Penang is synonymous with great hawker fare. When we talk about Penang food, the first few dishes that come to my mind are definitely Penang Rojak and Assam Laksa.

 

We were cracking our brains for a good makan place, and Derrick suggested Penang Place. The restaurant used to be located at International Business Park and after a few months of renovation, it is now opened for business at Fusionopolis. So last Saturday, we went there for a delicious lunch.

Prepared by 6 Penang Chefs, the Penang buffet has more than 30 items which include Duck Egg Char Koay Teow, Penang Hokkien Mee, Penang Laksa, Penang Rojak, Chendol, Ice Kachang, Nasi Lemak etc.

We tried the Nasi Lemak first. The assortment of dishes include vegetables, curry chicken, beef rending, prawns, stingray etc. I particularly like the beef rending, the meat is really tender.

The Penang Hokkien Prawn Noodles soup is flavourful, try this before hailing the king of noodle soups – Assam Laksa. The Penang Assam Laksa is spot on–hot, aromatic, intense and very addictive.

If there is one thing that you MUST TRY in the restaurant, it would definitely be the Char Kway Teow. It is quietly situated at one end of the buffet line but it is so popular it is always gone within minutes.

 

The Char Kway Teow is cooked with special sauce, duck egg, bean sprout and cockles. It is very well executed and simply irresistible. If you can, get the Char Kway Teow when it’s fresh from the kitchen.

 

The restaurant serves healthy Penang food cooked without lard. Its Lor Bak uses chicken and yam, marinated with five spice powder and served with homemade sweet cornstarch sauce. Another worth-trying accompaniment to a meal.

 

Chempedak is like durian, either you love it, or you simply hate it. The fried chempedak is a hit for me, especially those that just came off the wok. It has a sweet aroma and the skin was resoundingly crispy, so seductive.

 

Penang Place has an assortment of nonya kuehs as well. One of my personal favorites is the Kueh Talam. It is a pandan flavored cake topped with a savoury coconut milk layer. The pandan cake is fragrant and soft, simply melts in your mouth. Do try the Pulut Tatai too, the steamed glutinous rice goes well with Kaya.

DIY Cendol corner is always crowded with kids. I actually prefer the staff to do it for us. We created a few bowls but the proportion and taste are just not right.

Another sinful dessert soup, the Bo Bo Cha Cha’s tapioca and yam are fresh but its tapioca flour cubes are too tough.

 

Opening Promotion Price for July 2011: Buffet lunch is $20.90; Buffet dinner is $22.90++. There is additional $2 on Saturdays, Eve of Public Holidays and Public Holidays.