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Durian - The Sensational
"King Of The Fruit"

“You should wash your hands using the water
poured from a durian skin. It will remove the
smell from your fingers," urged Mr. Teh, my
neighbour who accompanied me on a durian
feast at Balik Pulau.

We had a satisfying breakfast like no other
amidst the natural surrounding of a durian
orchard.


Mr Nah Gin Guan, the tenant’s son of the durian's orchard, was skillful in opening the
durian. With a sharp cleaver, every single fruit was pried open at the tail end where
the indicative slicing lines met.

Come durian season, for as far as I can remember, my father however, deploying a
stick-stump approximately eight inches long with a slightly sharp end to do the same
job.

I on the other hand, would now prefer the much safer and easier method – to get
the durian seller to open part of the fruit for me. This way, I am certain of the
quality I am paying for. In the past there were times when the inner skin merged
and did not give way at the trust of the knife – the tussle sometime drew blood.

The durian tree (Bombaceae Durio zibethius L.Murr) is native to moist equatorial
forests in Southeast Asia. It can grow to 100 feet tall and produces heavy, thick-
skinned, brownish-green, soccer-ball size fruits covered with sharp thorns.
“Durian” come from the word “duri” translates from Bahasa Malaysia as thorn.

Therefore durian, by name is the thorny fruit. Which indeed, it is.

Each individual fruit is divided into five compartments, each containing a brown seed
covered by a sac of thick, creamy pulp with an aroma that is legendary.
A popular believe is that the older the tree, the better the fruit. Durian from an older
tree will bear fruits having a wrinkled texture with smooth, thick, creamy flesh that
taste sweeter and have a stronger fragrance and flavour.

Usually, seed trees will start bearing fruit after
about five to six years. Sometimes, four to
five-year old trees can start to flower. The
mature durian tree needs at least three to
four weeks of dry weather to produce flowers
to fill its branches.

One month late, the flower will be in full
bloom. Three months after that, the durian
fruit will start to ripen and drop.

The “champion” durians which we savoured
that morning were from trees that were more
than 40 years old amounting to about 65 per
cent to the trees at the orchard.

According to Mr Nah, initial yield may be 10 to
40 fruits for the first year of “flowering” to
about 100 fruits for the sixth year. Yield of up
to 200 fruits is common after the 10th year of
fruiting.

Each durian season, this 30 acres orchard (which combines two farms) in Balik Pulau
can produce as many at 15,000 durians.

Durian generally bear one crop a year but may “flower” twice a year if influenced by
the right conditions. Normally, durian fruits are allowed to drop when they are ripe.
However, the fruits may also be harvested from the tree, as is a common practise in
Thailand. By harvesting the shelf life could be extended from nine to 11 days
compared to three or four days when allowed to drop from the tree.

Durian generally bear one crop a year but may “flower” twice a year if influenced by
the right conditions. Normally, durian fruits are allowed to drop when they are ripe.
However, the fruits may also be harvested from the tree, as is a common practise in
Thailand. By harvesting the shelf life could be extended from nine to 11 days
compared to three or four days when allowed to drop from the tree.



Nets are tied over some expanse of
the ground to protect good quality
durians from damage


Grading the durians by quality
and size before it is transported to
the Balik Pulau market for sale



Penang durians, considered King of Fruits, are famous throughout Malaysia for their pleasant taste and aroma. It is no wonder that Penang people who work elsewhere in Malaysia return during durian seasons, bringing with them friends to enjoy this wonderful experience of durian feasts, usually held in one of the many durian orchards located on the southwest side of Penang Island, centering on the town of Balik Pulau.

On this particular AsiaExplorers website, instead of describing yet another destination, let me introduce you to some of the best durians in Malaysia. The best durians in Malaysia come from the south and southwest hilly regions of Penang Island, from places like Balik Pulau, Sungai Pinang and Pantai Acheh, where the fertile hill soil, temperature and rainfall makes it ideal for durian cultivation. While I can't say I am a seasoned connoisseur of durians, I can say I am enjoying myself tasting good durians. Good durians are like fine wine. Those who know durians will tell you - as I would - that every durian from every durian tree tastes slightly different. Whether they are sweet or bittersweet, you can tell the difference between good durians and the also-runs. As such, durians are not like any other fruits, certainly not comparable to apples, papayas or mangosteen.

"That thory thing." So goes its name in Malay. All across the Malay archipelago in Asia, the durian reigns supreme as King of Fruits. An acquired taste, the durian is to Southeast Asia what foie gras, truffles and caviar are to the West. Western description of durian almost always contains words like "smelly", "damp socks", "odoriferous", and other unpleasant adjectives to pin down what many in the Malay archipelago would describe as fragrant aroma. Yes, aroma. To many Asians, few fruit smells as nice, and I for one can't for the world of me compare it to smelly socks.

