SE Asia Trip Advice

[demigodh]

I am going on a trip with my brother to many cities in South East Asia. I am about to search these boards and see what info I can find but I was hoping to consolidate some of the research into this new thread so I apologize if I am asking for the same questions that many before have asked. Anyways...

Please share some suggestions for the cities we will be visiting. We already have a semi-decent understanding of the local cuisines so you don't need to tell us to make sure we eat pho in Saigon or anything like that. Really, we're looking for suggestions from you guys that would not be the obvious (or even typical) must get dishes. If you were in the area and remember an "off the beaten path" restaurant or fantastic soup or whatever that you really think shouldn't be missed, please suggest it here. Price is not a concern nor is location so long as it is accessible from the cities we'll be in. Hopefully this long winded explanation helped clarify what we're looking for and below is a list of the cities we will be in. Thanks so much for your help, it will make a huge difference as eating will be our primary focus during this vacation.

Cities we'll be visiting: Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Bankok, Chiang Mai, Siem Reap, Saigon, Hanoi.

[penang_rojak]

For Penang, I'd recommend:

1. SISTERS FRIED KOAY TEOW, Lam Heng Cafe, 185 MacAlister Road, Open: Tue-Sun (8.30am to 12.30pm; 1.30pm to 4.30pm). The two septuagenarian sisters have been frying their famous koay teow (rice noodles) for more than half a century. The noodles are tossed over high charcoal-fired flames in gigantic woks with fresh prawns, cockles, Chinese sausages, duck's eggs, beansprouts, a dash of soysauce & a dollop of chilli to taste. Served topped with shredded crabmeat. Absolutely DEE-licious!!!

2. If you can't get to the Two Sisters, then try their rival, a stern-looking tigress-lady in a huge red hat, who fries her koay teow at KAFE HENG HUAT, 108 Lorong Selamat. Open 11.30am to 6pm (Closed on Tuesdays). The lady's got an attitude, but if her fried koay teow is THAT good - who cares? I still go there every chance I've got! Her dish is slightly greasier than the Two Sisters' version.

3. If you want to go to a food centre in downtown Georgetown, Penang, where you can taste a variety of good local hawker food, go to NEW LANE, off MacAlister Road (towards the Penang Road end). From pig's intestines porridge to fried lor bak (meat rolls, prawn fritters, etc) and every noodle dish you can think of. Open from 1pm till late evenings.

4. HAMEEDIYAH Indian-Muslim restaurant at 164-A Campbell Street. Open 11.30am to 11pm (Closed Fridays) for the best murtabak and roti canai in Penang. The place has been operating for more than 100 years!

Let me know if you need any specific info!

[klyeoh]

A few food suggestions for Singapore:

- Bakwan kepiting soup (minced pork & crabmeat balls) at Guan Hoe Soon Peranakan restaurant at 38-40, Joo Chiat Place, Katong. See:
http://www.guanhoesoon.com/

- Stewed cabbage-wrapped chicken at Huat Kee teochew restaurant, 74 Amoy Street.
http://www.teochewrestaurant.com/

- Great Hokkien food at Beng Thin Hoon Kee, #05-02, 65 Chulia Street S(49513), OCBC Centre. The cold shredded duck & rockmelon salad was refreshing & light for a Chinese restaurant starter. See:
http://yum.sg/?component=view_restaurant&restaurant_id=1652

- Heng Kee Curry Noodles. Go early as the queue builds up from 11.30am onwards, and the little stall located at Hong Lim Food Centre (behind Chinatown Point) closes at around 2.00pm or earlier when all the food sells out. Totally addictive taste - out of this world! Photo & details:
http://www.hungrygowhere.com/singapore/heng_kee_curry_bee_hoon_mee/

- Chicken briyani at Islamic Restaurant:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/687201

[M_Gomez]

More Singapore recs:-
1.Don't forget South Indian vegetarian breakfasts at Komala Vilas in Serangoon Road, Little India.
2. Good nyonya food at varous restaurants (besides Guan Hoe Soon already mentioned above). There's Ivins in Binjai Park, Baba Inn at Siglap and House of Peranakan in East Coast Road, Katong.
3. Go to Tiong Bahru Food Centre (chwee kueh, fried carrot cake, fried koay teow, Hainanese chicken rice) or Zion Road food centre (fried koay teow, chng tng dessert, satay) for a good choice of Singapore hawker food.
4. Lau Pa Sat festival market in thecity for good satays in the evenings.
5. Newton Hawker Centre for the duckmeat koay teow.
6. Malay food at Arab Street/Sultan Mosque area, some good restaurants include Sabar Menanti, Hajah Maimunah and Bumbu.
7. For fine dining, my favourite is Iggy's, Regent Hotel.
8. Favourite dish in Singapore? Shashlik restaurant (Far East Shopping Centre)'s borsch soup :-)

[demigodh]

Thanks for the advice guys. Unfortunately, we will only be in Singapore for one lunch and in all the other cities for a few days. Still, appreciate the suggestions and any more you might have. I've already started my extensive research on this thread and am finding plenty of ideas there but would still appreciate any non typical recommendations y'all might have.

[micheniche]

For Kuala Lumpur:

- LaFite - Shangri-La KL on Jalan Sultan Ismail. It's contemp French and it's really good. :) I always get the best meals here. :)
-Dim Sum at Shang Palace, Shangri-La KL. Regardless of which dim sum restaurant I go to, Shang Palace serves pretty authentic ones. A little pricey but if price is not the matter, I highly recommend this one. :)
-Imbi market, Jalan Imbi, KL. What's the point of coming to KL if you never visit the wet markets and have some hawker food? :D
-Grand Imperial Restaurant, Bangsar Shopping Centre ( Jalan Maarof? ) - They serve really good wonton noodles. The noodles are especially chewy and nice. :) This restaurant is fairly new but it's really good. :)

The list may sound a little pretentious but it's good food. :)
This is based on my family's and my opinion. If you need more information, do not hesitate to drop me an email. :D