Sieng Kee Restaurant 翔记饭店 @ Simpang Ampat, Penang.

Sieng Kee Restaurant 翔记饭店 can be found a little deep inside of Simpang Ampat, slightly off the beaten track (of the main streets in Simpang Ampat). The restaurant has been there for a while and is one of the favorite go-to-places for those staying in the neighborhood. Most regulars walk in just to order some simple stir fries for takeaways. But Sieng Kee offers way more than the usual Chinese stir fries, it is also a Seafood restaurant; the menu features a big range of Seafood dishes with the most popular ones being the Crabs. There are 2 parts to the restaurant- diners can opt for the outdoor seating or the indoor air-conditioned space; tables on both sides are spaciously arranged. As for the price tags, food items are reasonably priced... pretty decent for a Seafood place in Penang state.

Affordable Korean Food- Food Dimension @ Fortune Court, Farlim, Penang.

Sharing the same place with Dim Do Duc Dim Sum at Farlim (near to Sunshine Farlim), Food Dimension is taking Korean food more down to earth... operating using a cart and serving the dishes in hawker style. But that does not mean the food quality is compromised, the proprietor is doing a good job in managing the quality, serving speed and variety. The menu features many familiar Korean street food delicacies, including but not limited to Kimbap, Tteokbokki, Korean Fish Cakes, Korean Pancake, Fried Chicken etc. The items are affordably priced, at least cheaper than most established Korean restaurants; a good alternative to satisfy your crave for Korean food.

The Pinn 老品 @ Gat Lebuh Melayu, Georgetown, Penang.

Founded by a group of besties,  The Pinn 老品 is unlike any ordinary cafes or restaurants in town; it aims to bring in the flavors from the yesteryears and recreate long-lost dishes. The team does not mind the painstaking preparation process, most of the items on the food menu are home-made. Though the menu is not big, it offers what the team could possibly best offer. The signature dish is the home-made Fish Balls (can be served with noodles) with a small choices of Dumplings and sides. Nothing fancy on the interior decor but just a simple space for a casual, comforting meal.   

Navy Specialty Coffee @ Arena Curve, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

Previously occupied as Big Tree Eatery, the restaurant has undergone restructuring and rebranding; offering a brand new establishment known as "Navy Specialty Coffee". While the management may still be related but both brands have completely different things to offer. As suggested from its name- Navy Specialty Coffee is a place that puts great focuses on artisanal coffee but that's not all for this place. The menu offering comprises of a great variety of mains (including Pasta, Burger, Grills, Tacos etc) with an array of desserts... as well as a big beverage menu (not only Coffee but Chinese Tea, Juices, Craft Beers as well). Simple interior decor but tables are well-spaced; a comfortable space for meals or just casual hang out over drinks. 

Meet 1880 Cafe and Bistro @ Church Street, Georgetown, Penang.

Right smack in Georgetown's central banking district, Meet 1880 Cafe and Bistro is one of the new comers at Church Street. Opened in early September 2020, Meet 1880 is both a cafe and a bistro so you will find 2 different settings- high tables and the usual dining tables, the overall atmosphere feels cozy and can be a cool place for social gatherings. On the food menu, Meet 1880 offers a small Western food menu, with a few handful options of Bruschetta (or Toasts), Mains (mainly meat and fish) and some Pasta dishes. While we thought the price points are of mid-range, the description on the menu seems to be a little different as compared to actual items...

Béni @ Sky Avenue, Resorts World Genting, Genting Highlands, Pahang.

Béni, a one-starred Michelin restaurant from Singapore has recently extended its business operation to Malaysia... opening a branch at SkyAvenue of Resorts World Genting. According to its official website, Béni's menu integrates French fine-dining cuisine and Japanese produce... a Japanese reinterpretation of French cuisine. The restaurant at SkyAvenue has limited seating, probably could accommodate less than 6 tables... with an open kitchen and a display fridge with selected Wines. The price points are of fine-dining range but if you are keen to try their offering without putting a dent on the wallet, the 3 Course Set Meal (starts from Rm 68 per pax) is definitely a good choice. The 3 Course Set Meal is available daily, all day long.

Hidden T Cafe @ Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

Found on one of the upper floor units at Pusat Perniagaan Bukit Mertajam, Hidden T Cafe is one of the latest spots at the local cafe scene. The place is known to churn out healthy Rice Bowls with a lot of colorful elements and often made appearances on various social media platforms. Its quite easy to locate this place... it has a huge signage on display and found on top of Spade's Burger (same row as Subway Bukit Mertajam). On the interior decor, it has a clean, simple setting... not too fancy but comfortable enough as a cafe. Menu-wise, it is not too big and features a few choices of Rice Bowls, Wraps and desserts... those who are on budget would be glad to know that food items here come in big portions but affordable priced (mains usually cost less than Rm 15). 

Restaurant Kar Heo 家和河鲜饭店 @ Kuala Kangsar, Perak.

A short 10-min drive from Kuala Kangsar Toll will land you at Restaurant Kar Heo 家和河鲜饭店, a restaurant specializes in serving freshwater fish. The place is also half an hour drive away from Sauk, the village especially known for churning out freshwater fish. Kar Heo is relatively new- opened in early 2020, the place has quickly become popular amongst foodies. People travel from far to this place just to savor its freshwater fish; the proprietor has connections with the local fisherman and often gets consistent supplies over different types of freshwater fish... some are extremely uncommon. Other than the freshwater fish, the restaurant also serves many familiar Chinese stir fry dishes. Price points are generally lower than those in cities; definitely worth putting on your list if you are a big fan of freshwater fish.

