Malaysia/Penang food review with map and GPS

Last Friday (22/08/2008), again, I was not sure where to venture for lunch. Thinking of buying a sandal * as my existing one already worn off, plus I can’t find an affordable one nearby, I decided to go to Prangin Mall and look for the item and at the mean time enjoy my lunch there. After walking around, I found a restaurant called Thai Station. Walked in there at 12PM sharp and I am the first customer… to “operate” >:)

Thai Station (View from Dining Table)

Cendol

Thai Fried Tang Hoon (Seafood)

Stuffed BBQ Squid

After flipping menu few times looking for specialties and trying to avoid spicy stuff (most of them are), I ordered one Thai Fried Tang Hoon (RM 11.90++) after confirming with the waitress that it is not spicy and is one of the new specialties (not yet appear in the thick menu, just a leaflet). It has two favorites – Seafood or Chicken, and I chosen Seafood. Thinking of having a snack, I ordered BBQ Squid served with Thai sauce (RM 9.90++). Also, I ordered a cendol – my favourite.

The cendol is very good even though the price is at slightly expensive side (RM 3.50). I can get a bigger one at roadside stall in Sungai Petani at RM1.20… but since this is a shopping mall’s restaurant, so It is ok. The Thai Fried Tang Hoon is very yummy. Prawns are big and there are overall 4 of them if not wrong. It is fragrant also since it was fried with mixture of vegetables.

The food tastes so good that I almost finished it before the last dish comes. Luckily I performed an emergency break and continue with my cendol. Finally, here comes the BBQ Squid. I was surprised that the squids (overall 4 of them if not wrong) are actually stuffed with meat (chicken/pork) and prawn chunk, which made my stomach full after finishing all of them.

After paying the bill, I finally got a sandal at RM39.90 in one of the shoe retail shops…. far cheaper than those branded sandals (e.g. Hush Puppy, Croc, Camel Active, etc). I can’t imagine one buying a sandal for RM1xx, while sandals can easily stolen in this city.

As a whole, you should try Thai Station if you love spicy food. I will definitely try it again in future.

* It appears that “sandal” and “slipper” can be used interchangably. Initially, “slipper” refers to light indoor footwear. Since nowaday those footwears can be worn both indoor and outdoor, “sandal” and “slipper” are actually refer to the same thing in some countries, whereas “flip-flop” refers to the sandal with Y-shape strap.

Name: Thai Station
Address: 33-01-118A, Prangin Mall, Komtar, Jalan Lim Chwee Leong, 10100 Georgetown, Penang.
Tel: 04-2628080

Those living in Malaysia and owning a car sure knew that RON97 fuel price had increased to RM2.70 last month. Even though yesterday PM announced that the price is dropped to RM2.55 (down 15 cents) starting today, it is still at expensive side. For food stores out there, it is common to see their price increase as well. I remember once Fillet O’Fish in McDonald is selling at RM4.00. Now, you can only enjoy it at RM4.00 in McSaver menu.]

Clam Chowder Soup

Salmon and Mushroom Pasta

Swensen Cool Temptation

It is not my first time visiting Swensen’s at Queensbay Mall, Penang. Last Thursday, I visited them again after about a year. The menu is changed and there are more choices nowadays. The management in Queensbay’s branch seems changed also. There is 20% discount if you present student card (from any school I believe) when ordering…. ala carte only (Fxxx!). I noticed that the price is kind of expensive. Anyway, I ordered set lunch, which is RM20.90++ and by adding RM2.00, you can add a soft drink or ice lemon tea. The set lunch comes with clam chowder soup and one single scoop ice cream. I order salmon and mushroom pasta and it tastes just okay. I hope it comes with oyster instead of mushroom.

When I returned to my office, I found a brochure forwarded by my colleague more than one year ago. It is regarding Swensen’s Promotion, and the set lunch that time is only RM16.90 including soft drink. It even has 10% discount for Jusco Card members. The later is no longer available now. Definitely, you can’t get this price nowadays.

