Dolly Dim Sum has officially opened its first outlet in Penang, now welcoming diners at the Lower Ground floor of Sunway Carnival Mall. This popular Halal Dim Sum chain is known for its modern setting, consistent quality, and reasonable prices—offering an impressive spread of Dim Sum and Chinese dishes, all pork-free and Halal-certified. A great addition for those seeking affordable Halal Chinese cuisine in the north.
Many Thanks to Dolly Dim Sum for hosting us.
Looking to enjoy your morning Dim Sum with a sea view? Zai Seng Dim Sum 再生点心 at Pantai Bersih is probably an option that you would like to explore. Opened in mid 2024, the place is within a short drive from Raja Uda, Butterworth. The Dim Sum restaurant is spacious with plenty of tables and seats. The best time to visit is early in the morning for the cool sea breeze, it gets warmer in the day. In terms of food offerings- the variety is not as extensive as that of some established Dim Sum restaurants in town... though they do serve a few stir fried noodle options. This is a place more for its ambiance than for an outstanding culinary experience- but if you’re planning to visit, their stir-fried noodles are worth a try.
With many Malaysian Chinese have roots in Southern China and thanks to the affordable flight tickets as well as ease of entry (waiver of tourist visa for Malaysians), Guangzhou has been a popular travel destination for many. There are plenty of options when it comes to flight, including many direct flights from Malaysia directly to Guangzhou. The costs of living are pretty much similar, if not lower in Guangzhou as compared to Malaysia.
Moving around the city was a breeze- we utilized DiDi in our entire trip and never bothered to use the public transportation. DiDi costs are generally inexpensive in Guangzhou and the app is user-friendly (via Alipay). Accommodation-wise, we stayed in Mercure Beijing Road Guangzhou. The hotel is strategically located in the middle of Beijing Road Pedestrian Street and basically you get to explore everything in the vicinity with a breeze. High recommend!
Sharing the below food places that we've been to during this trip:
A short walk from the Penang Snake Temple is where the newly opened Tang Xiao Loong 唐小龙 located at (next to OO White Coffee Snake Temple). The Chinese restaurant occupies a huge lot and has quite an impressive interior decor. The restaurant is air-conditioned with well-partitioned seats, offering good privacy to diners. In the mornings, the restaurant offers a Dim Sum menu (with some stir fries and noodle options); and Hot Pot in the evenings. The Dim Sum menu is extensive with reasonable prices; a place worth checking out.
Discover a new Dim Sum experience at Yue Dim Sum 粤点粤有, the latest Dim Sum joint in Georgetown. Unlike the localized Dim Sum joints, Yue Dim Sum seeks to bring in authentic Dim Sum dishes from Guangzhou. The kitchen is helmed by a skilled Chef from Guangzhou (China). You would not find the Dim Sum carts or counter here steaming the Dim Sum dishes as all are freshly made to order in the kitchen (so do expect to wait a bit) but you will get piping hot, freshly cooked Dim Sum dishes. Featuring unique Dim Sum selections not commonly seen in Penang (namely the Chinese Pancakes, Soup Dumplings etc), the menu is a celebration of genuine Cantonese Dim Dum flavors (46 Dim Sum dishes for now- more to be added in the near future). For the heat-intolerant, Yue Dim Sum offers a cozy, air-conditioned dining experience.
Many Thanks for Yue Dim Sum for hosting us.
Cheng Zheng Dim Sum 丞蒸点心 is one of the latest Dim Sum joints in town; it has modern decor, clean-accommodating and the place is air-conditioned. The fact that the place offers a cozy dining atmosphere is to attract local young crowd and by far, they are doing a great job. The food offering is not as extensive as compared to some long-established Dim Sum joints in Penang but most of the classic Dim Sum dishes are available, with some special ones (like their signature Portuguese Tarts which are quite good and comparable to Oriental Kopi's). Interestingly, the Dim Sum dishes are reasonably priced considering the the place is air-conditioned with great service (prompt service to assist with hot water refills for the Tea etc). Some hits and misses on the food but if you are seeking for a comfortable space to enjoy a Dim Sum meal with your loved ones, do check this place out.
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.
Sharing the same space as ESH Landscaping and Big Ben near Botanical Garden, Dim Sum Cha Yun 点心茶园 is the latest addition to the place. Dim Sum Cha Yun started their business operations in late Dec 2022 but has since garnered an appreciate following... mainly family diners and park-goers. There are also ample parking lots available, which could be another reason why this place is popular. In terms of menu, the place does not offer plenty of Dim Sum choices as compared to some established Dim Sum joints in town, but they do have some Chinese stir-fry dishes which make up the numbers. Items are reasonably priced; this place is worth a look.
There are only a handful of Dim Sum options at Kulim (Kedah) and Dao Xiang Dim Sum 稻香点心 is one of them. Strategically located at Taman Selasih and occupying a prominent corner lot, the place attracts diners of all age-range... mainly due to its big Chinese menu and well-spaced seating arrangement. Not only Dim Sum dishes are available, there are also some tummy-filling mains and stir-fry dishes as well as some Chinese pastries; importantly, they are all reasonably priced. Worth-dropping by if you are in the vicinity and looking for some classic, inexpensive Chinese eats.
A stone's throw distance away from the Pulau Tikus morning market, the newly opened Dim Sum joint Lhong Tou Dim Sum 龍頭點心 is suitable for those who seek for quality Dim Sum dishes yet willing to pay a little more for the premium quality. What differentiates this place from its competitors is the made-to-order Dim Sum dishes, the menu features pretty much the standard Malaysian Dim Sum fare with a few Noodle/Rice dishes. The place is comfortable (air-conditioned) and the service is attentive; despite the above-average price points, the place is still a good option for a weekend family meal.
