Penang is synonymous with great hawker fare. Ranging from the perennial favorite Char Koay Teow (Char Kway Teow to us locals) and Hokkien Mee to Lorbak, there are hidden treasures of culinary delights scattered all around the historical Georgetown area. One such place would be the Kheng Pin coffee shop, located in the junction of Penang Road and Sri Bahari Road.

Over the decades, locals and foreigners alike have always savored the Penang fare offered here. Kheng Pin is the epitome of old-style coffee shops; there are still old fashioned marble tables and wooden chairs coupled with the wooden cubicles lining the sides!

Despite housing approximately seven stalls, Kheng Pin’s flagship offering is definitely the lorbak. Lorbak is a traditional Chinese delicacy whereby minced marinated pork are wrapped in soya skin and subsequently deep fried. It is served along with several other staples such as prawn fritters, beancurd, spring roll, fish ball, deep-fried squid and battered fish. Besides that, there are also century eggs with pickled ginger.

The proprietor, Lou has been preparing these lip smacking treats for about four decades now, yet his drawing power has never waned one bit. Plenty of customers flock over to Kheng Pin to sample his delicacies over the years, and his secret is the freshness of the ingredients. He personally ensures that all ingredients are at their freshest to produce the best lorbak. Wrapped in only a thin layer of bean curd skin, the lorbak is crispy on the outside and the meat well marinated, tender and juicy.

Besides that, the prawn fritters is another crowd favorite. Lou uses fresh small shrimps to make the fritters, along with a thin layer of batter to hold it altogether. Every bite of the prawn fritters is rewarded with a mouthful of crunchy small prawns, and it is simply scrumptious with the combination of chili sauce and thick soy sauce gravy.

Another crowd favorite at Kheng Pin is the Hainan Chicken Rice. Keeping true to its tradition, it serves white chicken along with flavorful rice. The chicken itself is deliciously prepared, a firm smooth skin with a layer of gelatin underneath and tender juicy meat.

The chicken is presented on a bed of sliced cucumber, sprinkled with soy sauce, sesame oil, and garnished with chopped scallions and fresh ginger strips. The soya sauce brings out the full flavors of the chicken flesh. On the other hand, the rice is prepared with the chicken oil to create an absolutely tasty palate. The entire dish is well complemented with the chili sauce, which had a slight sourish and spicy sensation to whet the appetite!

There are several other cuisines offered here as well besides the famous Lorbak and chicken rice, such as Wan Tan Mee, Congee and Penang’s very own Char Koay Teow. Prices are quite reasonable, and there are parking spaces along Sri Bahari Road.

Kheng Pin Coffee Shop

80 Penang Road, Penang, Malaysia 10300 Penang

Business Hours: 7am – 3pm

Closed on Monday