Sin Bee Chew Restoran is a popular Halal Hainanese eatery at Bagan Luar, Butterworth, Penang.
My Butterworth jaunt with Kak Izza is a beautiful visit to all her favorite places and, I assure you, so many delicious food hunts.
After a beautiful lunch at the Restoran Nelayan Terapung Ujong Batu, we went to the nostalgic Sin Bee Chew.
The modest restaurant established in 1945 remains popular to this day.
Locals pack it for lunch and dinner.
We drove around the block twice, stopping by Nasi Kandar Bawah Pokok Ketapang (open for dinner) for tapao, the super crispy Malay-style Banana Fritters.
When we turned back, the lunch crowd had finished eating, and we found a cubicle seat to park ourselves.
The car found a nice spot, too.
Halal Hainanese Food At Sin Bee Chew Restoran, Butterworth
Contents
History of Sin Bee Chew Restoran
Sin Bee Chew Restoran has a history dating back to 1945.
The location is from the original premise (burned down) near the seaside and jetty.
The business presently is non-stop and a pit stop for Muslim diners.
Sin Bee Chew Restoran Ambiance
Since the restaurant is packed, make-shift tables are laid on the veranda.
Sometimes, you can even order the food served in the Kopitiam next door.
Sin Bee Chew Restoran’s interior is simple.
Sin Bee Chew Restoran is Halal
If you are wondering, the restaurant is Muslim-friendly.
The chefs are Muslim and use halal-certified ingredients in their food preparation.
The ratio of Muslim customers to non-Muslims is about 60:40, and everyone enjoyed their food.
7 Halal Menu Items To Try At Sin Bee Chew Restoran
There is quite a list of items for lunch, consisting of rice and noodles dishes that fit all budgets.
The top order is the crowd-pleaser Hainanese Chicken Chop.
The rice and noodle dishes are well complemented with generous ingredients of prawns, chicken slices, and vegetables.
Try it with the sambal to provide it with a decent heat component.
Haninanese Chicken Chop
Chicken Chop is served differently by different Hainanese Chefs.
In Penang, I would eat Chicken Chops from a tiny (defunct) Kopitiam on Beach Street, the legendary Hai Onn Restaurant on Burma Road, and other places.
The most popular order at Sin Bee Chew is the Hainanese Chicken Chop, a classic colonial recipe created by Hainanese chefs who work for British employers.
Kak Izza recommends the Hainanese Chicken Chop here.
Her child loves this dish.
The Fried Chicken has a nice crispy batter.
The brown gravy, which mixes Worcestershire sauce, tomato ketchup, and Chinese light soy sauce, is topped with tomato slices, potato chips, and peas.
The Egg Steak
You won’t find this dish anywhere else in the world.
The English would have Steak and Eggs, and since the Chinese seldom eat beef, the meat element is omitted.
Hence, the Hainanese version of Egg Steak.
Egg steaks are sunny-side-up eggs served with the Chicken Chop Gravy minus the meat.
Children love this dish as it is easy to eat.
Hainanese Chicken Chop and Egg Steak
Beef Fried Rice
I enjoy this wok hey fried rice, nicely seasoned and appetizing with lots of beef slices.
It is a tasty change from normal Nasi Goreng.
Kopi and Beef Fried Rice
Inchi Kabin
The Chicken pieces are marinated in five-spice powder for up to 5 hours to absorb the flavors into the meat before frying.
Hainansese style Inchi Kabin
Hailam Char
Hainanese Fried Bee Hoon (Dry and Wet) differs from the Hokkien version.
There are no bean sprouts (taugeh), and the noodles are not cooked with Dark Soy Sauce.
The pale-looking noodles are delicious.
Hainanese Fried Bee Hoon Soup
Hokkien Char
Like the Penang Hokkien Char, the Hailam version doesn’t have bean sprouts (taugeh).
Hokkien Char
Vegetable Rice
Sometimes referred to as Lam Pnui Gravy Rice in Hokkien.
Vegetable Rice is a versatile dish to prepare, especially when you lack an appetite or know what to order.
Moms would feed their schooling children as it is easy to prepare and for kids to eat.
The vegetable is cooked in cornstarch gravy and spooned over the hot rice.
The best part is to add as much gravy as possible and to serve it warm!
Vegetable Rice
Cooked Dishes with Rice (Tai Chow)
There’s a long list of menu items for dishes you can check with the owner.
Seafood items are based on market price.
Recommended items are
- Fried Black Pomfret Fish (ikan bawal hitam)
- Assam Prawns
- Sambal Kangkong
Sin Bee Chew Restaurant Review
We enjoyed the simple but tasty Beef Fried Rice even with a full tummy.
The dining experience is pleasant and homey and reminds me of all the Kopitiam from years ago.
The staff and Towkay Soh are nice, friendly, and chatty.
Sin Bee Chew is a Halal Restaurant packed daily during lunchtime with office workers from the government offices, the local district offices, and many others.
It was a good experience of mainland hospitality, judging from the full-house customer support.
It’s not hard to know why Sin Bee Chew is ever popular.
Pros
- Good Halal Hainanese food.
- authentic Halal Hainanese Chicken Chop
- Great options for Beef, Chicken, and Seafood if you don’t take pork.
- Tasty food arrived hot at the table.
Cons
- You will see the grille door pulled shut out of opening hours.
- Sin Bee Chew restaurant closes sharply at the stipulated hours, not a minute later.
- Parking is a challenge during lunchtime.
- Be prepared to wait for a table.
If driving to Penang, why not stop at Sin Bee Chew for a bite of authentic Halal Hainanese chicken chop, Hokkien char, Inchi Kabin chicken, and many other Haineanese-influ¬enced dishes?
Another famous Muslim-friendly Hainan restaurant is Bee Hwa Café on Penang Island.
The Kopitiam offers classic Chinese hawker food, including its signature Curry Mee, Hokkien Mee, Hailam Mee, and Char Koay Teow.
Sin Bee Chew Restoran
11, Lorong Bagan Luar 3, Bagan Luar, 12000 Butterworth, Pulau Pinang
Hours: 12.00 PM to 2.45 PM & 5.00 PM to 8.00 PM (Closed on Weekend)
Facebook: Sin Bee Chew Restoran
