Two Circles Cafe

One of the most popular Malaysian restaurant in Doncaster East, Melbourne. All the familiar Malaysian street food like Penang Asam Laksa, Penang Hokkien Mee (Har Mee/ Prawn Noodle Soup), Nyonya Kuih, KL Pan Mee, Curry Laksa etc.

Address: 270 Blackburn Rd, Doncaster East, VIC 3109.

Open Everday EXCEPT (Tuesday): 10.30am - 2.30pm, 5.30pm - 9.30pm

Muthu Banana Leaf Restaurant

Few people know that Muthu Banana Leaf Restaurant has been around for over 80 years in Penang. Even if you grew up in Penang, you will be excused for not knowing this place as this unassuming shop has no signage, tucked in between heritage shophouses along Lebuh Acheh. No wonder many have simply missed this place. The only thing that makes Muthu Banana Leaf Restaurant stands out from its neighbours is its yellow painted façade.

就算你是土生土长的槟城人也未必来过这间已有超过80年历史的香蕉叶饭餐馆。这店隐藏在乔治市中心狭窄的一条路，又没有招牌，唯一的特点就是那黄色的油漆。

Lebuh Acheh is right in the middle of the heritage enclave of George Town. There are many significant buildings and architecture to explore in the surrounding, all within walking distance. This area is one of the first settlement of the city and it is clearly evident in its narrow streets and laneways.

这地方乃是乔治市古迹中心，周围有许多历史景点只需步行便可到达，真的值得参观。

The menu is simple, authentic banana leaf rice that comes with 4 condiments. The staff will then bring a tray of mains for you to choose from. There are three types of curries available: Crab curry, Chicken curry, and Fish curry. Like all of us experts in Malaysia, we like to mix all three to get the best flavour! The dishes are so rich in flavors with the variety of Indian spices.

习惯吃香蕉叶饭的人都知道，服务员会端出来几道菜任顾客选择。这家有三种加里汁：螃蟹加里，鸡加里和鱼加里。大多马来西亚人都知道最明确的选择就是三种汁都要！！

Muthu Banana Leaf Restaurant

Address: 143, Lebuh Acheh, 10200 Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia.

Operating Hour: 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. (Daily)

Best Chicken Rice In Melbourne

After trying most of the Malaysian restaurants around Melbourne, there is only one restaurant which serves the best Chicken Rice. Hainan Chicken restaurant is located in the popular suburb of Glen Waverley in Melbourne. This is the place to be especially when you are after Asian food as you will be spoilt for choices.

I'm glad that this restaurant survives the hard lockdown in 2020. There are a few shops in the area which are not so fortunate and are forced to close down for good.

尝试过那么多间马来西亚餐馆后，我觉得只有这间的海南鸡饭是全墨尔本最正宗最好吃的！这地区是许多亚洲人都很喜欢来的地方，原因很简单，因为这里有太多亚洲餐馆让您不知选哪一个才好。墨尔本的亚洲人实在太好命啦！！！

Located on the Ground Floor of a multi-storey building.

Fabulous ginger garlic and chilli sauce ~ a must have for chicken rice!

Beautifully chopped Roast Chicken Maryland. The rice is irresistibly additive!

Sup Kambing Recipe

Whenever the weather turns cold in Melbourne, I always crave for a piping hot mutton soup (commonly known as Sup Kambing in Malaysia) to keep me warm.

First, get ready all the major ingredients and spices.

Next, grind the spices old school way!

Cooking the soup.

Ready to serve!

Stock:

3 lbs bone-in leg of lamb or mutton

4 carrots peeled and cut into large chunks

1 large stalk of leeks cut into rings and wash thoroughly by soaking in water

2 oz of Chinese parsley - both stalks and leaves chopped

4 stalks of lemon grass trim off the woody ends and bruise to release flavor

1 large onion peeled and dice

Ground ingredients (place all ingredients in a food processor and process into a paste):

2 large onions peeled and cut into large chunks

4 cloves garlic peeled

4 shallots peeled

3 candlenut / kemiri

1 Tbsp of coriander seeds

1 tsp of fennel seeds

 

Spices:

1 piece of star anise

1 large cinnamon

5 pieces of cloves

10 pieces of cardamom

3 Tbsp of cumin powder

1 tsp of turmeric powder

 

Seasonings:

Salt to taste

1 Tbsp of sugar

 

Garnishes:

Chinese parsley leaves finely chopped

2-3 stalks of spring onion finely chopped

Fried shallots crisp / bawang goreng

Beef Noodle Soup & Hainanese Chicken Chop at Butterworth

Get to know this place from watching Axian's (阿賢) show on Astro AEC. There are basically 3 Kopi Tiam (coffee shops) along this row of shop houses and the one we went to was Luan Fong.

As we traveled from the Penang Island, we decided to take the ferry. Our journey was taken way back in January 2020. Sadly now this historic ferry which has been transporting people across the two lands for more than 100 years is no longer in service recently.

The unique characteristic of this ferry is you can drive right into it.

Stunning view from the ferry leaving Penang island.

The journey took about 15 to 20 minutes. It was a nice relaxing way of crossing onto the other side compared to the hectic driving on the Penang bridge.

The location of the shop is very close to the Butterworth jetty.

We purposely came for this uncle's Thai beef noodle soup, his name is Kang. During his interview on Axian's (阿賢) show, he told the story about how he learned to cook Thai style beef noodle soup. He used to eat a particular Thai beef noodle soup many years ago when he visited Thailand. It was so delicious that he asked the stall owner to teach him how to cook. The owner was initially reluctant as he scared he will give away his trade secret. However, uncle Kang told him that he only wanted to set up his business in Penang and assured him that he will not be his competitor. He succeeded in the end.

Delicious beef noodle soup.

