Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Highly Recommended)
Address: 612-T, Jalan Air Itam, Pekan Ayer Itam, 11500 Ayer Itam, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/r5hgjJRyx8AEbBwo8
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)
The Timing can be abit Confusing because according to Google Maps, they open at 6.30am. Their Signboard says 7.00am, and yet their Rain Cover says 7.30am. After Checking with them, Google Maps is correct. They are ready to start selling by 6.30am.
No Service Charges
A Brief Backstory and History
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This is a Michelin Bib Gourmand Food Stall. When you search Famous Good Foods in Penang, THIS Legendary Stall will likely come up quite often. 👍 It is originally opened by 2 Sisters back in 1946 and has been around for Over 75 Years already. 😳
These 2 Elderly Sisters are so Famous, they're practically considered a National Treasure here in Penang 👵🧓🇲🇾 They even have a Street Art Mural dedicated to them! ❤️ Both Sisters are currently over 90 years Old.
Due to their Advanced Age, I understand that they no longer come to the Stall anymore and are resting at Home ever since the MCO Period during Covid in Malaysia. The Current Stall is being run by a Friendly Young Lady whom I assume is probably one of their Relatives. 👍
Update: Mdm Lim Kooi Lai, one of the 2 Sisters have since passed away peacefully at the Age of 91. Source: New Straits Times
The Food Stall is not some Grand Big Restoran. As you can see, is just a Very Small Shop that is tucked away in a Side Road in this Very Vibrant and Busy Morning Market Street along Jalan Paya Terubong in Air Itam as you can see in the Video. 🎥
Really Beautiful Place and especially with the Beautiful Tall Green Hills on the Sides flanking it. ⛰️ For some reason, this Area kindda feels like Taiwan if the Weather was a Tad Colder. 🇹🇼
As for the Actual Food Stall, there weren't much Customers at all actually on a Friday Morning at 7.30am when I was there. 🌞
Although the Shop itself has only 1 Small Table for Customers, there is what looks like an Abandoned Shack with Stone Seats and Tables available just opposite it. 🤔 I've taken a Photo and Video of how it looks like. You can bring your Food there to comfortably enjoy.
How does this Curry Mee taste?
The Bowl has a Very Fragrant Appetizing Savoury Smell to it. 😋 The Very First Thing that strikes me when I tasted it was that this does NOT taste like Laksa at all! 🍜😳 Having eaten quite a Few Curry Mee in JB, I've always thought that Curry Mee is just how Malaysians call our Conventional Singapore Non-Katong Style of Laksa. 🍜😅 Because both really have a Very Similar Taste Profile that I really can't tell the difference at all.
THIS Curry Mee here is Completely Different. The Broth is Watery and the Predominant Taste is Sweetish, but there is Little to No Coconut Milk at all. 🥥🤔 Very Little Lemak so to speak. It has a Savoury, Saltish and Light Taste that still taste like a Curry though. 🍲🤔
Not Too Heavy and Not Too Light and is Definitely NOT the Laksa Type of Curry. Very Unique, I have not tasted Curry Mee that tasted like this. 🤔 If anything, this really taught me that Malaysia Curry Mee really does have a Unique Taste of its own and is not just a variation of Laksa. 👍
Rest of the Ingredients
The Bowl itself is quite Small but still chock full of Ingredients. 👍 There were a Few Slices of Taupok, 4 Small Pieces of Pig Blood, 🐷 Slices of Cuttlefish 🦑 (First time seeing Cuttlefish being used in a Curry Mee), Some Taugeh and the Main Carbs was Yellow Noodles and White Beehoon. 🍜
Interestingly there is also about 1 Tbsp of Chilli Condiment which tasted like a Mix of Sambal and Taucheo. 🌶️🫘 This Condiment is Not Super Spicy, won't bite your tongue but has some Spicy Heat. 🌶️ The Taucheo side brings a Sharply Salty Earthy Beany Taste to it. 🫘 Very Interesting Condiment and I reckon is quite a Crucial Component in bringing forth the Taste of this Curry Mee.
The Taupok Pieces were ok, Small Slices, and of course their Main Job is to absorb the Gravy for a More Juicier Bitefeel. 💦😋 The Cuttlefish Slices are Surprisingly Soft and Tender and has a Saltish Braised sort of Taste. 🦑😋 Usually, Cuttlefish has a Firm, almost Hard Bitefeel but it is totally not the case for this one here. I find it really Smart to use Cuttlefish here because its inclusion can also impart a Seafoody Umami-ness to the Dish. 😋
The Pig Blood were just nice. 🐷👍 Not too Firm, and Not Too Soft. Noodles were pretty Standard, they slide easily down my Throat although I feel they're just from a Package, not Homemade. The Amount of Noodles given was acceptable for the price. 👍
Although a Small Bowl, it still Felt Filling and I thought was just nice for 1 person. Combining Everything gives it a Nice Taste and it was Very Nice and Satisfying to just Slurp Everything up. 🍜😋 I feel the Soul of this Dish is really the Curry Broth which is the Main Component that tied everything together. 🍲😋 I liked it so much that I wanted to just drink it dry!
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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts
At only RM6.00 (S$1.80) for a Michelin Awarded Dish is Absolutely Worth the Money. 👍 This really was a Very Well Made Bowl of Curry Mee and this Dish really showed me that Malaysia Curry Mee isn't just another Laksa Variation but a Legit Unique Dish of its own. 🍜👍 Every Ingredient in this Curry Mee worked together in Harmony and Nothing Clashed.
I also liked how Humble this Little Stall is, and how Affordable it was despite its Legendary Status in Penang. 🇲🇾 Having said that, there are of course some people who feel this Curry Mee isn't anything special like some Grab Drivers that I discussed with. 🚗🤔 Some of them feel this is Too Touristy or its Famous only because of the 2 Elderly Sisters. 👵🧓 Their Opinions are Valid of course because Everyone's Taste is Different. In my Opinion though, I feel that Culinarily, this is really very well made. 👍
If you are here in Penang, I highly recommend that you come to Air Itam and give this a Try. 👍 Not only for the Curry Mee, but to also soak in the Atmosphere of this Vibrant and Busy Market Street. Additional Bonus, this place is actually quite near to the Kek Lok Si Temple 極樂寺. 🛕 So if you are intending to visit it anyway, why not just swing by and check this out. If you have tried this Legendary Curry Mee before, I'd love to know how you feel about it! 😄
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