Ban Chien Koay is a Chinese peanut pancake with pretty much the same topping as the Chinese apong, except that it usually has a harder crust. There are two types of Ban Chien Koay, the large type made in a big griddle and then cut into triangles and rectangles; and the small type made in their individual griddle. I prefer buying the small ones. They are much crisper than the big type. And I love mine sweet, with a visible coating of sugar crystals inside.
The name Ban Chien Koay (also written Ban Chean Koay or Ban Jian Kway) means "slow-cooking cake" in Hokkien. Ban Chien Koay is made by leveling a layer of batter over the hot griddle. A lid is then placed over the batter to let it cook. Then a generous amount of sugar and fried grounded peanuts are sprinkled over it. Other ingredients added to the Ban Chien Koay include sweet corn, bananas, and in the case of Aki Pancake, anything goes, from peanut butter to tuna.
When the Ban Chien Koay is cooked, its sides are scraped with a knife to detach it from the griddle. It is folded over quickly before it hardens, taken out of the pan, and placed to cool in pancake racks. It is best eaten when still fresh and hot. When you buy the ban chien koay, the seller wraps it with a piece of oil paper and puts it into a plastic bag. It's best that you take it out or else it will quickly soften, and then it won't taste so nice.
Cast your vote for the best Ban Chien Koay!
Where can you get the best Ban Chien Koay in Penang? Let us know. If you know of any coffee shop not listed, you can still vote for it, as long as it is in Penang! The voting will run until 31 December. All you need to do is fill up the information requested below, and email it to me at:
Provide the following details
Food: (name of food, ie: chee cheong fun, etc.)
Where: (ie Ah Leong Cafe, Jalan Kerbau)
Available during: (breakfast / lunch / dinner)
My email address: (your email address)
Ban Chien Koay
Crispy crust of the Ban Chien Koay
Where to find Ban Chien Koay
Ban Chien Koay is available at the following locations in Penang:
Old Farlim Market, in front of Teo Guan Hup Coffee Shop at ground floor of Block 2G (morning/breakfast), 1 vote (No 1 on map)
Taman Free School Hawker Centre, opp Heng Ee School, dinner (off Thurs), 1 vote (No. 2 on map)
Aki Pancake, Super Tanker, Lip Sin Garden (No. 3 on map)
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