Yang Yang Cuisine 洋洋. 味之料理 @ Sunshine Central Mall, Penang.

Yang Yang Cuisine has recently expanded its presence to Sunshine Central Mall Penang, bringing along its familiar array of Nyonya, Hainan, and Oriental delights. This latest branch continues the brand’s culinary tradition, offering a wide selection of comforting classics in a casual, family-friendly setting. Whether you're in the mood for fragrant Nasi Hainan, rich Peranakan curries, or simple stir-fries, the menu covers a good variety to cater to different palates. 

Pure Lotus Cafe 净莲素食馆 @ Jalan Utama, Georgetown, Penang.

Enjoy a delicious plant-based meal for a good cause at Pure Lotus Cafe 净莲素食馆 Jalan Utama, right across the Penang General Hospital. The name Pure Lotus will surely ring a bell, they are known to run charity care services to terminally ill cancer patients. Apart from churning some proceeds to Pure Lotus, the cafe also employs staff with health conditions or impairments (OKU according to their website). The cafe is manned by Tina's Kitchen, offering a Nyonya-inspired meat-free menu. Expect to pay slightly more at this place but for a good cause of course...

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. 

Niang Nyonya Cuisine @ Prangin Lane, Georgetown, Penang.

Owned by the same group that owns Thara Penang, Niang runs a slightly different concept- offering classic and traditional Nyonya flavors to the hungry diners in Penang. Step in the place and you will be amazed by the interior decor- with red bricks on the wall and colorful paper umbrella adorning the ceiling as well as some mismatched knick-knacks that complete the place. The menu is fairly small and limited, only a handful of Nyonya delights (some timeless dishes like Inche Kabin, Kerabu etc are not available). Niang can be found right opposite to Thara Penang on the same street. 

Pearly Kee Nyonya Set Dinner @ Java Tree, Eastern & Oriental Hotel Penang.

In collaboration with celebrity Chef and cook book author- Pearly Kee, Eastern & Oriental Hotel (E&O) Penang is introducing the essence of Peranakan cuisine to the diners at Java Tree. In this one-off collaboration, diners get to taste many classic Peranakan dishes carefully prepared by guest Chef-Pearly.  The collaboration happened on a Friday evening (28 Jul 2023) at Java Tree. The exclusive 5-course dinner was priced at RM288 per pax. If you are keen or wish to be updated on such events, do watch out E&O Hotel's Facebook Page.

Many Thanks to E&O Hotel for hosting us.

Sifu Nyonya Cuisine 惜福 @ Rope Walk, Georgetown, Penang.

Good, authentic Nyonya food is getting hard to find as the preparation and cooking process is tedious and requires a lot of time. Fortunately, there are still a handful of good Nyonya restaurants in Penang and Sifu Nyonya Cuisine 惜福 is one of them. Tucked away from Prangin road, Sifu Nyonya Cuisine is housed in one of the shop houses along Rope Walk. The Chef is a very experienced 70-year-old lady, who specializes in cooking Nyonya dishes, using recipes passed down through generations. The menu features more than 40 dishes; all dishes are home-made using fresh ingredients, including the condiments. The restaurant has garnered an appreciate following since its opening in 2019; tables are limited at Sifu so if you plan to visit in a big group, do call for reservation.

Many thanks to Sifu Nyonya Cuisine for hosting us.

Blue Bellvine Nyonya Cuisine @ Noordin Street, Georgetown, Penang.

One of the latest places to get a Nyonya meal is Blue Bellvine Nyonya Cuisine, a new Nyonya restaurant right smack in town at Noordin Street, central Georgetown. The restaurant is fairly new and boasts full-fledged Nyonya menu, from Appetizers to Main Meat dishes as well as Desserts... though the options for each category are rather limited. The restaurant has a very nice and elegant setting; you could tell from how the things are organized here- from color combinations and the choice of eating utensils. Definitely a place where you would want to spend time enjoying the dishes here (do spare some extra time as the serving time might take a little longer than usual). Prices are on the higher side though... given the small serving portion. 

Nyonya Palazzo @ Church Street, Georgetown, Penang.

Found right next to the Pinang Peranakan Mansion at Church Street, Nyonya Palazzo is the one of the latest spots to get your afternoon tea fixed. The restaurant can be found at the building next to the Peranakan Mansion... on the upper floor. Take the steep flight of stairs up and you will find yourself in an old-school... wooden flooring space, with plenty of Nyonya knick-knacks and art-displays. The colorful Nyonya Kuih on display will attract you next. The seating arrangement is a little odd here... with tables and chairs a little too close to each other, if they can sort this out, it would be more comfortable to enjoy the afternoon here. On the menu, it has an array of Nyonya delights- from Kuih to light snacks and desserts. Unique ambiance second to none but the hefty price tags on the menu might set you back a bit (imagine a piece of Kuih priced at Rm 9.90), this place is more for a novelty experience than absolute taste. 

