Off Penang Road in Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia, there is a small cart selling iced desserts. Staffed by about five women, you will be able to recognise the cart by the long line of locals queuing up for a bowl of cendol or ais kacang, and the crowds standing around slurping their cold dessert from small blue plastic bowls.
K and I ordered a cendol and an ais kacang to share. I’ve mentioned before how I’ve grown to love these desserts, and the ones made by this little streetside cart business proved why it’s such a crowd pleaser.
Both were perfectly refreshing for the hot and muggy weather in Penang. There was plenty of ice, and it wasn’t too sweet, ensuring that you’re not left with a cloying taste in your mouth. And the locals certainly agreed, with a non-stop line of people lining up for their dessert fix.
Keep an eye out for a cart with the sign “Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul – Ice Kacang”, somewhere near the corner of Jalan Penang and Lebuh Tamil. And a word to the wise – don’t get sucked in by the second-rate cendol cart that sets up shop opposite, as it makes its trade from the spillover business of the first cart!
NB: I wish I had a better photo to share, but as I mentioned, my phone was stolen on holiday! I retrieved this photo from my Twitter account.
Have a massive cendol/ais kacang craving now!! This post is making me miss hawker food and desserts in Singapore so much! It’s a shame I didn’t get to try this when I was in Penang :( – an excuse for another holiday there haha.
Oh dear – sorry to hear about your phone :(. My harddrive with all my photos from my recent holiday broke so I’m in a similar situation to you!!
Love your blog – it’s awesome :)!!
I’m crazy for ice kacang and chendol! They really put me in a holiday mood as I seem to mostly eat them while on holiday! :)
Cendol reminds me so much of Philippine’s very own halo-halo. That cendol you took a photo of looks absolutely delicious!