International tourists and ex-pats need not worry as there is an assortment of international food outlets and restaurants to remind them of home. Locals often patronise them for a change in diet . . . actually Penangites are game to eat anything, anywhere. Most of the international restaurants are pricey compared to local pricing standards.
Neapolitan delights
The Italians have great skills with pasta, turning this basic staple into a virtual encyclopaedia of dishes, ranging from marinara to lasagna.
Japanese temptations
The cuisine of Japan has enjoyed an unprecedented boom in popularity here in Penang. The Japanese believe a feast begins with the eyes and the presentation of even the simplest dish is always a masterpiece of colour and texture. Japanese temptations include sushi (seaweed paper spread with rice and topped with one or more fillings), sashimi (thin slices of raw fish), sukiyaki, tempura and teppanyaki.
Thai cuisines
Thai chefs are skilled in whipping up tongue-tingling delights at Penang's top Thai restaurants. A local favourite is tom yam soup with its fiery, rather acidic blend of flavours. Pandan chicken, featuring morsels of chicken barbecue in pandan leaf, is also extremely popular.
Western and continental fare
Fast-food chains such as Mc Donalds, Pizza Hut, Colonel Sanders' famous Kentucky Fries Chicken and Kenny Rogers' Chicken are everywhere and Penang. On the other side of the coin, you have fine dining restaurants offering a wide range of Continental cuisine. You can feast on wild game dishes, slice through a done-to-perfection steak or sample succulent Boston lobsters and leave some room for sinful desserts and treats.
Middle Eastern meals
Middle Eastern cuisine spanning parts of three continents includes Arab, Persian, Jewish, Assyrian, Kurdish, Cypriot and Turkish dishes. The cuisine of the region is diverse comprising primarily of hummus, falafel, tahini, tabouleh, baklava, pita bread, baba ghannouj, foul mudammes and lokum as well as various meats and vegetables. Their style of cooking incorporates heavy use of olive oil and a diverse variety of spices. Indulge and sample authentic Middle Eastern meals in Penang as there are good restaurants located within the heart of the city, along Tanjung Tokong and Batu Feringghi.
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Written and photographed by Adrian Cheah © All rights reserved
Updated: 15 May 2021
When the MICHELIN Guide Kuala Lumpur and Penang 2023 was launched, Neighbourwood was listed as one of the Bib Gourmand establishments, along with 16 others in Penang. Located a stone's throw away from the iconic Minor Basilica of St. Anne in Bukit Mertajam, Neighbourwood serves delectable European dishes with an Asian flare including char-grilled choices.
As the name of the restaurant highlights, Banh Mi Kitchen focuses mainly on offering the iconic Vietnamese bánh mì sandwiches. Freshly baked baguettes, spread with pâté and margarine, are packed with a selection of stuffings (including ham, barbecue pork, roasted chicken, meat balls, prawns, fish, eggs or pork floss), topped with cucumber, pickled daikon and carrot, fresh cilantro and fiery chilli peppers for an extra kick.
Un Poco Loco is more than just a tapas bar as there are some items on the menu that offer a more hearty meal. Located at City Junction in Tanjung Tokong, it is the brainchild of the team behind the one Michelin star Restaurant Au Jardin. Un Poco Loco is headed by Chef Yan You (executive chef) and Chef Alex (chef de cuisine). The menu is curated by Chef Kim Hock.
Lumiére Restaurant is a cozy, passion-led, innovative dining establishment in the heart of George Town (on the same street as the famous Teochew cendol stall off Penang Road). Led by a husband and wife team, Chef Jackson Yee and general manager Eunice, the restaurant focuses on quality ingredients, fresh flavours and eye-arresting presentations.
My friends and I had a wonderful birthday celebration for Dorothy Wang at Le Venue. The hearty four courses in the set lunch were all elegantly plated, rendering a visual feast whetting the appetite. As always, Chef Petr Fehér's creations using quality ingredients were truly scrumptious. Let us take a closer look at each course.
EMILY Darling Cafe starts operations at 8:00 am. It was only a natural progression that the cafe added some breakfast options to its list of tempting pastries and cakes. I was there that Saturday morning, 21 May 2022, the first morning that three breakfast offerings were made available. Staying at E&O Hotel that weekend, I had a pleasant stroll along Penang Road to the cafe.
La Maison d’Antiques, French for "The House of Antiques" is no ordinary antique shop. Unlike many antique shops that are packed to the brim with items for sale, La Maison d’Antiques elegantly curates the items into alluring dining halls. It is as if you have just entered a château or villa in the charming French countryside to indulge in an all-day breakfast affair. Yes, the breakfast menu stretches right up to 9:00 pm.
The Maker, located along upper Beach Street in George Town, first opened its doors to the public in March 2020. It offers fabulous-looking desserts and pastries from shortcakes to croissants and from tarts to breads. It is a heaven for those who relish sweet treats. There is a display glass counter that flaunts lovely beauties unapologetically. Let us dive in and take a closer look at some of The Maker's popular desserts.
Right off the bat, I have to tell you that I am going to be biased. David Kaw is a close friend of the family for ages and we are all huge fans of his culinary creations. Too many birthday dinners, wedding anniversaries and special occasions have been celebrated at Salsas Penang. And every time, David has taken great care of us making each event memorable.
A fortunate stroke of serendipity can lead one down an unfamiliar path to new beginnings. Little did Danny Yeong, a former optician and Marcus Tan, a graphic designer, realise that by joining a sourdough baking class in March 2021 by Old Man Teh in Kuala Lumpur would lead them to the opening of EMILY Darling Cafe three months later.
If the name of this pâtisserie sounds familiar, you must have recognised it from Édith Piaf's signature rendition of La Vie en Rose in 1947. This popular song has been covered by a plethora of different celebrities throughout the decades. Although it literally means "life in pink", it is often interpreted as "life in rosy hues", "life through rose-coloured glasses" or "life in happy hues".
When I was in France, I was bowled over by the pâtisseries, offering delicate beauties that were truly culinary works of art. Sipping a creamy cup of cappuccino while savouring a freshly baked croissant or a slice of the rich, decedent opera cake was indeed a heavenly experience.