Sin Guat Keong Coffee Shop

Sin Guat Keong (GPS: 5.41642, 100.33274) is a coffee shop at the junction of Kimberley Street and Cintra Street in George Town, Penang. It is located at the heart of the city's street food culture. The name of the shop, which is in Hokkien, means "new moon palace".

Sin Guat Keong Coffee Shop has a popular char koay teow stall in front of it. Also available at Sin Guat Keong are the chee cheong fun, mee goreng and mee rebus. Recently (7 February 2014), we noticed a Hokkien Mee stall and decided to try it the next day (see taste test report below). Next door to Sin Guat Keong is another popular delicacy, the traditional almond dessert shop.

Sin Guat Keong Coffee Shop, Kimberley Street (30 June 2012)




8 February, 2014: We knew Sin Guat Keong as the coffee shop with a famous char koay teow stall right in front, but lately, we have lost interest with this char koay teow, as it is pricey, the portion is small, and it mass-produces the frying. The day before, as we were passing this coffee shop in the car, my wife noticed a Hokkien Mee stall by the side of the coffee shop. We weren't sure how long it has been operating, but since its sign proclaims Hokkien Mee with spare ribs, we decided to give it a try.

This turned out to be a wonderful discovery.

Even before I got the first mouthful, I knew it is going to be good, judging from the aroma. The fried shallots provides a whiff that combines so nicely with the soup. The large bowl of Hokkien Mee with spareribs is not cheap. It was RM7.00 (and from my experience of late, anything worth eating in Penang now has a price tag in this region). In addition to the meaty spare ribs in our bowls, we enjoy the taste of the Hokkien Mee soup, which is quite thick. It was a big bowl, the portion was big, but it was so delicious that I enjoyed every bit of it.

The Hokkien Mee at Sin Guat Keong (8 February 2014)


Before our Hokkien Mee arrived, we also ordered a plate of Mee Rebus from the mamak stall at the coffee shop. We have seen this mee rebus/mee goreng stall so many times, but have never tried it before (as previously, we have always gone for the char koay teow). Today we decided to take a chance on it.

Unfortunately, compared to the Hokkien Mee, the Mee Rebus turned out to be a disappointment. My wife tried it first. She immediately registered her dislike, and pushed the plate over for me to try. Hmm, it doesn't smell good. I can't put my finger on it, but the only way I can describe it is to say that it smelled like medicine.

The Mee Rebus at Sin Guat Keong (8 February 2014)


We couldn't finish the Mee Rebus. In fact, each of us took no more than two spoonfuls of it, and then we surrendered. The mee rebus seller, on coming to collect his plate, actually asked us why we couldn't finish our mee. I quickly answered that we have just finished a big bowl of Hokkien Mee, and we have been too ambitious to order more than we could finish. That is true, except that we did not also tell him that his Mee Rebus is not tasty.

Apart from the food, we also ordered the iced water chessnut drink and iced Nescafe. Both are good, so drinks-wise, no issue.

The Hokkien Mee is highly recommendable. I can't wait to come back! But considering my expensive taste, I will have to go for the RM7 bowl each time I come. I would certain never, never discourage people from trying the Mee Rebus. Every hawker has to cari makan, and I do not want to break people's rice bowl. I would rather blame my own poor judgement and opinion. Maybe something is wrong somewhere with the Mee Rebus. Please go ahead and try both the Hokkien Mee and Mee Rebus, and then provide us your opinion on the Penang Hawker Food Facebook Group.

Timothy Tye at Sin Guat Keong (8 February 2014)

Street Art of George Town

The "Same Taste, Same Look" Sculpture is installed on the wall of Sin Guat Keong Coffee Shop in January, 2013.

Sin Guat Keong is on the map of Kimberley Street

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