Origins Of Nasi Kandar (Jelutong Nasi Kandar)...Still The Best! @ Kedai Kopi Tai Min, Jelutong, Penang

Ever wonder why nasi kandar is called...nasi kandar? :)

Nasi kandar, literally meant the rice being carried over the shoulder in a basket.

Yup, the name came from how the rice are carried over the shoulder in a basket. Of course most stalls now 'mass produce' their rice to cater for their customers and the rice are not carried over the shoulder anymore. However, one stalls still practice carrying the rice in this manner until today. Although the stall had been around for ages, the foods still ranked amongst the best in Penang.

Jelutong Nasi Kandar @ Kedai Kopi Tai Min.

Oops! Caught paparazi-ing by one of the worker there. A little stern looking but friendly and very efficient.

Crowds starting to form early in the morning, as early as 6:30am, while it's still dark. Multi-racial composition, because we all love nasi kandar! The coffee shop is handled by a Chinese boss, but everyone is fine with it because the drinks, especially my Nescafe and barley drinks, are nice too:)

If you're not sure where this place is, just look for Jelutong police station and this stall is at the same angle as I'm taking this photo.

Mention nasi kandar Jelutung and most Penangites will probably know where it is. It's located at Kedai Kopi Tai Min, just opposite Jelutong police station. For those planning to go there to eat tonight, I think you may not able to do so. Why? Because the stall only open in the morning for breakfast until finish, around lunch time. At first, I think it's a bit weird to be eating nasi kandar for breakfast, too heavy a meal!

Nasi kandar during the preparation 'phase'. Somehow, if you're not used to have your rice 'banjir'/ flooded with curry sauce, I suggest that you tell them early because all the rice are prepared this way. They'll ask whether you want chicken/ fish curry. Try the fish, it's much more famous here.

I ordered my chicken nasi kandar, RM4 + RM0.80 for the rice. The rice are nicely kukus-ed/ steamed, soft and fragrant. The chicken are cooked until very tender (a little pull will dislodge the  and absorbing all the curry flavor. Furthermore, you're getting a quarter of a chicken instead of just one small piece. I'd advice you to choose the drumstick portion because the chicken wing portion also consist of the chicken breast and it's too much meat for me! Also seen here is my barley drink, as usual, extra 'zhar'/barley seeds but no sugar.

Close up photo of my chicken nasi kandar. Although they flooded the whole plate with curry, it's surprisingly not as oily as I'd expect. Excellent!

However, if you think about eating at night and how detrimental it is to your health (sleeping with a full stomach of high cholesterol, high calories, high oil content foods), you'll agree with me that eating nasi kandar for breakfast isn't that bad at all. At least you're still active the whole day and can use up all the piled up calories you get from eating here, right?

This photo is taken in my other visit to this place. Same price, RM4.80 for my rice and chicken set, plus RM0.80 for an extra egg.

Seen here again is the basket used to carry the rice container.

Really fitting to be one of the top 5 nasi kandar in Penang. What's the other 4 top nasi kandar stalls? Tell you other time:)

Jelutong Nasi Kandar @ Kedai Kopi Tai Min, 

Jalan Jelutong, 11600 George Town, Penang

Opens early morning until finish (around lunch time)

Tasty Or Not?
Rating: 8/10. One of the best nasi kandar in Penang and not to be missed by anyone who visits Penang.