HiYang Traditional Taste 海阳古早味 @ Elit Avenue, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

海阳古早味HiYang Traditional Taste brings an old-school hotpot vibe with a focus on charcoal cooking and traditional flavours, but the experience can be frustrating in a few key areas. The restaurant isn’t fully air-conditioned, which can feel uncomfortably warm if you’re sensitive to heat, especially with charcoal hotpots going beside you (not to mention the charcoal odor on the garment). Speaking of charcoal, prep time was painfully slow — we waited nearly half an hour before our hotpot was ready — and to make matters worse, the grouper wasn’t properly descaled, which made eating it more of a nuisance than a pleasure. While the concept of classic taste is appealing, these service and execution issues definitely take away from the overall experience. 

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. 

Auntie May Nyonya Kopitiam @ Elit Avenue, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

A Kopitiam-concept restaurant with some Nyonya elements, Auntie May Nyonya Kopitiam is one of the latest additions to Elit Avenue at Bayan Lepas. The tagline for Auntie May is "When Modernism Meets Nyonya Food", that being said... don't expect to find authentic, classic Nyonya food here but dishes with Nyonya elements or Nyonya dishes with a modern twist. The menu is quite "Nyonya-focused", you can find many familiar Nyonya-dishes here like Curry Kapitan, Ayam Ponteh, Assam Fish etc... they serve them in a Rice set with side dishes and rice. There are other options like Nasi Lemak and some Noodle dishes too; expect to pay in the range of Rm 20 - Rm 30 per pax. 

Wan Jia Dumpling House 万家饺子馆 @ Elit Avenue, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

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. 

Ramen Wafu 拉面和风 @ Elit Avenue, Bayan Baru, Penang.

Another restaurant under the Wafu group (read my review on Sushi Wafu here) is Ramen Wafu; unlike its sister restaurant- Sushi Wafu and like its name, the restaurant specializes in offering Japanese Ramen. The menu is quite Ramen-focused, with additional offering like Japanese Don Rice and a small Sushi menu. Note-worthy is its 6-in-1 Wafu Set, which could potentially stretch your Ringgit further. Diners get to enjoy 6 different items by paying a little more- a Ramen dish, refillable beverage (Green Tea or Ice Lemon Tea), refillable Ice Cream, Fruits, Chawanmushi and a selection of a side dish. The restaurant is well-spaced and the interior decor is pretty much like a standard Japanese restaurant. If you do enjoy Japanese Ramen, give this place a try.

Restro Uwong Palembang @ Elit Avenue, Bayan Baru, Penang.

Step in this restaurant and you know you are in an Indonesian restaurant... the unique Indonesian Batik-styled table cloth and wallpapers tell you everything. The menu features an array of basic, traditional Indonesian cooking, including Gado Gado and Lontong but beyond the classic dishes, Restro Uwong Palembang churns out a signature Palembang delicacy.... Pempek, a type of Indonesian savory Fishcake (something like Keropok Lekor). While Indonesian dishes are rather off-the-beaten track, this place offers authentic Indonesian food manned by local Indonesians; one of the few places that you get to enjoy South Sumatra delicacies and dining in comfortable atmosphere without putting a dent on the wallet. 

Tummy Bowl @ Elit Avenue, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

It's hard to find good Poke Bowl in Penang as compared to Kuala Lumpur but the recent explosion of Poke Bowl's fandom has expanded to Penang... with more openings of Poke Bowl specialist. Hailed from Ipoh, Tummy Bowl has both counter-style or make-your-own Poke... it has an extensive list of toppings for you to choose. There's also vegetarian options for plant-based eaters. Like some of the big players in KL, it adopts self-ordering system.... diners are required to fill in the order form and hand it over to the counter, a number will be given to you while you wait for it to be called. Though my favorite is still The Fish Bowl but Tummy Bowl is nevertheless, the closest we can get here in Penang. 

Hana Bi Japanese Restaurant @ Elit Avenue, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

Easily noticeable from far, Hana Bi carries a huge signage with a 3D Fish model and some Japanese characters; the new kid on the block offers a casual dining spot with a Japanese-influenced menu. The setting is simple and non-flamboyant, but the heat-intolerant would be glad to know that the place is fully air-conditioned. The menu features a wide range of Japanese delights, ranging from Sushi Rolls, Sashimi, Udon, Ramen, Salad, Rice dishes and Bento Sets. Though the food quality may not be as superior as those established brands in town, it does make a competitive choice (as far as price is concerned).

Eastern Wishes Nanyang & Thai Cuisine @ Elit Avenue, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

Eastern Wishes is a long-standing brand in Penang (at least for a decade to say the least) and has probably served many of the factory workers in the neighborhood, the restaurant is known to serve Malaysian and Thai delights. It has recently expanded, opening a new branch at Elit Avenue. The new air-conditioned shop is more spacious while the menu retains most of its signature dishes and best-sellers. It has a long list of dishes to offer, with middle-high price points. The quick serving speed is one of the reasons why this place is suitable for a casual lunch or dinner. 

MOiM Casual Korean Food @ Elit Avenue, Bayan Baru, Penang.

