[Year 2019] Short Food Hunting @ Kuala Kurau, Perak.

A small fishing village known for fresh sea produce- Kuala Kurau at Kerian district is often a quick weekend getaway for many Penangites... most likely to savor some of the freshest and inexpensive seafood around. There are a few seafood restaurants around, as well as some local eats and shops selling dried seafood products. It's pretty small and easy to navigate- from Penang, exit Jawi toll from North-South Highway and head to Parit Buntar and from there, a short 15-minute drive to reach the fishing village. One can basically finish exploring the village in a few hours but always head there with an empty stomach as there are plenty of good food to pamper your tummy.

1) Long Bing Coffee House- Chai Kuih/ Curry Mee/ Prawn Fritters 隆冰水档

Non-Halal

Service Charge: No

Government Tax: No

Address: 504, Jalan Pantai, Taman Kurai Permai, 34350, Kuala Kurau, Perak.

Business Hours: 11 am to 5 pm. Opens Daily. *Curry Mee only opens on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays*

Steamed Vegetables Dumpling (Rm 1 each)

Seafood Curry Mee (Rm 4)

Prawn Fritters and Spring Rolls (Rm 5)

Found on the main street of Kuala Kurau, shortly after you hit the fishing village; Long Bing Coffee House 隆冰水档 is easily noticeable. The place is fairly large with a few stalls right outside the place. There are a few items you must not miss- Curry Mee, Chai Kuih and the Prawn Fritters. It's not always you get to find the Curry Mee stall as it opens for the weekend only. What makes this Curry Mee unique from others would be the addition of Curried Stingray to the noodles. Not that it offers a special flavor but more for the meaty bite. For a village blessed with abundance of seafood supplies, the Curry Mee is naturally topped with plenty of seafood (like Prawns, Cuttlefish etc). 

Equally worth-trying would be their freshly made Chai Kuih (steamed Vegetable Dumplings). If luck is on your side, you may get to witness the whole cooking process. The dumpling skin is a little thinner than usual and the vegetables are crunchier. We also noticed the portion seems to be bigger.

No trip to Kuala Kurau is complete without having their Prawn Fritters (otherwise known as 西亚煎 in Chinese) coiled with Yellow Noodles. The special way of eating the Prawn Fritters with Yellow Noodles is unique and native to Kuala Kurau; said to be more filling (more applicable to the fisherman in the early days). The noodles also add a nice texture and dimension to the Fritters; and must be enjoyed with the sweet and vinegary Chili dip. 

2) KK Kor Lau Enterprise 古楼土产专卖店 

Service Charge: No

Government Tax: No

Address: 112, Jalan Pantai, Taman Kurai Permai, 34350, Kuala Kurau, Perak.

Business Hours: 10 am to 10 pm. Opens Daily.
KK Kor Lau Enterprise Facebook Page

There is not much place to burn the calories consumed here at Kuala Kurau but one of the places that you don't want to miss would be KK Kor Lau Enterprise- one of the few rare places that you can shop for local produce and dried seafood goods in the neighborhood. This place can be found at a stone's throw distance away from Long Bing Coffee House. Expect to find many goodies here, some of the notable items would be the dried and flavored Sakura Shrimp, Double Yolk Salted Egg and Dried Shrimps. But if you are someone who likes to go direct to the source, you may visit the Salted Egg Factory just down the street. 

3) Kean Seng Lee Coffee Shop 建成利茶室

Non-Halal

Service Charge: No

Government Tax: No

Address: 134, Bagan Seberang, 34350, Kuala Kurau, Perak.

Business Hours: 7:30 am to 6 pm. Closed on alternate Tuesdays.

Deep Fried Dragon Tongue Fish (Rm 15)

Deep Fried Stingray (Rm 10)

Hor Kah Sai (Rm 2) and Sour Sop Juice (Rm 3.50)

If you still have space after the Curry Mee, Prawn Fritters and Chai Kuih; drive to Bagan Seberang via a bridge at the end of Jalan Pantai. Cross the bridge and you will arrive at the opposite village known as Bagan Seberang. There are a few famous Seafood restaurants but best to visit in the evenings. But if you are there on an afternoon, check out Kean Seng Lee Coffee Shop right next to the shore. The place is often very crowded during lunch hours. You can basically find everything here- Prawn Fritters, Laksa, Rojak, stir-fried Seafood dishes and various local snacks. For fish lovers, try the deep fried fish- Dragon Tongue Fish or Stingray and wash 'em down with a glass of Hor Kah Sai, a blend of Milo and local Black Coffee.

Happy Eating!