There are several Nonya restaurants around in Penang. And today I am going to blog about "Hot Wok Nonya & Local Cuisine". I think most of you should have known this restaurant as it was located at Tanjung Tokong and Gurney Plaza before but now has move to a two adjoining double storey pre-war houses along Burmah Road, Penang.
Some overseas reader might not understand what is Peranakan or Baba- Nonya(峇峇娘惹). You can click here for more information. And also here for more write up. If you are in Penang, may be you would like to visit Pinang Peranakan Mansion @ Church Street, Penang to learn more about Peranakan or Baba - Nyonya. If you run out of time and would like to see some of the baba-nyonya photos and others, you can always drop by Hot Wok Nyonya & Local Cuisine to savour some of the foods and look around at their collections.
Hot Wok Main Entrance
Some of the interiors.......
More interiors photos and HOT WOK has been awarded as the Best Restaurant by Malaysian Tatler Magazine in 1998 and 2004. Furthermore, it was featured in TVB Hong Kong food channel in 2007. You can see photo of Ella Kung (Hong Kong actress), Hugo Man (well knowned Chef from Hong Kong) and Kelyvn Yeoh (Director and Chef of HOT WOK) taken on 9 December 2008.
Some photos..... Hot Wok menu........After some introduction to the interiors, let come back to the foods.......
Loh Bak
This is our first dish being served for the night. There are several different types of loh bak around in Malaysia as the ingredients use are differ from one to another. And the way where they wrap the loh bak is also another important thing. Some tend to wrap it to loosely while I like the firm type. And the Loh Bak that being serves in Hot Wok suites my taste buds. And find that it tastes very delicious.
Choon Pheah
This is another appetizer that we savour for the night. Some might wonder what is "Choon Pheah"? Well, it is basically spring rolls. If you want something juicy and crispy. This would be your choice.
Hokkien Prawn Mee
When you are around Hot Wok, you will definitely smell this fragrant hokkien prawn mee aroma. Once I was around that area, I can smell the aroma........ And this time round, I have the chance to savour it. ^-^ Well..... I think my gal will love this since it is not spicy at all. Will bring her there one day and try this. While I am doing this blog, she keeps asking me whether this hokkien mee is spicy or not. See..... she is so eager to try. ^-^
Kiam Chai Ark
While we were busy capturing the photos, some of us are eyeing on this soup. As the smell is unbeatable. If you like something that is not too sour you will certainly love this dish. By the way Kiam Chai Ark is Salted Vegetables Duck Soup. For me, I would wish that a bit more sourness will make the soup more perfect for my taste buds. However, I still enjoy this soup too.
Curry Kapitam Chicken and Tau Eu Bak
These two are my all time favourites. ^-^ I personally think that the curry kapitam chicken is not spicy. But it has many varieties of herbs in the curry. The chicken is very tender and succulent. The tau eu bak and the eggs are equally taste nice. Especially the hard boiled egg white. It is very firm. It's just like the way my MIL cook.
Curry Tumis Fish and Pork Cincalok
If you don't like lemak type of curry, then you can opt for curry tumis fish as this curry tumis is more towards the sweet, sour and spicy taste. The curry is served in a claypot which would help to sustain the heat of the curry tumis fish.
Next is the Pork Cincalok. Cincalok? what is that? Some might wonder. Well, it is one of the products of Malaysia. It is basically fermented tiny small shrimps. More details can be obtained from here. The pork is very tender and a bit salty. It is best to go with some white rice.
Or Kuih
Which is also known as steamed yam cake. It is served with sweet chillies, dried shallots, sliced chillies and spring onions. If you love the soft and tender type of yam cake, then this would be your choice.
Jiu Hoo Char and Assam Prawn
I always find that this dish is very hard to prepare since you have to grate all the ingredients into very thinly slice. It is very time consuming. (As I am a very lazy mummy) Many ingredients involve here such as turnips, dried squids, carrots, mushrooms....... It is nice to wrap it with vegetables. It is also nice to go with some rice too.
Next..... the assam prawn....assam means tamarind. So it is basically prawn cooked with tamarind and soya sauce. Although this sound easy but in order to get the right tastes, it is not easily done.
Desserts
What else should we have to wrap up the review? Off course.... the desserts. We are so fortunate to taste not only one dessert but 6 desserts. The desserts that we try are Ice Kacang, Sago Gula Melaka Sago Honeydew, Cendol, Mango Cendol and Sago Nangka. So I am sure that there are some desserts that suit you.
If you would like to try out Hot Wok Nonya & Local Cuisine, please visit them @
124-E & F Burmah Road, Penang
Tel : +604- 2273368
Business Hour : 11.00am - 3.00pm & 6.00pm - 11.00pm
As for Penang Hawker Delights it start from 11.00am to 1.00am
(Closed on Tuesday)
I personally would like to thank Sally, Kelyvn and the waiter and waitress for serving us for the night and invitation. And I also would like to thank CK Lam for inviting us (food floggers) for attending this event.
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