GEORGE TOWN, Aug 17 — The Nyonya birthday noodles is a must-have among many ethnic Chinese families in Penang especially during birthdays.

This is one noodle dish that is not as common as other hawker food as it is a dish that most families can prepare.

Though some families may still practise the tradition of cooking up a big pot of broth for some birthday noodles — to represent longevitiy — during a family member’s birthday, it is no longer as common in modern times.

Also known as “lam mee” in Hokkien, a simple warming bowl of this noodle dish is perfect for breakfast, lunch, tea break or a light dinner.

The broth is a clear soup made from boiling pork ribs or a chicken carcass for several hours.

The soup is then given another layer of taste as peeled prawns will also be boiled briefly in the soup.

Next, the noodles are scalded and rinsed before the hot boiling broth is ladled on top.

The dish is complete after adding the boiled prawns, strips of omelette, shredded chicken, parsley and stewed mushrooms.

The resulting flavour is one of a mild clear chicken or pork broth that is light and delicious. It goes perfectly with the yellow noodles and even some vermicelli.

The prawns give it a distinct shrimp taste, almost like a non-spicy version of the Hokkien Mee while the parsley adds some freshness to the whole dish.

Due to the mild flavours of the soup, those who love some spice in their noodles can also add a dollop of sambal to the noodles, instantly turning it into a tasty spicy dish.

Since it is mostly served during birthdays, the omelette served is not just any plain omelette but eggs with added reddish colouring so that it comes out looking like pink ribbons adorning the otherwise plain looking bowl of noodles.

But you don’t have to wait for your birthday to enjoy a warming bowl of lam mee now as there are several hawkers selling this dish.

The birthday noodle can be found in some hawker centres and coffeeshops in Penang.

Here are some lam mee stalls to try out:

1.  Sin Teik Lee Coffee Shop, Macalister Road

GPS: 5.416793,100.322841

Time: 8am–1pm

2.  Gurney Drive Hawker Centre

GPS: 5.439912,100.309049

Time: 5pm–11pm

3.  Johor Road hawker centre

GPS: 5.414587,100.318083

Time: 6pm–11pm

4.  Lee Huat Café, Jalan Masjid Negeri

GPS: 5.39314,100.302966

Time: 6.30am–11.30pm

5.  Leng Nia Coffee Shop, Lengkok Nipah

GPS: 5.341905,100.293884

Time: 7.30am–noon