Ah Soon Kor Har Mee 亞舜哥蝦麵 (GPS: 5.42224, 100.32586) is a Hokkien Mee stall at Kedai Makanan Seong Huat, on Bawasah Road in George Town, Penang. The stall, which operates in the morning part of the day, every day except Friday, sells both Hokkien Mee and Lor Mee. The speciality of Ah Soon Kor Har Mee is that you can order the "extra stuff" such as sio3 bak3 (grilled pork), bak1 kut3 (pork ribs and spareribs) and mantis prawns.
Ever since I discovered it back in 2012, Ah Soon Kor Har Mee has been one of my favourite Hokkien Mee stalls. However, from the time I first knew the stall until now, it has moved several times. When I first knew it, it was located at Sin Kim Sun Coffee Centre, at the junction of Macalister Road and Rangoon Road. From there, Ah Soon Kor moved to Perak Road, where he opened his own coffee shop.
From Perak Road he moved again, to operate another coffee shop on Carnarvon Street. And then he moved away to Kuala Lumpur for about half a year before returning to Penang. When his Carnarvon Street coffee shop closed, I lost touched and thought I would never get to enjoy his Hokkien Mee again. Then one day, I read in my Facebook group that Ah Soon Kor has materialised at Kedai Makanan Seong Huat, so my wife and I hightailed over there, and sure enough, there he was!
Ah Soon Kor was so pleased to see us that he treated us to his Hokkien Mee for that day. It was a taste that I have missed for over a year. This is how it looks like.
Opening hours
August 2019
Ah Soon Kor Har Mee is now operating at Kedai Makanan Seong Huat at Bawasah Road. It opens from early morning, around 8:00am until about 9:30am. The stall closes on Thursday.
Ah Soon Kor Har Mee (23 June 2018)
About Ah Soon Kor Har Mee
Ah Soon Kor calls his Hokkien Mee as Har Mee, which means "prawn noodle", perhaps for the benefit of outstation people, though as far as Penang folks like me is concerned, this is the quintessential Hokkien Mee plus plus. (I say "plus plus" because it adds on to the simple noodle dish of past generations with the inclusion of stuff like mantis prawns and roasted pork.) I first learned about this stall from the parents of a friend that I visited during Chinese New Year in 2012. Ever since I tried this stall, it has ranked as one of my favorite Hokkien Mee stalls.
I learned from my friend's parents that this is their favourite Hokkien Mee in town, and that it has been operating since 1968. Of course, not by the same hawker, who is pretty young to have been doing the job since so long ago.
Ah Soon Kor Har Mee (27 January 2012)
Curious to learn the truth, I visited it and tried out the special. Now I can confirm that this is indeed one of the best Har Mee I have ever tasted. The Har Mee is available in different sizes. As of Jan 2012, they are priced at RM4.00 (regular), RM5.00 (large), RM6.00 (special) and RM7.00 (super special). I tried the one which is RM6.00. It comes with spare ribs and mantis prawns. The broth is tasty as it is made from boiling the spare ribs and prawns.
Ah Soon Kor Har Mee is available every day from 7:30 am in the morning until around 11:30 am before noon. The coffee shop closes once every two weeks, on Mondays.
The Ah Soon Kor Har Mee stall has relocated to its own independent coffee shop, which I call the Ah Soon Kor Har Mee Coffee Shop on Perak Road, operating from 30 April, 2015. I visited the stall on 2 May, 2015, and tried it at its new premises. It retains the top rating I have given it so far.
Food Rating
Ah Soon Kor Har Mee (at Perak Road premises, 2 May 2015): A+ (top rating)
25 April, 2015
It has been a while since I visited Ah Soon Kor Har Mee at Sin Kim Sun Coffee Centre, so my wife and I returned. The taste is certainly as soon as before. I enjoyed every spoonful to the last drop. As we were leaving the stall, Ah Soon Kor told me that he is opening an outlet at his own coffee shop on Perak Road. The Ah Soon Kor Har Mee Coffee Shop will begin selling on Thursday, 30 April, 2015.
10 October, 2014
When the producer of a Singapore television production house approached me to recommend my favourite Hokkien Mee, it wasn't hard for me to propose Ah Soon Kor's. They are retracing the history of the Hokkien people for the second season of the TV series "Are you Hokkien? 你是福建人吗?" It was to be hosted by veteran Singapore actor/singer/comedian Marcus Chin 陈建彬 and upcoming Singapore host Huang Jinglun 黄靖伦. I was happy to be involved, as the programme was to be in Hokkien (and anything that helps to showcase Penang Hokkien is up my street).
Before the filming date, I checked out with Ah Soon Kor, informing him that the production crew planned a visit to his stall. He was pleased with the attention. I also learned from him then that his stall was started by his mother, who continued to operate a stall in the coffee shop across the road.
