One of the top foodie destinations in Malaysia, Penang is home to many delicious hawker fares that are well-known to many tourists. From the flavoursome Assam Laksa to Penang’s famous Char Koay Teow, the state has proudly made its mark in Malaysia with its delicacies and attractions. It has even caught the eye of a Singaporean YouTube personality who praised the state’s most iconic food: Char Koay Teow.
SG YouTuber Zermatt Neo chows down 18 plates of Char Koay Teow
On 11 October, Singaporean YouTuber and competitive eater Zermatt Neo caught the attention of Penangites when he ordered 18 plates of Char Koay Teow and cleaned every one of them. On top of that, he also managed to finish all of them in only 40 minutes. The reigning champion of Food League Singapore was visiting Penang after a fan of his channel recommended doing a food challenge in the state. According to Buletin Mutiara, he went along with Singaporean actress, Megan Chia, who also ate two plates of Char Koay Teow herself.
The two visitors expressed their satisfaction with their meals when they returned to The Granite Luxury Hotel, where they were staying.
“I would give three thumbs up if I could,” Zermatt said.
Both Singaporean Internet celebrities revealed that this was their first time visiting Penang, and they were interested in exploring its famous hawker food.
“Many viewers have requested me to travel to Penang and do an eating challenge. Because Char Koay Teow is the most iconic food here, I don’t see any other way to start this eating challenge trip except to eat Penang Char Koay Teow in Penang,” he said.
“It was incredible and exceeded my expectation. It was a league above the other Char Koay Teow which I have tried. The wok hei is strong, and the ingredients – duck egg, prawns, and others – blended together,” he said.
They also tried other local hawker food
Zermatt and Megan also told Buletin Mutiara that they tried many other hawker foods during their four-day trip to Penang. Other than Char Koay Teow, they had the chance to taste Penang Chendol, Nasi Kandar, and Assam Laksa. Zermatt was once again impressed with the mouth-watering, gravy-drenched Nasi Kandar, a dish which he had never tried before.
“I loved the combination of the different gravy, and I am a big fan of (food) heritage. When I eat a certain type of food, I want to take in its history, and how it is prepared and presented. Eating nasi kandar in Penang is really an experience!” said the certified trainer and nutritionist.
As for Megan, she always wanted to try out Penang’s Assam Laksa which she prefers more than the Siamese Laksa. However, the store which she wanted to go to sold out, so they will need to try their luck again by reaching the place earlier the next morning.
