Hot Wok Nyonya Restaurant, Burmah Road

Hot Wok isn't new by any means in Penang. It's been around for years in two different locations within Tanjung Tokong. I don't remember for sure how the visits to Hot Wok stopped but I think it had something to do with hiked up prices in line with the tourist crowds they were drawing in by the bus loads.

Hot Wok's latest incarnation stands along Burmah Road, in two shoplots, one of which being where the fabulous Laksania was abruptly booted out from a couple of months ago. We understand that it was due to a sudden hike in rent which forced them out and we are still waiting to hear where they've relocated.

While we think the landlord has been rather unfair on Laksania, we didn't hold it against new tenant Hot Wok. Especially when we were hankering for some Nyonya food this one fine afternoon.

Hot Wok has also set up its Hokkien Mee stall outside, so we ordered one to share among the four of us.

Everyone made a grab for it before I could whip out the camera so this was all I managed to snap. In all fairness, it was a tasty bowl of Hokkien mee, with plenty of kangkung, meatballs, pork strips and shrimps swimming in a fragrant broth, so the scramble was totally called for.

While we waited for the main dishes, we were served crispy poppadums with a sambal dip. Yummy! Everyone should adopt this as an appetiser. It totally gets your tastebuds going.

While we waited, we went poking around the restaurant and checked out the tasteful Peranakan touches, such as old framed posters and photographs, ornate lamps and paraphernalia.

On the left, Jiu Hoo Char served with lettuce leaves and sambal (top) and on the right, stir fried kangkung with sambal. I found that on its own, the jiu hoo char a tad on the dry side, though the sambal and the moisture from the leaves helped get it right.

Otak Otak wrapped in banana leaves. Nice and moist but I've had better.

Assam Prawns. Best I've had in a long time. These were huge fresh prawns, bursting with flavour.

And what's a Nyonya lunch without Curry Fish? Not many bones to pick here, except that we could have used a wee bit more gravy. I know it isn't exactly the same thing but I did prefer the curry fish from Goh Teo Kee though.

And to wash it all down, we had either fresh sugar cane juice or sour plum juice.

As we walked out, we spied yam cake also being sold at the Hokkien Mee stall. We were too stuffed for it then but made a mental note to come back for that, as well as the other choices on the menu.