Khuntai Restaurant @ Butterworth, Penang - Thai Food, No Frills

A short break from the Bangkok posts, here's something closely related, yet hundreds of miles away from Thailand. Khuntai Restaurant is indeed closer to home; A heaven for those craving for a lip-smackingly sumptuous Thai meal, with emphasis on grilled/BBQ meats and seafood, and dining al fresco style, in Butterworth, Penang.

With ample seats, whether one chooses to be seated 'indoors' or 'outdoors' (under those bamboo + straw huts), dining here can be either fun and cooling, OR darn hot and infested with mosquitoes!

A little long overdue, this post was supposed to see the light of day sometime ago, right after the Penang's exodus. But somehow got suffocated in my own work, and Whoosh!!!! The month of June has come and gone in a flash.

And even July is miraculously slipping under my nose. Geez ..... Time DOES fly when one's having fun eh? ;)

The ambience is no doubt, one of the pulling factor @ Khuntai

Thanks to tintin (yeah, farny name I know), a resident on mainland of Penang, we were brought to Khuntai Restaurant in Raja Uda, Butterworth, Penang. A spacious restaurant, with its own parking lot by the side (but you can actually park haphazardly anywhere at all, given the rather obscure location), this al fresco style restaurant purpotedly serves delicious yet authentic Thai food, at a fraction of the prices in higher end restaurants.

Mieng Kam, a famous appetizer - Wrap em up and pop the whole thing into your mouth!

Started off withe Mieng Kam, one of my most preferred Thai appetizer, aside from the tangy mango/papaya salad. Betel leaves wrapping peanuts, dried shrimps, ginger, dried coconut flesh, bird's eye chillies and onion. Then add a dollop of the sweetish chilli sauce, and voila! A mixture of spicy, sour, and sweet flavours bursting in one's mouth. Unless of course, you're not fond of the green and raw, ulam-like taste.

It's hot, It's red. But it ain't that spicy .... Tom Yum with Seafood

The Tom Yum was barely torching our tongues, with heavier hints of fresh tomatoes and a generally thicker, wholesome taste with a nice touch of herbs. As far as Tom Yum goes in my book, this one passed the test of the palate, but without flying colours. Or probably we were expecting a lot more than this.

BBQ Squids

Bouncy texture of squids, barbecued to perfection, served with two dipping sauces. One being the familiar Thai chilli sauce with crushed peanuts, and another with a distinct fiery and sour kick. Not bad, but the portion was slightly on the smaller end of the scale.

Thai-style Steamed Fish

Geez, my memory failed me yet again. Price-wise, and species-wise. But this should be a siakap, steamed with the signature spicy and tangy sauce, and served over the fire. Firm and tender flesh, the fish was thankfully fresh and devoid of unpleasant fishy/muddy taste.

Pandan Chicken, Batter-fried Kangkung, Pineapple Fried Rice, and Ambra Juice (or was it Sugar Cane?)

Negligible items include the fried rice with pineapples and cashew nuts, and the pandan chicken. The deep-fried kangkung (water convolvulus or morning glory) was okay, paired with sweet Thai chilli sauce, but turned soggy soon after.

Steamed Large Mantis Prawns (RM7.50 each) and La-la Clams

But the highlight of our Thai experience were the steamed mantis prawns, and steamed lala clams. Lightly steamed with slices of garlic, and some chopped cili padi, the fresh and succulent mantis prawns were devoured in record time, almost shells and all! OK, maybe not. But the crustacean was really fresh, firm and springy, and needed no condiments to enhance the already sweet flavour of the flesh. The same goes for the clams, which was equally fresh and sweet. (And pleasantly clean - No gritty bits of sands, or dirt)

It is VERY dark on the outside at night, hence take note of where the other cars are heading to, and the signboard.

The meal came to about RM150 for the 5 of us, including white rice, and drinks. Rather reasonable, given the amount of food ordered. The menu covers a whole range of Thai delights, but we left the ordering to the 'local' instead. :)

Location : Khuntai Restaurant @ 104, Permatang Tengah, 13000 Butterworth, Penang. Opens from 11 am until 12 midnight. Tel No : +604-3327523.