Appreciating the durian

Durians should preferably be taken fresh, that is to say, direct from the fruit, as soon as it is opened. That's when the aroma is strongest. Yes indeed, to truly appreciate the durian, you need to appreciate its aroma as well. Refrigerated durians simply can't compare.

Depending on the texture of the flesh, you can bite on it, chew it, suck it or lick it. Some are as soft as molten chocolate, while others are as hard as cheese. From my experience, I find that Malaysians generally prefer the soft variety that drops from the tree whereas the Thais prefer their durians hard, often plucked. As such, soft durians fetch a higher price than hard ones.

The Taste of Durian

The taste of durians ranges from sweet to bitter, and in the case of durians, bitter does not immediate translate as bad. Some are dry, others creamy, like ice cream or chocolate. Good durians usually have a substantial amount of flesh, or body, between the skin and the seed. The flesh could be separated from the seed by the inner skin which itself is as tasty as the flesh.

The Durian Flesh

The appearance takes second place to the taste, but is still an important consideration, and goes some way in determining the price of the durians. Golden or orange flesh are the highest in demand, and secures the highest price, especially if it is accompanied with a great taste. However, some of the tastiest durians are not those with the darkest colour, but can be almost creamy white.

A Durian Feast

If you are fortunate to attend a feast of branded durians, do not gorge on the fruits. You are wasting good durians, and after consuming from over six or seven different fruits, you are unlikely to be able to differentiate or remember the taste of one from the other. You wouldn't even recall the name of your favourite. To learn the different fruits you are tasting, this is my recommendation of what you should do:

Get a plate, cutlery, a bowl of water to wash your fingers, tissue paper, drinking water, notepad and pen. Ensure that the vendor identifies the durian as he opens it for you. Write down its name on your notepad and number it. Transfer one piece to the plate. Don't start eating yet. Wait till the vendor has opened all the variety of durians and identified them - naturally you'd need sufficient participants to be able to taste that many durians, so it's a good idea to attend one of AsiaExplorers Durian Feasts. We have held regular durian feasts since 2004, and although many want to join our feasts, I limit the number to just about 35 or so per trip.

By the time the vendor has opened all the different durians, you should have a good selection on your plate, all identified and numbered. Now you can start enjoying your durian experience. Durians should be taken with your fingers. Try a bit of one, then wash your fingers, dry them, and try another. In this way, you can tell the taste of different durians apart. Jot notes to help you remember the difference. You will quickly learn what type of durian you like, whether the sweet or bittersweet ones. Some have the slightly fermented aroma of liquor to it. These are all good durians that should be appreciated at its fullest.



A selection of branded durians in a plantation in Balik Pulau, the durian centre of Penang

The following is a selection of branded durians which I photographed during the 2004 and 2006 AsiaExplorers Durian Feasts.

To judge the quality of the durian, there are three important criteria to remember. The first is the appearance of the durian. The colour must be even ranging from pale white to golden yellow, and to orange. Second is the aroma. It must have a strong or a light smell. Thirdly, the texture – it should be creamy wet or creamy dry, sweet or bitter sweet. The flesh must be smooth and fully cover the whole seed. Different people crave different varieties. The sweeter type of durians are yellowish and creamy in texture. This include high-sounding names like Hor Loh, Lipan, Green Skin, D2, D15, D95 and Kun Poh. The optional bitter sweet type are usually pale in colour reminding me of a blue-and- black pinch would that is easing off. According to Mr Nah, the orange coloured variety (e.g. "ang heh" literally means red prawn) are usually not as sweet as the yellowish type. His orchard has as many as 20 popular varieties of "branded" durians and more that 50 other types waiting to be gived a name. Text and Picture Information comes from http://www.penang-vacations.com/

Kek Lok Si Temple, one of the most visited tourist attraction in Penang.




Saint Anne Church, one of the most important Catholic pilgrimage sites in Malaysia.



Chin Si Thoong Soo, one of the clan houses in Penang.



Lim Kongsi, one of the clan temples in the Unesco World Heritage Site of George Town.



Batu Ferringhi, the most beautiful stretch of sandy beaches in Penang.



Penang Bridge, a symbol of modern Penang.



Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Clocktower, one of the icons
of George Town.

Penang has it all !

