Goh Huat Seng, Teo Chew Food

Last Thursday, we had the usual dinner-break from college and were faced
by the usual predicament of choosing a place to eat. The modern
commercialized food like nasi kandar, western food, fast food, japanese,
thai and hawkers were getting dull to the tongue.

We decided a switch to good old rice with dishes and ended up in Goh
Huat Seng, one of the oldest chinese food restaurants in Penang.
Located at Chulia Street, this none-air conditioned restaurant has been
running for generations. Famous for its teo chew food, it draws
customers from abroad as well.

The place.
Unlike your typical 'choo-char' or
'tai pai tong', this place comes
with plastic chairs and table
clothes, instead of metal
stools and tables.
No air condition though,
but it's breezy enough.



Weird old decoration.
The place is decorated with
old antiques like this giant
mirror here. And those
wooden plank with chinese
words. Alfred gets high
for unknown reasons
while Kenny stares blankly
into his own reflection..


Fish Fritters w Black Bean Sauce









Price: RM15++ (++ means estimation as I've forgotten the actual price)
Mildly fried fish slices cooked in tao cheong or black bean sauce.
It was good as you can taste slight spiciness from the red chilies as
well. Very appetizing with white rice. Fish was fresh too.


Chicken Saute with Assorted Vege
Price: RM10++
It was okay. The usual
saute taste. Nothing out
of ordinary. Has some
weird vegetable inside.
And it's a bit oily.




Fried Oyster in Black Bean Sauce
Price : RM15++
I am not a fan of oyster.
I had 2-3 servings and
that was enough. The
sauce is something like
the fish fritters, except
you get an extra oyster
taste to it. Alfred almost
cleaned the plate alone.


Stewed Pork Leg









Price : RM13
Yes, this is like 'Yim Tai' that you get from restaurants. Only in a
different style and cheaper. I can't say it's the best stewed pork leg I've
tasted, but this was very nicely prepared. No, the meat isn't stewed to
the extend that it melts in your mouth (You can only get those in KL),
but it was really good. Not too soft, not too tough, it's the best
you can ask for from a place like this. The sauce was a bit bland, but
it's the style. You can't complain about it. In fact, I like it. Very nice.


Overall, it was a good meal for me, finally another place that doesn't
have spicy or sour food in its menu. But that was until the bill came.
It was RM59.00+. Yeah, that's a near RM60 for you. 3 persons only.
No service charge or any other extra charges. It's RM20 per person.
You can dine in some semi-fancy jap restaurant with that kind of price.
It's ridiculously priced IMO but they wouldn't give a damn. They have been
in Penang for generations. But the food is 1 of a kind in Penang
(unless your family is Teo Chew and actually cook those food at home).
Expensive or not, it's up to you to decide. But I wouldn't mind going back
there again...once in a blue moon..for that pork leg. Oh yes, the pork
leg...Mmmm.