Meat Garage @ Museum Hotel, Jalan A.S. Mansor, Georgetown, Penang.

With a name like Meat Garage, no prizes for guessing what this joint specializes in. Next to Grape Garage, this new place at Museum Hotel specializes in churning out meat, particularly a good steak while its neighbor has some exclusive wines on the rack. Both shops belong to the same management so you can be seated at either place and order any items from either shop. Back to Meat Garage, while there is a fixed ala-carte menu, the meats are actually on display at the display fridge. They are weighed and individually priced so you will need to head over there and choose your piece of meat. Once the doneness is specified, it will be served to you in a jiffy. The ala-carte menu is a little small and revolves around meat either so if you are not a carnivore, look for somewhere else. Price points are slightly on the higher side (especially after the 10% service charge).

New S.O.S (Sensasi Ohsem Smokey) BBQ Menu By Marrybrown

Best known for their Crispy Chicken, Marrybrown- Malaysia's largest homegrown Halal fast-food chain is taking a step further to introduce their new, delicious Sensasi Ohsem Smokey (S.O.S) BBQ Meals. The new series is set to impress and satisfy the taste buds of millions of Malaysians; the sensational S.O.S BBQ Meals are available in 3 different ways- juicy, succulent S.O.S BBQ Burger combo meal or S.O.S BBQ Drumette combo meal (both deliciously paired with a generous serving of crispy, addictive Potato Wedges and Onion Rings) or have a taste of all elements in the S.O.S BBQ Box (a combination of the S.O.S BBQ Burger, S.O.S BBQ Drumette and the well-loved Marrybrown Crispy Chicken as well as Potato Wedges). The real draw of the S.O.S BBQ series is its specially concocted sauce, which carries a perfect balance of sweetness and smokiness, without overpowering the meat. The Marrybrown S.O.S (Sensasi Ohsem Smokey) BBQ meals are now available at all Marrybrown Malaysia outlets for dine-in, takeaway and delivery- promotion until 5 October 2020!

Many Thanks to Marrybrown for hosting us.

Clock Eleven 二更 @ Magazine Road, Georgetown, Penang.

One of the hippest places to dine-in and take instagrammable photos would be Clock Eleven 二更, a seemingly curious and quiet restaurant along Magazine Road. The exterior of the place barely tells about what the restaurant could potentially offer and I guess that's probably one of the pull factors. It's easy to miss Clock Eleven, in fact, it can be found at the bustling Magazine Road, a short drive from the junction of Lim Chong Eu towards Magazine Road direction. The food menu is small and features a range of Japanese-influenced "Don" as well a Pasta dish. Though the price points seem to be mid-average, the serving portion is actually way smaller than expected. If you have a big appetite, you might need to order 2 portions. 

Cui Xiang Lou Dim Sum 翠香楼点心 @ Perak Road, Jelutong, Penang.

One of the busiest breakfast spots at Jelutong is definitely Cui Xiang Lou Dim Sum 翠香楼点心, a new addition to Jelutong's food scene. The opening for Cui Xiang Lou attracts many early risers, mainly due to its wide range of classic Dim Sum offering and Chinese stir fry dishes. It's easy to locate this place, it occupies the corner lot of shop houses opposite to the Perak Road's wet market. Diners get to choose whether to be seated in the air-conditioned space or the outdoor dining area. The price points are middle average but given that the place is new, do not expect attentive service. In fact, you will need to fight your way to get your share of Dim Sum and have good patience before you get your dishes served (we waited 45 minutes for our noodles to arrive). 

Mamagoose Taiwanese Restaurant @ Hin Bus Depot, Georgetown, Penang.

The name "Mamagoose" should not be new to those who frequent Hin Bus Depot, the brand made its first appearance in the form of food truck but has since moved into a shop with proper restaurant setting. The brand specializing in Taiwanese delights has since garnered an appreciate following- with regulars keep returning for its Taiwanese Beef Noodles and Dumplings. The menu has slightly expanded- with more stir fry options available. Price points are mid-average but the above-par food quality and comfortable homey dining atmosphere (but does not seem to be able to accommodate big groups) are some of the good reasons why you should check out this place. 