Here's a Google MAP I managed to get from the internet. Sorry I can't verify the exact location, as I am not familiar with roads in Butterworth.

B-Suite (www) @ Bayan Lepas, Penang. Where I spent my nights .....

Manjung Coconut Jelly/Joez Coconut Jelly - A Father & Son's Empire

#Disclaimer : Beware the insanity that follows ..... everything's completely fictional, and Motormouth has NOT gone bonkers. Take it with a pinch of salt. Right until the very end. #

“After too many Slippery Nipples the night before, I woke up with a massive hangover and was extremely late for an important meeting. In my haste, I found myself clad in nothing but a pair of daisy-print boxers in front of a board of CEOs.”

Da Much Feared, Much Worshipped Board of CEO's ... Coconut jElly of Orgasmic proportion.

Cumming Coming to da office at an EXTREMELY late hour had me shaken (not stirred) in my boots, pants and all. Moreso when facin' the almighty, "sacred lords" codenamed CEO's, all 11 of them at one go. They probably don't have nothing better to do than holding meetings day in day out, at an alarming frequency.

P/S : On a side note, that last line bears some truth in it, categorized as NON-fiction. LOL. But anyway .....

All hail Tai Kor #1

Nobody messes with the sandals-wearing, carrying TWO pair of glasses at any one time (in case sparks fly between opposing clans/tribes ... you'll never know) and the habit of scoopin'-them- brain-juices-out-of-the-skulls-into-me-mouth TAI KOR #1.

TAI KOR #1 : Ahem ahem .... ahem. Soooo yer gonna waltz in so the very late oledi, N gimme some cranky cerita about Slipper-Nipples eh? Very the daring this padawan. Ahem, I mean, young one. N very the unrespectful to the elderly, NOT me, I'm still young & hung hunk, but the other 11 CEO's on the board. I meant, table. Yer eyez cannot see that they're already fumin'/blisterin/far ....... ting MAD ah?!

Swallowing my pride, and protecting da very exclusive family jewels from overly shrivelling due to air-cond blasting at full force (ya know we Malaysians ... tarak winter, so kena buat pirated copy of the climate in office) and still clad in da daisy-print boxers. But wait, was it MY fault that I was in a boxer (with daisy da FLOWER-prints! NOT Daisy Duck prints, ok!) in the first place?

Wait, was it even MY doing?!!!!

Suddenly the clouds parted ways, the haze/mist became clear, truth prevailed ... yadda yadda. I was drugged! Not by any means of the opiate kind, mind you. It's a Slippery Nipples of da most intoxicating kind !!!! (cue : OooooHHHHH ..... with dat suspenseful-revelations tone)

It was Mr Mathy all along!

Just look at the hundreds and thousands of coconuts stacked in the fridge, awaiting to be transformed into the gang of ze EVIL CEO's !!!! Masquerading themselves at night as Slippery Nipples (no Sambuca, no Irish Cream for sure!), the milky, whitish (don't get naughty ideas) shades of the inner walls of the coconuts, resembling da most delicious drink in da world named colostrum-fuelled mother's breast milk.

But wait, I remembered some substance. Some springy, jelly-like (again, DON'T be getting farny farny idea, I tell u), smooth materials that glided down my throat. Tasted like refreshing coconut water, without much enhancers (no sugar, no salt, no pepper (duh) and no artificial flavouring/colouring/preservatives!)

Wait, Mr Mathy's Manjung Jelly notwithstanding, he actually got a partner-in-crime!!!! His very own loyal & filial SON from Joez Coconut Jelly!

Oh dear. Not once was I tricked devilishly by the coconut jelly empire. The father (not Darth, but Mathy) had me enticed, intoxicated and lulled into several big coconut jellies in Manjung in Perak. But in Penang, the son named Joel @ Joe (alter egos are omnipresent on ze face of ze earth!) knew that I was as easy as pie to be duped/tricked/drunk on da coconut jellies !!!

