Canai Tomyam Cafe, Jalan Lembah Permai ( U )

Note : fast forward 2014. They have been chased out and replaced by a roti canai seller now. Was told that they have relocated a few doors down but when I tried out the food, the recipes just did not seem right. Tomyam was horrid, omelette terrible.
Well what to say when their chefs are now smoking keretek, an Indonesian ciggey. My guess is that Indons/ Suluks ( yes, they are here in Penang pretending to be Malays) have now resorted to hawking the popular Thai Malay food when they clearly have absolutely zero talent in cooking anything other deep fried fish. Sad case really but don't be fooled.

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The general complaint , is that the service here is incredibly slow. Not to worry. We weren't in a rush.

Ordered this huge basket of keropok with dip, to stave off hunger.
Wise choice on our part as other patrons were doing light neck and leg stretches every now and then as if we were all on board a long haul flight.

( U ) Satay Ah' Basri - Bayan Lepas

I have to say I was a bit apprehensive before stepping into this satay outlet.

From the outside it looked like a cafe but once inside it resembled a fast food outlet .

Oh oh.

On top of that, it was also clean, brightly lit,with sweet, well mannered staff....hmmm.... I was truly prepared for the worst.

( U ) Nameless Tomyam shack, Tanjung Tokong

Update : Closed down due to the development in Tg Tokong
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This is another tomyam shop operated by a Thai-Malay husband and wife team.

Always friendly and obliging, they even help cook fish, that local villagers bring to their shop, for a small fee.

Tanjung Tokong Rempits often hang outside this pathway for a drink and a smoke.

( U ) Tomyam at Mutiara Ombak, Tanjung Tokong

Update : the outlet has changed hands . This review is no more relevant . As the other operators across from Tesco are Indons and Cambodians , if you want Southern Malay Thai cuisine , Nurmee Seafood just outside Fettes Park is the closest to this 


The people that run this Tomyam outlet are Thai-Malays .

This restaurant attracts a sizeable number of chinese customers because the chef whips out seafood dishes as if he had been under the tutelage of a chinese sifu.

As it is located along the main road

frontal, fringing the 100 year old or more, kampung Tanjung Tokong,

I don't know how much longer they can hold fort before UDA Holdings takes back the land.

(U) Nasi Campur with kampung cats and chickens- Teluk Bahang

A lady and her teenage son, man, this small roadside hawker stall, in front of a block of flats, a short throw away from the Penang National Park entrance.

Her stall lies in front of a small detailing workshop with the Jetron signage you see in this picture.

(U) Restoran Nasi Padang Minang, Kedai Kopi International Hotel

This place needs no introduction. Standards are so high it's practically got no rivals.

Indonesians know how to find their way here, Singaporeans too. Malay celebrities are no exception when they're on the island for a film shoot .

( U ) Hammer Bay Ikan Bakar, Jalan Bayan Bay

Lots of people like to come here because of cheap seafood dining by the sea with stunning views of the Penang Bridge.

There are 3 operators here. Two of them use gimmicks to attract customers.
One features a sampan ,the other a water feature. The last one nothing . 
If you order from anyone of them, you need to know where their designated seating area is.

All this time I have been I patronising the more run down, no frills, no gimmicks place, run by this guy with an army haircut.

( U ) 27km for Kak Mah & Abg Din's Bawal Goreng Panas - Juru ( U )

Update : fast forward November 2015.
A 2 person meal with 2 bawal fish , 2 fried chicken , 2 rice , 2 drinks plus a bowl of plain curry now costs MMYR 31 . Cheap was good while it lasted.

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Rich stingey pokers and the downright broke,rub shoulders and sweat in unison together here,in this makeshift restaurant located in an industrial estate.

It's an inflation busting godsend where one piece of freshly fried black pomfret,the size of a dinner plate,costs just five ringgit.

(U ) 122KM for Pekasam,Jeruk and Sagun- Alor Setar

I jump at every opportunity to take a drive into Alor Setar.

Other than a couple of unforgettable great eats which I will divulge to you another time,
I know I'm really there for the sight of the expansive paddy fields .

 Just like the wheat fields in Europe.