One of the reason that visited this buffet was my dad saw some blogger post that circulate in email and he had been asking us to come for the past 2 months since it had open till now we decided to come along.

It is very interesting to see how the whole new concept that they have build to another brand with very Japanese exterior and interior. ..

You can be seated in a few sections, this is a private room that can host up to 10 pax and you have to remove your shoes and put outside.

this section would be their outdoor area. . .

as me and my family was quickly seated, I walk around the whole restaurant to check out what is there to offer.

The range of food that they offer is pretty interesting. One of the best is not to miss on their homemade, fish, sotong and pork ball. . .

Fresh Oyster, Salmon with huge piece, scallop are all in this fridge for you to finish. Another fridge with lots types of seafood, for you to choose from.

This would be the best section to me with variety of meat to offer. I have tried all the meat and those lamb, lean pork, pork bacon, korean style pork are the one you must look out for. . .

Soft drinks counter and you just need to request a glass with ice in it.

Desert counter.

Variety of sauces available as one of the reason that, you are going to mix and learn to cook on the  on with their grill charcoal stove on your table.

ice cream that alot of kids attack on.

We ask on the waiter what soup is good and he recommend that most customer would opt to try their signature soup which is the clear soup base ‘Shabu Shabu’ (昆布柴魚湯)

In your table you will be provided with this utilities for you to play with . .

My meat plate..wakkaka~ and more that I have had till my parents surrender.

What is so unique about this whole new concept is that they have this charcoal grill stove smack right in the table for you to bbq your dish. Most of the meat or things available are already pre marinated and now you will look like a cool Japanese chef in training.

put all the item that you would want on this grill and just turn around as you want.

You can put your huge chunk of salmon, prawns and other seafood to cook along.

Huge scallop to be stim on ..

and this is what happen to our pot of shabu shabu, as my mom loves it.

Each table will come with all these few basic ingredients, one of the reason if you do dine in Teppanyaki restaurant you see those chef add on those pepper and salt, now you are your own chef to do it and play around with these to make your food tastier.

This are the Opening promotion that they have now, and if you can really eat and do not mind getting fat, join their Supper happy hour which is Buy one Buffet at Regular Price and 2nd person 50% which is really worth it.

Among many buffet out there, certainly I am recommending this to go with its price smack on at RM48++ that comes to about RM55 per head that offer lots of seafood and meat for you to eat on. Having great sessions with friends I am looking forward to come back for another round.

Food taste is pretty good and did not disappoint us.

Best advice to call in for reservation that will convenient you.

***Remark you need to spend at least 2 hours to eat cuz of the grill time it takes to cook. Me and my family find that 2 hours is not enough cuz we went for late lunch as they were to close for that hour. 

-= KA CHING =-

Food rating 8.5/10 , Pretty value for money~ RECOMMENDED -Stamped-

Location:
Ground Floor, Penang Times Square,
Jalan Dato Keramat, 10150 Penang, Malaysia.

Contact:  604-229 7826

Business Hours:
6.00pm – 1.00am (Monday – Thursday)
12.00pm – 1.00am (Friday – Sunday & Public Holidays)

GPS: 5.411728, 100.324879

This street is very near to 1st Avenue mall which is like 2-3 streets away from the mall that if you plan to walk here from 1st Avenue, it takes about 10 minutes walk. This hawker center area is located the same street with Kwang Hwa newspaper factory.

This is the street hawker center of Sah Tiau Loh (三条路小贩中心) which many kind of food to offer with the corner shop is a coffee shop that host many hakwer stalls and those that spill over to the road side. Some of the street hawker food unable to serve food into the coffee shop due to some conflict. It is best you ask them before you order if you are seated inside the coffeeshop.

Well, anyone of you heard about the recent competition of Hokkien Mee in Penang? It was held at Times Square on December 2011 that  Penang Best Hokkien Mee stalls in the state were spotted and came by to compete to emerge the best as these were voted by the public.  888 Hokkien Mee emerge as crowd favorites and won the best in this catagory (click here for The Star News also to spot top 3 hokkien mee stalls in Penang) I am not sure that the winner of 888 hokkien mee is the same as this or not as they mention near Sunshine Square. and this is at Town area but to me still the same name and take it as another branch.

