Yu Village 渔家庄 @ Autocity River Park, Perai, Penang.

The love for Seafood noodles- a bowl of ocean wholesome-ness continues to expand with the opening of Yu Village 渔家庄 at Autocity River Park, a new extended space by Autocity. Yu Village 渔家庄 is amongst the new spate of tenants at Autocity River Park, offering a menu full of seafood delights. Owned by the Edo Ichi Group, the quality speaks for itself. The menu comprises of Chinese-style Seafood Noodles, Meat Noodles, Curry Noodles and sides; expect to pay slightly more for the freshness/quality and dining atmosphere though. In case you are wondering- no, the Edo Ichi Membership does not work here so there is no additional discount for members.

Ban Xian Lao Wu 半闲老屋 @ Fettes Park, Tanjung Tokong, Penang.

Slightly off the beaten track- Ban Xian Lao Wu 半闲老屋 at Fettes Park is a quaint haven where the charm of antique and used knick-knacks meets the delicate art of Chinese Tea-infused delights. A stone's throw distance away from Prima Tanjung (Tanjung Tokong), Ban Xian Lao Wu is tucked in a corner right behind the Indian Temple along Jalan Fettes. The narrow alley to the entrance is found adjacent to Fatty Loh Chicken Rice (next to the Indian Temple). Step in the place and you will be instantly transported back in time where you will find yourself surrounded in antiques and used Chinese knick-knacks. Food offering-wise, the restaurant has a small menu... mainly Chinese Tea-infused delights but with great attention of details provided. 

Reuben's Restaurant and Bar @ Ativo Plaza, Bandar Sri Damansara, Kuala Lumpur.

A friendly neighborhood restaurant at the Bandar Sri Damansara area, Reuben's Restaurant and Bar is a fairly new restaurant (opened in mid 2023) but has garnered an appreciate following. The menu features an array of playful but carefully crafted dishes with a mix of South East Asian flavors (like Malaysian, Cambodian, Balinese etc). Dishes are reasonably priced at Reuben's, Cocktail lovers would be delighted to know that the restaurant churns out specialty drinks and Cocktails too (many are priced below Rm 30). The restaurant can be found at Ativo Plaza Bandar Sri Damansara, at the end of one corner... next to Hero Market. 

Many Thanks to Reuben's Restaurant and Bar for hosting us.

People Pleaser Cafe @ Lebuh Melayu, Georgetown, Penang.

Yet another new cafe at Lebuh Melayu (Georgetown) is People Pleaser Cafe- step in the place and you will instantly feel the casual, relaxed vibe with small, round Coffee tables along the sides. Walk further in and you will find the dining area with proper tables and chairs; as well as an open kitchen with kitchen staff in action. The cafe features a Western menu- offering some house-made Pasta, Pizza, Toasts and Sandwiches etc. Price points are of restaurant-standard. We found the potential in their menu but some refinements are needed to bring it up to standard.

Double Six Cafe 六六咖啡馆 @ Terengganu Road, Georgetown, Penang.

Double Six Cafe 六六咖啡馆 gets busy as early as 7 am in the morning, this place is now a popular breakfast place for those staying in the neighborhood. It is housed in a corner lot along Terengganu Road, offering Malaysian delights at unbeatable prices. Their signature dishes include Xixiami (a hybrid version of Jawa Mee and Teluk Kumbar Mee Udang), Nasi Lemak, Kaya Butter Toast as well as Pork Lard Rice. The place is not air-conditioned so expect the sultry hot weather to kick in after 9 am but still worth checking out.

Shinwa Ramen @ Pantai Molek, Tanjung Tokong, Penang.

Shinwa Ramen is one of the latest Japanese Ramen joints in Penang, it occupies one of the bungalows at Pantai Molek (sharing the place with The Palm). The menu is fairly small and it specializes in offering Japanese Ramen and Japanese sides. Limited seating but the interior decor is very much Japanese-inspired (with a small Japanese garden and classic Japanese Ramen shop seating). Shinwa Ramen used to serve only one type of Ramen- Tonkotsu Ramen but it has recently introduced its A5 Wagyu Shoyu Ramen. Unfortunately, there are plenty of rooms for improvements at this place as far as food quality is concerned. We'd think there are better options out there when it comes to Ramen.

Tanuki Japanese Canteen 狸猫食堂 @ Golden Triangle 2, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

Tanuki Japanese Canteen, a neighborhood Japanese restaurant at Golden Triangle 2 has been around for quite some time but the place has drawn a lot of attention lately on social media. The place specializes in Japanese-inspired dishes like Omu Curry Rice, Udon, Gyoza and some rice dishes. The interior is simple, offering a comfortable space for family diners or those seeking for a convenient spot for a quick fix. The place is especially busy on weekends (lunch or dinner) so do plan your visit accordingly. 

Fei Fei Crab 肥肥蟹 @ Straits Quay, Penang.

Fei Fei Crab 肥肥蟹  has a lot of branches nationwide but the one in Straits Quay Penang is fairly new. The crab specialist brings its signature dishes to Penang, offering a big variety of crab and Chinese dishes. The one at Straits Quay can be found next to Half Acre, towards the end of a side at Straits Quay. The menu is big, featuring an array of Chinese stir fries as well as Seafood dishes. Items are highly priced (somewhat exorbitant), if you are ordering the Crab, expect to pay at least Rm 100 per pax (for our case, it was Rm 120 per pax after tax). The quality is alright but we don't see the value in it, there are better places in the state for a Seafood feast.

Dainty Kitchen 老厨房 @ Raja Uda, Butterworth, Penang.

Available in both Raja Uda and Bukit Mertajam (near AEON), Dainty Kitchen 老厨房 is a popular Cantonese restaurant in mainland. It started off in Bukit Mertajam a couple years ago and expanded to Raja Uda recently; both restaurants offering the same menu. The one in Raja Uda is fairly small and only able to accommodate less than 10 tables so reservations are recommended if you plan to visit this restaurant. Dainty Kitchen's menu is not very big, offering Cantonese dishes with a modern twist. Prices are high considering the portion but the quality is there. Dainty Kitchen Raja Uda can be found right behind AEON Credit and next to Khing Cafe.

Di Vietz Vietnamese Pho @ Chai Leng Park, Butterworth, Penang.

Slightly off the beaten track- Di Vietz Vietnamese Pho is a fairly new Vietnamese restaurant at Butterworth, near to Jalan Chain Ferry. But the restaurant captures the true flavors of Vietnamese cuisine and probably one of the best in the neighborhood. It's hard to miss the restaurant... thanks to its gigantic, flashy yellow signage. The restaurant occupies 2 shop lots (next to each other) and occupies a huge, comfortable air-conditioned space for diners. The menu is Vietnamese-focused, offering plenty of notable Vietnamese dishes like different types of noodles (including Hue-style noodles), rice dishes, Banh Mi and various snacks/ sides. Reasonable charges, attentive service, authentic flavors, generous serving portion are some of the reasons why this restaurant is popular.

Hai Bee Restaurant 海味饭店 @ Pekaka, Gelugor, Penang.

Hai Bee Restaurant 海味饭店 at Pekaka has been around for quite a few years, the restaurant has garnered an appreciate following since its opening in 2019. The menu is simple but offering a lot of classic, homecooked-styled dishes at reasonable prices. What differentiates Hai Bee from its competitors- this restaurant is equipped with air-conditioning, offering a more comfortable dining experience. The place is often full on weekend evenings- a popular option for family dinner. Nothing fancy but a solid, no-frills Chinese stir-fry menu.