Oyster & Seafood Bar By The Quay @ Straits Quay, Penang.

Oyster & Seafood Bar By The Quay is a place where you get to feast on some freshly shucked, briny and subtle-sweet Oysters in town. The Seafood Bar at Straits Quay is fairly new but words have gone out to the Oyster lovers as the place is known to serve some au naturale Oysters from all over the world. Not only does this modern, al-fresco Seafood Bar offers a good selection of fresh Oysters; it actually dishes out some seafood indulgence where you get to dive your tongue in for absolute seafood sweetness. Some specialties of theirs include Pasta, Paella, grills and Seafood dishes; you can also check out their Wines (they do have a big wine list) to go with the Oysters or Seafood dishes. 

Many Thanks to Oyster & Seafood Bar By The Quay for extending the invitation.

Link Hill Top Restaurant 灵园山顶饭馆 @ Karangan, Kulim, Kedah.

Deep inside an estate at Karangan area, it takes a while to reach Link Hill Top Restaurant 灵园山顶饭馆. From the main road of Jalan Karangan, simply follow the signage and turn in a small, narrow alley. Keep driving along the alley and you will reach the area. The ride might be a little bumpy as the road condition is not very good. The restaurant is found on a hilltop, right next to a flowing stream. On the food menu, it has a Chinese stir fry menu with a big selection of fresh water fishes to choose from. Price points are slightly higher than usual but they commensurate with quality; it's also fun and exciting to explore something out of the norm. 

Meetcha Cafe @ Vervea Batu Kawan, Batu Kawan, Penang.

One of the early tenants at Vervea Batu Kawan (the commercial shop lots next to Penang Design Village and IKEA Batu Kawan) is Meetcha Cafe. Opened in late 2022, the place has quickly become one of the favorite dining spots for the folks working/ staying in the new township. The cafe has a Matcha-focused menu with some Muslim-friendly mains. The cafe runs on the first floor of the building and offers a great, cozy space for caffeine fix; while the space on upper floor is open for dine-in, guests looking to fill up their tummies may proceed to the upper floor where they serve a Western-Oriental menu with grills, Pasta and Rice dishes. Budget watchers would be glad to learn that all items are affordably priced at Meetcha Cafe. For those who are interested, it is possible to host private events at Meetcha premises for up to 20 pax; it is also possible to arrange for private catering and pre-packed meals for corporate events (please reach out to them directly for any arrangements). 

Many Thanks to Meetcha Cafe for hosting us.

[Year 2023] Food Hunting- of Cafes/ Must-Eats @ Ipoh, Perak.

There is no shortage of good hawker fare in Ipoh but the cafe scene is also on a burgeoning trend. A short 1.5 hour drive from Penang will land you at Ipoh- a place filled with Cantonese delicacies and recently, a myriad of new eateries and cafes around waiting to be explored. We recently did our annual foodie trip to Ipoh, trying to excavate some real hidden gems that are only patronized by locals as well as exploring some newly opened cafes. This blog entry records some of the must-try food places in Ipoh (2023 edition). You can also read our older entries here at: 2022 & 2021, 2020 and 2019.

1) Kum Kee "Big Small Leg" 锦记大小脚茶室

Non-Halal

Service Charge: No

Government Tax: No

Address: 798, Jalan Raja Muda, Taman Pasir Pinji, 31650, Ipoh, Perak.

Business Hours: 4 pm to 12 am. Opens Daily.

Contact Number: 012- 512 5219

Yen Batu Kawan Seafood Restaurant @ Batu Kawan, Penang.

Wondering what to eat at Batu Kawan? Check out Yen Batu Kawan Seafood Restaurant, a short 5-min drive away from the Penang Design Village Outlet; the Chinese restaurant has been around for a while, serving those staying in the neighborhood. But the seafood restaurant is not short of diners, the place is often packed on weekends, with regular patrons bringing in family members to dine-in. The menu is quite big, from fresh seafood to affordable Chinese stir-fry options... a place for diners of all age range. You will probably need a navigation system to reach this place, it's a little hidden from the main roads. 

