Craving for Penang food? Now you can as Gurney Drive has re-opened at Northshore Plaza II that is built within the Punggol HDB estate along the seafront. The chain is making a comeback after 7 years and one does not need to travel out of Singapore to get authentic Penang hawker signatures anymore.
Apart from the wok hei that we all know and love, the best part would be the sinfully delicious and crispy pork lard that is used to enhance the flavour of the dishes. You would be glad to know that fresh pork lard is rendered in-house daily into golden crispy lard cubes that is used generously throughout its simple menu.
From Penang Fried Kway Teow, Assam Laksa to Prawn Noodles and more, Gurney Drive offers the same staggering variety of authentic Penang-style hawker foods, all served with a generous topping of their crowd-favourite fresh crisp-fried pork lard.
Begin your meal with their Nonya Kuih Pie Tee ($4.90) that usually comes in a set of four cracker cups filled with stir fried turnip, garlic, carrot and shrimp or opt for the Tahu Goreng Penang Style ($3.90) which features golden-crispy beancurd stuffed with bean sprouts, shredded cucumber, Penang Culture’s homemade peanut sauce.
The deep fried Har Cheong Gai ($5.90) is the crowd favourite that is tender, juicy and well marinated with the dried shrimp flavour that many have come to know and love. There is also an option for Fried Pork Belly ($4.90) that is undeniably addictive as well so be warned that there might be a fight for the last piece when you order these two starters.
Not to be missed is the popular Penang Fried Kway Teow ($7.90) which is wok-fried with prawns, cockles, bean sprouts, eggs and thereafter topped with generous servings of pork lard for yummy comfort food at its best.
For a soup alternative, the tart and spicy fish-based rice noodle Assam Laksa ($5.90) honours Penang’s original recipe. Made from ikan kembung (mackerels) and heavily laced with bunga kantan (ginger flower), the broth complements the noodles well and comes with shrimp paste, red chilli and lots of lime for added complexity.
Gurney Drive’s signature flavourful prawn soup broth is made with prawn heads, flower crabs and chicken bones and is available in both dry and soup options. For those who prefer the soup variety, the Penang Prawn Noodles ($6.90) has prawn, squid, pork slices and egg served in a large bowl of soup. Mix in the sambal belacan chilli dip provided for a spicy kick.
The dry version that is commonly known as Fried Hokkien Mee ($7.50) has a good amount of wok hei along with a mixture of fresh seafood that was not too oily and was our preferred choice. For those that can take the heat, mix in the sambal belacan chilli dip provided for a spicy kick.
Rice options are also aplenty here with Penang Nasi Lemak ($6.50) that is served with crisp-fried chicken wings, omelette egg, achar, ikan bilis and the quintessential sambal chilli. There’s also the Curry Chicken ($5.50), served with chicken and potatoes in a curry base made creamy with coconut milk. Do note that you would have to top up $1 for rice or $1.50 for a baguette. To zhng up the usual white rice with some wok hei, the fragrant Egg Fried Rice is available with a choice of Shrimp ($6.90), Pork Belly ($6.90) and Sambal ($7.50).
When you visit, do remember to save some space for dessert. Our top choice is the well-loved Penang Cendol ($2.50) which comes with a good serving of green cendol and red beans that complemented the creamy coconut milk and sweet gula melaka. For a more traditional option, the Bubur Hitam ($2.50) sees black glutinous rice cooked with brown sugar and pandan leaf before being topped with a dash of coconut milk.
A visit to the northeast end of Singapore is definitely worth your while so enjoy a Penang Street Food Paradise at Gurney Drive with your family and friends today! For more information, check out their Facebook or Instagram for the latest updates.
Address: #02-03, Northshore Plaza II, 418 Northshore Drive, Singapore 820418
Nearest LRT: Samudera (from Punggol MRT)
Opening Hours: 9am – 9pm daily
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