Him Heang Sdn Bhd — Restaurant in George Town

淡汶饼 Tambun Biscuit (16 Pieces) = RM10.00 马蹄酥 Beh Teh Saw (8 Pieces) = RM12.50 No Service Charge

I have Very Fond Memories of Him Heang because my Grandmother used to buy this. As a Little Boy, I had no idea where this Biscuit Pastry came from, or what it is actually called.

So, to finally come to Penang for the very 1st time and be in the Presence of the Him Heang HQ was quite a Moving Experience. Its a Huge Building, with a Main Retail Shop. This Shop itself is not very big.

What I am most surprised are seeing Military Personnels in Uniform at their Main Entrance. Sibeh 夸张 lor, this is the 1st Time I've seen Military Personnels stationed right infront of an Eatery. As there were No Crowds at 2.10pm on a Monday Afternoon, they beckoned me inside accordingly.

The Actual Him Heang Staffs within are Friendly and Welcoming. There are no Dining In Areas, this is only a Retail Shop with a Large Bakery attached to the back.

淡汶饼 Tambun Biscuit (16 Pieces) = RM10.00

I have eaten this in the past and only until recently do I know what they're actually called. Hahaha I've always known them as "That Round Biscuit Kueh that Ah Ma always buys".

The Thing that I noticed is that Classic Old School Packaging. Everything from the Box to even the White Plastic Carrier Bag they use is the Same as I've remembered over 35 Years ago!

If you have never eaten this before, its basically a Classic Chinese Pastry with a Filling thats made out of Mung Bean. It has a Very Soft Bitefeel that is Soft on the Teeth. The Sweetness is Very Subtle and Not Overly in your Face. From a Culinary and Baking Standpoint looking at this, the Amount of Layering done on the Pastry itself is Impressive.

马蹄酥 Beh Teh Saw (8 Pieces) = RM12.50

While i have not eaten this before, it has a Similar Look and Taste Profile to Taiwan's Sun Cake 太阳饼 or the Traditional Wife Cake 老婆饼. The type of Pastry with a Very Flaky Outer Pastry Shell and a Layer of Slightly Thickened and Soft Malty Honey Jam that doesn't cling to your Teeth. If you've eaten such Pastries before, you'll know what im saying here. Not Overly Sweet.

Why did I give this my Highest Score?

一句话: Consistency.

It's that First Bite when I bite into it. The Last Time I've had this was probably at least 30 years ago. Before I came to Penang, I don't even know the Actual Name of this Pastry, yet when I took my First Bite of it, Nostalgic Memories came Flooding Back of the Times I ate this with my Grandmother.

Its not only the Taste, its the Whole Packaging. EVERYTHING from the Box they use, to even that Plastic White Carrier Bag has not changed since I remembered as a Little Boy.

To be able to be so Persistently Consistent for 76 Years is Really Not Easy especially in Today's World where everything also need to Change and Modernize.

I'm really glad that despite how much the World has changed in the Last 35 years, there are still places like Him Heang that has mostly remained the same. Truly can be called "古早味"

Conclusion and Closing Thoughts

At RM10.00 (S$3.00) for a Box of Tambun Biscuits, I feel this is Very Reasonably Priced. For a Box of this Well Known Classic Pastry to cost RM10.00 in Today's World is really quite Admirable.

RM12.50 (S$3.80) for a Box of Beh Teh Saw consisting of 8 Pieces is also pretty reasonable too. I feel it is Well Made, and if you are someone who enjoys Similar Pastries like Taiwan's Sun Cake or Wife Cake, you will also probably enjoy this one too.

While these are Pastries that obviously are meant for all ages, after eating them, I feel they are Specially Designed for Easy Consumption for Elderly Folks due to their Very Soft Bite Texture and Light and Subtle Sweetness.

Eating this reminds me of my Grandmother. If your Grandparents are still around, treasure them and spend more time with them. Stop Reading Right Now and go give them your Biggest Hug like you're never gonna let them go.

Thank you Him Heang for the Beautiful Memories.

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I was at an appointment over the road and when I crossed over I saw the long line and crazy traffic outside Him Heang so I was curious what was going on.

I checked Google maps & saw it was a Chinese bakery so I asked someone who came out he said it’s the best on the island.

So I joined the line and was lucky a delightful lady (people in Penang are so friendly and helpful) in front of me told me about the place and how famous it is with delicious homemade biscuits, especially the signature Tambun which comes in two flavours, salty or sweet.

Once allowed in the place is smaller than you think but has a great selection of biscuits, gift packs and other items.

I selected one packet each of the salty and sweet Tambuns and took them to the counter, an elderly lady served me, she was so friendly and sweet, she asked me where I’m from & gave me a couple of Tambuns to try. A young lady took my payment, the service was super friendly and welcoming.

When I returned home I showed my wife the biscuits and the samples, they were the salty ones, they are absolutely delicious, I can see why they are famous and people queue for them, very unique taste.

Later we tried the sweet ones, also very nice but the salty is my favourite.

For sure I’ll recommend Him Heang to my friends and buy more items from them but to be honest they don’t need my small purchases because they are super busy everyday.

Thank you for your excellent service and fantastic products,...

The rivalry between these two Chinese confectionery heavyweights , Ghee Hiang and Him Heang has been simmering for years, each claiming a loyal following and a piece of Penang’s pastry pride. Here’s my take:

Ghee Hiang’s beh teh saw. let’s be honest, comes wrapped in thick, heavy pastry that feels more like a burden than a treat. Just take a look at that photo. Now compare that to Him Heang’s version: crispier, lighter, and oh, that sesame fragrance! The moment you bite into it, there’s a gentle nutty aroma that dances up your nose. Him Heang simply nails it, flaky on the outside, aromatic within. It doesn’t just taste better, it feels better.

And let’s talk price. Him Heang gives you 8 pieces for RM12.50. Ghee Hiang? Just 5 for RM12.90. So not only is the taste falling short, the math doesn’t add up either. Where’s the premium going? It certainly isn’t into better ingredients.

Sure, Ghee Hiang has the whole heritage story, established first, longer legacy. But you don’t bite into nostalgia, do you? You bite into flavour. Into value. Into a balance between craft and cost. On that front, Him Heang delivers, plain and simple.

Sometimes, it’s not about who came first. It’s about who does it right, right now. And in this case,...