Kek Seng Kopitiam 格成茶室

Kek Seng Kopitiam is an old quaint coffee shop that has been running their business ever since my grandmother's time. It is a small modest shop where you can get Ice Kacang with Durian Ice Cream, Popiah (fresh spring rolls), Asam Laksa, Chicken Rice, Hokkien Mee and Koay Teow Th'ng all under one roof!

Shops like this are disappearing all over George Town with its traditional furniture especially those by the side of the wall where the joinery seats are almost 90 degrees with very tight space where you may almost collide with the person sitting opposite you when you bend down to eat. It is places like Kek Seng Kopitiam that still reminds me of Penang during the nostalgic 80s. Although uncomfortable, it is the place you definitely want to visit if you truly want to have an authentic experience of Penang.

Popiah as appetizer.

Penang Asam Laksa as my main.

Ice Kacang with two scoops of Durian ice cream as my dessert.

 Location: 382 Jalan Penang, 10000, George Town, Penang.

Old House Restaurant @ Kimberley Street

It was Chinese New Year's Eve, most people have gone back to their hometowns respectively, the usually jam packed streets around George Town were deserted, peaceful yet warm atmosphere throughout as everyone was getting ready for the welcoming of the new year the next day.

Chinese New Year's Eve has always been one of the most significant date on the Lunar Calendar as it is the time when families are having their reunion dinner. In today's globalized world, people work at various places around the world but on that day most will go back to their hometowns to spend time and reunite with families members. What is greater than the feeling of going HOME after all?

The place we went for our reunion dinner in 2014 was at the Old House Restaurant at Kimberley Street, George Town, Penang. It is a located in a row of beautifully preserved heritage shop houses.

Old House Restaurant main entrance.

As the restaurant's owner also does some other business like selling Chinese worshiping items, there are many interesting things to see such as the statue of Tang Sanzang (唐三藏) at the front of it along the five-foot way.

Tang Sanzang (唐三藏)

As we were directed to our reserved table, there were small porcelain bowls elevated on a porcelain tray with candle in them. What was inside the bowls was the exact dish that I had been waiting for: 佛跳墙 (literally means that this dish is so good that even the Buddha will be tempted to jump over the wall and have a taste of it). The waitress then light the candles to warm it up for us which made it looked even more appetizing. 

佛跳墙

Appetizer - roast pork, scallop, salad prawn & century egg.

Penang Hokkien Mee

Beautiful colors of this unique Penang hawker food which some people also refer to as prawn noodle soup.

Chinese Tea in glass

Miraku @ G-Hotel

If you love Sashimi then it is always worth your time and money to go for Japanese buffet instead of Ala-Carte. Miraku at G-Hotel is such restaurant that offers good quality food in a traditional Japanese settings. 

The location of this restaurant cannot be anymore strategic as it is located right in the most happening place in Penang - Gurney Drive. Miraku is on the first floor of G-Hotel where Gurney Plaza is just a few steps away.

Lunch is split into 2 sessions (this shows how popular it is) and you have to call in to reserve for a table and time of your arrival.

Contact number: 604-229 8702 

Note: Buffet lunch only on Saturday, Ala-Carte on other days of the week.

Eagerly waiting outside Miraku's entrance which opens for business at 12pm sharp.

Looking down at G-Hotel main reception lobby while waiting for Miraku's to open for business. G-Hotel has chic interior with minimalist and sleek design elements.

Assorted sashimi - let's the feast begins!

Grill fish head

Lunch is split into two session so you won't have the usual craziness and crowd in most buffet lunch.

Koay Teow Th'ng @ Jalan Kuala Kangsar

The thing that I miss most about Penang is that I could have hawker food as breakfast. We are spoilt for choices as to the sheer number of variety we could choose from as soon as we wake up. It is a serious decision making process each morning as to where and what to eat simply because there are just too many places and way too much food that I want to eat each morning!

We went to Jalan Kuala Kangsar in the heart of George Town where there is a street market every morning. Before we reached the market there is this small little shop at the corner of Jalan Kuala Kangsar and Lebuh Keng Kwee. There was only one hawker stall within that shop selling Koay Teow Th'ng 粿條湯 or rice noodle soup. 

I couldn't see the name of the shop as it was covered by a blind spanning the width of the shop and a few motorcycles casually parked in front of its entrance (a very Malaysian way of parking by the way). 

What attracted me to try their food was that they are serving duck meat Koay Teow Th'ng (鸭肉粿條湯) as it is particularly sweeter than most other stalls which are offering shredded chicken instead.

