Next up was vegetable stir fried with sambal (RM8). It wasn’t overly spicy despite its fiery red color, but still packed a punch taste wise.
The Assam Prawns (RM24), prawns stir fried with tamarind, is another popular nyonya dish. The ones here at Hot Wok were pretty good, getting nods of approval all round. Prawns were fresh and just the right amount of sour-ness from the tamarind paste for me.
We also had a piece of Otak-otak (RM4). The Penang Otak-otak is different from the ones famous in Muar, Johor. It’s usually a hate it or love it kind of food, as the Penang Otak-otak uses a lot of different herbs mixed into the fish paste, which may not sit well with some. It’s wrapped with banana leaves and steamed. However, being born and bred in Penang, we all loved it. Soft and smooth fish paste with just a hint of spiciness!
The “Tau Eu Bak” (RM14) at Hot Wok deserves special mention. Despite being a simple dish to prepare (essentially pork belly with soya sauce), every nyonya housewife will have her own version of it and thus will taste slightly different from each other. Hot Wok’s “Tau Eu Bak” gets thumbs up because of its thick sauce and tender, well marinated pork. This was definitely one of the more popular dishes during the meal. By the end of our meal, there was plate was nearly licked clean!
We topped off the meal with another popular and must have nyonya dish – the Jiu Hoo Char (RM8). Shredded turnips, carrots and cuttlefish. Who knew that these ingredients would taste so good together? Best eaten with a bit of spicy sambal on a fresh crips lettuce leaf.
One of the girls who turned up much later decided to have a single serve meal. Hot Wok offers a few single serve meals like fried bee hoon, fried rice and Hokkien Mee. I didn’t manage to have a taste of the fried rice (RM8) ordered. But I must say that the portion is big! Comes with an egg and fried chicken. Buurrp!
WOW! the food here looks so sexy and unresistable! I want I want! where is my duck soup as promised! lol! Have to ask CK! lol!
.-= Big Boys Oven´s last blog ..DRAGON ONE Awesome DURIAN PANCAKE location SS2 Petaling Jaya =-.
come penang la..we bring you for kiam chye ark soup 😛
Hmm I had generally been positive about Hot Wok but some food blogger in KL didn’t have such a good encounter with the Kota Damansara outlet… apparently there was quite a nasty exchange between said blogger and owner Kelvyn that went absolutely out of proportion. Maybe Pg outlet is still safe from all that rubbish!
.-= 550ml jar of faith´s last blog ..Happiness is a State of Mind… or a really great pizza at Kissaten, Jaya One =-.
oh dear! i didn’t know about that. hopefully everything’s settled peacefully now!
Haha lingzie, dun worry I was trying to resolved the arguement n clear my name, How people critised me also i won’t scold them. Bcoz customer always have their own opinion like some like it salty,spicy etc n some don’t rite. I always tell my customers we cannot compare restaurants bcoz we have our own customers n they have their own too.
So afterall its just business n having pleasure to meet people & providing them with a smile.
550ml jar of faith,
I dun think i had any arguemeents with people on the blogs. Do check again it is not my name that fire back the nasty exchange. I was trying to cool down both parties. People have their tastes differently so they have the right to give feedback, feedbacks are good to me wheter it is good or bad because it will help me improve and get to know the majority what people prefer.
Lingzie:-
1 word Marvelous. you do have potential of getting the pictures rite. Thank you for your time & effort . Cheers
thanks kelvyn! 🙂
A girlie lunch date, eh? Hmm… maybe I can organise one just for the boys? 🙂
wow….. feel so hungry at this moment after looking at the foods. ^-^
.-= FoOd PaRaDiSe´s last blog ..Genting Coffee Shop Part 1 @ Island Glades, Penang =-.
looks nice and oishi.. need to get one chance to have a try 😛
oh they have single serving meals too? nice.
I long for the desserts now!!!
I always felt that this restaurant have to go in a group like what we had done. If only got two persons, they have so many yummy dishes to order and I would really have headache on deciding which dish to choose.:( How I wish they can offer combo dishes for couple then it would be very good lah!
.-= cariso´s last blog ..Restoran Hand Noodles – OMG! =-.
Ai…..I have not post my Hot Wok review yet 🙁 I am really back-logged
.-= Alan´s last blog ..Bizarre Food: Sin Geylang Claypot Bull Frog Porridge =-.
I went to Hot Wok when they were still in Tanjung Tokong like a long time ago and I couldn’t remember if it was good or bad, no recollection. I think the best Nyonya food is still served at home.
.-= Rasa Malaysia´s last blog ..Sambal Telur (Egg Sambal) =-.
This is my favorite restaurant! Try their Otak-Otak the next time. Simply heavenly! What I love about this restaurant is its home-style cooking but beautifully presented amidst a traditional feel complete with the best Nyonya hospitality. I cannot wait to have my next sampling the next time I am in Penang.