Special thanks to Tori Tori for extending this food review invitation.

Despite the big hype surrounding the recent opening on Din Tai Fung at Gurney Plaza, one must not overlook the many different eateries that populate this bustling shopping mall. One of the more recent food kiosks is Tori Tori Japanese Yakitori (日本の焼き鳥). Meaning "chicken" (とり) in Japanese (or "bird" depending on context), Tori Tori specializes in yakiniku (焼き肉), Japanese-style grilled meat on skewers.The meat is typically coated with sweet-savory tare (垂れ) sauce and slowly grilled over a heat source. The proprietors picked up this recipe after a fact-finding mission to Japan. Shioyaki (塩焼き) was considered for the menu too, but the proprietors felt that salted meat skewers may not strike a chord with the local palate.Although traditional yakiniku is prepared using burning charcoal as the heat source, it is more hygienic to use an electric grill instead. The kiosk also has a mechanized grill to handle mass grilling, but the machine is only used when there are many customers.While individual skewers are sold individually, it makes more economic sense to select from the set meal menu. Generally, each meal consists of three or four skewers of different combinations, plus Japanese rice (ご飯) and iced green tea (お茶).Alternatively, one can also select any 4 skewers from the à la carte menu, then supplement RM1.99 to get a portion of rice and tea.For poultry, chicken breast (むね肉, RM3.60) and thigh (もも肉, RM3.90) are both available. I personally recommend the latter as its fatty nature provides more palatable texture. Bell peppers (ピーマン) can be included to each skewer for mere RM0.30.The chicken is very flavorful thanks to the twice-applied tare sauce. The taste can be overpowering for people who are not used to heavy seasoning, but it should be fine when eaten with rice.Alternatively, one can also try a skewer of chicken skin (鶏皮, RM2.50). The taste is certainly gratifying, but this is certainly a guilty pleasure for the health-conscious ones. I think it is better to cut the skin to smaller pieces so that the whole strip does not become dislodged with a single bite.Shiitake mushroom (椎茸, RM3.00) is also available. Heating is controlled so that the mushroom remains reasonably juicy. Alternatively, one may opt for some oyster mushrooms (平茸, RM3.00) too.Unagi (鰻, RM7.00) is also available, but you may want to opt for something else since unagi sushi has become quite common in Japanese restaurants of late.

Other types of meat are Australian beef (牛肉) and lamb (羊肉). The meats are made to order as they aren't as fast-moving. For seafood, salmon (サーモン) and squid (烏賊) are available. There are also sausages and meatballs, but I think it is better to try fresh meat first. The menu at Tori Tori is entirely pork-free.Name: Tori Tori Japanese Yakitori (Japanese yakitori)

Address: 170-B1-K3, Plaza Gurney, Persiaran Gurney, 10250 George Town, Penang

Contact: None

Business hours: 10:00am-10:00pm

Website: http://www.toritori.my

Coordinates: 5.43751 N, 100.30960 E

Directions: Tori Tori is located at the Basement level of Gurney Plaza, where Myeong Dong used to be located. Gurney Plaza has basement and multi-level parking garages.

Special thanks to Thai Baiyok for extending this food review invitation.

