( 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.

( NH ) Tapioca Fried Fish Noodles,Min Jiang, Air Itam

When the rare tourist comes here, they tend to take locals word for it, that the tomyam stall is the best there is.

I beg to differ.

Most locals are enraptured by the tomyam because the level of spiciness is on a psycho scale of a gazillion sweat beads and a paralysed tongue .

This you can savour in one of the many small mom and pop stalls in Prangin Mall.

However, nobody on the island has been able to replicate what these men have been churning out night after night.

( NH ) Supper at 999 Seafood, Fettes Park

999 Seafood is a cheap place for a great home cooked meal . Run by a husband and wife team, many singletons come here as they offer one dish rice meals that are cooked on the spot .

The sambal, belacan and gulai dishes are awesome but I seriously think that they are not from the northern states as it is not typical Penang fare. The lone cook whips out everything on his own and has given an edgier,more exciting take on those kinds of dishes Penangites love so much .

Nando's Cataplana feast, Gurney Plaza ( PF )

Penangites have fallen hopelessly in love with this Portuguese chicken franchise from day one.

Us included.

 We want to try out their signature dish, served in this very cute but strange looking copper/brass like container.

( NH )_Look Yuen Restaurant, Bukit Mertajam

This is the famous Look Yuen.

It's located just next to a busy highway

Kiam Chye Pork Soup, Nan Shan, Paya Terubong ( NH )

While this soup dish is available in many places on the mainland,it is a rarity on Penang island. Especially more so at night, it is near impossible to find.

Now you don't need to cross the bridge anymore. Just head on over to Nan Shan coffeeshop in Paya Terubong.

Look for this particular stall.

Siam Yeong Curry Mee, Mount Erksine ( NH )

I have to say that I am quite a fan of this curry mee .

If you subscribe by the saying " never trust a skinny chef"

this one must definitely rank as trustworthy.

Bangla Char Mee Hoon, Jalan Kimberley ( NH )

The change is telling, especially since the younger generation is unwilling to take up menial, sweaty jobs like these and the older, still dependent on it for their continued livelihood.

James Foo, Fettes Park ( NH )

James Foo is a Hainanese style , western food restaurant,  famous for it's taste and affordable price.

It's so good, even the Korean expat community knows how to come here.

This is the crowd at 5.30pm. Half an hour after he has opened for business at 5pm. Amazing.

He is now open for business everyday of the week but he doesn't sell plain water anymore. For that you'll have to purchase mineral water.

Ferringhi Garden Restaurant, Batu Ferringhi ( PF )

Ferringhi Garden Restaurant is Penang's most romantic dining venue, reknowned for its beautifully landscaped, well tended container gardens and attractive water features.

Due to its immense popularity, you might be hard pressed to find yourself a space, come nightfall, if you arrive without a reservation.

We gave ourselves a good headstart by arriving earlier than the peak period.

Starting off with the Coffee Latte ( $9.80 ) was a good choice on our part, as it was indeed a very nice cuppa.

Adorned with a cute cream caricature, with a cookie to nibble on, helps you fully appreciate the well appointed surrounds.

Porridge & Noodles on Jalan Cintra ( NH )

This is Jalan Cintra.  A street that's famous amongst local gourmands of Snakehead fish .

The fish is reknowned amongst the Cantonese clan for its ability to accelerate healing from within, but scares the shit out of a whole lot of American people, for its ability to 'walk' on land.

Follow the road to the end and you come to Jalan Chulia, a famous backpackers area.

At night, there are two coffeeshops that people patronise.

The green coloured one which sells porridge is called Sin Seng Vood.

Nyonya Breeze Desire - Straits Quay ( NH )

This has definitely got to be Penang's premier Peranakan restaurant..

Where friendly staff , clad in pretty  Nyonya Kebayas,  greet you with a warm heart and a cheerful smile on their face, no matter how absolutely busy they may be.

( NH ) Euro Deli Biergarten, Penang

 

How wonderful it is, to be able to watch their progression as the years go by.  I've been a fan, from the time they first infiltrated our supermarkets to the exciting dining options they present to us today.

Take a look at this unbelievable All day long offer .

We don't need convincing since we know, just how smooth the dark Erdinger beer here is.

( U ) Domino's Extreme Edge crust pizza - Pulau Tikus

After getting my tastebuds refined by the many fantastic pizzas churned out by Ecco cafe, Pastamania, Bella Italia and Spasso Milano, I admit to being guilty of haughtily snubbing this trusty American giant.

But some kids, especially mine, are loyalists, atuned to advertisements that drop out of our morning newspapers.

( PF ) Joo Leong Cafe, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah

If you are on the way to the airport, and you come across a long row of cars parked on the side, with a hive of activity and people, from morning till night, it's got to be the one and only Joo Leong Cafe.

In business for over 50 years already, they are reknowned for Teochew seafood noodles and porridge cooked without monosodium glutamate.

( NH ) One night at Super Tanker - Lip Sin

Judging from my 'night' posts, you might think I am a 500 year old vampire's descendent by now.
Coincidentally, I am not alone as there are lots of Penangites roaming the streets from 11pm onwards for a drink or a bite. Or maybe I am just consoling myself over my tendency to want to wander around when the moon is up.

( 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 ) Nasi Lemak 3+1, Jalan Lunas

Better known as the Edgecumbe Road Mamak, this is another all time favourite supper spot on Penang island.

 Most people head here for the mee goreng which I will introduce you to later,but what exactly is Nasi Lemak 3 + 1 ?

168, Sin Kim San - Jalan Macalister ( NH )

Good variety, good food, great supper hangout ....that's Sin Kim San for you. Even at 10.30pm it is still teeming with supper hunters and tourists from the nearby budget hotels.

While the Char koay teow is nice, satay addictive , western is good, wood fired pizza a horribly long wait and fish head curry one of a kind, today we are having the bland Pork Mee Sua,hot as hell Hokkien Mee and nutritious Oyster Omelette .

Oh Chien ($6) from the Grill Ikan Bakar stall always tastes fantastic. Varied in size, they are very fresh unlike a lot of other places today.

Chee Cheong Fun ,Tien Lai - Jalan Macalister ( PF )

Tien Lai is located next door to the famous Sin Kim San on Jalan Macalister.

I really regret not trying the Chee cheong fun from this stall earlier.

We were in Sin Kim San,  for the usual stuff,  when a stroke of inspiration made me pop next door .

What he brought to our table, was a masterpiece.