Middle House @ Burmah Road, Georgetown, Penang.

Found right next to the bustling Burmah Road, Middle House is a charming restaurant run by a lovely couple, offers a taste of a home with its hearty and soul-warming home-cooked Western dishes. Step in the place and you will instantly feel the homey-welcoming vibe, with a mix of both Western and local elements/ knick-knacks. The menu offers an array of home-cooked Western-European delights- Soups, Salads, Mains (including their signature Pork Chop), Pasta as well as their best-selling dessert... Rum and Kahlua-infused Tiramisu. Not a place with fancy setup or eye-catchy decor but more for solid, home-cooked food.

Many Thanks to Middle House for hosting us.

Spirit of Poland Buffet Dinner @ Cafe 168, G Hotel Penang.

Embark on a culinary journey to Poland at G Hotel Penang's special buffet- Spirit of Poland Buffet Dinner (in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic Poland in Kuala Lumpur), happening this month from 17th of May to 19th of May (only 3 days from Friday to Sunday). With an array of authentic Polish delights, this culinary experience is a delightful exploration of Eastern Europe cuisine. Helmed by guest Chefs- Chef Mariusz Olechno and Chef Marcin Budynek, guests can look forward to the traditional Polish favorites (such as Beef Tartare with Egg Yolk Emulsion, Roast Salmon with Asparagus Velouté, Beef Stroganoff with Drop Noodles, Seabass in Polish sauce, Pierogi with Cheese and many more) that Poland has to offer.

Spirit of Poland @ Cafe 168 G Hotel

- 17th to 19th May 2024 (Fri to Sun) from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm

- RM188 nett per person & RM118 nett per senior citizen & RM84 per child

- Add On RM88 nett for Free Flow of House Beer and Wine

Many Thanks to G Hotel Penang for hosting us

Ruo Tea 若水植物茶間 @ Pulau Tikus, Penang.

Far from sad mock meats and unnecessary carbs, Ruo Tea 若水植物茶間 at Pulau Tikus is a meatless restaurant that churns out wholesome plant-based dishes with amazing flavors. Found in one of the houses along Persiaran Midlands, Ruo Tea has no fancy signage or exterior. But the interior decor exudes a calm, meditative vibe; the restaurant is covered in wood shades with a corner dedicated for Chinese calligraphy. Seats are limited in the restaurant and may be less accommodating for larger groups, reservations are highly recommended. The restaurant churns out a Chinese menu, with a Taiwanese-twist. Interestingly, the restaurant has a few rules that diners need to follow (refer to the below photos) and the restaurateur expects the diners to understand before dining in the restaurant (not necessary a bad thing as it gives the necessary space to other diners). We were super happy and satisfied with the food quality (despite the long wait/ do not visit if you are in a rush); Ruo Tea could be one of the best vegetarian restaurants in Penang (in our opinion) that deserves a Michelin-award. Do give it a try if you are up for a meatless meal.

Moku By Bijou Coffee @ Nagore Road, Georgetown, Penang.

Previously occupying a small space at Transfer Road, Bijou Coffee has since relocated to Nagore Road and named the new place- Moku By Bijou Coffee... offering more food variety and a bigger space for diners. The place offers a Japanese-influenced menu now, with items like Onigiri, Ochazuke, Donburi and Japanese-style Salad. It has a standard cafe setting, air-conditioned and definitely cozier than before. The price range can be quite wide for the food with Ochazuke ranges from Rm18 to Rm40.

Sea, Salt, Fire Seafood Buffet @ Sago, Penang Marriott Hotel.

Discover an exquisite seafood buffet experience at Penang Marriott Hotel as the hotel rolls out its latest Seafood Buffet promotion- 'Sea, Salt, Fire Seafood Buffet Dinner'. Treat yourself to a lavish spread of oceanic delights meticulously crafted by the culinary team, the themed buffet dinner is available on Fridays and Saturdays from 3 May to 6 July 2024. Highlights include an array of Seafood dishes, including but not limited to house-smoked Salmon, fresh Shell-Out Wok delights etc. It is also noteworthy that guests whom pay at least one day before dine-in will enjoy 25% discount off the bill. 

Sea, Salt, Fire Seafood Buffet

- 3 May to 06 Jul 2024 from 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM

- Level 2 of Penang Marriott Hotel, "Sago" Restaurant

- RM198 nett per person & RM99 nett per senior citizen or per child

- Pay at least ONE DAY before dine-in and enjoy 25% discount

Many Thanks to Penang Marriott Hotel for hosting us

[Food Guide] Itinerary to Da Nang (岘港)/ Hoi An (会安古城), Vietnam (越南) 2024.

Low-cost, good food and many places of interest are some of the reasons why Malaysians choose to travel to Da Nang; in addition to that- there are 3 airlines offering direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Da Nang (namely AirAsia, Batik Air and Malaysia Airlines). The flight time is approximately 3 hours from Kuala Lumpur. Nestled along the central coast of Vietnam, Da Nang is in a strategic location to allow tourists make short trips to Hoi An, Hue and Bana Hills. 

Fun Fact: Da Nang is like a small Korean town, the place is thronged with Korean tourists and you will find signages in Korean language every where. For a moment, we thought Da Nang was colonized by Korean.