Rempah 百分料理 @ Beach Street, Georgetown, Penang.

The name "Rempah" (refers to spices in English) gives an impression that the dishes will be heavily spiced. True enough, it is well-reflected and presented in every single dish. While the name gives you a rough idea on the dishes, it does not paint a clear picture on what type of food they are serving. Both the exterior and interior does not indicate much either. Rempah 百分料理 is in fact a restaurant serving a modern Nyonya menu- bold Nyonya characteristics can still be seen in their dishes but probably presented in a more creative manner. The purists might not be able to agree on what they are doing but the quality and consistent is definitely there. The price points are slightly above average here but in return, expect to enjoy a delicious meal full of surprises in a sophisticated, elegantly designed space. 

Kueh By Bibik's Kitchen @ Lebuh Clarke, Georgetown, Penang.

A new venture by the Bibik Nyonya Kitchen team- Kueh, can be found at one of the shop lots along Lebuh Clarke. The new venture has a slightly different offering... focussing on Kuihs, Snacks and some Peranakan delights uncommonly found in restaurants. During the soft-opening period, the menu is fairly small and more items will be introduced across time (only a couple of mains available for now). The place has a limited seating on ground floor but more spaces available on upper floor; step in the place and you will find a display rack presenting the Kuihs available for the day. There is no printed menu for mains and for now, they only offer Nyonya Kerabu Bee Hoon and Lam Mee... with Nasi Kerabu available only on weekends. A worth-checking out spot if you love some good Nyonya Kuih and Kerabu Bee Hoon.

REVE Kitchen & Dessert Bar @ King Street, Georgetown, Penang.

** REVE has since ceased its business operations **

Decked out in a garden-like setting, the newly opened REVE Kitchen and Dessert Bar is a profusion of greenery and calm. The cafe uses white color as the theme... with all tables and chairs are in white hues while the colorful plants make up the space, turning it into a lovely, picturesque space. The menu on the other hand, is a little weak. It has quite limited choices of mains with only a handful of desserts. Different menu will be rolled out for both lunch and dinner sessions. The serving portion is fairly small while the price points are on the higher side. Worth trying but more for novelty experience.

Baba Phang 峇峇之家 @ Sri Bahari Road, Georgetown, Penang.

Diners are spoilt for choices especially when it comes to Nyonya Food at Sri Bahari Road, just that stretch of road itself, there are 3 Nyonya Restaurants. Few doors away from Ceki, Baba Phang 峇峇之家 is equally popular and the crowd can be seen in the evenings. It is however, relatively quieter during the day time. Like any Nyonya restaurants, the menu features many familiar Nyonya delights, including soups and desserts. Prices are of restaurant-standard. While there were some hits and misses, the serving portion was generally more generous than its competitors. Worth checking out if you yearn for Nyonya food.

Ceki Nyonya Restaurant @ Sri Bahari Road, Georgetown, Penang.

While the name- "Ceki" may not give you a hint on the type of food this place serves, the interior decor would certainly ring a bell. There's no denying that you have stepped in a Nyonya restaurant with so many Peranakan-influenced antiques, knick-knacks and decorative. Manned by a couple, the menu features an array of Nyonya delights cooked using home recipes passed down from previous generations. Though not exactly a big menu, the choices are more than good enough for a decent meal. Reasonably priced and consistently good quality, this place is worth a visit if you are up for a Nyonya meal.

Kuih Culture @ Kimberley Street, Georgetown, Penang.

There's so much love for Nyonya Kuih and we can see them everywhere, on almost every occasion- parties, celebrations or ceremonies; not only for the taste but the eye-pleasing colors as well. Kuih Culture, one of the newly opened Kuih shops in the heart of Georgetown; offers an extensive range of Nyonya Kuih with an array of local delights.... and a little Hainanese blend. Expect to find Assam Laksa, Nasi Lemak, Kerabu Bee Hoon to Hainanese Chicken Chop or even icy sweet treats like Ice Kacang and Cendol. It's hard not to notice the display of colorful Kuih near the entrance, while they do stock and display some of them, the selection on display is rather limited (probably 5-6 types of Kuih only). The Kuih is priced higher than most Kuih stalls in the markets but the dining space is definitely more comfortable. Suitable for light meals or afternoon tea. 

Bibik's Kitchen Nyonya Cuisine @ Sri Bahari Road, Georgetown, Penang.

There is a sudden influx of Nyonya restaurants in Penang and Bibik's Kitchen is one of them. Quietly opened in late 2017, Bibik's Kitchen positions itself as one of the intimate family restaurants in the neighborhood. It started out when the proprietor's family and friends started to order home-cooked Nyonya food from her and it sparked her interest in running a restaurant. The menu is simple but covers most of the essential Nyonya delights. We did not think the place is very authentically Nyonya but we did enjoy the home-cook factor. It is also suggested that before placing your order, always check with them on the prices, we were overcharged on our visit (on certain dishes), not too sure if they are the actual prices but it certainly did not quite reflect the same consistency on their menu (we did not manage to check with them as we only realized that after returning home). 

