Friday, July 28, 2017

Lim Aik Chew Curry Prawns (林翼洲) @ Nibong Tebal, Penang.

Though well-hidden at a secluded corner of Nibong Tebal, Lim Aik Chew is a long-unearthed hidden gem, the place is known through words of mouth and in recent years, the rise of social media. The place is near to Sungai Udang, a fishing village near the river mouth of the Kerian River. Geographically near to the source of supplies, Lim Aik Chew churns out both fresh River produce and Seafood daily but the most notable dish is their Fresh Water Curry Prawns, served with bread. It does not have a big menu but the regular patrons just know what to order, the friendly proprietor would be able to recommend a few otherwise (usually the signature Curry Prawns and a Deep Fried Fish slathered with home-made sauce). One important to note: do make sure you make a call to Lim Aik Chew before your visit, it closes randomly in a month and we've only managed to dine-in after 2 failed attempts.



Signature Curry Prawns (500 grams for Rm 50)


3-flavored Deep Fried Siakap (Rm 30)


Stir Fried Cabbage (Rm 8)

The minimum order for the fresh water River Prawns is 500 grams but the portion is not really that big (good enough for 2 person). It did take a while for them to serve the food, the place was thronged by a crowd of regular patrons during this long Raya holiday. The texture of the River Prawns was beyond amazing- bouncy yet burst with the essence from the ocean but we thought the Curry was a little too powdery to our liking. The flavor was bold but it did not really hit us, we thought it was disappointingly average. One common way of enjoying this delicacy is to dip with steamed Bread. The combination is sort of like Asian Lobster Roll except that it is smeared with Curry sauce and River Prawn. The 3-flavored Deep Fried Siakap fared better in our opinion, the sauce was addictive. It carried a balanced medley of sweetness, saltiness and sourness; it worked perfectly well with the carefully fried fish with firm and crispy texture. We washed them down with a glass of their home-made freshly squeezed Sugar Cane juice.


Ratings:
Taste: 7.5/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)
Service: 7/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)
Price: 7/10 (1-3 expensive, 4-7 average, 8-10 cheap)
Ambiance: 6.5/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)
Parking: 6/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)
Non-Halal
Service Charge: No
Government Tax: No

Additional Information:
Address: 436, Kampung Tanjung Berembang, 14310, Nibong Tebal, Penang.
Business Hours: 11 am to 6 pm. Opens Daily *closes randomly in a month, call before you visit*
Contact Number: 604- 593 2957

3 comments:

  1. Curry prawns with bread? I do love the curry chicken in a bun, none available here...and the Vietnamese prawns with own-made bread.

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  2. Sometimes those hidden places are the best.

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  3. I don't like powdery curry gravy too~

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