Before the wont this category, this stall had already been very famous among neighborhood and since when I was a kid I came by to eat with my grandfather and recently been craving for it so bad and manage to get my satisfaction. In the order you can choose to add on some ingredient like pork ribs, intestine, and others.

You can add on some ‘siew Yuk’ too but the siew yuk for the day not so nice.

This is how cramp the place look like that solely sole for Hokkien Mee only. To get a spot is pretty fast as the turn over per table is quite quick.

This is my order of Hokkien Mee @ RM 3

Why is it one of my favorite is definitely because of the soup base, its sweet with prawn taste and know that its cook along with prawn shells also, not only that its also cook along with pork bones and meat that make it so nice. It is serve along with small prawns that cook inside the soup for long time and some pork. I wanted to add on some pork ribs and other ingredient was sold out.

It is best advise to go before 10.30pm as most of their add on ingredients get sold out very very fast.

Pricing of add ons:

Normal Noodle @ RM3

In front of the Hokkien Mee stall comes this very busy Wan Tan Mee Stall also. I see alot of people flock on this stall and decided to give it a try too . . .

I was sitting there for 45 minutes, and this guy was so busy for 45 minutes and its non stop action. I forgot to take the picture of Wan Tan Mee but I find it nothing much to shout about as the unique is the noodle which is just a bit springy as I have better ones in other coffee shop in Penang.

Overall, if you are in Penang to hunt for very nice Hokkien Mee (prawn Noodle) this is one of the stall highly recommended by me, as during CNY holiday I came here 3 times. .

-= Ka Ching =-

Food Rating 10/10,very good, highly recommended Hokkien Mee!!~ -Stamped-

–Warning– This is based on my individual taste. Try it at your own risk-

Location:
Presgrave Street Hawker Centre
Lebuh Presgrave

*NON-HALAL

Closed on Thursday
Daily 4.30pm-12.00am

View Presgrave Street Hawker Stall in a larger map

In Penang to find nice restaurant that serve Thai food is actually not many and I can tell you that Chok Dee Thai is one of them. Many of  my friends love this restaurant as I often see them check in foursquare in this outlet. To me, its quite hidden actually as I have pass Burmah Road many times without realizing actually there is a restaurant until last round I was back in Penang, we have a small little makan gathering with my best friend which there are 13 of us.. The usual 2 or 3 will only turn out. That doesnt bother me, as long as I can order many food to eat.

This shop serve Pork! nice ahh~ How can you enjoy Thai Food without pork dishes. On the downside, I find that the pricing is a bit more expensive compare to many restaurants available out there.

This restaurant is not huge but its longish that can accomote limited people in the outlet, best to advice that you head there early if not you have to wait for first round of dinner crowd to get over then only its your turn. We reach early and its quite empty, as the place just got filled within 20 minutes. My best friend know the owner as he is one of the regular there.

Love the decorations of the outlet that resembles some Thai influence even the cute doll also welcome you, Savadeekap~

For a classic drink in Thai Restaurant I usually wont miss their Lemon Grass, indeed its refreshing and the lemon grass taste is quite solid, just as I prefer.

For me, to try out a Thai Restaurant Tomyam I would always go for their clear soup base which is the authentic taste from Thai not the fiery red tomyam we usually have which is only Malaysian style. Clear Chicken Tom Yam did not fail to impress us as Collen drink every sip and keep praising every sip of it. Its a bit spicy after taste, and more towards sour that is why most girl will love it. By far I think this is one of the best clear soup I have come across.  RM19

Green Curry Chicken that is cook to perfection that the curry is not too watery nor thick that just perfect to go along with rice. A few basil leaves to make the taste a bit more kick and a bit creamy taste is just as expected.  RM12

My heng tai Tatt keep asking me lai lai, please feature me, so he take a dish and ask me to snap. Thai Seafood Otak-otak @ RM16

Another dish that I wont miss is the Otak-Otak that one thing we got deceive was it look huge but in the middle the have like a mini bowl to make it stood round. It was cook till the curry well coated with the seafood, a bit creamy sweet and sour, hint of strong basil taste some might love it some do not. To me it was just nice.