Then my mind suddenly rewind itself back to that fateful afternoon ...... ze violent chopping/slashing motion got me hypnotized/terrified/terrorized all at the same time!

Aiyo, I tell u, the coconut jellies from both places (Manjung Jelly's the original supplier hence deemed as ze MAIN culprit) were equally intoxicating! Even of higher addictiveness than a 70% bottle of alcohol/ethanol!! Wait ... that doesn't sound right .....

Especially when our dearest old country's in a heated turmoil now, what's more with fingers pointing up,down,left,right and people dying for NO reason (and supposedly.... horrifyingly ..... no foul play. Ahem).

A refreshing, RM3 (in Manjung)/RM3.50 (in Penang) 'biji' of Coconut Jelly is all we need, to forget the material world for one second, and relish in our existence in this world! YAY !!!! Embrace the Coconut Jelly, People !!!!

See the transaction above?! They're EVILS! and the Tag line !! No wonder I was duped. Me being IQ of less than 40 and all ........ very tricky people these ones.

Wait, so that was how I got drunk the other night, from a severe case of coconut jelly-overdose. A rare disease this one, even House nor Grey's Anatomy people (wait, the latter only were good at screwing around .....) could never decipher a clinical findings as obscure as mine.

To even reach the extent of terrorizing-ly hypnotized yours truly to unwillingly wear a pair of shame-shame daisy-print boxers all the way to work, all the while polluting the horny minds of ze little people on the streets along the way.

Refreshing, cooling and addictive. Call now to be enticed .....

The above story was no thanks all thanks to Bangsar-Babe for passing around the torch. Or tag, originating from Thamby .... oops, Lemongrass herself. =P

The Coconut Jelly are branded under the banner of Manjung Jelly, all thanks to the innovative/creative/entrepreneurial ideas of a humble Mr Mathy. This brilliant idea of his came to fruition about 2 years ago, and still is a project under the watchful eyes of FAMA.

He's not sitting at home shaking his legs though. NO sirree .... He's perpetually on the run, even sending/exporting the product himself, to all over Malaysia. Currently his son, Mr. Joel @ Joe is helming a shop in Penang's Jalan Dato Keramat (the other Penang floggers have gave adequate reviews and publicity to Joez Coconut up north), and he's even exporting them over the boundaries, to Singapore.

Producing and selling off in excess of about 500-800 coconut jellies per day, he's mass-producing the delightful dessert at his shop in Manjung, which not unlike Joez Coconut in Penang, offers tables and seats for those wanting to savour their jellies or coconut drinks there and then.

If you're wondering, what's the BIG fuss about some simple coconut jelly that even the average layman can make? You're wrong. Note that the jelly is not formed outside of the shell. But instead, the jelly is 'injected' INTO the coconut which is still intact, using a specific method utilizing machineries. Then under the extreme low temperature, the jelly is formed WITH the coconut water inside of the young coconut. Almost like a science tutorial, eh? :)

Location : MAE Tendernut Jelly aka Manjung Jelly @ 45, Persiaran PM 2/3, Pusat Bandar Seksyen 2, 32040 Seri Manjung, Perak. Opens daily from 9am til 7pm. Tel No : 605-688 5654 or 6019-416 6603 (Mathy)

Location : Joez Enterprise aka Joez Coconut @ 201, Jalan Dato Kramat, 10150 Pulau Pinang. H/P No : 6016-440 9049. E-mail : joezcoco@yahoo.com.

## Now for ze most evil deed ever known to mankind (in the blogosphere, at least) ... I'm passing this tag to ... Unkaleong! Yeahlah, I know you're BUSY and all, but nah ... too bad! ##

" As Thorny spoke to the Stinky, let's fight to da finish, and see who in ze end, got da Sloppy! Wrestle we will, dropkick/elbowdrop and all, spells we shall cast upon all who stand in our ways ..... but me wanna see da BEST man WINS! "

Famous Ah Leng Char Koay Teow @ Jalan Dato Keramat, Penang

Really, really exhausted from today's work. It's routine, yup, but the lethal combination of arduous journeys, winding roads, the torturous climate, and the incessant waiting rendered us almost incapacitated for the hours spent down south. It's been some time since I've been ranting, so let me be ...... or else.

