CRIZ BON APPETITE

Note: This restaurant has ceased its operation. Presently, a new restaurant in purple color named De Title Dinning Cabin has taken over in late 2010.

There is a new Ampang Yoong Tau Fu shop in Penang. You can pick whatever you want from the menu and the kitchen will prepare them for you. To me, there are not much of differences compared to the local Yoong Tau Fu stall, except that some of choices are deep fried and served with minimal soup.

Walking into the shop is a good experience as the whole place is brightly painted with orange. One look at the menu and you would exclaim, “Gosh! Is that all they have?” There are not many choices considering that they only serve one type of fish ball, two types of stuffed soft tofu, stuffed chillies, stuffed brinjal, stuffed lady’s fingers, some vegetables, etc and fried chicken wings as their sole side order dish. Instead of the normal yam rice or dark dried shrimp rice, they served only plain white rice. The only two items that I enjoyed are their deep fried dumplings and stuffed fu chook rolls.

The food is just fine and the price is slightly high. Paying 80sen for a one inch diameter fish ball? This is crazy. We paid around RM16 for the food and drinks. I would not recommend this restaurant for family meals. If you decide to have some quiet private dine-out for minimal persons with light food, then this is the ideal place.

Finding the shop would not be hard as the restaurant is just next to the Peace Medical Centre and the whole building is painted in bright red. Here is the map in case you are not from local.

Name: RED HOUSE YOONG TAU FU
Address: 97, Lorong Selamat, 10400 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-229 7797, 016-492 8636 (Chua Boon Seang)
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 9.00pm
GPS: 5.418112, 100.325743

RATING:
Ambience: 7/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 4/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 6/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 7/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 7/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

Would you like to try out some Thai food without having to go all the way to Thailand or to some exotic Thai Restaurant and pay high price for your food? If yes then you should visit Ghee Seng Tomyam Seafood Restaurant located along the famous seafront, Weld Quay. There would not be much ho-ha to dress up as the restaurant is in an open air coffee shop style. If you do not intend to order dishes of your choice, you can even opt for their many spread of Chinese/Thai cuisine dishes in the Economy Rice Stall.

Since I was not in the mood for some hot and spicy tomyam soup, I ordered some milder dishes. By the way, their tomyam soup is super yummy too. Upon recommendation by the boss, Tomyam Seng, we ordered Hotplate Japanese Tofu which is full of prawns and minced meat, Crispy Mantis Prawns with Salad cum chopped carrot and their famous mouth watering Thai Lobak (Thai pork roll wrapped with dried tofu skin) served with hot steaming Thai rice. The food is delicious and the price is reasonable, considering that we paid less than RM25 for the food and drinks. Check out the dishes below:

If you come from the ferry terminal along Weld Quay (Jalan Pengkalan Weld), you will see the Shell Petrol Kiosk on your left. Drive further and you will see the Chew Jetty where there are lots of hawker stalls. Drive on until you almost reach the traffic light to turn into Komtar area or towards the Jelutong Expressway. The restaurant is just on the left BEFORE the traffic lights. It is situated along a row of shophouses (WISMA KGN). There will be a light box showing where the shop is along the main road. Check out the map if you are still unsure.

Name: GHEE SENG TOMYAM SEAFOOD
Address:
BLK 123-G-06, Wisma KGN, Jalan Pengkalan Weld (Weld Quay), 10300 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 016-498 8325, 012-480 8266 (Tomyam Seng)
Opening Hours:
11.00am – 3.00pm, 6.00pm – 1.00am (Closed Wednesday)
GPS: 5.410657, 100.336193

RATING:
Ambience: 6/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 7/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 8/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 6/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 7/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

Note: This place has ceased operation until further notice.

Will you like the thrill of dining in a place that you would never want to be in? Try out the Obake-Ya Japanese Restaurant in Penang which will provide you with the ultimate jailhouse experience. As you walk up to the main entrance, you will see a Japanese style arch with lots of lanterns. Passing through the arch, you will see a beautiful Japanese Garden.

Along the pebble filled pathway, you will see a grill door. Open the door and you will be in hell. A gruesome prisoner with chains on an electric chair will surely drill the chill and shrill into your bones.

