Kampung Melayu Junction Hokkien Mee
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Kampung Melayu Junction Hokkien Mee Stall (3 August 2013)
Kampung Melayu Junction Hokkien Mee is a push-cart Hokkien Mee stall in Air Itam, Penang. You can usually find this stall in the afternoons from 4:00 pm onwards, a lone hawker stall at the junction of Jalan Air Itam and Jalan Kampung Melayu. The hawker is assisted by his wife and son.
Patrons to the stall have to content themselves to a single round table that they have to share. Often, many patrons end up eating their Hokkien Mee standing up while holding the hot bowl in their hands, and under the hot afternoon sun. Yet many do not seem to mind, as they are somehow hooked to the taste of this particular Hokkien Mee stall.
Kampung Melayu Junction Hokkien Mee (3 August 2013)I have tried this Hokkien Mee only once. The taste is not bad, but I find it incredibly sparse. Many of its devotees however are quick to point out that this is how Hokkien Mee should taste like, sans boiled egg.
Update
11 February, 2014: The Kampung Melayu Junction Hokkien Mee has moved across the road and is now operating from the coffee shop over there.New location of the Kampung Melayu Junction Hokkien Mee. View Larger Map
11 October, 2014
Today's Taste Test is conducted within a visit by the crew of a Singapore television production company. They are shooting the second season of the television series, "Are You Hokkien", and have asked me to show them a stall that preserves the "old-world taste". The director has already heard of this stall, and wanted to visit it to see how the old world taste Hokkien Mee looks like.
We arrived at the stall around 4:10 pm. Along with the production crew were the two hosts, which includes Singapore's veteran comedic actor/singer Marcus Chin, and young Taiwan-based host Huang Jinglun. "Are You Hokkien?" is a light-hearted series, and I get to join in as local host in introducing these two clowns to our various Hokkien Mee. It was a lot of fun interacting with them, and it was such a privilege to get to meet Marcus up close, and getting to know him as a person.
I became aware what a big local celebrity Marcus is when streams of people came to watch and photograph him. The ladies working at the nearby 4D shop also came out with their smart phones and men eating at the Hokkien mee stall were delighted with the chance to speak to Marcus in person.
Now let's turn our attention to the Kampung Melayu Junction Hokkien Mee. The director ordered one bowl for each of us. He wanted to go for the "old world taste", so I specified to the hawker to hold the boiled egg and pig skin. Otherwise, you will end up with the "new-style old world taste".
As far as taste is concerned, yup, this stall does retain that basics expected of Hokkien Mee. Not only that, the next time you come to this stall, smell the aroma of the freshly prepared bowl. It comes from cooking the prawns, or more likely, the prawn shells. Also, you should take note that the broth is cooked over a charcoal stove.
However, beyond the old world taste, and despite the continuous flow of customers coming to enjoy the Hokkien Mee from this stall, I still cannot accept that the stall provides neither a spoon nor even a place to enjoy the Hokkien Mee sitting down. I do notice a couple of makeshift tables, but also observe that the tables were actually put up by the soyabean stall next to it.
In addition to the plain old-world taste, you can now get an upgrade with the inclusion of boiled eggs and pig skin. Nothing too special. The reason I say this is because there are a lot of good Hokkien Mee all over Penang where you can eat in comfort on tables with chopsticks and spoons. And if you really want the old world taste from these Hokkien Mee stalls, you can always ask the seller to hold the boiled egg, the spare ribs, the large prawns, and all the creature comforts of present-day Hokkien Mee, and voilà, you get a bowl just like the one at Kampung Melayu Junction.
Food Rating: Kampung Melayu Junction Hokkien Mee
Hokkien Mee (11 October 2014): B+
Tim with Huang Jinglun (left) and Marcus Chin (right) at the Kampung Melayu Junction Hokkien Mee (11 October 2014)
Marcus Chin at the Kampung Melayu Junction Hokkien Mee with Huang Jinglun (11 October 2014)
Cameraman from the production company videographing Kampung Melayu Junction Hokkien Mee (11 October 2014)
Filming of the Kampung Melayu Junction Hokkien Mee (11 October 2014)
Tim and the Threesixzero Production team at Kampung Melayu Junction Hokkien Mee (11 October 2014)
Getting there
The Kampung Melayu Junction Hokkien Mee is usually selling in the afternoons. The nearest bus stop along Jalan Air Itam is served by Rapid Penang bus 201 and 502.View Kampung Melayu Junction Hokkien Mee in a larger map
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!click here
What to eat in George Town, Penang
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.click here
List of Hawker Stalls in Penang
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