Sunday, February 28, 2016

JDog House & Cafe @ Arena Curve, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

My first impression towards JDog House & Cafe was... just an ordinary Pet House but I was wrong. It's a space dedicated entirely for dog lovers to mingle with the furry kids; also a cafe, the concept is simple- there is a petting zone in the Dog House with a cafe joint together right next to each other... though well partitioned. Diners are welcome to join the 10 resident dogs at the petting zone by purchasing ONE beverage item as admission fee, per person. There are couches, tables and chairs at the petting zone... though food/ snacks are not allowed to bring in the petting zone, drinks are excluded. However, please beware that there are plenty of dog furs scattered around unnoticed so visit at your discretion. Proper tables and cafe setting are available at the cafe-zone (though a little cramped)... separated by a glass door. Never mind on the food, after all, the main pull factor is the cute, friendly and playful furry kids. Arena Curve is the newly developed shop houses right next to Olive Tree Hotel and opposite to D Piazza Mall at Bayan Lepas.

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Beoy Chong Kee (梅忠记) @ People's Court, off Cintra Street, Georgetown, Penang.

While many parts of Penang are now urbanized and well-developed, there are still traces that show the past faces of Penang and one of which would be the People's Court (公市). The aforesaid district is well-hidden behind Cintra Street and Jalan Sungai Ujong (behind Tai Tong Dim Sum); there are still many worth-savory traditional eateries behind. In business for more than 65 years, Beoy Chong Kee has served at least 3 generations of their regulars... it is known for serving authentic Hakka-Cantonese dishes at very budget-friendly rates. The waiting time can be excruciating though, there were only 4 tables before us and we had to wait for an hour. 

Snapdot Cafe @ Ropewalk Piazza, Georgetown, Penang.

Tucked in one of the newly refurbished Ropewalk Piazza at the quiet alley of Pintal Tali, Snapdot Cafe is a space dedicated for photography lovers or rather, a gallery displaying the proud creations of the cafe owner. The interior decor of the place did not stand out, more like an ordinary... but comfortable cafe. Their menu is standard-average, offering the customary Pasta dishes and the usual Western-Breakfast fare. All in all, the pull factor for Snapdot Cafe is weak and the cafe needs to come out with more attractive items to compete in the competitive cafe-scene. We'd like to make a second visit in the near future nevertheless. 

Friday, February 26, 2016

Creameal @ Phuah Hin Leong Road, Pulau Tikus, Penang.

You might want to pay a little more attention when driving past the small and often forgotten road- Phuah Hin Leong Road; there is this new but quiet, unpretentious cafe tucked in one of the old houses along the road. The signage is not clear and the house is hidden behind a tree so it is no surprise that you might not even notice there is a cafe over there. Everyone is crazy about Ice Cream right now and practically everyone serves their own home-made Ice Cream with playful but creative flavors... that includes Creameal. Dig in some artisan Ice Cream with crispy-airy Waffles at Creameal; in order to satisfy your greed, you may even opt for triple scoops of the frozen treat. Mains are available too and so if you are looking for a full-fledged meal, it is possible at Creameal; though we would still recommend you to shoot for their Waffles. 

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

One Garage Slappy Cakes and One Steamboat @ M Mall O2O, Penang Times Square.

**Update: The place has since ceased its business operations.**

Slappy Cakes, a renowned Pancake specialist from Portland, has revolutionized the conventional way of serving Pancakes as breakfast. Diners are no longer being served but instead, they have to cook theirs. One Garage Slappy Cakes at M Mall, Times Square Penang is a place where the adults can enjoy traditional Chinese Steamboat while the children can partake in a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) activity by cooking their own Pancakes. Choose from the available ready-to-cook Batter and your preferred condiments to add on to the Pancakes. Next door to Slappy Cakes is One Steamboat, the concept is equally interesting as well. There are a few huge display fridges and the steamboat ingredients are well-displayed. Diners can spend some time to "shop" for their preferred ingredients to be added to the hot pot. The Pancakes are reasonably priced but not quite the case for the steamboat; service however, was attentive and we were well-taken care of. 

Monday, February 22, 2016

Famous Jelutong Kim Leng Loh Mee @ Perak Road, Jelutong, Penang.

