Some old-timey stalls tend to call it a day the moment they sell out the day’s stock. The earlier this happens, the likelier the stall has to be selling something popular with the public. With how Ravi’s Claypot Apom Manis often closes at 10 am, you know there’s something special here.
This little establishment is located within a Pulau Tikus kopitiam. If you look up older articles talking about this place, you would probably see the name Swee Kong being thrown about. For your knowledge, Swee Kong has since rebranded itself as Keat Hoe, so don’t get confused!
Since the 1920s
However, it is not the kopitiam that we want to talk about. It’s the apom stall doing brisk business here that is the star of the show. Indeed, Ravi’s has shone for quite a long time, having been started up all the way back in 1922!
According to the story, the stall was established by the eponymous Ravi’s father, who was 23 at the time. It was then inherited by Ravi and his brothers, who in turn passed the business down to Ravi’s son, Balasivan Nilumagan.
Food for kings
The fame of the stall knows no bounds, with Ravi being summoned by the Sultan of Pahang to make apom for him! It is said that Ravi has a set of claypots at the palace, should he ever be summoned again. No surprise then that the stall has also been recognised by Michelin!
What’s cooking at Ravi’s?
So, what is it about this place that draws even kings? It all boils down to the taste of the apom as well as how it is made. You see, the apoms here are made in traditional claypots and cooked over charcoal fires, just like how it was done back in the 1920s.
You can actually watch the cooking process from start to finish. The batter, a mixture of rice flour and coconut milk, is first poured into a claypot before being covered and left to cook for just under a minute.
The result? Soft, pillowy crepes with a coconut fragrance that reaches you even from afar. When fresh off the stove, the apom will be beautifully brown with crispy edges. Its centre is bouncy and when you bite into it, you can pick up the gentle taste of santan.
There is also the option of adding an egg to your apom. While it is sweet just as any other apom, it also has the eggy taste many people know and love. There is also a certain smokiness which you can detect as you bite into it.
At the time of writing, you can get six pieces of apom just for RM5. Trust me when I say that you are unlikely to just buy six though. More likely than not, you are going to buy several servings for lunch, teatime and supper!
Worth your time?
If you do plan on visiting, it is best to wake up early in the morning. Ravi’s typically sells out apoms by 9.30 am, so getting there any later will have you leaving empty-handed. So set that alarm and ready yourself for a good old apom breakfast.
Ravi’s Claypot Apom Manis
Address: 317, Jalan Burma, George Town, 10350 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Opening Hours: 6 am – 10 am daily | Closed on Thursdays
Contact: 012-4707019
Halal Status: Pork-free
You should also check out: When you see more white hair than smartphones at this Penang stall — you know the lor bak’s legit
