KEN HUNTS FOOD: Japan's Doutor Coffee @ Gurney Plaza Penang.

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Japan's Doutor Coffee @ Gurney Plaza Penang.

If you thought the Japanese cuisine only involved slurping ramen or eating raw fish, Doutor Coffee is here to prove you wrong. Having successfully launched 3 outlets in Malaysia (2 in central region, 1 in souther Malaysia), Doutor Coffee continues to expand its reach to Penang, opening the group's 4th restaurant at Gurney Plaza (al-freso zone between the mall and G Hotel). Doutor Coffee started in Tokyo's Harajuku district a few decades back; fast-forward today, the brand has international presence in Taiwan, Singapore and now in Malaysia. The Japanese-influenced cafe offers a wide range of Japanese-Western dishes at unbeatable prices; none of the items are priced above Rm 20 (with no service charge and government tax), making it one of the most affordable places to dine in at the mall.

Many thanks to Doutor Coffee for hosting us that afternoon.

Original French Toast (Rm 14.90)

Vanilla Souffle Pancake (Rm 13.90)

Matcha Souffle (Rm 8.90)

While some French Toast conservatives would argue that French Toast should have crisp edges and bready texture but Doutor Coffee begs to differ. The Japanese-inspired Cafe churns out lip-smacking French Toast with light and pillow-like texture. Lightly dip the Toast with the home-made Berry Jam and pop it in the mouth, it will literally melt in seconds! It was so soft and flavorful yet, the sweetness was amazingly balanced. To add a touch of refreshing cold contrast to the dish, Doutor serves its French Toast with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream.

A lighter pleasure, the Vanilla Souffle Pancake offers another layer of dimension. The texture was somewhat airy yet with the density of bread. It was an addictive texture... one would unconsciously stick their fork at the pancake. If cloud-like texture is what you are seeking for, the Matcha Souffle might be an answer. It was fluffed and equipped with the inevitable sweetness but the inner part of the Souffle seemed moister than other establishments yet, unique and delicious in its own way. For a price tag of Rm 8.90 per serving, it is definitely hands-down one of the most affordable ones in town.

Signature Spaghetti (Rm 14.90)

Seafood Tomato Sauce Spaghetti (Rm 16.90)

Fluffy Souffle Doria (Rm 19.90)

Italians are not the only group of people that cook good Pasta, the Japanese has their unique ways of dealing with the noodles either. The signature Spaghetti left us with a very deep impression. It was expertly seasoned with Soy sauce and a tinge of sweetness, the Bacon was Chicken Bacon but it did not compromise in terms of smokiness and texture. The al-dente Spaghetti got better with the addition of Soft Boiled Egg... which added another layer of buttery-rich dimension to the dish.

If Rice is part of your daily diet, try their Fluffy Souffle Doria... fried Rice served in a casserole and topped with a well-fluffed Egg White concoction, jeweled with Cheese Powder. Once you sink the spoon in, you will hit a cloud-soft-like layer before you discover the rice. Scoop a bit of everything and you will experience an avalanche of flavors- smokiness of the fried rice, eggy flavor for the Souffle and a touch of salinity from the Cheese Powder. It was good but might be monotonous for one to finish entirely... sharing is highly recommended.