On the day of filming, I arrived at Ah Soon Kor's stall with the TV production crew. Ah Soon's mother also came around to help out her son. To intro Ah Soon Kor, we did a skid outside the stall where I brought Marcus and Jinglun to enjoy Penang-style Hokkien Mee. We then moved to a table. The director pre-ordered for each of us a bowl of Hokkien Mee. He made mine the "lor4 cham3 tng1", a mix of Hokkien Mee gravy and the starchy Lor Mee gravy, so that the two hosts can ask me what I was having.
We actually had to do a few takes in order for the cameraman to get the shot he wanted. Of course, I also need to get used to having a TV camera pointed at me and not pay too much attention to it. All in all it was a fun experience, and I do look forward to seeing the episode when it airs next year.
Food Rating
Sin Kim Sun Coffee Centre Ah Soon Kor Har Mee Rating (10 October 2014): A+ (top rating)
Group shot at Ah Soon Kor Har Mee, with his two staff on the left, Ah Soon's mother, Marcus Chin, Huang Jinglun, Ah Soon Kor and myself (10 October 2014)
Ah Soon Kor with Marcus Chin and Huang Jinglun (10 October 2014)
Marcus Chin and Huang Jinglun at Ah Soon Kor's Har Mee (10 October 2014)
Ah Soon Kor's mother who started the stall with her late husband in 1968 (10 October 2014)
Tim with Marcus Chin (left) and Huang Jinglun (right) (8 February 2013)
4 October, 2014
I visited Ah Soon Kor Har Mee today, to break the news to him that I would like to bring a TV production crew to his stall the following week. I am pleased that Ah Soon Kor is willing to appear in the TV programme.
One thing I like about Ah Soon Kor is that he has always been professional in treating his customers. The quality has been consistent from the first time I visited the stall in 2012. Even after he found out that I have featured him positively on Penang Travel Tips, I don't ask for and do not expect discounts or special treatment. I suppose he understood my principle that anybody - whether he is a pauper or a millionaire - who is your customer is a somebody. So all deserves equal treatment.
Food Rating
Sin Kim Sun Coffee Centre Ah Soon Kor Har Mee Rating (4 October 2014): A+ (top rating)
Ah Soon Kor Har Mee (4 October 2014)
6 September, 2014
Lately I have been enjoying some very good Hokkien Mee from various stalls in Penang, and as I rate them, they made me curious over how they compare with Ah Soon Kor Har Mee, which has been my favorite all along. In order to provide the stalls a fair comparison, I revisited Ah Soon Kor Har Mee again on the above date, to update my evaluation.
(Oh, I have to add that I tried to come a week or so earlier, but arrived to see a notice board saying that the stall was closed for three days.)
As soon as I arrived at the stall, the hawker greeted me, and thanked me for writing about him on the web. I told myself, "Uh-oh." I thought they would not be looking me up on the Internet, and knowing that I have been discovered, I am careful about what I am about to be given.
Just as before, I ordered the "super special" bowl of RM7.00. It did not take long to arrive, less than 5 minutes.
As soon as I smell the aroma, I know Ah Soon Kor Har Mee stands a good chance to hold its position. It has the full aroma of Penang Hokkien Mee. Next, take a look at a photo of the Hokkien Mee itself. This is what I call absolutely ho1liau33 (that's Penang Hokkien for tasty).
Even after finishing all the material in the bowl, I continue to enjoy the gravy. Okay, it may not be fair to compare this Hokkien Mee with others, as this one comes with roasted meat and mantis prawns, and a correspondingly higher price tag of RM7.00. However, even if you order the regular bowl without all these extras, the gravy itself is very rich, and hence places it on good footing against other Hokkien Mee in Penang.
I am not quite sure whether I am getting special treatment because the hawker has found out that I write about him on the web. I expect not, and I hope not, as I do remember to difference in the amount received between now and before.
Having said all that, this Hokkien Mee retains its place as my favorite, as of 6 September, 2014, until the next time I pay it a visit.
Food Rating
Sin Kim Sun Coffee Centre Ah Soon Kor Har Mee Rating (6 Sept 2014): A+ (top rating)
Ah Soon Kor Har Mee (6 September 2014)
Where to eat Hokkien Mee in Penang & elsewhere
If you have a craving for Penang-style Hokkien Mee and are seeking places selling it, get the recommendations of members the Hawker Food Planet right here!
If you're going to be in George Town, Penang, and you are looking for food, get the recommendations from food lovers who are members of the Hawker Food Planet Facebook Group! Listed here are all their recommendations.
If you are seeking private guided tours of Penang, message Penang Tour Guides at penangtourguides@gmail.com and enquire with them.
Buy, rent or sell properties in Penang
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Disclaimer
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