Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Highly Recommended)
Address: 162A, Jalan Burma, 10050 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/LNZxWpdZje3BwGtTA
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)
马蹄酥 Beh Teh Saw (8 Pieces) = RM12.50
No Service Charge
Here is the Full Menu of the Eatery/Restaurant.Prices are Accurate as of the Date of the Post.
My Personal History with Him Heang
Him Heang is a Very Famous and Well Known Classic Malaysian Chinese Pastry Brand. I reckon almost every Chinese Family in Singapore will probably have enjoyed it at one time or another, 😋 or have Relatives or Friends who visited Penang and dapao this back as a Souvenir. 🛍️
I myself have Very Fond Memories of this because my own Grandmother used to buy this regularly. 👵♥️ As a Wee Little Lad, I had no idea where this Biscuit Pastry came from, or what it is actually called. 😅 All I know is "Yay, Ah Ma buy that Round Round Kueh again" and I just eat it happily. 😋 It has been over 35 years ago since. How Quickly Time Flies. So, to finally come to Penang for the very 1st time and be in the Presence of the Main Him Heang HQ that sold this was quite a Moving Experience. 🇲🇾🥲
The Actual Him Heang Building
Him Heang HQ is a Huge Dedicated Building, with a Main Retail Store attached to its Lobby. 🛍️ This Retail Shop is actually not very big but is filled with Boxes and Boxes of their Famous Pastries. 😋 The Main Thing about this Retail Shop that caught my attention is that Old Signboard that adorns their Wall. 🤔 It looks Very Old and Authentic and since Him Heang itself was first established in 1948, I'm guessing this Signboard is probably at least 76 years old too. 🤔
What I am most surprised are seeing Military Personnels in Uniform at their Main Entrance. 🪖😳 I reckon they are there to help control Human Traffic incase there is a Surge? 🤔 Sibeh 夸张, this is the 1st Time I've seen Military Personnels stationed right infront of an Eatery. 😅 They're Pretty Friendly though. As there were No Crowds when I was there at 4.00pm on a Monday Afternoon, they beckoned me inside accordingly. 👍
The Actual Him Heang Staffs within are Friendly and Welcoming. 😄 There are no Dining In Areas, this is strictly only a Retail Shop 🛍️ with a Large Bakery attached to the back, which of course is Out of Bounds to the Public.
淡汶饼 Tambun Biscuit (16 Pieces) = RM10.00
As I mentioned in my Initial Intro, I have eaten this before so many times in the past but have no idea what they're actually called. 😅 Hahaha I've always known them as "That Round Round Biscuit Kueh that Ah Ma always buys". 👵♥️
Tambun apparently refers to Bukit Tambun in Penang, 🇲🇾 the area in which they are supposedly first invented. Apparently, they are supposed to be a Miniature Form of Tau Sah Piah. 🤔 Source: Wikipedia
The Thing that really caught my Eye is really that Classic Old School Packaging. 🛍️♥️ Everything from the Box to even the White Plastic Carrier Bag they use is the Same as I've remembered over 35 Years ago! 😳
If you have never eaten this before, its basically a Chinese Pastry with a Filling that tastes like its made out of Mung Bean. 🫘 It has a Very Soft Bitefeel that is Soft on the Teeth and come to think of it, is designed to be Perfect for Elderly Folks to Bite. 👴👵
In the Promo Video that I attached, shows how its made. Stylized Video Editing aside, I've actually made this Tambun Biscuit myself, and I appreciate how Genuine the Process is in the Video. 🎥
From the way the person kneads and shapes the Dough, to the Application of Eggwash, 🥚 every step looks Pretty Authentic to how you would bake this Pastry.
