CRIZ BON APPETITE

What could be better than having a stroll by the beach after eating hefty meals? One great place I would always like to be is along the beach stretch of Esplanade. That is the place where I always get my Vitamin C from the Cut Fruit stall in the food court there. The stall is located right at the recently renovated food court right at the end of Esplanade. One look at the fruits displayed, you would be amazed by how many types there are. You can even see the Vietnamese Purplish Pink fruit which is quite rare. Most of the time you will get only the whitish flesh ones. You can order by the slices or by the plate. A plate of reasonable combination of different fruits can roughly cost between RM10 – RM20.

One thing that I will not miss when I am feeling the feverish sensation or lack of vitamins, I will order the fruit punch there. For just a minimal sum of RM3, you will a cup of mixed juice. Just leave it to the owner there and he will mix and match for you. So far I have yet to taste one cup that has the same taste. As for the one I ordered, I did ask the boss what he put inside. To my surprise, it has 7 types of fruits in it, namely oranges, pineapple, pear, honey dew, carrot, apple and water chestnut. Amazing right? You will even have smoother bowel movement the next day to cleanse your intestine well.

There is only one food court down at Esplanade. You won’t miss it. There are ample of parking spaces available too.

Name: GOH SENG EWE CUT FRUITS (STALL 47)
Address: Esplanade Food Court
Opening Hours: 6.00pm -1.00am
GPS: 5.422822, 100.340688

RATING:
Ambience: 6/10 (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: 7/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 7/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

Note: This restaurant has ceased operation.

Ramen has been getting so many responses recently that my friend had even opened up a shop specializing in Ramen and Pasta in Taiwan. It would be absurd to fly all over to Taiwan just to have a taste of her wonderfully photographed meals, especially her XO Sauce Ramen and Fried Rice. I have been longing for that dish for so long until I found a shop right here in Penang along Jalan Burmah in Pulau Tikus itself.

The place could not be prominently seen along the main road as it was hidden behind a row of shophouses. I would not say that the restaurant is grand and heavily decorated but it has the quiet and relax ambience for some good food and internet browsing. They do provide wifi facilities but it is hotspot. It would not be as fast but still you can do some simple emailing and browsing.

Coming back to the menu, you will expect to see a thick menu book which has beautiful taken shots of ramen dishes ranging from Taiwanese, Western, Thai, and Japanese styles. All the dishes are pork free. Of course I opt for the XO Sauce Seafood Ramen. The taste is marvelous with big prawns, fish fillet, squids and green vegetables. Except that the squids are rather rubbery hard, everything was perfect.

Next in the list was the Western plus Oriental style of ramen. We ordered the Sesame Chicken Ramen. It looked like spaghetti with bolognaise sauce with deep fried chicken fillet but it has the taste of mild sesame flavor. Not a bad combination though. Something different compared to the norm.

We also ordered a set of 4 fried shui gao (dumpling) to try out. The skin is totally different compared to the Wan Than Mee ones as these are more springy. Not bad for a new taste but I would prefer the filling to be richer. It came with ginger strips pickle.

Presently for April and May, they are having promotion for every set meals ordered. You can get a drink and a shui gao soup free for lunch and a fried ice cream and a shui gao soup free for dinner. Overall, the food can be considered good but the portion served is not big enough for a hungry person. The pricing is slightly above average. Both ramen dishes plus the deep fried shui gao, excluding the two free chilled Jasmine Tea we ordered, we paid RM25.95.

It is not hard at all to find the restaurant. Just drive down Pulau Tikus area towards One-Stop Midlands Centre. As you reach the traffic lights at Jalan Cantonment / Jalan Burmah, keep a look out for Bee Chin Heang and Kassim Mustafa on your right. Turn into the road on the right. Move on and you see the shop on your left.

Name: RAMEN WANG
Address: 11-A Lintang Burmah, 10250 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-2277 298
Opening Hours: 11.00am -10.00pm (Closed on Monday)
GPS: 5.432659, 100.311420

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

Do you still remember last year when the FM Radio channel kept on broadcasting where to go for lunch? Well, before they even came out with the idea of banana leaf rice, I have been going quite frequent to this Shusi Banana Leaf Restaurant along one of the famous lanes in Little India. The white hair boss is a friendly person to talk with (provided his wife is willing to cook her mouth watering curries right on time :P).

You can opt for her different styles of cooking which include vegetarian, fish, chicken and mutton curries. The banana leaf rice comes in sets for 3 different vegetarian appetizers and 2 pieces of papadam (wheat crackers) served with hot steaming rice with your choice of curry (vegetarian, fish, chicken and mutton). An average set will cost you between RM4.50 – RM6.00, provided you did not add additional meat dishes. Adding more rice and dhal (potato & bean curry) is free.

We order a set each of the chicken and mutton banana leaf rice and we ate until our hearts’ content. The restaurant will also serve you plain iced water on the house but you can always try out the Indian Yogurt Lassi drink. There are also many other options such as tosai, puri, etc to go with your curries.

Going there would not be a problem at all as the shop is situated between Market Street and Chulia Street. As you move along the one-way Penang Street, you can see the shop on your left. As for parking wise, you have to try your luck in finding one along the busy street of Little India.

Name: SHUSI BANANA LEAF RESTAURANT
Address: 71 Penang Street, 10200 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 6016-476 2944 (Mr. Jaya)
Opening Hours: 12.00noon – 4.00pm and 4.00pm – 9.00pm.
GPS: 5.416275, 100.339583

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: 7/10 (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)

Penang is really a nice place to be in with so many varieties of food from the different Chinese community, namely the Cantonese, Hokkien, TeoChew, Hakka, Hainanese and so on. Do try out this wonderful Teochew cum Siamese restaurant, Goh Teo Kee along the Sg. Ara main road. They even have branches along Gurney Drive and Sg. Nibong areas. This double storey restaurant has the ideal place for family dinners, weddings, birthdays and company functions.

