Penang Loh Mee is a favorite Hokkien noodle dish marked by dark gravy, braised meat, and eggs.
The thick starchy sauce consists of dark and light soy sauce, corn starch, spices, braised meat stock, and ribbons of egg white.
Whenever I’m in Penang on cloudy or rainy mornings, I yearn for Loh Mee, and it’s just the thing for me.
Nothing quite hits the spot that can replace a nice warm bowl of solid (carb-laden) Loh Mee.
Many visitors are intrigued when they come across Penang Loh Mee.
It is Hokkien Mee? No it’s not.
Meanwhile, Penang Hokkien Mee stalls sometimes have two types of soup.
A Loh Cham Th’ng means Prawn-based soup with added Loh.
Loh Mee is not as familiar as it used to be in the early years.
Only the regulars crave this Hokkien noodle dish.
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What is Penang Loh Mee (Braised Dark Sauce Yellow Noodles)?
Penang Loh Mee (Hokkien: Lo̍h Mee) is a Malaysian braised noodle from Penang’s Chinese community.
Most Malaysian Chinese will tell you that they have eaten this for generations.
Penang Loh Mee Stalls
Penang Loh Mee Ingredients
When you think of a good bowl of Loh Mee, is your preference for braised meat or maybe chicken feet?’
Since day one, it has always been Braised Duck Eggs.
I got to have two as I love the taste of the creamy orangy yolks mashed up in the flavourful Lor.
Some would vouch for the tender Braised Pork, slices of Pork Belly, and Pork Skin.
The taste of the braised ingredient and Five Spice Powder is fantastic.
Condiments like fried shallots, raw vinegared garlic, and red chili paste make for that additional oomph.
And yes, it is worth a try, and the carbs!
So, you’re asking, which is the best version?
Let’s start with the first, Hai Beng Loh Mee, which my family patronized in the 60s.
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Hai Beng Loh Mee (1957) (George Town)
One of the oldest in Penang, the Loh Mee at Hai Beng, is an old favorite.
The customers you meet now are 2nd and 3rd-generation Loh Mee regulars.
For most, visit the Goddess of Mercy Temple to offer prayers, then head to Hai Beng for their Loh Mee brunch.
The luscious Loh Mee, the only stall here, serves a Slurp-worthy gravy sauce in a no-frills Kopitiam ambiance.
Springy yellow noodles, pork slices, pork liver, chicken feet, and braised eggs.
You can adjust your spicy and sour levels with their homemade chili sauce and vinegar homemade garlic sauce bottles.
Their braised chicken feet are top-notch, brimming with flavors.
If you love braised chicken feet, you can order extras.
Hai Beng Loh Mee opposite Kuan Imm Teng Temple
Hai Beng Coffee Shop
Address: 32, Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, George Town, 10200 George Town, Penang
Hours: 9.00 AM to 5.00 PM (Closed Wednesdays)
218 Hainan Lor Mee @ Hai Beng (Pulau Tikus)
While working around Pulau Tikus, the 218 Hainan Lor Mee was my go-to for breakfast or takeaway lunch.
The flavors of this delicious bowl of Loh Mee, with its homemade chili paste for extra spiciness and raw garlic sauce, are perfect for the flavourful broth.
Kedai Kopi Hai Beng
Address: 218, Jalan Burma, Pulau Tikus, 10350 George Town, Penang
Hours: 7.30 AM to 3.00 PM (Closed on Monday)
There are two Loh Mee stalls on Lebuh Carnarvon that you can try.
Loh Mee @ Kedai Kopi Seng Thor (George Town)
Seng Thor Coffee Shop is an old-school coffee shop that offers a wide variety of well-loved hawker fares.
Among the highlights here is the Loh Mee stall, which has been in brisk business since day one.
Authentic, flavorful Loh Mee with braised Duck egg, meats, braised eggs, a sprinkling of fried shallots, and a lashing of Lard Oil
for the unmistakable Loh Mee bold flavors stirred in the chili sauce and garlic are served on the spoon.
The Loh Mee broth is thick and made from corn starch and filling.
Kedai Kopi Seng Thor at the junction of Lebuh Carnarvon and Lebuh Kimberley.
Kedai Kopi Seng Thor
Address: 160, Lebuh Carnarvon, 10100 George Town, Penang
Hours: 7.00 AM to 2.00 PM (Closed Wednesdays)
Loh Mee @ Kafe Ping Hooi
While Kafe Ping Hooi is famous for Tiger Char Kway Teow, the Lor Mee is relatively decent and flavourful.
The seller is disabled (deaf), so please be kind and patient when you make your order.
Kafe Ping Hooi
Address: 179, Lebuh Carnarvon, George Town, 10100 George Town, Penang.
Hours: 6.30 AM to 2.00 PM
Kim Leng Loh Mee @ Restoran Joo Huat
The famous Kim Leng Loh Mee is well known in Perak Lane, reputed to serve a classic bowl of Loh Mee featured on Astro Asian Food Channel.
The braised noodle dish is a thick brown soup with herbal egg, bean sprouts, pigskin and intestines, and chicken feet!
Chilli paste and vinegar-garlic sauce are the must-have condiments, with a generous sprinkling of golden-fried shallots on top.
Kim Leng Loh Mee @ Joo Huat Coffee Shop
Address: 336-G1 Lintang Slim, off Jalan Perak, 11600 Penang.
Hours: 8.00 AM to 1.00 PM
Million Loh Mee 卤家庄卤面专卖店 (Farlim)
Family-owned business Million Loh Mee in Farlim offers the luxurious version, which never skimps on ingredients such as pork skin, braised egg, and chicken feet.
