Ivy's Kitchen

My ratings: 5 Stars

Cuisine: Nyonya, Chinese, Steamboat, Seafood, Cafe & Hawker fare

Location: 58, Jalan Chow Thye, 10250 Penang

(2 doors down Jemputree restaurant/opp Hotel 1926)

Pork Free

RM10-30 per person

There is an undiscovered jewel in the mass of restaurants in Penang. Ivy's Kitchen serves the best traditional Nyonya, Chinese, Seafood and Steamboat cuisine. Born out of the dreams of Tan And Ivy to set up a family orientated restaurant serving the best dishes of their Hokkien and Teo Chew heritage.

Their strength is in cooking up the long forgotten dishes that our mothers used to make for us like Chilli Crab, Ju Hu Char, Teo Chew styled soup with seaweed and traditional steamboat. Their promise to their customers that every of their dish is home made and made fresh on that day and nothing comes out to the table except quality food.

As a matter of fact, some dishes like the Chilli Crab and Steamboat must be pre-ordered so that Ivy will get the raw ingredients and spices fresh from the market.

The menu may looked simple but ask Mr. Tan for recommendation for the day and soon you will realize there is more to offer and best part of it all the dishes are good. And the best part is that there is variety, you have to make several trips and dine at the restaurant before you get to the end of the menu. Rarely, you can get a restaurant that can cook well for all of its items in the menu buy Ivy's Kitchen is different and is that special restaurant. Here's to Ivy.

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We ordered a lot and we finished them all. We ordered Nasi Lemak, Gulai Ikan, Ju Hu Char, Chicken Lor Bak, Asam Prawns, Assam Gulai Ikan, Laksa, Rojak, Kailan Sambal, Beef Rendang and Bitter Gourd with Taucu. Oh! Yummy.......

Here is my recommendations: Basically, all above............esp. Nasi Lemak set, Curry Fish Head, Beef Rendang, Penang Assam Laksa, Assam Gulai Ikan, Assam Prawns, Ju Hu Char, bitter gourd with taucu, etc. Mr Tan is eager to recommend his Chili Crab and steamboat. I am sure they will taste fantastic! My next visit......

Tan and Ivy is taking reservations for Chinese New Year family steamboat dinner over the duration of the Chinese New Year. Call their numbers below.

I am giving my two thumbs up because I can get basically all my great tasting childhood comfort food here and if you have the opportunity, chat with Tan and Ivy. They have a lot of life & food stories to share....definitely adds to the homely friendly atmosphere. Stop by Ivy's Kitchen as part of your heritage adventure around Georgetown and get to experience a taste of heritage.

Call Tan (+6 013-4337878) or Ivy (+6 016-4337130) for reservations and/or advance orders. Open Daily 12:00pm - 9:00pm. Close 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month. Park car along Chow Thye road or at Cafe 127's car park.

Tai Buan Teo Chew Porridge

My Ratings: 4 Stars

Cuisine: Teo Chew, Chinese

Location: 173 Muntri Street, Penang (Corner of Muntri and Leigh Street, nearby Red Cafe)

Non Halal

RM12-15 per person

I came across this place by accident/chance. My original intention was to have dinner at Red cafe along Leigh Street. I did not want to park inside Red Cafe car park which I think not worth pay the RM2 parking, so I cruise along the back at Leigh Street. There was not parking right in front of Red Cafe so I had to park a little further.

As I got out of the car, I noticed there was crowd of people in front of a shoplot. Curiously, I checked it out and to my amazement, there is a cart inside the shop selling good old Teo Chew styled porridge. What a pleasant surprise!

So Amanda and me decide to give this porridge stall a try. We ordered all the "must haves" for a Teo Chew porridge which is the most important......Succulent, fatty braised pork belly and then followed by pork ears, preserved vegetables, salted duck egg, pork inerts, bean curd and 2 portions of porridge each. One portion is to eat immediately while the other is left to cool and when by the time the first porridge portion is finished, the second portion would be at the right temperature

Asking around, the stall has been operating for more than 15 years. It is a family business, started with the father and then passed down to son and assisted by mother and a few workers. This restaurant is definitely old styled. Simple, no frills and selling porridge from 6pm till 10pm everyday except Sunday. Steeped in tradition, this stall enjoys a constant flow of loyal customer although eating porridge nowadays is no longer cheap. Our bill came up to about RM30 for two including drinks. So next time, if you are feeling heaty or having less appetite, head down to Tai Buan Porridge for a refreshing comforting old school porridge.

Goh Huat Seng

My Ratings: 4 Stars

Cuisine: Chinese/Teo Chew
Location: 59A Kimberly Street (junction with Jalan Pintal Tali), Georgetown, Penang
Non Halal
RM15-25 per person

Talk about stepping back in history. This restaurant must be one of the few remaining that have not changed its facade since business started there. It's historic looking.

Started in 1953, this restaurant is one of the oldest and most popular Teo Chew restaurant on the island. Now, run by Mr. Sew Boo who took over this business from his father Goh Eng Poh in 1977 and moved to its current location.

The restaurant serves typical Teo Chew delicacies like Oh Chien (Oyster Omelette), Lor Ark (Brasied Duck with Five Spices), Chim Bak Kean (Crab Roll), Heh Bak Kean (Prawn Roll) and of course Or Knee for dessert. All are house specialty and pictured.

Apart from Chinese dishes, dinner can also order their steamboat set from RM60. But these are not your typical modern day steamboat cooked over an electric or gas stove. This steamboat is over red hot charcoal fire using a traiditional steamboat apparatus. Wow! this certainly up the historic value/points of the place and experience. But this steamboat apparatus had the help of modern technology. Its owners provide a mini battery operated fans to help fan the hot ambered fire

We ordered all of its house specialties and more. We ordered their fish ball soup with sea weed floss, long beans, pork with preserved vegetables, Chinese Chai Sim and steamed fish Teo Chew style.

Delicious. Taste is balanced. Not too salty nor oily as with typical Teo Chew cooking style. The only twist was the Or Knee. Normally this traditional dessert is Yam is covered with rice sheet and steamed until the rice sheet is almost translucent. Here the Or Knee is deep fried using flour sheets

Parking is limited along the busy streets in that area. So being there early to avoid walking a distance from you car and back. Also be there early as it can get pretty pack with customers especially during the weekend.

Cash term only. For reservation, call+604 2615811. Opens 11:00am - 3:00pm for lunch and 5:30pm - 9:30pm. Closed on alternate Mondays.