Er Yi Tai 二姨太 @ Kuala Kangsar Road, Georgetown, Penang.

A new venture by Hygge, the newly opened Japanese-inspired Bar Er Yi Tai 二姨太 is found right next to Hygge. With a playful name like Er Yi Tai (second wife in Mandarin), one would expect the place to resemble the playful and sexy aspects... making it an exciting place to explore. Er Yi Tai is not the typical Japanese restaurant where they serve normal portion dishes... it is in fact, more like a Japanese Izakaya that dishes out a variety of small plates for sharing over alcohols. The menu therefore, consists of some carefully planned, quality Japanese-influenced bites with a big alcohol menu mainly featuring Japanese Sake (Rice Wine), Whiskey and delicious Cocktails. The seating arrangement is spacious and cozy, but in case you are coming in a big group, it is always wiser to make reservations. 

Many Thanks to Er Yi Tai for hosting us that afternoon.

Bodhi Tree Vegetarian @ Vantage Desiran Tanjung, Tanjung Tokong, Penang.

New choice for those who practice plant-based diet at Tanjung Tokong, Bodhi Tree Vegetarian is one of the latest additions to the vegetarian scene at the area. Found on first floor of Vantage Desiran Tanjung, Bodhi Tree offers a vegetarian menu with Chinese and Western options as well as some Japanese-inspired Bento sets. Choices can be overwhelming but fortunately, the food items are reasonably priced. Bodhi Tree Vegetarian just opened its doors to the public in early April 2022. 

Jin Wu Men Restaurant 金五们 @ Icon City, Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

Jin Wu Men Restaurant 金五们 is one of the latest additions to Icon City at Bukit Mertajam... occupying a big space on the upper floor unit. The menu is in fact simple and straight-forward... offering fish noodles with a variety of toppings to be added. Apart from the classic broth, there are options like Tomato soup, Mala and Milky soup etc. While most toppings are nothing out of the ordinary, some can be quite interesting and uncommon. The prices however, are on the steeper side and offer lesser value in return. The place is comfortable though, if you don't mind paying a little more.

Bón Wine and Dine @ Penang Heritage Club, Penang.

A place not to be missed by meat-obsessed foodies; the newly opened French-European restaurant Bón Wine and Dine at Penang Heritage Club is one of the latest and best places to hit up for fine dry-aged Beef cuts. Not many restaurants in Penang offering dry-aged cuts as the dehydration process causes lesser yield and therefore, costlier to restaurateurs; but the process improves its texture and intensifies its flavor... for that reason, it is loved by many beef lovers. Bón Wine and Dine has a dry-aging cabinet beautifully displaying the dry-aging meat, showcasing the premium steak selection that would make your mouth water. Apart from the beef option, there are other non-beef items which cater for all range of diners... as well as carefully picked wine labels (some uncommon ones even from Syria). For those who wish to sample more, the 5-course prix-fixe menu offers great values in return... priced at RM288+ per pax (extra RM80 per pax for wine pairing- 3 glasses). It is also worth mentioning that Penang Heritage Club offers complimentary parking with ample parking lots. 

Many Thanks to Bón Wine and Dine for hosting us that evening.

Ah Huat Pek Char Hor Fun @ Lok Khoon Coffee Shop, Balik Pulau, Penang.

At the far end of Balik Pulau is Kampung Jalan Baru where Lok Khoon Coffee Shop is located, the place is popular amongst the local residents for being the de-facto breakfast place in the neighborhood but it has gained a lot of attention lately due to the broadcasting of TV show introducing the place. Many travel far just to have a taste on this unique dish- Deep Fried Hor Fun and it is offered by one of the food stalls in Lok Khoon- Ah Huat Pek Char Hor Fun. Apart from the Deep Fried Hor Fun, there are plenty of other local delights as well. Worth checking out if you are in the vicinity but not something that I would travel all the way there to eat.

Deep Fried Hor Fun (Rm 6.50)

Stir Fried Bee Hoon (Rm 5.50)

Hokkien Char (Rm 5.50)

Fried Prawn Fritters with Fried Tofu (Rm 12)

Fried Oyster Pancake (Rm 12/ small)

Curry Duck

Braised Pork Trotter

Braised Tofu and Eggs

Assam Fish

Probably the best seller, Ah Huat Pek's Deep Fried Hor Fun was very unique and second to none. The Hor Fun was first deep fried to a light, crispy texture and served with the delicious, gooey gravy. The contrast in texture was what made the dish interesting. It was however, very greasy and can be monotonous towards the end. Sharing is definitely recommended. There were also other items available at the place but the Fried Prawn Fritters with Fried Tofu were probably something worth trying. The Prawn Fritters worked well with the Chili sauce, the addictive crunchy texture and the unique smoky aroma from the Prawns was the real draw factor for this dish.

