Hot Bowl White Curry Mee — Restaurant in George Town

Neither hot nor cold bowl is an apt description of my buddy's favourite childhood destination. Sometimes its the fragments of indelible memories imprinted in our minds that we come back again to relive, grasping at the straws of yesteryears. My own time capsule with grandfather was in the narrow lanes of Petaling Street, enjoying the now lost art of Koon Kee's wanton mee and the dimsum at now defunct Woo Yook Hin's. With each loss of destination, our world starts closing in on us. Sadly, this morning I shared the news of the closure of End of the World restaurant, a common place of bitter sweet memories of our distant unrelated childhoods growing up on this island. The curry mee is certainly distinguished by its very milky white broth, a unique compilation of santan, spices and crustacean bisque - perhaps where the term "white curry" was coined and found its way into the foodie dictionary. I, for one, never remembered such terminology as a child, and only in recent times, did we even label anything "white" until the dawn of Ipoh coffee. In our family, everything culinary was "Orr" (black) especially dad's morning coffee (kopi O kau) to KL's Hokkien mee (fondly called "Orr Tam Tam" - Black Wet Wet). Seasons change and even this bowl (RM5.50) came only with tiny cockles, tofu croutons, cuttlefish and beansprout. Gone are the shrimps, blatantly advertised, and the pig blood, absent due to COVID-19 MCO, yet another often repeated lame excuse heard in Penang.... however no discounts were offered. Adding the red hot spicy chilly oil did up the ante for the al-dente noodles. Perhaps, the chilly aroma was all that was needed to rekindle those almost lost memories of our youth. Luckily, no extra surcharges for...

I couldn't check into my hotel yet so I dropped my luggage off to grab a late lunch a couple blocks down from where I was. It was only after I finished my meal that I realised it was a Michelin winner 2 years in a row for their white curry mee. It's QR code ordering and pay at the counter afterwards.

It was still busy at 1:30pm. I ordered a small chicken rice set meal with a small plate of bean sprouts and an iced homemade barley water. I liked that it let's you choose the size and option for less rice since I'm only eating for one.

I went back this morning for breakfast to try what they're known for - white curry mee. Plenty of choice as a base and then options to add extra items to custom build your curry mee. I arrived relatively early with plenty of seats available. The base I chose was a small white curry me with combination noodles (yellow & rice vermicelli), bean sprouts, beancurds, cuttlefish and added extra 2pc fishballs. I also ordered 1pax chicken breast and wing along with an iced teh tarik. I put 1/3 of a spoon of chilli and it already got me sniffling but it needs it for kick. I found the broth clean tasting and flavourful. It did not taste diluted as someone else claimed, each to their own. The coconut is present but doesn't give you that heavy after feeling. I slurped up all the soup speaks...

It's a comfortable, clean, with visually well arranged tables exuding a little western vibe feel to it. It doesn't have much of a hawker ambience feel to it. You may or may not enjoy the overall design.

However ordering is easy via QR. I tried their curry mee. But for those that don't like curry, they do have the option of oily rice and chicken as a choice for you. In addition they also have a smattering of side dishes (lobak, chai kuih, guang jiang, etc.) so choices of not an issue.

As far as the curry mee goes, their standard serve includes tofu, squid and cockles. With the choice of adding gizzard and etc. The only thing that puzzles me is WHY IS THERE NO BLOOD JELLY! IMHO curry mee is not curry mee without blood jelly.

The curry comes as the name says. White. Without chilli. The chilli is provided separately for you to add as you wish. One word of warning, add in small increments. It is incredibly spicy. But the soup itself if delicious. Slightly watery but incredible balance of salt, cream and (self added) spice. The noodles are chewy and the ingredients fresh and yummy.

Parking can be an issue so repeated visits for me will be affected by that and also if they ever in the future add...