One of the best Penang Char Kway Teow at Singapore's Gurney Drive
Chen Jingwen | SoShiok.com ( Singapore ) | Fri Apr 20 2012
by Chen JingwenSingapore, April 20, 2012
Gurney Drive @ Terminal 3
Departure/Check-in Hall
Level 3, Changi Airport Terminal 3
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Who says you can't find good Penang Char Kway Teow in Singapore?
The smoky kind wildy inflamed by a rebellious fire and extra-hot chilli paste, and liberally splashed with lard and salty fish sauce. And maybe with car fumes in it too.
Yeah, the very mean streetside Char Kway Yeow of Penang.
I had something like that at the Gurney Drive outlet at Singapore Changi Airport - T3.
From the blackened oil - thanks to a greasy, fired up wok to the smaller kway teow noodles and disappointing, miniscule cockles, it was just like the real thing.
So was the level of saltiness, although the owners claimed they had reduced the salt content to suit the local palate.
Although I wished the lard pieces were crispy and the cockles were of better quality, the fried noodles were very delicious.
I enjoyed them at two visits. One version had flaming-wok burnt oil while the other was slightly 'cleaner', but both packed a terrific punch.
However, I didn't enjoy the hastily fried one at their Ang Mo Kio branch when I went there for lunch earlier this week.
The chain was opened by Singaporean Ricky Lim and his Malaysian partner Ven Chin together with Penang chef Wong, who has worked in Singapore hotels for many years.
The budget friendly prices should appeal to many Singaporeans - the normal Char Kway Teow with prawns, fishcake slices, Chinese sausage and cockles costs $6.90, while the one with more ingredients and squid is priced just below $10.
I'm also glad not every dish followed its traditional recipe to a T.
Like the Ice Kachang tweaked with Penang touches - it was sprinkled with sweetened nutmeg, chopped peanuts and pandan syrup.
There are tropical fruit drinks to cleanse your system after a rich intake.
Apart from the popular Penang nutmeg drink, there were the jackfruit drink made with fresh pulp and the refreshing, fat-zapping ampla or kedongdong drink.
What else to try:
Penang Hokkien Prawn Mee, $6.20 The prawn noodle is the pride of Gurney Drive. Great prawny, meaty stock. Ask for a bigger dollop of chilli paste for an authentic kick. One of the best in Singapore.
Penang Lor Bak, $4.20 The fried meat rolls were well seasoned with aromatic five spices, sugar and shallots. They were accompanied by fried tofu. The dips were not great - the brown starchy dip was tasteless while the chilli sauce seemed to have come from a bottle.
Penang Fruit Rojak, $4.20 While I enjoyed the fresh cuts of turnip and guava, I would prefer a more concentrated prawn paste. It was diluted with sweet black soy sauce.
Penang Assam Laksa, $5.90
It was the soupy version, the kind that most Penangites like, according to Ricky. I prefer the chunky version loaded with shredded, pummelled fish.
Belacan chicken wings, $4.90 Flavoured with salty, prawny shrimp paste, the chicken wings should appeal to kids too. Well fried to a crisp.
Gong Bao Mantis Prawns, $6.90
I'm glad the Penang mantis prawns are part of the menu here. Although they're smaller and didn't taste prawny-sweet, the spicy Gong Bao sauce was good.
Grilled stingray, $7.90
The complex chunky sauce tasted Nonya-like with top notes of bunga siantan flower in it. Tender, juicy meat as a smaller ray was used.
Penang curry chicken with rice, $5.90 It was a deliciously thick chicken curry, but I wasn't sure the taste was distinctively Penang.
King of Cendol, $5.90 Although I liked the authentic Penang cendol strips and soft red beans, I am not a big fan of Penang Chendol as the gula melaka is usually thinned out by the characterless brown sugar. But the more expensive version here clumsily crowned with a big dollop of chilled durian paste was more rewarding. Stir the paste into the melting, shaved ice and you'll get a coconutty, icy durian treat.
Rating for Char Kway Teow: 8/10
Rating for Prawn Mee: 8/10
Overall Rating: 6 to 8/10
Gurney Drive @ Terminal 3
Departure/Check-in Hall
Level 3 Mezzanine South
#03-21, Changi Airport Terminal 3
Singapore 819692
Tel: 6441 1690
Other outlets:
Gurney Drive @ Suntec City
3 Temasek Boulevard
#B1-058 Fountain Terrace
Singapore 038983
Tel: 6336 8847
Gurney Drive @ Jubilee
61 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8
#01-07 to10 (next to Blk 722)
Singapore 569814
Tel: 6455 1202
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Read also:
- Good Penang eateries in Singapore
- Good Penang buffet at Fusionpolis
- What's good at Malaysia Food Street in Sentosa
- One of the best Char Kway Teow in Penang
- Meng Kee, one of the best Char Kway Teow in Singapore
The best Char Kway Teow in Singapore
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Pictures of Char Kway Teow stall serving 15 to 30 cockles