I was pleased to stumble upon Jian Jian Vegetarian Food at a corner of the Kopitiam on Tye Sin Street in George Town.
Penang’s hawker food has pork-based ingredients in the soup stock, lard oil, or other ingredients.
So, if you don’t take pork for personal reasons, finding pork-free hawker food in Kopitiam isn’t easy.
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Jian Jian Vegetarian Food
Jian Jian Vegetarian Food is a bit of a hole-in-the-wall outlet.
The Kopitiam is between Lebuh McNair and Lebuh Tye Sin, off Jalan Magazine.
You can walk from 1st Avenue or at the back of the Prangin shopping center (next to Komtar Tower).
The mom-and-pop eatery is 100% meat-free and very popular with the local vegetarians.
The place has a small, cramped dining area with limited tables and chairs; it is super busy and popular with Penangites.
To enjoy your meals in Kopitiam, you must go early to avoid the lunchtime rush.
Jian Jian specializes in the vegetarian version of many famous Penang noodles.
There is a food cart located on the street that whips up quick meals.
You can dine in as there is indoor seating, or you can take “tapao” (takeaway) your food to go.
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Breakfast Hawker Fare
A friendly lady runs the stall who will explain the daily specials and take your orders.
She will take you through the buffet options if you go for lunch.
Since this is a vegetarian spot, they have Eggs in some dishes.
Please let them know if you don’t want egg or egg noodles in your dish.
I was there on a Monday morning, and the recommendation was the “special” Penang Hokkien Mee, which they only make once a week.
The Noodles are RM4 per bowl, inexpensive, and filling.
Monday Special
Surprisingly, Vegetarian Penang Hokkien Mee is a reality at Jian Jian Vegetarian Food, where the hawker dish boasts authenticity in appearance and taste.
Served in generous portions with ample toppings, the noodles satisfy the palate.
The flavorful broth and spicy chili of the Penang Hokkien Mee elevate the dish to excellence.
That’s NOT Pork but mock vegetarian meat in the Penang Hokkien Mee!
Tuesday Special
Jawa Mee (Noodles in Potato Gravy) is a traditional Indonesian–Javanese-style noodle drenched in an orangy sweet potato gravy. It is also called Mee Rebus.
Jian Jian’s version has the sweet potato gravy generously ladled over Yellow Noodles and Bee Hoon, “Taugeh” (Mung Bean Sprout) garnished with fried soft tofu and crunchy fried crispy fritters.
Best served with homemade chili sauce—Jian Jian’s chili sauce made without Belacan (Shrimp paste) tastes excellent.
Jian Jian’s Jawa Mee has sweet potato gravy.
Wednesday Special
Wednesday brings a delectable duo of hawker food specials: Lor Mee and Penang Assam Laksa.
Vegetarian Penang Assam Laksa
The Penang Assam Laksa at Jian Jian is amazing.
Penang Assam Laksa is flavorful, spicy, and tangy. Jian Jian Vegetarian hits all the right notes with this unique soup, which can be made with any mackerel fish in the broth.
Penang Assam Laksa is the most popular noodle dish and a must-try for island tourists.
I’m pleased with this vegan-friendly version that looks and tastes like the real Macoy.
This version is perfect since I don’t like the fishy smell of certain fish or “Heko” prawn paste.
Even the “fish meat” texture is perfectly replicated in the broth.
The good news is if you’re vegetarian, you can still find a good bowl of authentic Penang Asam Laksa at home by packing it home.
I have had it at the shop, bought it at a friend’s home nearby, and had it at home after 3 hours, and the verdict is – it still tastes great when you heat the soup.
This is the one 5-star dish you need to try!
This vegan-friendly version looks and tastes like the real Penang Assam Laksa!
Vegetarian Lor Mee
Braised Noodles, Hokkien style, “Lor Mee,” are a popular hawker fare.
The soup has five-spice notes and is topped with chili paste and minced vinegared garlic.
Jian Jian’s delicious and healthy vegan “Lor Mee” is a comforting hawker recipe for lovers of braised dishes with dark starchy gravy.
If you look at the “Lor Mee,” which looks exactly like the normal version, you may wonder if it contains garlic or onions.
Don’t worry, as all the dishes at Jian Jian are cooked without garlic or onions.
If you practice certain dietary restrictions, you will appreciate the dishes here.
People with sensitive GI tracts or conditions like irritable bowel syndrome will appreciate food without these two bulbs belonging to the Allium genus.
Jian Jian’s delicious and healthy vegan “Lor Mee” is a comforting Penang hawker food.
Daily Available Noodle Dish – Wantan Mee
Wantan Mee is readily available from roadside hawker stalls or in Penang Kopitiam (coffee shops).
For Jian Jian’s vegetarian version, the Wantan noodles are tossed with a dark soy sauce with braised Black Mushrooms and topped with fried wontons, vegetarian char siu, and blanched green leafy “Chai Sim” (Mustard Greens).
You can ask for sliced pickled green chilies instead of “Green Sambal.”