An extended branch of Saranghae Penang at Gottlieb Road, MOiM serves as a casual spot for a quick Korean meal. It does not have a huge menu but good enough for those who need a quick Korean fix. Do not expect Korean BBQ or Hot Pot but rather, some simple Korean home-cooked dishes like Jap Chae, Kim Chi stew, Ramyeon and some Korean Rice dishes. The setting does not portray heavy Korean elements, except for the friendly Korean server whom barely speaks English. Service was lackluster... especially the rule that does not allow diners to refill for Ban Chan, not even once; for the small serving portion, we thought the price tags were somewhat hefty. 

Kocha Express @ Elit Avenue, Bayan Baru, Penang.

A sister restaurant of the famous Taiwanese-joint in town- Taiwan Kochabi, Kocha Express seeks to offer value-for-money Taiwanese food for the workers working in the vicinity. The menu is a mix of some of the country's greatest hits but less-extensive as compared to the main branch in town; essentials like Taiwanese Beef Noodles, Drunken Chicken, Three-Cup Chicken, Salty Deep Fried Chicken are all available. Ala-Carte orders may seem a little grueling to the wallet but their Set Meals worth every penny spent. We dropped by for lunch on a weekday, the air-conditioned restaurant was comfortable but the service could be more swift. There were not many around yet we had to wait close to 20 minutes for orders to arrive..... If you must know, Kocha Express is the new tenant of the now defunct Sticks & Spoons. 

Thai Tanic Restaurant @ Elit Avenue, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

Restaurants serving Thai food are rather ubiquitous in Penang due to geographical location; though Penangites have professed their love for Thai food but certain restaurants' menus can be uninspiring and look alike. While their menu may seem no different from a standard full-fledged Thai restaurant, Thai Tanic excels in terms of pricing. They serve real deal and family-styled Thai food with certain Chinese-influenced Chu Char dishes but all are priced competitively and reasonably. As for now... part of their opening promotion, their Set Packages are worth a look.... Thai Tanic Restaurant is next to K Food Korean Restaurant at Elit Avenue.

Tom Yum Seafood

D Colorful Chinese Restaurant (家乐福) @ Elit Avenue, Bayan Baru, Penang.

A restaurant dedicated to serve family-friendly Chinese menu, D Colorful Chinese Restaurant is another new member that joins the clamoring crowd at Elit Avenue. The restaurant has got no outstanding decor nor eye-catchy signage but like a simple, intimate Chinese restaurant in the neighborhood. They have a long list to offer, covering many Chinese stir-fry dishes. Prices are standard-average but the seating is comfortable and spacious, there is even a partitioned room for those that come in a big group. 

Jinggo Dak Galbi @ Elit Avenue, Bayan Baru, Penang.

A new place for Korean Food fanatics to congregate, the burgeoning Elit Avenue just saw another opening of a small but simple Korean Restaurant- Jinggo Dak Galbi. They focus on their namesake Korean dish... Dak Galbi, Korean stir-fried Chicken in sweet and hot sauce. The interior decor is unique, unlike the traditional-conventional setting of a Korean restaurant; Jinggo Dak Galbi had the stoves set up in an industrial setting but they could do better with the air ventilation. Service was quick and attentive, cooking the Chicken was a hassle-free experience as everything was well-taken care of. The budget-watchers would be glad to know that their set menu is competitively priced and not meant to put a dent on your wallet. However, Dak Galbi is the only option here so if you are sensitive to spicy food or not too keen on exploring the stir-fry dish; give this place a skip. 

Cool N2 Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream @ Elit Avenue, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

Brought to you by a group of Ice Cream devotees, Cool N2 is a sciency ice creamery dedicated to delicious, home-crafted Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream originated from Taiwan; the brand is well-established for more than 2 years and has branches in Taiwan and China. The newly opened branch here marks the first in Penang as well as Malaysia. You may wonder... what's so special about Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream? Cool N2 boasts about their good whack of meticulously invented flavors and premium quality. Most ingredients are imported from Taiwan with a few exceptions (likely toppings). Just like any modern Ice Cream parlors, though the simple and minimalist-decorated space does provide a few comfortable seating corners but the set up was more to takeaways instead of a suitable place to chill. Cool N2 stresses that their recipes are carefully crafted with real Ice Cream ingredients but not Sorbet/ Fruit Juice-influenced products. 

Cool N2 is in its soft launch state and will swing its doors open to the public at 11 am tomorrow (22 November 2015). Opening promotion includes a 50% discount for "Winnie The Pooh" with every purchase; the promotion is expected to run until end of the month (November 2015). As for now, there are only 6 flavors available (each serving weighs 210 grams):

1. Winnie The Pooh/ 小熊维尼 (Rm 16.90)- Honey, Corn Flakes and Nestum. 
2. Sunny Day Beach/ 夏日沙滩 (Rm 16.90)- Hershey and Lotus Biscuits.
3. Black Bomber/ 黑色轰炸机 (Rm 16.90)- Oreo-inspired.
4. Genmaicha Matcha/ 玄米抹茶 (Rm 16.90)
5. Make Up Whisky/ 浓妆威士忌 (Rm 19.90)- Johnie Walker Double Black Whisky and Chocolate Hershey.
6. Cupid/ 微醺丘比特 (Rm 19.90)- Irish Cream Baileys and Caramel Hershey.

