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We have created an additional page to list the food blogs that are worth reading. We will continue to update as and when we come by new or old food blogs that paints a straight forward picture of the food scenes and are not commercialized.
Popularity: 10% [?]
Since our last review of Haven Delights we have not been back there ever since, but we have heard certain restructuring and changes that were done to the restaurant. Recently the owner of Haven Delights has finally closed down the business unit in Penang Times Square and opened a new restaurant in Gurney Plaza where Ko Fu Loft used to be. The new restaurant is named ‘小南国‘ or directly translated to ’Little South Country’ after one of a quite well known restaurants in China.
The new restaurant shares some similarity in terms of interior with the Haven Delights. Food wise, after browsing their menu, seems to major in Chinese cuisine with some mixture of other Asian dishes on their ala-carte. They also cater to buffets, bento meal and set meal. May be we might take a chance and try out the restaurant and provide a clearer picture of it can offer and whether would it fit in our list of places to dine in Gurney Plaza.
Popularity: 23% [?]
A month or ago we noticed that there was a new nasi lemak stall located just in front of Sunrise Tower McD at Gurney Drive Hawker Center. At last we managed to try out the nasi lemak and fried chicken from the stall.
The price ranges from RM1.00 to RM3.50 and the price of their fried chicken is RM2.50 per piece.
The nasi or rice is steam and kept wram in a wooden bucket on top of some hot water.
The fried chicken is fresh prepared and the taste is about 85% near to the taste of the Original flavour fried chicken found in KFC.
Taste & Texture: 3.3/5 (The gravy or chili tasted sweet, our preference is more to savory and spicy but not hot. Additional points were given due to the near KFC flavour fried chicken. The RM1.00 version was not up to our expectations)
Money Value : 3.0/5 (Fried Chicken was big and tender juicy, but the rice has space to improve in terms of grade and volume)
Service: 3.0/5
Cleanliness: 2.8/5 (above average cleanliness for a hawker stall)
Atmosphere: 2.5/5 (can’t for much from a hawking area, but care is needed to upgrade the standards in the area. Upgrading doesn’t mean cosmetic changes only!)
Popularity: 16% [?]
On the fourth day of our Hong Kong trip we headed to Yuen Long (元朗) to look for Hugo Lam’s restaurant and also to soak in some of the old architecture that was left behind in the area. It tooks us 3 train rides and lots of walking to only see some of the places that was on the list.
One hundred year old temple.
Ping Shan Herritage Trail that brought us to many old Ching dynasty buildings that were still left standing.
Looks like the haunted houses in the old Chinese vampire movies!
Popularity: 8% [?]
Too many backlogs! This was trip to Kluang that we had to take for a friends wedding. We drove all the way down and took us about 6 to 7 hours. Never the less we enjoyed every bit of the short excursion as we were able to sample food in Kluang and Muar.
The day after the wedding dinner, we went to Kluang RailCoffee to sample their ‘kopi’ and specialties. We have actually seen a similar brand before in ‘The Curve’ in Damansara, thus was skeptical on what it could offer to us. We are not fans of the ‘kopitiam’ type franchises after numerous run ins with poor service and poor food quality. Luckily this outlet has no direct relations to the similar named outlet in the ‘The Curve’, but is indirectly related. The owners are actually uncle and nephew.
Setting foot to the cafeteria or canteen is like going back in time to the time I took the train from Penang to Singapore. The place is really nostalgic and homey in certain ways. The canteen is located just next to the Kluang KTM train platform which also doubles as a waiting point for people coming and going, a place to have good wholesome breakfast or light meal before embarking on their journey.
The prices of food items available in the canteen are not exuberant as seen on the price board below. Before going, we were expecting to be whack with the ‘OldTown’ or ‘Papparich’ kind of price tags. Luckily it is not so!
We did not get to try their famous ‘nasi lemak’ as we where somewhat late and the stack was just exhausted. Therefore, we only had kopi, toast and soft boil egg.
Should have ordered kopi ‘o’ but instead accidentally got their kopi susu. A mistake that me and my Gill did not regret. The kopi was smooth and was full of flavour, and the best thing is that they were not too sweet for our taste buds.
We had two types of toast that were both individually unique in the texture. The butter was creamy and rich, and the ‘kaya’ or coconut jam was not overwhelming with sweetness.
The soft boil egg was fragrant and rich in eggy flavours, but I like my eggs slight firmer and less runny.
After finishing our order, we proceeded to walk around and take some photos of the place and the current owner that was mending the so call kopi station. The person did not talk much and was busy brewing his kopi, thus we did not get to get more information about the place.
Before we left, we bought a packet of their pre packed kopi power to try out at home. It was nice and fargrant, but they still can’t compare with the original cup made by the hand of an expert.
