A new addition to Jelutong’s dining scene—Bai Wei Xian 百味鲜沙县小吃 is a humble Chinese eatery that specializes in Shaxian county’s delicacies, with a focus on dumplings and noodles. While the menu may not be the most extensive, it offers just enough variety for a satisfying, casual meal. The real charm lies in its unbeatable prices, with a plate of noodles starting from as low as RM5. The restaurant is clean, brightly lit, and comfortably spaced, though parking around the area can be a bit tricky.
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.
A popular Vietnamese-Thai restaurant in the neighborhood of Taman Kheng Tian: Diva Viet Thai Cuisine, just opened end of last year but has garnered an appreciate following. One of the main reasons- the big Vietnamese menu featuring many classic Vietnamese delights like Spring Rolls, Beef Noodles, Vietnamese Pancakes etc. On top of these Vietnamese dishes, they do have some stir-fry dishes that are more acceptable to the wider range of diners. The place is manned by both locals and Vietnamese, a decent place to ease your cravings towards Vietnamese delights.
Hidden in the Medan Sungai neighborhood (off Jelutong), Tian Tian Guilin Noodles 甜甜桂林米粉 is manned by a China Chinese couple. There is no clear signage, making it extremely easy to miss the place (like we did). The restaurant is just like any normal residential setting, with just a few tables and chairs. The menu features Guilin Noodles as well as some southern Chinese (Sze Chuan-related) delights. Dishes are affordably priced with a decent bowl of noodles priced from Rm 12 onwards...
Managed by the J&J group of restaurants, Ho Kee Restaurant 好记海鲜煮炒 can be found at Jalan Perak Jelutong (right next to Sunshine Jelutong Penang). The Chinese restaurant has other branches across Penang island and they have lured in many customers due to their competitive pricing strategy as well as good variety of dishes suitable for casual family eat-outs. Pretty standard zhu-char setup with no air-conditioning... many have shared their disastrous dining experience especially on the waiting time but it did not happen on us. But to be fair, we went at 5PM so our dining experience was okay.
Double Six Cafe 六六咖啡馆 gets busy as early as 7 am in the morning, this place is now a popular breakfast place for those staying in the neighborhood. It is housed in a corner lot along Terengganu Road, offering Malaysian delights at unbeatable prices. Their signature dishes include Xixiami (a hybrid version of Jawa Mee and Teluk Kumbar Mee Udang), Nasi Lemak, Kaya Butter Toast as well as Pork Lard Rice. The place is not air-conditioned so expect the sultry hot weather to kick in after 9 am but still worth checking out.
There is no shortage of good Chicken Rice in the Jelutong neighborhood but this particular one- Sunbright Roast Chicken Rice 日光烧腊鸡饭 has constantly been attracting regular patrons back for their roast goodies. Previously located near Perak Road wet market, Sunbright has since relocated to this location, right next to Sunshine Jelutong. The signature sauce (with Oyster Sauce) and home-made Chili sauce contribute to the winning factor (also being wallet-friendly). The place is often at its busiest at noon or lunch hours, so if you wish to have more meat variety, make sure you arrive early.
Occupying a space in the newly revamped place right next to Heng Hee High School, Flagship by Navy has received a lot of attention since its opening. The reasons are simple: chic interior with easy-access, free parking. While there are a few more empty spaces in the building, Flagship by Navy occupies the corner lot of the place. Step in the place and you will feel the strong industrial vibe; the menu is quite small (only Pasta dishes for main) with a small selection of desserts and pastries at the order counter. The bar on the other hand, only operates on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays... in the evenings. The place is especially busy on weekends so if you are planning to visit in a big group, do plan ahead. Quite a comfortable space for catch ups over light meals but the price tags can be quite hefty.
Folks looking for a Thai quick fix in the Jelutong neighborhood should look no further than Mama Thai Best, a simple-casual eatery that offers a small Thai menu. Mama Thai Best can be found at Perak Road, few doors away from Subway and Domino's; the same place also runs as a Thai mart. But do not expect the goods to be extensive, just some simple but useful ones. Like-wise, the menu also features some Thai delights familiar to Malaysians like Thai-styled Fried Rice, Tom Yam, Mama Mee etc. Prices are very economical though the quality and serving speed could be further improved.
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.
Decked out in Basketball elements, Time Out Cafe positions itself as a Basketball-themed cafe... with some Basketball-related wallpapers around, some knick-knacks and a dedicated mini Basketball field. The food offering or menu has got nothing related to Basketball though, merely the interior decor. It does not have a big menu but a simple one featuring some Western dishes with some local Asian dishes as well as some home-made sweet treats. Prices are slightly on the higher side considering the portion and its location but the place is very spacious with free parking... ideally for business talks or casual meet ups. Time Out Cafe is located right next to the main entrance or lobby of Stallions Apartment (use navigation app if you are not familiar with the neighborhood).
With its wide variety of ingredients and steaming soup bases, Shu Da Xia Hotpot 蜀大侠火锅 is one of the alternatives to big Hotpot chains like Hai Di Lao and Xiao Long Kan. The new Hotpot restaurant is perched at the top floor of Karpal Singh Drive's Automall, offering a nice sea view to diners. The menu is pretty much China Chinese-inspired, offering a wide variety of meat (and organ meats) as well as other popular Hotpot ingredients. Likewise, the layout is also quite "Chinese"; step in the place and you will be instantly transported to ancient China- with traditional Chinese knick-knacks and in shades of red. Service is top-notch but expect to pay a premium to dine-in here.
Found at the end of Greenlane, almost towards Udini Roundabout; Project CAN occupies a prominent spot at the Ghee Hiang Garden... right next to the bustling Greenlane (Jalan Masjid Negeri). The place is easily noticeable from afar, especially in the evenings due to the alluring lights at the garden, right in front of the cafe. Both interior and exterior seating are equally interesting- for those who prefer an outdoorsy ambiance can opt to be seated at the garden area... with al-fresco relaxing vibe while the indoor offers a clean, comfortable cafe seating arrangement and atmosphere. On the menu, it has rather limited options and the kitchen operates only at certain hours (for dinner- kitchen opens at 6 pm). The prices are slightly on the expensive side, given that the serving portion is not that big; still a great place for hangout nevertheless.
Run by the same management as Famiglia Confinement Center, the cafe on ground floor is a vegetarian cafe that offers a local Chinese vegetarian menu. Found at the corner shop lot next to Bandar Baru Jelutong (Sri Wonder Building), Famiglia Vegetarian Cafe has a cozy, modern setting; it does not give a hint on what the menu could possibly offer. We were expecting some Western, playful Vegetarian dishes but it turned out to be a solid, classic local Vegetarian menu. Expect to find Stir Fry Noodles, Bak Kut Teh, Fried Rice on the menu... with prices starting from Rm 7. Though the serving speed may be a little slow, the overall package of dining atmosphere and food quality are of satisfactory. Worth checking out if you are looking for a spot for vegetarian food.
Said to be one of the oldest Coffee brands in Penang, Sin Boon Kee Coffee 新文记咖啡 has come a long since its humble beginnings in the 1940's. The brand first started as a local Coffee manufacturer and has recently open up a new concept store that allows customers to dine-in and have a sip on their cup of Joe. The concept store is a stone's throw distance away from their coffee factory at Jelutong (adjacent to Straits Garden). Apart from offering their signature Coffee, the place also churns out delicious Nasi Lemak and Hainanese Toasts as well as some local Chinese delights. A worth-checking out place if you do enjoy the Coffee-Hainanese Toast combo.