The braised chicken feet are tender and succulent, cooked to perfection. If you fancy some, add these to the bowl.
The thick dark gravy scores on both textures, rich in meaty flavor for the springy noodles for a hearty bowl.
Million Loh Mee has a choice of noodles: Bihun Mee (a mixture of rice vermicelli and yellow noodles), Koay Teow, Bee Tai Bak, and Maggie Mee.
If you’re a big eater, add a portion of Stewed Pork Legs.
Other ingredients in the gravy are a braised egg, pork lard, bean sprouts, and fried shallots.
The use of pork lard gives a creamy pork appeal to the dish.
Condiments like vinegar, chopped garlic, and chili condiment for that additional oomph.
Overall, Million Loh Mee truly lives up to its name of being “Pak Ban” (Hokkien: Million)
Family-owned business Million Loh Mee in Farlim is the luxurious version.
Million Loh Mee
Address: 19, 11, Medan Angsana, Bandar Baru Air Itam, 11500 Ayer Itam, Penang
Hours: 7.30 AM to 5.00 PM (Closed on Monday)
Loh Mee @ One Corner Café (George Town)
The food court is a favorite for locals.
The Loh Mee is one of my top favorites.
I will order Bihun instead of Yellow noodles to soak up the alluring Five Spices aroma of the broth.
The braised egg, pork slices, and fried shallots further enhance the flavors of this slurping experience.
Are you tired of the soupy version?
Opt for their dry version, which is worth giving a try.
There is a “Dry” version of Loh Mee @ One Corner Café
One Corner Cafe
Address: 12, Jalan Bawasah, George Town, 10050 George Town, Penang
Hours: 8.00 AM to 3.30 PM
Loh Mee @ Bee Hooi Restaurant (Pulau Tikus)
The morning and night Loh Mee at Bee Hooi Restaurant are run by different sellers.
Both are equally good, with the Loh Mee topped with pork slices, bean sprouts, braised eggs, and minced garlic, fried shallots, and chili paste.
You can add on extra meat, braised egg, and tender chicken feet if you want.
Get two different versions at the same stall as the day and night stall owners are other.
Bee Hooi Restaurant
Address: 415, Jalan Burma, Pulau Tikus, 10350 George Town, Penang
Hours: 8.00 AM to 8.00 PM (Closed Tuesdays)
Loh Mee @ Lean Thye Loh
Nostalgic and appealing, this Loh Mee dou of mother and son makes my favorite noodles.
The yellow noodles are perfect, not soggy but warmed through.
The noodles have a nice bite, and the gravy is not too thick or thin, just perfect consistency. The starchy broth is said to be the draw here.
It doesn’t become watery after a few tosses.
I usually order two braised Duck Eggs.
They serve one on my noodles and the other in a separate bowl with extra gravy.
The ingredients include tender and juicy braised lean pork slivers, halved duck eggs, pork skin, and springy noodles.
Loh Mee @ Lean Thye Loh
Extra Braised Duck Egg at Loh Mee @ Lean Thye Loh
Kedai Kopi Lean Thye
Address: 4, Lebuh Ah Quee, George Town, 10300 George Town, Penang
Hours: 7.00 AM to 11.00 AM
Other Loh Mee Stalls in Penang
亞裕鹵面 Ah Joo Loh Mee
Address: 6a, Lorong Selamat, 10400 George Town, Penang
Hours: 7.00 AM to 3.30 PM (Closed Saturdays)
Ah Khoon Loh Mee
Address: 4042, Jalan Bagan Luar, Bagan Luar, 12000 Butterworth.
Hours: 7.30 AM to 2.00 PM (Closed Fridays)
Loh Mee @ Hwa Lam Coffee Shop 华南茶室 (George Town)
It is not your regular Loh Mee, but Hwa Lam Coffee Shop serves black vinegar or Chow Mee.
Open only in the evenings, the stall sells various Fujian dishes.
You can find mee sua gor, bak kee soup, Char Hor Fun, Singapore Bee Hoon, and the most unusual dish—black vinegar lor mee.
The bowl of Loh Mee looks deceptively plain and dull, with only yellow noodles.
Rest assured, all the ingredients lie beneath the noodle.
It has a unique vinegar flavor and is soupier and darker than traditional starchy broth.
Depending on your preference, you can add a few droplets of black vinegar to give it a more aromatic scent.
Once you’ve tasted this, You’ll find yourself returning for more!
Well, technically, this, to me, is just not Loh Mee.
Tell me what you think.
Loh Mee @ Hwa Lam Coffee Shop
Hwa Lam Kopitiam
266, Lebuh Carnavon, 10450, Georgetown, Penang.
Operation hours: 6 PM – 12 AM (Closed on Tuesday)
Best Penang Loh Mee Review
With the migratory waves of Hokkien people to Penang, this simple Loh Mee is a comforting, filling food for hungry tummies.
The main draw of Loh Mee is the starchy broth, which is made from soy sauce, starch, meat or crustacean stock, and braised eggs.
The thick and flavorsome broth is then ladled onto yellow noodles and topped with braised meats, eggs, and a sprinkle of fried shallots.
Some stalls add in lashings of Pork Lard Oil for that distinct taste.
For a dose of heat, a spicy red chili paste is provided.
Some stalls have this in bottles and jars.
Others serve it on a spoon.
Yet others will ladle this directly on the noodles.
Comforting, fulfilling, and full of flavors, these outstanding bowls of Loh Mee become the comfort food from your first mouthful.
Be sure to head over with an empty stomach.
Source: About “Lor Mee” – A Look into its Origins and Various Styles