The little corner shop @ Jalan Kuala Kangsar, George Town, Penang.

We order an extra plate of shredded duck meat, yum!

鸭肉粿條湯

Mount Erskine Roadside Food Stalls

Penang is renowned for its street food culture. It is indeed a unique feature that is quite common throughout in Asia but not in the Western world. Perth has started to see the appeal of street food that there are food trucks allowed to do their business in the heart of the city on every Friday evening. It says in the travel brochure that people could experience the street food culture of KL in Perth. The statement shows how little the Aussies know about Malaysia because Penang is actually the undisputed street food capital of Malaysia!

Anyway, there are countless hawker stalls scattered throughout the island but most tourists only got introduced to a few popular ones such as Gurney Drive and Red Garden Food Paradise in Leith Street. The locals usually go to better places that offer value for money quality food such as the road side food stalls along Jalan Mount Erskine.

It is a makeshift mini hawker center by the roadside that sell variety of Penangites' favourite food. It is a good place to have some light meals during the day. People usually park along the service road in front of a row of terrace houses. Parking spots could be hard to find during peak hours. 

Customers happily dined in under the temporary shelter erected by the road side - a common sight in Penang.

A fresh coconut drink to start with in quenching our thirst under the hot and humid tropical weather.

Asam Laksa is the trademark of Penang food and is a must try whenever you are on the island.

Char Koay Teow is good in this place.

Some light snacks if you are on a diet.

Ferringhi Coffee Garden

Are you the type of person who likes to have breakfast but are just too lazy to wake up early in the morning? Worry no more! There is a place in Batu Ferringhi where you can have your favourite breakfast even after lunch time! It is the Ferringhi Coffee Garden besides Parkroyal Penang Resort.

Ferringhi Coffee Garden entrance

Extensive landscaping around the forecourt

The interior was decorated with mini lion dance props during the Chinese New Year period

FCG is not hard to find as its entrance and forecourt are decorated with beautiful landscape making it stands out from the other outlets along the street. There were not many people when we got there as it was already past lunch time. There was a group of expatriate housewives enjoying their afternoon and chatting in the outdoor seating area. The staff were friendly and never stop smiling whenever they look at you. The whole atmosphere was simply comfortable and relaxing.

Baked Egg Omelette - Melted Cheese with mixed Mushrooms, Beef Bacon, accompanied with Baked Beans inclusive of a slice of daily toast  @ RM18.80

"FCG Breakkie" - Choices of homemade Chicken or Beef sausages, preparation of Eggs, Beef Bacon, Potatoes and grilled Tomatoes inclusive of a slice of Daily Toast @ RM27.80

Mixed Fruit Juice @ RM9.80

Location: 43-D, Batu Ferringhi, 11100, Penang, Malaysia.

Business Hours: 8am - 6pm, last order at 5pm.

Contact: +60 4-885 1192

Wanton Mee @ Lebuh Melayu

We originally wanted to look for a famous Koay Teow Th'ng hawker stall at Lebuh Melayu or commonly known by the local Hokkien community as (台牛后) but couldn't find a parking spot ( a thing that everyone should get used to whenever driving around George Town), so we ended up somewhere in the middle of the street where we accidentally discover a make-shift stall with lots of people. It was located at the corner of Lebuh Melayu and Lorong Tok Aka in front of a heritage building:

The stall in front of a heritage building along Lebuh Melayu where we are about to talk about.

We decided to explore this place simply because there is a parking spot available in front of us (finding a parking spot along the street in Penang is sometime harder than looking for gold). As the tables around the stall have been fully occupied, we have no choice but to sit across the street. There were a few tables set up along the five-foot way in front of a heritage shop house. We peeped inside the house and saw a poorly maintained living room, not sure whether there is anyone living there. Anyway our focus is on food, not history of the house so we went across to make our order but was asked to go back to our seat to wait for them to come to take the order instead. They were so busy that they had to take care of those who ordered first plus those waiting eagerly in front of their stall for takeaways.

Fortunately it didn't take long before a lady came along and took our order of two bowls of wanton noodles and soya bean.

You know why most people fall in love with Penang food so easily? It is because of their stingily small portion that makes you crave for more! Somehow they know just the right amount to make you feel good without filling your gastronomical tank. The texture of the noodles is fantastic and the sauce is simply wonderful: not too salty but making the whole dish juicy.

Quite reasonable price @ RM3.60 per bowl.

Location: Corner of Lebuh Melayu and Lorong Toh Aka

Business Hours: 12.30pm - 5pm