Le Bread Days @ Beach Street, Georgetown, Penang.

If you get a good sense of comfort and satisfaction by munching down a crispy, flaky piece of pastry, you should put Le Bread Days on your watch list. Having established in Petaling Jaya a few years back, the brand has received overwhelming responses... particularly from its signature Molted Salted Egg Croissant. Fast forward today, the brand has expanded its business operations up north... to Penang. The Penang outlet can be found at Beach Street... a stone's throw distance away from the famous mural paint at Armenian Street. Like the PJ outlet, the Penang branch serves an array of artisanal bread and pastries... particularly Croissant and Danish. Not everything's great but if you are a fan of these pastries, you should check it out.

Dong Guan Kopitiam 東館茶室 @ Irrawaddy Road, Pulau Tikus, Penang.

Found in a retro setting,  Dong Guan Kopitiam 東館茶室 appealed to the public, portraying a modern vintage Cha Chan Teng (Hong Kong-styled Coffee Shop) but serving classic, old school Malaysian dishes. The menu sees an array of familiar dishes- ranging from Nasi Lemak to Fried Vermicelli Noodles or Hor Fun... as well as some Toasts, snacks etc. Prices are generally very wallet-friendly but both the service and food quality are lackluster. The place feels cramped and it does not feel like a place for an enjoyable meal... probably more suitable for casual quick fix. 

Bao Teck Tea House 包德馆 @ Lebuh Melayu, Georgetown, Penang.

A new venture by the Ming Xiang Tai group- Bao Teck Tea House 包德馆 is yet another hottest Dim Sum spot in Penang. The place won the hearts of many with its Chinese-influenced retro style interior decor... which seems to portray the beauty of the olden times in a modernized elegant way. The exterior does not give an idea on how the interior would look like but step in the place and you will be amazed by the setting... with a proper tea corner on the right, a mini mystery garden in the middle with natural lights bestowing as well as the antique wooden tables. While the dining atmosphere is great, the food offering is equally impressive. Apart from bringing the best sellers from Ming Xiang Tai, Bao Teck Tea House also offers some of their own signature dishes. The menu is not very big but includes most Dim Sum essentials... more like a place to enjoy the ambiance. Do not expect the bill to come low... as most of the food items are priced above average. 

Ăn Viet Introduces The Beefiest Pho You'd Love!

Ăn Viet, a popular Vietnamese food joint in Malaysia has recently introduced the Beefiest Pho (also has an outlet at Gurney Plaza)... an improvised version to their existing recipe, creating a beefier version of Pho broth. This is also in line with the brand's passion to constantly enhancing existing dishes to excite their regular patrons. The broth is cooked for hours to fully accentuate the deep,beefy flavors. The new edition of their signature and renowned Beefiest Pho comes in 3 different options- Vietnamese Beef Noodle Special, Vietnamese Raw Beef & Beef Brisket Noodle Soup and Vietnamese Raw Beef & Beef Ball Noodle Soup. From now till 15 September 2020, An Viet is offering for non-subscribers 10% discount for 1 Beefiest Pho ordered, 2 orders will enjoy 15% and 25% for 3 orders. Sign up as their subscribers and enjoy double the savings- 20% for 1 order, 30% of 2 orders and 50% of 3 orders on their Beefiest Pho (promotional voucher will be sent to subscribers via email/ flash it to the cashier to enjoy the discount). 

Many Thanks to An Viet for hosting us.

Xii Chan @ Kampung Malabar, Georgetown, Penang.

Finding quality Western food in Penang does not necessarily require you to travel far or fork out high bills- Xii Chan, one of the new Western food joints is one good example. Established in July 2020, Xii Chan is manned by a very experienced team and offers an unbelievable array of Western dishes suitable for both social hangouts or casual quick fix. The Set Lunch is affordably priced from Rm 18.80 with a starter, main and a drink.  There are plenty of choices, ranging from Chicken, Pork, Fish to Beef... as well as some Pasta choices; all are affordably priced that would not put a dent on the wallet. Definitely one great place where you can have quality Western food in a comfortable setting.

