Which is the Most Popular Beef Noodles in Penang Island?

Before we went for our Hong Kong trip in November, we decided to write something about the much publicised ‘Beef Noodles’.  Basically on the Island of Penang when you ask anyone on the road about where to find ‘Clear Soup Beef Noodles’, most probably they would direct you to the following three more prominent outlets or businesses.

To begin our adventure with Beef Noodles, we first went to Eng Huat Cafe which is located on the side road

Eam Huat Cafe Beef Koay Teow

If my memory is not wrong, this beef noodle stall used to be located at the corner unit of the same row of old shop lots, and was run by the current owners? father or grand father. Anyway, it was the during previous generation?s manning did this beef noodle stall blossom and attracted much patronage from those who enjoyed a flavourful bowl of clear stock beef noodles.

Eng Huat actually left its previous place of business to a food court along Weld Quay then to the current location. The last time I ate the beef noodles at this stall was many years back when they were still at the corner unit. After hearing that it has found its way back to the same area, I couldn?t help myself and went to Eng Huat to try out the beef noodles again and to reminiscence of the nostalgic memories.

The glory of the clear stock beef noodles has lost its lustier and gave way to their new version of beef noodle with herbs (?????). The herb version soup stock has a thicker taste and aroma, but it is mainly the flavours from the Chinese herbs used to prepare the stock. It had better taste compare to their clear stock. As for the toppings, the beef slices, beef balls and beef innards lack flavour whether in the herbs soup stock or the clear version.

Our experience from this place:

2.4/5 for value (amount of ingredients or toppings is slightly less than ???)

2.4/5 for taste & texture

2.5/5 for service

2.5/5 for cleanliness

2.5/5 for atmosphere

Beach Street Beef Noodles

The Beach Street and Chulia Street junction houses another beef noodles favourite amongst Penangites, ??? Beef Noodles. It is housed in a ?kopitiam? opposite the Lebuh Pantai fire station and managed by a few pleasant ladies working non stop to dish out custom orders to their patrons.

To what was told to us, to fully enjoy the flavour of the beefy stock was to visit the place in the later afternoon when the full taste has been produced from the long duration of boiling the beef bones and meat. On the faithful day of our most recent visit, we were there early after an appointment just after 12pm. The soup that was served was less tasty than what we remembered to be, may be it was the timing.  The soup was slightly over oily and had too many tastes mixed into it, thus loosing the unique sweet beefy taste flavour.

As for the toppings of beef slices and other cuts, they had a rougher texture as compared to next stall in this list but it had more ingredients as compared to the stall at Kafe 2828 at a slightly dearer price per serving.

Prices: Starts from RM6, RM7 & RM8. Any other additions charged accordingly. The opening hours are from 10.30 am to 4pm and closed on Sunday.

Our experience from this place:

2.8/5 for value (more toppings than Kafe 2828)

2.7/5 for taste & texture

2.5/5 for service

2.5/5 for cleanliness

2.5/5 for atmosphere (warm during the mid noon day)

2828 Coffee Shop Beef Noodles

Next on our list is the beef noodle stall at Kafe 2828. In the past I may have ate at this stall not more than 5 to 8 occasions, but it is in our list due to their sweet beefy stock and their delicate beef slices and firm tendons that made stand out of the 3 stalls contain in this post. Compare to the previous 2 stalls, the stock base is sweeter and lighter, and the beef slices and beef body parts have better texture, flavour and freshness.

The stall is at the corner unit facing the junction of Jalan Lim Khoon Huat and Perak Road.

Per bowl of white rice is RM0.60 and a 2 person serving bowl of beef soup with mixed toppings cost RM10.00.

The beef were cooked to the right consistency with some slices still maintaining a pinkish colour.

Although being our choice selection in terms of flavour and texture, it still could not suffice our demand. If compared to the yesteryears, we still find the popular beef noodles stalls still cannot compare to the earlier generation of providers.

Our experience from this place:

2.7/5 for value (better quality beef toppings but had lease amount amongst the 3)

2.9/5 for taste & texture

2.6/5 for service

2.5/5 for cleanliness

2.7/5 for atmosphere (cooler due to the trees and shade)