The layout of the “jailhouse” restaurant is rather unique. They have the main “canteen” which any couple or small group of 2-3 persons can sit comfortably under the dim lighted atmosphere. The restaurant even caters private rooms for groups as many as 20 persons.

Even the restrooms have some Japanese accent to them. Be careful if you plan to relieve yourself as there will be a bridge leading to the restrooms and it will shake and rock you.

After experiencing the wonderful atmosphere, you can start ordering your food. There will be a long list in the Ala Carte menu ranging from meat dishes, seafood dishes to sushi. There will also be the set meals menu. You should try out their house specialty which is the Jailhouse Curry Chicken Rice. You will be amazed on how they present it to you. Haha!

Other than that, there are many interesting sets in the menu. Most of the sets will come with Miso Soup. If you are a rice eater and want to fill up your tummy till the brim, do try out their Chiki Ban Ban Bento. The Japanese rice is real filling. It comes with meatballs, chicken cubes, cold sweetened ham, salad and fruits. It surely worth the price you are paying for.

Finding the way to the restaurant would not be hard at all as it is strategically located just opposite the big blue Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion. In case you are a foreigner and do not know the location, here is a map to guide you there. Do enjoy your new experience there!

Name: OBAKE-YA RESTAURANT (Opposite Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion)
Address: 9 & 11 Leith Street, 10200 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-262 4772
Opening Hours:
12.00noon – 3.00pm, 6.00pm – 12.00am (Sunday – Thursday)
12.00noon – 3.00pm, 6.00pm – 1.00am (Fri, Sat & Public Holiday Eve)
GPS: 5.421188, 100.335217

RATING:
Ambience: 9/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 8/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 8/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 8/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 7/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

If you consider having your lunch or dinner in Georgetown area, you can pay a visit to the Weld Quay Restoran / Golden Attap Seafood Restaurant which is situated along Weld Quay. If you are afraid to get some food or oil scents stuck to your clothes, I would advise you to opt next door which also belong to them as the cook cum boss will be cooking right in front of the shop.

The most wonderful thing about this restaurant is that before you can even sit down comfortably while enjoying the complimentary fish cracker/ papadam with curry fish sauce as appetizer, your dish would be served. Although the food can be considered a bit oily to my preference, the taste is remarkably tasty. There are so many dishes you can order, ranging from seafood, vegetables, meat and soup. Here are some of the raw ingredients.

Price wise is really cheap as an average sized deep fried black pomfret with oyster sauce would not cost your more than RM10. An average meal for 2-3 persons would cost you between RM14 and RM25, provided not all dishes are seafood based. Drinks are to be paid separately to the coffee shop owner.

Here are 5 dishes that I have ordered for 3 persons which cost me not more than RM30.

You would not miss this place as it is the only restaurant with attap roofs directly opposite the Penang Jetty Terminal along Weld Quay (Pengkalan Weld). As you reach Weld Quay through the Jelutong Expressway, go straight until you reach an overhead pedestrian bridge. The shops are just after that on your left.

Name:
GOLDEN ATTAP SEAFOOD RESTAURANT /
WELD QUAY RESTORAN (Opposite Ferry Terminal)
Address: 18 & 21 Weld Quay, 12000 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: Mr. Chiam (012-429 2579), Ms. Ah See (012-474 5566)
Opening Hours: 11.00am – 3.00pm, 6.00pm – 10.00 pm (Closed Wednesday)

RATING:
Ambience: 4/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 9/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 9/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 4/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 9/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

Name: KAFETARIA ENG LOH
Address: Jalan Gereja (Church Street) Penang, Malaysia.
Opening Hours: 8.00am – 3.00pm (Closed Sunday)
GPS: 5.418315, 100.340989

RATING:
Ambience: 6/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 9/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 9/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 6/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 7/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

NOTE: The restaurant had changed management since early 2009. You might experience some changes in the menu and taste.