Many Thanks to Xii Chan for hosting us.

Thai Crab Porridge 泰式蟹皇粥 @ Lebuh Keng Kwee, Georgetown, Penang.

Found at the bustling Lebuh Keng Kwee (the same street where the famous Penang Cendol is located), Thai Crab Porridge 泰式蟹皇粥 is one of the new food spots that you should put it on your radar. Though the name says Crab Porridge, the fairly-new restaurant is in fact, a restaurant that specializes in Thai offering... with a few Seafood selections. The location of this place seems a little odd though... seemingly overshadowed by the popular Penang Cendol and nearby food stalls. The place does not offer a glamorous entrance and the interior decor is down to earth... like your usual hawker place with simple seating arrangement. A place in town where you can find some simple Seafood meal with reasonable prices.

Tem Xin Charcoal Mookata @ Beach Street, Georgetown, Penang.

The joy of having a Mookata meal (Thai hotpot) is that one gets to enjoy both barbecue and hotpot in one go; while Penang has quite a few places offering the Thai hotpot, Tem Xin Charcoal Mookata is one of the latest spots available. Found at Beach Street (next to Ghee Hiang Beach Street), the restaurant is fully air-conditioned and equipped with many mobile air-coolers... seeks to provide a more comfortable hotpot dining experience. It's quite spacious to dine in for small groups but for bigger crowd, the place may be a little too cramped. The menu offering is pretty standard- Pork Belly, Chicken meat, some seafood and greens but the fact that they insist on using charcoal fire is a testament to their authenticity.

Dozo Japanese Restaurant @ Summerskye Square, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

A brand that originates from London with a branch in Ipoh, Dozo Japanese Restaurant has finally expanded its business operations up north to Penang... opening a new branch at Summerskye Square (Bayan Lepas). As far as food offering is concerned, Dozo brings all the signature dishes and highlights to Penang; the menu is very big with all range of Japanese food included- from the usual Salad, Sushi, Maki to Yakimono, Nabe, Tempura, Dons, Teishoku, Noodles etc. Prices are slightly higher than most Japanese chains but they commensurate with the serving portion and food quality. The Penang branch occupies 3 shop lots at Summerskye... offering a huge dining space with a dedicated corner for conveyor belt (especially suitable for Sushi lovers). Comfortable dining atmosphere, attentive service and above-par food quality, I can see how Dozo is being added to one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in Penang. 

Shijing Steamboat 市井小火锅 @ Nagore Road, Georgetown, Penang.

Located right smack in town, Shijing Steamboat 市井小火锅 delivers some of the most traditional flavors with their hot pot soup bases. The new comer (to the Penang hot pot scene) may not offer the more premium and posh hot pot experience, it is one of the places where you can enjoy solid, classic hot pot without putting a dent on the wallet. There is a small selection of soup bases and expect to see timeless soup bases like Herbal Soup, Tom Yum, Clear Soup on the list as well as a choice of Yam and Fish Head Pot. The accompanying dips and hot pot ingredients are straight-forward and no frills as well... from the usual sliced meat to the fresh seafood and familiar fish balls as well as greens; exactly the range of hot pot ingredients that you would expect. A comfortable place for a decent, fuss-free hot pot meal. 

Sardaarji- Flavors of Punjab @ China Street, Georgetown, Penang.

While there is no shortage of Indian restaurants in Penang, it is quite rare to find a restaurant specializing North Indian cuisine... particularly serving authentic Punjabi dishes. It can be quite hard to differentiate what belongs to the North and what belongs to the South but Sardaarji offers a well-polished take on North Indian delights... beyond the commonly seen Indian dishes. Found at one corner of the Little India in Penang, the restaurant is fairly new (only a couple month old) in the F&B scene and it can be easily missed. Except for the banner, the exterior barely suggests that the place serves Indian food but the big menu features quite an extensive selection of dishes- from appetizers to flat breads, Briyani, and various types of Curries. While it can be overwhelming to choose from the menu, you may check with the friendly servers on their specialties (we did and were introduced with various types of dishes). Interesting take on North Indian cuisine in a modern, trendy setting.