Ask the nearby folks on where to get a bowl of decent Loh Mee and many would recommend Kim Leng's. Weekend breakfast at this place is a common affair for the regulars; the Loh Mee stall is often beckoned by snaking queues. Despite the queues, the wait was not that excruciating for us; it only took them approximately 15 minutes to serve us. Kim Leng is famous for its thick, luscious Dark Soy braising gravy, packed with a "Ngoh Heong" punch. It should not be hard to locate Kim Leng... while driving on Perak Road (from Georgetown), Kim Leng should be on your right; housed in a corner coffee shop right next to Lintang Slim (there is a shop selling Chinese religious goods on the same row).

Friday, February 19, 2016

Gudang Cafe @ Gat Armenian Street, Georgetown, Penang.

The Armenian-district is well known for its mural wall-paintings but there are more and more cafes joining the clamoring scene at the aforementioned area. A short walk from the most happening place in the heritage area of Georgetown... particularly the "Little Children on a Bicycle" wall art at Armenian Street... will land you at Gudang Cafe; a newly opened warehouse-themed cafe. Step in the cafe and you will be wow-ed by the interior. It is almost like time has never passed in the space, a reminiscent how ship maintenance was done during the hay days. The interiors are done with a touch of wooden element; it's old but it feels like it has a lot of stories to tell. Gudang Cafe's menu is small but with a Japanese touch; they are of good value nevertheless (the cheapest Ramen dish starts from Rm 6.80 nett). 

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Fourspoons Dessert Cafe @ Icon City, Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

Icon City at Bukit Mertajam has just become a little sweeter, thanks to the new opening of a dessert cafe- Fourspoons; the cafe is also one of the latest additions to the ever-expanding Ice Cream scene in Penang. Fourspoons Dessert Cafe sits on Level 1 of one of the buildings at Icon City; it serves some lip-smacking home-made Soft Serve along with their expertly crafted Waffles. The interior decor is simple, clean and straight-forward. If you wish to sit down and enjoy the sweet frozen treat, there are a few small tables and a long wooden communal table along the window. Fourspoons Dessert Cafe is not the place for a full-fledged meal but rather, a homey and comfortable space to enjoy a sweet chilled treat. 

Monday, February 15, 2016

Cho Dong Jib Korean Restaurant @ Queensbay Mall, Penang.

Cho Dong Jib's menu is a reminiscent of a family restaurant; the menu is consistently affordable and comforting... featuring the common Korean home-cooked dishes. The location is strategic, at Queens Street of Queensbay Mall; replacing the now defunct Taiwan Bull... targeting shoppers who want to have a comforting Korean family meal. Cho Dong Jib has 3 branches in Korea while the newly opened branch here at Queensbay Mall is the brand's first oversea branch.  The entire restaurant is not big... a little cramped instead and the seats are not that comfortable either but the fact that Cho Dong Jib serves Korean home-cooked dishes and not too grill meat-focused, it can be a decent place for a quick fix. 

Saturday, February 13, 2016

Arabica Estate Cafe @ Automall, Karpal Singh Drive, Penang.

Arabica Estate Cafe occupies the vacant spot right next to Milkcow at Auto Mall, Karpal Singh Drive; an established brand that has branches across the country. The decor at Auto Mall is modern with industrial vibe in shades of wooden beam; the place is airy and diners get to enjoy the natural sea breeze but it can get extremely warm in the afternoon. The menu is small... covering a few types of Pizza and Pasta. The place is new and clean... and with the soul-touching sea breeze, it can be an ideal spot for an evening meet up. 

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Loo Beef Noodles @ Carnavon Street, Georgetown, Penang.

While Beef might not be the favorite of many (especially in Penang due to religious reason), there are still bunch of faithful patrons returning for their favorite delicacy. It is a fact that Penang is full of delicious food to eat but Beef Noodles have never crossed the mind of a tourist. Amongst the handful of well-received Beef Noodles in town, Loo Beef Noodles which was previously at Chulia Street, has relocated to a new shop at Carnavon Street; a shop entirely devoted to selling Beef Noodles and Fried Oyster Omelette. The place does not come with sophisticated setting... more like a usual hawker place with tight setting. It can be warm in the afternoon... with the absence of air-conditioners but the hearty bowl of Beef Noodle is worth the trip.

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Llao Llao Frozen Yogurt @ Gurney Plaza, Penang.

Indulge in the extravagant frozen treat without being too worried of the calories, Frozen Yogurt is a good replacement to the usual full-creamed Soft Serve (few calories than the conventional Ice Cream). Llao Llao is a European brand that has taken Singapore and Kuala Lumpur by storm. The chilled sweet treat is well-received by the younger generations, the specialties of Llao Llao Frozen Yogurt would be their premium-sumptuous add-ons. The condiments available vary from Biscuits, Nuts to fresh Fruits. There are different packages available- budget watchers may opt to go for the simple ones (without much add-on) while those with deeper pockets can go for Parfait. Llao Llao Froyo is available at Lower Ground Floor of Gurney Plaza, right next to Boost Fruit Juice. 

