Root House by Gēn 根家菜 @ 1926 Heritage Hotel, Burma Road, Penang.

Root House by Gēn 根家菜 is one of the latest concepts by the team behind Gēn, housed within the newly restored 1926 Heritage Hotel on Jalan Burma. Rather than serving conventional Chinese cuisine, the restaurant explores the culinary heritage of Malaysia's Chinese communities, drawing inspiration from dialect groups such as Hokkien, Cantonese, Hakka, Teochew and Hainanese. Complementing the food is a quiet and sophisticated dining space that's well-suited for an unhurried meal or business gathering, with several private dining rooms available and a total seating capacity of 52 guests. While prices are undoubtedly on the premium side, the attentive service, elegant surroundings and thoughtfully curated dining experience help justify the cost. The restaurant is pork-free, though alcoholic beverages are available.

Many Thanks to Root House by Gēn for hosting us.

Damas Arabic Restaurant @ Burmah Road, Georgetown, Penang.

Bringing the rich, authentic flavors of the Middle East to Penang- the newly opened Damas Arabic Restaurant at Burmah Road (a stone's throw distance away from New World Park) captures the essence of Damascus (the capital city of Syria) with its signature dishes. Step in the place and you will find yourself in a classy yet cozy setting with elements from the Middle East; the menu features a big variety of Middle Eastern delights... from the timeless Hummus, Baba Ganoush to Kebabs, Rice, Shawarma and even some Western-fusion choices. Dishes are reasonably priced and the service is most attentive, a place worth checking out if you yearn for Middle Eastern cuisine.

Lee Jia Koay Teow Th'ng 李蔗芭粿条汤 @ Pulau Tikus, Penang.

Another branch to the famous Sungai Lokan Koay Teow Th'ng, Lee Jia at Pulau Tikus carries the same food offering, specializing in Koay Teow Th'ng as well as extra add-ons like fresh Seafood (Octopus, Prawns, Grouper Fish etc). The new space is comfortable, air-conditioned and well-spaced. The Koay Teow Th'ng is affordably priced from RM9 but the add-ons would cost more with Grouper Fish starting from RM15 for a small portion. 

Haru Korean Restaurant @ Burmah Road, Georgetown, Penang.

Haru is another convenient spot in town where Korean food lovers get to satiate their cravings for Korean delicacies. The newly opened Korean Restaurant takes over the lot previously occupied by Shunka Japanese Restaurant (next to Penang Plaza) and offers a pretty standard Korean menu (sans the barbecue). Not exactly a very big menu but good enough to include the Malaysians' favorites like Tteokbokki, Japchae, Jeon etc. The dishes are averagely priced but we thought some of the dishes lacked the "X-factor" and would require some refinements. 

Middle House @ Burmah Road, Georgetown, Penang.

Found right next to the bustling Burmah Road, Middle House is a charming restaurant run by a lovely couple, offers a taste of a home with its hearty and soul-warming home-cooked Western dishes. Step in the place and you will instantly feel the homey-welcoming vibe, with a mix of both Western and local elements/ knick-knacks. The menu offers an array of home-cooked Western-European delights- Soups, Salads, Mains (including their signature Pork Chop), Pasta as well as their best-selling dessert... Rum and Kahlua-infused Tiramisu. Not a place with fancy setup or eye-catchy decor but more for solid, home-cooked food.

Many Thanks to Middle House for hosting us.

Lao Cheng Du 老成都 @ Burmah Road, Georgetown, Penang.

Step in Lao Cheng Du 老成都, a fairly new restaurant at Burmah Road and you will be instantly transported to the 1950'... with old-school building and various knick-knacks from the past. We were amazed by the effort put in for the interior decor. On the food offering, the restaurant serves Dim Sum dishes with a small spread of Chinese dishes in the mornings; the usual Chinese small plates will commence at Noon. There are aplenty choices here- from appetizers to mains like Dumplings, Bao or even Noodle dishes. Price points are fair and reasonable, worth checking out if you are up for something new. 

Tai Ho Chiak 台好甲 @ Burmah Road, Georgetown, Penang.

Started in Sungai Petani (Kedah), Tai Ho Chiak 台好甲 has quickly expanded its business operations to to Raja Uda (Penang mainland) and Klang Valley (Kepong). The latest addition to the brand is its 4th outlet at Burmah Road (Penang). The brand may not be new to some, the menu features many classic Taiwanese delights that offer a taste of Taiwan to diners. Timeless classics like 3-Cups Chicken, Deep Fried Chicken Chop, Egg Rolls, Hot Pot are all on offer. All dishes are reasonably priced, an average meal here typically costs around RM20-Rm25 per pax (without drinks). We were there on a crowded Saturday, despite the big crowd, their crowd management was good. The ordering process was smooth and food served in a jiffy. 

