Wednesday, July 23, 2008

...of ayam masak kichap...

After weeks of not going to the malay food stall that sell "economy malay rice" below the Mar Vista Resort (because my dear colleague Mei Mei who has a phobia of cats crawling near her), my gastronomical appetite urged me to indulge in the ayam masak kichap/hitam (chicken in thick black soya sauce).

I sapu two big chuncks of chooks with a little rice (yes, fat people do not eat so much...myth or fact???) and some ulam. it was simply deeeee-leeeee-cious!!!

This place is located on the opposite side of the turning to Mar Vista Resort (directly opposite the Penang floating mosque). The place is called Arked Tanjung Bungah. It serves a wide variety of malay dishes (from ulam to kerabu to curry fish to chicken in this molass caramel). It is known for its large ikan terubuk (chi kak hoo) fried with sambal inserted between the meat (known as ikan terubuk sumbat sambal or hoo chi rempah). This signature dish is good, but the fish has millions (so to speak) of bones, not recommended to take when there is a power blackout.

It is the "black chicken" that really attracts me. The chicken is fried and cooked in dark caramel-like sauce... seeeedap sehingga menjilat kaki!!! It has that sweet taste and fragrance.

Also "must-try" the fish curry (usually ikan bawal hitam/black pomphret). Then there is an array of kerabu - mango, kacang botol, pucuk paku or bean sprout. For those who like "hot seats" in the morning, then you must take the sambal belacan with the ulam. Personally, I always had problems in the morning!!!

The price is quite reasonable and the place is usually packed during lunch hours, but worth going for if you are a malay food fan :)

Ratings : 7/10

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