Kee Heng Restaurant 奇香海鲜餐馆 @ Nibong Tebal, Penang.

Kee Heng Restaurant 奇香海鲜餐馆 has always been the de-facto family dine-out place at Nibong Tebal. Found right next to the main road of Nibong Tebal old town, Kee Heng has been around for decades and its one of the popular places for family gatherings or occasions. The place is known for churning out delicious classic Chinese stir fry dishes with consistent quality and inexpensive price tags. There is no menu at Kee Heng but rely on the servers to make recommendations. The dining area is comfortable- fully air conditioned and tables are well-spaced; these are some reasons why the place remains popular until today. 

Chiang Rai Station @ Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

Chiang Rai Station is a hidden gem in Bukit Mertajam's old town, the Thai restaurant has an overly simple exterior... almost not convincing enough to attract customers. But those who are in the know would regularly patronize this place-most of the regulars are those staying in the neighborhood and coming in for takeaways. There are limited seating in the restaurant, almost impossible to accommodate large groups. The menu however, features many popular Thai delights- from the usual Thai Salad to Tom Yum, Thai Fried Rice, Thai Pork Knuckle Rice to Thai-influenced Fish dishes; some items like Pad Thai are not available though. Apart from the authenticity and the deliciousness of the dishes, the affordably priced menu is also a strong pulling factor for the customers. 

Little Spicy Noodle House 小红面屋 @ Butterworth, Penang.

It's easy to miss Little Spicy Noodle House 小红面屋, a new noodle house found at the Teras Jaya shop lots (opposite to Chung Ling Butterworth). The noodle house seems ordinary from afar and there was no attractive elements on display to lure diners in but if you are a noodle lover, do not miss this place. The interior is as simple as its exterior- just the typical dining place with simple tables and chairs but the menu is extraordinary. The noodle menu is small but features something that cannot be found elsewhere. It's signature- Japanese Mazesoba is one of a kind with Japanese-Taiwanese elements. A worth checking out place in Butterworth for its delicious noodles and inexpensive price tags. 

Little Collins Street Cafe @ Burmah Road, Georgetown, Penang.

One of the latest cafe spots that any cafe hoppers should check out is Little Collins Street Cafe, found right next to the bustling Burmah Road. This new cafe is manned by the same team from Belle and Cream, but offering a completely different atmosphere and more food items (mostly pastries). The seating spaces are available on ground floor and upper floor though the former one is more like a communal seating area. On the food menu- most items are pastries, cookies and cakes, there is no main menu. Quite a nice place to check out especially on the minimalist interior decor... would paint a nice picture to your social media page. 

Bagel's Dream 贝果の梦 @ Campbell Street, Georgetown, Penang.

Probably the only bagel specialist in town, Bagel's Dream 贝果の梦 started as a home-baker and has been churning out healthy, artisanal Bagels. It has been recently opened up a new shop with a small dining space inside Kim Haus at Campbell Street. The menu is limited, with only a few choices revolve around Bagels (as Sandwich), with takeaways on their home-made Bagels remain available. While we were contented with the quality, we found the serving portion too small to fit for lunch. It might be otherwise for those with smaller appetite. 

Wei 味 Restaurant @ Gottlieb Road, Georgetown, Penang.

Filled with minimalist earth-toned furniture, Wei 味 Restaurant is one of the latest food joints that joined the shop lots near Waterfall Hotel. One could barely tell what the place is offering from the exterior, step in the place and you will find the peaceful dining atmosphere there. Oddly, there are only 2 proper dining tables with quite a number of high tables and individually spaced dining spots. On the food offering, it does not have a big menu but a Taiwanese-inspired menu with some noodle and rice dishes... as well as a list of side orders. Great flavors and inexpensive price tags, worth trying if you do like spicy stuff or a good bowl of Chinese noodles. 

Vegie Cafe @ Gurney Drive, Penang.

Occupying a spot at Wang's Hotel Gurney Drive- Vegie Cafe is a newly opened cafe that offers a vegetarian menu. Whether you are in the mood for a Burger, Pasta, Fried Rice, Ramen or even Porridge, the menu is vast and offers a wide range of options for a meat-free meal. The price points fall between the mid-average range with a dish priced slightly above Rm 15.  The dining hall is cozy and air-conditioned- a place where you can comfortably enjoy a casual vege-meal. 

Little Jetty Cafe 小船頭白米粉 @ Simpang Ampat, Penang.

A short drive from Bukit Tambun toll (towards Eco World Projects at Simpang Ampat)) will land you at Little Jetty Cafe 小船頭白米粉, a curious but busy spot right next to the busy road. It's hard not to notice the signage that says "White Vermicelli Noodles"... a popular Singaporean stir fry dish that is extremely uncommon to Penang. The place also offers the usual Chu-Char dishes as well as some local Western dishes. A worth-stopping by place especially if you are in the vicinity... for a casual, inexpensive and satisfying meal. 