This is what Tatt said must have. Their Pork Knuckle which cook in Thai Style. The meat cook till soft and juicy that fork can easily remove the skin and the meat. The fat layers in between, to eat along with the sauce and rice just make it a superb dish~

Since we have clear soup base, as for fish we head for their signature spicy steam fish. All of us just love the soup base, spicy enough yet sour after that. Colleen again keep drinking the soup non stop.

Another dish highly recommended by Tatt is Claypot Prawn with Glass Noodles @ RM45.00. I would personally recommend this too.

Mango Sticky Rice

Thap Thim Krop @ RM4

Overall of this restaurant certainly this Thai Restaurant stood out better in taste and more towards Thai on sour and spiciness. If you are craving for nice Thai food, no doubt that I would recommend this restaurant, just be prepare to pay a bit more as I would say, compare to KL , just cant be compared.

-= Ka Ching =-

Food Rating 8/10, quite good in Penang~ -Stamped-

–Warning– This is based on my individual taste. Try it at your own risk-

Location:
Chok Dee Thai Restaurant @ Burmah Road
No: 231-D , Jalan Burma,
10350 Penang.

(few shops away from Green House Kopitiam)

Tel: 04-2291492

Business Hr : 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 9.30pm

Closed on Monday.

Good thing is this heritage area had attracted many tourist and many pre-wedding photoshoot had taken place with amazing work from many photographers along with many new cafe’s and boutique hotel bustling up around the area, one of the most recent place we found is this little family operate cafe, Nostalgie Cafe that stood alone in Steward Lane, which is just directly across Muntri Street.

All the operates in the area have their very own catchy name, not to be surprise that Nostalgie actually come by from French which evolve from the word Nostalgia with the meaning of yearning for the past. As this place is know with its rich heritage, therefore this word been chosen that preserve the whole building outlook and do with a bit more touch up to bring back the look and feel of the place.

Its like many cafe around the area and every cafe have their very own style preserving the whole building, and I must say this outlet is one of my favourite, as they did it with different style. A bit of art, antique which is a combination of east and west combination. Why is that so? Below is running operate cafe and upstairs is a boutique hotel which expected to be complete by Febuary 2012 and there are already people book the place. I got a chance to preview the place and its nice without completion yet.

Back to my question, why is that so and with following pictures you will understand. . .

The cafe is operated with chinese antique where the family really put in efford and import it back from China on a certain furniture. .

This is the running cafe area . ..

and this is what I mean a touch from the West with classic art paintings been put up on the wall . .

A glimpse for the room upstairs .. .

Right in the middle, they have a mini garden  . ..

and this is how people enjoying the place, a classic touch with a bit of simple contemporary design to make it very comfortable to chill for a morning. They are just a very friendly couple~

As the cafe are moving forward, soon to be they will have many drinks to be introduce into the menu which is coming soon~

On a hot sunny day, you would not want to miss this 2 drinks which is Ice Lemon Tea @ RM 5 & Cranberry Longan @ RM 9. Which is really a thirst quencher.

If you are a Lime drink lover, try not to miss this as not many places can serve nice Lime Juice drink and the colour and tone of the drink already tell, made fresh~

The menu is pretty simple as the have spaghetti, pizza and sandwich, the rest are drinks~ Food range are more like Italian homecook!

A simple dish to start off with Spaghetti Aglio Olio with Prawns @ RM 24, taste is light with olive oil and well coated along the spaghetti,  sprinkle upon some cheese powder on top that serve along with two huge prawns. . .

a meal that cook with their very own homemade sauce is Spaghetti Marinara with Prawns @ RM 24,   sourish in taste with the tomato sauce well coated on which is not too dry and by the time you finish the whole plate, there are little sauce that left on the plate that makes it look like you have lick it off~

Fettuccine Carbonara with Turkey Bacon @ RM 21, as not many people can take too creamy taste as that’s one of my favourite, a bit salty with bacon that cook along, and enough cream to make it as I prefer.

The star of the day is this Chicken and Feta Cheese Pizza @ RM 28, a home made base dough which you can see the chef roll in the kitchem that comes with the crust not too thick nor thin which is just perfect! Rich in feta cheeze taste and the flavor is a bit more strong, and a bit sourish with the cherry tomato that makes it blend so well. - Recommended!

