Kek Seng Kopitiam 格成茶室

Kek Seng Kopitiam is an old quaint coffee shop that has been running their business ever since my grandmother's time. It is a small modest shop where you can get Ice Kacang with Durian Ice Cream, Popiah (fresh spring rolls), Asam Laksa, Chicken Rice, Hokkien Mee and Koay Teow Th'ng all under one roof!

Shops like this are disappearing all over George Town with its traditional furniture especially those by the side of the wall where the joinery seats are almost 90 degrees with very tight space where you may almost collide with the person sitting opposite you when you bend down to eat. It is places like Kek Seng Kopitiam that still reminds me of Penang during the nostalgic 80s. Although uncomfortable, it is the place you definitely want to visit if you truly want to have an authentic experience of Penang.

Popiah as appetizer.

Penang Asam Laksa as my main.

Ice Kacang with two scoops of Durian ice cream as my dessert.

 Location: 382 Jalan Penang, 10000, George Town, Penang.

Old House Restaurant @ Kimberley Street

It was Chinese New Year's Eve, most people have gone back to their hometowns respectively, the usually jam packed streets around George Town were deserted, peaceful yet warm atmosphere throughout as everyone was getting ready for the welcoming of the new year the next day.

Chinese New Year's Eve has always been one of the most significant date on the Lunar Calendar as it is the time when families are having their reunion dinner. In today's globalized world, people work at various places around the world but on that day most will go back to their hometowns to spend time and reunite with families members. What is greater than the feeling of going HOME after all?

The place we went for our reunion dinner in 2014 was at the Old House Restaurant at Kimberley Street, George Town, Penang. It is a located in a row of beautifully preserved heritage shop houses.

Old House Restaurant main entrance.

As the restaurant's owner also does some other business like selling Chinese worshiping items, there are many interesting things to see such as the statue of Tang Sanzang (唐三藏) at the front of it along the five-foot way.

Tang Sanzang (唐三藏)

As we were directed to our reserved table, there were small porcelain bowls elevated on a porcelain tray with candle in them. What was inside the bowls was the exact dish that I had been waiting for: 佛跳墙 (literally means that this dish is so good that even the Buddha will be tempted to jump over the wall and have a taste of it). The waitress then light the candles to warm it up for us which made it looked even more appetizing. 

佛跳墙

Appetizer - roast pork, scallop, salad prawn & century egg.

Penang Hokkien Mee

Beautiful colors of this unique Penang hawker food which some people also refer to as prawn noodle soup.

Chinese Tea in glass