Full Xiang Spicy Hotpot 福相麻辣香锅 @ Gurney Plaza, Penang.

Spicy Mala hotpot has seen rise in demand due to the addictive fragrant, numbing-spicy sensation; and one of the best places that you can satiate your cravings for Mala Hotpot is Full Xiang Spicy Hotpot 福相麻辣香锅, a brand which can be found in 2 largest shopping malls in Penang- Gurney Plaza and Queensbay Mall. Like most Mala Hotpot restaurants, there is a dedicated display fridge with all the ingredients available. Diners will need to pick up their preferred choices and hand them over to the counter... for weighing, payment and processing. In addition to that, the restaurant also offers a rice and noodle menu, offering various familiar Chinese items. Reasonable prices and the dishes pack powerful chili heat.

GEM Indian Cuisine @ Bishop Street, Georgetown, Penang.

GEM Indian Cuisine along Bishop Street is an old establishment that specializes in serving authentic Indian food, the place is known to serve some of the best Curries in Penang. Found at the corner lot of Bishop Street and Light Street, the restaurant is often patrionized by regular patrons and Curry lovers. What makes this place unique is the thick, rich and flavorful Curries; said to be cooked from authentic Indian recipes with real spices. The interior decor is minimalist adorned with some Indian knick-knacks; classy and comfortable setting, delicious Indian delights... one of the best spots to get some real Indian food.

Cun Xiang 村香燉品屋飯店 @ Permatang Tinggi, Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

Residents staying at Permatang Tinggi should not be new with Cun Xiang 村香燉品屋飯店... not only that it can be found facing the main road (near the entrance to the residential area) but it is also a popular dinner place for those staying in the vicinity. While the place does not offer a big menu, it does churn out delicious yet invigorating Chinese Herbal Soup and stir up some familiar home-cooked dishes. Prices are most affordable and the dishes are intimating, a place for a casual quick fix without putting a dent on the wallet.

Made Era 媽の時代 @ Teras Jaya, Butterworth, Penang.

Made Era 媽の時代 is one of the latest spots in Butterworth to get some sweet soup. Found at one corner lot along Lorong Teras Jaya, Made Era is a dessert-focused space with a big dessert menu, offering Chinese-styled desserts mostly... along with a limited choices of some toasts and rice/noodle dishes. The place has a comfortable dining atmosphere- fully air conditioned and well-spaced; the price tags are economical. Quite a nice spot for an after-meal sweet end or an intimate light meal. 

DeHappy Seafood Restaurant 快乐海鲜 @ Macalister Road, Georgetown, Penang.

Occupying one of the most prominent spots along Macalister Road, DeHappy Seafood Restaurant 快乐海鲜 is often perceived as "the restaurant that caters for tourists"... mainly due to its location as well as its banner that says "Fresh Empurau Is Available". Like many, we were also taken aback but we were brought there by a chance. When we checked the menu, we were surprised that most of the dishes are reasonably priced- not exactly cheap but comparable to most seafood restaurants on Penang island. The menu is big and would fit for most occasions, especially family gatherings. Though the place has good ventilation, the lack of air-conditioners may not be a good thing for the heat-intolerant. 

Shang Ping Restaurant 香賓餐館 @ Taman Hijau, Jelutong, Penang.

Hidden in a residential neighborhood of Taman Hijau, Shang Ping Restaurant 香賓餐館 is a friendly neighborhood restaurant that serves familiar Chinese-styled dishes- from a feast fit for whole family to as simple as a plate of Fried Rice, the place has some classic, old-school Hokkien-styled stir fries. The restaurant has been there for at least a decade. There is no fixed menu at Shang Ping, only a white board stating the dishes of the day and by words of mouth. The proprietor will introduce you on some of the signature dishes of theirs. Nothing's new, nothing's fancy, but a simple space for a local, inexpensive meal. 

Ryuzen Japanese Shabu Shabu @ Juru Sentral, Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

It's easy to miss Ryuzen since the restaurant is located on the 3rd floor of the Juru Sentral building but it is a place not to be missed by any hot pot lovers. Ryuzen is a place where you will find Japanese-influenced hot pot with plenty of meat (buffet style). There are different packages that offer different values in return; depending on your choice, the selection of soup bases will affect your bill either. There are 7 different types of soup bases, with 3 soup bases are free of charge while the rest would require additional charges. Each hot pot comes with 2 different types of soup bases. There is a buffet counter right in the middle of the restaurant where diners can pick their hot pot ingredients (as well as sides like Oden, Herbal Egg, Chawanmushi and desserts like Soft Serve and fresh Fruits). The meat and seafood however, are to be ordered separately... though there is no limitation on the number of orders. The fact that the restaurant does not charge any service charge or government tax, we thought the prices listed are very reasonable and worth the value. Even better if you could sign up for the membership (works like a reload card).

96 Backlane Cafe 吹水铺 @ Pulau Tikus, Penang.

96 Backlane Cafe 吹水铺 is probably the only cafe in town that requires its customers to enter from the back alley but this unique entrance has certainly added a mysterious touch to the place. Slide the door open and you will find yourself in a snug, small little space with some tables and chairs. The interior decor seeks to portray an office with plenty of stationery. The place is unlikely to be able to accommodate big groups though. On the food offering, it has a small menu that offers a few noodle choices and some Hainanese Kaya-Butter Toasts. The prices are however, quite steep for the serving portion.