Penang Economy Food is part
and puzzle of Penang Food and is top of the list in Malaysian Food.
Most economy food is sold in our local coffee shop or "kopi tiam". The
Chinese sells their economy rice food in "kopi tiam".
The Malays called their kopi tiam, "Gerai makan". The Mamaks calls
their coffee shops," Nasi Kandar stalls". When it comes to economy food,
it is typically food we would cook at home, our home cooked food.
Some refers it to Penang Hawker food, Food Penang or Penang Street
Food cooked freshly cooked every morning.
Penang Economy Food is fresh home food not hawker food. It is like
traditional malaysian food eaten outside our homes. Why we preferred
eating Penang economy food
Typically, it is usually a plate of white rice with assorted dishes cooked.
Sometimes eating out become boring, noodle is no fun. People in Penang are rice
eaters. We called them "phui tung" or rice basket. No rice consumption for the
day, their meal is not completed. Penang Economy food comes with rice or porridge.
Varieties in Penang Economy Food
The varieties of economy food we have in Penang is so unique. Chinese food or
Nyonya food is common dishes loved by many. I, for one would choose a kopi tiam
that has dishes that filled the half the coffee shop. The bad habit we have is
that though we will sample 3 or 4 dishes but we love to choose from 30 dishes.
We are a tough customer to please.
Taboo when dishing Penang Economy Food
Simply join in the crowd. If you see any kopi tiam or coffee shop packed,
then you know you can try the Penang Economy Food. Ask for a plate of
rice or porridge. Usually you picked your own choices. But one tip here is be
careful not to mess up the dishes. Some people just do not have any courtesy
or think about others. Well, they either stay too long choosing the dishes
and forget others are waiting. Or simply choosing a fried chicken piece and
meddling over to get a bigger piece, imagine that!
Cost of Penang Economy Food
Usually a plate of rice with 3 or 4 dishes, approximately cost you Malaysian
Ringgit four or five plus drinks too. Fairly good price for a good lunch
or dinner
Economy Food Mrs Chuah Gaik Chin
One such kopi tiam which I love to frequent is in Prai. Find this shop on the
last lane as you approach the back of Megamall Prai.The coffee shop can be so
packed you hardly have a place to sit between mid morning till 4pm.
The best known and most popular variety of Chinese food is
Cantonese food, Taochiew food or Nyonya food.
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Curry Dishes
Sambal Undang or Prawn Sambal (Kari Heh)
This dish is a Chinese concoction cooked with coconut milk, plenty of onion and
dried chillies.
It is not too spicy or pedas. So quite an old time favorite for most of
the office workers.
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Ikan Pari or Stingray Sour Curry
Stingray cooked in tamarind with some santan. Lovely combination of Indian
and Nyonya fusion style. Some would steam ladies finger and add in this curry. |
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Mixed Vegetable Curry (Kari Chai)
Of all the Chinese prepared curries I have taken, I think the Chinese did
this curry the best. It needs lots of onion or shallots.
So I would recommend you try this signature curry dish. Some version has
pineapple, salted fish or cockles. I just love this vegetable curry. |
 | /tr>
Chicken curry (Kari Kay)
This is a typical chicken curry cooked in almost all Malaysian Chinese homes.
The basic recipe uses prepared rempah, a combination of Malay and Indian fusion
cooked the Chinese method. |
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Steamed Dishes
Steamed Meat (Choey Bak)
Minced pork mixed in egg, a little soy sauce. Steamed the mixture and walaa
you get this steamed pork dish.
There are many variations to this dish. Some would add Salted Fish before steaming,
it taste so yummy. |
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Steamed Fish (Choey Kambong Hu)
This is a Taochiew dish. Small fishes like "Ikan Kambong" or "Ikan Selat
kuning" is steamed with plenty of ginger slices, soy sauce and tau cheong.
Then garnished with spring onions and fresh chilies slices. A great dish
to take with porridge. |
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Thai Sweet Sour Fish
White, Silver or Black Pomfret is the fish of choice; lightly coated in flour and
deep fried whole till crispy.
The crispy fish is then topped with stewed pineapple, green pepper and
onions in a sweet & sour sauce.
Grouper is another fish that is very popular. Served
this style whole. |
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Steamed Cabbage Rolls (Choey Pau Ku Lay Chai)
Wrapped in the cabbage are minced pork, prawns and a little flour for binding.
Very unusual dish as after wrapping, the whole plate is steamed
and served hot or cold, it taste good. |
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Stir Fried Dishes
Fried Bangkuang (Bangkuang Char)
This dish is what the Nyonya would called Jiew Hu Char but a simpler version.
Bangkuang Char is less ingredients with lots of yam bean (bangkuang), carrot,
a little cabbage and some dried cuttle fish for a little taste of Jiew Hu Char.
But nevertheless a great dish as it is sweet when served with lots of garlic oil. |
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Fried Egg (Chai Por Nui)
Another great dish to eat with porridge. A scamble egg dish with chopped chai por.
A "die- for" if you believe me.
When we take this dish, we are reminded of our forefathers meager
earnings thus it is an old time favourite |
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Chop Suey (Kua Chai Kong Asam)
Another interpretation of Kiam Chai Boey. A common hokkien dish using left over of
vegetable dish. Some dishes that has cabbage, carrot, bangkuang, kua chai and char
siew or roasted pork makes good chop suey.
As Kiam Chye Beoy is only prepared Chinese New Year, this version
is a great dish when one misses Kiam Chai Boey. |
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Porridge goodies
The porridge varieties is one of the best in the island. An assortment of Pan
Fried or Baked Salted Fish, Anchovies.
Groundnut with a dash of salt and pepper, Preserved Vegetable or Kiam Chai and
Sweetened Kiam Chai are served in Malaysian Chinese traditional food |
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Well, this list of food is only a few great economy food sold as
economy rice food but they are "ever lasting dishes". I will keep
adding more as enquiries keep coming in for certain dishes you have
missed. Hopefully, it will encourage our visitors to sample our
Penang Economy food.
The participation from
Food
Reviews resulted in some of the best food choices. Believe you me, we went
around the past few weeks eating non stop but fortunately the team helped to EAT!
Tough choice but honestly, we could not eat all. But since most of voted,
they deserved to be listed. See some
photos of our
Hawker food collection.
Top 5 best Kopi Tiam and Food Courts in Penang
- New World Park, 102, Burma Road, Tel: 04-2261199
- Red Garden Food Paradise, 20 Leith Street, Tel:04-2623767
- Glugor, the lane in front of the post office
- Macalister Road, three coffee shops opposite the Midtown and Agora
hotels
- Lorong Selamat, Two coffee shops, one covered and another open air.
- Almost all shopping Malls has great food courts
Go to Top of Penang Economy Food Page
Not enough of food, back to Nyonya Food Page
What about Malay sambal?
Some Eurasian Affair
Need hot and spicy Indian curries?
Don't salivate, go for more Nyonya desserts
Home cooked but away from home food,
try then if you are never invited to our houses or too shy to accept invitations.
Drool over my Nyonya food
Still have more space in your stomach, eat my cookies
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