Penang's best-kept secret

The best hawker food is found in Penang, and very few Malaysians would dispute that. However, once you arrive in Penang - where exactly can you find that elusive pot of gold?

The most famous spot for tourists is probably Gurney Drive, and while the food is reasonably good, it is undoubtedly a tourist trap. Hawkers there tend to charge a premium to those who have "foreign" accents - woe to the Mandarin-speaking Singaporeans and Cantonese-speaking KL-ites.

Another popular spot is New Lane, which has also recently become known to tourists - and hence - a bane for local Penangites.

Where do Penangites go when they want a dose of their favourite curry laksa, char koay teow, pasembur, koay teow thn'g or popiah?

My father is a true-blue Penangite (who counts many a hawker among his family and friends), and he considers this hawker centre to be the best in Penang - in taste and value. I will probably get into trouble with locals for revealing its secret location, but food this good just cannot remain anonymous any longer.

My family's favourite hawker haunt in Penang is at....(drum rolls please)...Cecil Street Market or "Chit Teow Lor" (or 7th Street in Hokkien)

This is the list of delights that I tuck into every time I'm back in Penang:

• Curry mee - with tau pok, cockles and chicken. The sambal and curry sauce is to die for!
• Koay teow thn'g - with duck meat and fishballs is very tasty so don't be fooled by its bland appearance
• Char koay teow - this version is the best I've ever had. The hawker only starts his stall at 1pm (on the furthest end of the food court) and he still uses the old-fashioned charcoal stove with a hand-cranked propeller fan. Ask for the duck egg version...yummmyyy....
• Pasembur or "cheh hu" - is the Chinese version of the mamak rojak which has prawn fritters, coconut fritters, taufu and lots of veges - topped with a delicious red sauce
• Popiah - sold at this market is done in true blue Penang fashion and doused with some turnip gravy
• Nyonya kueh - many varieties are sold here and some of my favourites to "tah pau" home include kuih talam, pulut tai tai, onde-onde, ang ku and bengka ubi

So to those of you who're always asking me where to find the best hawker food in Penang - you have your answer so...

GO FORTH AND GORGE!