If you are thinking of taking your family or guests out for a nice warm homely cooking, do try out Claypot Restaurant up in Tanjung Bunga area. It has a nice and cozy atmosphere while you enjoy your meals. There is also a private room available for some serious discussions and an outdoor place for those who like to dine in the open air.

No doubt the food selections are quite limited, but each and every dish is a must to try. I have tried a few of their dishes on several occasions and I am happy with them. The taste of the food there is one of the best I have tried in town. Maybe you should see the food photos I am going to attach here and pay them a visit soon.

You can try this dish as starter while waiting for your other dishes to be served with hot steaming rice. These toasts have minced prawns and sesame seeds on them.

If you like beef, this one good dish to go with rice.

We will need a vegetable dish right? Try this spinach dish in a wetter version.

Kids will love this dish. It consists of crunchy chicken bites mixed with curry powder and mayonnaise. It is not hot at all but taste great!

This is a must to try. The pork is stewed with fermented red bean curds and potatoes. The meat is so tender that it melts in your mouth.

This is a combination of three vegetables, namely Goa beans, lady’s fingers and stink beans (buah petai) fried with spicy shrimp paste. It’s marvelous!

It’s just a crunchy egg but the topping is wonderful. The gravy of the stir fried chicken cubes is slightly sweet and salty. This is an appetizing dish indeed.

Normally, we have soup based glutinous rice balls but this one is unique. They come fried in three different flavors (peanut, red bean and black sesame) with some raspberry sauce. This is a good experience for those who like sweet desserts.

In case you are wondering how to get to this restaurant, I have attached a location map here. It is situated just behind Mutiara Selera Food Court at the base of Pearl Hill. To go to this restaurant, just drive towards Batu Ferringhi. When you reach the Penang Swimming Club on your right, drive ahead until you see Caltex petrol kiosk on your left. Drive ahead until you reach a traffic light (Mutiara Selera Food Court) and turn left. At the first Y junction, turn right. At the second Y junction, turn left. That’s Jalan Sungai Kelian. Drive ahead and you will see the restaurant on your right opposite Jalan Loh Poh Heng.

Name: CLAYPOT RESTAURANT
Address: 48 Jalan Sungai Kelian, Tanjung Bunga, 11200 Penang, Malaysia.
Tel: 604-899 7987, 012-421 1363 (Ms. Tenny)
Opening Hours: 12.00noon – 3.00pm, 6.00pm – 10.30pm (Closed Monday)
GPS: 5.464220, 100.289791

RATING:
Ambience: 7/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 7/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 8/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 7/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 8/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

Name: JEMPUTREE
Address: 64 Jalan Chow Thye, Off Jalan Burmah, 10050 Penang, Malaysia.
Tel: 604-228 6607
Opening Hours: 11.00am – 12.00am (Close Monday)
GPS: 5.424595, 100.320411

RATING:
Ambience: 8/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 7/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 6/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 6/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 7/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

MARINATE (15 MINS):
prawns – some soya sauce, sesame seed oil, pepper and pinch of sugar
squids – some soya sauce, pepper and sesame oil
fish – some soya sauce, pepper and sesame oil

METHOD OF COOKING:
1.Boil a big pot of water with a teaspoon of salt. Put in the pasta and cook until soft according to the instructions given on the packaging. Drain the water and then mixed with some margarine/olive oil.
2.Stir fry all the marinated seafood individually and put aside to be used later.
3.Put 3 Tablespoon oil into a wok. Put in the chopped onions. When it’s cooked, put in the tomatoes and stir fry for 5 minutes.
4.Put in the canned mushroom soups. Stir awhile and then add in the evaporated milk and water. Bring to boil.
5.Put in the boiled carrots, mushroom slices and celery. Bring to boil.
6.Sprinkle some mixed herbs and black pepper
7.Put in the cooked seafood and stir well.
8.Add in salt and sugar to taste
9.You are ready to serve.
10.Put the cooked pasta into a flat plate and put some sauce on it.
11.Garnish with some herbs and celery leaves.

(Serves: 8-10)

Note: Use a packet of pasta if you do not want to have so much. You can keep the rest of the sauce in the cooler to be reheated the next day.

YOU CAN CHECK HERE FOR MORE RECIPES.