Place We Meet 漫长的深夜 @ Chulia Street, Georgetown, Penang.

**This place has relocated to Lebuh Acheh and rebranded as Tonari Restaurant**

Almost like an outdoor Izakaya,  Place We Meet 漫长的深夜 is probably one of the most hidden eateries in central Georgetown. Tucked away from the bustling Chulia Street, one needs go to through Q Hotel (previously known as Time Capsule Hotel) in order to reach Place We Meet. It can be found at the back of the hotel, once you have reached the entrance of Q Hotel, make your way through the convenient store/ reception counter and you will find this place... an al-fresco area with simple seating arrangement. But the menu is not weak... apart from the skewers, there are a few choices of main and all of them are affordably priced. The waiting time could be long depending on the crowd, definitely worth checking out if you are a big fan of Japanese-styled barbecue as well as stir fries.

Forest Cloud Relocates To Central Georgetown, Penang

One of the local renowned Coffee Roasters in Penang, Forest Cloud started off by trading coffee-related products of different brands before roasting and producing its in-house coffee products, as well as importing quality Matcha, Hojicha and Dark Chocolate Powder. It was previously found at Island Glades but today, Forest Cloud is moving into a bigger space in central Georgetown (next to the old Odeon Cinema at Penang Road). The all new Forest Cloud does not only facilitate walk-ins or a space for cafe hoppers to enjoy a cup of Joe but it is also a cafe with Sensory Experience, an Experience Store, a Coffee Roaster, Coffee Academy, R&D Coffee Lab and Coffee Machine Clinic (as well as retail for coffee equipment). Not only that coffee lovers can have a sip on their in-house roasted Coffee but also hands on experience on how to brew their own coffee by joining their classes. More information can be found on their website. 

Forest Cloud welcomes walk-in customers starting 10 Oct 2020. 

EJI Nutrition Premium @ Pine Valley Business Center, Paya Terubong, Penang.

Designed for body builders and weight-watchers, the in-house cafe of EJI Nutrition Premium (an established bodybuilding supplement brand) is a place for gym-goers to fill in their tummies before/post workout. Besides retailing for supplements on the ground floor and a huge gym space on the upper floors, the in-house cafe offers a healthy menu meant for gym-goers. All of the food offerings are oil-free and packed with proteins as well as a fair share of greens/ fiber. The kitchen also churns out protein shakes for gym-goers so the entire building is pretty much like a one-stop center for body builders. But do not expect anything great about the dining space... just some simple tables and chairs (though fully air-conditioned to ensure comfortness). Budget watchers would be glad to know that a good portion of main here costs a little less than Rm 12 and the serving portion is fairly large; so probably a good news for those who wish to make a change to their physique or try to eat healthier/ leaner. 

Bene Seafood Restaurant 龙蒸虎焖 @ The Promenade, Bayan Baru, Penang.

Probably the only restaurant specializing in offering Dragon Tiger Grouper 龙虎斑, Bene Seafood Restaurant 龙蒸虎焖 at The Promenade (Bayan Baru) has a menu dedicated entirely to this grouper fish. The Chinese restaurant does not have any impressive setting but just a down-to-earth restaurant setting with basic tables and chairs... just like any Chinese restaurants in the neighborhood. On the menu- it apart from the Chinese stir fry dishes (expect to find the usual Zhu Char fare here), it offers an array of Noodle dishes as well. The prices are however, unexpectedly affordable but don't expect the serving portion to be very big. Definitely a worth-checking out restaurant, especially for family gatherings over a meal. 

Haru Stationery Cafe @ Campbell Street, Georgetown, Penang.

Haru is one of the new comers to the Penang cafe scene but the place has quickly taken social media by storm... partly because of their clean, minimalist interior decor as well as their food offering. Found at Campbell Street, the cafe also has a dedicated corner for selling stationery. Menu-wise, it does not carry a big menu but a simple one featuring an array of Japanese-influenced Rice Bowls and a series of Liege Waffle dishes (both sweet and savory) as well as a couple of Cake choices. Price points and mid-range but expect the serving portions to be smaller than usual. If you must know, we were more convinced by their sweet treats than the savory ones. 

[Year 2020] Food Hunting- of Cafes/ Must-Eats @ Ipoh, Perak.

With many of us unable to travel overseas, a short local getaway is ideal when the travel bug bites. Ipoh (Perak) is an ideal destination for Penangites... with merely a short 1.5 hours drive away. The town is especially suitable for foodies to explore and has recently welcomed a spate of new cafes and eateries. These are some of the places that have never been featured on our Ipoh food blog entries:

1) Sam Ma Chicken Rice 三妈芽菜滑鸡饭

Non-Halal

Service Charge: No

Government Tax: No

Address: 3, Jalan S.A. Lingam, 31400, Ipoh, Perak.

Business Hours: 11 am to 3 pm, 6 pm to 9 pm. Closed on Wednesdays.

Contact Number: 6017- 756 8562

Sam Ma Chicken Rice Facebook Page