The Little House Kochabi 一家小店.古早味 @ Gelugor, Penang.

The Little House Kochabi 一家小店.古早味  is a newly opened and seemingly mysterious eatery along Jalan Yeap Chor Ee. The little light bulbs will be lit in the evenings and if you have been driving along the bustling street, chances of you noticing this place will be high. The Little House Kochabi offers a Taiwanese-influenced menu and its located on a slope (facing the junction to the shop houses at Island Glades). The menu is not big but some home-cooked Taiwanese meals- be it Rice or Noodles, along with some Taiwanese delights like Fried Chicken Chop, Fried Sweet Potato etc. Reasonable price points but the overall food offering is still quite weak and would need some fine-tuning. 

Macallum Connoisseurs Celebrates 8th Year Anniversary With Extra Promotions!

It has been a good 8 years since Macallum Connoisseurs opened its doors at the heart of Georgetown, offering quality Western cafe fare. Since the beginning, the quality at Macallum Connoisseurs has been consistent and known to be one of best cafes to visit in Penang. The reasons are clear- big menu from appetizers to mains and desserts, suitable for all age range, comfortable dining space with ample parking space; its food menu has evolved over the years, slowly expanding with more choices to offer. To celebrate its 8th year anniversary, Macallum Connoisseurs will be having 2 promotions: (i) for the month of January 2023, enjoy 8% discount on the bill for dine-in and; (ii) for diners who celebrate their birthday on 28th of January, they will receive ONE complimentary Main dish (upon verification). Make sure you make early reservations for the birthday promotion to avoid any disappointments! 

Many Thanks to Macallum Connoisseurs for hosting us

Ookane Mochi @ Pulau Tikus, Penang.

Fancy both Ramen and Waffle? You can now have both at the newly opened Ookane Mochi, a stone's throw distance away from Pulau Tikus morning market. The cafe uses Muji-style minimalist design and offers a cozy-comfortable space for visitors. During its soft-launch period, the menu is a little small... only offering a few Waffle choices, some Ramen and Japanese-inspired Rice Bowls as well as some Cakes. Price points are definitely on the higher side, a good spot for casual meet ups nevertheless.

Empat Sekawan Cafe @ Sunway Perdana, Perai, Penang.

Empat Sekawan Cafe is probably one of the busiest cafes around Sunway Perdana area, the cafe is often thronged with crowd, particularly on weekends. The place gets popular due to its solid, welcoming menu featuring various types of cuisines favorited by Malaysians. One can find Thai dishes, Malaysian delights, Chinese noodles, Western food on their menu... even some eye-catchy desserts. The wide variety of food offering is definitely a strong pull-factor, basically any diner from any age range gets to find something here. The price points are fair and reasonable. Its also note-worthy to mention Empat Sekawan Cafe is a pork-free cafe. 

Penang Is Now A Michelin Star Studded City- Michelin Guide Penang 2023

With the 2023 list of Penang Michelin Star winners unveiled last month, the topic has become the talk of the town- everyone has its own opinions on the list. Nevertheless, one must recognize the effort behind in promoting the Penang food culture as well as introducing Penang to the rest of the world. For the uninitiated, the Michelin Guide is a guidebook that has been published by the French tyre company- MICHELIN since 1900. The guidebook recognizes establishments with outstanding culinary performance in related aspects and till today, it is seen as one of the most reputable international food guides. It is also an assurance and attestation to a certain standard of quality. 

Many Thanks to Penang Global Tourism for extending the invitation.

The Fisher By KruaThai @ Burmah Road, Georgetown, Penang.

Satisfying your cravings for authentic Thai delights at The Fisher By KruaThai, a new Thai restaurant opened in September 2022. It took over the spot at Le Embassy Hotel (Burmah Road) previously occupied as Catch by D.A.M. Minimal changes to the interior, The Fisher now offers an authentic Thai menu manned by Thai Chefs. There are plenty of Thai options- from the familiar dishes like Mieng Kam to Tom Yum Seafood or even Tab Tim Krob; diners can also expect to find some uncommon yet exciting ones like Salt-Grilled Fish, Thai Lamb Rack Soup, Thai Glutinous Rice Balls etc. While the food quality is impressive, the dishes are also reasonably priced. If you are visiting in a big group, do make early reservations.

Many Thanks to The Fisher By KruaThai for hosting us. 

Ramen Lab @ Nagore Road, Georgetown, Penang.