A pizza which is generous with prawns is this Prawns and Chili Pizza @ RM30  that you can see each slice of pizza comes with decent size of prawns. This pizza bends towards more on sourish size because of its tomato base~

Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich @ RM 14

Sandwich lovers, you must not miss this with its fluffy homemade bread daily on a very limited bread available that once sold out, you have to come back the next day. I love the bread so much and the chicken is perfectly grill that make it a great sandwich to start your day off. - Recommended!

Under desert menu, this is the supper star or known as the cafe’s signature cake, Carrot Cake @ RM 12. This cake is also made fresh daily and one of the best seller in the outlet. Often get sold out over the day very fast, and some of the customers even come a few rounds for this cake. The cake is huge enough to feed for 2 person and if you are a cake lover like me, once slice is just perfecT! Its rich in ingredient, that every bite is filled with walnut and add on with a bit of raisins to sweeten it a bit. The cake is not too compact yet its a bit bouncy when you bite on it. A cake that I prefer, soft and not too sweet~

Chocolate Brownies with Walnuts are a bit on the bitter side because of the chocolate used, and some of you might not used to it. They are not dry, very moist and with chocolate sauce added on makes it even better. RM10

White Coffee @ RM 5 and Black Coffee @ RM 4

If you are coming to this outlet for dining, my recommendations is do not miss their pizza and sandwich, as their spaghetti taste are more towards authentic taste, therefore some people might find the taste a bit bland or sourish.

Its a good thing to see another cafe pop up around the area, one set back of this outlet is there are very limited parking space around the area, as you can park in the small lane oppsite the cafe or you have to park nearby area with just about 3 minutes walk by strolling down this rich heritage area`

Now they also have special Christmas Menu in da house check it out and make your reservations:

Location:
Nostalgie Cafe
34, Stewart Lane,
10200, Penang.
(Few shop lots away from Coffee Atelier)

Business Hour: 11am to 9pm, Closed on every Thursday.

Contact Number: 604- 261 0977

Email: nostalgie.penang@gmail.com

View Nostalgie Cafe in a larger map

This humble little shop have very limited in place is run by a family and they have been operating for more than 10 years if I am not mistaken. Their shop is very limited in space, therefore always you have to wait as their service is pretty slow. On average for serving is about 20minutes and waiting time can stretch till 1 hour. So if you do not have patient then you can forget about this place.

There are quite alot of choices of Crepes to choose from in the menu with front and back . . .

Besides that, they do sell fusion food ranging from western, Italian and some locals cuisine.

Nutela @ RM 11

So we ordered 2 different crepes starting off with this one in wraps style. Wrap with banana slices, top with whipped cream, shower with chocolate rice on top and chocolate syrup and a scoop of Choco ice cream turns out to be the winner compare to another one, as banana is so fresh n soft, love the strong taste of it and pairs very well with nutela chocolate. The wrap is very aromatic and just eat along with full combination is savory.

 Sunburst @ RM 10

Is another version of pancake desert is more like so round slice like MacD breakfast pancake but of course its much better than MacD alot of times. This comes with slices of mango, peanut and top with Mango Ice cream. We just love the base of the pancake . Still think Nutella is better.

Well, not many places offer very nice pancake desert and this is certainly one of the places to look for, prices might be a bit expensive as I still think worth spending for once a while .. for their food I have not try before yet. One of the recommended place by me if you are craving for crepes in Penang.

If you do find other better places please do let me know, I love to go find out on it ..

-= Ka Ching =-

Food Rating 8/10, pretty good and recommended~ -Stamped-

–Warning– This is based on my individual taste. Try it at your own risk-

Location:
CREPE COTTAGE
77-A Persiaran Gurney,
10250 Penang, Malaysia.

Opening Hours: 6.00pm – 12.00midnight (Closed Tuesday)

Contact: 019-448 1680 (Agnes Chee)
GPS: 5.432781, 100.316505

It might look very empty, as I was their during dinner hours, which they just started operation, as it heads towards woo hours, the crowd will start pouring in.

In their menu, they have limited choice of food to chose from as this is what they are good at according to my friend, also very reasonably price.

This is what they are famous for, wet version of Char Koey Teow or what I called it Koey Teow Basah as I order a small one, because I just had dinner at another place before heading here. One reason that attracted many people to drop by is their soup base koey teow, taste a bit sweet, salty and a bit thick in flavour, every spoonfull you get to drink with soup that is just perfect. Portion is just right at RM3 for small. You can try their special as filled with  more seafood that price at RM5. Pretty good deal.