If you're wondering what's so 'leng' (pretty) 'bout the Char Koay Teow (CKT) seller, you are in for a shock! ;)

OK, I digressed. Sue me. Hahaha .... I'm certainly in a sarcastic mood today. And thankfully it's raining as of now, hence all sins washed away !!! Thanks be to the ones above ...... or something.

An almost perfect plate of Char Koay Teow @ RM5.00. Additional RM0.50 for duck egg to be used instead

Thanks to CK, Ken and Lingzie, I got very, very specific directions to this famous CKT stall situated along Jalan Dato Keramat in Georgetown, Penang. Normally, we just whizzed past this shop without even noticing its existence!

Yup, all 4 years of my life spent in Penang, and not even on one solitary occasion we noticed this place. Kinda pathetic eh? Or put it simply, I was merely too careful when I was driving, to be distracted with sights and sounds, or glancing around; 360 degrees. Hehehe ... yeah right.

A plate of Ah Leng's SPECIAL Char Koay Teow (more prawns, and addition of mantis prawns!) @ RM9.00, additional RM0.50 if duck eggs are used.

Choking yet?

So, this unassuming coffee shop, or "cafe" (very loosely used term here) named Kafe Khoon Hiang houses only 2 stalls. Or 3, but I can't be bothered to remember as of now. There's an economy rice stall, and Ah Leng CKT stall, which is opened from morning til afternoon only. Seems like they closes on Thursdays (info from PenangTuaPui's site).

Penang's version of CKT has always been the BEST amongst all the other versions in the other states. Or country, for that matter. Notice the singular 'country'? :)

Ah Leng's version is brimming with ingredients, from the usual suspects (prawns - REAL plump ones, cockles, and egg -chicken's/duck's, chives and bean sprouts) to the rather unusual (but most welcomed, of course!) mantis prawns (lai liu har or he ko). Of course, extra ingredients at extra charge. No free lunches, OK?!

Looks rather rundown, is it not? Don't fret. You'll notice a steady stream of customers in there. And rest assured you won't be required to line up and carry your own plates!

Tastewise? The flat rice noodles was fried with plentiful of 'wok hei', aka 'breath of the wok' (sounds like some cheap kung-fu saga, no?) The quick frying/tossing techniques of the cook, plus the skilful handling of the heat from the stove, resulted in a most pleasing plate of delicious Char Koay Teow. Only in Penang, folks. Hard to replicate at home. ;)

Location : Ah Leng Char Koay Teow stall @ Kafe Khoon Hiang, Jalan Dato Keramat, Penang. Here's a MAP.

Here's those who have succumbed to Ah Leng's CKT ...... PenangTuaPui, VKeong, Makankings, Lilian, and many, many more. (Do drop me a msg if you've blogged about Ah Leng's CKT, but no links here)

On another note : Guess what the Uncle's slurping? ;)

Meet The Floggers (Chapter 2) : Of All Things Indian in Penang

Thanks to CK Lam, I was duly introduced to Ken of Foodpoi, and Lingzie in a food crawl session of sorts when I was back in Penang. Deja vu? Yeah, two floggers gatherings back to back, in the same week. (click HERE for the one in KL few days before this one)

Intricate details, alluring decor, & classic ornaments creating a warm, homely ambience

Initially planned for TWO restaurants, the session was subsequently shorten to accomodate a lengthier chat, without the need to rush and gorge/choke on our food.

We ventured to Market Street in Penang, an area populated by the Indian community. Hence no prize for guessing what we had for dinner.

Karaikudi Restaurant @ Market Street, Georgetown, Penang - Such splendid colours

Karaikudi Restaurant was featured in many, many Penang food blogs sometime ago, when the floggers were invited for a joint-review session. So if the name does ring a bell, you know where to look for the other reviews!

Chettinad Filter Coffee (RM2.80) and Masala Tea (RM3)

Serving a delectable mixed selection of Northern and Southern Indian cuisines, Karaikudi has two outlets on the island, one being this one on Market Street, while another supposedly 'higher-ended' one at Tanjung Bungah, Penang.

