Experience The Cita Rasa Semenangjung Buffet Dinner @ 1887 Dining, Crowne Plaza Penang Straits City.

As the holy month of Ramadan approaches, Crowne Plaza Penang Straits City invites diners to gather for delicious and hearty Iftar buffet dinner perfect for breaking fast with your loved ones. Expect a spread of authentic Malaysian favorites, and a variety of international dishes. From grilled meats to rich curries and sweet treats, every bite is a celebration of tradition and togetherness.

Cita Rasa Semenangjung Buffet Dinner @ 1887 Dining

- 3 March 2025 to 28 March 2025 from 7 pm to 10 pm

- RM158 nett per adult | RM128 nett senior citizen (above 60 years old) | RM78 nett children

- Early Bird Promo RM118 nett per pax from 9 February 2025 to 8 March 2025

Manzen Ishiya @ Sunshine Central Penang.

A new addition to Sunshine Central Penang is Manzen Ishiya, a branch by Manzen but focusing on Ishiyaki concept (stone-grilled). The restaurant is located on the 2nd floor of Sunshine Central (near to the hotel wing). The Japanese restaurant offers a big menu, apart from the Ishiyaki-focused dishes, there are plenty of familiar Japanese delights. Dishes are reasonably priced with generous serving portions. Definitely a good choice in Sunshine Central Penang.

Pizzahana @ CY Choy, Georgetown, Penang.

A marriage between Italian and Japanese cuisine, Pizzahana offers the best of both worlds on the menu: Italian Pizza and Japanese-influenced Cuisine. The menu is fairly small but at the point of penning this down, the place is still in its soft-opening phase. The Pizza menu features some of the Italian classics like Margherita and some Pasta highlights; the tricky one would be the Japanese version. Unlike traditional Japanese delights, Pizzahana takes a slightly more creative approach with a fusion touch. Pizzahana can be found at CY Choy, near the junction to Lebuh Presgrave. 

Dré Coklat @ Weld Quay, Georgetown, Penang.

A delightful haven for artisanal chocolate lovers, Dré Coklat offers a unique blend of artisanal chocolates inspired by Borneo’s heritage. Beyond its exquisite chocolates, the cozy spot also serves a menu of Sarawakian-inspired delights like Sarawak Kolo Mee Laksa, Pansuh Ayam, and the unique Kachama Carbonara. With its blend of tradition and innovation, Dré Coklat promises a one-of-a-kind dining experience. 

Many Thanks to Dré Coklat for hosting us

Tang Xiao Loong 唐小龙 @ Bayan Lepas, Penang.

A short walk from the Penang Snake Temple is where the newly opened Tang Xiao Loong 唐小龙 located at (next to OO White Coffee Snake Temple). The Chinese restaurant occupies a huge lot and has quite an impressive interior decor. The restaurant is air-conditioned with well-partitioned seats, offering good privacy to diners. In the mornings, the restaurant offers a Dim Sum menu (with some stir fries and noodle options); and Hot Pot in the evenings. The Dim Sum menu is extensive with reasonable prices; a place worth checking out.

Hao Zhou Dao 好粥到 @ Elit Avenue, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

Hao Zhou Dao 好粥到 is a newly opened Porridge-specialist in Elit Avenue, offering a Chinese Porridge-focused menu. The signage mentions 'Fried Porridge' but pretty much a misnomer, nothing seems relevant to that. The menu features Porridge options with 6 different toppings as well as some side dishes. Items are reasonably priced with a portion of Porridge goes as low as RM8.90 per pax. 

Nikuno Yoichi @ Gurney Drive, Penang.

Nikuno Yoichi is a Yakiniku restaurant originated from Nagoya in Japan, the outlet at Gurney Drive is probably the first and only branch in Malaysia. The menu revolves around premium meat (of Beef and Chicken) to be grilled over coal-fire, to note that this outlet serves no pork. Lunch menu is served on every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Public Holiday only. The rest of the day and time will be on ala-carte menu. Service is great- attentive and fast; good quality of food too... if you don't mind to pay a bit more.

The Nova Cafe @ Irrawaddi Road, Georgetown, Penang.

The Nova Cafe serves a healthy and wallet-friendly menu, the newly opened cafe at Irrawaddi Road has quite a number of options for those seeking a light and inexpensive meal. On the menu- it has Salad, Rice Bowl, Pasta, Sandwiches, Bagels and a couple of dessert options. We tried a few dishes and we thought they offer great values in return- definitely a decent choice if you are up for a simple-healthy and budget-friendly meal. 

Rose's Home @ Tree Square, Tanjung Bungah, Penang.

Thai food lovers would be glad to know that there is a new Thai restaurant at Tree Square- Rose's Home. The signage might not be that visually-appealing but Rose's Home is a Thai restaurant with a big Thai menu. You can find all familiar Thai delights here- from appetizers to proteins or even desserts. The place has limited seating and if you are planning to visit in a large group, do make early reservation. Price-wise, the dishes are priced slightly above average. 

Tamafuku @ I-Santorini, Tanjung Tokong, Penang.

Tamafuku is the latest addition to I-Santorini, offering a unique Japanese dining experience. The setup of the restaurant is very Japanese, with a Tatami-dining room in the middle of the restaurant. The menu is very much Onigiri-focused (Japanese Rice Balls) with an array of traditional Japanese sweet treats like Daifuku, Dango, Warabi Mochi etc. Prices are reasonable for individual unit but if you are trying a variety of the dishes, the bill can be hefty. 

Cado Cafe @ Beach Street, Georgetown, Penang.

Hailed from Cameron Highlands, Cado's outlet in Penang is its second branch (the first outside of Cameron Highlands). The Penang branch can be found at Beach Street and carries the signature Scones. On top of the classic British treat, the cafe also churns out a small Western menu as well as a good selection of cakes. 

[Travel/ Food Guide] Itinerary to Kansai, Japan (关西，日本) 2025

Japan has always been one of the top travel destinations for Malaysians, with more China Chinese Airlines being introduced to Malaysia- Malaysians have more options and routes to travel to. This time, we flew Juneyao Airlines (吉祥航空) from Penang directly to Shanghai (transfer) then Osaka. Juneyao Airlines does not support online check in so we had to physically check in at the counter in Penang International Airport 3 hours prior to departure. It runs on A320-Neo so the seats can be quite narrow and they do not serve main on this flight- just beverages and some light snacks. Since its visa-free in China for Malaysian Passports, we took the opportunity to explore Shanghai before boarding the next flight to Osaka. The flight from Shanghai to Osaka offers a more spacious seat. We arrived Osaka in the evening and rented a car before starting our journey to explore the Kansai Prefecture. 

[Wakayama 和歌山市]

1) Totto Park Koshima Road Side Station

Entrance Fee: 1,500 Yen per adult/ 750 Yen per child

Address: 〒 599-0314 455-1 Tanagawakoshima, Misaki-cho, Sennan-gun ,Osaka.

Business Hours: (Mar to Nov) 6 am to 8 pm; (Dec to Feb) 7 am to 6 pm. Closed on Fridays.

Contact Number: 072-447-5126

Totto Park Koshima Information