Penang , the Pearl of the Orient, is one of Asia's loveliest islands . It's natural beauty and rich history have been attracting curious visitors for centuries . Travel guides have referred to it as ".. a place of mysterious temples and palm-shrouded beachers" while literary giant Somerset Maughan is known to have stayed on the isle and spun tales about the romance of the white planters in South-East Asia. Here's an introduction to Penang for visitors. As you probably already know, Penang is an island off the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It is located at a Latitude of 5°22'8.37"N and Longitude of 100°15'40.00"E (key in the location on Google Earth to find it). It is located within Penang State. Although is the second smallest state in Malaysia, it is also the most densely populated. Penang state comprises Penang Island (293 sq km) and Province Wellesley (760 sq km, nowadays called Seberang Perai in Malay), which is on the mainland of Peninsular Malaysia. Although Seberang Perai is two-and-a-half times bigger than Penang Island in size, its population (54%) is only slightly more than that of the island. The sea, consisting of the North Channel and the South Channel, separates Penang Island from Seberang Perai. These two halves of Penang are connected by the 8-mile (13.4km) long Penang Bridge, the longest bridge in Malaysia and one of the longest in Asia. Since its completion over twenty years ago, the Penang Bridge has seen traffic volume exceeding capacity, resulting in regular jams and necessitating the planning for a second Penang Bridge, even longer than the present one. This second bridge will one day connect Batu Maung on the island and Batu Kawan on the mainland. The name "Penang" itself comes from the colonial (we were under the British until 1957) way of pronouncing the original Malay name of the island, Pulau Pinang. Today the locals still call it Penang when speaking in English, though you may find that outside the English-speaking world, the island is often known and appear on maps as "Pinang", (among the Thais, for example) not even "Pulau Pinang". The capital of Penang is George Town (location: 5°25'8.59"N, 100°20'36.54"E). That's the correct way of writing it, even though the locals often misspell it as Georgetown. George Town is located on a cape to the northeast of the island. The very tip of the cap is the site of the earliest British settlement, when they opened the island as the first British trading port at the end of the 18th century (to know more, read the History of Penang). Today a lasting reminder of British occupation stands there in the form of Fort Cornwallis. The area within a radius of about a mile from Fort Cornwallis forms the old quarters of George Town (now under consideration as a possible Unesco World Heritage Site). This area holds some of the oldest and historically significant structures on Penang Island. You can find here whitewashed colonial buildings alongside gleaming temples, mosques, churches, labyrinthine alleys and all the sites that most tourists come to visit. The area that constitutes George Town extends roundly to the Gurney Drive Roundabout to the north, and the Gelugor Roundabout to the south. It is not common to hear the locals talk about George Town. If you hear them say, "I'm going to town", it means they are going to George Town. If they say, "I'm going to Penang", it means they are going to Penang Island. Although Seberang Perai is also part of Penang State, the places there are usually referred to by their respective names, ie Butterworth, Perai, Bukit Mertajam, to name a few. With over 2000 people on every square kilometer, Penang is the most densely populated state in Malaysia. The metropolitan area of Penang, which includes Penang Island, Seberang Perai as well as Sungai Petani and Kulim in neighboring Kedah, has a total population of 1.6 million, second only to the metropolitan area of the Klang Valley which includes the federal capital, Kuala Lumpur; and ahead of the Johor Bahru metropolitan area of 1.1 million. Although Penang is one of the most industrialized states in Malaysia, its capital George Town has managed to retain much of its old world charms. George Town was the first town in the then Malaya to receive city status, by a royal charter granted by Queen Elizabeth II, just before the country achieved independence. For that reason, you often hear it being called the City of George Town, especially among the locals. Today Penang Island is a major tourist destination, one of Malaysia's finest in fact. People from all over the world come here to experience its unique blend of different cultures, taste food that makes Penang famous throughout Malaysia, laze on its beaches and explore its old city enclaves and heritage sites. Perhaps due to the easy-going nature of the island, many visitors find it to be a very charming destination. Indeed many have come to stay permanently. If you are one of those who are interested to make Penang your home, we certainly welcome you with open arms. Click on Malaysia My Second Home (coming soon) to find out more about the programme.

If you are planning to visit Penang, you will find here useful tips covering all aspects of your visit, from the time you arrive to the time you are ready to head for home. Through this website, you can also book hotel rooms and get other conveniences for your trip.

I hope you find Penang Travel Tips to be very easy to use. I take care to ensure that all the pages are no more than 2 clicks from the homepage. That way, you never have to dig deep, and - hopefully - you never get lost. To update you on all the wonderful things about Penang, I also publish the Penang Travel Tips Newsletter. It is free for all, and is delivered into the Inbox of subscribers. To subscribe to my free newsletter, just click on Newsletter Subscription Center.

