Merlin Nasi Kandar

Merlin Nasi Kandar is one of George Town's pioneer nasi kandar stalls, run from the no-frills ground-floor coffee shop of the old Merlin Hotel on the corner of Lebuh Union and Lebuh Pantai (Penang Street). The Penang state heritage office lists it among the city's nasi kandar pioneers, and the draw is the curries ladled over rice 'kuah banjir' style — a flooding of mixed gravies. Regulars come for the sweet-spicy beef curry and lamb kurma, with fried chicken (ayam goreng), fish and brinjal among the lauk on offer. It is an old-school, mid-century setting rather than a polished restaurant — part of the appeal.