Penang is a wonderful place to find all sorts of weird and wonderful foods. One place that is on every visitors food hitlist is definitely the famous chendol push cart, that has been selling chendol and ice kachang since 1936. Judging from my experience, it is better to visit when they just open, as later in the day there will be a long queue formed. This cart does sell other desserts and drinks, but no one bothers with them. People who come to this cart are there for one thing and one thing only.
Penang Road Famous Teochew ChendulLocation: No. 27-29 Lebuh Keng Kwee, Penang
Contact: (+60) 4-261 8002Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 10.30am-7.00pm. Sat-Sun 10.00am-7.30pm So here it is. The infamous
Penang Chendol. For those not familiar with this popular Asian dessert - It is basically a mixture of gula melaka, coconut milk, chendol (the pandan infused green 'noodles'), shaved ice and red beans. The workers at this cart make the chendol incredibly fast. Probably within less than 10 seconds it was served. I hate to be a party pooper, but overall I found this to be a pretty lackluster version of chendol. The aspect I found most lacking was the flavour and aroma of good quality gula melaka (palm sugar). Instead, I found it to be quite bland, and nothing out of the ordinary. Although I found the quality lacking, this desset is certainly a perfect remedy for the blistering heat of Penang.
Price: RM2.00. 6/10Conclusion - There is something about eating in a dirty alley that constantly appeals to me. But I must say, on this occasion I felt a little deflated. The cart owner has built up an incredible reputation over the many years, but perhaps the standard of chendol has subsequently dropped. Personally, I didn't find there to be anything outstanding or special about this chendol, compared with other chendol's I've eaten in Singapore and other countries. The reputation exceeds the reality, for me.Overall RatingFood - 6/10Ambiance- 6/10 Service - 6/10 Value - 7/10
