MM Noodles House (面面俱到) @ Lebuh Melayu, Georgetown, Penang.

It has almost become mandatory for cafes to come out with mural paintings in Penang recently, most of the newly opened cafes have at least one or two unique mural(s) painted and adorned the walls. However, this newly opened cafe has a rather unique and creative mural, a sketch of Penang's Chief Minister- YB Lim Guan Eng. Tucked in the heart of Georgetown, MM Noodles House is located at Lebuh Melayu, offering simple yet heart-warming dishes, one of their signature dishes being Hokkien Prawn Noodles. In fact, I thought the menu was overly simple, it's either a rice dish (daily special) or Hokkien Prawn Noodles. Seating is limited and it gets a little annoying when the customers are queuing to take photos with the mural, almost like a tourist attraction. A relief was the place is air-conditioned and dishes are reasonably priced. A worth-dropping by place if you are around the vicinity.

Sister Cook (大姐中国沙县小吃) @ Cantonment Road, Pulau Tikus, Penang.

I am sure that many are not familiar with Sha Xian cuisine, a county within Fujian (China) province; Sister Cook at Cantonment Road makes an inaugural move for setting up the business, offering authentic Sha Xian cuisine. Helmed by husband and wife, Sister Cook offers a wide variety of simple and earnest home-cooked China and local eats at very affordable prices.  The comfortable air-conditioned restaurant is a place to look for when it comes to family dinner or a quick lunch as they do offer different set lunches as well as dinner sets. Despite the fact that not all dishes served were mind-blowing, some of the dishes were indeed impressive and I would definitely come back for more! Do check out my recommendations and try them out yourself!

Sister Cook is located along Cantonment Road, adjacent to Maybank Pulau Tikus or few doors away from the famous vegetarian place- Evergreen Vegetarian House at Pulau Tikus. The friendly duo manning the restaurant provides genuine services, as though it feels like an intimate restaurant for us. 

*Many Thanks to Sister Cook for extending the invitation.*

Noor & Dean's Cafe @ Noordin Road, Georgetown, Penang.

Noor & Dean's Cafe is a newly opened cafe tucked within the building of Noordin Street House, a luxury boutique hotel in the heart of Georgetown. The quaint little cafe with retro interior design as well as the Peranakan antiques adorning the walls, it is possible to feel transported to the olden days. Noor & Dean's cafe has a very comprehensive menu which comprises of many fusion dishes as well as Coffees and desserts. Some of the notable dishes are Gado-Gado, Thai Laksa, Soto Ayam, Oyster Char Koay Teow and many more. The cafe does serve breakfast in the morning too. Prices are slightly on the higher side and their service could be more attentive in my opinion. Noor & Dean's Cafe is located at Noordin Street, known as "Ji Tiao Lor/ Second Road" to the locals; walking distance to 1st Avenue Mall Penang. 

Quay Cafe @ Church Street Ghaut, Georgetown, Penang.

The name Quay Cafe should be quite familiar for strict vegan in Penang as this self-service cafe serves vegetarian food only. Diners are expected to place their orders at the ordering counter and to return all utensils as well as cutlery after the meal to the kiosk set up at the corner of the cafe. Its food menu is not extensive but there are more than sufficient choices to please everyone. Its menu includes choice of noodles, rice dishes, as well as local eats such as Laksa, Curry Mee and Mee Goreng. While most of the dishes we had were mild on flavors, this place suits the health-conscious the most and might not be a good place for those who prefer bold flavors. Nonetheless, I thought most of the dishes were too mild in flavors to my liking, not that I am a person who prefers bold flavors but they were literally too mild or even bland for me; although I do support the healthy concept for this no-frills cafe but I am not sure if I am willing to come back for more though.....

The Alley @ Stewart Lane, Georgetown, Penang.

I am constantly on the lookout for new places and my recent discovery was this place- The Alley. Hidden in heart of Georgetown, The Alley sits next to the famous tourist hot spot- Godness of Mercy Temple or known as Guan Yin Teng to the locals. The obscure location and unappealing exterior making it hard for the public to realize and there are no parking lots available, it is recommended that you have your car parked at Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling or Chulia Lane. The modish and laid back ambiance of this cafe is ideal for a relaxing afternoon tea or a perfect place for a cup of coffee to start up the day. However, the seating of the cafe is rather limited and it is not advisable to visit in a big group, reservation is recommended if you plan to do so. Their menu is earnest and simple, offering a type or two of cakes, Churros, Cronuts and some Sandwiches as well as their array of Coffees. 

Pit Stop Cafe @ Lorong Chulia, Georgetown, Penang.

While the cafe culture in Penang continues to percolate, there are quite a lot of new cafes sprouting out in the heart of Georgetown lately and Pit Stop Cafe is one of the new members. Pit Stop Cafe is a quaint and humble cafe situated at Lorong Chulia and the junction to Lorong Pasar. With wall paintings, antiques and prints adored the walls, it is possible to feel transported to the older days with its retro interior design and laid-back ambiance. Quite the opposite from its interior design and ambiance, Pit Stop Cafe offers all day breakfast set, with some pasta dishes as well as rice set. As they are fairly new, they have limited offerings on their menu. Service was genuine but probably lack of manpower, staff tends to get forgetful on our orders. 

Big Ben Breakfast @ Waterfall Road, Botanical Garden, Penang.

