Heirloom recipes to spice up meals
TOUTED as one of the best nasi kandar restaurants in Penang, Restoran Mohamed Raffee in Burmah Road (opposite the Pulau Tikus police station) has been drawing in the crowds since 1959 (the original shop at Batu Gantong was relocated to the present premises in 1998).
This family business prides itself in its awesome blend of spices based on recipes passed down through the generations.
The shop is currently run by Mohamed Raffe T.K. Mohd Yusoff, who is the cook, and his four children.
Regulars would agree that the delicious curries here are distinctively different while the famous fried chicken (coated with hand-ground spices for that extra flavour) is simply scrumptious.
But most importantly, the food is fresh and the curries served bubbling hot. The kitchen would prepare the dishes thrice a day in this 24-hour outlet to maintain the taste and freshness.
Other signature creations include curry chicken, squid egg, fish head curry and daging rendang.
There would be at least 20 dishes at any one time to go with white steamed rice or fragrant nasi tomato.
Long queues are inevitable especially at night. Patrons would wait patiently as the line shuffle along, hungry stomachs made hungrier by the yummy smells emanating from the dishes laid out.
The person behind the counter will scoop your dish selection and pile them on your plate of rice. Once done, he will then continue to flood your rice with gravies from the many different types of curries before him.
This kuah campur (combination of curry flavours) is what brings out the oomph in every meal.
Tables are set up on the shoplot’s walkways and on the street in front come evenings, bringing the seating capacity to about 150 people.
Besides nasi kandar, Mohamed Raffee is also renowned for its goreng-goreng (mee, maggi or nasi goreng) which is available from 6pm until 6am, cheese murtabak, roti john Hong Kong and roti salad, among others.
The restaurant is a popular choice during Ramadan (for both sahur and buka puasa) when it will serve nasi briyani as an additional option.
The place is closed every last Monday of the month. However, it will remain open throughout Ramadan and will be closed on the first and second day of Hari Raya.
Restoran Mohamed Raffee
295 Burmah Road 10350 Penang Contact: +604-228 8466