The Table of Content on the right column lists all the important pages of this website. You will find just about anything you need there. If you are looking for some background information about Penang, I suggest you read about Penang. To go back in time, read Penang's History. The Geography page gives you an idea of the layout of the island. Another useful page to read, especially if you are planning a visit, is the Weather page.

Looking for budget accommodation in Penang? Check out what's available in the Budget Accommodation Guide, a website I have created for budget travelers.

Ready to explore Penang? All the tourist attractions of Penang are listed in two pages. In the Sight Index, you find the sights in alphabetical order, while in Tourist Attractions page, they are listed by categories. As of today, I have completed describing 233 tourist attractions in Penang Travel Tips. They are my own, independent assessment of the places of interest in Penang, and I hope as you read them, they will give you a fresh insight on what to see and expect.

Penang, Guide for First Timers

If you are planning a visit to Penang, and you're coming here for the first time, I would recommend that you start by visiting the places within Inner George Town, an area inscribed by Unesco as a World Heritage Site on 26 July, 2008. It is located at the northeast tip of the island of Penang. The State of Penang comprises Penang Island and Province Wellesley (Seberang Perai). There are many towns within Penang Island and Seberang Perai, but most of the tourist attractions are located within George Town, especially Inner George Town, where the majority can be explored by foot. Once you are done with George Town, other places to visit include Ayer Itam and Balik Pulau on the island; Butterworth and Bukit Mertajam on the mainland. If you are coming to Penang to bask by the seaside, you will be heading towards the Batu Ferringhi area. Whether you will spend any time in George Town depends on your own inclination.



The easiest, most affordable way to move about in Penang is to take the bus. We provide here the most complete Rapid Penang Bus Routes, which list the entire bus route of Rapid Penang, the main public bus operator in the state. For a faster mode of transport, get a taxi, available at many taxi stands around the island.

Looking for basic necessities, ie a tower perhaps or a soap, we have put together a page listing all the 7-Eleven Stores in Penang. That way, if you happen to be in short supply of something in the middle of the night, you can find the nearest 7-Eleven.

Feeling hungry? What d'you know, you've come to the right place, for Penang is considered Malaysia's Food Paradise! Let Penang Travel Tip help you discover all the delicious Penang food. The first place to visit is the Penang Food Directory, which lists all the mouth-watering foods of Penang, describing them in detail. From there, you continue to the Penang Coffee Shop Directory, which lists the many coffee shops in Penang, with information on what are available there, location map, and even bus guide. Truly, for food lovers, this in indispensible info!

Not everybody is crazy about durians, but if you are, you'd be glad to know that there's a section in Penang Travel Tips all about durians. Just click on Penang Durians and learn all about it!

If you're coming to Penang, not just to visit, but to work, to study, or even to retire, Penang Travel Tips is ready to help you too. You can find vital information on Buying and Renting Properties in Penang, with maps and advice on selecting a good location. Practically every flat, apartment and condominium in Penang is featured here. If you are a foreigner who wish to make Penang your new home, read about the Malaysia My Second Home program. It puts you on the right footing towards a wonderful life in Penang.


Index take from www.penang-traveltips.com

A Brief History

Penang was founded in 1786 when the Sultan of Kedah handed it over to the British East India Company, in return for a promise to protect it from invasion by Siamese and Burmese forces. Captain Francis Light was looking for a base to be used as a British trading post. He explored different places including Phuket before settling on Penang. On 11 August 1786, Francis Light landed on Penang and named it Prince of Wales Island.

The location of Penang at the mouth of the Straits of Malacca makes it an attractive choice for a British outpost. It has a natural harbour for trading ships and can be developed into a naval base to counter a growing French ambition in the region. Francis Light named the settlement at the northeastern tip of Penang as George Town, after King George III (1738-1820).

When handing Penang over to Francis Light, the Sultan of Kedah was unaware that Light was acting without the approval of his superiors to offer military protection. When it became clear that the British had no intention of protecting Kedah from Siam, the Sultan of Kedah tried to retake Penang in 1790. The attempt was unsuccessful, and the Sultan was forced to cede Penang to the East India Company for an honorarium of 6000 Spanish dollars per annum. When Province Wellesley was added to Penang in 1800, this amount was increased to 10,000 Spanish dollars. The Malaysian government continues to pay this annual honorarium of 10,000 ringgit to the state of Kedah. In 1821, Siamese forces conquered Kedah and it remained under Siamese control until it was transferred to the British by the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909.

In 1826, Penang, along with Malacca and Singapore, became part of the Straits Settlements under the British administration from India. From 1867, it came under direct British colonial rule. In 1946, after the end of World War II, Penang became part of the Malayan Union, before becoming a state of the Federation of Malaya in 1948. In 1963 Penang became one of the 13 states of Malaysia.

