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。
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)
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！！！
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| Located on the Ground Floor of a multi-storey building. |
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| Fabulous ginger garlic and chilli sauce ~ a must have for chicken rice! |
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| Beautifully chopped Roast Chicken Maryland. The rice is irresistibly additive! |
Chinese New Year is finally here! Gong Xi Gong Xi!
Traditionally, every household will stock up variety of snacks at home in anticipation of relatives and friends who would visit during Chinese New Year.
One of the best one is the seaweed cracker. It is basically deep fried seaweed wrapped in spring roll skin.
Use egg as sticking agent and applied it onto the spring roll skin. Place the seaweed on top, apply another layer of egg with brush. Sprinkle some sesame seed and seal it with another layer of spring roll skin. Use scissor to cut to your favourite sizes. Tossed them into a hot boiling oil to deep fry.
Let's see how it is done in action.
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.
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| The unique characteristic of this ferry is you can drive right into it. |
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| Stunning view from the ferry leaving Penang island. |
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| Delicious beef noodle soup. |
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| The trip to a Malaysian Kopi Tiam will not be complete without ordering the Kopi (local coffee). |
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| Soft boiled egg on toast - a common sight of Malaysian breakfast. |
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。
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.
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| Penang Char Koay Teow |
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| 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：
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.
Prawn Noodle Soup or Penang Hokkien Mee as it's called in the food capital of Malaysia is a popular street food among Malaysian. With the pre-packed paste that is easily available in Asian grocery stores, making one of this beloved dish is no longer the secret of the select few.
Removed the prawn heads and pan fried them until its colour turns and you can smell the burnt fragrant.
Cook pork bones soup in a separate pot. Pour the soup into the frying pan with the prawn head.
Put the paste into the pan.
Cook for at least 30 minutes, taste it every now and then to check its sweetness or saltiness to your liking.
While the soup is cooking, toss in the prawn and pan fried until golden brown.
Make sure to mix egg noodle with bee hoon (rice vermicelli) to enhance the richness of its texture.
Sprinkler fried shallot on top and it's finally served!
Recommended by a friend from Ipoh claiming that the chicken is very authentic especially the sauce that it is sitting on.
Located in a beautiful heritage building within the university precinct of Melboune CBD, Gai Wong offers one of the best chicken rice in town.
菜尾
Been living in Melbourne for the past 5 years and have been searching for authentic Malay food until I found one last week. On out way back from our trip to Mornington Peninsular, we found this place in Springvale.
Felt like in Malaysia the moment I stepped inside this place. The owner played Malay rock music while the place was already occupied by Malay customers (very rarely to see Malay in Australia). Their presence was an endorsement that this place serve authentic Malay cuisine.
Best thing to experience good food is always with the company of great friends.