Many Thanks to Cool N2 for inviting us for the exclusive preview.

Hou Mei Wo Steamboat (好味锅) @ Elit Avenue, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

Who does not like to fish for treasure in a steaming pot of bubbling soup with all sorts of delicious items especially on a chilly rainy evening? Hou Mei Wo Steamboat welcomed a huge crowd of courageous food explorers during the first few days when it first swung opened the doors few months back. The queue has subsided since then. The interior decor is simple with minimalist funky touches, with ample seating space and each table is set with an induction cooker. Do not be overwhelmed by the extensive list, a safe bet would be to go with their Super Value Set, which has more than sufficient to offer. We like the environment but the service was awful. All the servers were foreign workers and could not understand basic English. We had a hard time communicating with them... to the extent that we had to refill our own steamboat broth. The only Chinese was the cashier, when footing the bill, I was shown the total amount while he was busy to charge my credit card. In the meantime, I have found a mistake on the receipt (we were double-charged for an item) and we asked him to re-issue the bill. Instead of solving the problem, he turned to me and questioned why we did not check thoroughly before handing our credit card. Furthermore, he told us there was no way he could refund to us. We threw the white flag (the amount of less than Rm 10) and did not want to talk to him. One of the the worst restaurant services ever.

Lao Wong Cha Chan Teng (老黄怡保茶餐厅) @ Elit Avenue, Bayan Baru, Penang.

**Lou Wong has since ceased its business operations until further notice.**

Specializing in serving Steamed Chicken, Lao Wong sounds exactly like the famous brand Lou Wong Chicken Rice from Ipoh. It touts itself as a Chicken Rice specialist and they do offer an extensive list of Steamed Chicken-company staples such as Ipoh Hor Fun, Ipoh White Curry Mee, Oiled Chicken Rice and some other noodle-dishes. We have no idea whether the brand tries to imitate the market leader but the interior decor sure sticks to the theme of 黄 (means Yellow in Mandarin/ Wong in Cantonese). Chairs and the uniform of all servers are in Yellow; we thought certain areas could be further improved- the plates were greasy, servers were not well-trained, the floor was not quite clean and many items on the menu were not available on our visit. Prices are quite standard for a fully air-conditioned restaurant but this is not a place that I would make a special trip out there. If you are in the vicinity, this might be a decent place for poultry lovers or over a bowl of steamy Ipoh Hor Fun.

BBQ Chicken @ Elit Avenue, Bayan Baru, Penang.

The combination of crispy, sweet and spicy Korean Fried Chicken and icy cold Beer has set the world on fire thanks to a famous Korean Drama aired earlier ago. The craze has not subsided since then, more and more Korean restaurants are offering the aforesaid combination. Unfortunately, this is not the case for BBQ Chicken Malaysia. The "Halal" status prohibits the place from serving alcohol and if you are old enough, you might have heard of the name- BBQ Chicken Malaysia. Its first outlet was opened at Gurney Plaza approximately 9 years back (year 2006) and has since closed down. Restructured and re-branded, BBQ Chicken now comes back with a chic, fashion-forward look; opening a new branch at Elit Avenue, Bayan Baru. The Korean menu has an extensive range of Fried Chicken-dishes but it has a nice blend of Western-touches as well. However, we thought the Korean-element in this restaurant is rather weak.... 

KO.B.Q Korean Restaurant @ Elit Avenue, Bayan Baru, Penang.

The new food hub in Bayan Baru has seen a rapid expansion lately- with a succession of restaurants joining. Hardcore Korean fans might not be new to the name- KO. BQ, long established Korean Restaurant nestled within Precinct 10, Tanjung Bungah. The Korean Restaurant has recently expanded their business, opening a new branch at Elit Avenue. Both places seem to serve the same menu and... probably the same prices too. The place is fully air-conditioned, with the standard setting of a Korean Restaurant. Despite that the substantial menu covers dishes suitable for all ages; it is still recommended to go in a group as most of the items come in a large servings. A decent place for Korean devotees to explore the taste of Korean but not the place that you would want to visit on a regular basis. 

Wakaba Japanese Noodles @ Elit Avenue, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

Wakaba, a new establishment that touts itself as the Japanese noodle-specialists, has opened its doors to the public recently. The Japanese noodle restaurant makes its own noodles and they specialized in serving Ramen. The place has the standard Japanese restaurant setting but the servers need to be trained. The restaurant employs foreign workers; there seems to be a language barrier between customers and servers. They did not manage to understand our needs and answer to our questions promptly. Service was bad on our visit- we were served undercooked Gyoza (with raw Pork filling inside), the foreign server did not know what to do but to offer us an exchange which we gladly accepted. The second serving of Gyoza was no different from the first one; it was apparent that the person in charge heard of our conversation but he has chosen to be ignorant and did not offer to assist. Extremely poor management. Nonetheless, their Ramen did manage to impress us but apart from that (to be fair to Wakaba), nothing is exciting here.