Viet Nam Quan @ Arena Curve, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

Head over to this quiet Vietnamese restaurant- Viet Nam Quan at Arena Curve to satisfy your Pho cravings over hearty bowls of noodles. Though the restaurant has a big noodle menu, there are many other Vietnamese dishes as well. Classics like Vietnamese Spring Rolls, Vietnamese Pancakes, Banh Mi, Com Ga are available too, along with some Vietnamese home-cooked dishes. The place is air-conditioned and manned by Vietnamese; the server speaks and understands Mandarin perfectly so placing order is hassle-free. For those who are keen to purchase local Vietnamese products, there is a dedicated corner for products like Vietnamese Coffee, Vietnamese Instant Noodles, sauces and snacks. 

[Year 2023] Food Hunting- of Cafes/ Must-Eats @ Johor Bahru, Johor.

Johor Bahru, the southernmost city in the Peninsular Malaysia, is a mere 1-hour flight away from Penang. It is also the 2nd largest city in Malaysia. With its strategic location and links to Singapore, the city is often busy. For foodies, Johor Bahru has a lot to offer- from the popular Johor Laksa, Muar Otak-Otak, Koay Teow Kia to Chicken Rice or Banana Cake. The place is best explored by car as some of the good eateries/restaurants are scattered around in the city. 

We stayed in GBW Hotel for this trip as we needed to travel to Singapore for a short day trip. The stay was good and there's a link bridge right in front of the hotel which connects to the JB Sentral for Train to Woodlands CIQ (you need not hail a taxi to head there, it is just a short 5-min walk from the hotel). For folks traveling to Singapore but staying in JB, GBW Hotel is a good choice. 

1) WW Laksa House 水塘。辣沙

Pork-Free

Service Charge: No

Government Tax: No

Address: 36A, Jalan Kolam Air, Taman Kolam Air, 80100, Johor Bahru, Johor.

Business Hours: 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. Closed on Wednesdays.

Contact Number: 012- 703 2263

WW Laksa House Facebook Page

Red Courtyard (红庭院) @ King Street, Georgetown, Penang.

Red Courtyard is a relatively new eatery in the banking district has a stylish and eye-catching color... the facade is painted in red hue with some sharp contrast of black. We understand from the restaurateur that red represents "China" and this indirectly, explains that Red Courtyard serves China-Chinese food. This new kid on the block serves a range of Hunan (湖南) classics such as Spicy Beef Noodles, braised Duck with Beer and Beef Steamboat. The Chef herself comes from Hunan and she uses recipes passed to her from previous generations; that reaffirms the authenticity. As far as the heat-intolerant is concerned, the fully air-conditioned restaurant provides a comfortable dining atmosphere. Private rooms are also available to accommodate larger groups. The Lunch crowd will be pleased to know that Red Courtyard offers set lunch from Rm 8.90 nett (promotion valid until further notice). Red Courtyard is the new tenant over Das Rad Cafe's previous location, at King Street.

Many Thanks to Red Courtyard for hosting us that afternoon.

[Travel/ Food Guide] Itinerary to Siem Reap (暹粒), Cambodia (柬埔寨).

Siem Reap is one of the most-traveled destinations in Cambodia, the resort town Northwestern of the country is home to a thousand-year old ancient ruins stretching over 400 square kilometers. Angkor was believed to be the capital of Khmer empire (during 9th to 15th centuries) and fast forward today, it is now one of the most visited UNESCO Heritage Sites in the world. There seem to be many mysterious stories waiting to be unfolded but apart from the historical footstep tours, visitors can also have a feel on the local Khmer culture and the bustling tourist and food scene in Siem Reap. The best time to visit Siem Reap is November to February (dry season) but the temperature can be quite high and the streets are dusty so please prepare the necessary before hitting the road. Also note-worthy is U.S. Dollars are heavily used in Siem Reap instead of their local currency- Cambodian Riel. Please prepare small notes, notes in big amount such as USD $50 or USD $100 are not easily accepted here.

1) Angkor World Heritage (吴哥窟)

How to go: Hire a Tuk-Tuk driver, depending on the route you want to take and the number of temples you wish to visit (typically differentiated by Big Circuit or Small Circuit). Just for your reference, we hired a Tuk Tuk driver for half day Small Circuit Tour (3 temples) + Sunrise view for USD $20 and additional USD $5 for lunch at Srah Srang

Visiting Hours: 5 am to 6 pm Daily.

Admission: USD $20 for One Day Pass/ USD $40 for Three Day Pass/ USD $60 for Seven Day Pass *It is confirmed by the authorities that the prices will be revised in February 2017*

[Year 2016] Food Hunting- of Cafes/ Must-Eats @ Ipoh, Perak.

The fast-changing food scene at Ipoh is especially attractive for foodies like us, especially with more and more exciting cafes mushrooming in the district. On our 2 Day 1 Night trip this year, we have managed to visit a good mix of both cafes and classic local eats. 

1) Nam Chau Coffee Shop (南洲白咖啡)

Non-Halal

Service Charge: No

Government Tax: No

Address: 54, Jalan Bandar Timah, 30000, Ipoh, Perak.

Business Hours: 7:30 am to 3:30 pm. Closed om Wednesdays.

Loo Beef Noodles @ Carnavon Street, Georgetown, Penang.

