Taipei 101

My Ratings: 3 Stars
Cuisine: Taiwanese and Japanese

Location: 35G Pesiaran Bayan Indah, 11600 Bayan Lepas, Penang (opp. HSBC/Queensbay Mall)
Non Halal
RM10-19 per person
Contact: +604 4641339

Taipei 101 Penang has been around for more than a year but now it is back in 2011 with a new menu that will suit everyone's taste of Taiwanese food and snacks found in famous Taiwan night markets. For those who crave for Japanese cuisine, Taipei 101 also has a variety of bento items and gyozas for the whole family.

We tasted 11 food items and 2 drinks from the menu and pictured below. They were:-

Pop-corn Chicken (RM5.00)
Roasted Lemon Chicken with Noddle (RM9.90)
Roasted Lemon Chicken with Mee Suah (RM9.90)
Braised Pork Trotter cooked in claypot (RM12.90 per set)
Spicy Pork Ribs cooked in claypot (RM11:50 per set)
Ginger Duck Claypot Rice (RM11.50)
Honey Sauced topped Fried Cod Bento (RM17.50)
Fried Mushroom (RM4.50)
Fried Dumpling (RM5.00)
Sweet Potato with Plum Powder (RM4.80)
Seaweed Potato Chips (RM5.00)
Winter Melon Lemon Tea (RM3.90)
Ice Blended Green Bean (RM4'90)

Overall, the food has strong, full bodied flavours and my pick of the day would be Spicy Pork Ribs, Ginger Duck, Braised Pork Trotter and the Honey Sauced Fried Cod Bento. Taiwan's favourite snack dish would be the sweet potatoes in plum powder. I find the Ice Blended Green Bean most refreshing on a hot day and of course healthy too! The prices are reasonable and value for money, especially for the set meals. The portions are sufficient to satisfy any hungry man or woman too. For example, the spicy pork ribs claypot set meal is served complete with spicy tofu, omelette and rice for only RM11.50 plus 5% discount if you hold a Taipei 101 member card. This definitely make Taipei 101 a good alternative food haunt to the surrounding restaurants and food court foods of the nearby mall that will not bust your wallet.

Menu choice is extensive which allows diners to try new dishes with every visit or to take away or have your meals delivered to your doorsteps. Yes, Taipei 101 has free delivery service (until 7:00pm) which covers from e-Gate to Bayan Lepas, Sungai Dua, Bukit Jambul to Inti College for orders > RM25. Move over McD, Pizza Hut, Dominos delivery, here comes Taipei 101 delivery service.

There are ample parking in the area or you can park inside the nearby mall multi-storey parking and just walk across. Opens Mon - Thurs: 11:00am - 3:00pm and then 5:30pm - 10:00pm. But on weekends starting on Friday, the operating hours are from 11:00am - 10:0pm. Cash term only.

Invited Review: Annathai Kitchen

My Ratings: 5 Stars

Cuisine: Thai

Location: 26, Moulmein Road, Pulau Tikus, Penang

Non Halal

RM6-10 per person

Contact: 604-2277599

Closed Mondays

Opens: from 10:30am - 2:30pm and then 5:30-9:30pm for dinner

Once a while you find a culinary gem that everything seemed right and in this case Thai cuisine.

Thai cuisine is no stranger in the Penang eating scenes but this little kitchen by the popular market on the island seemed to dish out fantastic authentic Thai food

We were invited to sample a variety of delicious home cooked Thai food. All together there are more than 30 dishes on the platter and menu. A choice that can satisfy any person's desire. All the food is well balanced in terms of taste and sight

My personal favourites are:-

- Thai Otak Otak (Hor Mok)

- Jack Fruit with sticky rice (Khoa Niao Kha Noon)

- Fresh mango with sticky rice (Khoa Niao Ma Muang)

- Thai dessert with coconut milk and water chesnut (Tub Thim Krob)

- Thai chicken rice (Khao Mun Gai)

- Thai Laksa (Khao Nom Chin)

- Thai Fried Rice (Khao Yam)

- Tom Yam Goong

- Red syrup (Nam Daeng) with sago

- Green syrup (Nam Kaew) with sago

I like the Otak because the texture is one of the smoothest I have ever tasted (true skill). The Jackfruit and Mango goes well with the sticky rice. Their Thai Laksa is very unique and creamy. You can really taste the fresh ingredients used. Thai fried rice is just so pretty to look at, wonderful of colours of the ingredients is just too good to mix it up. And the Tom Yam Goong is one of the best I have ever tasted.

I can't wait to go back for dinner. They have a totally diffrent menu for dinner

Overall the restaurant offers a wide variety of authentic Thai home cooked dishes at reasonable price. It is clean and offers relaxed indoor and outdoor seating. Not surprising as the Matriarch of the kitchen is of Thai decent. I recommend my readers to try it

"Koopuwa's Cupuacu fruit has one of the best Anti-oxidant level"

Hot Bowl

My Ratings: 5 Stars

Cuisine: Asian
Location: Aboo Sittee Lane, Penang (beside Lim Huat Bee Skin Clinic)
From RM3.50

Forget Fatty Loh......forget Sa Chew. This place sells the best Steamed Chicken Rice. A little pricey at RM4.90 per plate but I think worth to taste the succulent, juicy steamed chicken. You have it with rice or just the chicken as a side to a bowl of their also famous white curry mee (chilly added seperately). Try it! Try both! Everybody who comes to this mom and pop (Mr Ho) restaurant orders its white curry mee or steamed chicken rice/hor fun soup or both

Black Vinegar Pig's Trotter, Otak Otak, Beansprouts (taugeh), Fish Head curry (pre-order needed) is also available for your eating pleasure.

I rate its steamed chicken a 5-star