In Pursuit of the Ultimate Nasi Kandar in Penang!

Whenever you're in Penang and want to feast on great mamak food (yes the sweaty hairy mamaks in Penang ROCK!!!)

The key to good Nasi Kandar in Penang lies in knowing the exact time to locate the Mamak culprit serving it.... ie at the time of your craving or needs... it's no good if you have the craving and only find low budget stuff... hehehe.. If you’re craving / needs/ falls during these times, then the places to go are...

1) 11am - 3pm (24hours) Hameediyah Restaurant (since 1960) Campbell Road - 80m from Penang Road...my fav combo are Chicken Kurma with Fish Curry + Massala Squid Eggs + Chilli Pickle... noni factor 4 out of 5... 2 helpings recommended... also the Murtabak is above average in Penang, the best in Penang (opposite GAMA) has since disappeared due to loss in kin line...also the Pasembur (Rojak to K Lians) is good here, especially with the lungs combo... noni factor 2 out of 5... don't say Rojak in Penang... you'll get the fruit kind..

2) 11am - 1pm Tajuddin Tomato Rice... awesome Tomato Rice with Rose Chicken or Mutton and Rassam (by jugs on table).... beyond 1pm the Tomato Rice will be all gone... in Little India... either Queen or King Street.. Ferry area... noni factor 4/5..

3) 5pm - 9pm Nasi Kandar Air Itam at the Air Itam flats.. very fresh curries but i can't remember if you need to turn left at the 2nd or 3rd traffic light on the Air Itam main road.. although... you can ask people to show the road to Paya Terubong from the 2nd or 3rd traffic light... noni factor 3 / 5.

4) 6pm - 6am Chowrosta Market Nasi Kandar, middle shophouse (light blue interior with booth sittings) opposite unloading area next to ice shop.... fav combo... Chicken or Fish Curry with Liver Black Sauce (banjir) and Ladies Fingers x 2 helpings ... noni factor 5/5... the market is eeerr.. funky... heheheheh... but you can always take away...

5) 8pm - 12mn Bayan Lepas Nasi Dalca... Kenduri style rice with Rose Chicken etc... turn left at the airport and stop on the left side after first traffic light.... should be a queue.. x 2 helpings... noni factor 4/5... ie all Curry / Gravy must be flooded (banjir)

6) Kayu Nasi Kandar has some merit but I've only had it once (the rest above are 2-3 times per week per restaurant) heh!... in Bayan Baru although they may have new rest. Opened in Penang Rd.... noni factor 1/5....

7) 10am - 6pm Mamak Mee Rebus / Goreng with/out squid.... Bangkok Lane facing Pulau Tikus road opposite Chinese medical shop (there's also one in Taman Desa PJ now!)

8) 12noon - 5pm Mee Rebus Air Itam..... near the roundabout to funicular... All above are my must must have meals in Penang....

9) Mee Mamak near hospital, cooked with coal... and

10) The achee on Gurney Drive... delicious gravies, Fresh Fried Tauhu..

Contributed by KK & Kamarul