Hameed Pata Mee Sotong — Restaurant in George Town

Hameed Pata Mee Sotong, located at Esplanade (Padang Kota Lama) in Penang, is a local legend and a must-visit spot for food lovers. It’s almost always crowded, with long queues forming especially during lunch and weekends a clear sign of how popular the place is. But don’t worry, the queue moves fast and the wait is absolutely worth it.

Their signature dish, mee sotong, comes in two styles: dry or with gravy. The dish features yellow noodles stir-fried in a rich, spicy sambal sauce, topped generously with tender, juicy squid. The sauce is thick, flavorful, and perfectly balanced between sweet and spicy a true taste of Penang. The sotong is cooked just right, not rubbery, and soaks up the sambal beautifully.

The prices are very reasonable. A regular plate costs around RM10 depending on the portion. For something more satisfying, go for the special version with extra squid.

Although the seating area is basic and the weather can be hot, the sea breeze and lively atmosphere make it enjoyable. If you’re in Penang, Hameed Pata Mee Sotong is definitely worth a stop flavorful, authentic, and...

We called the owner half an hour before his shop closed. We requested to hold four plates of his famous Mee for us. He said,

"Just come, I'll prepare them specially for you."

Luckily, we got there in time, and we queued like everyone else. While it was almost our turn to order, the owner who was on continuous shift of frying the Mee (yes, he fried the mee himself to maintain quality and taste), he took a short break, took out his phone and called us to ask of our whereabouts because he said he was waiting for us!

We waved at him, and, to add more surprises to it, when it was our turn, he switched with his man who was taking order, in order to serve us. To serve us, himself. He said he promised to keep four plates for us, and it was only fair to serve them himself

What a guy. What a way to appreciate your customer. We are definitely coming back here. And to you guys, go here and eat, because you will feel valued through his...

This is what hawker food is all about. It is highly seasoned, oily, messy, quick, filling and hearty. It may not be the healthiest thing around but when you have a sudden craving, this is the best go-to to satiate that hankering.

They fry in big batches (easily 10-12 servings at a time) so a wait is sometimes necessary. It may look fiery red (artificial colouring??) but it tasted more sweet than spicy. There’s bits of potato and egg amongst the yellow somewhat mushy noodles. After the wok-fried noodles are plated, they top it with a generous amount of spring onions and fried shallots. Then finally the piece de resistance - a large dollop of curried cuttlefish is ladled onto the plate. The distinct umami flavours can be intense but also appetising at the same time especially with that squeeze of lime which they provide on the side.

This is something you will love or hate. But at only RM6 a plate, it’s definitely worth at...