Chilli Paratha (RM5)

The filter coffee (akin to Madras coffee from Ananda Bahwan) at Karaikudi's was smooth, but that was all to it. Not milky, creamy nor even strong, the coffee served its purpose as a teaser, at best. Especially to one who's accustomed to caffeine shots day in and day out, this one was mild enough to be drank sans the sugar.

The Chilli Paratha was way out of our expectations. Or possibly mine only. Ken did all the ordering, and we merely did what floggers do best ; Snapping photographs & Eating. The paratha was chopped finely, together with the chillies, tomatoes, onions, etc, then stir-fried with a hint of sour, slightly spicy sauce. And served together with 2 accompanying sauces, one being the classic yoghurt, another was a creamier coconut chutney-like gravy.

Mutton Masala (RM18), Roti Romali (RM4), Ghee Tosai (RM3.50) and Chicken 65 (RM9)

Mutton masala was intensely flavourful, but lacking in the love-it-or-hate-it gamey taste. Which, may be a blessing in disguise for most. Romali roti is a healthier choice than the usual roti, or even cheese or garlic naan. Rolled up in a spring roll-like manner, the soft, fluffy bread was almost devoid of any flavour, perfect as complement to the stronger tasting curries and condiments.

The Thosai was shaped like a cone, typical of mamak-style servings of Roti tisu (Kayu's towering version comes to mind!), but at the end of the photo session, the cone sagged a little, and we had to prop the bread up for more shots. As no one likes saggy stuff, right? Tastewise? Not something that'll jump at you, nor tantalize that tastebud.

But the Chicken 65 here is good. Even better than Kalai's version, with more meat and juice in tact. Served on a metal plate, in bite-sized form and garnished with fresh onions, this dish can be a snack on itself.

Easily noticable from afar

Location : Karaikudi Restaurant @ 20, Market Street, 10200 Penang. Tel No : 604-263 1345 or 263 1359. Another branch at 1K, Jln Sungai Kelian, Taman Sea View, Tanjung Bungah, Penang. Tel No : 604-899 6466. Opening hours : 11am til 11pm.

Other reviews include : Ck Lam, Lingzie, Stevengoh, Penangtuapui, Crizlai, and many more. Pardon me, I'm rushing for time as I'm typing this!

Some good old milk to drown the sorrow .... i meant, calm the fire.

Ken brought us on a joyride after the meal, making rounds in Georgetown (hey,that rhymed!), painstakingly introducing good finds in every nook and corner. CK Lam and Lingzie are seasoned foodhunters as well. Made me felt a little dwarfed and insignificant, at times. ;)

For a taste of traditional milkmen's REAL cow's milk (aka Susu Lembu), with extras in the form of additional milo powder, or an egg, or even better, their signature Almond/Badam Milk (Susu Badam) with miniature grapes/raisins, and cashew nuts.

The cauldron with thick curds swirling .... Badam Milk, only at Kapitan, Chulia Street

CK Lam was the culprit, and now I'm the addict. Being a fresh milk fan, I'm sold at the thought of drinking a wholesome, hearty glass of milk, what's more with addition of grinded almond (at least I think that's what it is, with a tinge of yellowish hue), and some bites in the form of raisins, mini grapes (real tiny but sweet ones) and soft cashew nuts.

The Badam Milk (RM2.50) and the Original Fresh Milk (RM1.50)

Don't look down on that unassuming glass of milk. After one glass, you'll probably wished a bed was provided on the sides, so you can reach slumberland in an instance! Haha, you know what they say bout a cup of warm milk before bed.

To those wary of almond tea, almond milk, or any almond-flavoured beverages at all, don't fret. Unlike the usual almond tea served in Chinese kopitiam, with a heavy scent of erm ... cockroach's droppings (or so they said, not me), the Badam Milk here is thankfully devoid of that annoying, acquired taste.

If you lurve your milk, you've got to try this!

Location : Kapitan Restaurant @ 93, Lebuh Chulia, 10200 Penang. Opens 24 hours per day!

