Murtabak Dinner at Hameediyah

Hameediyah Tandoori House (25 September 2016)


When I was small, my parents love to take us to Hameediyah Restaurant on Campbell Street for dinner. My mother would often order murtabak, which I was not that fond of as a child. Memories from childhood tend to linger, so that even as an adult, when I eventually got around to liking murtabak, I never make it a habit of patronising Hameediyah. I did not remember it with much fondness.

Yesterday, when my wife and I were visiting an elderly aunt, my aunt commented how she longed for the murtabak at Hameediyah. She loved to eat the mutton murtabak, and her description made us curious and longing to give Hameediyah a try.

So today, for want of something to have for dinner, my wife and I decided to visit Hameediyah Restaurant for dinner. I haven't been here for many years. In fact, I could not remember the last time I visited Hameediyah. It could have been for years already.

If you knew, Hameediyah has been operating at Campbell Street since 1907. It is the granddaddy of Indian Muslim restaurants in George Town. It has always operated from two shophouses near to each other, though in recent years it has added yet one more outlet on Campbell Street. I understand that Hameediyah has also opened branches all over Penang (I have seen its branches in Jelutong and Relau). Anyway, we headed straight to the main branch at Campbell Street.

The murtabak at Hameediyah Restaurant (25 September 2016)


What I learned today is that you order at the main branch, and then take your murtabak a few days down the street to the subsidiary branch. And that's what we did. We ordered two pieces of chicken murtabak. (I am not fond of mutton, while my wife felt mutton was too heaty for her). The outlet nearby, called Tandoori House, is air conditioned. We found a table, sat down, and the waiter brought us our kuah and onions. We took our fork and spoon from a wooden box on the table. Then a waitress came to take our drinks order. We ordered two glasses of ice lemon.

The ice lemon took a long while to arrive. We even checked on our order twice. By the time our drinks arrived, I have almost finished my meal.

So how do I like the chicken murtabak? Oh, I love it! The murtabak is very delicious. So this is the taste my late parents enjoyed when they were around, and now, I am enjoying it too as an adult. I also love the kuah that came with our murtabak. It is a thick curry, not dalcha, and it went very well with the murtabak.

The murtabak was RM5.50 each while the ice lemon drink was RM1.50 each. The total for two persons is RM14.85. Not bad. I have heard tales that Hameediyah charges outrageously for its meal. I did see a notice on the wall reminding diners that curry fish head costs between RM50 and RM100 a plate. That's one think we should avoid, unless we have deep pockets.

If you are eating at Hameediyah, I suggest to check the price of items and do not order blindly. Prices are shown on a big board on the wall.

List of Nasi Kandar Restaurants in Penang