Great Penang

Adrian Cheah loves Penang. He brings you interesting insights into the UNESCO heritage city of George Town where he calls home.

Great Penang © Adrian Cheah


RM68+ never tasted so good: set lunch at Third Culture Dining

Third Culture Penang © Adrian Cheah

There is a spellbinding magic when tradition meets innovation, when culinary techniques rooted in European precision are combined with passion and local ingredients to create something truly sedap-licious. At Third Culture Dining, the three-course Lite Set Lunch, priced at RM68+ per person, is a standout offering, especially considering the cost of such thoughtfully selected produce. As a Penangite, we are always on the lookout for great value, and I was simply charmed by this unbelievable offer.

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"À Table!", a magnifique six-course French dinner at Morpheus

French dinner at Morpheus © Adrian Cheah

Come, join me as I take you through “À Table!”, a French dinner crafted by two of Penang’s brightest culinary talents, Chef Andy Lai of Morpheus and Chef Hooi Shing of Le Petit Four Pâtisserie. Held in celebration of Le Cordon Bleu’s 130th anniversary and in conjunction with the French Festival’s “Gastronomy Month", the evening hosted by Alliance Francaise Penang was anything but ordinary.

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Lunch at Sago, Penang Marriott Hotel

Sago, Penang Marriott Hotel © Adrian Cheah

I have always believed that a restaurant should be judged not by its chandeliers, linen or logo, but by the soul of its food and the heart of its people. Penang is a place where great food is found at street corners, not necessarily behind glass doors and marble floors.

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Taipei 10: Reinterpreting the Flavours of Taiwan

Taipei 10 © Adrian Cheah

Taiwanese street food has become a magnet for travellers everywhere, a delicious crossroad of comfort, colours and controlled chaos. Born in the glow of night markets and shaped by generations of hawkers, it now stands among the world’s most beloved street cuisines.

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Set up your own 2- or 3-course lunch at Blacklinen

Blacklinen; photos © Adrian Cheah

Situated on the ninth floor of The Millen Penang, Blacklinen, a contemporary grillroom, now offers a thoughtfully composed lunch set, inviting diners to experience its Michelin-recognised kitchen at a more approachable price point. Diners may choose between a 2-course set at RM78++ (starter or dessert with a main) or a 3-course set at RM98++ (starter, main, and dessert). The one-page lunch menu is concise, with options of four starters, three mains, and two desserts. A handful of additional items are also available à la carte for those who wish to explore further.

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New tempting offerings at Siam Social

Siam Social, photos © Adrian Cheah

Since its launch in January 2025, Siam Social has achieved a 4.9-star rating from 349 Google reviews (as of 13 January 2026), an impressive showing for a restaurant still young, yet already familiar in the way old favourites are.

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Indulging in the finer things in life at Le Venue

Le Venue © Adrian Cheah

How much are you willing to pay for a great dining experience? If the sky is the limit, then Le Venue is just the place for you. With a brilliant flare of culinary magic, Chef Petr Fehér is able to transform top quality ingredients from the four corners of the world into sumptuous delights. His ultimate artistic presentation is a visual feast and the ingenious combination of flavours is simply astounding. 

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Inventive 4-course set dinner at Au Jardin

Au Jardin © Adrian Cheah

My family and I love to explore Penang's rich culinary tapestry and for dinner this time, we headed to Au Jardin located in an old quaint warehouse within the compound of the historical Hin Bus Depot. According to its website, the restaurant offers modern European fare. Chef Kim Hock and his team create dishes that celebrate fresh, seasonal ingredients.

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A birthday affair at the Java Tree

If you are dining at the Java Tree of the E&O Hotel, I would recommend that you arrive an hour earlier to enjoy classic cocktails and good wine at the Farquhar's Bar. This was exactly what my friends and I did. It provided us the opportunity to catch up on recent happenings and engage in meaningful conversations. 

Farquhar's Bar © Adrian Cheah

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Discovering what makes uncomplicated fish and chips truly delicious at Uncle Albert's

Uncle Albert’s © Adrian Cheah

I am very happy for my dear friend, Maggie T as she makes one of her life-long dreams come true with the launch of Uncle Albert’s Traditional Fish and Chips at Straits Quay. She has always wanted to open a restaurant and where better than to have it here in Penang, one of the top food havens of the world. Together with Liam Healy, they bring authentic fish and chips to the shores of George Town.