George Town was accorded city status by Queen Elizabeth II on January 1, 1957. This makes it the first town in the then Federation of Malaya to become a city, after Singapore. Still on display at the Penang State Museum is the royal charter granting George Town its city status and the petition from the Penang residents to Queen Elizabeth II in this regard. However, as a result of local government reorganisations in 1976, the City Council of George Town was merged with the neighbouring Penang Rural District Council to form the Municipal Council of Penang Island (Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang). Although the city status of George Town was never officially revoked, the state and federal governments are of the view that it has ceased to exist. In recent years, local resentment has grown as relatively insignificant towns such as Alor Setar have been designated cities. The state government has announced its intention to petition the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) of Malaysia for a regrant of city status once the city's new boundaries are agreed.

The island was a free port until 1969. Since the 1970s, Penang has built up one of the largest electronics manufacturing bases in Asia, in the Free Trade Zone around the airport in the south of the island. Its colonial history and Penang’s awareness of its past legacy, many buildings of colonial times can still be seen today. Such buildings include the City Hall, the Town Hall, the Eastern & Oriental Hotel, the Old Court House, Suffolk House (Francis Light’s residence), Uplands International School building, Standard Chartered Bank building and the HSBC Bank building. Local conservation groups such at the Penang Heritage Trust are lobbying the Penang state government to restore many of Penang's historical buildings but sadly a number of them have dilapidated beyond repair.

Penang Cuisine ' HO CHIAK ' ~means delicious in Hokkien

Having a reputation as a food paradise, be it haute cuisine, or cuisine bourgeoise (hawker fare), Penang offers a heady and exotic mix of delicious cuisine to choose from.

In a word, Penang food is both famous and fabulous. When people mention Penang food, they are more often than not referring to hawker food and coffee shop dining. It's true that some of the hype is overblown but it cannot be denied that Penang is home to many uniquely delicious chow. Ironically, hawkers in other states or towns have been known to pull the crowd by simply advertising their food as hailing from Penang, regardless of its authenticity or quality. Then there are the Penang hawkers who advertise their cusine as specialties from another state, like Johor bak kut teh, Ipoh chicken and bean sprouts or laksa Kedah. In short, an infinite variety of dishes are yours to savour – all you need do is pick and choose.

Penang hawker food can be broken down roughly into several varieties, with each being attributable to Penang's multi-cultural character: Nyonya, Chinese, vegetarian, Indian, Malay, Hakka-styled Western, seafood and desserts. Hybrids are also known to exist, and some famous examples are Malay style chicken rice and char koay teow, and Chinese satay and nasi lemak. Prices are cheap and reasonable.

With fishing being a major economic activity on the island, Penang is naturally a haven for sea food, and a handful of restaurants have already achieved legendary status among locals and foreigners.

Tucked away in remote corners, these eateries are not easy to find without local guidance but are definitely worth the extra effort seeking out.

Desserts play a major role in Penang gastronomy. There are as many varieties as there are races in Penang! To mention a few would do injustice to the rest, so you'll just have to let your eyes and your nose be your guide. A word of warning though – most local desserts tend to be sweet and rich, as coconut milk, flour and sugar are main ingredients.

Thanks to early Chinese migrants, Chinese cuisine ranges from Cantonese to Teochew to Hokkien to Hainanese to Szechuan cooking. There's also Penang Nyonya food, which is a combination of Chinese, Malay and some Thai. The Penang variety of Nyonya food, apparently, is different from the Malaccan or even Singaporean versions. For a touch of luxury, try a five or ten-course Chinese meal at one of the restaurants or hotels in town.

Indian cuisine goes by two names generally – banana leaf rice and nasi kandar. Both are hot and savoury with rice being the main staple, and a menu from north Indian tandoori and nan bread, to South Indian rice and capati

Nasi kandar is famously popular with Penangites, and many restaurants selling it are well known not only to those on the island but those in other states as well. It is quite common to find people from other states detouring to Penang just to stop for a meal of nasi kandar before proceeding on their journey elsewhere...

Indulge! Savour!