When one mentions about having Western breakfast in Penang, many will be suggesting this place- Big Ben Breakfast. Being a glutton, its ashamed that I have yet to try their food after so many years, finally, I've found a time to hunt for it, the place where many people raved about! Location for Big Ben Breakfast is rather obscure and inconspicuous, from Jalan Kebun Bunga heading towards Botanical Garden, look for a touristy area on your right, Big Ben Breakfast is sitting at one of those hawker stalls. I've also heard of the ingenuine service here but the service provided to us during our visit was perfectly okay. However, I thought their foods were very greasy and unhealthy, nothing to shout over for their foods either. I am not too sure if it worth the calories but definitely not for me. Do try this place out if you are looking for an oily but ordinary breakfast. 

Royce' Chocolate- A Taste of Hokkaido

Indulge in a taste of Hokkaido with Royce' Chocolate, this Japanese brand takes pride in offering some of the finest premium chocolates; sourcing its ingredients from surrounding areas of Hokkaido, a region in Japan well known for its quality farming and fresh dairy products, ensuring every single bite of their chocolate carries the flavors and senses of Hokkaido. Unlike any European chocolates, Royce' products are made less-sweeten and possess a lighter texture and softer in feel. 

Royce' Chocolate has recently launched their e-store, teeming with a selection of more than 40 types of products available, customers can now order their products anywhere in Malaysia at anytime. There are a total 7 outlets in the Klang Valley- Isetan Suria KLCC, Bangsar Village, The Garden's Mall, Ben's Independent Grocer at Publika, Tropicana City Mall, Tropicana Golf & Resort and Empire Shopping Gallery. As for Penangites, fear not, delivery to Penang is made possible via their professional chilled logistic partner- Ta-Q-Bin; the available delivery areas are Klang Valley, Penang, Kedah, and Johor. 

Chocolates are deemed as the de facto gifts in this gifting season of Christmas, New Year or even Valentine. What are you waiting for? Surprise your loved ones with Royce' delightful chocolates now. Place your order now at http://www.royce.com.my/.

Thanks to Royce' Chocolate Malaysia and Jocelyn Lee from Royce' Chocolate Malaysia for sponsoring the review.

Mee Goreng/ Mee Rebus @ Kompleks Makanan Pesiaran Gurney, Gurney Drive, Penang.

There is this infamous Mee Goreng/ Mee Rebus tucked within this place- Kompleks Makanan Pesiaran Gurney, a Malay-Mamak hawker center along Gurney Drive. The award-winning Indian-Muslim Mee Goreng is famous for its good quality and reasonable price. To get to Kompleks Makanan Pesiaran Gurney, simply locate the chain convenient store- 7 Eleven along Gurney Drive, the hawker center is right beside 7 Eleven. Another worth-trying dish would be Pasembur which is also commonly known as Indian Rojak.  There were quite a number of office workers still patronizing the place during my visit. I'm sure there are some reasons why these stalls are still standing strong after so many years and the fierce competition amongst the competitors.

Brown Pocket @ Gurney Paragon Mall, Penang.

Brown Pocket, a newly opened dessert cafe, is a delightful addition to Gurney Paragon mall. Its iconic location at Gurney Paragon mall allows exhausted shoppers to hide away from the crowds and have a short rest by savoring some of their signature desserts. Brown Pocket offers an array of desserts comprises of Waffles, Crepe and imported Ice Cream. The place has a very good ambiance with spacious and comfortable seating which exude a relaxed vibe and offers a breath-taking view. It was the very first day of business since their soft opening, the staff was rather unsystematic probably due to first day jitters. Brown Pocket is located strategically on level 6 of Gurney Paragon Mall, opposite to Celebrity Fitness and facing Kelawai Road (corner unit). 

Coffee Journey @ Island Plaza, Tanjung Tokong, Penang.

Tucked within the building where time has forgotten- Island Plaza along Jalan Tanjung Tokong; Coffee Journey is a newly opened cafe that serves a wide range of coffees and an array of pastry cakes. Be spoiled for choices at Coffee Journey's stunning variety of Coffees, ranging from the usual Coffee or Aussie's favorite- Flat White or even Gourmet Syphon Coffee. The cafe took a prominent spot at the ground floor of Island Plaza (next to Coffee Bean), facing the bustling road of Jalan Tanjung Tokong, Coffee Journey can be spotted easily from far; the modish and laid-back ambiance makes the cafe a very suitable place to spend an afternoon reading books or just watching the world goes by. Prices are reasonable and relatively cheaper as compared to those chain cafes in town, a place that coffee lovers would not want to miss! 

Mantis Prawn Hokkien Mee/ Ah Lim "Birthday Noodles"/ Mr. Kek Swiss Roll @ Pinang Delicious Food Court @ Macalister Road, Penang.

Many asked: "Where's your favorite Hokkien Mee/ Prawn Noodles in Penang?", being on my top 3 list, Seang Lim Mantis Prawn Hokkien Mee is definitely one of the must-have if you an ardent fan of Hokkien Prawn Noodles. Unlike any other Hokkien Prawn Noodles where ordinary shrimps will be added, Seang Lim uses Mantis Prawns, bringing the both the flavor and texture to a whole new level. Tucked within a not-too-eye-catching coffee house along Macalister Road Penang, one can also find the infamous Ah Lim Birthday Noodles/ Lam Mee as well as a humble and unpretentious swiss roll "specialist" in the place. It should be fairly easy to locate Pinang Delicious Food Court, you should be able to see it from Red Rock Hotel or the junction to Abu Siti Lane and walking distance to Krian Road.