Sri Ananda Bahwan, Macalister Road

Sri Ananda Bahwan

225 Macalister Road

10450 Georgetown

Penang

Operating Hours

0800 - 2330 daily

Mango Lassi (RM4.50)

Honey Mint Lemon Juice (RM6.00)

Chicken Butter Masala M (RM15.00) | Palak Paneer M (RM10.00)

Special Mutton Briyani (RM15.00)

Poori Set (RM2.70)

Chicken Butter Noodle (RM8.00) 

Mee Goreng Mamak (RM10.00)

Taste - Good. Especially the Indian curry noodle (mee goreng mamak)

Price - Average. RM75.50 for 3 pax

Ambiance - Foodcourt-ish

Mum's Place, Damansara Perdana

Mum's Place

Jalan PJU 8/5A

Damansara Perdana

47820 Petaling Jaya

Selangor Darul Ehsan

(+603) 7727 8443 

(+603) 7727 8449

Operating Hours

1100 - 1500, 1800 - 2230 daily

Last order before

1430 (lunch)

2130 (dinner)

I can't believe I haven't shared this with you!

Mum's Place is one of my favourite restaurant in Damansara. This place used to be so packed, you better have reservation or risk having to wait for a table. 

When I returned recently for lunch with my bffs from primary school, I was surprised to find the place so much less busy than I remembered. Good thing food was still delicious!

They serve halal Malaysian food and so you can find Malay, Nyonya, Portuguese, Chinese and Indian dishes. Typical dishes that Malaysian mums cook at home. Check out their menu here.

Note: Food is halal (Malay owner) but there's beer in the drinks menu to cater to the non-Muslims

Cendol (RM6.30)

Foo Yoong Tan - Chinese style omelette (RM15.80)

Kacang botol/ Four-angled Bean with Belacan (RM15.00)

Chicken Mayo (RM18.30)

Asam Pedas Parit Jawa Snapper (RM8.80 /100g)

Lemak Kuning Pedas Prawn (Regular - RM31.80)

Taste - OMG sedap. Can't beat mom's cooking but good enough

Price - Some might think pricey but the food is sedap so it becomes WORTH IT! Suitable to entertain business guests or family & friends.

Ambiance - Aircond, furniture gallery-like restaurant.

Overall 4 <3<3<3<3 of 5

Restoran Rebung Chef Ismail, Kuala Lumpur

Rebung Restaurant

by Chef Ismail

5-2, Level 5

1 Jalan Tanglin

Taman Botani Perdana

50480 Kuala Lumpur

Restaurant (+603) 2283 2119/ 2276 3535 

Office (+603) 2282 4776/ 2276 2525

Operating Hours

0700 - 2200 daily

The Rebung Restaurant I'm familiar with was in Bangsar. It is a favourite spot for many people seeking Malay cuisines especially during the fasting month of Ramadhan. 

It turns out that the one in Perdana Botany Garden (fondly known as Lake Garden to Malaysians) is as popular as the one in Bangsar. I went on Saturday night and it was packed. The tables were too close to one another and people just had to bump into other people's chairs/tables, making it uncomfortable to enjoy the meal. 

Taste - Good

Price - Fair. Buffet lunch RM40++ & buffet dinner RM50++ per pax

Ambiance - I'm not sure but it could be Malay home theme

Chef Ismail himself was sitting near the entrance when we arrived. This is unsurprising because he's memang hands-on and friendly liddat. We were ushered by one of the staff to a table reserved in the Red Room. The restaurant has a few rooms and many nooks and crannies so it can be a bit too overwhelming at peak hour. 

The booking was made for 7 pax and we found the table set for 5 pax. Maybe the guests at the next table had helped themselves to the utensils and chairs.

The nice staff took our ala carte orders because only 2 of us chose the buffet. Food was prepared and arrived in acceptable time. The local drink sirap (syrup) was offered free-flow for all (buffet/ala carte) but we ordered our own preferred beverages anyway.

Kampung Fried Rice (RM17.50)

Pattaya Fried Rice (RM17.50)

Mushroom Fried Rice (RM17.50)

Hailam Noodles (RM17.50)

Laksa from buffet

One of us ordered the signature Rebung Special Fried Rice but his photography skills sucks. Hence the shaky picture...