Read more from The Star's blog, StevenGoh, vkeong. Kapitan's famous for their Tandoori chicken, Naan and Briyani as well.

Sapped my energy's more like it .... slept like a baby thereafter!

With that, I'd like to end with gratitudes all around, to CK Lam, Ken and Lingzie for the wonderful tour around Georgetown in few hours. Hahahaha... let there be more gatherings in the near future, ok?

Penang Hawker Food : Sin Wah Char Koay Teow & Kheng Pin Lor Bak

So, what's for supper, after going Japanese at Azuma? Some cheap and delicious street food, of course !!!

Sin Wah Char Koay Teow @ Pulau Tikus Market

Penang is synonymous with great hawker fare. From the perennial favourite, Laksa, to Char Koay Teow, and Hokkien Mee (Prawn Mee to you and me) to Lor Bak, it'll be a sin to die from hunger on the streets, and laments regarding "limited food options". Admit it, people throng the island for the FOOD, more than anything else.

Sinful enough? With cockles, prawns, duck eggs, bean sprouts, chives, and crispy pork lard .... all for RM4 flat

OK, so the image of Char Koay Teow in Penang may have been marred (or worshipped, depending on whether you're on the receiving end of the malicious treatment!) by some of the most arrogant, and over-priced stalls selling the nearly 'Gourmet' edition of the simple hawker dish, up to the realms of about RM7 per plate. Sooner or later, a plate of CKT in Penang at RM10 would be the norms, with additional 10% service charge (that is, IF you're not required to carry your own plate anymore) and 5% government tax (for the immense number of plates sold per day, they could be driving Royces/Porsches amidst the maddening Penang traffic!).

Anyway, one of my favourite CKT stall in Penang at night is Sin Wah Char Koay Teow, located at Pulau Tikus Market, off Jalan Burma in Georgetown. I paid a respectable number of visits to this place as the variety of food, the atmosphere (epitome of "street food!"), the crowd, and the price allowed a not-so-well-off public university student with a bottomless pit to binge without regret. :)

Teo Chew Chai Koay from Kim Leng Kee @ 50 (or 60) cents each

Of course, the uncle manning the stall may have an attitude of his own. And his staff as well, for that matter. Ordering any number of plates of CKT will net you an intimidating glare, and grumbles about the estimated waiting time.

"Have to wait 20 minutes one. Still want or not?" ... or when the crowd's not so thin; "Half an hour wait one woh, very long. Do you still want to wait?" .... or when the crowd's practically sitting on each other's laps : "Either you starve to death and wait, or buzz off ordering something else lah!"

Of course, I made the last one up lah .... He has yet to attain the Gold Medal in "The Laws of Arrogance" yet, amongst the CKT community in Penang. But a bronze may be hanging from his neck, for all I care.

Nonsense aside (hehe, it's Friday, so I'm a little off ... understandable, right?), the CKT was bursting with 'wok hei' or 'Breath of the Wok' (sounds soooo much like a Kung Fu sequel wannabe), fried with high flames, and lots of crispy pork lards for extra cholesterol. And flavour, nonetheless. The prawns, squids, and cockles completed the package, earning top marks in my books. You can choose between chicken's egg (RM3.50) or duck's egg (RM4).

Let's say you do not wish to smother your already glossy lips with the oily plate of artery-clogger, no frets. Solution's at hand in the form of Teo Chew Chai Koay, with fillings of either yambeans, or kuchai (Chinese chives). But they DO pan-fry them before serving, hence if you wanna avoid the grease, hold them off.

Location : Pulau Tikus wet market, at night only. From town to Pulau Tikus using Jalan Burma, you'll reach a police station on your RIGHT. Turn left into Jalan Moulmein, between two coffee shops (one's named Kwai Lock, which I blogged before HERE on their Roti Babi), and you'll reach a T-junction. The market's to your right, but it's a one way road, hence turn left and park anywhere you like.

Kheng Pin Cafe @ Penang Road - An old timer ...