As a whole, Swensen’s should make its price competitive with other retail chains, such as Baskin Robbin and Haagen-Dazs. An advantage for Swensen’s is that it provide western food as well. If it is able to create more specialty on its western food, and create new marketing strategy on ice-cream business (such as opening an ice-cream counter outside of the restaurant or somewhere else), I see no reason why Swensen is unable to compete with Secret Recipe, Breeks, Baskin Robbin, Haagen-Dazs, etc.

Name: Swensen’s
Address: 2F-50 2nd floor Queen’s Bay Mall, Persiaran Bayan Indah, Sungai Nibong 11900, Pualu Pinang, Malaysia.
Tel: 04-6466593
Web: http://www.swensens.com.sg

Traditional Caesar Salad	Oven-baked Half Chicken with BBQ Sauce	Fish N Chips
Baked Seafood Rice	Buffalo Wing

In case you are bored with roasted chickens from Kxxny Rogxx, Dxxx’s Deli or Nxxdos, there is actually another shop you can try for – Breeks. The half chicken is at reasonable price and my friends recommended me to try. In my opinion, however, the chicken is just okay. On my second visit, I ordered baked seafood rice. Even though the cheese is very nice, the mussels and prawns could be better as they were overcooked and becoming hard. My last visit is actually quite a long time ago in September 2007 and things may become better now. The half chicken and Fish N Chips are their signature dishes. It would take a while for the dishes to arrive.

Breeks should be under a Singapore company but unfortunately not much information is available online for Malaysia customers.

Fried Fish Fillet Neptune	Dessert	Dutch Pea Soup
蜜汁柠檬鱼柳	Roasted Chicken With Curry Sauce	Seafood Spaghetti

If you are looking for a western + chinese cuisine restaurant with reasonable price near Penang International Stadium Arena (PISA), then you might consider Gastronomic Kopitiam at Sunway Tunas, Penang. Each day it has different kind of Western/Chinese set lunches. For example, with RM12.80 you can get fish fillet set lunch including soup, a drink, and dessert. Prawns are fresh there and you can ask for bigger plate on fried rice if your stomach is hungry. However, I noticed that recently the portion becomes smaller.

Update 08-Aug-2008: Went to the shop again and ordered Drunken Prawn Fried Noodle (醉虾生面). Usual price is RM6 but I requested for a bigger plate (RM7) due to hungry tummy, and it really is BIG! Fortunately I was able to finished it. The dish really worth the value as it comes with 7 fresh prawns. It would be better if the soup is mixed with rice wine.

XXL Crispy Chicken 超大雞排

Happy! Rice Box Set

Happy! Rice Box Set (Box View)

Recently I noticed a new small shop opened right opposite of Jusco basement (nearby Kenny Roger restaurant) called Shihlin Taiwan Street Snacks. During a weekday this week, after did a grocery shopping at Jusco, instead of buying usual Jusco sushi set, I plan to try out the food there.

The shop is kind of small and I think it can accomodate less than 10 persons along the counter. Initially I ordered one Happy! Rice Box set. My instinct told me that it may not fill my stomach so I ordered an XXL Crispy Chicken (in chinese is called 鸡排… say it 3 times in front of a local Chinese girl and you will receive free slaps).

Luckily my instinct is correct. Happy! Rice Box Set (RM9.00 Nett with a drink) served with portion of crispy chicken comes with rice, tofu, and preserved egg (皮蛋). XXL Crispy Chicken (RM 6.00 Nett) is by far the biggest fried chicken I ever eat. Half of the chicken is there. Surprisingly it is not oily and the fragrant filled my car making me can’t wait to enjoy it at home. Judging on the price, I rather choose XXL Crispy Chicken.

As a whole, if you are looking for a nice quick lunch or dinner, you should try its XXL Crispy Chicken as it is not oily and can easily fill your stomach.

The Ship (Sri Bahari) Environment	Mango Drink	Seafood Au Gratin
Rum and Raisin Ice-Cream Cake	Set Lunch Free Gift

Other than Little Cottage, there is another restaurant with dim light which is suitable for couple – The Ship. There are two branches in Penang here and the one I am going to talk later is in Jalan Sri Bahari. Even though the slogan is “The Best Stick Steak in Town”, I ordered one Seafood Au Gratin (Prawn, crab meat, oyster, fish meat, etc mixed with egg and baked cheese,  with potato wedges on side) when I first visited it in September 2007. Some meals are only applicable at Sri Bahari branch while some at Batu Ferringgi branch.

