[Travel/ Food Guide] Itinerary to Betong, Thailand (勿洞，泰国) 2023

Being one of the nearest towns in Thailand to the Malaysian border, Betong remains as a popular destination for many Malaysians for a short retreat. Many new places have sprung up since the lockdown and the town has regained its previous glory. Our short trip here was to uncover some new places and of course, to visit new attraction like the Betong Ayerweng Skywalk. Read more on our previous trip in 2019 here.

If this is your first trip crossing the Malaysia-Thai border by car, same procedure as before. You just need to get the immigration cards done with valid passport as well as relevant vehicle permits. 

Mao Master 川魂帽牌货冒菜 @ The One Mahsuri, Bayan Baru, Penang.

Mao Master 川魂帽牌货冒菜 at The One Mahsuri is probably the only place that specializes in Mao Cai (冒菜), a popular delicacy originated from Cheng Du. The cooking method is simple- cook all ingredients in a hotpot-like broth and serve various spices and Ma-La ingredients. You get to taste this at Mao Master, there are set meals and ala-carte options as well. On top of that, expect to find an array of China Chinese delights (mostly Sze Chuan-related) like Dumplings, Skewers etc. The restaurant adopts self-service so you are expected to pick up your own eating utensils as well as picking your own orders etc. 

Luodong 羅東 @ Sungai Petani, Kedah.

Started as a simple eatery that offers desserts, Luodong 羅東 has received great attention over the years due to its wallet-friendly price tags and aesthetically-pleasing sweet treats like Cakes and Swiss Rolls. The place has managed to transform itself into a café offering full-fledged menu from Taiwanese-influenced appetizers, mains and desserts. It is so popular right now and the place is often full to the brim, getting a table is not easy especially on weekends. Food offering-wise, the menu has some interesting eats... with an array of Taiwanese dishes and a big variety of sweet treats, best of all, all items are affordably priced. 

Kare Sama @ Queens Residences Q2, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

It gets as simple as the name says- Kare Sama specializes in Kare Raisu (Japanese Curry Rice); this new Japanese restaurant can be found at Queens Residences Q2. While Kare Sama's main specialty is Japanese Curry Rice, the menu also features other Japanese delights like Yakitori, Donburi etc. The place has a standard Japanese restaurant interior decor, tables are well-spaced to assure comfort. The food items are reasonably priced. To find Kare Sama, take the escalator at Queens Residences Q2 car park, the Japanese restaurant is within sight from the car park exit.

Xiao Lin Kitchen 小林私房料理 @ Sungai Petani, Kedah.

A short drive from Sungai Petani's Industrial Zone is Xiao Lin Kitchen 小林私房料理, a popular restaurant in the neighborhood for serving budget-friendly, delicious Yong Tofu. The place gets very busy during lunch and dinner hours. The Chinese menu is suitable for all age range, offering some Chinese stir fry dishes and their signature dish- Yong Tofu. There is a selection counter where diners can handpick their favorite Yong Tofu and to be served Fried or with Soup. 

Soon Beijing Restaurant 顺北京餐厅 @ I-Santorini, Tanjung Tokong, Penang.

More choices for those who prefer China Chinese delights,  Soon Beijing Restaurant 顺北京餐厅 is the latest addition to i-Santorini at Tanjung Tokong (a few shops away from Baskin Robbins). The brand was previously known as Soon Ma La Hot Pot but has since rebranded to Soon Beijing Restaurant. The menu features quite a big variety of China Chinese delights- rice dishes, noodles, dumplings and stir-fries. The price points are of affordable range but the serving portion can be quite small for some. We have had some of the signature noodle dishes and we can't say we like them all...

Meng Thai Village Restaurant @ Raja Uda, Butterworth, Penang.

Those hankering for a taste of Thai can satiate their cravings at Meng Thai Village Restaurant, a Thai restaurant located off the bustling Jalan Raja Uda. The Thai restaurant has just started its business operations end of last year and has been the go-to Thai restaurant for those living in the neighborhood. The place gets busy even in the afternoons; but for the heat intolerant, be warned- as the place is not air-conditioned. So be prepared for a sweat-inducing meal. The Pork-Free menu is fairly big, with most signature Thai delights included. The price points are of middle-range. Despite the good reviews given by some online reviewers, we found there were some hits and misses for our orders. Probably we did not order the right dishes...

Para Thai @ Gurney Plaza, Penang.

Thai food lovers would be very excited to learn that Para Thai, a Thai chain restaurant has finally opened up a branch up north in Penang. The latest branch can be found at the lower ground floor of Gurney Plaza Penang. The strategic location provides easy access to delicious Halal Thai food. The menu is somewhat extensive- from saliva-inducing starters to tummy-satisfying mains or even Thai sweet treats. The quality seems to be pretty consistent (its a chain restaurant anyway) but the price points are above average (example: the bill for the two of us came to be slightly more than RM160). Nevertheless, we do see that Para Thai is an option with easy access and for quality Halal Thai food.

Paradiso Backyard Cafe @ Codrington Avenue, Pulau Tikus, Penang.

A new spot in town for you and your canine friends to hang out- Paradiso Backyard Cafe is a newly opened, pet-friendly cafe in the Pulau Tikus neighborhood. It is housed in a spacious bungalow at Codrington Avenue, the backyard is turned into a cozy, welcoming space. Though there is an alfresco dining space, the remaining of the cafe area is air-conditioned. Food offering wise, the kitchen churns out a Western menu with many Western dishes familiar to Penangites- ie: All Day Breakfast, Pasta, grills etc. Expect to pay slightly more than usual here though.

Wooden Wagon @ Beach Street, Georgetown, Penang.

Hidden away from the bustling banking district of Beach Street (Georgetown), Wooden Wagon is one of the tenants at a new business area (converted from an old warehouse) hidden in an alley (right next to Alliance Bank Georgetown). If you are not familiar with the area, it does take a while to locate the place. Maintaining its old industrial-warehouse charm, Wooden Wagon serves a casual Western menu with some worth-a-look choices. The prices are on the higher side but the daily Set Lunch (priced at RM28) proves to be a success. The 3-course Set Lunch with complimentary drink offers a good value in return (though we can't say the set lunch offers great quality), a popular choice for the working crowd working in the vicinity.

Da Le Restaurant 大乐餐厅 @ Tanjung Bungah, Penang.

For a casual, quick and inexpensive China Chinese meal, make your way to Da Le Restaurant 大乐餐厅, conveniently located on the main street of Jalan Tanjung Bungah (opposite to Dalat International School). The new Chinese eatery offers a relatively big Chinese menu, featuring some Chinese delights from different regions- Sze Chuan, Zhe Jiang etc. There are also a handful of Chinese dishes familiar to most Malaysians (like Hainanese Chicken). The place is air-conditioned, and a meal here would not put a hole on the wallet. Worth checking out if you are in the vicinity.