More options for Ramen fans in town- Ramen Lab is the latest Ramen addition in Penang. The new Ramen joint can be found at Nagore Road, a short walk from New World Park (adjacent to Continental Bakery). Ramen Lab specializes in offering Tonkotsu Ramen, savory pork-based broth. Apart from Ramen, there are also some familiar Japanese delights on offer- Japanese Curry Rice, Gyoza, Takoyaki just to name a few. Price points are friendlier than those established ones though.

Dao Xiang Dim Sum 稻香点心 @ Kulim, Kedah.

There are only a handful of Dim Sum options at Kulim (Kedah) and Dao Xiang Dim Sum 稻香点心 is one of them. Strategically located at Taman Selasih and occupying a prominent corner lot, the place attracts diners of all age-range... mainly due to its big Chinese menu and well-spaced seating arrangement. Not only Dim Sum dishes are available, there are also some tummy-filling mains and stir-fry dishes as well as some Chinese pastries; importantly, they are all reasonably priced. Worth-dropping by if you are in the vicinity and looking for some classic, inexpensive Chinese eats. 

Lau Teng By Wilson Chia @ Butterworth, Penang.

Started in Nov 2022, Lau Teng By Wilson Chia is a rather hidden spot amidst light industrial shop houses at Butterworth that offers a comfortable, casual space over expertly crafted dishes. "Lau Teng" means upstairs or upper floor in Hokkien dialect; it occupies the upper floor of the warehouse-like building and transformed into a proper, sophisticated dining room Guests will need to enter from the main entrance then take the stairs up to the restaurant. The restaurant has a strong contrast to the facade- it is cozy, elegantly setup with big windows allowing natural lights to flow in; creating a warm-welcoming space. The mastermind behind the restaurant is Wilson Chia, a professionally trained culinary expert whom previously worked as a Yacht Chef. The regular menu features a modern take on European dishes but for those who prefers a full-fledged experience can go for the 5-course Degustation Menu.

Many Thanks to Lau Teng By Wilson Chia for hosting us that afternoon.

Lhong Tou Dim Sum 龍頭點心 @ Pulau Tikus, Penang.

A stone's throw distance away from the Pulau Tikus morning market, the newly opened Dim Sum joint Lhong Tou Dim Sum 龍頭點心 is suitable for those who seek for quality Dim Sum dishes yet willing to pay a little more for the premium quality. What differentiates this place from its competitors is the made-to-order Dim Sum dishes, the menu features pretty much the standard Malaysian Dim Sum fare with a few Noodle/Rice dishes. The place is comfortable (air-conditioned) and the service is attentive; despite the above-average price points, the place is still a good option for a weekend family meal. 

Wild Pink Fish @ Gurney Walk, Penang.

Not to be confused with the Wild Pink Fish in New World Park, the outlet at Gurney Walk Penang offers a very different menu. The outlet at Gurney Walk Penang dishes out quality and affordable Japanese dishes, their Sushi is known for its value for money and undeniably popular amongst the white-collar workers. Dine-in guests would be glad to know that Wild Pink Fish offers a casual environment with "Sushi Bar-like" seating. The menu is a little limited but for diners who wish for a special menu, it can be arranged accordingly. With a special request, an "Izakaya-style" dinner menu featuring A5 Wagyu, Toro Sashimi etc can be customized depending on the budget (min of 3 pax is required). For the special dinner menu, diners can bring their own alcohol beverages with no extra corkage fee. Wild Pink Fish at Gurney Walk can be found on Ground Floor, right next to CUEVA; visitors can park their car at the multi-storey car park or the underground car park, with entrance from Ascott Gurney Hotel.

This post is brought to you by Gurney Walk Penang.

Brwnsgr.Neighborhood @ Island Glades, Gelugor, Penang.

It's not hard to notice that the Halal cafe scene in Penang is growing in recent years and one of the latest additions is Brwnsgr.Neighborhood. This is another outlet by The Table Penang (also the same group of people running Brown Sugar Eatery at Sungai Tiram). Brwnsgr.Neighorbood can be found at the residential neighborhood of Island Glades, right opposite to the junction turning to Genting Coffee Shop. The Muslim-friendly cafe offers a big beverage menu, along with some simple meals as well as sweet treats. There are only a few choices when it comes to food menu- All Day Brunch, Cheese Egg Bun and Kaya Toast; the rest are all sweet items. Environment is cozy, setting is comfortable, prices are affordable but the only downside is the parking. 

Festive Dining Promotions 2022 @ Hard Rock Hotel Penang.

