My Own Cafe Opposite Khoo Kongsi

Don't be misled by the title of this post as I still haven't own any cafe yet. The name of the shop that I'm about to introduce is actually called 'My Own Cafe' or it's Chinese name '我的咖啡館'. 

We went for the weekly night market at Armenian Street on a Saturday last January and accidentally came across this new cafe while I was about to enter into Cannon Square taking photos of Khoo Kongsi temple. It is a heritage terrace house converted into a modest cafe selling just Char Koay Teow and Penang Asam Laksa. This cafe is a good addition to the fluorishing Armenian Street area as there aren't many hawker stalls at the moment. 

My Own Cafe Entrance

Penang Asam Laksa

Penang Char Koay Teow

3D wall art has become a trend in Penang ever since the famous 2 kids riding a bicycle art work by Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic. While this is is not created by him, it adds creativity into the interior of this little cafe.

Location: 2 Lebuh Cannon, Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: +6012-453 2453

Bak Kut Teh 王排肉骨茶 @ Gurney Drive

Penang is constantly evolving fast and what used to be the Coffee Island at Gurney Drive is now selling Bak Kut Teh called 王排肉骨茶. It is obvious that this post has been delayed as you will later see in one of the pictures with Christmas decoration as it was taken December last year.

Personally I feel that the change is for the better as the previous Coffee Island concept was not very practical. They used to sell Penang hawker food in Coffee Island with higher price and less authentic taste. People might as well walk further to the nearby food court near the roundabout which is famous throughout the region.

Now back to Bak Kut Teh which is one of the local's favourite food has managed to attract substantial crowd in the morning. The food is good, seating area is quite comfortable and clean but the service can be a bit slow at times.

This location has witness many businesses came and went for the past decade. Initially it was a private club next to the Penas office, then came Over Time and Coffee Island. Let's just hope that 王排肉骨茶 could stay a little bit longer than its predecessors. 

Omelette with bitter gourd

油菜

油炸鬼

Location: 77 Persiaran Gurney, Penang, Malaysia

Business Hours: 7.30am - 3pm

Kampai 乾杯 @ e-Gate

After a year didn't been to e-Gate I realized a few changes. For instance Tao is no longer there and I believe that a new outlet called Kampai 乾杯 is taking over its place. Initially I thought that Kampai is a Japanese restaurant due to its name and also a few photos of their food displayed at the entrance. Upon closer look at the menu it turns out that they are actually serving Taiwanese cuisine. 

Since it is new and the outlet was really beautifully renovated, we decided to have a go with it. Their beautiful wall paper which at first glance one would think that they are Chinese poems are actually part of their menu displayed on the wall with different sizes and creative fonts.

However, there is no time to appreciate their interior as we were all hungry and it's time to just order our dinner ASAP.

3 Cups Chicken 三杯雞 RM9.90

Claypot Crab Meat Tofu 蟹黄豆腐煲 RM9.90

Grille Mackerel RM9.90

Taiwanese Roast Pork 烤咸豬肉

Bitter Gourd 鹹蛋苦瓜 RM9.90

The good thing about this restaurant is that most of their dishes are only RM9.90 although they come in small portion. It is a good way to order variety of dishes and have a taste of Taiwanese cuisine in this modest beautiful outlet. 

Location: 

1-01-05 & 1-01-06, Ground Floor, e-Gate, Lebuh Tunku Kudin 2, Gelugor, 11700, Penang, Malaysia.

Operating Hours:

Mon-Sun: 12pm - 2am

Contact:

+604 658 7826

Black Canyon @ Gurney Plaza

Gurney Plaza is undoubtedly Penangites’ favourite hangout place as it is a place where you could spend the whole day with your family to do your shopping, eating, self-maintenances (such as slimming treatment, hair-cut and manicure) and watching the latest movies from Hong Kong or Hollywood. If you simply wish to get something to eat, there are plenty of varieties to choose from.

Most may think that eating in a shopping mall will cost more damage to their purse which is true when you compare to the ridiculously cheap and delicious food you could get from the streets. But there is one such outlet in Gurney Plaza that offer something more affordable if you do not wish to get away from the mall and go somewhere else to eat.

It is the Black Canyon restaurant right next to DOME. Their set individual meals are really affordable at just RM12.90 with a main dish plus a spicy mini Tom Yum. And just like any other cafés around the area, you can access their free wifi which you certainly could not get if you eat other hawker food along the street. I managed to download an App while dining there even though the speed was quite slow.

