Best Cendol in Penang

There has been a long debate on whether the best Cendol (otherwise spelled as Chendol or Chendul) comes Melaka or Penang. For me, the winner still goes to the original Penang Road Cendol. What's a trip to Penang without the Penang Road Cendol? You can't believe it, but my Dad and I love it so much that we could have it everyday when we are in Penang. Yes, it's unhealthy, but how often do we travel to Penang?

Although Cendol has become a common form of dessert in Singapore, I can't find the perfect one after tasting this one. This authentic Penang Cendol is located in a side lane call Lebuh Keng Hwee, off Penang Road. 

This street stall history dates back as early as my Dad's childhood days. Apparently the stall has been around since 1945. There are two stalls in the lane. There are many stories on the competition between the two. But the winner is clear and evident from the queue. Even the colour of the Cendol of the winner stall looks more appetising. 

With the success, you may be expecting this in a shop, or at least coffee shop, but no, this authentic stall still operates in a push-cart stall. 

You can either choose to stand on the street to have your bowl of Cendol, or order it into a coffee-shop just slightly down the street (middle of the street, same side as the stall) to enjoy it in the comfortably seated. I believe this coffee-shop belongs (or rented) to the cendol owner as it's all decorated with photos of celebrities visiting the fame stall. Do note that there is also another coffee-shop located at the start of the street. Do not go to this coffee-shop just to have your cendol as they will charge you 20cents more to have your cendol inside there, which also serves other food.  

Cendol is made from a combination of coconut milk (santan), a worm-like jelly made from rice flour with green food colouring (from the pandan leaf), shaved ice and gula melaka (palm sugar). It's not easy to get the cendol - the worm-like jelly that is the right texture nowadays. Those pre-packed ones factory-made ones are hopeless. Not easy to find one that is home-made or hand-made these days 

There is also a cendol shop that is at Komtar Walk, just a few steps away from Komtar (located from the linked bridge down Komtar) and this original stall at Lebuh Keng Kwee. I was told it belongs to the same owner. Mainly targeted to the tourists and tour groups, the shop have seats in an air-conditioned and nicely decorated cafe environment. Believe that the pricing would be higher as well. For us, we still prefer the original authentic stall. We didn't even give it any chance of trying it even though it's just a few more steps away. Psychologically, I believe that the original stall is still the best. 

Snew's Rating: 4.8 / 5

There is so much comparison between Cendol from Melaka and Cendol from Penang. The conclusion winner still goes to Penang Cendol, and particularly, this stall in Penang Road. Although they taste similar, but Cendol in Melaka has the rich taste of gula melaka and coconut milk, taking after the Nonya Peranakan taste. Penang Cendol also has Gula Melaka syrup in it, it doesn't have the over-powering sweet taste, and the coconut milk just make it perfect combination. 

Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul

Lebuh Keng Kwee,
(Off Penang Road)
Opening Hours : Mon – Fri 10:30am - 7:00pm
                         Sat – Sun 10:00am - 7:30pm

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Melaka: Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock (around Jonker St)

Tan Cheng Lock is probably the most famous Malaysian Chinese figure in Melaka. A public figure and a 5th generation Peranakan Chinese living in Heeren St. This street was renamed to the today's Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock after Malaya achieved independence. This street was also known as the "Millionaire's Row" where the wealthy used to vie with each other to build ornate house in the mid 19th and 20th century.

Adjacent to Jonker Walk, we came across this Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum at this street  while searching for the Wanton Mee.
We did not venture into the museum, but if time permits in future, I would like to explore on the Peranakan history and culture.

大姑云吞面 Wan Tan Mee @ Kedai Makanan Dan Minuman

This is one of the eateries recommended and one of our friends was around the area on the first day but couldn't find the eatery. I can now understand why. It's easily missed out coffee shop due to it's obscure-looking facade. It took us the second round on our car before I could really pin down on this coffee shop, taking in consideration that we have the full address.

