Sushi Wafu 寿司和风 @ Moulmein Rise Shoppes, Pulau Tikus, Penang.

"You Get What You Pay For" applies to Sushi Wafu (寿司和风)... a newly opened franchised Japanese Sushi restaurant in town, occupying a nice lot at Moulmein Rise Shoppes, Pulau Tikus. The brand is known for offering Sushi at unbelievably low rates; the place has since attracted a great crowd since its opening in mid December 2018. While the restaurant has a Sushi conveyor belt, it has a big menu featuring other Japanese dishes as well. Prices are typically lower than most Japanese restaurants in town but the quality commensurate with the prices you are paying for. Our experience tells us that their Sushi are typically smaller in size with rather poor quality, this applies to their other dishes as well. The below pictures speak for themselves.

Les Grains Bakery & Eatery @ Moulmein Rise Shoppes, Pulau Tikus, Penang.

"Les Grains" sure sounds like French but don't be fooled by the name, this newly opened oriental-fusion bakery specializes in baking Japanese-influenced bread and pastries. Bread lovers should not be new to the name- "Four Season" Bakery (previously at Straits Quay)... Les Grains is the rebranded version. All classic items from Four Season Bakery can now be found at Les Grains, everything seems unchanged except... the price tags, expect at least 20-40% hike in prices and for that very simple reason, this could be the most expensive bakery in Penang. Visitors may purchase the on-the-rack products or dine-in, there's a small Lunch menu available daily... featuring dishes like Salad, Sandwiches and Soup. Though dining here could put a dent on the wallet, Les Grains does not skimp on ingredients, the quality is still as superior as before.

Rising Ramen (雷神拉面) @ Moulmein Rise Shoppes, Pulau Tikus, Penang.

Rising Ramen is a new Ramen joint in town, the lucky folks at Pulau Tikus can now enjoy a bowl of Ramen with rich meat broth and al-dente noodles at the new Moulmein Rise Shoppes, right behind Pulau Tikus market. Aims to be a Halal Ramen joint, the restaurant is now offering a Pork-Free menu featuring a few signature Ramen dishes as well as Donburi and side dishes. It is a joint venture between a local and a Japanese Ramen master; the interior decor is simple with a familiar Japanese-restaurant setting. But certain local traits can be seen as well... like the pickled Cili Padi resting on the table and the option of adding Fish Balls to the Ramen. Authenticity aside, the Ramen joint did manage to convince us with its slurp-licious noodles and flavorful broth.... most importantly, friendly price tags.

BMS Organics @ Moulmein Rise Shoppes, Pulau Tikus, Penang.

Health-conscious and vegetarians need not necessarily depend on salad alone when visiting Georgetown. Pulau Tikus is truly one of the meatless districts in Penang, there are already quite a number of plant-based restaurants and cafes around the neighborhood and now, it welcomes one of the largest vegetarian-chain restaurants in Malaysia- BMS Organics. Housed in the latest commercial building- Moulmein Rise Shoppes, BMS Organics occupies two prominent lots on the ground floor; offering similar menu as to most BMS Organics in the nation. The completely animal-free menu is rather small but has a good blend of both Western and Oriental vegetarian/ vegan delights. Right next to the cafe is mini market that offers a wide range of healthy products but to our surprise, all are cleverly priced and positioned. It's definitely one of the must-visit places for vegetarians and vegans to stock up their daily supplies.