Jason Nyonya House @ Sungai Pinang, Jelutong, Penang.

Right across the junction to Sungai Pinang and Jelutong, Jason Nyonya House is one of the latest Nyonya restaurants in town. The amiable restaurant has classic wooden house features with staircase at the entrance. It feels very homey, just like any casual dining spot in the neighborhood. The setting does not suggest that it is a Nyonya restaurant... as far as decor is concerned. The name sums it all, the place offers a simple, home-cooked style Nyonya menu. The classics such as Loh Bak, Joo Hoo Char, Inche Kabin, Assam Pedas are there with some additional 'specials of the day' (but we were a little underwhelmed the dish- Assam Prawns was not on the menu). After sampling some of the dishes, we reckon that they lacked the authentic Nyonya touch. Authenticity aside, the dishes were not shabby (if you are seeing the place as a standard Zhu Char place in lieu of Nyonya restaurant).

Li Er Cafe (莉儿) @ Burmah Road, Pulau Tikus, Penang.

Many would pass by Li Er Cafe without noticing its presence, it has got to be one of the low-key cafes in town. The name has been established for quite a few years and has since garnered an appreciate following. Most regular patrons are back for their Nyonya Kuih, particularly their catering service that offers outstanding presentation. They are able to customize your orders based on the number of diners and it goes as low as a few pax. While they are known for the Nyonya Kuih, their daily offering is not to be forsaken as well; the daily specials include traditional-dishes with a modern touch. Notable highlights include Nasi Kerabu, Tom Yum Bee Hoon, Nasi Lemak Special, Nasi Kunyit, Jawa Mee etc.... at unbeatable prices. Though not everything is praise-worthy, the effort in plating and presentation is applaudible. Li Er Cafe is housed in one of the shop houses along Jalan Burmah, facing the junction to Bangkok Lane.

Peranakan Passion @ D' Piazza Mall, Bayan Baru, Penang.

While both Penang and Malacca are known to have Peranakan descendants, the culture can be totally different and that... includes the food too. It's quite uncommon for Peranakan restaurants to serve Malaccan-Peranakan food but this newly opened Peranakan Passion has decided to take a leap of faith. Flip the menu and you will notice quite a few Peranakan dishes that are not common to Penang (otherwise in Malacca)- Ayam Pongteh, Ayam Buah Keluah, Itik Tim etc; the second thing that might strike you would be the price points.... a little higher than usual. But the air-conditioned cafe has a decent setup- comfortable and homey, with some Peranakan elements adorning the walls. We have managed to try a few signature dishes on our visit; while we could not find any fault with the dishes, we did not think they were impressive... probably we have got accustomed to the local Penang Peranakan flavors. 

[New Management] Loke Thye Kee (乐台居) @ Burmah Road, Georgetown, Penang.

With near to 10 years of experience in the food & beverage industry, BRFNC Food Services (same management as Blue Reef Fish N Chips) takes over the management of Loke Thye Kee, an iconic heritage building that sits right smack in central Georgetown. The 88 year old building stays as it is, the only change made was the newly rolled out menu. It is a space dedicated to marry history with good food. Loke Thye Kee was once famed as one of the first established Hainanese restaurants in Georgetown in the olden days; with that in mind, the new management decided to preserve the Hainanese element as well as introducing some Nyonya dishes to the menu. The old school atmosphere is a reminiscent of the past- the interior decoration suggests evocative memories on the Hainanese Kopitiam. The restaurant opens as early as 8:30 am and expect to see an intimate variety of Hainanese Coffee with Toast for breakfast; full-fledged Hainanese-Nyonya menu will be served starting from noon. If you are on the lookout for Pork-Free caterer, Loke Thye Kee provides catering services as well.

Many Thanks to Loke Thye Kee for hosting us that afternoon.

Nyonya Willow @ Taman Tunas Damai, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

Update: Nyonya Willow has relocated to Arena Curve (72-1-3), opposite to Arang Cafe

Nyonya Willow is definitely one of the most secretive cafes/ restaurants, not only that it does not have any signage, it is nestled in a terrace house... within the secluded neighborhood of Taman Tunas Damai (Bayan Lepas). As the name might have hinted, Nyonya Willow runs like a private kitchen, in a residential. The menu changes regularly- depending on what they could source for the day, the dishes vary. It offers some Nyonya delights as well as some favorite Malaysian delicacy such as Nasi Lemak. All ingredients are prepared in house. The setting is homey as well and might not be too accommodating for larger groups. Prices are however, veering towards the higher side but given the fact that they cook in a small scale and every dish is home-cooked, the price is justifiable. Taman Tunas Damai is near to the newly operated SMK Heng Ee Bayan Lepas branch or where Honda Car Service center is located.