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Passionis @ Siam Road, Georgetown, Penang.

One blink and you will mistakenly assume this is just another heritage terrace along Siam Road but that's how Passionis wants to be... low profile. The Patisserie does have some serious talent up the sleeve, not only that they are very particular about the quality of the ingredients, they put great efforts in making sure that the presentation is up to par either. The entire setting of the place is simple and straight-forward but really, there isn't a need for those unnecessary frills to be there. It has a live-baking station tucked beside the dining space where diners can witness the making of the sweets. There's a glass counter, displaying an array of the traditional picks as well as refined twists of old favorites; some examples are Creme Brulee, Japanese Styled Strawberry Short Cake, Apple Crumble, Tiramisu etc. The menu rotates so be sure to check out their Facebook Page for the latest updates. 

Saturday, February 6, 2016

Buri Sriphu Boutique Hotel @ Hatyai, Thailand.

Frequent travelers would understand the importance of a good hotel, that could provide absolute comfort to the trip as well as a place to recharge after a tiring day out. On our recent road trip to Hatyai, Thailand; we were fortunate to have Buri Sriphu Boutique Hotel to host us. The hotel is centrally located at Hatyai yet without the bustling-noise that one would usually associate with; it is the most convenient if you are driving (the hotel has ample parking space for hotel guests) but if you are not, there are plenty of public transportation that you could opt for either. The service provided to us was top-notch but we did not expect less from the land of smiles....

Many Thanks to Buri Sriphu Boutique Hotel for hosting us during our trip.


Thursday, February 4, 2016

Pony Tale De Cafe @ sPICE Canopy, Relau, Penang.

One would need to pay a little more attention when driving past the newly refurbished sPICE and the newly added shop houses in the vicinity- sPICE Canopy; located right next to the flashy and visually appealing sales gallery of SP Setia, Pony Tale De Cafe is potentially overshadowed and less-attractive to the eye. The aforementioned cafe is the second member to the F&B scene at sPICE Canopy... after Waffle Factory. As opposed from the seemingly-fantasizing name, the cafe offers a sturdy Western Menu with some personal touches. The setting is cool, though I'd prefer it to be a drinking place in lieu of a cafe; the tables were too small for group-dining and would be more comfortable for a casual drink. The two-floor cafe has a high-ceiling, wooden flooring and a huge pillar covered in timber... exuding a cozy, relaxing vibe. On the food... none of our orders really disappoint, though some would need some refinement. 

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Bon-Ga Korean BBQ @ M Mall 020, Penang Times Square.

More option for fans of Korean food this Chinese New Year as the well-established brand Bon-Ga has just swung open its doors to the public.... in M Mall 020, Penang Times Square. Frequent travelers to Kuala Lumpur should not be new to the name, the brand is known to serve Korean classics. The exterior of the restaurant appears to be sombre and windowless; who would have thought that the place serves good Barbecue items? The menu is extensive with illustrated dishes, ranging from the popular Hotpot stews to appetizers and noodle-fishes; of course, a good selection of barbecue cuts as well. Price tags are hefty but they commensurate with generous portion. Service was a little slow, probably due to first week jitters but the staff could be more well-trained and informed about the products (most are foreign labors that could barely understand English). 

Monday, February 1, 2016

The Lawn Cafe by Eco World @ Eco Terraces, Paya Terubong, Penang.

Inspired by a famous Taiwanese singer Jay Chou's Handwritten Past/ 手写的从前 (a song), the design of The Lawn Cafe is similar to the glass cafe shown in the song's MV. Similar projects were launched by Eco World a couple months back in JB and KL (The Parque Cafe/ Palladium Cafe). As the industry-leading developer launches its 12.7 acres project- Eco Terraces at Paya Terubong this evening, The Lawn Cafe was introduced to the public either. The aforementioned cafe sits at the lawn area of Eco Terraces (behind the Sales Gallery); it adopts the glass-house design with transparent glasses that allow natural lights to flood in the snug little space. The entire space is a wonderland by itself, surrounded by charming elements such as bouquets of flowers, guitar, bicycles etc; perfectly suitable for hipsters to generate Instagram-perfect photos. Visit the cafe in the evening to enjoy the breeze and with a cup of Joe, it is indeed a smashing way to end the day.

Many Thanks to Eco World for extending the invitation.