[Penang, Malaysia] Central Javanese lunch at Sitigun, Nagore Square

[klyeoh (Peter)]

A Central Javanese lunch today at 𝗦𝗶𝗧𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗻, the 11-year-old eponymously-named cafe run by Central Javanese/Bandung native, Tigun Wibisana, and his Kelantanese wife, Sandra.

We opted for:
𝗚𝗮𝗱𝗼-𝗴𝗮𝗱𝗼, consisting of 𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘬 𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘦 (soybean cake), 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘭 (potato croquette), 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘫𝘰 crisps, hard-boiled egg, and mixed vegetables (cabbage, long beans) with a piquant, spiced peanut sauce

𝗧𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗴 𝗸𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗴

𝗢𝗽𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗺

Soto Ayam - this is a Javanese spiced chicken soup, served with perkedil (potato croquette), hard-boiled egg, sprouts and rice.

Shredded chicken-meat in the soto ayam was cooked perfectly.

Beef rendang - a piquant, dry beef curry with deep, mellow flavors. It’s accompanied by 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘭 (potato croquette), egg, 𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘬 𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘦 (soybean cake), 𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘱 (Javanese salad), prawn crackers & rice.

Penang’s only go-to spot for good, authentic Javanese food.

SiTigun’s forte is actually its coffee, roasted on premises and expertly brewed.
Left: Arabica, and right: Robusta.

𝗦𝗶𝗧𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗻 occupies the building on Nagore Road which formerly housed Penang’s last Jewish synagogue.

Address
SiTigun Micro Coffee Roastery
28, Jalan Nagor (Nagore Road), 10050 George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Tel: +604-228 7108
Opening hours: 8am to 5pm Tue-Sun. Closed on Mondays.
Lunch orders from 12 noon.

[Saregama]

Looks wonderful, @klyeoh - especially that Rendang! (Bit sad about the last synagogue, though…)

[Steve (from DC)]

I dream of getting to Penang, and this only reinforces the need to make that happen sooner than later.

[klyeoh (Peter)]

@Saregama

(Bit sad about the last synagogue, though…)

It’s very sad. But the Penang-Jews, who came during the British colonial times, subsequently emigrated to Singapore and Australia, where there are larger communities to be able to form a minyan.

[klyeoh (Peter)]

@Steve

I dream of getting to Penang, and this only reinforces the need to make that happen sooner than later.

I do hope you’re able to come soon. Call me if you do.

[Saregama]

It’s interesting they emigrated to Singapore and Australia rather than Israel, which is where a lot of Indian Jews went.

[klyeoh (Peter)]

I think they chose other Commonwealth countries, which probably offered them a lifestyle and environment similar to, or closely resembled, what they had in Penang.