Boston Coffee @ Victoria Street, Georgetown, Penang.

One of the latest dining and hang-out destinations that has taken social media by a storm is Boston Coffee, a new cafe housed in a warehouse-like space with an industrial style interior decor. This latest spot can be found at Victoria Street, near to the junction to China Street. The exterior barely tells a thing about the cafe but once you have stepped inside, you will be amazed by the well-lit, chic interior decor. On the food offering, there's a Western menu with rather limited choices but the beverage list is extensive. The food menu is a little less-exciting for now but the place is still a great spot to hang out over a cup of drinks. 

65c Ondo Bakery Cafe @ Eco Bloom, Simpang Ampat, Penang.

One of the busiest bakeries in the neighborhood of Simpang Ampat has got to be 65c Ondo Bakery Cafe... a new tenant to Eco Bloom. The bakery started its business operations in early December 2020 and it prides itself on its Japanese baking techniques coupled with modern technology as well as the imported flour and butter. Step in the place and you will be amazed by the colorful selections of bread and pastries- from the usual familiar Toasts to unusually attractive Cronuts, Croissant, Cakes etc. There's also a copy space for diners to dine-in and enjoy the freshly baked pastries. There is no proper main menu but a good beverage list. Definitely a place to look out for especially if you are a bread lover or for an occasional indulgence over quality pastries.

Su Vege Buffet 素香素食自助餐 @ Lebuh Tye Sin, Georgetown, Penang.

With the rise in health consciousness, many are adapting the vegetarian or vegan diet but the vegetarian lifestyle is more than just greens. Plant-based eaters can now have more choices to dine-out in Penang, one of the latest spots for a local, free-flow vegetarian buffet meal in the heart of Georgetown is Su Vege Buffet 素香素食自助餐. The new vegetarian restaurant offers buffet-style service... with Rm 15 per pax, diners can have unlimited helpings on the food (dine-in time is only 60 minutes). Menus are on constant rotation and only cooked with fresh ingredients (no mock meats or processed food), accordingly, there will be around 30 dishes/ choices at any one time. 

Kohtenhep Cafe By Javu @ Macalister Road, Georgetown, Penang.

Fans of a popular restaurant- Javu can now enjoy their signature dishes right smack in town as the restaurant has just opened up a new branch at Macalister Road. Fans of Javu staying outside of the Tanjung Bungah area can finally have access to their signature dishes nearer to town. The new branch- Kohtenhep Cafe can be found at Macalister Road (previously occupied by Petit Cafe), a stone's throw distance away from YMCA on the same road. It is housed in a bungalow and should not be hard to spot thanks to its flashy orange exterior (in the form of container house).

OO White Coffee Cafe 噢噢白咖啡 @ Waterfall Hotel, Penang.

If you happen to tour around Penang island (or a local here), chances are high that you have seen or tried this brand- OO White Coffee Cafe 噢噢白咖啡. The striking turqoise-colored signage is recognizable from afar and the brand has presence in Queensbay Mall, Georgetown (Carnavon Street) and now the latest spot is Waterfall Hotel (at Waterfall Road). It takes up the spot previously occupied by Duesey Coffee. OO White Coffee Cafe has quite a number of items to offer- from their signature Toasts, Coffee to mains like Nasi Lemak, Chicken Rice, Hokkien Mee, Pan Mee, Char Koay Teow or even Oyster Omelette; all are reasonably priced. The dining hall is very spacious and could accommodate quite a number of tables, a convenient and comfortable spot to drop by for any meals (whether breakfast or lunch). 

Modern Asia Kitchen 壹丰庭 @ De View Hotel, Air Itam, Penang.

A stone's throw distance away from the famous tourist attraction- Kek Lok Si is a new hotel- De View Hotel and Modern Asia Kitchen 壹丰庭 is a tenant that occupies a prominent spot of the hotel. The Chinese restaurant dishes out a Dim Sum menu in the mornings and usual Chinese menu in the evenings. While the Dim Sum menu is not very big, diners can also order some stir fry dishes from the Chinese menu. The prices are slightly on the higher side but they offer great quality in return... as well as comfortable dining atmosphere (spacious and fully air-conditioned). This place is definitely one of the better places to go to in Air Itam... for Dim Sum.

Pinwheel Resto Cafe @ Chulia Street, Georgetown, Penang.

It's easy to notice Pinwheel Resto Cafe... for its modern exterior in a heritage building along the bustling Chulia Street (next to the open space car park). But it does not suggest much, only its name and perhaps, chic interior from afar. The cafe offers a small Western menu with some Asian elements blended in... as well as some dessert choices. While we do enjoy the relaxed and casual atmosphere at Pinwheel, we found the menu to be on the weaker side... the offering seemed too ordinary for us to remember, though the food quality was alright.