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The Ferringhi Garden Restaurant: great dining within an oasis 

Ferringhi Garden © Adrian Cheah

The Ferringhi Garden Restaurant has an amazing lush garden filled with flowers in full bloom. Even before looking through the menu, we could not resist taking a few photographs of its tranquil and beautiful dining ambience.

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Sigi's did more than tickle our taste buds!

Sigi's Bar & Grill © Adrian Cheah

My family and I enjoyed a memorable evening hosted by Dato' Welf and Datin Susan at Sigi's Bar & Grill at Golden Sands Resort Penang by Shangri-La. Although we could dine in air-conditioned comfort, or up on the upper deck with an elevated view, we chose an alfresco dining area near the beachfront of Batu Feringghi. The stunning vista of the beautifully landscaped gardens and the ocean beyond were priceless. The Resident Manager of the resort, Christoph Düker was at hand to greet Welf and Susan. He was also kind enough to take the above photo for us.

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Middle Eastern offerings at Halab in Chulia Street

Halab, Penang © Adrian Cheah

Halab, tucked in a bungalow along the bustling Chulia Street in the heart of George Town offers authentic Middle-eastern cuisine. It is no surprise that the Syrian and Arab communities in George Town frequent Halab, forming their base clientele alongside Penangites and tourists visiting the island.

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Hometown Vietnam Taste Restaurant, a quaint eatery serving pho-nomenal Vietnamese food

Penang Vietnamese food © Adrian Cheah

I love criss-crossing Penang on my motorcycle because it avoids two major headaches –  traffic jams and parking problems. Thus, it is easy for me the head down to Hometown Vietnam Taste Restaurant (formerly Que Huong Toi Enterprise) to slurp up a bowl of delicious phở bò (Vietnamese beef koay teow soup). 

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A marvellous View for an exceptional anniversary

The View © Adrian Cheah

With a stellar scene of Penang outside its floor-to-ceiling glass walls, The View at Equatorial Hotel is an exquisite fine dining restaurant wonderfully suited to mark any memorable occasion.

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Fine dining and merrymaking at The View

The View © Adrian Cheah

Renowned as one of the most established fine dining restaurants in Penang, the View offered an ideal setting for the Le Altanza Wine Dinner held on Saturday, 20 July 2019. Its panoramic views from the restaurant, impeccable service and cosy ambience set the perfect stage for a memorable evening.

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A mini reunion at the Book Sandwich Café 

“When it comes to crafting a dish, each mouthful is meant to be savoured, like how it is when one reads a book. There are many layers to be explored and with every bite, we hope to bring you a surprising burst of flavour.” – The Book Sandwich Cafe

Book Sandwich Café © Adrian Cheah

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My memorable birthday dinner at The View

The View © Adrian Cheah

I am happy that my birthday which falls on the 2nd of January every year offers me the opportunity to start off each new year with a celebration. Turning 52 this year, I headed to The View at Hotel Equatorial for a delightful evening.

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La Vie's splendid cuisine to celebrate life's treasured moments

La Vie Penang © Adrian Cheah

Appetisers are delicate petit morsels that tantalise our taste buds to increase our appetite. A well-planned menu would select appetisers that would coordinate and lead up to the flavours of the main dishes in a meal. In short, appetisers should give you an idea about the main course. Great appetisers put you in the mood; they get you excited about what else lies in store for you. We started our dinner at La Vie with an alluring march of four appetisers – crispy unagi, prawn salad, crab meat croquettes and clams in Thai-style sauce. Such an incredible quartet that kept us clamouring for more.

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The elegance of Japanese cuisine at Miraku

Miraku © Adrian Cheah

One country that truly elevates food to an art form is Japan. When dining at Miraku you would be able encounter such an art form as soon as you are served, so much so that you are compelled to feast with your eyes first. Here, food preparation is such a delicate craft that it is pursued with passion and executed to perfect artistry.

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Truly authentic, truly Thai at Chili Head

Chili Head © Adrian Cheah

Chili Head Social Bar and Eatery, a cool and hip Thai restaurant overlooking the beautiful marina at Straits Quay serves excellent authentic Siamese food. Here is a place where Thais themselves would love to eat.

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