I have tried before a few Malay version Char Koey Teow and definately this stall hit the top at the moment. Its a crowd favourite around the neighborhood, if you do drop by, you can give it a try. . .

*HALAL

-= Ka Ching =-

Food Rating 7.5/10, pretty good~ -Stamped-

–Warning– This is based on my individual taste. Try it at your own risk-

Location:
Char Keoy Teow Lorong Alka Ria,
Jalan Bunga Raya,
14000, Bukit Mertajam, Penang
(at the corner junction next to Pos Office)

Operating hours:
7.30pm – 2am (i think)

GPS Coordinates: N5.36485,E100.45956

View Char Keoy Teow Lorong Alka Ria in a larger map

That makes us more curious and we decided to head in and try out this David Brown Restaurant.

As you have to climb up the stairs, you will head into a garden area and there are more stairs heading up . ..

We just follow the track then till there is a small little wooden gate. . .

come by this huge bungalow with huge garden at the front.

here is the front view and just get to know its a very classic English house that had preserve and did a make over of the place to maintain its classic heritage look.

You can enjoy your afternoon session here. . . with water lily pond by the side ..

When you enter the house, you will be impress by the interior decorations.

Its so heritage British colonial interior is preserved as when I saw this, this place is perfect for wedding photography . .

It was until few weeks ago, decided to head there again to visit the small little town located at another side of Penang.

When we reach,I just got to know that the market is under upgrading work and the laksa stall have move to the corner kopitiam which purely sell only laksa that located right at the T-junction if you are coming from Paya Terubong direction.

Looking at their stalls, with some advertisement, they had been feature food guide and newspaper.

Like any other laksa, the stalls is fill with lots of noodle, and other ingredient to be added in.

Its hard for you to find table in the shop, as there are many people that purposely came by for this Laksa only.

One of the signature drink you must try in this coffee shop is that ‘Fresh Nutmeg Juice with Asam’. I used to hate anything related to nutmeg as I dislike the smell and taste of it. Slowly I learn to drink and overcome hate of this drink.

Well, this drink is very refreshing, fresh and its pure whereby I think they used at least 3-4 nutmeg to blend in it. It was a hot day and this drink was a thirst quencher, that this drink is also good for health. I had 2 cups anyway. . Recommended!

You can do take away for the fresh nutmeg juice, which is very pure blended and need to be add on with some water. cost RM4 & RM 8 if not mistaken.

In this stall we order 2 version of its laksa, One is ‘Siam Laksa’ which is a bit more creamy or lemak as they added in coconut milk into it and I one of the catch in this the noodle, which is soooo smooth and a bit chewy.

Next is the normal ‘Asam Laksa’ that I like about it is, the fish are smash into very tiny pieces then every mouth you drink on the soup, you sip along with the fish. I prefer this version rather than clear soup with big piece of fish added on top.

Among those 2… I prefer Siam  Laksa as not many places can cook very nice siam laksa, as the normal laksa, I had better ones. For me, I would recommend their Siam Laksa if you do come so far. . .

More details of the shop and history you can read in this blog: mywisewife.com

-= Ka Ching =-

Food Rating 9/10, very good on their siam laksa~ Recommended! ~-Stamped-

–Warning– This is based on my individual taste. Try it at your own risk-

Location:
Balik Pulau Laksa at Nan Guang Coffee Shop
(next to former Balik Pulau Market)
Jalan Balik Pulau,
Balik Pulau, Penang, Malaysia

Business hours: 12:30pm – 3:30pm (Close on Wednesday)

Come earlier on weekends to avoid disappointment

View Food Spots in Penang Malaysia in a larger map

This place is no longer famous to only local crowds, whereby now it had attracted alot of people from other states and for so many havent been here, decided to take my KL friends to visit this place. I am quite surprise that its super pack that so many people are hunting for tables. Of course when you are talking about, holiday in Penang, most of the hawker center will be packed with people.

Types of lok lok that you can choose from, frozen food, to fresh meats and of course this were not only the option as the full option can filled up the whole table, as we ask the auntie remove those that we are not interested, and when we wanted, we can just head to their stalls and grab back to our table.