ChinChin Gastropub @ Lintang Burma, Pulau Tikus, Penang.

ChinChin Gastropub needs no further introduction, the Gastropub has been dishing out some creative, quality Fusion dishes since its opening in Pulau Tikus, Penang. It serves up fusion fare food with a clear direction in mind- to use as much local produce as possible. The long-standing restaurant is known for using premium and fresh ingredients in its cooking; it is constantly on the look out to revamp its menu, adding more exciting and new elements to it. The focus remains unchanged- to highlight on the natural flavors of the fine ingredients as well as to offer creative way of enjoying the food. The Chef hopes to break free from the mundane and let the diners to enjoy his dishes in a more inventive way. ChinChin Gastropub now changes its menu on a monthly basis, check out their Facebook Page for more updates.

Many Thanks to ChinChin Gastropub for hosting us. 

Unagiya Shin @ Burmah Road, Pulau Tikus, Penang.

One of the very few restaurants that offers an Unagi-focused menu is Unagiya Shin, a newly opened Japanese restaurant at Pulau Tikus that specializes in serving Japanese-styled Unagi. The name speaks for itself, "Unagiya"... a direct translation would be House of Unagi. The menu here revolves around Unagi- be it grilled Unagi or Unagi bowl; along with a mix of popular Japanese grills and delicacies. Items are reasonably priced here- those with deeper pockets can go for the imported Eels; else, the fresh and expertly cooked local Eels work fine. This is a place especially suitable for Unagi lovers.  

Pulau Tikus Kitchen 浮罗池滑名厨 @ Burmah Road, Pulau Tikus, Penang.

Sick of home-cooked food after long lockdown? Missing the times where you can enjoy some quality Chinese stir fry dishes at restaurants? Check out Pulau Tikus Kitchen 浮罗池滑名厨, a fairly new place at Pulau Tikus that has not gotten its much deserved attention. It can be found a stone's throw away from the Pulau Tikus Police Station, right opposite to TanMark Bookstore. The place may seem deceivingly simple from the outside and the menu may not appeal but the dishes do not disappoint. One of the main goals for Pulau Tikus Kitchen is to dish out restaurant-quality Chinese dishes at very affordable prices. While there might not be massive choices on the menu, the quality appears to be consistent and the prices are wallet-friendly. 

Many Thanks to Pulau Tikus Kitchen for hosting us.

Kappo By Arakawa @ Burmah Road, Penang.

Omakase is a pretty exquisite form of dining in Penang and often come with a hefty price tag , there are a few established Japanese restaurants in town offering Omakase but one of the latest additions is Kappo By Arakawa. The Japanese restaurant at Premier Centre Burmah Road is a small but pleasant place to enjoy the Japanese highlights carefully prepared by the Chefs. Diners are to be seated at the wood counter where they can witness the Chefs in action. Omakase is not the only way to go here- there are some prix fixe items on the menu as well. The Lunch Omakase tends to be more affordable than the Dinner Omakase; seasonal offerings are available and announcements will be shared on their Facebook Page. 

Little Collins Street Cafe @ Burmah Road, Georgetown, Penang.

One of the latest cafe spots that any cafe hoppers should check out is Little Collins Street Cafe, found right next to the bustling Burmah Road. This new cafe is manned by the same team from Belle and Cream, but offering a completely different atmosphere and more food items (mostly pastries). The seating spaces are available on ground floor and upper floor though the former one is more like a communal seating area. On the food menu- most items are pastries, cookies and cakes, there is no main menu. Quite a nice place to check out especially on the minimalist interior decor... would paint a nice picture to your social media page. 

Catch By DAM D' Chef Dining @ Le Embassy Hotel, Burmah Road, Penang.

Housed in Le Embassy Hotel, a sharp-looking boutique hotel at the junction of Burmah Road and Transfer Road; "Catch" is a new venture by DAM D' Chef Dining, offering a big Western-styled Seafood menu (with a small Non-Seafood choices). The interior decor and setting is as neat and tidy as a restaurant should be, with tables are well-spaced apart. There is also a bar counter in the middle with a few seats for those who prefer to be seated near the bar. The place however, is dimly lit and offers a cozy-romantic setting to diners. On the menu, diners get to choose the main with a choice to upgrade it to a 4-course meal (a-la carte is available nevertheless) which features a Salad, a Soup, a Main and a Dessert (usually Cakes); the menu has a good selection of mains which cover mostly Fish and Seafood, with a few choices of meat. The alcohol menu is relatively big too, if you must know. 