Location of Penang Cuisine:

Malay eateries

Azlan Tomyam Ikan Bakar
236, Jalan Besar, Balik Pulau • Tel: 604-866 3908 / 012-405 8022
Opens: Daily from 1.00pm - 5.00 am except on Wednesdays
Cuisine: Malay-style baked fish and tomyam

Bob Nasi Kampong
801 Permatang Batu, Bukit Mertajam, Penang • Tel: 604-508 2703
Opens: 12.00noon - 4.00pm; 7.00pm - 12.00am daily
Cuisine: Malay style fish curry, chicken, beef, cuttlefish and prawn dishes, grilled shad/skate, vegetables rice and noodles

Kafe 1926
Hotel 1926, 227, Jalan Burma, George Town • Tel: 604-2281926
Opens: 7.00am - 9.00pm on Sundays to Thursdays, 7am - 10pm on Fridays to Saturdays
Cuisine: Malay specialties

Kampong Restaurant
411 Batu Ferringhi, Penang • Tel: 604-881 2676 / 012-408 9156
Opens: 6.00pm - 11.00pm
Cuisine: Malay and Chinese specialties

Kelawei Curry Fish Head
43, Jalan Kelawei, George Town • Tel: 604-2264573
Opens: 11.30am - 3.00pm, closed on Sundays and public holidays
Cuisine: Fish head curry

Moonlight Café
Moonlight Bay, Jalan Batu Ferringhi, Batu Ferringhi, Penang • Tel: 012-495 3468
Hours: 4.00pm - 2.00am
Cuisine: Malay-style grilled fish and tomyam

Restoran Makcik Kelante
100, Ground Floor, Jalan Mayang Pasir, Taman Sri Tunas, 11950 Bayan Baru
Tel: 016-400 6477 & 604-477 3423
Openrs: 11.00am - 1.00am
Cuisine: Kelantan style sambals and curries

Restoran Mesra
6, Kompleks Balik Pulau, Penang • Tel: 604-866 6540
Opens: 6.00am - 6.00pm
Cuisine: Malay home-cooked dishes and chicken rice

Restoran Pak Samad
21, Jalan Prai Jaya 2, Prai, Penang • Tel: 019-411 3509
Opens: 7.00am to 10.00pm
Cuisine: Malay hawker goodies like chicken rice, prawn mee, ulam etc.

Restoran Peladang
Kawasan Seri Pulau, Jalan Genting, Balik Pulau, Penang • Tel: 019-426 9636
Opens: 8.00am - 4.00pm
Cuisine: Catfish curry, prawn noodles etc.

Restoran Wawasan Mutiara
Lot No. G-01, Wisma Komat Car Park, Lebuh Teik Soon, George Town
Opens: Daily from 11.00am - 12.00am
Cuisine: Curry fish-head, rendang, tandoori etc.

Rossmerah
Jalan Chow Thye, George Town • Tel: 604-228 2221
Opens: Daily for breakfast and lunch except weekends
Cuisine: Malay 'home-cooked' dishes and rice buffet style

Shahabe Catering
144-E Jalan Sungai Pinang, Penang • Tel: 604-264 2307
Opens: 7.00am to 10.00pm
Cuisine: Malay and Indian specialties like noodles and pancakes

Tari Café
477, Jalan Tanjung Tokong, Penang • Tel: 604-890 9005 / 6016-409 9427
Opens: 6.00pm - 4.00am
Cuisine: Malay and Western favourites

Teratak Siti Khadijah
326, BPVA Jalan Besar, 11000 Balik Pulau, Penang • Tel: 6012-492 3068
Opens: 8.00am - 11.00pm (Sunday cloased)
Cuisine: Malay-style fried noodles and dishes

Tomyam Seafood Sharifah
Lot 562, Kampung Binjai, Penang • Tel: 6016-457 6443
Opens: 5.00pm - 3.00am
Cuisine: Tomyam, kerabu and assorted seafoods

Tulang Corner
Tanjong Tokong • Tel: 6019-415 9999
Opens: 7.00pm - 11.00pm
Cuisine: Grilled and steamed seafood

Nyonya eateries

Dragon King Restaurant
99, Bishop Street, George Town • Tel: 604-261 8035

Hot Wok
3H, Jalan Pantai Molek, Tanjong Tokong • Tel: 604-890 7858
Cuisine: Nyonya cuisine and favourites like perut ikan (sourish fish stew) and curry kapitan (fragrant dry chicken curry)

Nyonya Secrets
32 Service Road, George Town • Tel: 604-227 5289

Mama's Nyonya Food
31-D, Abu Siti Lane, George Town • Tel: 604-229 1318

Chinese eateries

Ang Hoay Lor
Jalan Brick Kiln, Penang • Tel: 604-262 4841
Opens: Daily from 12.00noon - 3.00pm, 6.00pm - 9.00pm
Cuisine: Good Hokkien and local food. Signature dishes include fried eggs with oysters, prawn fritters, rice noodles with pork strip in rich soup and bean curd fried with scallions.

