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Ang Hoay Lor (3 February 2013)
Ang Hoay Lor is a restaurant operating in the compound of the Penang State Chinese Association. It opens daily (except Wednesday) from 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm. Someone in Singapore had told me about this stall. She showed me the blogpost from my friend CK Lam's blogm what2seeonline.com and told me to try their Hokkien Char, telling me that this restaurant serves the most authentic Hokkien Char in Penang. Really? I have heard of Ang Hoay Lor in passing, most recently when I attended the Penang State Chinese Association Merdeka Eve Dinner, and was curious about the taste. So finally we went there to give it a taste test.
4 October, 2014
As we were already told in advance what to order, we ordered two plates of Hokkien Char. In addition, we also ordered a platter of Haeh3 Kien4 or prawn fritters. As for the drinks, we ordered lo han kuo, one iced, one warm. Within a short while, we were provided our plates and the condiment. I observe that they provided us sliced chilli with soyasauce. I thought authentic Hokkien Char comes with sambal.
There were a dozen or so tables at Ang Hoay Lor. Each can take up to 6-8 people. We were moderately early, around 12:30 pm, so there were still 3-4 empty tables. Nonetheless eventually almost all the tables were also occupied. However, as with our own table, most of these large tables are taken by groups of 2-3 people, with plenty of empty chairs.
It was quite a wait to get our order delivered. About 20 minutes. The first to arrive was the Haeh Kien. This is how it looks like:
The Haeh Kien was crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. But that's about all I can say. It does have a bit of taste, but I have to dip it to the chilli sauce at every bite to enhance it, I have to say I have tasted better prawn fritters elsewhere.
Ang Hoay Lor haeh kien (4 October 2014)And then finally, the dish we have been waiting for arrived, our Hokkien Char. By appearance it looks very ho1liau33
(rich in ingredients). It has succulent prawns and plenty of oysters. However, I am disappointed with the colour of the noodle. Hokkien Char has to be darker in colour, not only the noodles but also the gravy. Moreover, it does not have the aroma of Hokkien Char. I was becoming concerned.I mixed up the noodles. I am happy to say that the portion was big, even for one person. Then comes the moment of truth. The first bite.
Ang Hoay Lor Hokkien Char (4 October 2014)I am sorry, very sorry, to tell you that, as far as I'm concerned, this Hokkien Char failed me. It was not tasty enough. It did not even have enough taste. As soon as my wife took the first bite, she had to pour additional soyasauce over her noodles. I also did the same. The added saltiness helped a bit, but not much, for the food was flat.
I am incredibly disappointed. I had such high hopes. Would I tell you not to visit Ang Hoay Lor? Of course not! Go and try it yourself, and pay close attention to the taste, blocking out whatever you may have read or heard (including my opinion), and judge the food I have mentioned above according to how those food should taste like.
What am I to do now? I feel I have been given a tasteless fusion of Hokkien Char and Oh Mee (Oyster Noodle). It's neither one or the other. When I got home, the first thing I did was post a question to my Facebook Group: "Is Hokkien Char served with sliced chilli in soyasauce or with sambal"? Read the response.
I finished the rest of the Hokkien Char in between bites of the Haeh Kien. The prawns provided some taste to the dish.
Guess how much this whole meal cost. The Haeh Kien cost RM18. The two plates of Hokkien Char and the two glasses of Lo Han Kuo totals another RM18. So a grand total of RM36 for two persons. Honestly I have eaten better, cheaper Hokkien Char, with shorter waiting time, in many other coffee shops and hawker centres in Penang.
Again, I am not saying this to discourage you from going to Ang Hoay Lor. It is after all only one person's opinion, and let's give this eatery the benefit of doubt that my taste was wrong. Nevertheless, I would shake my head if you tell me that this is "authentic Penang Hokkien Char". I do not mind if you add oyster or any expensive ingredient to your dish to create a luxury version of it, and charge for these accordingly, but authenticity requires that you stick to the baseline expectation, such as a sambal condiment, Hokkien Char noodles and Hokkien Char gravy.
Ratings
Hokkien Char (4 October 2014): C
Haeh Kien (4 October 2014): B Finally, will I return to Ang Hoay Lor? Sure, but not immediately, as what I have taken today did not give me the tuck to go back any time soon.
Postscript: after my visit, someone on my Facebook Group said that the signature dish at Ang Hoay Lor is the Oyster Noodles. Okay, if I go there next time, I may try this. Perhaps I will get a more authentic experience.
Getting there
Ang Hoay Lor is within the compound of the State Chinese Association. From Pangkor Road, continue on the left branch of Perak Road and you will reach the association on your left beside Khaw Sim Bee Road. The nearest bus stop is on Perak Road. It is served by Rapid Penang bus 101, 102, 104 and 304.List of Restaurants in Penang and Restaurants in Malaysia
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