Never Enough of Kimberley Street

Welcome to the Streets of George Town. Every issue, we bring you on a vicarious tour of the heritage trails of Penang highlighting its history, attractions and more!

Known as “Swatow-kay” or Swatow Street among the Penangites, Kimberley Street (Lebuh Kimberley in Malay) is definitely one of all foodies’ favourite food destinations in George Town. It runs from Penang Road to Carnarvon Street in the heart of the city, clustered with streetside hawker stalls which started near the intersection with Rope Walk (Jalan Pintal Tali). Most of the stalls in the street are operated by second- or third-generation hawkers, and had been there since World War II.

Kimberley Street was named after John Wodehouse, the Earl of Kimberley, who was the British colonial secretary in the 1870s. The road was created in the late 19th century and was populated by Teochew immigrants from the Swatow Province, who made bihun (rice noodles) and mee suah (vermicelli), drying them in the open. Until today, this colourful side-street continues to be vibrant and lively with plenty of hawker stalls offering awesome food using recipes passed down through more than half a century.

Among the most popular Kimberley Street food are Duck Koay Chiap, Koay Teow Th’ng/rice noodles in chicken/pork consomme and Chinese Dessert. Topping the list would be Duck Koay Chiap – one can easily locate the stall by looking out for the street vendor with longest queue. Broad, thick and curled-up handmade rice sheets in flavoursome braised duck and pork broth with morsels of duck and pork protein (chopped pig’s skin, intestines, coagulated pig’s blood, liver, duck-meat, hard-boiled egg) go well with the special chilli. One will keep coming back for more once he has tasted this heavenly street food in Penang.

Another intoxicating one is Koay Teow Th’ng/rice noodles in chicken/pork consomme. The stall also serves braised chicken feet and eggs. The delicate and semi-gelatinous chicken feet is rich flavour and aromatic, flavoured though with a stew of spices, herbs and soy sauce.

Eat

• Bee Hooi Cafe

• Chok Kee Porridge Cafe

• Goh Huat Seng Restaurant

• Kedai Kopi Seng Thor

• Old House Restaurant

• Restaurant Kimberly: Duck Koay Chiap

• Sin Guat Keong Coffee Shop

• Yik Kheng Kee Cafe

• Leong Kee Tim Sum Restaurant Berhad

• May Loong Kedai Kopi

• Restoran Traditional Home Of  Dessert

• Kedai Biscut Chin Hiang

• Dessert Old Time Delight Shop

• Kedai Kopi Kwee Cheang Leong Cafe

• Siam Wei Ent

• Jetty Lok Lok

• Sky Emperor Chicken Feet  Koay Teow Th’ng

Sleep

• Kimberley House

• New Asia Heritage Hotel

• The Small Inn

Do

• Upside Down Museum

• Bee Chin Heong Sdn. Bhd.

• Syarikat Teik Seng