I reckon the Person in the Video is probably an Actual Him Heang Baker, not some Random Actor. 👨🍳 From the look of his Lean Sinewy Arms, it also looks like this is probably one of their More Senior Experienced Bakers too. Impressive. 👍
马蹄酥 Beh Teh Saw (8 Pieces) = RM12.50
马蹄 translates to Water Chestnut 🌰 and I reckon this is referring to the Inner Filling. This one is supposedly their 2nd Most Popular Pastry after their Tambun Biscuit. 😋 While i have not eaten this before, it has a Similar Look and Taste Profile to Taiwan's Sun Cake 太阳饼 or Wife Cake 老婆饼 with a Very Flaky Outer Pastry Shell. 😋 The Inner Filling is a Layer of Slightly Thick Viscous layer of Hardened Jam which in this case is probably made out of Water Chestnuts. 🌰🍯
That said, I can't really taste the Water Chestnuts tho, it tastes more like a Thickened Malty Honey Filling that is Soft and doesn't cling to your Teeth. 🍯😋 If you've eaten such pastries before, you'll know what im saying here.
Again, like the Filling used in Tambun Biscuit, is Not Overly Sweet which is very characteristic of such Chinese Styled Pastries. 😋 It's a Real Messy Pastry too. One bite of this will cause it to Break and Crumble into a Million Flaky Pieces. 😅
Why did I give this Place my Highest Score?
一句话: Consistency.
It's that First Bite when I bite into it. The Last Time I've had this was probably at least 30 years ago. 🗓️🤔 Before I came to Penang, I don't even know the Actual Name of this Pastry, yet when I took my First Bite of it, Nostalgic Memories IMMEDIATELY came Flooding Back of the Times I ate this with my Grandmother. 👵♥️
The Phrase 古早味 gets thrown about very loosely nowadays, 😅 but you only really appreciate this word when you actually tastes something that you actually experienced and remembered with Fond Memories. ♥️ This right here, really fits the 古早味 Label Perfectly. ♥️ Its not only the Taste, its the Whole Packaging. 🛍️ Like I mentioned, EVERYTHING from the Box they use, to even that Iconic Plastic White Carrier Bag has not changed since I remembered as a Little Boy. ♥️
And to be able to be so Persistently Consistent for 76 Years is Really Not Easy especially in Today's World where everything also need to Change and Modernize. 🌏🤔 I'm really glad that despite how much the World has changed in the Last 35 years, there are still Places like this Him Heang that has mostly remained the same. 👍 THIS here truly can be called "古早味" ♥️
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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts
At RM10.00 (S$3.00) for a Box of Tambun Biscuits, I feel this is Very Reasonably Priced. 👍 No idea how much it cost 35 years ago, but for a Box of this Well Known Classic Pastry to cost RM10.00 in Today's World is really quite Admirable considering nowadays even a Standard Plate of Cai Fan in JB is at least RM10.00 nowadays. 🤔
RM12.50 (S$3.80) for a Box of Beh Teh Saw consisting of 8 Pieces is also Pretty Reasonable too. 👍 While I don't have Nostalgic Feelings for this one, I feel it is Well Made, and if you are someone who enjoys Similar Pastries like Taiwan's Sun Cake or Wife Cake, I reckon you will also probably enjoy this one too. 😋
While these are Pastries that obviously are meant for all ages, after eating them, I feel they are Specially Designed for Easy Consumption for Elderly Folks due to their Very Soft Bite Texture and Light and Subtle Sweetness. 👴👵 Perhaps I'm looking too deeply into this, but I'm guessing the Original Inventor probably was making them with their own Grandparents in mind too? 🤔 Just a Guess from me hahaha. But is a Really Sweet Gesture if true though! ♥️😄
If you also have Fond Nostalgic Memories of this Him Heang like I did, I highly recommend to actually come to their HQ here in Penang. 🇲🇾♥️ Although my Grandmother has long passed on, coming here really brings back Very Fond Memories of her. 👵♥️
Eating this really reminds me fondly of my Grandmother. 👵♥️ If your Grand Parents are still around, please treasure them and spend more time with them. Stop Reading Right Now and go give them your Biggest Hug like you're never ever gonna let them go. ♥️
Thank you Him Heang for the Beautiful Memories. ♥️
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