December month is always the season to be jolly, treat yourself and your loved ones to a sumptuous feast; with Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year lined up together, you will be spoilt for choices. Hard Rock Hotel Penang will be pulling out all the stops this season, rolling out a gorgeous buffet spread for its diners. The Hard Rock Hotel Penang's All You Can Eat Buffet (at Starz Diner) sees festive roasts coming together with servings of seasonal treats like Roasted Turkey, Yule Log Cake, Christmas Pudding etc. For those who prefer course dinner, the hotel also rolls out a 4-Course Christmas Eve Set Dinner (at Hard Rock Cafe) where diners get to tuck into timeless classics like Beef Tenderloin, Lamb Rack or Roasted Chicken/ Salmon. The holiday spirit is further celebrated with complimentary party packs and live band. On top of the Christmas and New Year promotions, with the auspicious Chinese New Year around the corner, diners can look no further than Hard Rock Hotel Penang's mouth-watering spreads from their Chinese New Year Eve Buffet (at Starz Diner), all-time favorites like the Fortune Yee Sang, Braised Fish Maw with Seafood Treasure Soup are also available. 

Christmas Eve Buffet Dinner at Starz Diner

• 24 December 2022 from 6:30PM to 10:30PM
• RM199 nett/ adult and RM99 nett/ kid or senior citizen

Christmas Day Semi-Buffet Lunch at Pizzeria

• 25 December 2022 from 12:30PM to 3:00PM
• RM165 nett/adult and RM65 nett/ kid or senior citizen

New Year's Eve Buffet Dinner at Starz Diner

• 31 December 2022 from 6:30PM to 10:30PM
• RM220 nett/ adult and RM105 nett/kid

New Year's Eve 5-Course Set Dinner at Hard Rock Cafe

• 31 December 2022 from 6:30PM to 10:30PM
• RM230 nett/ adult and RM70 nett/kid

Many Thanks to Hard Rock Hotel Penang for hosting us at the Media Preview

G Hotel Gurney Penang Reopens Its Doors

The modern luxury hotel- G Hotel Gurney Penang has finally reopened its doors after underdoing a major renovation which took place between March 2022 to November 2022. The design-led hotel revitalizes itself with 312 guest rooms showcasing modern contemporary architecture and opulent interior designs in a brilliant show of form and function. The core section of G Hotel Gurney now sits at Level 3 of the hotel- from the seamless check-in procedures (guests can also look forward to the complimentary check-in ice creams) to having a quick catch up session over afternoon tea set or recharge over drinks at the lounge. The infinity pool, the new gym and restaurant can all be found on Level 3 of the hotel. 

On the dining outlets, Cafe 168 features an extensive variety of buffet stations serving both local and international specialties. Making the new limelight for Level 3 is G Spot, an elegant space with a sunken bar that welcomes guests to sip on Champagnes or a mix of Cocktails. Not forgetting Tree Bar, an alfresco bar that offers a large selection of beers. On top of these, the ground and first floors of the hotel will witness a transformation with the birth of Central @ Gurney, with more than 20 food and beverage outlets ranging from restaurants to cafes, bistros, casual eateries to fine dining. Central @ Gurney is schedule to open its doors to the public by Q1 2023. 

It is also note-worthy that G Hotel Gurney is one out of only four hotels in Penang that is being featured by the Michelin Guide. 

Many thanks to G Hotel for inviting us to the hotel reopening party.

Festive Promotions @ Amaya Food Gallery, Amari SPICE Penang.

The year end festive season is about great food and gatherings; it is also the "time" where everyone gets to indulge in some timeless seasonal treats like Turkey, Christmas Stollen, Yuletide Cake etc but you can get them all at Amari SPICE Penang, a newly opened contemporary business hotel in Bayan Lepas. With direct access to the SPICE Convention Centre, Amari SPICE Penang positions itself as Penang's leading business convention hotel. For this joyful festive occasion, the hotel's in house restaurant- Amaya Food Gallery rolls out its festive specials for 2022. 

Silvery Gold Christmas Eve Buffet Dinner

- 24 December 2022 from 6:00 PM to 10:30 PM

- RM198+ per person & RM99+ per child/ senior citizen

Christmas Day Buffet Brunch

- 25 December 2022 from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM

- RM138+ per person & RM69+ per child/ senior citizen

It's Saturday night Fever Dinner Party

- 31 December 2022 from 6:00 PM to 10:30 PM | Countdown from 10:30 PM to 12:00 Midnight

- RM228+ per person & RM114+ per child/ senior citizen

New Year's Day Buffet Brunch

- 1 January 2023 from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM

- RM138+ per person & RM69+ per child/ senior citizen

Many Thanks to Amari SPICE Penang for hosting us.