An advice when sitting there…. try to sit at the center to have chiller environment. When I visited them first time, I sat along the wall and sweat coming out after the meal. The waitress saw me so pity and recommended me to sit at the center in future. Definitely not a good area for couple who plan to undergo “hot” activity there. Also, the waitress will put a tower on your lap before meal arrival so make sure your “handbrake” is at down position.

As a whole, the food is quite nice and the price is reasonable. The meal (Seafood Au Gratin) as mentioned just now is a set lunch comes with crab meat mushroom soup, mango drink, dessert, and a FREE GIFT. The dessert is an ice-cream cake in Rum and Raisin favor – the favor I like most. It is kind of special considering they give free gift (a magnetic Malaysia kite) to customer as well. With only RM35.00 nett, this place definitely worths a second visit.

Address: 46, Sri Bahari Road, 10050 Penang, Malaysia.
Tel: 04-2633551/04-2639532
Fax: 04-2630054
Email: [email protected]
Restaurant Manager: Mr. Rahmat Ali
Business Hour: Monday to Sunday (11.30 am to 12.00 am)
Web: http://www.theship.com.my

Japin Restaurant Environment

Kimuchi Cyahan 泡菜炒饭

Gyoza 炸水饺

Hot Gingko Barley Dessert

Located at Island Plaza, Penang, Malaysia, Japin Restaurant is one of the two food tenders on third floor. Businesses in Island Plaza is getting poorer due to competition from shopping complex nearby such as Gurney Plaza. Some empty shop lots are left empty while the management still charging expensive parking fee, in which the watch boys’ attitude can be improved. I went there on one Friday on March 2008 during lunch hour (as usual, travel alone looking for never-try-before shops). Due to the emptiness of the mall I almost wanna go somewhere else for lunch but eventually I entered Japin.

The environment is quite nice actually (see photo). I ordered one Kimuchi Cyahan, Fried Gyoza, and Hot Gingko Barley Dessert. All up to the quality and taste good. At the end of the meal, there were already 4 tables of customers compared to only one when I walked in. Thank god or else the waitress girl will take advantage on me. There is a branch in Queensbay Mall now.

Island Plaza is not bad if you have too much money to spend as there are many high class boutique shops there. Of course the best way is to bank in those money to my account. Hopefully the management will find a way to improve more customers to the mall.

Name: Japin Japanese Restaurant
Address: Lot 3-11, 12, Island Plaza, 118, Jalan Tanjong Tokong, 10470 Penang, Malaysia
Tel: 04-8909006

Chicken Chop Little Cottage Style	'Monte-Cristo' Chicken
Portugese Chicken	Petini De Polo

Located at Burmah Road (nearby CTY Aquatic Shop), Little Cottege really looks like a little cottage. The double-storey shop has has small staircase, dim light, and soft music. A very good place for couple (too bad for me). Anyway, I managed to try few times there while visiting CTY Aquatic Shop (I like fishes). Photos taken are kind of dark due to dim environment there (again, suitable for couples to touch the whole body with one drink……). Getting back to business, the menu for lunch and dinner are different, with dinner costs more for set meals. The set meals usually refer to chicken/fish meals. One of my friends said that Little Cottage is more popular with its chicken.

For lunch, you can add side dishes, such as Tiramisu cake slice or fruit juice for only RM4.90 or RM0.99 respectively. It also provide plain water by default. The vegetables accompanied with the dishes are fresh and nicely cooked. Once they even provide a peach which tastes really nice and sweet.

Dessert

Dessert

Dessert

The set meal usually comes with a dessert, which is jelly in a tiny glass.

Good thing about Little Cottage is that despite of nice environment and ambient, there is no tax applied. There is also a Little Cottage branch (called Little Cottage 2) at Gottlieb Road, Penang.
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