If you come to Penang looking for Nyonya food, skip the theatrical stuff and head for Ivy’s. This Jalan Kedah favourite serves the kind of Peranakan cooking that makes you understand why tamarind, chilli, coconut milk, belacan and aromatics have been sharing the same plate for generations. Kapitan chicken brings the creamy spice, Assam fish wakes everything up with sour heat, and Joo Hoo Char arrives looking innocent before the sambal reminds you that Penang has never believed in timid food.
Come hungry, bring friends, order for the table and don’t rush it. Ivy’s isn’t about flashy dining-room theatrics; it’s about sitting down to a spread of deeply flavoured Nyonya dishes and slowly realising that the rice is disappearing much faster than expected.
Continue reading