Kejap Food @ Klippa Shopping Centre, IKEA Batu Kawan, Penang.

A relatively new Malaysian brand that aims to revolutionize how typical Malaysian food is served- Kejap Food has finally expanded its business operations in the northern region, opening a dine-in place at the new Klippa Shopping Centre (inside the IKEA Batu Kawan building). The Malaysian brand dishes out Malaysians' all time favorites with 100% Halal ingredients sourced within the country. The brand operates quite a number of drive-through outlets in the nation, the branch up north at Batu Kawan Penang is the first branch in Penang and also one of the 2 branches in the entire nation that offers dine-in facilities. Some of their best sellers include Karipap Panas, Popper Udang, Lekor, Kebab Ayam Buttermilk and Nasi Ayam Sambal Pedas; best of all, all food items are affordably priced. 

Many Thanks to Kejap Food Penang for hosting us.

Recharge and Rejuvenate Your Mind, Body & Soul @ The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat, Ipoh, Perak.

A short 20-minute drive from Ipoh city center, the Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat can be found near the luscious green landscape, surrounded by nature and blessed with naturally heated geothermal hot springs... making it an ideal getaway to recharge and rejuvenate. The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat is the country's first luxury natural hot springs wellness retreat offering bespoke, personalized experience. Everything is seamless- from check in to the villa to dine-in, everything is thoroughly planned to ensure top-notch services are rendered. 

Many thanks to The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat for hosting us

Great Tang 九龙糖 @ Jalan Imigresen, Georgetown, Penang.

If you would prefer a change of flavor from the new age desserts back to the old-school classics yet, with a new-exciting element, make your way to Great Tang 九龙糖 at Jalan Imigresen. The place opens at late afternoon and continues to serve classic sweet treats to slightly past midnight. The menu places great focuses on classic Chinese Tong Sui with some modern components; expect to find classics like Red Bean Soup, Gingko Barley, Black Glutinous Rice Soup etc but there are some Hong Kong-inspired sweet treats to challenge the norm. Prices are steep but we were happy with the quality of our orders. 

One Dish One Taste Hot Pot 一碟一味重庆火锅 @ Gurney Plaza, Penang.

One Dish One Taste Hot Pot 一碟一味重庆火锅 is the latest addition to the Penang hotpot scene, the brand specializes in Chong Qing-style Hot Pot, particularly the Ma-La Spicy broth but the brand has created a unique proposition by rolling out a Nine-Square dessert box as well as decorating the whole restaurant with purple Wisteria. Instead of focusing on the Hot Pot, many visitors are more excited to try on the Nine-Square desserts. As long as the guest agrees to pay an extra RM6 fee, he/she is entitled to unlimited servings of desserts (on top of the sauces and dips). As for the Hot Pot, the selection for broth types and Hot Pot raw ingredients is quite standard. A meal here does not come cheap, the bill for the 2 of us came to slightly more than RM240.

Shu Xiang Ge 蜀湘阁 @ The Palazzia, Gelugor, Penang.

An extended branch of Chiow Lin Hotpot (at Abu Siti Lane), it's hard to notice Shu Xiang Ge 蜀湘阁; the restaurant can be found at The Palazzia, a commercial space right next to Jalan Bukit Gambir (down the hill if coming from Jalan Yeap Chor Ee/ before USM). This particular restaurant focuses on Sze Chuan-style stir fry dishes instead of hotpot. The menu is fairly small and it has quite a handful of affordable options (to attract the China Chinese students from USM). But the classics are still available, like the Kou Shui Ji, Shui Zhu Yu or Hui Guo Rou etc. The place is less-accommodating for big groups and some of the items on the menu tend to be not available so if you have plans coming in a big group, do make early reservations.  