The Bungalow
Lone Pine Hotel, Batu Ferringhi, Penang • Tel: 604-881 1511
Cuisine: Hainanese and Western

Canton Palace
Evergreen Laurel Hotel, Persiaran Gurney, George Town • Tel: 604-226 9988

CRC Restaurant
Jalan Padang Victoria, 10400 Penang • Tel: 604-228 9787, 229 9155, 228 3787
Fax: 604-229 9157

Dragon Inn
Jalann Gottlieb, George Town • Tel: 604-227 7049

East Xiamen Delicacies
53, Love Lane, Penang • Tel: 604-263 3618

Eam Huat Restaurant
Jalan Jelutong, Penang • Tel: 604-281 7068

ET Steam Boat Restoran
Jalan Rangoon, George Town • Tel: 604-226 6025

Feng Wei Restaurant
Jalan Sri Bahari, George Town • Tel: 604-261 1918

Foo Heong Restaurant
Lebuh Cintra, George Town • Tel: 604-261 2350

The Forum Chinese Cuisine
Level 3, Block 118, Jalan Tanjong Tokong, Penang • Tel: 604-899 0088
Fax: 604-899 1368

Golden BBQ Steamboat Restaurant
38-40, Jalan Nagore, Penang • Tel: 012-457 0686

Goh Huat Seng Restaurant
59A, Lebuh Kimberly, George Town • Tel: 604-261 5646
Cuisine: Teochew steamboat and dim sum

Goh Kee Hup
Lorong Seck Chuan, George Town • Tel: 604-261 2296

Goh Swee Choon
Persiaran Gurney, George Town • Tel: 604-228 0137

Goh Swee Kee Teochew Restaurant
61 Lebuh Kimberly, George Town • Tel: 604-263 6932
Opens: 11.00am - 2.30pm & 7.00pm - 10.00pm daily
Cuisine: Teochew specialties like braised goose, porcine intestines with salted vegetables and homemade fish balls

Goh Teo Kee Restaurant
No.2 Jalan Bukit Kecil 1, Taman Sri Nibong, Bayan Lepas Penang • Tel: 604-646 5072

Golden Gate Steamboat
Jalan Cantonment, George Town • Tel: 604-226 1361

Golden Lotus
The City Bayview Hotel, George Town • Tel: 604-263 3161 • Email: cbvpg@tm.net.my

Golden Phoenix
Hotel Equatorial, Jalan Bukit Jambul, Penang • Tel: 604-643 8111

Gui Bin Restaurant
1st Floor, Garden Inn, 41 Jalan Anson, 10400 Penang • Tel: 604-229 2812, 226 6651, 226 3655

The Green Chili
No. 1, Jalan Sungei Kelian, Hillside, Tanjung Bunga, Penang • Tel: 604-890 8727

Hai Pin Restaurant
1, Blok 2, Gat Lebuh Macallum, George Town • Tel: 604-261 0748
Cuisine: Chinese favourites and seafood

Han Kook Kwan
Level 1, Ferringhi Beach Hotel, Batu Ferringhi
Opens: Daily for lunch and dinner
Cuisine: Korean BBQ and Steamboat

Hollywood Restaurant
Tanjong Bungah, Penang • Tel: 604-890 7268

Hong Kong Tea Garden
Jalan Macalister, George Town • Tel: 604-228 1166

Hong Kong Restaurant
29 Lebuh Cintra, Penang • Tel: 604-261 5409

Hoon Thai Kuang
Persiaran Gurney, George Town • Tel: 604-227 9086

House of Four Seasons
Level 1, Penang Mutiara Beach Resort, Teluk Bahang, Penang • Tel: 604-886 8888
Opens: Daily from 11.30am - 2.30pm, 7.00pm - 10.00pm except Tuesday
Cuisine: Cantonese and Szechuan fine dining - sharks' fin, abalone, soon hock (marbled goby), minced pigeon, braised chicken with yam in clay pot, Peking duck, dim sum etc.

Hua Ting
Copthorne Orchid Hotel Penang, Tanjung Bunga, Penang • Tel: 604-890 3333

Hwa Pin Restaurant
Lebuh Gereja, George Town • Tel: 604-262 4050

Island Park Restaurant
Tingkat Tembaga, Taman Guan Joo Seng, Jelutong, Penang • Tel: 604-658 3544

Jade Palace Seafood Restaurant
3, Kelab Dynasty, Lorong Abu Siti, George Town • Tel: 604-227 5758

Jia Yen Noodle Café
Level 1, Lot 1.3, Sunshine Square, Bayan Baru, Penang • Tel: 604-643 9855

Long Jiang Restaurant
Crown Jewel Hotel, Tanjung Bunga, Penang • Tel: 604-890 4111
Cuisine: Szechuan and Cantonese

Marco Polo Chinese Restaurant
Bayview Beach Resort, Batu Ferringhi, Penang • Tel: 604-881 2123
Cuisine: Chinese