Recently I had a small group gathering for 30 pax and the restaurant gave us an impressive array of buffet line. The spread of food and cost for a person can range between RM30 to RM50 depending on the dishes you order. We had a mix and match of Chinese plus Thai seafood and poultry combination and everyone had their stomach full with sweet smiles on their faces. Maybe you can judge for yourself the quality for the food served.

You might get lost if you are not from that area. The safest way to go is to turn right into the Sg Ara Road just opposite the PISA stadium. Move on ahead. (DO NOT TURN RIGHT at the traffic light as it will lead you to Paya Terubong/ Bukit Jambul). After passing through TWO traffic lights, keep slow as the restaurant is just along the service road next to Sek. Keb. Sg. Ara.

Name: GOH TEO KEE (TEOCHEW & SIAM) SUNGAI ARA
Address:
78, Jln Dato Ismail Hashim, Sungai Ara, Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-644 0073
Opening Hours:
11.30am – 2.30pm and 6.00pm – 10.00pm.
(Closed on 1st and 3rd Wednesday)
GPS: 5.328172, 100.273386

RATING:
Ambience: 8/10 (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: 7/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 8/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

How would you like to have Japanese food without paying the price at a lavish Japanese restaurant? You can always try out this stall at the Macallum Street Ghaut hawker centre. There are many selections to choose from and all come with a touch of local flavors – sambal belacan (chili prawn paste) and lots of fresh vegetables garnishes. You would not believe that I have paid only RM6 for the two plates of Fried Japanese Udon and Teriyaki Fried Rice and it is tax free.

On top of the two orders I have made, you can also try out their Tori Teriyaki (chicken served with teriyaki sauce, salad and rice), Sakana Tei (breadcrumb fish with salad and rice), Salmon Teriyaki or Unagi Teriyaki (most ordered dish from the stall). As for price, nothing from the stall cost more than RM6 per plate.

To get there, just use Weld Quay and move towards the Jelutong Expressway. Turn into Macallum Street Ghaut and move towards Habour Trade Centre. The hawker centre is just your first turning on your right. There are many delicious food in the hawker centre too such as Thai Braised Pork Leg Rice, Salt Fish Fried Rice, Curry Mee, and Hokkien Mee. You should not miss the Fried Radish Cake, Fried Rice Cake and Fried Potato Groundnut Cake stall as the stall served one of the best fried local delicacies around town.

Name: KEDAI KOPI MING HOOI (Japanese Food Stall)
Address: 258 – 260 Macallum Street Ghaut, Penang, Malaysia.
Opening Hours: 5.00pm – 10.00pm (Closed on Thursday)
GPS: 5.406641, 100.332255

RATING:
Ambience: 5/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 6/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 6/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 3/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 7/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

If you are into light supper, you can always opt for some hot steaming rice cakes or fried pan cakes along the night street of Georgetown. This famous pan cake stall has been selling there along Lebuh Cintra for the past 50 years. The present owners are the third generation of the pan cake master. The steam rice cakes are made from white sugar, flour and rice wine. Normally those sold in the market for prayers purposes are in pink and brown (brown sugar). The pan cakes (Ham Chin Peng aka Salty Fried Cake) are with 3 different flavors – plain with 5-spice powder, red bean filling and glutinous rice filling.

There is no address for this place as it is just a stall by the roadside. You would not miss it as you can see many cars and motorcyclists stopping by to buy by the dozens. You can also buy some herbal tea from the stall next to it. Their famous is the boiled cane water which is believed to be able to cool down the body heat due to too much of fried and oily food.

Name: PAN CAKE & STEAM RICE CAKE
Address: Lebuh Cintra, Penang, Malaysia.
Opening Hours: 7.00pm – 10.00pm
GPS: 5.417867, 100.333382

RATING:
Ambience: 5/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 5/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 7/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 3/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 7/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

Note: This restaurant has ceased its operation. Presently, a new restaurant in purple color named De Title Dinning Cabin has taken over in late 2010.

There is a new Ampang Yoong Tau Fu shop in Penang. You can pick whatever you want from the menu and the kitchen will prepare them for you. To me, there are not much of differences compared to the local Yoong Tau Fu stall, except that some of choices are deep fried and served with minimal soup.

Walking into the shop is a good experience as the whole place is brightly painted with orange. One look at the menu and you would exclaim, “Gosh! Is that all they have?” There are not many choices considering that they only serve one type of fish ball, two types of stuffed soft tofu, stuffed chillies, stuffed brinjal, stuffed lady’s fingers, some vegetables, etc and fried chicken wings as their sole side order dish. Instead of the normal yam rice or dark dried shrimp rice, they served only plain white rice. The only two items that I enjoyed are their deep fried dumplings and stuffed fu chook rolls.

The food is just fine and the price is slightly high. Paying 80sen for a one inch diameter fish ball? This is crazy. We paid around RM16 for the food and drinks. I would not recommend this restaurant for family meals. If you decide to have some quiet private dine-out for minimal persons with light food, then this is the ideal place.

Finding the shop would not be hard as the restaurant is just next to the Peace Medical Centre and the whole building is painted in bright red. Here is the map in case you are not from local.

Name: RED HOUSE YOONG TAU FU
Address: 97, Lorong Selamat, 10400 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-229 7797, 016-492 8636 (Chua Boon Seang)
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 9.00pm
GPS: 5.418112, 100.325743

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

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)