Travel Writing: Khun Thai - Hotpot by the Beach
When you are enjoying your four-year holidays in Penang, there are a million and one opportunities and reasons to explore the many hidden delicacies and eateries in the Pearl of the Orient. Be it after-quiz celebrations, after-assignment parties, buddy line get-togethers or semester break trip, one can always make up any excuse to go grab a bite at the famous food stalls or restaurants. That's what three of my friends and I did when we decided to try out the Island's famous Khun Thai restaurant. Touted state-wide for its Thai cuisine, we could only afford the time to make it to its Teluk Kumbar branch. Hey, we are only students, right?
Road to Khun Thai
To be honest, it was the rugged journey which has blunted my enthusiasm to make a second visit. It took us about 15 minutes of waiting to grab a GrabCar to the place, which cost us a hefty RM15 (We were lucky it was shared among the four of us). And I would definitely advise to start checking the Grab and Uber fares halfway through your meals. The ending leg of the destination saw us sitting idly on our wooden seats as we waited a full 45 minutes to wait for BOTH a price drop as well as for a driver to pick us up. If you are not a resident of Penang, I would definitely advise to get a native friend to Waze the place or rent a car to the location.
Destination by the Beach
Nostalgia hit me as we alighted from our Grab - the entire scene reminded me of the kampung area near my grandparents' house. Spanning the size of four Semi-Ds stacked back to back, the restaurant is panelled with old-style wooden floorboards and architecture, with additional seating areas beside a clear beach and the blue sea. Taking a seat on the wooden benches near the oceans, we took some time before our food arrive to take some pictures near the scenery. There was even an old swing hanging from one of the great buttress giants there to grab some memorable individual shots.
Tomyam Putih, Tomyam Merah
It would not be complete to dine on Thai cuisine and not order Tom Yam, the signature dish of spices. If you are able to afford it, I would definitely recommend getting both red and white Tom Yam to obtain the best of both worlds. As it was, we went with the 'safer' option of White Tom Yam, as my other companions were not game enough to take on the shades of its red counterpart. Nevertheless, we were satisfied in overall with the Seafood Tom Yam, with its succulent fish slices, prawns oozing with flavor topped off with the finest spices enhanced with the topped parsley and coriander. Its acidic taste was all that any Tom Yam lover could ask for - sour, spicy with an aroma fit for the gods.
Our appetizer, the ayam kerabu was also a highlight of our meal. The tangy, acidic taste of the kerabu, resulting from the artful combination of spices, coated with chicken to perfection. With each bite into the mixture of meat and vegetables, our taste buds just begged for more - a truly satisfying dish which fulfilled its role on the plate.
Other noteworthy dishes are its seafood array. Its la-la belacan, or baby oysters cooked in spicy belacan paste, burned deep into our memories, while its deep-fried soft-shelled crab had a elastic feel which gelled well with us.
All in all, I will say that if I were to come for a second visit (or even a third), Khun Thai is definitely the place to go. In spite of the problems faced with transportation, the food, the ambience and the overall atmosphere left great memories worth reliving over and over again.