Discover The Joys of The Holiday Season With The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Malaysia

The countdown to year end festive season is on, with many Malaysians anticipating the Joy that comes with the approaching holiday season. Like previous years, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Malaysia is set to welcome all Malaysians on an enchanting journey to discover Joy, made possible with their special handcrafted beverages and delectable bites. Regulars' all time favorite festive season beverage- Chocolate Peppermint pairing returns this year but to spice things up, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Malaysia also rolls out something bold and adventurous- the Chocolate Chili pairing. On top of the handcrafted beverages, fellow Malaysians can also look forward to the seasonal sweet treats as well as festive offerings. 

Many Thanks to The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Malaysia for hosting us.

ChinChin Gastropub Penang Rolls Out New Menu- Nov 2023

Popular Izakaya-style restaurant- ChinChin Gastropub at Pulau Tikus rolls out new menu starting November 2023. The new contemporary menu incorporates some Asian elements while retaining some of their regulars' favorite items; some playful factors are also considered to spice things up. Also worth mentioning will be their 3-course Lunch menu- for RM50+, diners will be treated to an Appetizer, a Main and a dessert; making it an ideal option for business lunch. 

Many Thanks to ChinChin Gastropub for hosting us.

Yolk Cafe @ Weld Quay, Georgetown, Penang.

For a new and affordable brunch spot in the heart of Georgetown, keep an eye out for Yolk Cafe... right next to Royale Chulan Hotel at Weld Quay. The new brunch spot offers a good brunch list- from the usual Egg-dishes to more filling options like Pasta and Burgers... Yolk Cafe has a small dessert list too. There are some hits and misses but the place is very new so they are still improving and fine-tuning their menu. The place has good, cozy dining atmosphere... most suitable for casual meals or small gatherings. On a side note, Yolk Cafe is a pet-friendly cafe so you'll get to enjoy brunch with your lovely pets. 

Harbin Tasty Kitchen 哈尔滨私房菜 @ Bay Avenue, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

For a taste of China Dong Bei cuisine, make your way to the newly opened Harbin Tasty Kitchen 哈尔滨私房菜 at Bay Avenue, Bayan Lepas. The Chinese restaurant is manned by a China Chinese couple with heavy China Chinese accent. The menu is written in Mandarin, featuring some common China Chinese dishes as well as some unfamiliar ones (at least to most Malaysians). Items are reasonably priced here but you will have to be mentally prepared for a culinary journey through exquisite dishes. 

NOTA Cafe Restaurant @ Kota Kemuning, Shah Alam, Selangor.

A cafe in the day time and a restaurant in the evenings, NOTA Cafe Restaurant is a well-established cafe restaurant in the Kota Kemuning (Shah Alam) neighborhood. NOTA serves a good brunch menu as well as a full-fledged dinner menu. It is found on the 1st floor of a corner shop lot, it is swathed in shades of earthy tones with eclectic styles... with a Bohemian touch. Cozy dining atmosphere aside, NOTA churns out a big Pork-Free menu, featuring many international delights and in-house specialties. Definitely a place worth checking out for a casual dine out in the neighborhood.

Many Thanks to NOTA Cafe Restaurant for hosting us.

Tambun Jade Seafood 淡汶景羱海鲜 @ Bukit Tambun, Simpang Ampat, Penang.

Bukit Tambun is the go-to place for many Penangites to search for inexpensive, fresh and delicious Seafood dishes; now, there is another new option for food explorers to try- Tambun Jade Seafood 淡汶景羱海鲜. The newly opened Seafood restaurant can be found near to the junction of Bukit Tambun/ Simpang Ampat/ Science Park (not inside the Bukit Tambun Seafood Village). The restaurant occupies a huge piece of land and offers plenty of parking space. The menu is big, featuring many familiar Chinese stir fry dishes as well as various Seafood delights. Those who hunt for freshest catch can also head to the order counter to look for the catch of the day. It is a new restaurant so the place is cleaner, brighter than the old establishments in the neighborhood. Importantly, the variety is big and the prices are reasonable; definitely worth a visit if you are looking for fresh Seafood at Bukit Tambun area. 

OoriDoori @ Gurney Walk, Penang.

OoriDoori is a well-known Korean restaurant that has been around since 2021 and has continued to expand and steadily to attract a loyal clientele over the past 2 years. The latest expansion plan at Gurney Walk allows those in the neighborhood to experience the essence of South Korean comfort dishes. OoriDoori has also rolled out its newly revamped menu, featuring more than 70 South Korean delights. The restaurant is manned by a South Korean family which ensures all the ingredients, flavors are according to the South Korean standards. This modern Korean restaurant is both elegant and cozy, most suitable for casual meet ups, gatherings or even quick fix.

Many Thanks to OoriDoori for hosting us.

Ice On You Dessert Cafe @ China Street, Georgetown, Penang.

