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.

CP Museum Dim Sum @ Pulau Tikus, Penang.

If you haven't already noticed, there is something new on Penang's Yum Cha scene. CP Museum Dim Sum, a new Dim Sum joint housed next to a museum has taken social media by storm. Apart from the aesthetically pleasing Dim Sum dishes, the dining atmosphere is one of a kind here. Unlike any other restaurants, the dining space is surrounded by all wood... like an old wood house. Most of the tables, chairs are all made from wood... it gives you the impression that you are in fact, dining in an immersive wood forest. There are no Dim Sum carts here... you will need to order through the servers and the dishes will be served to you. The menu features many Dim Sum classics, with some creative dishes of theirs but prices are at least 30-40% higher than normal Dim Sum joints. While the taste did not disappoint, we thought the prices are still on the higher side and did not yield as much satisfaction as expected.

Salad Farm @ Jalan Kebun Bungah, Penang.

If you are making an effort to change your lunch roster and try to eat up more greens, Salad Farm is probably one of the options that you can explore. It is one of the few salad bars in Penang that literally offers loads of greens on your plate. The place has been around for quite some time and is popular amongst the weight-watchers and health-conscious. It is hidden in one corner of the ESH Landscaping at Waterfall (Jalan Kebun Bungah). The whole place is under one big marque... air-conditioned and spacious. Like the name suggested, the menu revolves around greens and salad, with a few healthy options on the line. 

Hin Hin Seafood Restaurant 兴兴海鲜煮炒 @ Bukit Paya Terubong, Air Hitam, Penang.

Half way up to Balik Pulau, Hin Hin Seafood Restaurant 兴兴海鲜煮炒 is a rather concealed space found at Jalan Tun Sardon/ Bukit Paya Terubong, a winding road/ junction of Bukit Jambul and Paya Terubong (connecting point to Balik Pulau). It takes a little effort to locate the small sign board along the road- the entrance to the place is on the right, a short drive from Paya Terubong towards Balik Pulau. The restaurant has a simple setup but the accompanying elevated view is spectacular... overlooking the bustling Bayan Baru town. Tables are limited so it's a great idea to book in advance. The menu is not fixed here... it all depends on the freshest catch of the day... the proprietor will introduce/ recommend some of the best ones available on that day. Reasonable prices, fresh Seafood, a quiet-serene place close to the nature are some of the pull factors of this place.

"Chiak" All-You-Can, Live Station Buffet @ Iconic Hotel, Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

In such sensitive times like now... with the pandemic situation going on certain, social distancing seems like a nuisance but it is definitely necessary. Restaurants and hotels are making extra effort to ensure diners are dining in a safe environment. Iconic Hotel is one of the many hotels that are going the extra mile to ensure all guidelines are complied- tables are well distanced (the space can now host up to 60 diners at any one time), dining utensils are individually wrapped and sealed. The hotel's buffet section was closed earlier but after months of preparation, they have recently rolled out "Chiak" All-You-Can, Live Station Buffet. Available on every Friday and Saturday (from 7 pm to 10 pm) at their in-house restaurant, the buffet features a wide range of local dishes and international delights (Japanese delicacies, Chinese stir-fries, Seafood-On-Ice etc). This buffet promotion is expected to run from now until October 2020. For Ken Hunts Food's followers, you may receive 15% discount by quoting "CAYCIKH" (promotion is valid for the month of August 2020 only and limited to the first 30 pax).

Many Thanks to Iconic Hotel for hosting us.

Seafood Platter

[Seafood On Ice] Flower Crabs/ Mussels

[Seafood On Ice] Prawns

Sashimi Platter

Japanese-Styled Appetizers- Sweet Beancurd/ Sweet Omelette/ Edamame/ Baby Octopus/ Jellyfish/ Seasoned Scallop Wings/ Seasoned Clam Meat

Salad Bar- Garden Salad/ Chicken Caesar Salad/ Wafu Mushroom Salad

Start the feast by having some Seafood On Ice- Prawns, Scallops, Flower Crabs and Mussels are some of the items not to be missed. In addition to the Seafood feast, go for the Sashimi platter- choose between Salmon Sashimi, Tuna Sashimi or Octopus (or all). To make it more extensive, the hotel also prepares small Japanese-styled appetizers... which are not common in other buffets. 

[Chef's Specialty/ 1 serving per guest] Buddha Jump Over The Wall

[Ala-Carte Menu] Sambal Seafood Petai

[Ala-Carte Menu] Wok Fried Prawns With Cereal

[Ala-Carte Menu] Braised Mushroom with Broccoli in Oyster Sauce

[Ala-Carte Menu] Various Hot Dishes

[Deep Fried Dishes] Spicy Squid Tentacles/ Sweet Potato Fries/ Takoyaki Balls/ Tempura Prawns/ Fried White Bait/ Tempura Soft Shell Crab

[Grilled Dishes] Salmon and Mackerel with Teriyaki Sauce/ Oyster Mushroom with Teriyaki Sauce/ Yakitori/ Grilled Shishamo

There are plenty of selection when it comes to main dishes. One of the most unique features of "Chiak" All-You-Can, Live Station Buffet is the limited quantity of Chef's Specialty... in which a voucher will be given to each diner and the voucher is to redeem for ONE special dish of the day (each diner is limited to one serving, no repeat order). The Chef's Specialty dish is on a constant change so the surprise factor is there. Apart from the live action stalls which serve Fried goods, Roasted meat and Sashimi; there is an ala-carte menu that allows diners to have unlimited servings. Notable dishes on the menu are Curry Salmon Fish Head, Braised Beef Brisket with White Radish, Herbal Salt Baked Chicken, Sambal Seafood Petai, Wok Fried Prawns with Cereals etc.

Petit Four

Durian Tarts

Merry Me Ice Cream

Fresh Fruits

Beverages

Finish your meal with their specially crafted desserts, even better if you are a big fan of Durian. Iconic Hotel owns their very own Durian farm and supplies. With the King of Fruit is in season, the buffet sees a range of Durian desserts... from Durian Tarts to Durian Cakes or even Durian sweet soup (served with Coconut Milk). These are of course, in addition to the usual dessert range. Ice Cream lovers would be glad to know that Iconic Hotel offers "Merry Me" Ice Cream- a proud Penang brand that is known to offer many unusual but delicious Ice Cream flavors. 

Additional Information:

Pork-Free

Address: 71, Jalan Icon City, Bukit Tengah, 14000, Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

Contact Number: 604- 505 9988

Website: www.iconichotel.com.my