Ever since Thailand uplifted the foreigner entry requirements (no vaccination cert required) in Oct 2022, many Malaysian tourists are resuming their pilgrimage visits to Hatyai, the southern town of Songkhla. With only 60km away from the Malaysia-Thai border, it is a popular destination for a short getaway. Clearing customs and immigration is as easy as before, just present a valid Passport and relevant forms (if driving). There are many changes to Hatyai- with some places closed down for good but there are also quite a lot of new places sprung up. We too did the routine, ritual shopping at Kim Yong Market and Central Festival Mall but apart from that, we had ventured further to explore new places that we haven't been before.
Read our previous blog entries to Hatyai here: Year 2017 and Year 2019.
A new venture by the Fat Mona Lisa group- ML Tea Garden focuses on serving light bites like Dim Sum or pastries in the brand new commercial building- Gurney Walk. ML Tea Garden does not occupy a shop but instead, it takes up a small space on the second floor of Gurney Walk... accommodating limited tables. Menu-wise, it has a small pork-free Dim Sum menu with some Pau, Noodle options; pastries and cakes are also available at the display counter. Not a place for absolute taste but a comfortable spot for brief catch up over quality Tea and inexpensive small bites.
Max Cafe is a new venture by the Maxim group, the Hong Kong Cha Chan Teng-styled restaurant can be found right next to the Maxim Dim Sum restaurant at Lip Sin. The new restaurant occupies the corner lot of the same place, offering a Hong Kong-inspired menu... featuring many familiar Cha Chan Teng-styled dishes. There are not much options when it comes to side dishes or quick nibbles though. Comfortable space but the price points seem to be on the higher side given the small serving portion...
Enjoy classic old school Dim Sum dishes in a modern setting atYong Pin Restaurant 榕槟茶楼, the restaurant has been around for years and its one of the oldest Dim Sum restaurants in Penang. It has recently relocated to Kimberley Street (from Sungai Ujong), transforming from an old school setting to a modern-retro setting... offering a more comfortable dining space. The successful transformation has lured in younger crowd since its its reopening last year... expect big crowd and long waiting lines on weekends. But if you would love to try out some of the old school Dim Sum dishes, you will be glad to know that Yong Pin still serves them. The bill for 3 came out to be around Rm 67 including Chinese Tea for 3 (Pu Er at Rm 2 per pax).
Ipoh remains as a popular destination for a quick respite, especially for Penangites... mainly due to its location and its vibrant food scene. The city has seen a booming in terms of new cafes and restaurants, this particular guide provides an insight on some of the latest Ipoh offering instead of the traditional, widely known tourist spots.
Don't be surprised to find a queue into Ren Qin Wei 人情味 (especially on weekends), the new Dim Sum restaurant at the shop houses a stone's throw distance away from St. Anne's Church lures in crowd as early as 7 am. Besides churning out familiar Dim Sum dishes (at affordable prices), the brand also aces in services and table settings. The place is fully air-conditioned and the tables are well-spaced allowing dining groups to enjoy their meals comfortably. There are no Dim Sum carts being pushed around but instead, diners need to walk to the counter and pick their Dim Sum dishes (in which the orders will be recorded using a card). The price points are very affordable and wallet-friendly; given the ease of finding a parking space, attentive services and comfortable dining atmosphere... this place is worth a look. For your benchmarking- the total bill was a little less than Rm 60 for the 3 of us (including Pu Er Tea of Rm 1.20 per pax).
A stone's throw distance away from the famous tourist attraction- Kek Lok Si is a new hotel- De View Hotel and Modern Asia Kitchen 壹丰庭 is a tenant that occupies a prominent spot of the hotel. The Chinese restaurant dishes out a Dim Sum menu in the mornings and usual Chinese menu in the evenings. While the Dim Sum menu is not very big, diners can also order some stir fry dishes from the Chinese menu. The prices are slightly on the higher side but they offer great quality in return... as well as comfortable dining atmosphere (spacious and fully air-conditioned). This place is definitely one of the better places to go to in Air Itam... for Dim Sum.
Another option for Muslim diners to fight the struggle of finding a pork-free Dim Sum joint in Penang- the new comer Hong Kong Kitchen offers a pork-free Dim Sum menu. Found at Krystal Point Bayan Baru, the name Hong Kong Kitchen may paint a picture of Hong Kong Cha Chan Teng but in actual fact, it is a Dim Sum restaurant offering many Dim Sum dishes familiar to Malaysians. The choices might not be as extensive compared to some Dim Sum joints, but the variety is more than sufficient- solid selections such as Har Kaw, Siew Mai, Fish Balls are available. The dining space is welcoming and could accommodate big dining groups... suitable for family eat out or casual meet up over breakfast.
A new spot for late risers to enjoy Dim Sum in a comfortable setting- Sia Boey Dim Sum Restaurant 社尾茶楼 is a new comer at the Lot33 space in Prangin Mall. Interestingly, the Dim Sum restaurant is manned by a team of Chinese Lion Dancers, so most of the servers are dressed in Chinese Lion Dance outfits. There are also quite a number of "Chinese Lions" on display around the restaurant. The Dim Sum menu is fairly large, with most familiar traditional items included; there is also a main menu featuring noodle dishes (available after 11:30 am). With such comfortable setting (air-conditioned and in a mall), the price points are considerably low... though there are rooms for improvements in terms of food quality.
With many of us unable to travel overseas, a short local getaway is ideal when the travel bug bites. Ipoh (Perak) is an ideal destination for Penangites... with merely a short 1.5 hours drive away. The town is especially suitable for foodies to explore and has recently welcomed a spate of new cafes and eateries. These are some of the places that have never been featured on our Ipoh food blog entries:
