Tanuki Japanese Canteen 狸猫食堂 @ Golden Triangle 2, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

Tanuki Japanese Canteen, a neighborhood Japanese restaurant at Golden Triangle 2 has been around for quite some time but the place has drawn a lot of attention lately on social media. The place specializes in Japanese-inspired dishes like Omu Curry Rice, Udon, Gyoza and some rice dishes. The interior is simple, offering a comfortable space for family diners or those seeking for a convenient spot for a quick fix. The place is especially busy on weekends (lunch or dinner) so do plan your visit accordingly. 

Jikaya Ramen 自家屋日本拉面 @ Farlim, Penang.

Jikaya Ramen 自家屋日本拉面 had a humble beginning- the brand started from a hawker stall (in a coffee house) in Farlim and today, they have moved into a shop, completely managed by their own. As suggested by the name, Jikaya Ramen is a Japanese Ramen-focused restaurant... serving various types of Japanese Ramen as well as Japanese-influenced dishes. The menu is fairly big for a restaurant at their size so need not worry on the selection availability. Likewise, the price points are very affordable, almost cheaper than most established Ramen shops in town. 

Sri Pangkor Cafeteria @ Sri Pangkor Condominium, Pulau Tikus, Penang.

This cafe is the best kept secret for Sri Pangkor Condominium's residents... only operate for few hours in a day, Sri Pangkor Cafeteria is manned by an old couple with more than 30 years of culinary experience. They are one of the lunch box suppliers for some of the Japanese schools and communities here in Penang. It's certainly a challenge to work in such a constraint space but they have managed to roll out an extensive menu... covering many Japanese delights. Expect most of the classics to be on the list and the prices to be more wallet-friendly as compared to established restaurants. The dining corner is cozily set up with comfortable chairs and tables, but they are pretty limited to be sure to arrive early or reserve your spot by making reservations. A handy tip... Sri Pangkor Condominium has visitor parking lots, simply inform the security that you are visiting the cafeteria and show them your driving license (for verification purposes), you will then be allowed to park at the visitors' parking space.

Wakaba Japanese Noodles @ Elit Avenue, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

Wakaba, a new establishment that touts itself as the Japanese noodle-specialists, has opened its doors to the public recently. The Japanese noodle restaurant makes its own noodles and they specialized in serving Ramen. The place has the standard Japanese restaurant setting but the servers need to be trained. The restaurant employs foreign workers; there seems to be a language barrier between customers and servers. They did not manage to understand our needs and answer to our questions promptly. Service was bad on our visit- we were served undercooked Gyoza (with raw Pork filling inside), the foreign server did not know what to do but to offer us an exchange which we gladly accepted. The second serving of Gyoza was no different from the first one; it was apparent that the person in charge heard of our conversation but he has chosen to be ignorant and did not offer to assist. Extremely poor management. Nonetheless, their Ramen did manage to impress us but apart from that (to be fair to Wakaba), nothing is exciting here. 

Garden Paradis @ Waterfall Road, Botanical Garden, Penang.

Enjoy a relaxed dining experience amidst the tranquil environment at Botanical Garden; a new establishment that proffers Japanese-Fusion menu has opened its doors to the public recently. It has the typical cafe setting as well as an outdoorsy dining area, overlooking the small river in the vicinity (be cautious of the aggressive, ravenous mosquitoes though). Garden Paradis starts to serve brunch menu as early as 8 am to cater for the morning park walkers. To find the place, locate Botanical Garden Horticulture Centre (where the famous Big Ben Breakfast place is located). You should be able to find the eye-catching facade of Garden Paradis from there. 

Edo Ramen @ Gurney Paragon Mall, Penang.

*Edo Ramen has since ceased its business operation.*

Goku Raku Ramen has always been my favorite place to satiate my craving for a bowl of authentic Japanese Ramen ever since their opening few years back. The restaurant has garnered an appreciate following, where the place will be throng with patrons during the weekends. Stepping into the brand new year of 2014, Goku Raku Ramen is looking for a change, the restaurant will roll out their new menu starting on this 7th of April 2014, where some items will be replaced with more affordable options. Customers can now appease their cravings without putting a dent on the wallet where prices start from Rm 8.90 for a bowl of hearty Ramen. The only drawback is, the portion is fixed and customers are not allowed to "upsize" the orders (you may, of course, order for two bowls if you wish). Nevertheless, its location at Gurney Paragon Mall provides a good place for tired shoppers to enjoy a meal and stretch the shopping legs. My partner in crime has also written a review which can be found here.

This blog post is brought to you by Gurney Paragon Mall. 

Menya Miyabi Hokkaido Ramen (麺や 雅) @ Queensbay Mall, Penang.

Originated from Japan, Menya Miyabi is the first branch in Penang/ Malaysia, with 4 branches in Japan, Menya Miyabi is making the interior decor as simple as possible, just like those Ramen shops in Japan. Its location at Queensbay Mall provides shoppers a decent place to enjoy a quick meal and recharge. Their menu, however, is rather simple and earnest- few Ramen dishes, couple of Rice dishes and Gyoza/ Japanese Dumplings. Prices are on the higher side but it is worth splurging a little more to go for their authentic Ramen than the usual ones; service was genuine and attentive but probably due to first day jitters, the presentation of the foods was somewhat unappealing and falls below par, improvements are certainly needed. Do check out their Ramen dishes if you are in the mall and on the lookout for some new eateries. Menya Miyabi is located on 1st floor of Queensbay Mall, a stone's throw distance from Maybank of South Zone.