Mr. Flacko @ Prangin Lane, Georgetown, Penang.

If you are into Tex-Mex cuisine, there is a place for you in Georgetown. Found at the junction to Fish Lane and Prangin Lane, Mr. Flacko is a new addition to the Penang food scene. It does not have fancy, elegant decor but a simple dining space housed in an old Penang heritage house. The menu carries a fairly large selection of Mexican delights, including the usual Burritos, Tacos, Tortillas, Quesadillas... with an array of their home-made desserts (which has got nothing to do with Tex-Mex offering). Prices are very affordable but taste-wise, there are plenty of rooms for improvements. 

Holy Guacamole Mexican Restaurant & Bar @ Love Lane, Georgetown, Penang.

Half Bar and half restaurant, Holy Guacamole is one of the few rare Mexican joints in Penang. Housed in one of the houses along Love Lane, it's hard to miss Holy Guacamole... the place has colorful wall-paintings and eye-catchy signage. It's a little quiet during the day time but in the evenings, the place turns into a busy, hipstery bar with live-band performance. The Mexican fare here is created with a modern twist, though some classics can be found here, there are some non-Mexican items as well. The food menu is extensive but the drinks are pretty much alcohol-focused; though mid-range pricing and great service from the servers, the food is less-authentic and has rooms for improvements.

The BAR°N @ Gurney Plaza, Penang.

Succulent ribs with chilled Beers for the holidays are, for many, de rigueur. A generous serving of ribs with other delectable spread signify extravagance and luxury; more so especially for those who are in celebratory mood. But you can strike everything in one go (both meat and alcohol) without putting a dent on the wallet at The BARN, a brand made known to Penangites and flourished since 2016. The place is famous as a drinking place, particularly the relaxing al-fresco atmosphere outside of the mall but the meat-focused menu is not to be forsaken as well. The European-influenced menu consists of all classic cuts of meats (and greens to balance off the diet of course), from Pork to Chicken, to Beef or even Lamb; whether you are an omnivore or carnivore, they have got you covered. 

[Revisit] Black Kettle @ Beach Street, Georgetown, Penang.

Ever since Black Kettle joined the Penang cafe scene, there's no shortage of customers. The place has been operating in almost full swing on weekends and we are not surprised. The cafe has been setting the bar high by introducing a variety of high-quality food with impeccable warm cafe ambiance. Located at the start of Beach Street, Black Kettle welcomes visitors with its huge bakery at the front. Keep walking and you will find "jungle-image" adorning the wall with plants perching above; natural lights pour in via the window, suggesting a welcoming hug to visitors. The menu is Western-skewed and offers a variety of Western-Fusion dishes; with their latest addition being the Brunch menu. Whether it's a simple basket of Loaves, a freshly brewed cup of Joe, gratifying lunch item or a simple cake to end the meal, Black Kettle has something for everyone.

Grumpiez Green Pepper @ Hillside, Tanjung Bungah, Penang.

Penang is such a blessed island with so many good foods, not only the traditional hawker foods but we are getting more and of course, easier access to international cuisines as well. Grumpiez Green Pepper is yet another hidden gem that deserves more recognition. The place serves unabashed authentic Mexican cuisine at unbelievably affordable prices and huge portion. The menu is simple and earnest, featuring most of the signature dishes from Mexico- Enchiladas, Burritos, Tacos, Quesadillas, Guacamole, Salsas... etc. Michele, an expat from Texas, once shared with me that she thinks the foods here are pretty authentic; I guess that reaffirms how authentic the dishes are. It may not have the perfect romantic setting for your date but if you wish to have a taste of Mexico, be sure to visit this place. Grumpiez Green Pepper is located at Hillside, adjacent to Gusto Cafe and next to The Hillside Cafe.

Around The World in 80 Dishes @ Swez Brasserie, Eastin Hotel Penang.

The culinary Chefs of Swez Brasserie, Eastin Hotel Penang take on a new challenge as the restaurant debuts a special buffet theme for the month of June 2014 (from 1st of June 2014 until 30th of June 2014). The new buffet theme- "Around the World in 80 Dishes" aims to take diners for an exciting and memorable culinary adventure where diners get to enjoy different types of cuisine in one-go. The buffet theme is especially challenging as the culinary team of Swez Brasserie has to come out with different types of dishes for every single day (though repetitive dishes may appear). Diners can expect to see a diverse range of Chinese, German, Japanese, Mexican, Thai and many other dishes from the rest of the world. 

Many Thanks to Eastin Hotel Penang for extending the invitation.

Prices for the buffets are as follow: 

Lunch: Monday - Friday

12:00pm - 2:30pm

Rm 50++ (adult) Rm 25++ (child)

Hi-Tea: Saturday and Sunday

12:00pm - 4:00pm

Rm 68++ (adult) Rm 34++ (child)

Semi Buffet Dinner: Sunday - Tuesday, Thursday

6:30pm - 10:00pm

From Rm50++ per person

June Credit Card Promotions:

American Express, Standard Chartered Bank, UOB Bank, OCBC Bank, CIMB Bank, Citibank, Maybank and MasterCard Worldwide card members, guests can enjoy 15% discount for Semi Buffet Dinner (Sunday to Tuesday, Thursday) and Weekend Buffet Dinner (Saturday) from 6:30pm to 10:00pm.

For inquiries or reservations, kindly contact Eastin Hotel Penang, Swez Brasserie at +04- 612 1128.

No Eyed Deer @ Prima Tanjung, Tanjung Tokong, Penang.

Standing strongly for more than 13 years, No Eyed Deer has been there since a decade ago and I'm quite surprised that not much people noticed about this humble and unpretentious eatery at Prima Tanjung, Tanjung Tokong. No Eyed Deer serves some simple yet delicious Western food, with some Vietnamese specialties of theirs. It might be slightly tricky to locate this place although it is situated within the Prima Tanjung Building but the restaurant is located on first floor, simply head over the stairs right beside 7-Eleven and you will find No Eyed Deer as soon as you come out on the first floor. Prices are considered reasonable in Penang's context, probably that's one of the reasons why this place is often flooded with residents staying nearby. Some of their notable dishes are Caveman Platter, Nachos, Vietnamese Pho (only available on Weekends), Laotian Laksa, Beef Rendang Briyani, Creme Brulee and their infamous Coffee Jelly which was voted as the best dessert by The Star few years back. 

AMex Mexican Cuisine @ One Precinct, Bayan Baru, Penang.

Mexican Cuisine has been pretty uncommon in Penang ever since then, Habanero was one of them which opened its door few months back. Penangites have more options now with the opening of AMex Mexican Cuisine housed within One Precinct, opposite to Lunarich. One can find a wide variety of Mexican food there at some very affordable prices. The only drawback might be, not too authentic. I could not even find a piece of Jalapeno chilies (one of the soul ingredients for Mexican food) in all the dishes served, I was told that they did include Jalapenos in their menu but due to customers' feed back, they had to reluctantly withdraw the chilies. Well, I guess the restaurateur should stick to the original menu instead of trying to localize all the dishes. I hope to see and try some of their "original" dishes during my next visit though. There are still some improvements needed on the serving speed (probably the restaurant was still new and slow due to lack of manpower) and ambiance of the restaurant. The place was dimly lit and some customers had to use the torch function of their phones to look at the menu. Nevertheless, this place offers some decent Mexican food, Burrito, Arco, Quesadilla, Taco, Fajita, Nachos, Churros, you name it, they have it; do try it out and let me know what do you think in the comment column!

Habanero Mexican Dining @ Queensbay Mall, Penang.

Habanero, a type of Chili Pepper which can be easily seen in the country of Mexico. The name gives me an impression of both Spicy and Mexican Food. I was introduced by a friend of mine about this restaurant, she told me she loves it. Hence, I guess I would definitely make an impromptu visit to check it out. As such, I have visited this restaurant few days ago, it was a bit tricky to locate the place. You can find Habanero at the end of 3rd Floor North Wing of Queensbay Mall, Penang, where the previous Kamay was situated at. Do ask the information counter for more information should you have any problems in locating it. Anyway, Habanero offers Burritos and Tacos, both in a healthy way I'd say, as well as affordable prices too. The concept was somewhat similar to Subway, where diners can pick their desired fillings and make it a meal or just have it ala-carte. Diners will be then asked to choose their Chili Sauce which varies in a few different level of spiciness.