Yayoi Shokudo 弥生食堂 @ Bayan Indah, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

A relatively new Japanese Ramen joint- Yayoi Shokudo 弥生食堂 serves up some rich, slurpworthy goodness. While the Ramen joint focuses on serving Pork broth Ramen, it also serves some other Japanese delights like Japanese Hamburger Steak and Japanese Curry Rice. Limited options available with most of them in Pork so if you prefer something other than Pork, the choices are very limited. The Ramen dishes are reasonably priced and the dining area is spacious with typical Japanese Ramen joint decor. Ideal for those looking for a quick, delicious Ramen fix. Yayoi Shokudo can be found at Bayan Indah, a few shops away from HSBC Bank Bayan Lepas or a short walk from Queensbay Mall.

6 Hotel Recommendations for Staycation in Singapore

Singapore is one of the most popular staycation destinations in the Southeast Asian region. This small country is famous for its neat and orderly city planning, as well as easy access to various tourist attractions and other interesting places.

Singapore also has many excellent five-star hotels, which offer a luxurious and comfortable stay. If you want to try a staycation in Singapore, there are many hotel options to choose from, ranging from five-star hotels to more affordable four-star hotels.

The areas in Singapore display their own characteristics. You can find a variety of interesting things that are highlighted by each region. For that, you can do a staycation anywhere in the area in Singapore because the places and hotels are definitely the best, such as Harbour Ville Hotel Hamilton. However, usually, for staycations, people are looking for hotels that are strategically located with easy access everywhere.

If you want to do a staycation agenda in Singapore, it's a good idea to find a hotel that is really comfortable and has easy access. Here we recommend several hotels in Singapore that are suitable as a place for a staycation.

No 11 Cafe By Selected Concept @ Pulau Tikus, Penang.

Hailed from Kluang (Johor), No 11 Cafe is the first branch outside of Johor by the Selected Concept. The cafe is found at Jalan Yeoh Guan Seok, a stone's throw distance away from Pulau Tikus market (park your car at Moulmein Rise and walk over via the back entrance). It does not carry a big signage so it's easy to miss the place. The menu can be confusing- a mix of both Asian and Western delights, from the usual cafe fare to Japanese-inspired Donburi or even Pizzas. The ambiance is good and suitable for casual meet ups but the price points are higher than usual (imagine paying for a big breakfast at more than RM50 after service charge). Not too shabby for novelty experience.

Grandma's Home Food 外婆家的味道 @ Jalan Lembah Permai, Tanjung Tokong, Penang.

For those who are seeking authentic China Chinese home-cooked food, look no further than Grandma's Home Food 外婆家的味道 at Jalan Lembah Permai, Tanjung Tokong. This unassuming Chinese restaurant offers an intimate menu with a nice Northern China twist. Some of the dishes resemble shades of Beijing delights; the proprietor is from mainland China and accordingly, she wants to bring in authentic flavors from her hometown. Not the typical Sze Chuan Hotpot or Ma-La dishes, the food offering at Grandma's Home Food is something casual and comforting like Soup Noodles, Beef Pie or Dumplings. One thing for sure- not as greasy as expected, probably back to the homecooked food concept, the dishes are mildly seasoned and less-greasy. 

Pipit Patisserie @ Gelugor, Penang.

It takes a while to locate Pipit Patisserie, the cafe is tucked away in the residential neighborhood of Gelugor. Use navigation system to assist if you are not familiar with the area, the streets can be confusing for someone who has never visited the place. Pipit Patisserie is housed in a mansion in that neighborhood. Manned by a Malay baker who was trained at the Le Cordon Bleu, the cafe is known for churning out quality, inexpensive cakes and desserts. The place does serve a main menu but the offering is weak. All the fresh bakes of the day are being displayed right next to the order counter so guests get to pick their favorites on the spot. Limited seating in the air-conditioned room but there are plenty of seats available at the al-fresco area (which can be quite frustrating for the heat-intolerant). If you do like cakes, this place is worth a try.