Rebung Special (RM17.50) - fried rice with fried eggs and spicy rendang

Come here with friends and family for casual lunch or dinner. Think typical Ramadhan buffet atmosphere. They promoted themselves as fine dining Malay cuisine but you'll be disappointed if you expect so.

If you're here for the buffet, be prepared for long queues at favourites like the grilled lamb chop stall. 

NOT the place for classy and quiet dining/celebration.

Overall 3 1/2 <3<3<3< of 5

Bel's Kitchen, Jelutong

Bel's Kitchen

26 Karpal Singh Drive 2

11600 Jelutong

Pulau Pinang

(6012) 405 8151

Operating Hours

1100 - 1500, 1800 - 2300

Closed on Sunday

Taste - Delicious!

Price - Average. RM49.60 for 2 pax

Ambiance - Reminded me of franchise restaurants like Nando's but with poor ventilation

Tea (set) and Lime Soda (RM6.90)

Macaroni & Cheese (RM17.90)

Curry Kapitan Rice Set (RM15.90)

We also tarpaoed honey chicken wings for RM8.90. Good food with average price. Service could be faster.
 I'd recommend this place for casual dining and lunch with officemates. 

Overall 3 1/2 <3<3<3< of 5

Bbèteng, Taman Tamadun Islam

B'bèteng is right next to Taman Tamadun Islam.

At first, I thought it was a gallery with restaurants and food court but it turned out to be just one... eatery. I visited for lunch so I don't know... maybe the place turns into a full restaurant at night.

Options were limited. I wanted the advertised nasi briyani but they didn't have it in stock so I picked plain rice and lauk instead. The staff were friendly but system was confusing. First, you go to the counter to order your meals. Then, pay at a separate (centralised) cashier counter. Next, pick up your order from the former counter, unless they tell you that they'll deliver the dish to your table.

If you want the rice set however, you order and pay at the cashier but go to the beverage counter to collect your drinks. Confusing I know. Good thing the staff were helpful.

LOVE the breeze. Hate that everything flew away.

Yummy Ice Kacang (shaved ice with peanuts) <3<3<3<3

Rice and prawn sambal <3<3<3<3 LOVE this one

Soup Noodle - average

View & more tables

Taste - Good

Price - Average tourist spot rates (expensive for local standard)

Ambiance - By the river. Excellent!

Overall 3 <3<3<3 of 5

Note: Think self-service and you'll be fine

Air Buah Gelas Besar Terengganu

Air Buah Gelas Besar Terengganu

(Air Buah Pak San)

Jalan Tengku Ampuan Bariah 

Taman Samudera

Kuala Terengganu

(+6016) 921 7070 (Lisa)

(+6013) 991 7571 (Pok San)

Operating Hours

1700 to midnight daily

"Kalu Sedap Kabo Ke Saing-saing,

Kalu Dok Sedap Kabo Ke Kami" 

- restaurant's motto

The restaurant's specialty is fruit juice in huge containers. We soberly ordered normal-sized glasses and one big (besar) glass. It was too much.

Other sizes you can choose from: 

Kecil (small)

Sedang (average)

Besar (big)

Bapok (big daddy!)

King (bigger than big daddy)

Kasut (shoe-shaped glass)

Jag (literally a jug)

Bakul (basket-size)

Ikan (not sure if they meant fish bowl or fish-shaped container)

and jars of several sizes.

Huge-ass drinks are no longer a novelty but it's fun to indulge once in a while. Tell them to add milk if you're bored with plain old juice.

Taste - Good but nothing special

Price - Good value. RM19.60 for 3 pax

Ambiance - Typical roadside restaurant

Mango | Honeydew | Pineapple

Nasi Minyak (RM4.00)

Chicken for the nasi minyak

Laksam (RM3.00)

I didn't try the keropok lekor (RM1 for 5 pieces) but many reviewers mentioned it. A decent place for dinner or snack. 

Try this place and if it's to your liking, tell your friends! (Like the restaurant's motto suggested)

Overall 3 and 1/2 <3<3<3< of 5