Ratings:
Taste: 7/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)

Service: 7/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)

Price: 7.5/10 (1-3 expensive, 4-7 average, 8-10 cheap)

Parking: 6/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)

Ambiance: 6.5/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)

Non-Halal

Service Charge: No

Government Tax: No

Additional Information:
Address: Kampung Jalan Baru, 11000, Balik Pulau, Penang.

Business Hours: 7:30 am to 3:30 pm. Closed on Wednesdays.
Contact Number: N/A

JK 92 Cafe @ Seang Tek Road, Georgetown, Penang.

** This place is permanently closed.**

It's easy to miss JK92 Cafe at Seang Tek Road, the signage does not paint a proper picture on what the place offers; but it is in fact, known to the folks working nearby or staying in the vicinity... for dishing out casual, inexpensive local meals. The Char Hor Fun, Hailam Char, Hokkien Char are some of the popular choices but if you yearn for something soup-ish and more comfortable to the tummy, they do offer soup noodles as well. A casual place to drop by for a quick fix without needing to spend a lot.

Rossi ItaLian @ Hotel Penaga, Georgetown, Penang.

Housed in Hotel Penaga, Rossi ItaLian is one of the latest spots in town for some decent Italian food. The Italian restaurant is found inside the hotel, menu is fairly small but offers most of the Italian classics like Pasta, Pizza, Anti Pasti and even desserts. Some hard core meat fans would notice the missing of some Italian Charcuterie board but the place serves no pork and alcohol, making it Muslim-friendly. The price points are of average range but the place is comfortable with cozy setting, a place worth-going if you are game for Italian food. 

[Year 2022] Food Hunting- of Must-Eats @ Langkawi (兰卡威), Kedah (吉打).

Langkawi is always the go-to place when Malaysians need a short, domestic get-away but the tourist destination has gone through a lot when the pandemic hits; many places are closed but of course, some managed to stay competitive and survived. There's also a spate of new eateries have entered the market... offering more choices to visitors. But generally, the economic activities at Langkawi are quite slow and the tourism activities are still in the midst of catching up to pre-pandemic. Nevertheless, there are still a lot to do and a lot of eat at Langkawi.

1) Scarborough Fish N Chips Restaurant

Pork-Free

Service Charge: Yes 10%

Government Tax: No

Address: Lot 1388, Jalan Tanjung Rhu, Mukim Air Hangat, 07100, Langkawi, Kedah.

Business Hours: 10 am to 10 pm. Opens Daily.

Contact Number: 04- 959 4667

Trattoria Il Lago @ SkyAvenue, Resorts World Genting, Pahang.

Accessible from both SkyAvenue and the newly opened Genting SkyWorlds Theme Park, Trattoria Il Lago is one of the latest restaurants that have recently joined the clamoring SkyAvenue. Like its name suggested, the restaurant offers an Italian-focused menu where diners get to find Antipasti, Pizza, Pasta and various Italian delights. The price points seem affordable amongst the restaurants in SkyAvenue but the quality can be further improved. 

ML Tea Garden @ Gurney Walk, Gurney Drive, Penang.

A new venture by the Fat Mona Lisa group- ML Tea Garden focuses on serving light bites like Dim Sum or pastries in the brand new commercial building- Gurney Walk. ML Tea Garden does not occupy a shop but instead, it takes up a small space on the second floor of Gurney Walk... accommodating limited tables. Menu-wise, it has a small pork-free Dim Sum menu with some Pau, Noodle options; pastries and cakes are also available at the display counter. Not a place for absolute taste but a comfortable spot for brief catch up over quality Tea and inexpensive small bites. 

Tonari 隣 @ Acheh Street, Georgetown, Penang.

Previously known as Place We Meet, the Japanese Izakaya-styled eatery has since rebranded as  Tonari 隣 and relocated to Acheh Street in the heart of Georgetown. The menu has slightly expanded while retaining some of their previous signature dishes (with some revision in prices and now with service tax). The dining space however, is more spacious and comfortable than before; it is air-conditioned and could accommodate more diners. Expect long waiting time though, it is made clear that the barbecue skewers usually take around 20 minutes to serve (though it took them one hour to serve ours). Still a decent place for quality Japanese Skewers... especially over coal fire.