Hameediyah Restaurant: The Oldest Nasi Kandar Spot in Penang (Malaysia) Operating Since 1907!

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This article is part of the Penang Food Trip series. Check out the installments in this series: Auntie Gaik Lean’s Old School Eatery (MICHELIN-Starred Peranakan Restaurant) | Hameediyah Restaurant (Nasi Kandar) | Kafe Ping Hooi and Tiger Char Koay Teow (Traditional Coffee Shop with Popular Char Kway Teow) | Penang Road Famous Laksa and Teochew Chendul | Sister Curry Mee (Curry Noodles)

Nasi Kandar is one of the food experiences that originated in Penang, Malaysia, and sold by Indian Muslims. It translates to “rice” (nasi) and “balance” (kandar) because it used to be sold by vendors who would carry poles (on their shoulders) with two huge baskets containing home-cooked dishes and rice.

A replica of *nasi kandar* pole and basket displayed at the Wonderfood Museum. Don’t miss out this spot when you’re in George Town, Penang.

There are a lot of nasi kandar spots in George Town, Penang. We went to the oldest one—Hameediyah Restaurant—which has been in operation since 1907. There may be better nasi kandar spots out there but we decided to try it at Hameediyah because of its history. If they’ve been around for more than a century, then they must be serving good nasi kandar!

In this article, I’ll be sharing our experience. We arrived fifteen minutes past two o’clock and there was still a queue. It moved quickly and in less than 20 minutes, we were at the ordering counter where there were a myriad of dishes to choose from.

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We chose our rice first. My wife and I both got white rice because we thought it’s best to have a plain canvass with all the flavorful dishes that we will pick. Then we started picking our dishes (more on these later) by pointing at the them. When we were done picking, we moved to pay at the counter. We then proceeded to a dining area, which is a few shophouses away.

Here are the dishes we tried:

Ayam Bawang Biasa (Onion Chicken): It’s a huge tender piece that has a nice flavor and sweetness from the onions.

Ayam Goreng (Fried Chicken): It looks dry and unappetizing, but it’s juicy (for a breast part) and tender. It’s on the plain side but it might be intentional due to the flavorful curries.

Daging Rendang (Beef Rendang or Coconut Stew): While it could be more tender, it is flavorful and has a nice coconut flavor.

Omelette: It’s fluffy and has a lot of onions that add flavor and crunch.

Okra: It’s crisp but there are pieces that are undercooked.

Telur Masin (Salted Egg): It’s creamy and salty.

A Salad of Cucumber, Onions, and Pineapples (not sure of its Malay name): It adds a refreshing crunch, sharpness, and sweetness to the meal.

Of course, it won’t be a nasi kandar without the flood of curries. I say curries because different curries were put on our plates. We requested not to include shrimp curry because we’re allergic to it.

Hameediyah Restaurant also specializes in Murtabah (also spelled as Murtabak), which are stuffed pancakes. We got the Murtabah Cheesy, which has stretchy cheese and a nice turmeric flavor. It comes with a curry dip that adds flavor, while the pickled onions add sweetness and acidity.

*Murtabah* being prepared at the storefront

To wash down our nasi kandar feast, we got their Teh Tarik (pulled milk tea) and Iced Limau (lime juice). Both are very refreshing, but the lemon juice nicely cuts through the richness. Take note that you’ll have to order your drinks at the dining area.

Nasi kandar is one of the food experiences you must try when visiting Penang. While there may be better and cheaper nasi kandar spots in George Town or in Penang, Hameediyah Restaurant is a good introduction, I think. Most of the dishes we tried were delicious. Additionally, there is a long history behind the restaurant. I highly recommend it to you!

Address: 164A Lebuh Campbell (Campbell Street), George Town, Penang, Malaysia | Operating Hours: Daily, 10AM-10PM | Contact No.: 04-261 1095 | Facebook | Instagram

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