Sup Hameed is famous for dishes up cauldron-sized boiling South Indian-style peppery soups.
Famous Mamak Soup is popular with the Malay, Indian and Indian Muslim community.
Growing up in Penang, we know where to go for the best soups outside our homes.
Made with fresh turmeric, the soups have that distinctly nice aroma and are delicious and healthy.
Chinese men love the Tumeric peppery, spicy “Sup Torpedo” believed to have aphrodisiac qualities.
Sup Hameed’s “Sup Torpedo” (bull’s penis soup) was so famous that it was featured in an episode of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown – an American travel and food show on CNN.
Sup Hameed
The soups at Sup Hameed Restaurant are recognized as the best in Penang.
The alfresco seating area is a collection of warung-like stalls favored by locals and visitors for hanging out for cheap meals.
There are several meat choices to select from.
However, the soup base is the same.
Years ago, when my friend from Iowa visited, she went to ask about the soups.
She was a Convent girl and could still read Bahasa after spending three decades in the USA.
The most intriguing soup was, of course, the Beef Torpedo Soup.
Pat asked Mamak, “Apa Sup Torpedo?”
Mamak: Itu, Aunty.
Pat: Itek I Tahu, APA Itu?
Mamak: Itu LAH Aunty. ITU!
Needless to say, the young Mamak was a bit flustered with Aunty and quickly headed back to the kitchen.
Pat: Dory, what is an ITU?
Dory: That’s a Bull Pen Soup.
Pat: Marker Pen? Red ink Pen? WTH is that? Adui?
Dory: PEN is a nice Chinese euphemism for penis LAH.
Pat: Adui, say LAH! OMG, who eats that stuff?
Dory: Malaysian men.
Pat: Why????
Dory: These kinds of soups will put hair on your chest LAH
Pat: <faints>
Pat, after a thoughtful 10 minutes.
Pat: Dory, you want to try?
Large pots of boiling soups on stoves at Sup Hameed, Penang
Beef Torpedo Soup
Recently I went to my favorite soup stall with my running friends.
By running friends, I mean to say that they run and I’m just the friend.
But Dory, you said, “You run, I chase..”
Say only LAH.
Soup Torpedo
It Doesn’t Just Put Hair on Your Chest!
Assorted cuts of beef, including organ meat, arranged on a cutting board
What does Sup Torpedo AKA Bull’s Penis Soup taste like?
Since this is a soup for men only.
I asked Pepé Le Pew if he would help me out with the taste test.
Nooooooo….
Pepe: You ask Gordon Ramsay LAH!
Dory: <Sniggers>
Pepe: Gordon Ramsay Tried Sup Torpedo, AKA Bull’s Penis Soup, In KL before, you know. He’s that Hell’s Kitchen chef who’s forever roasting his fans and other chefs wannabe.
Dory: He’s always entertaining to watch. Besides, his recipe for Shepard’s Pie is to die for.
Back in 2009, some Malaysians made Ramsay try a “soup, especially for men.”
Ramsay’s initial reaction was one of bewilderment…
When he finally tasted it, Ramsay said the soup was “very spicy” and likened it to an oxtail “but with a soft bone inside” – get it? Boner?
The texture?
- Muscly
- Gristly
- Chewy
The size – the penis of a mature bull is about 3–4 cm in diameter and 80–100 cm in length.
Bengali roti bakar served with margarine, ideal for dipping into Sup Hameed’s signature soups
Sup Hameed Menu
- Chicken Soup RM4.80
- Mutton Soup RM7.80
- Mutton Leg Soup RM10.00 / RM15.00
- Quail Soup RM7.80
- Beef Soup RM4.80
- Oxtail Soup RM8.00
- Beef Tendon Soup RM8.00
- Beef Tongue Soup RM8.00
- Beef Stomach Soup RM7.00
- Beef Torpedo Soup RM8.00
- Beef Mixed Soup RM10.00/ RM25.00
- Bengali Roti (per pc) RM0.50
Sup Hameed Bone Broth Soups
Nothing is more satisfying than a hot bowl of bone broth soups if you are fasting.
Bone broth is highly recommended as It contains numerous minerals and vitamins.
The soups are quite ‘filling’ in terms of reducing hunger pangs.
The soups are chockful of the fragrance of
- Coriander
- Cumin
- black pepper
- fresh Tumeric
- cloves
- cardamom
- cinnamon
- ginger
- garlic
- poppy seeds powder
Garnishing
- chopped spring onion
- coriander
- shallot crisps
Mutton Soup
I’ve heard that Mutton Soup (Soup Kambing) is an amazing remedy for fever, cough, and hand and limb pain.
