There is a stall in PJ which is doing roaring business with its unmistakably Penang taste.
If anybody had told me that it is a matter of luck to get a bowl of Penang curry mee at a particular place in PJ, I would have thought the perpetrator of the news needs counselling.
That was before I found out the truth for myself. A Penang friend told me months ago that at Restaurant Okay in Jalan SS2/10, there is a very popular curry mee stall.
I disregarded the claim as gibberish. Then one morning about two weeks ago, I woke up and arrived at the restaurant just to find out the truth.
The stall owner next to the Penang curry mee stall told me that the hawker’s day-off was always Monday. I showed up on Tuesday, again the stall was empty. I presumed it was because of Qing Ming Festival or the Chinese All Souls’ Day.
Then the next day, I dropped by again. This time, the Penang curry mee stall was in business. When I was about to place my order, the curry mee seller told me he had just sold out everything.
I looked at my watch and it was 9.30am! Whoever heard of a hawker closing his stall at that time? So my Penang friend was right, this guy’s Penang curry mee was really popular.
In fact, I was told that this curry mee hawker was nicknamed 7-Eleven because he was said to open for business at 7am and closed up at 11am.
In truth, that rumour wasn’t accurate. It was more like 8-Nine. On my fourth attempt, I got lucky. The Penang curry mee stall still had enough mee and beehoon left. It was also about 9.30am but the hawker had to tilt his curry pot side-ways to scoop up the curry.
Out of curiosity, I asked the Hokkien-speaking guy if he really begins his business at 7am. He said no because that would be too early. He actually begins business at 8am.
That means the Penang curry mee is sold out within one and a half hours. That must be a record for any hawker in Malaysia. Perhaps the people at the Malaysia Book of Records should confirm that and make it official.
Indisputable reputation
This Penang curry mee stall at Restaurant Okay is manned by two men. One of them is in his 60s and the other man is about 20 years younger.
At RM4.50 for a small packet, or small bowl, it was normal by PJ standards. Later at home, when I had my first taste of this eminently Penang curry mee, it smells and tastes like the kind of curry mee that most Penangites can identify with.
It has the same kind of darkish red sambal, the coagulated blood, bits of sotong and some pieces of dried tofu.
Everything was identical to the original Penang curry mee at any stall on the famous island. Does it really live up to its reputation? Yes and no. Yes, it does taste good. No, it is not that fantastic beyond words.
In the final analysis, it is good but not perfect. Perhaps my expectations were too high after all that hype. I remember, as will some others, that there is another Penang curry mee stall in Overseas Union Garden, near the market that is also well known.
The one in OUG calls itself Kuantan Road Curry Mee. That stall has a slight edge over this stall in Jalan SS2/10. But if you are hungry and you are an ex-Penang resident and your craving is uncontrollable, you probably won’t complain too much.
The thought of curry mee makes you pine for home and any Penang curry mee will serve as a good substitute. The evidence is clear – this curry mee stall in PJ SS2 has an indisputable reputation.
Its roaring business is testimony that the people in the neighbourhood have given their full approval. Even if “outsiders” like me does not give it a solid five-star rating, our opinions do not matter.
If the curry mee man and his partner can sell everything within two hours, they do not need anybody’s opinion or approval. My guess is there are a lot of ex-Penangites staying in the area near the restaurant. There were many customers speaking Hokkien when I was there recently, and I suspect they are not from Klang.