Spicy Crispy Salmon Salad RM10.90

Spicy Mini Tom Yum - come with any Set Meals

Thai Style Fried Rice With Prawn - part of the Set Meals

Spicy Stir-Fried Noodle with Chicken & Hot Basil RM9.90

Thai rice noodle (Kha-Nom Jean) RM9.90

Brown Pocket @ Gurney Paragon

Instead of the usual Starbucks or Coffee Bean, I've decided to try a new outlet called Brown Pocket. I see its logo from Jalan Kelawei every time I drive home and wondering what is it. So decided to check it out and find out that it is actually a cafe situated high up on Level 6 of Gurney Paragon, an unusual location for a cafe since most are located on the ground floor.

The chic interior attracted me to go into it to chill out with family. The less crowded environment could be due to its location, not easily found out by most people. But I liked it as a cafe is supposed to make you feel relax and you can't possibly do that in a crowded space. There were various types of modern furniture scattered around the space with its high ceiling and soft music. The wifi is quite reasonably fast and I managed to download a few Apps while I was there!

Overall environment is perfect, drinks are good and it is definitely a great place to hang out with friends and family.

Hot Mocha

Kiwi + Orange Juice

MM Noodles House 面面俱到

Ask anyone to say something about Penang and they will most likely tell you about its food, historic architecture, antiques or even their beloved Chief Minister. What if there is such a place where you could eat Penang food in a heritage building filled with antiques and sit side by side with the Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng?

This place is called MM Noodles House 面面俱到. It is a relatively new restaurant just opened its door at the end of 2013. The main entrance of this heritage shop house was tastefully renovated with thatched canopies that further make it stand out from the rest of the similar design terrace shop houses. It is easier to find at night as it is the only shop with bright lights along the narrow and dark Lebuh Melayu.

The interior of the shop is decorated with many antiques and some old photos of Penang. It is a clever and cost effective way of refurbish a small restaurant such as this. There are only six tables and one of them has a wall painting of Lim Guan Eng eating Hokkien Mee!

The set menu is quite funny, it is called Cincai Set or 随便套餐 in Chinese. It is basically rice with Lor Bak or marinated minced pork (卤肉), egg and soup. The soups are different everyday depending on which day you go. As we went on a Tuesday we got  玉米肉骨汤. In terms of drinks I particularly like the old grandfather’s metal cup but you only get it if you order cold Milo or coffee. And if you check into their Facebook Page while you are there, you will get a complimentary “homemade ice pop”.

Contact Info

MM Noodles House 面面俱到

2C, Lebuh Melayu 10100 George Town Penang.

Tel No: 04-261 3344/ 010-464 7296

Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/pages/面面俱到mm-noodles-house

Fried Appetizers - Jumbo Set Combo

Penang Hokkien Mee

Cincai Set

White Coffee

Homemade Ice Pop

Tua Wa Kong 大碗公

大碗公 Tua Wa Kong is located at No. 8 Jalan Krian, George Town within a stretch of heritage shop houses known as 8 rows(八间). They served Penang Hokkien Mee but with more varieties as they also serve this famous dish dry. Yes, dry Penang Hokkien Mee more common in Seberang Perai but not on the island.

Their main menu is as follow:

·         Dried Hokkien Noodle (Prawn/Pork) -福建干 (虾/肉)[RM8.50 Regular, RM9.50 Big]

·         Hokkien Noodle Soup (Prawn/Pork) -福建面 (虾/肉)[RM8.50 Regular, RM9.50 Big]

Traditional Hokkien noodle soup is served with yellow noodle and vermicelli. Here at Tua Wa Kong, customers got to choose from not just the above two but also flat rice noodle and instant noodle. You can even decide how the egg is going to be cooked: spring egg温泉蛋/ boiled egg水煮蛋/ marinated egg/ hard boiled egg.

There are also rice dishes for those who prefer not to have noodles: marinated pork rice, special plum sause (chicken/fish) rice, black pepper sause (chicken/fish) rice.

Tua Wa Kong is opened every day except Tuesday. Business Hours from 11.30am – 9.30pm.

Crispy Vege

Hokkien Noodle (Dry)

Hokkien Noodle Soup (Koay Teow)

Sago Honeydew