Soup Kambing lovers who enjoy the gamey flavor of goats will enjoy this dish.
In Malaysia, sometimes a combination of goat and lamb meat is used.
Main Ingredient of Sup Hameed
Fresh Turmeric is the main ingredient.
It is used not only as a superfood for weight loss but also to aid digestion and has great detox properties.
Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties also help in relieving symptoms associated with both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Sup Kambing is a delicious combination of mutton and various flavourful spices.
It is also a refreshing and nutritious dish that keeps your body warm during the monsoon and rainy seasons.
The elderly Chinese community believes Mutton Soup to be very potent and too heaty to take.
Great mutton soup very flavourful without being too strong. The meat was tender but still had a bite.
Cooked cuts of beef and mutton prepared for the soups
Chicken Soup
The renowned soup has a unique taste.
If you look at the soup, it isn’t starchy or thick – what distinguishes their soups is the characteristic taste.
For the past 30 years, I will normally have had Chicken Soup like a sensible Convent school girl.
Other times, I would crave a good Chicken Rasam.
The flavors of Sup Ayam and Chicken Rasam are distinctly different.
I love Chicken Rasam, a South Indian soup that is hot, gingery, peppery, garlicky, and spicy, with peppercorns and green chilies providing extra heat.
My favourite is having two Roti Bengali Bakar (toasted Benggali Bread) pieces, smothered in Planta (margarine), to dip in my two bowls of Chicken Soup.
The order is Sup Ayam and Sup Ayam Kosong.
I get a serve of chopped Chicken in the Sup Ayam.
For the Sup Ayam Kosong – that’s more soup.
A satisfying bowl of Sup Ayam Kosong accompanied by Bengali bread
Other Items at Sup Hameed
Most orders of soup are served with Roti Bengali.
You can have it toasted – Roti Bakar style with Kaya and Butter or just plain.
There is the usual Mamak fare that you can have in addition to your soups.
- Nasi Lemak Bungkus
- Mee Goreng Mamak
- Maggie Goreng
- Roti Canai
- Roti Telur
- Roti Milo
- Roti Cheese
Roti Canai, or Roti Paratha (to Singaporeans), is a crispy, buttery, and flaky Indian flatbread from southern India.
Review of Sup Hameed
Sup Hameed gets a full star rating for the best soups in Penang.
One of my favourite late-night places to visit and hang out since 2004.
Even though there are a few Sup Hameed outlets, my go-to is the alfresco outlet near Penang Road next to the Balai.
If you go early, you can squeeze in an afternoon Chendol session before crossing Penang Road to Sup Hameed.
If you’re a food enthusiast seeking bold and vibrant flavors, Malaysian restaurants with outdoor seating may not always offer the highest levels of comfort or cleanliness.
However, their rustic charm and authentic culinary experiences make them worth the visit.
Despite their humble settings, which include rickety plastic tables and less-than-spotless surfaces, dining at these establishments guarantees a culinary adventure.
You’ll find a delightful array of Malaysian dishes bursting with full-bodied flavors to tantalize your taste buds.
So, if you’re willing to overlook the minor inconveniences in favor of indulging in mouthwatering Malaysian cuisine, you’re in for a treat at these outdoor dining spots.
The soups are tasty and hit the right spot, especially after a heavy workout to replenish fluids.
Sup Hameed makes good soups, and it is rich in ingredients.
The hearty soups are best paired with toasty Roti Bengali instead of White Bread.
Delicious chunks of chicken add heartiness to the Sup Ayam soup
Excellent value at Sup Hameed
All the soups are delicious at a reasonable price and exceed expectations in terms of taste and flavor.
The meats are chunky, good size portions, and the soup is full of turmeric goodness.
Every time I drop by, the soup tastes the same, satisfied, and the food serving is fast.
The soups are strong and thick, with various meat options.
They are well worth every sip.
If you’re feeling adventurous, do try the Sup Torpedo, which is guaranteed to put hair on your chest (for men).
They also serve simple Nasi Lemak Bungkus, Nasi Kandar with curries, Maggie Goreng, Roti Canai, and a nice Roti Telur.
Colorful carnival tent on the roadside, indicating the location of Sup Hameed
Landmark: Next to Penang Contingent Police Headquarters
Address: 48, Jln Penang, George Town, 10000 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Hours: 8:30 am–2 am
Phone: 04-261 8007
Blog Disclosure: This is a NOT sponsored blog post. All opinions are mine. The writer and friends paid for their meal.
