in as I knew what lie ahead. Barely an hour after my quick fix , I was now sitting down at another highly acclaimed Char Kuey Teow hawker in Penang. Ah Leng is known for serving some pretty good Char Kuey Teow on the island as well as the most expensive plate of noodles on the Island. With the lot coming in at RM11, it could easily be one of the most expensive hawker food in the country. However, I have become wary of such fads after a previous experience left me disappointed. Coming in, I was expecting some sort of crowd due to the HYPE but you know what? There was only a bunch of tourists leaving in their mini van. Worst of all, there was a pile of leftovers which made me even more worried as I was now waiting for my very expensive fried Kuey Teow.
Normal Char Kuey Teow RM6.
With its price similar to larger cities and significantly more than the price charged by the rest of the hawkers on the island, its only bragging rights were its prawns. In terms of flavour and quality, I found little difference in satisfaction as there was no element of surprise which distinguishes it from the rest. With all the mentions Ah Leng is getting online, I was left wondering really what the fuss was all about. Why pay more for something that is more readily available for less? I was baffled. Like my review of the 2 Sister’s version mentioned here, this is nice if the price was not a matter of consideration. Having heard reactions from my local friends in Penang about prices I have been paying in town, I soon found myself stuck in tourist traps.
Mom also ordered a few vegetarian dumplings which were ok! Fillings were good and the flour pastry was good. Chilli sauce felt out of the bottle and adulterated. All in all, it was rather pedestrian.
We also ordered another bowl of noodles and found that is was OK. I would have to end this post with a verdict that the blogger hype surrounding this place is unjustified. Tourist trap? Definitely. I felt that for so many reasons, this place did not meet the mark. In the end, it seems like the only REAL reason the buzz surrounding this place exist lies in a very old saying. It’s like the blind leading a blind. Rather hard to recommend. For me, I would be happy strolling about older streets like Campbell Street, Kimberley Street and Chulia Street, blend with the locals and eat a simple plate of RM3.50 goodie! In fact, the offerings were WAYYY better at Lam Heng Cafe which at least had a good Prawn Noodles and Yam Cake too!
Khoon Hiang Cafe
358 Jalan Dato Keramat, 10150 Penang
Opens 8.30am to 2.30pm and is closed on Wednesdays. (subject to change without notice)
WenY