If you are a hygiene freak, then this coffee shop is probably not suitable for you. It has only a few tables, and probably not the most comfortable environment to take your meals. To be really honest, I nearly wanted to turn away when I found the coffeeshop as I was pretty disappointed at how run-down the place is. There were no other customers at the coffeeshop. But well, looks can be deceiving at times right?

So how's the wanton mee?

The noodle has the spongy feel, nice. There's a strong lard taste, the Malaysian taste associated with good food. Char Kuay Teow has this taste, and now, even wanton mee here.

The wanton is well marinated and you can't taste the pork smell.

I won't say it's fantastic, but it's definitely worth a try. We ordered the medium size one for RM4. Serving is still pretty small, but we are saving space for other food.

There's an old newspaper article clipping on the wall, recommending the wanton mee in this stall, so probably was a pretty famous stall in the olden days?

Snew's Rating: 3.2 / 5

大姑云吞面 Kedai Makanan & Minman Wantan Mee
40 Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock (formerly Heeren St)
75200 Melaka, Malaysia


Donald & Lily
I remembered some 10 years ago, one of my Uni mates brought me to an old and dilapidated shophouse, (alright, it's abit exhilarating but you hardly find old shophouses in Singapore) somewhere around Jonkers area for very good Chendol. However, I couldn't really recall it exactly and I kind of lost contact with this Uni mate. I went to ask one of my friends who grew up in Melaka if such a eatery really exist and even went on insisting it was not the touristy Jonker 88.  He knew what I was talking about and explain to me the directions.

So, after passing the bridge of the Melaka river on the left, I walked down two streets on the left, and bingo, I found this shop! Imagine the excitement.

It's a two storey shophouse, and more seats are available on the second storey. The cafe offers Nyonya Peranakan food like Ayam Pongteh, Mee Siam, Nyonya Laksa, and of course, Chendol.

We came here specially for the Chendol, but in all excitement, I didn't manage a nice picture of the Chendol. *knock my head*
Anyway, the Chendol lives up to my expectation, better then Jonker 88. It would be perfect if the shave ice was blended a little finer.

Looking around at what the other customers are having, we decided to try a bowl of Nyonya Laksa. OMG! This is really heaven. The coconut milk was very rich, and yes, it's sinful, but who cares. The ingredients for this laksa is also different, with strips of omelette and small fishballs, which you don't find it other Laksa.

Till today, Papa Snew is still reminiscing this bowl of Nyonya Laksa. We will definitely go back to try this eatery again on our next trip to try other dishes.

But wait, we saw a sign posted that it's going to move very soon, on the 16 Jun.

Snew's Rating: 3.8 / 5


Donald & Lily
No 16 (Ground Floor), Jalan KSB 1,
Taman Kota Shahbandar,
75200 Melaka, Malaysia
+60 12-292 3157


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Melaka: Jonker Street

Jonker Street, also known as Jalan Hang Jebat, is probably the most well-known street in Melaka. This is the heart of Chinatown and home ground to antique and souvenir shops.

On weekend nights - Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the road is close to traffic and street stalls (aka Pasar Malam) are set up.

San Shu Gong 三叔公

The entrance of Jonker Street / Walk, is pretty prominent with the San Su Gong 三叔公, the famous local products store.

Some of the popular goodies include the lime juice, Beh-Teh-Su (马蹄酥) and white coffee.

On the first night that we visited Jonker Street, it was a Saturday night. Jonker Street was packed with visitors, particularly San Shu Gong, packed with tourists both shopping inside, or waiting for the others, outside.


Lao Qian Ice Cafe is located within San Shu Gong. On the busy Saturday night, we overheard someone queued over one hour for the Durian Chendol. I'm not sure if it was correct, but for us, we didn't queue long for that, though we have difficulty finding an empty seat in the store.
Cost about RM5.80, it's worth a try. You can really taste the durian in it. But of course, I won't queue over 1hour, if that's what I heard correctly. We only queued for like 5 minutes? but it was close to closing time.

