CRIZ BON APPETITE

Would you like to try out some Thai food without having to go all the way to Thailand or to some exotic Thai Restaurant and pay high price for your food? If yes then you should visit Ghee Seng Tomyam Seafood Restaurant located along the famous seafront, Weld Quay. There would not be much ho-ha to dress up as the restaurant is in an open air coffee shop style. If you do not intend to order dishes of your choice, you can even opt for their many spread of Chinese/Thai cuisine dishes in the Economy Rice Stall.

Since I was not in the mood for some hot and spicy tomyam soup, I ordered some milder dishes. By the way, their tomyam soup is super yummy too. Upon recommendation by the boss, Tomyam Seng, we ordered Hotplate Japanese Tofu which is full of prawns and minced meat, Crispy Mantis Prawns with Salad cum chopped carrot and their famous mouth watering Thai Lobak (Thai pork roll wrapped with dried tofu skin) served with hot steaming Thai rice. The food is delicious and the price is reasonable, considering that we paid less than RM25 for the food and drinks. Check out the dishes below:

If you come from the ferry terminal along Weld Quay (Jalan Pengkalan Weld), you will see the Shell Petrol Kiosk on your left. Drive further and you will see the Chew Jetty where there are lots of hawker stalls. Drive on until you almost reach the traffic light to turn into Komtar area or towards the Jelutong Expressway. The restaurant is just on the left BEFORE the traffic lights. It is situated along a row of shophouses (WISMA KGN). There will be a light box showing where the shop is along the main road. Check out the map if you are still unsure.

Name: GHEE SENG TOMYAM SEAFOOD
Address:
BLK 123-G-06, Wisma KGN, Jalan Pengkalan Weld (Weld Quay), 10300 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 016-498 8325, 012-480 8266 (Tomyam Seng)
Opening Hours:
11.00am – 3.00pm, 6.00pm – 1.00am (Closed Wednesday)
GPS: 5.410657, 100.336193

RATING:
Ambience: 6/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 7/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 8/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 6/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 7/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

Note: This place has ceased operation until further notice.

Will you like the thrill of dining in a place that you would never want to be in? Try out the Obake-Ya Japanese Restaurant in Penang which will provide you with the ultimate jailhouse experience. As you walk up to the main entrance, you will see a Japanese style arch with lots of lanterns. Passing through the arch, you will see a beautiful Japanese Garden.

Along the pebble filled pathway, you will see a grill door. Open the door and you will be in hell. A gruesome prisoner with chains on an electric chair will surely drill the chill and shrill into your bones.

The layout of the “jailhouse” restaurant is rather unique. They have the main “canteen” which any couple or small group of 2-3 persons can sit comfortably under the dim lighted atmosphere. The restaurant even caters private rooms for groups as many as 20 persons.

Even the restrooms have some Japanese accent to them. Be careful if you plan to relieve yourself as there will be a bridge leading to the restrooms and it will shake and rock you.

After experiencing the wonderful atmosphere, you can start ordering your food. There will be a long list in the Ala Carte menu ranging from meat dishes, seafood dishes to sushi. There will also be the set meals menu. You should try out their house specialty which is the Jailhouse Curry Chicken Rice. You will be amazed on how they present it to you. Haha!

Other than that, there are many interesting sets in the menu. Most of the sets will come with Miso Soup. If you are a rice eater and want to fill up your tummy till the brim, do try out their Chiki Ban Ban Bento. The Japanese rice is real filling. It comes with meatballs, chicken cubes, cold sweetened ham, salad and fruits. It surely worth the price you are paying for.

Finding the way to the restaurant would not be hard at all as it is strategically located just opposite the big blue Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion. In case you are a foreigner and do not know the location, here is a map to guide you there. Do enjoy your new experience there!

Name: OBAKE-YA RESTAURANT (Opposite Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion)
Address: 9 & 11 Leith Street, 10200 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-262 4772
Opening Hours:
12.00noon – 3.00pm, 6.00pm – 12.00am (Sunday – Thursday)
12.00noon – 3.00pm, 6.00pm – 1.00am (Fri, Sat & Public Holiday Eve)
GPS: 5.421188, 100.335217

RATING:
Ambience: 9/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 8/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 8/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 8/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 7/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

If you consider having your lunch or dinner in Georgetown area, you can pay a visit to the Weld Quay Restoran / Golden Attap Seafood Restaurant which is situated along Weld Quay. If you are afraid to get some food or oil scents stuck to your clothes, I would advise you to opt next door which also belong to them as the cook cum boss will be cooking right in front of the shop.

The most wonderful thing about this restaurant is that before you can even sit down comfortably while enjoying the complimentary fish cracker/ papadam with curry fish sauce as appetizer, your dish would be served. Although the food can be considered a bit oily to my preference, the taste is remarkably tasty. There are so many dishes you can order, ranging from seafood, vegetables, meat and soup. Here are some of the raw ingredients.

Price wise is really cheap as an average sized deep fried black pomfret with oyster sauce would not cost your more than RM10. An average meal for 2-3 persons would cost you between RM14 and RM25, provided not all dishes are seafood based. Drinks are to be paid separately to the coffee shop owner.

Here are 5 dishes that I have ordered for 3 persons which cost me not more than RM30.

You would not miss this place as it is the only restaurant with attap roofs directly opposite the Penang Jetty Terminal along Weld Quay (Pengkalan Weld). As you reach Weld Quay through the Jelutong Expressway, go straight until you reach an overhead pedestrian bridge. The shops are just after that on your left.

Name:
GOLDEN ATTAP SEAFOOD RESTAURANT /
WELD QUAY RESTORAN (Opposite Ferry Terminal)
Address: 18 & 21 Weld Quay, 12000 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: Mr. Chiam (012-429 2579), Ms. Ah See (012-474 5566)
Opening Hours: 11.00am – 3.00pm, 6.00pm – 10.00 pm (Closed Wednesday)

RATING:
Ambience: 4/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 9/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 9/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 4/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 9/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)