BY CK LAM

See Kong Ooi Restaurant along Transfer Road Penang which specializes in Hainanese and Hokkien chu char dishes, is fondly referred to as Sai Kong Huin by the Penangites. The restaurant has been around for several decades now and diners continue to frequent the place.

It would be very easy making your selection at See Kong Ooi as most of the dishes have been on the menu since the very start. The dishes are featured on the board hung on the wall for convenient viewing.

Among their selection of seafood is the Black Promphet in three flavours, which is better known as “sar bee” (three flavours) in Hokkien. The gravy mixed with the cut red chillies is very appetizing.

The Assam Curry Fish topped with plenty of onions, tomatoes and lady fingers has the sourish taste and freshness of the fish. The gravy is darker in colour as compared to many Assam Curry Fish around George Town.

Another seafood item is the prawns, which is quite reasonably priced at See Kong Ooi! Very popular with the diners is the Assam Prawn and Sambal Prawn. The Assam Prawn can be enjoyed just on its own while the Sambal Prawns with its pungent spicy gravy is an excellent accompliment with white rice. Both prawn dishes are packed with flavour and succulent flesh.

See Kong Ooi is also famous for its steamed minced meat with salted fish, which is very similar to the home cooked version. The simple egg soup which is a favourite for many diners comes with plenty of minced meatball, vegetables and a fried egg. Another meaty dish is the fried pork. The pork had an authentic taste prepared with soy sauce.

Besides meat and seafood, See Kong Ooi also offers vegetables dishes. The vegetables stir-fried with wok hei come with choices ranging from long beans to bean sprout and bitter gourd.

One of their unique dishes is the Shanghainese vegetable cooked with pork slices! The salty preserved vegetable and the spicy taste of the chilli combine together, giving this dish a distinctive flavour.

This non-halal restaurant is located in the folds on Transfer Road and is open daily from 11am till 11pm. It is accessible from Burma Road and Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah. Parking is abundant right outside the restaurant.

See Kong Ooi
9 Transfer Road
Penang

Tel: 04 2627845

Written by CK Lam, food blogger and editor of http://www.what2seeonline.com ; featuring the Best of Penang Food. She constantly combs Penang for the best gastronomical delights and loves promoting Penang Cuisines, Culture and Heritage.