Snew's Rating on Durian Chendol: 3.8 / 5
The credit goes to the presence of the rich durian taste. The chendol, as in the red bean and other ingredients are pale in comparison to the other good chendols in Melaka


San Shu Gong 三叔公
33, Jalan Hang Jebat,
75200 Melaka, Malaysia
 Opens Daily: 10am - 10pm


Hoe Kee Chicken Rice
The next shop on the stretch is famous Hoe Kee Chicken Rice.

Hoe Kee Chicken rice is next to San Shu Gong as you walk further in on Jonker Street. From the blogs, this is one of the "must try" chicken rice shop.

The queue was pretty long when I visited before 2pm on a weekday. We gave up queueing, but that's also because we already had lunch, and this was like our round two originally planned.
Someone told us that chicken rice wasn't that nice compared to Singapore, hence, we didn't have much motivation to continue queueing.

Do let me know your thoughts if you have tried.


Chung Wah Chicken Rice
Do not confuse Chung Wah chicken rice, which is opposite San Shu Gong, to Hoe Kee. This is the corner coffeeshop on the right hand side, as you pass the river leading to Jonker street, .

The shop wasn't open on the past few days we were at Jonker Street. Finally, I saw this open on our last day, with a horrendously long queue. The picture at of this queue was taken about 2+pm, and still there's such a queue line.

Papa Snew remembered trying this a couple of years back and didn't really like it. I can't really recall. But it can't be that bad with such a long queue. I was told that the chicken rice ball here is the best.

Both of these chicken rice shops are open only during lunch time and serve till it's sold out. I'm really not sure of the operating hours and the days of operation. If you know, do drop us a comment.

The speciality about the chicken rice in Melaka, is the rice, that is knitted into a ball. Some people like it, others prefer the usual plate of chicken rice.

We have this debate with my group of friends over chicken rice in Melaka vs the Singapore chicken rice. Many felt that the smoothness and silkiness of the chicken in Singapore making it tender, is still a taste that many of us prefer. The chicken used in Singapore, are breed in captivity, whereas those in Malaysia, are usually "kampong" chicken, which is tougher. Some prefers the smooth and tenderness, where others prefer the tougher version of the Kampong chicken.

Which is your preference? Leave us your comments.


Jonker 88
My group of friends are all raving that they need to try the chendol in Jonker 88. We went on the first night - Saturday night, but the shop was close. We were pretty disappointed, and went back on Monday, after lunch at Ole Sayang.

This is perhaps, the most popular Chendol in Melaka. You would probably not been to Jonker Street if you have not tried the Chendol here.

Look at the crowd. We were a party of 7,  and took us some time to get a table, big enough to squeeze all of us in.

The walls are decorated with old notes, uncut from different countries, including Canadian. No wonder someone call it Museum Cafe.

Well, after squeezing through a small door and waiting for a table, you also have to queue for food. It's self-service, so you have to carry the bowls of Chendol to your own table.

You have to queue separately for Laksa. One of our friends try the Assam Laksa. Looks at the spoonful of tuna! Taste sourish instead of spicy. But I probably have to taste the Penang Assam Laksa to compare before commenting.

A peep at how the Chendol is being prepared on my way out.

I didn't know there were different types of Laksa and Chendol that you could order from, till I was leaving and saw the menu signage. Alright, I will return next time to try the different types of Laksa and Chendol.

Jonker Dessert 88
88, Jalan Hang Jebat,
75200 Melaka, Malaysia
Opening Hours:
Daily - 10am to 6pm
Saturdays - 10am to 10pm

Streets 

Look at the busy night market on a Saturday night. Stalls selling souvenirs, handphone accessories, slippers, and shops selling nice Tees are the most common.

Street foods are the most common. It's durian season. But the durians sold at Jonker Street is not cheap. I can't remember the price though. Snacks like potato chips, candy sweets, Kuik Kuik are common too.

Continue On...

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Melaka: Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock


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