The next morning, initially planned for breakfast at Joo Leong in Bayan Lepas, popular for their toasts with runny half-boiled eggs. But the previous night's booze session (hehe ... fresh from Langkawi, no less) had us dozing off at 4am, waking up a little later than desired. The next best option? Brunch at Penang Road instead.

Hainanse Chicken Rice (RM4), Wantan Noodles (RM4) and Century Egg Porridge

Kheng Pin Cafe on Penang Road possesses a certain charm, with history running way back into the olden days. Probably one of the few original coffee shops on Penang Road (Kek Seng's a good candidate), the place is still buzzing with activities (eating lah ... what else?!) on a weekday's morning/afternoon.

The Hainanese Chicken Rice has a lot of patrons, serving plump, tender chicken with fragrant rice. Not the best, yet the portion was more than sufficient, and better than most out there.

The spicy Char Koay Teow

The Rasa Malaysia food guide listed two stalls in Kheng Pin, in their recommendation. One being the Char Koay Teow stall, frying up a commendable storm with the fiery CKT, complete with the usual package sans the squids ala Sin Wah's.

Almost legendary .... or might I add, God-like status of the Lor Bak stall

But the other recommendation came in the form of Lor Bak, or mixed fritters from all meats/vegetables/etc possible. The popularity of Kheng Pin's Lor Bak transcends borders, races (except Malays, of course, it's NON-halal), and appetites. Perfect as accompaniments to a meal, or light snacks during tea break, you'll be spoilt for choice from the endless display of choices available. From the usual to the slightly out-of-the-ordinary such as fish, chicken, sweet potatoes and yam, the owner will be glad to recommend their signatures, or put your trust in him to mix and match the choices and the amount for the number of people specified.

A platter of goodies @ RM11

For the four of us, he fried on the spot : The pork rolls (Lor Bak), prawn fritters, batter-fried chicken meat, spring roll, and century egg. Served with some slices of cucumber and pickled ginger slices, the selection of fritters was spot-on, and pleased even the most demanding palate (guess who? NOT me .... =P)

The accompanying dipping sauces of sweet/spicy chilli sauce and the sticky dark sauce

Location : Kheng Pin Cafe @ 80, Jalan Penang, Penang. Opens for breakfast til about 3pm only.

Here's those who had been mesmerized by Kheng Pin's Lor Bak : What2See, After Giovanni, Allie, Penang Tua Pui

Staring right through ya !!! Who says Beggars Can't Be Choosers?! (A scene at the Kuan Yin Temple on Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling)

Happy Weekend Everyone .....

Seeking Solace in Penang - Azuma Japanese Restaurant @ Queensbay Mall

Escaping from Langkawi (that sounded harsh you say? It was NOT your idea of a routine holiday, that's for sure! Click HERE for previous post if you're having doubts!) after 5 whole days on the island, or rather, IN a camp ON the island, we flew back to Penang for a timely restoration-cum-relaxation period. Nursing sore muscles, scratches, blisters, and fatigue, we checked into our hotel the instance our plane (Firefly) touched down at the airport. Penang's air has never smelled this good ... The Air of Freedom?

The Krystal Suites @ Bayan Lepas, Penang

The Krystal Suites (www) is a hotel situated at Krystal Point, in Bayan Lepas, Penang. Krystal Point houses a dynamic range of restaurants, featuring cuisines from all over the world, from Japanese food to Thai food, and Western fare to Chinese cuisine. A query to any Penang flogger: Has Jurin moved from Krystal Point? I did not notice its existence this time around.

For only RM238/night, you can stay in a 2-bedrooms suite, with one King-sized bed, and another room with 2 single beds. Suite amenities include individually-controlled air-conditioner (all 4 of them, one in each room and two in the living room), ASTRO channels, mini fridge, microwave oven (yup, read that right!) free broadband internet service, and free parking space for one car per room. 1 Bedroom Suite starts at RM178/night, with the same amenities except the second room.

