Taste of Penang

On our way to the shops last weekend, D insisted that we make a detour through Gowan Road. He read reviews that a new Malaysian restaurant just opened in Gowan Road Shopping Plaza. As we drove past, we noticed that the restaurant was closed due to public holiday. We made a mental note to return during the week to check it out.

Taste of Penang is located in the shopping centre next to Runcorn Tavern. As we walked in, we could smell the aroma of ‘hawker food’ lingering in the air. The atmosphere was enhanced by the Penang Food Documentary showing on TV that featured the famous Gurney Drive.

There is no table service, so you need to choose what you want and order at the counter. We ordered Lorbak ($6.8), Char Kuey Teow ($12.80) and Chicken Curry Mee ($11.80).

Lorbak is a deep fried pork roll seasoned with five-spice powder. The bean curd skin was really crispy but I found the meat to be just average.

The flavour of the Curry Mee (noodle) was quite authentic, but a bit mild for our tastes. There were a few jars of chilli paste next to the counter which could easily fix the ‘mildness’ of the soup.

Char Kuey Teow was the star dish for me. It tasted just like the one I had in Penang last December! I ordered medium-spicy, which was just right for my tastebuds. It also came with a generous ½ dozen perfectly cooked prawns and a few strips of squid. This is now my new crowned favourite char kuey teow in Brisbane!

For a few moments, I felt as if I was in Penang, enjoying all the local specialties. We love this place and will definitely return. The best part is that we don’t have to go too far (or fly overseas) to satisfy our Penang hawker food cravings.



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Malaysia Makanan

by D

A hidden gem in Calamvale, Malaysia Makanan has become a regular of ours when we’re hankering for some authentic Malaysian fare.

The servings are generous and reasonably priced (below $15 per dish) and include an array of Malaysian and Singaporean dishes such as Char Kuey Teow(CKT), Mee Goreng and Nasi Lemak.

Chicken CKT

Despite the fact that they serve our favourite Char Kuey Teow in Brisbane, our staple is Hainan Chicken Rice which they do extremely well, perfectly balancing the amount of ginger and chilli sauce. The rice is full flavoured and the chicken abundant - what’s not to love? (don’t forget to ask for the soup though!)

Hainan Chicken Rice

Their curry laksa is tasty and comparable with most others around town. This can easily be shared between two with no-one going home hungry.

Chicken Curry Laksa

For something a little bit different, we’ve also tried their tofu goreng a few times. Picture deep fried tofu, covered in peanut sauce, on a bed of bean sprouts and cucumber - moderately healthy!

Tofu Goreng

For something a little more fancy, we suggest you give their butter herb dishes a try (available with chicken or prawns). Based on our experience it can be a bit hit and miss but always buttery, yum!

Butter Herbed Chicken

We strongly suggest you give it a try, but be prepared to come back a few times as you may get addicted!


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