Award-Winning Japanese Ramen Kanada-Ya Opens at G Hotel Penang

Known as the best Ramen joint in Fukuoka, Japan; Kanada-Ya is a big Ramen brand that bagged many international awards. It is also voted as the No. 1 Ramen by Telegraph London and Top 20 Best Ramen in Singapore. With 18 outlets worldwide (including Japan, London, Hong Kong, Spain, Singapore and Taiwan), the ramen joint is officially open in Malaysia... with its first outlet at Central Gurney of G Hotel Penang. The brand specializes in Tonkotsu Ramen, to fully accentuate the flavors, the pork bone broth is first boiled for 18 hours then added with a secret sauce lending it a slight creaminess. For Truffle lovers, try their signature Truffle Ramen (limited to only 20 bowls a day) where you will get slurp some al-dente wheat noodles with Porcini Truffle paste and White Truffle Oil. 

Opening Special: Enjoy 50% Discount on the Second bowl of Ramen. No minimum spend required, only available from 30 May to 4 June 2023. 

Many thanks to Kanada-Ya for hosting us. 

JINJU Korean Dining and Bar @ Victoria Street, Georgetown, Penang.

The Korean wave continues in Penang with more Korean food joints opening up. JINJU Korean Dining and Bar is one of the latest additions, the Korean restaurant is taking Penang by storm, attracting a big young crowd to visit the place. Its social media presence is equally strong, thanks to its aesthetically pleasing food presentation. JINJU offers a big Korean menu- from barbecue to seafood pot, noodles or even stew but do expect to pay a little more here. For those who prefer alcohols to go with their Korean dishes, JINJU has a fair selection as well. 

The Thai Cafe and Restaurant @ Sri Bahari Road, Georgetown, Penang.

The Thai Cafe and Restaurant at Sri Bahari Road is a new place where you get to enjoy good Thai food in a comfortable cafe setting. Unlike any regular Thai restaurant, this new kid on the block offers a slightly different menu as compared to its competitors. The menu features mostly rice sets with a small variety of appetizers or sides; making it hard for bigger group of diners to share the food (good for smaller groups). The Thai has the standard cafe setting, fully air-conditioned and certainly comfortable. A nice place in town to have a quick, budget Thai fix.

Havana Kitchen @ Gurney Walk, Penang.

Adding more flavors to the latest lifestyle mall in Penang- Gurney Walk as the mall welcomes a new F&B tenant: Havana Kitchen which specializes in dishing out South Indian delights. Expect to see heavy-spices on the menu with regional delights from Kerala, Tamilnadu, Chettinad, Andhra and Karnataka etc. When it comes to South Indian cuisine, one should expect heavy spicy kick and bold chili heat; Havana Kitchen seeks to bring authentic South Indian flavors to Penang. There are many uncommon South Indian delights (to Penang) on the menu which fans of Indian food would not want to miss. It is noteworthy that Havana Kitchen has a no preservative, no food coloring policy. Find Havana Kitchen on the 1st floor of Gurney Walk, right above The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.

This post is brought to you by Gurney Walk

WuFoo Hokkien Prawn Noodles 五福福建虾麵·鹵麵 @ Gat Lebuh Presgrave, Georgetown, Penang.

For those who enjoy a bowl of filling yet contenting Hokkien Mee for supper should not be new to the name- WuFoo Hokkien Prawn Noodles 五福福建虾麵·鹵麵. Located at Gat Lebuh Presgrave, the place is often packed to the brim on Friday and Saturday evenings. It isn't entirely new, in fact, it has been around for more than 30 years. During the earlier days, the proprietor ran the business using a hawker cart but has since moved into a proper shop, offering diners a more comfortable space to dine-in. Using the same-exact recipe as 30 years ago, the broth is slowly cooked over coal fire, allowing it to simmer and fully accentuate the flavors from meat and Prawn. Another pull factor for this place is the flexibility to add on extra ingredients like Roasted Pork, Fish Balls, Prawns and Innards etc. 

Thailander @ Vantage Desiran Tanjung, Tanjung Tokong, Penang.