Taste & Texture: 3.5/5
Money Value : 3.5/5
Service: 3.0/5
Cleanliness: 3.0/5 (clean and tidy, even in the kitchen)
Atmosphere: 4.0/5 (I like nostalgic feel and a place were we can see people from all walks of life and colour sitting down together eating the same thing)
Popularity: 13% [?]
If you are ever in the vicinity of our vibrant Chowrasta Market in Georgetown, you might want to pay ‘Kedai Kopi Soon Yuen’ a visit. Late last Sunday morning we chance upon a Koay Teow Th’ng stall that operates in that particular coffee shop. We have passed by this shop numerous of times and we didn’t thought much of what can be uncovered from this place. We were really wrong to have the perception.
At Soon Yuen, one could find the branch of the famous Macalister Lane Chee Cheong Fun; Koay Teow Th’ng, Wantan Mee, Hokkien Mee, Lam Mee and the breakfast favourite, toast and soft boil egss. We have tried most of what they and will be back the following Sunday to try the wantan mee which look quite nice and toast.
The poach chicken from the KKT stall uses old egg-laying hens to make their soup and to serve as additional side dish. The chicken as compared to the Lebuh Clarke KTT stall, which also sells the old hen meat, is more fragrant and finer. The skin and fatty layer has more fragrance and a more crunchy texture. And the meat is of finer texture and has more chicken/gamy flavour. The plate of chicken with some bean sprouts cost us RM10.00.
We were late, thus just yellow noodles were the only noodle available. May be with flat rice noodle (Koay Teow) the soup would have tasted better. But for RM3.00 per bowl is just slightly on the costly side.
Taste & Texture: 3.0/5 (for chicken only)
Money Value : 2.8/5 (Lebuh Clarke has a better pricing as compared.)
Service: 2.8/5 (Average and informative)
Cleanliness: 2.2/5 (Table and floor was a bit wanting)
Atmosphere: 2.5/5 (kopitiam mah!)
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Popularity: 14% [?]
Lameizi has been in operations for the past 3 plus years but we were only introduced to them late last year, and from then they have been one of our hot pot haunts when we feel bored of other food. We are no longer at the age where we can gorge on ‘quantity’ and ‘artificial’ food at the local steamboat buffets that offer a one price eat all you can dining. We now look for places where we can enjoy quality food with less hassle and affordable but not dirt cheap price range.
We were told that when they started their operations, business was not very good due to the structure of the road flow. But after it has been change to one-way flowing in from Burmah Road, business has been picking up. The place opens from 5:00pm to 5:00am daily, seven days a week. Yes 5am! Not only nasi kandar for late night bites.
At Lameizi, there are a variety of soup base available to begin your hot pot adventure. I think we have tried almost all of them including their Spicy Hot Pot (麻辣火锅), Duck Soup Hot Pot (老鸭汤锅), Tomyam Hot Pot, Pig Leg Soup Hot Pot(猪手煲), Spicy Beef Hot Pot(水煮牛肉锅), etc. The soup bases are all prepared by the lady boss who uses recipes and ingredients brought by her from Chong Qing in Mainland China. If anyone is game for fiery night with the after burner effect in the morning, ask for extra kick in the spicy base soups that can really burn rubber!
Condiments are kimited to house made red chili oil, green ground chili, chili padi, raw garlic, soya sauce, vinegar and sesame seed oil. If you are open to try new things, may you like to try their peanut butter dip and fermented bean curd dip. We have yet to try the 2, it will be on our next try list.
Side dishes or ingredients available are quite wide in variety, ranging from seafood to vegetables to freshly sliced meats. All the ingredients are freshly prepared upon ordering, thus it would take some time before they are served to the table. So do bare with them. A good tip is to look for Ah Hin to recommend the best and fresh items for the day.
For noodle selection, there is their potato noodles, instant noodles, bee hoon, etc.
If you are looking for snacks or cooked items, you may like to try their deep fried fish head, deep fried enoki mushroom and deep fried mantis prawns.
Taste & Texture: 3.5/5 (like the soup bases and freshness of ingredients)
Money Value : 3.0/5 (must plan your meal properly so as not to over shoot in cost)
Service: 3.2/5 (Though majority are foreigners doing the serving, they quite efficient and attentivel)
Cleanliness: 2.8/5 (Down side is the toilet, though not dirty)
Atmosphere: 3.2/5 (Good place to gather and talk. There are 3 VIP rooms that can fit 10 each)
Lameizi Restaurant Sdn. Bhd.
Address: 5, Jalan Nagore, Georgetown, 10050 Penang.
Tel: 04-227 9969
GPS: N05*25’18.9″ E100*19’35.3″
Popularity: 16% [?]
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