Wantan Mee is available daily at Jian Jian Vegetarian Food.
Other Vegetarian Must Order Dishes
These are my favorites if you want to try another local Penang hawker food.
- Oyster Omelette
- Char Hor Fun Wet
- Char Hor Fun Dry
- Mock duck
The specialty must order the Mock Duck and ‘Oh Chien’ Oyster Omelet.
If you’re a Penang bachelor boy, you would probably have heard of this – to buy or prepare Penang Char Hor Fun to impress your girlfriend or future parents-in-law.
While you order the dish, it would be great if the Char Hor Fun has lots of “wok hey” plus plenty of extra ingredients to impress.
Char Hor Fun With Silky Egg Gravy
My octogenarian mom has always requested Korchabi Char Hor Fun.
The Char Hor Fun passed my mom’s taste test for good “wok hey” with plenty of ingredients and taste.
Jian Jian Dry Char Hor Fun With Egg
I prefer the dry version of this delicious dish, full of smoky, slightly charred, “wok hey” flavored Hor Fun and Bee Hoon cooked on a very hot wok!
Jian Jian makes a yummy vegetarian version of the famous”Oh Chien” (Oyster Omelette), which smells and looks delicious.
A simple, fast dish, “Oh Chien,” is made with eggs, sweet potato flour, mushroom, and chopped cilantro.
The dipping chili sauce is sour yet spicy and perfectly goes well with the sticky egg batter fried.
The dry version of the delicious Char Hor Fun has smoky, slightly charred, “wok hey.”
Mock Duck
Mock Duck is a gluten-based meat substitute made of wheat gluten, oil, sugar, soy sauce, salt, and deep-fried in oil.
When you place your order, the Mock Duck is freshly deep-fried at Jian Jian.
It looked so good that I was tempted to eat a piece as the server cut it up with scissors.
You get its distinct flavor and that weirdly artificial “plucked duck” texture, but I think it tastes too sweet and oily for me.
Nevertheless, it is a popular item for customers.
The Mock Duck is freshly deep-fried when you place your order.
Jian Jian Vegetarian – Lunch Buffet Options
Jian Jian Vegetarian provides a vegetarian buffet that is pocket-friendly.
You can choose healthier dishes and refrain from fried items, such as these very oily, cheap local Chinese vegetarian food stalls with various vegetarian dishes with rice.
You can find Eggs added to certain dishes.
If you don’t take Eggs, mention them to the server, and she will help you.
Most dishes are vegan. All are tasty, so it is worth seeking out.
Most patrons will “tapao” or take away the food.
There are many vegan soups for you to choose from.
On Mondays, they have their signature White Radish Soup, a favorite of mine.
Since I was there for breakfast, I didn’t stay to wait for the soup to be ready.
You can try their faux veg ham.
On some days, you can find Nasi Lemak on the menu, minus all the meats.
Jian Jian Vegetarian provides a vegetarian buffet that is pocket-friendly.
Pros of Dining at Jian Jian Vegetarian Food
Most of the Vegan hawker food is tasty.
The portions are satisfying, with a good amount of topping.
Popular with the local vegetarians who appreciate the excellent, tasty food and low prices.
You can order a Kopi for RM1 only.
Delicious filling Penang Hawker Food RM4 with Kopi RM1
Cons of Dining at Jian Jian Vegetarian Food
The cons: The Kopitiam is very busy and can be packed during mealtimes.
There are ceiling fans but no air conditioning.
Finding a car park can be challenging during lunchtime as the roads are busy and full of vehicles.
Jian Jian Vegetarian Food Review
Jian Jian has good quality vegetarian versions of authentic Penang hawker food for those who want a pork-free meal.
I paid RM4 for a delicious bowl of Penang Hokkien Mee that can rival the porky version in terms of looks and spiciness.
My first impression was that the food was cheap, flavorful, and had satisfying portions.
Jian Jian is popular among locals, even on a Monday morning.
The service was fast, and the food arrived piping hot.
I will be back to try the other vegan hawker dishes.
I have tasted several vegetarian food outlets in Penang.
Since Jian Jian is a local spot, the prices are reasonable.
Some of the dishes are for sharing.
You can order several dishes and eat family-style to try a little of everything.
I would recommend Jian Jian because their food tastes exactly like the original Penang food.
Jian Jian Vegetarian Food is at the junction of Lebuh Tye Sin and Lebuh Mcnair in George Town, Penang.
Jian Jian Vegetarian Food
58, Lebuh Tye Sin, George Town, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang.
Location: Google Map
Phone: 012-429 7518
Business Hours: Monday to Saturday, 7.00 AM to 2.00 PM
Sunday Closed
Editor’s Note: Normally, I will make up to three trips to taste the food before writing. For Jian Jian Vegetarian Food, I have been to the shop three days in a row for two weeks simply because the food is tasty.
Blog Disclosure: This is a NOT sponsored blog post. All opinions are mine. The writer and friends paid for their meal.
this one I visit before, they serve nice vegetarian food.