Too bad we were too late when we got there as he had sold out his Thai soup, we only managed to order his normal beef noodle soup. It was still good anyway.

The trip to a Malaysian Kopi Tiam will not be complete without ordering the Kopi (local coffee).

Soft boiled egg on toast - a common sight of Malaysian breakfast.

You can also order this Hainanese Chicken Chop from the other shop and they can bring over.

有一次无意中在Astro AEC频道看到阿贤推荐这个地方。他介绍了这排商店中3家咖啡店。

我们决定从槟城乘渡轮越洋来到这里。这旅程是之前在2020年1月拍下的。可悲的是，这艘超过一百年历史悠久的渡轮，最近政府已决定不再使用了。从槟城到北海行程大约需要15到20分钟。乘坐渡轮远比驾车在槟威大桥来得舒服多了！

咖啡店的位置非常靠近北海码头。

我们特意要来吃这位大叔的泰国牛肉面，他叫阿江。在接受阿贤节目的采访时，他讲述了他如何学会煮泰式牛肉面的故事。许多年前，他去泰国时吃过他十分喜欢的泰国牛肉面。于是他就要求摊主教他如何做这道菜。摊主最初不愿意因为怕会泄露自己的商业秘密。但是，阿江叔告诉他，他只想在槟城开店，从没有打算在泰国和他竞争。最后摊主同意教阿江。

您也可以从其他商店叫此海南式鸡扒，他们可以端菜过来。

Second Best Penang Char Koay Teow In Melbourne

This used to be the only place in Melbourne where I would go for Penang Char Koay Teow until Lulu's Char Koay Teow came along. 

Their taste is the closest to the authentic one back in Penang. I go there often as it is just 5 minutes drive from my office. Weekday lunch is better as there is no crowd compared to weekend. Owner from Ipoh and has been in the business for more than 30 years. They used to run their business in the city until they moved to their current Glen Waverley premise.

Penang Char Koay Teow

Penang Assam Laksa

Their Assam Laksa is equally good. The soup is so tasty that I finished the last drop, short of licking the bowl!

Danny's Kopitiam is located at 264 Blackburn Road, Glen Waverley, Victoria 3125.

For best Penang Char Koay Teow in Melbourne, refer to previous post below:

- Best Penang Char Koay Teow in Melbourne

这曾经是我在墨尔本每当想吃槟城炒粿条时唯一去的地方，直到Lulu's Char Koay Teow出现为止。

它们的炒粿条最接近槟城正宗的口味。我经常会去那里也是因为它离我的办公室只有5分钟车程。上班时间去比较好，因为周末每次都太多顾客。老板是怡保人，经营这个生意已有30多年之久了。以前在市城市开店，直到搬到目前的Glen Waverley地点。

他们的槟城叻沙也很不错。汤底真好吃。

如想知道关墨尔本最好吃的槟槟城炒粿条在哪里就请看以下前一篇文章：

 

-墨尔本最好吃的槟城炒粿条

Perak Lane Fish Head Bee Hoon

This has to be one of the best Bee Hoon Soup in Penang. Located at the end of Perak Lane (Lorong Perak) towards Jalan Jelutong, this small premise by the roadside only open in the evening. There are many places like this Penang where they only operate in the evening to capture more crowd after work. It is also the culture of people living in Malaysia and Singapore to come out in droves to hawker centres at night to avoid the hot tropical sun at day time.

这可说是槟城最好吃的米粉汤之一。坐落在朝着Jalan Jelutong的霹雳

（Lorong Perak）的尽头，这座在路旁的小贩中心仅在晚上营业。槟城有许多类似

地点，它们都只在晚上才营业，以便吸引更多下班族的人群。晚上成群结队前往小贩

中心避开白天炎热的阳光也渐渐成了马来西亚和新加坡人的文化。

超值猪肝米粉荡！！！

Crispy Noodle with Sauce Recipe

Two major steps in preparing this dish and both can be done at the same time. This dish consists of the crispy noodle and the sauce that goes with it.

For preparing the crispy noodle refer to the previous post below:

 - How To Make Crispy Noodle

For the sauce, cook the vegetables and fish cake with water just enough to cover them. Add in corn flour and egg to thicken the sauce. Adjust the taste to your liking by adding soya sauce etc.

Pan fry some prawns separately to be added onto the dish later on.

Voila! Bon Appétit!

准备这道菜有两个主要步骤. 这两个步骤可以同时间完成。这道菜包括香脆的面条和随之而来的酱汁。

要准备香脆面，请参阅下面的一篇文章：

 - How To Make Crispy Noodle

准备酱汁必须用水将蔬菜和鱼饼煮.水足以覆盖它们就可以。加入玉米粉和鸡蛋使酱变稠。加入酱油等，根据自己的喜好调整口味。

Best BBQ Pork and Roast Pork In Penang

Used to be called Sky Cafe, Wai Kei Cafe in Chulia Street is the only place I would go for roast pork, BBQ pork and roast duck. The BBQ pork is a must try as I can't find anywhere else on the island that can match their standard.

The signature roast pork and BBQ pork - must order!

The roast duck is so tender and full of flavour that make you want for more.

Long queue waiting for take away the moment the shop open its door.

The owner insists that he is the only one that do all the chopping of the meat. Until today I still don't understand why he can't train one more person to help to reduce the amount of waiting time.

Sri Weld Nasi Lemak

Long queue at Sri Weld's Nasi Lemak stall even before lunch time!

Beautiful nasi lemak.

Two Malay ladies preparing and wrapping the nasi lemak for customers.

Inside Sri Weld Food Court.

 

These photos were taken during my holiday in Penang back in January 2020 (pre-Covid times). Not too sure whether it is still around. Anyone has further update on this premise are welcomed to leave comments here.