Wholly Cow Beef Noodles @ Burmah Road, Georgetown, Penang.

With a name like Wholly Cow, it paints a picture on what the dining spot could potentially offer... it brings local Beef Noodles from the local hawker scene to a proper restaurant. With a homely and casual decor, the Beef Noodle specialist offers a range of local delights... including the classic local Beef Noodles, Chicken Noodles and the playfully improved Beef Rendang Noodles. While the menu is pretty small with limited choices, they are constantly on the lookout to upgrade their offering. Absolutely flavorful and comforting broth with delicious Beef on a wallet-friendly price scale, this is exactly the place that I would want to visit on a casual basis. 

Lao Sher Tea House (老舍茶馆) @ Burmah Road, Pulau Tikus, Penang.

There are a handful of hidden lunch places in Georgetown, the secret is well-kept by the white collar workers. Lao Sher Tea House (老舍茶馆) is one of them; it has been operating for more than a decade and has been serving wholesome meals to its diners. Like the name implies, it sells a great variety of premium Chinese Tea but at the same time, offers a Chinese and Thai-influenced menu. Visitors can sip on the slowly brewed Chinese Tea while enjoying the dishes. Prices are very reasonable considering the generous serving portion. There are plenty to choose from and we did not manage to try most of the menu. Nevertheless, we love the home-cooked factor here and how the place runs like a private kitchen... definitely worth checking out. 

Blue Chang Modern Thai Cuisine @ Burmah Road, Pulau Tikus, Penang.

Serving modern Thai food with a cozy, casual cafe vibe, Blue Chang is a new comer to the Penang food scene. Housed in the Penang Club annex, the Thai restaurant takes up a corner space of the building; the atmosphere is intimate- modest but exudes minimalist elegance (without heavy Thai knick-knacks) . The menu features flavorsome Thai food, often with a modern twist; do not expect the prices to be low here... but they commensurate with large serving portion. If Pulau Tikus is within your usual lunch area, their Set Lunch is worth a look. 

T.E. Restaurant & Bar (Three Environment) @ Burmah Road, Georgetown, Penang.

Three Environment (otherwise known as T.E.) is serious when it says "three environments", it hosts 3 different "venues" in one place. Housed in one of the shop houses along the bustling Burmah Road (a stone's throw distance away from Penang Plaza or next to Shunka Burmah Road), T.E. welcomes its visitors with a welcoming-bright, clean dining space... where diners can devour in a variety of Thai-influenced dishes along with a few Western options; walk deeper and you will find yourself in a mini bar, though not as big as compared to some establishments in town, the atmosphere is calm and exudes minimalist-elegance. In the day time, traipse the stairs up to the second floor and you will find Vin Stylin Studio (VSS), a hair salon for the fashionista. On the restaurant menu, though it covers quite an extensive of Thai-highlights, we thought the flavors were rather subdued... 

Heng Seafood @ The Shark Food Court, Pulau Tikus, Penang.

Forget the Chinese-styled of cooking Seafood, Heng Seafood... a stall housed in The Shark Food Court (previously known as Pakma Food Court along Burmah Road), offers a menu free from meat but heavy on Seafood and vegetables. It specializes in offering barbecue/ grilled items or rather, more known as 'Ikan Bakar' in Malaysia. It's not a one-trick pony, it has quite an array of Seafood to offers, including Shellfish and fresh vegetables; but it's a place where the daily catches inspire the menu/ offering. All items are cooked to order; price-wise, it fluctuates and depends on the market rates, do check with them first (on the prices) before placing your orders. This is definitely one of the latest spots if you are looking for somewhere to knock back a few beers while enjoying Seafood in an outdoorsy atmosphere.

Artsy Sip @ Seventy Seven Bar, Nagore Square, Penang.

Unleash your creativity and join the gang behind Artsy Sip- a paint and sip concept class that offers you to unwind and dive into the creative side. Probably the first and only paint and sip studio in Penang (first floor of Seventy Seven Bar along Nagore Road), the relaxing painting class is absolutely designed for both beginners and aficionados alike; the experienced proprietor runs the studio like a professional artist, offering step-by-step instructions. Even if you have no sense of arts, you can walk out the door with a beautiful paint in your hand (you can take home the completed paint- stretch Canvas with frame). For Rm 88 (3-hour session) nett, one gets to unwind in an artsy-casual ambiance with a boozy treat (a glass of Wine) and join others in a fun-interactive stress-free painting class. In case you are wondering, all painting-materials are provided. 

Many Thanks to Artsy Sip for arranging the session.

[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.