In this area, there are about 3-6 lok lok stalls and I guess their difference is their satay sauce. Usually I mix all in, as the smaller bowl is to add in more spicy, that I can even sweat after having a few sticks.

Of course one of the reason that many people are here is that, Padang Brown Lok Lok are consider one of the cheapest rate, whereby my KL friends also got shock on their pricing.

Next I was hunting for other food beside Lok Lok then I saw this stall located at the very far corner are packed with people, is this little Yong Tau Fu stall. Of course when you mention that Yong Tau Fu, mostly will relate back to Ampang, but Penang version of Yong Tau Fu is very much different compare to the KL version.

So I decide to join the crowd and wanted to test how nice is this stall since its packed with elderly also, and I guess its something healthy? :p Price is very reasonable as its stated up in the board.

and I can tell you that, all those ‘kiasu’ uncle and auntie is like rushing in clipping the choices of food they want, whereby its like a closing down sale!

So you queue up in one end, take a bowl and chopsticks, then with all the choices available on the table like pig intestine, pork ball, taiwan sausages, homemade fish ball, bean curd, that many more to offer, then you just pass your bowl to the owner and let him cut.

After 25 minutes in the queue, finally, this is my super big bowl of Yong Tau Fu filled with lots of ingredient, that I bring over to the table, the rest of the 4 of them their jaw dropped and ask me why so big bowl! Cuz I find it cheap and only cost me RM17 for this whole bowl.

Once I put down, they whole bowl starting to get drained out, the soup taste so good and sweet, that they keep drinking on the soup till the last drop and, homemade fish ball is superb, bouncy and soft, their own homemade items, I guess its a must take item that all make it very nice!

No wonder the queue is so long as this is one of a nice Yong Tau Fu stall that I have miss those kind of taste~

Its a highly Recommended stall if you do drop by at this area!

*NON-HALAL

-= Ka Ching =-

Food Rating 8/10, good place to hunt for food!~Recommended~ ~-Stamped-

–Warning– This is based on my individual taste. Try it at your own risk-

Location:
Padang Brown Food Court
Corner of Perak Road and Anson Road
Penang.

GPS coordinates : N05.414249 E100.316611

View Padang Brown Food Court in a larger map

As night time falls, we head to Batu Ferringi , which is one of the main tourist attraction where by all the resorts are there also night market that happens everyday.

After a short walk, I brought them to this new bar Sixty 9ine Mansion which had open its door to public since last year. I have heard so much about this place that most of my friend enjoy it here and honestly, this is the first time I am visiting this place. This is a bar that is quite unique from the hottest in town spot – Upper Penang Road.

This big bar surely amaze me, with many sections to choose from and lets head to the outdoor area first. I consider this as one of the best area, as it have curtain fountain with water flowing, tables and chairs are place on this shallow pool. You can just sit by this section with your leg soak in the water and just chat all the way ..  .

there is a pool right in the middle, then another fun part is there are 3 pairs of lazy chair right by the side of it . . .

where you can sit comfortably on this chair and take off your shoes and let your leg soak in the pool.

Another section right by the pool is filled with comfortable sofa’s

If you want to have a bit more away from the music, then the beach section might suits you, that you can be seated on this section with plastic chairs and tables or :

in a bamboo hut. This place is must dimmer as it looks, you can just sit here sipping your wine or beer enjoying a bit fade off music background that tunes with sea waves. Here is abit more windy compare to inside.

seaside bar is right infront to cater for your drinking needs.

When comes to indoor area, of course will be much more cooler with their air condition is on, and its like another total ambiance that you enjoy. It is more luxury in style with huge english classic sofa place by the walls and huge rectangle table to place all your drinks.

those who feel a bit lazy, pillow are there for you to hug or melt onto the cushion.

the 3 leng lui’s and another guy mia that visited Penang during the holiday.

I love this club alot, the set back is that, they played house/trance music. If they were to play latest mixture of R&B it will be a big hit for me, in such a great ambiance.

Location:
Sixy 9ine Mansion
69, Jalan Batu Ferringhi,
11100 Penang, Malaysia
(located in between Holiday Inn Hotel and the Ship)
Operating Hours:
Mon – Sun: 18:00 – 03:00

Tel: +604 881 9966; +012 4343 669

Website: www.69mansion.com

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