Azuma Japanese Restaurant @ Queensbay Mall, Penang

The magnetic force of the comfort, and spaciousness of our suite, my eyes were set on the comfortable, plush beds. But hunger struck at that very moment, as lunch seemed some ages ago. Hence we put off the idea of recklessly neglecting our hunger pangs and slept til morning comes, but instead ventured over to Queensbay Mall, a mere 5 minutes' drive away.

The Japanese restaurant opened for business late last year ... and gaining momentum, judging from the dinner crowd on a weekday's night

Initial plan of dining at TGIF (where else for an American diner's Supersized Portions?) was thwarted when the cravings for Japanese food came knocking at our doors. Or our guts. Azuma has large, transparent windows overlooking the bay and parking lots, thus tempting our curiosity and tastebuds at the same time.

Shake Tataki Maki and Una Cheese Maki @ RM30

Walking in to the restaurant situated on 2F of Queensbay Mall, we were promptly greeted with chants of 'Irrashaimase' and ushered to a table by the windows, with sofa seats. The interior of the restaurant was considerably bright, albeit with yellow lighting (bad for photography purposes!), with a kaiten belt section with freshly-prepared (we hope) sushi for those casual diners.

Running through the menu revealed an impressive list of Japanese and fusion items, from the usual Tenpura, Sushi and Sashimi, to Bento sets, Special Maki, and Japanese Pizza.

The 8-piece serving of Una Cheese Maki and Shake Tataki Maki was one of their recommended item, whereby from the menu, each item is priced at RM28, but for an additional RM2 you can mix and match. The Una Cheese Maki consists of sushi rice rolled with eel, cheese and vegetables, while the Shake Tataki Maki contains shrimp roe, crab sticks, cheese, vegetables, topped with grilled salmon. Each morsel was full of flavour, owing to the creamy cheese added into the rolls, and the perfectly rolled makis. So far, so good.

Azuma Deluxe Combo Sushi (RM60 for 24 pieces)

Of course, breaking free from the monotony of 'prison food' (ahem, I beg to differ, it's more like dorm meals instead), and suitably famished after the ride, we ordered recklessly, til the staff jolted out of his boots. Or apron. He politely reminded us that the Deluxe Combo Sushi is normally reserved for a 'bigger' group, and had us having second thoughts on over-ordering.

Very nicely presented, scoring top marks in aesthetic values (except for one failed salmon mayo roll) ... Tastewise?

Of course, we were in Sushi mode that evening, so we cancelled the other orders instead. The platter of mixed sushi was intimidating, as each sushi was not of bite-sized/dainty proportion, but instead rather filling. To the point of feeling rather bloated by the 5th of 6th piece. The platter includes prawn, salmon, tuna, prawn roe, eel, tuna mayo in beancurd skin, and salmon mayo roll.

All were fresh, the fish firm and sweet, while the cooked items scored as well. Except the ebikko (shrimp roe) which was a little salty. The maguro (tuna) was deliciously thick and succulent, while the tako? (octopus)'s texture was bouncy, and firm.

Azuma Zushi Pizza - Raw salmon and eel pizza (RM28)

Another signature of Azuma's is the pizzas. A combination of grilled eel and raw salmon slices were placed on top the rice (yes, the rice IS the dough!) coated with batter and fried til crispy, topped with some shrimp roe, chopped scallions and garnished with parsley. The crispy exterior coating the sticky rice, paired with the salmon/eel and sauce was heavenly. Minor gripe? The small serving (only about 4" per pc) had us wanting more!

The complimentary green tea ice cream as dessert

Reliving days of yore, we challenged each other to a Wasabi Face-Off. Yeah, 5 days in camp does irrepairable damages to one's brain, it seems! Though the wasabi (horseradish mustard) at Azuma's lacked the sting compared to the average ones elsewhere.

Location : AZUMA JAPANESE RESTAURANT @ No. 100-2F87, Queensbay Mall, Persiaran Bayan Indah, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang
Tel : 04 6413118.

For second opinions, click them :

What2See, Food Paradise, or Penang Tua Pui

Satiated, replenished and still reeling from lethargy, we attempted to burn some calories (as if) by strolling around the mall, though embedded deep in our minds, we knew that supper's just around the corner ..... ;)