One of the finest Japanese restaurants in Penang- Miraku has finally reopened its doors at G Hotel Penang (in May 2023) after a major renovation at the restaurant. Known to churn out premium quality Japanese dishes, Miraku has been one of the best places to enjoy a good Japanese meal. With its reopening, the restaurant also rolled out its new menu, as well as a big Teppanyaki counter. The Japanese restaurant has a lot to offer but the daily Set Lunch offers the best value in return.
A new spot for Thai food lovers to check it out- Kin Zab at Noordin Street offers a Thai Street Food menu, featuring many Thai delicacies from southern Thai. The proprietor is from Hatyai and naturally, able to offer the best from Songkhla district. The menu features a selection of Thai noodles- Boat Noodles, Tom Yum, MAMA noodles etc with an array of Rice and side dishes. Some uncommon dishes like Yen To Foo are also available. Price points are reasonable but expect the portion to be smaller than expected. The place is air-conditioned and offers a comfortable space for a quick meal.
Step in Lao Cheng Du 老成都, a fairly new restaurant at Burmah Road and you will be instantly transported to the 1950'... with old-school building and various knick-knacks from the past. We were amazed by the effort put in for the interior decor. On the food offering, the restaurant serves Dim Sum dishes with a small spread of Chinese dishes in the mornings; the usual Chinese small plates will commence at Noon. There are aplenty choices here- from appetizers to mains like Dumplings, Bao or even Noodle dishes. Price points are fair and reasonable, worth checking out if you are up for something new.
Right next to the Pulau Tikus Wet Market, Jeng Kitchen 津·味 is a new spot where you will find some classic Chinese stir fry dishes. The menu is simple and the food offering is suitable for all age-range, making it popular to both family diners or those seeking for a quick, casual meal. Both rice and noodle options are available- whether you wish to have a plate of stir fried noodles or to have rice served with various dishes. The place is quite comfortable as it is air-conditioned but it is less accommodating for larger groups due to the restaurant size. Decent food but do watch out for some prices, their Iced Chinese Tea is priced at Rm 1.80 (before the 6% service charge).
A short walk from the popular mural art at Armenian Street is Tong Restaurant; a new casual modern restaurant that serves classic delights with a creative modern twist. Step in the restaurant and you will be welcomed by a classy setting of long bar, followed by an elegant setting of dining area; making it a place most appropriate for food, drink and conversations. The restaurant uses top quality of ingredients and with zero-waste concept in mind, all their dishes are carefully crafted and made to impress. The contemporary European-styled menu features small plates and dishes suitable for sharing, as well as a big beverage list featuring some of their signature Cocktails. The dining area is a little limited and if you are visiting in a big group, do make early reservations.
One of the latest leading business hotels in Penang- Amari SPICE Penang celebrates its first year anniversary on 9 September 2023. We were one of the fortunate ones to be invited to witness the birthday celebration, together with other influencers and business partners. The below buffet spread was part of the latest Buffet Dinner promotion- BBQ Bounty Buffet Dinner that runs for the month of September 2023.
Many Thanks to Amari SPICE Penang for hosting us.
Associated with the founder of the Penang White Curry Mee instant noodles, the Penang White Curry Corner at Sungai Dua has been around since 2016 but they have been pretty low-key in terms of marketing and not many people are aware about this place. The Penang White Curry Corner is located at the corner unit of Lintang Merak, a stone's throw distance away from the Sungai Dua Night Market. The menu is Curry Mee-focused, with some other rice and noodle options. Prices are reasonable and affordable, if you do enjoy a bowl of good Penang Curry Mee, do give this place a try.
One of the latest spots to have an icy cold treat to beat the tropical heat would be Oh My Bingsu, the corner unit at the junction of Victoria Street and Malay Street. As suggested by the name, the dessert parlor specializes in serving Bingsu- Korean milk-based Shaved Ice. In addition to the signature Bingsu series, there is also Croffle series. Oh My Bingsu offers cozy seating with comfortable interior decor, the food is good too. Do check it out if you do enjoy a bowl of delicious Bingsu.
Hwa Ting 华亭 at Lebuh Melayu has been around for a while, many sang their praises on the signature Wan Ton Noodles. It is easy to miss this place but do look for the huge Chinese signage a few doors away from La Vie En Rose Patisserie and Bao Teck Tea House. The menu is not big but it offers those local comfort food that everyone can relate to, for instances- Pork Noodles, Curry Noodles, Wan Ton Noodles, Nasi Lemak etc. Price points are reasonable and the air-conditioned place warrants a comfortable space for a quick fix. But you will need some luck to find a parking spot though.
Kuala Lumpur, the largest capital city in Malaysia, offers a variety of tourist attractions, including modern and natural destinations, shopping tours, and culinary tours. This city is heaven for food lovers, with a wide range of food offerings.
If you want to explore other cities in Malaysia, Penang is another popular tourist destination. You can travel from Penang to Kuala Lumpur using various transportation options such as trains, buses, or planes. Check out flights from Penang to Kuala Lumpur on Traveloka.
Hainanese Chicken Rice is the first Malaysian specialty that is worth trying. This culinary specialty lies in the strong taste of chicken, which is attributed to the use of chicken meat or broth. Chee Meng's Hainanese Chicken Rice restaurant is a famous establishment often recommended by tourists.
You will be amazed the first time you taste this dish. The perfect mix of savory and sweet flavors is achieved through a salty sauce. Another plus is the variety of chicken served as a side dish. In addition to boiled chicken, you can also choose grilled chicken to accompany Hainanese Chicken Rice.
Apart from Hainanese Chicken Rice, this restaurant also provides other delicious menus, ranging from chicken dishes to vegetables.
A very much celebrated event- The Guinness Flavour By Fire is back this year and the Penang chapter happened on 2 and 3 September 2023 at Fort Cornwallis Penang. The event saw the attendance of many Guinness lovers and visitors from all over the world. The event gathered many barbecue specialists to offer Guinness-infused flame-cooked creations, they were: Smoke Papa BBQ, White Smoke, Roku the Taco Bar, DreamBurger, Three Tiers Ice Cream, KAO BBQ, Firewood Penang, Foxhole 24 and Kitchen Mafia from Kuala Lumpur. The 2-day event was made available to invited guests, public and even walk-ins. No entrance fee but pay as you order (for the food and drinks). More information about the event, please visit Guinness website.
Many Thanks to Heineken Malaysia for hosting us.
A new addition to the China Chinese food scene in Penang- Wan Jia Dumpling House 万家饺子馆 at Elit Avenue (Bayan Lepas) is probably the only place in Penang that serves Wu Han Re Gan Mian, a dish that originated from Wu Han, China. But the place is in fact, specializes in serving home-made Dumplings but the menu also features some other China Chinese-delights too. The restaurant is manned by a couple from mainland China and the menu is written in Mandarin, so do bring along a Mandarin-literate partner when visiting this place.