Thai food lovers should not be new to the name- Thailander, as the brand has a strong presence in Gurney Plaza food court. The proprietor is also related to the Thai food stall in Lotus E-Gate. With the strong support from the regulars, Thailander has finally opened a proper Thai restaurant in Vantage Desiran Tanjung Penang.  The menu is quite limited but more than good enough to satisfy anyone with Thai food cravings. The classics are there- from Maeng Kam, various Thai Salads, Tom Yum to Thai stir-fries or even desserts; Thailander has everything in the menu. Also, food items here are affordably priced so a decent meal here would not cost a bomb.

Macau Street Cha Chan Ting 澳门街茶餐厅 @ Icon City, Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

More like a family restaurant at Icon City, Macau Street Cha Chan Ting 澳门街茶餐厅 does not only dish out Macau or Hong Kong-inspired dishes; the Chinese restaurant also churns out local Malaysian delights. It has a big menu to offer making it suitable for all age range- from appetizers, to noodle/ rice dishes, stir fries or even desserts. The price points are affordable and importantly, the dishes commensurate with the prices. It is also worth mentioning that there are ample seatings available, and the restaurant is able to accommodate big groups of diners (the restaurant occupies 2 floors).

Many Thanks to Macau Street Cha Chan Ting for hosting us.

Dim Sum Cha Yun 点心茶园 @ Jalan Kebun Bunga, Georgetown, Penang.

Sharing the same space as ESH Landscaping and Big Ben near Botanical Garden, Dim Sum Cha Yun 点心茶园 is the latest addition to the place. Dim Sum Cha Yun started their business operations in late Dec 2022 but has since garnered an appreciate following... mainly family diners and park-goers. There are also ample parking lots available, which could be another reason why this place is popular. In terms of menu, the place does not offer plenty of Dim Sum choices as compared to some established Dim Sum joints in town, but they do have some Chinese stir-fry dishes which make up the numbers. Items are reasonably priced; this place is worth a look. 

Cawan Kuey @ Sungai Ara, Penang.

Sharing the same space as Juma Homestay at Sungai Ara, Cawan Kuey only opens in the late afternoons. The Muslim-friendly cafe brilliantly uses the space right in front of a residential house, before the sun sets, the place is a little warm and stuffy so do come prepared. It has a simple menu with a couple of mains and some snacks/cakes. But mind you, the casual, relaxed seating arrangement is not quite suitable for main (we struggled a bit with the Bihun Sup) but more for enjoying light snacks or even cakes over coffee. Interesting vibe with wallet-friendly sweet treats, worth a look if you are looking for Halal options. 

Sifu Nyonya Cuisine 惜福 @ Rope Walk, Georgetown, Penang.

Good, authentic Nyonya food is getting hard to find as the preparation and cooking process is tedious and requires a lot of time. Fortunately, there are still a handful of good Nyonya restaurants in Penang and Sifu Nyonya Cuisine 惜福 is one of them. Tucked away from Prangin road, Sifu Nyonya Cuisine is housed in one of the shop houses along Rope Walk. The Chef is a very experienced 70-year-old lady, who specializes in cooking Nyonya dishes, using recipes passed down through generations. The menu features more than 40 dishes; all dishes are home-made using fresh ingredients, including the condiments. The restaurant has garnered an appreciate following since its opening in 2019; tables are limited at Sifu so if you plan to visit in a big group, do call for reservation.

Many thanks to Sifu Nyonya Cuisine for hosting us.

2 Acres Cafe @ Balik Pulau, Penang.

A cafe built in the middle of a Durian Orchard at Balik Pulau, 2 Acres Cafe gained its fame in a short period of time due to its unique location that offers exclusive ambiance second to none. The location is a little off the beaten track and would require another 15-20 minute of drive from Balik Pulau town. It's hard to miss the place, the entire park is properly built to cater for visitors... with ample parking, clean washroom, air-conditioned cafe with plenty of photo-shooting spots. There's also a durian stall right outside the cafe entrance if you must know. There is no entrance fee to this place but the prices for the food and drink items are understandably higher. The place is often packed during afternoons so plan your trip accordingly.