Penang - "2 Sisters" Char Koay Teow, MacAlister Road

[klyeoh]

The 2 Sisters Char Koay Teow in Lam Heng Cafe, 183 MacAlister Road, had been known as one of the best purveyors of Penang-style fried koay teow for over 50 years, before one of the sisters passed away a couple of years back.

Today, the stall is run by the 50-something year old son of the younger sister, Mdm Lam Mew Heng, who, IMO, cooks as well as both his mum and aunt, the famed 2 sisters.

The fried koay teow here is less oily than the other famous versions I tried (e.g. Lorong Selamat). Large fresh prawns adorn the noodles, which had a charred, "wok hei" aroma. Cockles, egg and crambeat complete the dish. Sheer deliciousness on a plate. My fave in all of Penang, ,I must say :-)

Another interesting dish at Lam Heng is the Penang-style Nyonya otak-otak - spicy, fluffy-soft mousse, with the requisite Nyonya flavors: fresh turmeric, galangal, coconut milk..

Address details
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2 Sisters Fried Koay Teow
Lam Heng Cafe
183 MacAlister Road
Georgetown, 11400 Penang
(Closed Mondays)

[penang_rojak]

I agree. The Two Sisters char koay teow is the least oily version among the famous sellers. The son of the second sister now fries koay teow all day long. Previously, he fries in the afternoon shift whilst his auntie, Mdm Lam Geok Kee, the older & surviving sibling of the legendary Two Sisters duo, takes the morning shift.

I spoke to one of the coffeeshop people before and they said that the older sister (she's still around, 77 years old, but didn't want to cook anymore as she has heart palpitations) also has a son, but he can't cook for nuts! So now, it's up to his cousin to keep up the legacy. I like this place very, very much as well. Best time is to come in the morning when the steamed yam cake is also available.

[klyeoh]

Ah yes, the famous steamed yam cake: I used to have to hand-carry boxes & boxes of that stuff for Singaporean relatives & friends who couldn't get enough of the stuff. Quite difficult, too, I must say, since their yam cake was so delicate & fragile. The dried prawn floss & shallot topping would be packed separately.

Every Singaporean holidaymaker to Penang would make a beeline for Lam Heng coffeeshop: "eat the fried koay teow, then take-away the yam cake" - it's almost like a mantra for us :-D

[penang_rojak]

And I remembered having to make advance booking for 10 boxes of those stuff for you once :D

I don't know, we Penangites never even thought of eating those yam cakes, and we normally scratch our heads at why Singaporeans love these stuff and eating it like there's no tomorrow.