KEN HUNTS FOOD: Ban Bu Dian (半步颠) @ Gurney Paragon Mall, Penang.

Sunday, October 26, 2025

Ban Bu Dian (半步颠) @ Gurney Paragon Mall, Penang.

Ban Bu Dian has made its way to Gurney Paragon, bringing a taste of Sichuan cuisine to Penang. While prices here lean toward the higher side, the quality makes up for it. The dishes are well-executed with bold, multi-dimensional flavors that go beyond just being spicy— there’s depth and balance in the seasoning that makes the food stand out. For those who enjoy Sichuan cuisine with character and refinement, Ban Bu Dian is definitely a spot to check out.

Sichuan Tofu 川味豆腐脑 (Rm 6)

Sichuan Boiled Fish and Tofu 油泼水煮豆花鱼 (Rm 36/ small)

Dazzling Red Fried Chicken 当红辣子鸡 (Rm 40/ small)

Egg Fried Rice 葱香蛋炒饭 (Rm 8/ single serving)

Lemon Grape Juice 爆柠紫葡萄 (Rm 9.90)

Complimentary Pickled Cabbage

We started with the Sichuan Tofu, a dish served cold. The Tofu Fah was silky smooth and served with condiments like minced Meat, pickled Radish and Spring Onions etc. Inevitably greasy, the concoction of sauce was multi-dimensional and packed with an alluring aroma. We thought it would be too greasy for us to even swallow but it turned out to be perfectly fine. It was indeed a pleasant surprise. The Sichuan Boiled Fish and Tofu was alright- not as spicy as it seemed. But they could be more generous with the Fish slices, not only they were paper thin; there were only a few slices of them. For the price, we thought the value was not there. The Dazzling Red Fried Chicken was okay, did not wow us but it did not disappoint either. The Egg Fried Rice was a good tummy-filler, packed with wok-hei and delicately seasoned.