While Beef might not be the favorite of many (especially in Penang due to religious reason), there are still bunch of faithful patrons returning for their favorite delicacy. It is a fact that Penang is full of delicious food to eat but Beef Noodles have never crossed the mind of a tourist. Amongst the handful of well-received Beef Noodles in town, Loo Beef Noodles which was previously at Chulia Street, has relocated to a new shop at Carnavon Street; a shop entirely devoted to selling Beef Noodles and Fried Oyster Omelette. The place does not come with sophisticated setting... more like a usual hawker place with tight setting. It can be warm in the afternoon... with the absence of air-conditioners but the hearty bowl of Beef Noodle is worth the trip.

Hương Quế Vietnamese Food @ Lebuh Melaka, Georgetown, Penang.

Devotees of Vietnamese food in town should be delighted and excited to know that there is another greater variety on offer. Hương Quế is one of the latest Vietnamese eats to burst on the Penang scene. Tucked within one of the houses along Lebuh Melaka, one could easily overlook the humble and no-frills restaurant, fortunately, it can be distinguished by its green-colored sign board. The menu is simple and earnest, they do not have much to offer currently, only a few choices of rice and Pho dishes, as well as some Vietnamese delicacies. One of the most exotic ones will be none other than the Balut/ Vietnamese Fertilized Duck Egg which is only available for dinner. Prices are definitely reasonable but the seats are rather limited and might not be too accommodating for larger groups; be sure to make your reservation should you are planning to have a gathering or family dinner. 

Quê Hương Tôi Vietnamese Cafe (正宗越南小食馆) @ Jalan Jelutong, Georgetown, Penang.

The food scene here in Penang is getting really interesting, especially with all those unusual foods we are getting from other countries; we don't get to find Vietnamese food easily few years back and we are blessed with more choices right now. At the junction to the bustling roads of Jalan Jelutong and Jalan Sungai Pinang, there is this unassuming and unpretentious quaint little cafe offering unabashed authentic Vietnamese eats at very affordable prices. The place can be easily overlooked by one as there is only a small banner hanging outside the place, do find the place right next to Chevrolet Showroom at Jalan Sungai Pinang and directly opposite to Peugeot 3S Center along Jalan Jelutong. Choices are aplenty and more than sufficient to satisfy everyone's palate. Some of the notable dishes are Vietnamese Pho, Banh Mi, Vietnamese Spring Rolls and Vietnamese Coffee. This is definitely a place to look for especially for some authentic yet delicious Vietnamese eats! 

Thai Food @ Old City Food Court, Prima Tanjung, Penang.

I'm sure most people will not realize that there's a food court hidden in Prima Tanjung (well, unless you are staying nearby) and to my surprise, one can actually find some real authentic Thai food at the food court. There are quite a lot of choices in the food court but the two Thai Food stalls stood out to me for receiving the most orders and long queues can be spotted outside the stall. Prices are quite cheap and economical. Helmed by some Thais, most of our orders were just averagely okay but every single dish that we had tasted very authentic. Do try the Lam Mee and Thai Koay Chiap which can be found in the food court too!

iPho' Vietnamese Cuisine @ Fremantle, WA.

While I am very keen in digging out more decent food in Western Australia (but I can't really do this too frequently due to currency gap), I've came across this Vietnamese restaurant which situated at Fremantle, WA. From the famous Fremantle Markets, walk towards DOME and to the famous San Churos restaurant,  you should be able to see iPho's from San Churos. As mentioned, iPho' specializes in serving Vietnamese food and Vietnamese Beef Pho/Noodles is one of the most famous dishes among all Vietnamese dishes. Apart from the Pho/ Noodles, they do offer some other delicate entrees, salads, and some rice dishes as well. Price-wise, I'd say it was reasonable but the services provided to us were superb, they will eventually teach/guide you with the correct method of enjoying a bowl of Vietnamese Pho. 

600 CC Taiwanese Restaurant @ Tesco E-Gate, Penang.

When it comes to Taiwanese style of Beef Noodles, I always have this restaurant in my mind, probably due to childhood memories as I used to go to this restaurant quite often with my mother last time. 600CC Taiwanese Restaurant is a chain restaurant which opened its first outlet many years ago at Bukit Jambul Complex (correct me if I am wrong). As of now, 600CC has five outlets (all of them in shopping malls) in total, namely Gurney Plaza, Prangin Mall, Mega Mall, Sunway Carnival and Tesco E-Gate Penang. Variety-wise, they have a lot to offer, but I have no interest on their other dishes as I find most of them are rather pricey. However, their desserts will be worth of trying as I find them pretty special especially their Taiwanese TofuHua (台湾豆花) and their Iced Red Bean Blended Milk (红豆牛奶). To my surprise, I find the quality of the food will be rather inconsistent depending on which outlet you are heading to.

Beef Koay Teow Soup @ Batu Lanchang, Penang.

If someone were to ask me, in which corner of Penang can we find a decent Beef Koay Teow Soup, I would definitely recommend this place, I have been their regular customer since my first visit back to few months ago. Although the place does not possess a good ambiance, and its just like any other hawker centers but you certainly want to try this Beef Koay Teow Soup out if you happened to be a fan of Beef Koay Teow. Its located at Jalan Tan Sri Teh Hwe Lim, same row as Lam Wah Ee hospital and right next to Eve bakery, the name of the hawker center is New B Garden Cafe. They do not have a specific name for the Beef Koay Teow Soup in english, but they do have a Chinese name (for those who can read Chinese)- 鑑记牛肉粿条. What I adore most is definitely their broth, not too thick nor diluted, just perfect for me. One thing I like about this stall over Kang Beef House is that they do not sprinkle or include some pork lard into the soup, which makes the soup too oily for me. No doubt, pork lard enhances certain unique flavor but I find it too oily and unhealthy too.