Tian Xia Cafe 天下茶室 @ Perak Road, Jelutong, Penang.

Tucked in the Jelutong neighborhood and right next to the Perak Road Wet Market,  Tian Xia Cafe 天下茶室 dishes out local Penang delights like Char Koay Teow, Penang White Curry Mee, Koay Teow Th'ng etc. The eatery is housed in a corner lot of a residential house. Menu is not big but more than good enough for a casual quick fix. Dishes are affordably priced with Koay Teow Th'ng priced from RM6. Definitely a spot worth checking out. My suggestion- visit the place after the wet market is closed, it is easier to find yourself a parking lot compared to the mornings.

Yi Fang Duck Meat Koay Teow Th'ng 一芳鸭肉粿条汤 @ Cecil Street, Georgetown, Penang.

More food options near Cecil Street Market- Yi Fang Duck Meat Koay Teow Th'ng 一芳鸭肉粿条汤 occupies a prominent spot at Cecil Street, literally just across the street from the forever crowded wet market. The Duck Meat Koay Teow Th'ng is housed in the '7 Road Kitchen' but not to be confused, the latter is a different operator that runs the business in the evening. Yi Fang is only available from 7 am to 3 pm. On top of Koay Teow Th'ng, Yi Fang also churns out quite a big Chinese menu featuring some sides and stir fry (Chu Char) dishes. Be prepared to pay slightly more but the quality is there, not to mention you get a more comfortable space to dine-in (if you are comparing with the one in the wet market).

Chooi Lim Koo 醉林居 @ Air Hitam, Penang.

Tucked away from the bustling Jalan Air Hitam, Chooi Lim Koo 醉林居 is hidden at the small alley next to Kek Lok Si Hospital. The place can be found on a slope with a few parking spaces available. Chooi Lim Koo offers a small menu offering only 2 types of mains- Penang Hokkien Mee and Char Koay Teow, with some local beverages and Toasts. Save for the al-fresco area, the restaurant is air-conditioned and offers a comfortable space for a quick meal. 

Kopi Kia 咖比仔 @ Macalister Road, Georgetown, Penang.

A brisk breakfast spot in town- Kopi Kia 咖比仔 has been receiving a lot of attention since its opening late last year. The brand has 2 outlets under its care (one at Macalister Road, another one at Promenade Bayan Lepas) with the Macalister branch being the 2nd branch. it is easy to see massive crowd gathering at the place especially on weekends. The reasons are simple: reasonable charges, free and ample parking lots, good variety of local delights and air-conditioned space; making the place ideal for a weekend family eat-out. We had good experience with our visit to Kopi Kia at Macalister Road on a busy Sunday morning. We could tell that the staff is well-trained and good in crowd management. Food order wise- none of them disappoint. 

The Secret Tunnel @ Batu Lanchang, Jelutong, Penang.

Hidden in the residential neighborhood of Batu Lanchang, The Secret Tunnel is one of the latest additions in Penang... offering a Thai-influenced menu, not quite the usual Thai menu though. Their signature dish is Thai Braised Pork Trotter and Poached Chicken, along with some specialties like Char Koay Teow and Fried Chicken... or something along the line. There is no noodle dish unfortunately. But items are reasonably priced; save for the slightly chaotic order-serving system, the restaurant is worth checking out.

Firefly Jetty Cafe (高渊萤火虫码頭咖啡馆) @ Nibong Tebal, Penang.

Firefly watching is one of the popular activities at Nibong Tebal, a quiet town south of Penang state. Sitting right next to the Kerian river, it is strategically located and suitable for firefly watching activities. Taking a boat ride is a common practice but there are more options for visitors right now. Housed in the Firefly Jetty Development Association, Firefly Jetty Cafe is right next to the jetty where visitors board the firefly watching boat. It overlooks the Kerian river and offers the same lake-view. Cool view aside, the menu is less-exciting... featuring some local Western food and local delights. Probably not so much on the food but the opportunity to stay closer and enjoy the beauty of mother nature (if you don't mind the irritating flies).

Ken Hunts Food: 24-Hour Food Guide in Penang.

Penang is famous for its diversified range of street food. It is not impossible to find and indulge in good food throughout the day. Here's how, this guide is especially useful when you are short of time and wish to fully utilize the time as well as your tummy space.

6 am: Te Chang You Tiao Wang/ Chinese Crullers

Seaside Barbecue at Pinang Restaurant and Bar @ Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa, Batu Ferringhi, Penang.

In the need of a charming spot to enjoy a sumptuous seafood dinner? Do check out Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa at Batu Ferringhi as the resort rolls out a special Seaside Barbecue feast. The Friday Asian Barbecue By The Sea proffers a wide range of grilled seafood with oriental seasonings and some Asian influence. Apart from the plethora of Seafood and Mains, diners can expect a salad bar and dessert counter, as well as a Char Koay Teow action stall (it will be Fried Ice Cream action stall on Saturdays). Buffet diners may also enjoy their house wines (Chardonnay and Shiraz) at happy-hour-prices to pair with the wonderfully prepared Seafood (not included in the buffet). Having a glass of White and some fresh Seafood in the middle of a stunningly breath-taking sunset view and a sea of glistening stars is indeed a memorable and enjoyable life moment. 

Many Thanks to Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa for extending the invitation.

Prices for the Seafood Barbecue buffets are as follows:

Asian Barbecue By The Sea: Every Friday

From 6:30pm to 10:30pm.

Rm 108++ (Adult), Rm 54++ (Child)

Seafood Barbecue By The Sea: Every Saturday
From 6:30pm to 10:30pm
Rm 108++ (Adult), Rm 54++ (Child)

For inquiries or reservations, kindly contact Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa at +604- 888 8788.

Marinated Chicken with Ginger, Garlic, Lemon Grass, Chilies and Thai Basil

Tiger Char Koay Teow (老虎炒粿条) @ Carnavon Street, Georgetown, Penang.

Char Koay Teow, being one of the quintessential dishes in Penang, can be commonly found in any of the coffee shops within the state. However, getting a good one can be really tricky. Talk to any Penangites and the topic can be heated up real quick. Suggestions like Ah Leng Char Koay Teow at Dato Keramat, Lorong Selamat Char Koay Teow, Sister Char Koay Teow or even Siam Road Char Koay Teow will be popped up but little do I hear about Tiger Char Koay Teow.

Along the ubiquitous food street- Carnavon Street, there is this famous Char Koay Teow stall- Tiger Char Koay Teow, named after the owner "Ah Hor/ Tiger in Hokkien". It can be found in a coffee shop known as Ping Hooi Coffee Shop, sitting at the junction to Carnavon Street and Lebuh Melayu. The place will be thronged by patrons during weekends, be sure to grab your seat as early as possible or you might end up waiting for hours.