When in Penang, one of the street foods you need to eat is Malaysian-styled Hokkien Mee which is very different from the Singaporean prawn noodles Nestled within a row of terrace houses, 888 Hokkien Mee is a small cart stall specialising in noo…
When in Penang, one of the street foods you need to eat is Malaysian-styled Hokkien Mee which is very different from the Singaporean prawn noodles
Nestled within a row of terrace houses, 888 Hokkien Mee is a small cart stall specialising in noodles with no other offerings. Within the same house converted to coffeeshop, they have another cart stall selling fried oysters and drinks
The basic noodle comes with small shrimp, yellow noodles, or rice vermicelli. You can add on noodles, instant noodles, eggs, meatballs, intestines, roast pork, pork leg and pork ribs at an additional cost
The base noodles are all prepared in the courtyard and top-ups are all added in before the soup is ladled into the bowls from the cauldrons at the side of the courtyard. It is not one of the most hygienic stalls as the same person handling all the chopping of cooked food also collects the money. If you can accept that this is the way locals consume their food, you will not be surprised at the way the food is being prepared
The available sitting area is within the house itself and is quite limited. I did not venture upstairs so I am not sure if there is more seating upstairs or behind the main hall. With no decoration, the house hall is renovated to look like a coffee shop with tiled walls and floors and the usual plastic stools and wooden tables. The walls are hung with black and white pictures of how the stall used to look in the olden days
The basic noodles cost MYR 7 and each add-on ingredient is another dollar. We added the roast pork and intestine which is why my noodles were full of ingredients. The serving size is considered small which can be finished in 5 to 6 spoonfuls. The first striking difference is the reddish soup which looks intensely spicy. However, at the first spoon, the spicy level was nice and acceptable with a spicy yet umami flavour from the prawn broth. With each mouthful, the chilli oil will start to irritate your throat to a certain extent. Personally, I would have preferred a version with less chilli oil. The ingredients were fresh and savoury except the prawns which were more like dried shrimps in my opinion as they were tiny and dry with no texture. I was glad we added the roast pork and intestines so the dish is elevated
Overall, if you like your noodles a spicy punch with less prawn flavour, this version of the prawn noodles soup is something you will live. While I do not mind eating this when I am in Penang, it is definitely not my style
Address: 67-A, Lebuh Presgrave, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Operating hours: 3 pm to 9.30 pm ( Closed on Thursday )
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