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{Malaysia} Cendol, The Best Thirst Quencher on a Hot Day

Summer’s here in Seattle but with the beauty of summer, also comes the heat of the sun! You know what would be the perfect thirst quencher? CENDOL!

Don’t judge a book by its cover!

It’s probably the least appealing looking desert, but it’s one of our favorite. Don’t let the green wormy looking floaters in the ice cold dessert deter you from trying it out, though! This time, you really cannot judge a book by its cover!

Cendol (aka Chendul or Chendol), as it’s called in Malaysia is very popular under the hot Malaysian sun. Don’t let the green wormy looking floaters in the soup deter you from trying it out!

Cendol (aka Chendul or Chendol), as it’s called in Malaysia is very popular under the hot Malaysian sun.

The basic ingredients are coconut milk, green jelly made from rice flour with green coloring from pandan leaf, shaved ice, palm sugar & red bean. Other ingredients like glutinous rice, grass jelly, creamed corn can also be added.

Expect a long line but it’s all worth it!

There are many stalls with the same name. Make sure you locate the right one!

Cendol is often served out of small stalls beside the roads throughout Malaysia, but there’s one particular cendol stand that keeps drawing us back time and time again – Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul! Every time we are back in Malaysia, Penang is a must-stop for us (short flight from Kuala Lumpur) and a stop at the most popular Cendol stall is always on the itinerary!

Shirl and her mom sharing THREE bowls of cendol! Yes, it’s that good!

This little stall has been dishing out this specialty for many years now. In our opinion, what makes the cendol at their store better than the others is that they have the perfect ratio of shaved ice to coconut milk to the rest of their ingredients. They have got the ratios of the ingredients just right that makes this thirst quenching, mouth watering dish a must have!

Note that they are so popular, that there are other stores using the same names! This stall is located at Off Penang Road, Lebuh Keng Kwee. It will be located in the alley and you will see two stalls. This stall is the one adjoining Restaurant Joo Hooi. So make sure you locate this exact stall to taste “the real thing”!

On a hot summer day (which is pretty much all year round in Penang), be sure to stop by for a bowl of ice cold, thirst quenching, mouth watering cendol!

Want an air conditioned room to enjoy your cendol? You’re in luck! For those of you who want to get away from being under the sun and if eating cendol while standing near the stall is not your cup of tea, there’s an air conditioned room you can go sit in!

Just down the street from the stall, you will see a “store” with a laksa stand in front of it. You can even order the cendol while waiting inside this air conditioned room.

Locals’ secret: an air conditioned room just a few steps down the street from the stall!

Ahh… A/C!

While waiting, we’d order what’s called a “fruit rojak“. This is the stall next to the “laksa” stall you see here. The “laksa” is so-so. We’ll tell you all about another stall to order laksa in a future post! Fruit rojak is a great accompaniment to cendol!

We like to order a plate of fruit rojak while waiting for our cendol!

 

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TAKEAWAYS:

  1. Must have cendol can be found at Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul, located at Off Penang Road, Lebuh Keng Kwee, adjoining Joo Hooi Restaurant.
  2. Best enjoyed right there at the stall.
  3. You can order and eat it while standing near the stall or you can go down the street a few steps and enjoy your cendol in the comfort of an air conditioned room.
  4. While waiting for cendol, we usually order a plate of fruit rojak.
  5. To get there, just take a cab and tell the cab driver you want to go to “Penang famous cendol at Lebuh Keng Kwee” and they’d know exactly where to take you.
  6. It is a short walk from Komtar.
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What’s your favorite summer thirst quencher? Would you give cendol a try?

30 Comments

  1. Joanne August 27, 2012 Reply

    Just visited Malaysia and I had to have cendol. One of my fav hot weather dessert. A great spot to get this delicious morsel in Seremban is called Haji Shariff’s. I always look for Indian Muslims for cendol and found one in Mersing. I love both cendol with or without red beans.

  2. Kieu August 18, 2012 Reply

    mMmm! We went to that long line one in Penang too.. so good. Gerard practically licked the bowl. Haha
    Kieu recently posted..GQ trippin’ Turns 1 Year Old!My Profile

  3. Aggy
    Twitter:
    July 30, 2012 Reply

    In Indonesia we also have cendol though minus the red beans and it tastes sweeter. I love Penang cendol, definitely a thirst quencher for those scorching hot days…yummmy!
    Aggy recently posted..It’s Summer and You’re in NantesMy Profile

  4. Arti
    Twitter:
    July 25, 2012 Reply

    It surely looks cool! The light green color looks very refreshing indeed. Would love to try it out sometime.
    Wish you have a wonderful week ahead:)
    Arti recently posted..Nakamise Dori Shopping Arcade: Souvenir Shopping In TokyoMy Profile

  5. Christina
    Twitter:
    July 22, 2012 Reply

    I think I’d love this. Sounds very intriguing and yes looks like green worms, but hey, it’s a dessert!
    Christina recently posted..Faces of NanjingMy Profile

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