The Hilltop Thai Tom Yam Restaurant 山顶美景泰国料理 @ Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

You would probably realize The Hilltop Thai Tom Yam Restaurant 山顶美景泰国料理 when you drive along Jalan Kulim (near to the Machang Bubuk junction), the Thai restaurant has been around for a while. The whole area consists of 2 restaurants (Hilltop Thai Restaurant is one while the other one being a Hotpot restaurant), a Guava Farm and some homestay houses. Follow the signage and drive until the end, you will find the Thai restaurant on your right. The menu features a big Thai menu with many familiar Thai delights. Prices are of standard range but it is worth mentioning that the place does not offer alcohol. Air-conditioned room is available with limited seats so it is always a good idea to make reservation if you would prefer to be seated in the air-conditioned room.  

Cheng Zheng Dim Sum 丞蒸点心 @ Georgetown, Penang.

Cheng Zheng Dim Sum 丞蒸点心 is one of the latest Dim Sum joints in town; it has modern decor, clean-accommodating and the place is air-conditioned. The fact that the place offers a cozy dining atmosphere is to attract local young crowd and by far, they are doing a great job. The food offering is not as extensive as compared to some long-established Dim Sum joints in Penang but most of the classic Dim Sum dishes are available, with some special ones (like their signature Portuguese Tarts which are quite good and comparable to Oriental Kopi's). Interestingly, the Dim Sum dishes are reasonably priced considering the the place is air-conditioned with great service (prompt service to assist with hot water refills for the Tea etc). Some hits and misses on the food but if you are seeking for a comfortable space to enjoy a Dim Sum meal with your loved ones, do check this place out. 

The Soyabean Fusion @ Nibong Tebal, Penang.

The love for Tofu Fah has extended to Nibong Tebal as the town welcomes a new Tofu Fah cafe- The Soya Bean Fusion. The cafe can be found near to the Jawi Toll, a few minute drive away after exiting the toll. The cafe has a modern and cozy interior decor while the menu focuses on Tofu Fah, Soya-products, Waffles and some Japanese Oden. Like any modern Tofu Fah establishments, extra toppings can be added to the Tofu Fah but the purists can always go back to the basics. Wallet-friendly prices and a comfortable space for a treat.

Song Do Korean Restaurant @ Island 88, Tanjung Tokong, Penang.

Amongst the spate of new tenants at Island 88 (previously known as Island Plaza at Tanjung Tokong)- Song Do Korean Restaurant is one of them you need to be aware of. It is probably the first Korean restaurant in Penang that specializes in offering One Whole Chicken Pot (along with some Korean delights like Korean Fried Chicken, Korean Pancakes etc). It is easy to find Song Do, simply enter the main entrance of Island 88 and walk towards Edo Ichi, the Korean restaurant is right behind Edo Ichi and 7 Village Noodle House. 

FOOJI Canteen 福七食堂 @ Bay Avenue, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

A new addition to Bay Avenue (Bayan Lepas)- this is FOOJI Canteen 福七食堂's second outlet in Penang (the first is in Machang Bubuk/ opened in mid 2023). FOOJI serves a "kopitiam" style menu, featuring Malaysian delights like Kaya Butter Toast, Chinese Rice dishes, Noodles, Fried Rice etc. The seats are well-spaced and the place is air-conditioned, offering a comfortable space for a quick, casual meal. Unfortunately we did not have a good experience here- from service to food quality, there are rooms for improvements definitely.

Bann Thai @ Rangoon Road, Georgetown, Penang.

A new Thai food joint in Georgetown- Rangoon Road (few doors away from White Bowl Curry Mee): Bann Thai, serves a big Thai menu featuring the classic Thai delights; the standard Tom Yum, Som Tam, Pad Kra Pao etc are all on the list. Nothing spectacular about the exterior and interior decor, pretty much a standard air-conditioned restaurant. The prices are fair and reasonable given that their serving portions are big. Quality-wise, some hits and misses.

Onya Modern Asian Restaurant @ The Promenade, Bayan Baru, Penang.

Previously known as Golden Bowl (associated with milky Cheese noodles if you still remember), the same group of people is now managing a new brand- Onya Modern Asian Restaurant at The Promenade, Bayan Baru. Unlike the previous menu, Onya rolls out a modern Malaysian menu... featuring many familiar Malaysian delights with a twist. The restaurant at The Promenade is spacious, comfortable and air-conditioned; making it very accommodating for large groups as well as diners of all age range. Dishes are reasonably priced and with a diverse menu, this place could be a popular lunch spot for those working in the vicinity.

1M Specialty Coffee House @ Hillside, Tanjung Tokong, Penang.

1M Specialty Coffee House is the latest addition to Hillside Tanjung Tokong (next to Domino's Pizza and a few doors away from Guardian Pharmacy). It is easy to spot 1M Specialty Coffee House, thanks to its welcoming entrance painted in bright colors. The menu is not big- featuring some classic Western dishes as well as some modern, playful Asian delights (we were there in early February and they were still in soft launch stage so there might be some changes to the menu) with prices slightly on the higher side. Not everything we had was good but given that they were still very new, the place is still worth a second look. If you are in the vicinity and wondering what to eat, do give it a try.

The Heirloom Co @ Gurney Paragon Mall, Penang.

If you are not in the mood of some heavily seasoned hawker fare and looking for some lighter option, check out The Heirloom Co at Gurney Paragon Mall. The salad and grain bowl bar churns out healthy, nutritious yet tasty meals. Options vary from healthy Salad to Toast and Grain Bowls; prices shall depend on the toppings and customization is possible. Definitely a good option for those who are time-pressed but looking for a balanced and wholesome meal. Find The Heirloom Co on the ground floor of Gurney Paragon Mall, right in front of Lacoste/ H&M entrance near St. Jo.