CRIZ BON APPETITE

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)