Georgetown sees a new dessert wave recently, with many new dessert parlors opening in town. Amongst the new ones, Ice On You Dessert Cafe at China Street specializes in serving South Korean-inspired shaved Ice (Bingsu). On top of the icy cold sweet treat, the cafe also offers a simple dessert Toast menu. The cafe at China Street (right next to Allianz Insurance building and near to the junction of Beach Street) offers a cozy-comfortable space for diners to enjoy their share of desserts or to recharge over refreshing desserts. If you do like a bowl of good Bingsu, do give this place a try.

Cara Caro Cafe @ Kampung Malabar, Georgetown, Penang.

A new Bohemian style cafe- Cara Caro has been attracting a big crowd since their opening due to the aesthetic interior design and strong social media presence. The place is well-decorated from the entrance to the end of the cafe space, every corner offers good photography opportunity. But the seats are cramped and less accommodating for bigger groups. Menu-wise, there is a small selection of main dishes with quite a big variety of snacks, pastries and cakes... with steep prices. 

Komorebi Dining @ Ropewalk Piazza, Pintal Tali, Georgetown, Penang.

For a Japanese Kappo-style dining experience, make your way to the new Komorebi Dining at Ropewalk Piazza, Jalan Pintal Tali. Kappo means "to cut and cook", a less formal cuisine that takes advantage of the proximity between the diner and the Chefs. Kappoy restaurants are typically small but cozy, with open bar and diners get to witness the whole process of cutting, cooking, serving as well as brief introduction on the food. 

Komorebi Dining is a modern Kappo restaurant; the name Komorebi refers to a natural phenomenon and often associated with calmness, peacefulness and a connection to the nature. Similarly, the restaurant serves cuisine inspired by nature and purity of the finest seasonal produce from Japan. The team behind Komorebi is dedicated to offer a completely different dining experience to diners, not only that the ingredients are fully imported from Japan, the utensils are also brought in from Japan by the proprietor. Komorebi Dining offers 2 menus- the Lunch menu and Dinner menu, designed to showcase the natural flavors and freshless of the ingredients. The prix-fixe menu is to be changed on a monthly basis and depending on seasonal supply. To ensure the perfect dining experience, Komorebi Dining only accepts advance booking and the maximum seating capacity is 10 pax. 

Many Thanks to Komorebi Dining for hosting us.

Lu Lai Liao 鹵來了 @ Jalan Krian, Georgetown, Penang.

Probably the only place to enjoy a bowl of southern Koay Teow Kia would be at Lu Lai Liao 鹵來了... previously occupied a stall at Terengganu Road but it has since relocated to this new location at Jalan Krian, Georgetown. The menu has expanded, from the signature braised goods to a bigger menu offering Chinese stir fry dishes. Good thing is that the prices remain reasonable. The new place is now air-conditioned and offers a more comfortable space to enjoy a meal.

Sunbright Roast Chicken Rice 日光烧腊鸡饭 @ Perak Road, Jelutong, Penang.

There is no shortage of good Chicken Rice in the Jelutong neighborhood but this particular one- Sunbright Roast Chicken Rice 日光烧腊鸡饭 has constantly been attracting regular patrons back for their roast goodies. Previously located near Perak Road wet market, Sunbright has since relocated to this location, right next to Sunshine Jelutong. The signature sauce (with Oyster Sauce) and home-made Chili sauce contribute to the winning factor (also being wallet-friendly). The place is often at its busiest at noon or lunch hours, so if you wish to have more meat variety, make sure you arrive early.

Ginza Pastry Cafe @ Golden Triangle 2, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

A new place at Relau for bread lovers to explore is Ginza Pastry Cafe, one of the latest additions to Golden Triangle 2. With a Japanese name, the bakery cafe rolls out a series of Japanese-inspired buns, loaves, pastries and cakes. There are plenty of options at Ginza Pastry Cafe, not only the usual bread but some freshly steamed buns, Macarons, cakes or even sandwiches. The prices are surprisingly wallet-friendly, it's just that the seats are cramped and less-accommodating for larger groups (not very comfortable for small groups either). 

Surprise Yourself or Your Loved Ones with Japanese Snacks from TokyoTreat!

Popular across the world- Japan is known for their world-class food and also their vast variety of Japanese snacks. Unless you spend a lot of time checking the specialty shops for all these delicious imported snacks, it is challenging to get access to them. But that should not stop you from experiencing Japan from home, you can do so by subscribing to TokyoTreat Snack Box where you can try new and delicious items curated and delivered to your door every month! Launched in 2015, TokyoTreat has become one of the most popular choices for monthly subscription boxes of Japanese snacks today. Read more about TokyoTreat at this link here.

Mai Xiang China Chinese Cuisine 麦香中国私厨美食 @ Lorong Carnarvon, Georgetown, Penang.

One new spot to satiate your China Chinese food craving will be at Mai Xiang China Chinese Cuisine 麦香中国私厨美食, Lorong Carnarvon. This new restaurant is run by a China Chinese family, offering mainly China Chinese delights like Dumplings, Noodles and various snacks. The price points are very reasonable considering the portion, the place is also fully air-conditioned and comfortable to dine in. Worth a visit if you are in the vicinity.