Marco Polo
Garden Inn, No. 41 Jalan Anson, George Town • Tel: 604-227 9167

May Garden Palace Restaurant
Jalan Penang, George Town • Tel: 604-261 6435

Mun Shang Restaurant Sdn Bhd
5, Block 3A Kompleks Bukit Jambul, Jalan Rumbia, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang • Tel: 604-646 8118

Shang Palace
Level 2, Shangri-la Hotel, Magazine Road, George Town • Tel: 604-262 2622
Opens: Daily from 11:30am - 2:30pm, 6:30pm - 9:30pm
Cuisine: Chinese, with vegetarian options

Sin Kheang Aun Restaurant
Lorong Chulia, George Town • Tel: 604-261 4786

Taipan Fin
The Northam Hotel, 55, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, George Town • Tel: 604-370 1111
Fax : 604 - 370 2222 • Email: northam@po.jaring.my
Cuisine: Specialties are the Cantonese sharksfin and Hong Kong style dim sum

Tai Thong
Paradise Beachcomber Hotel, Tanjung Bunga, Penang • Tel: 604-899 4119

Tong Hang Café
16 Lebuh Pantai, George Town

Tower Palace Sdn Bhd
i. Level 59, Komtar, George Town • Tel: 604-262 2222
ii. Persiaran Gurney • Tel: 604-228 2888
iii. Zon Perdagangan Bebas Fasa 4, Bayan Lepas, Penang • Tel: 604-641 1777

Indian and mid east eateries

19 Greenhall Cafe & Pub
No. 19 Greenhall (Light Street), George Town • Tel: 013-4571599
Opens: Daily from 8.00am - 10.00pm
Cuisine: South Indian vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, western and local à la carte lunch and dinner promotions.
Beer, pool tables, football table and dart games also available.

Aladdin Restaurant
Sri Sayang Resort Service Apartments
Cuisine: Arabic fine dining
Email: maxcarry@tm.net.my (quote ref no 1129)
Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Annalakshmi
Temple of Fine Arts
1 Babington Avenue, Penang • Tel: 604-228 8575
Hours: Thursday - Tuesday from 11.30am - 2.30pm, 6.00pm - 9.30pm

Dawood
Jalan Bagan Luar, Bagan Luar, Butterworth • Tel: 604-331 4395

Hameedia Restaurant
Lebuh Campbell, George Town • Tel: 604-261 1095
Cuisine: Indian Muslim

Innira's Restaurant
5 Lorong Endah Empat Taman Brown, Gelugor • Tel: 604-657 8550
Opens: Daily from 12.00pm - 3.00pm, 6.30pm - 11.00pm

Jaipur Court
9 & 11 Leith Street, Penang • Tel: 604-263 0306
Opens: Monday - Saturday from 12.00pm - 2.30pm, 6.30pm - 11.00pm,
Cuisine: North Indian

Jaya Restaurant
12, Taman Sri Tunas, Jalan Tengah, Bayan Baru, Penang • Tel: 604-641 3626
Opens: Daily from 7.00pm - 11.00pm
Cuisine: North and South Indian

Kapitan
49 Lebuh Chulia, George Town
Opens: 5.30am - 11.30pm

Restoran Kassim Mustafa
i. 12 Lebuh Chulia, George Town • Tel: 604-262 0629
ii. Jalan Mayang Pasir, Taman Sri Tunas, Bayan Lepas, Penang • Tel: 04-604-641 2397
Opens: 5.30am - 11.30pm

Khaleel Restaurant
48 Pekan Teluk Bahang, Teluk Bahang • Tel: 604-885 1469
Opens: 24 hours except on Friday
Cuisine: Briyani, kurmas, capati, naan etc. Also serves Western-styled desserts

Kumarans Cafe
Lebuh Pasar, George Town

Madras New Woodlands
Penang Street, George Town • Tel: 604-263 9764

Passage Thru India
Penang Road, George Town • Tel: 604-262 0263
Cuisine: North Indian

Plaza Restaurant
34 Lebuh Ah Quee, George Town • Tel: 604-261 0108

Sri Ananda Bahwan Restaurant
2982, Jalan Bagan Luar, Butterworth • Tel: 604-323 6228

Taj Mahal
338A Lebuh Chulia, George Town

Terrace Cafe
Holiday Inn Resort, 72 Batu Ferringhi, Penang • Tel: 604-881 1601

The Tandoori House
34-36 Lorong Hutton, George Town • Tel: 604-261 9105
Opens: Daily from 11.00am - 3.00pm, 6.00pm-10.30pm
Cuisine: North Indian