Sweet treats galore: Chan (in green) tending to customers at her traditional kuih stall at the Cecil Street market in George Town. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: Weekend tourists are going off the beaten track to patronise places such as the Cecil Street market here to not just sample the goodies, but also for a taste of the street food culture.
Kuih seller Chan Hoon Sien, 46, said she had been receiving almost twice the number of customers, thanks to the influx of tourists, especially on the weekends.
The second-generation stall operator said local regulars would usually come to the stall to buy kuih talam, yam cake and kuih bengkang.
“But for tourists, they are often fascinated with the over 40 types of kuih I have,” she added.
Some of the other popular food stalls at the market even had up to 30 customers waiting in line on Saturday.
Businessman Michael Cheah, 41, was at the market for a meal with guests from Thailand.
“They are family friends whom we have known since young, and they have visited Penang several times in the past.
“This trip, they are back for Qing Ming (the Chinese tomb cleansing festival) and will spend four days here.
“To offer them an authentic taste of local food that cannot be found in Thailand, we decided to eat here, and they loved the laksa.
Great taste: Cheah (right) enjoying the local food with his friends and family members at the Cecil Street market food court.
“Penang is still famous for its food and it should be eaten at the spot, just as we love their (Thai) food when visiting there,” said Cheah.
Another group of tourists from Ipoh felt that queuing up for their food was worth it.
“We have visited most of the attractions in town, but we don’t mind waiting for the food because we get to see the whole cooking process,” said tuition teacher Lim Chee Kang, 36.
“This is a good experience for us because if we eat at cafes, we don’t get to see the kitchen and how the food is prepared.”
In September last year, Thailand’s former prime ministers Thaksin Shinawatra and his sister Yingluck were spotted at the Cecil Street market.
Locals were excited to spot them at the market, and it was learnt that they both tried the famous pasembur.
Penang Tourist Guides Association chairman Clement Liang said the focus of Penang’s tourism was now on heritage and food, and hawkers spanning generations were gems of local culture.
“Tourists have cut down on shopping but prefer food that they can eat on the spot.
“They want to engage locals and have this sense of immersion when visiting a place.
“Fortunately, Penangites are well versed in many languages and have an understanding of various cultures from different regions.
“The friendliness of our locals is something we take pride in, and tourists are comfortable even when dining at hawker centres,” he said.
