Malaysia: Hawker food in Penang!

Hawker food in Penang, Malaysia is superb! Whenever I visit Penang, I always make sure to try out the local flavors.

Char Kway Teow, a stir-fried flat rice noodle dish, is a personal favorite. This one sold near our hotel had prawns and deshelled cockles.

Another favorite is Bak Kut Teh which literally translates as meat bone tea. The hot broth is a complex mix of pork ribs plus herbs and spices that includes star anise, cinnamon, cloves, dong quai, fennel seeds and garlic.

Asam Laksa, specifically Penang Laksa, is quite popular and a dish that is distinctly from Penang. A sour tamarind and fish-based soup, it's main ingredients are shredded mackarel, finely sliced vegetables, chili, thick rice noodles and a sweet prawn paste. I had this delicious bowl at the Gurney Drive Hawker Centre.

I enjoyed the Dry Meat or Bakkwa and the Black Pepper Dry Meat they were grilling at the Gurney Drive Hawker Centre. The hawker stalls also sell sweet and spicy sausages and other dried meats.

To end our day, we had Cendol, a shaved ice dessert made with coconut milk, jelly noodles made with rice flour and colored with pandan coloring, red beans, and palm sugar syrup.

We also tried Apom, an Indian coconut pancake filled with coconut meat and bananas. Really good!

Thanks to Doc Gelo for the treat at the Gurney Drive Hawker Center!

Quezon City: Claypot rice meals at Eat Fresh Hong Kong Famous Street Food (QC Chinatown Banawe)

Have you been to Quezon City Chinatown? Banawe Street is slowly highlighting its character as a Tsinoy community, especially with the many Chinese restaurants in the area. I tried out the Beef Brisket Claypot Rice and other dishes at Eat Fresh Hong Kong Famous Street Food at Maria Clara Street (near the corner of Banawe). The Beef Tendon and Spareribs Claypot Rice are also good. They serve a wide range of dishes, really good Chinese food. Why not celebrate the Chinese New Year at Quezon City Chinatown?

Eat Fresh Famous Hong Kong Street Food 
100-A Maria Clara St. Sto. Domingo, QC
Telephone No. (02) 5168022

Quezon City: US Angus Beef Tapa at Tapsilog Centrale Kamuning

Kamuning, Quezon City is a great place to find interesting small restaurants. There's one which serves US Angus Beef Tapa 24 hours a day! Try to find Tapsilog Centrale, a sidewalk restaurant at 11th Jamboree Street corner Kamuning Road. The US Angus Beef Tapa costs Php138 per serving with fried rice and egg. If you want to splurge, they have Wagyu Beef Tapa as well. For dessert, they have delicious cakes. Try The Dome, Belgian dark chocolate cake with Nutella mousse filling.

Tapsilog Centrale
11th Jamboree St. cor Kamuning Road, QC
Telephone No. (02) 2680621