During my previous visit to Thai Baiyok (ไทยใบหยก), the dining experience has been largely favorable. Today, I am here to check out the set lunch dishes that this Thai restaurant has to offer.One thing that I like about this restaurant is the spacious dining space. Consequently, the ambience remains pleasant even when the restaurant is fully occupied.Besides à la carte orders, Thai Baiyok also serves set lunch from 12:00pm to 5:00pm every day. The choices include fried rice, chicken or fish with rice, noodles and local delights. Each meal is priced at RM8.90 and includes a drink and a small serving of fruits.The bestseller from the set lunch menu is Belacan Fried Rice. At the center is a heap of nicely-prepared fried rice. Fragrant to the nose and pleasant to the palate, the rice is topped with scrambled eggs. Soup is provided on the side.Similar to miang kham (เมี่ยงคำ), other ingredients are plated on the side and are meant to be mixed with fried rice. This presentation allows each diner to control the degree of spiciness according to personal preference. The ingredients include unripe mangoes, cucumber, shallots, long beans and bird's eye chili. The main highlight, though, is barbecued chicken. Flavorful beyond measure, I just cannot have enough of this masterfully-seasoned chicken. This dish is certainly highly recommended.Another popular choice for set lunch is Deep-Fried Chicken With Choo Chii Sauce. Curry chicken is served alongside fried egg, rice, vegetables and a bowl of soup.Choo chii (ฉู่ฉี่) is a type of semi-dry red curry that is popular in Thai cooking of several regions. Despite the curry's fiery appearance, its spiciness is not as extreme as one aspects. This curry is compatible with chicken cutlets.If you prefer something sweet and tangy, try the Deep-Fried Fish With Assam Sauce. Its strong flavor may be overpowering for some people. Fortunately, the taste is reasonably milder when consumed with rice. Other ingredients are similar to the previous dish.Key to its appeal is the use of tamarind sauce to enhance the flavor of fish. Fried shallots are used to provide aroma and as garnish. Although I am not a particular fan of tamarind, I think this dish is quite delectable too.Among all dishes in the set lunch menu, Tanghoon Fish Head Yam Soup gives the best value for money. The choice of fish is barramundi (siakap). Although fish head does not contain much flesh, the bones do a great job in enhancing the taste of gravy, and subsequently glass noodles (วุ้นเส้น).As for drinks, the choices are iced lemon tea or iced peach tea. Watermelon is served as dessert.Like my previous visit, I am quite satisfied with these set lunch dishes. Although the price is affordable, Thai Baiyok does not cut corners in quality. Furthermore, the availability of set lunch till 5:00pm and on weekends makes it very convenient for many customers.Name: Thai Baiyok (ไทยใบหยก)

Address: 105-G, Lorong Selamat, 10400 George Town, Pulau Pinang

Contact: 04-227-8308

Business hours: 11:00am-11:00pm, closed on Tuesdays

Website: https://www.facebook.com/restoranthaibaiyok

Coordinates: 5.41668 N, 100.32480 E

Directions: From Macalister Road (Jalan Macalister), turn to Lorong Selamat. Thai Baiyok is approximately 100 meters down this one-way road, on the right. There are private parking spaces in front of the restaurant.

Das Rad Cafe is located at King Street (Lebuh King), directly behind Gem Restaurant. Opened earlier this year, this restaurant is operated by a couple of German-Malaysian heritage. "Das Rad" means "the bicycle" in German, which is befitting as the proprietors are cycling enthusiasts themselves.Located within the heritage zone of George Town, Das Rad Cafe retains most of the building's original facade as well as its quaint partitions and backdrops. There are several bicycles on display to reaffirm the proprietors' passion towards this competitive sport.At this point, it should not come as a surprise that Das Rad Cafe serves German food. Familiar dishes such as schnitzel (boneless meat) and bratwurst (German sausage) make their mark at this restaurant. The presence of Das Rad Cafe is certainly welcoming as there aren't many German restaurants in Penang.My choice for lunch is the Pork Schnitzel With Potato Salad (RM25.00). The platter includes a pair of pork cutlets with matching paprika sauce, potato salad and salad greens on the side.To prepare pork schnitzel, pork cutlets are beaten to make them tenderer. Next, the cutlets are coated with crispy breading made from crumbs, eggs and flour. The cutlets are immersed in hot oil and fried to golden perfection.Pork schnitzel is often enjoyed with paprikaschnitzel, a condiment made from paprika, bell peppers, tomatoes and onions. Eaten with the cutlets, each bite presents a unique sense of savoriness with mildly sour undertones.Potato salad is nicely prepared. Seasoned with salad dressing and chopped coriander, the diced potato cubes are in agreement with my palate.A cup of latte (RM11.00) comes with a piece of breadstick. The coffee drink itself is quite enjoyable. The latte presents milky composition which soothes the throat during every sip.Although the food menu is not as full-fledged as other German restaurants, Das Rad Cafe provides a reasonable compromise under casual dining setting.

Address: 10B, Lebuh King, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang

Contact: 017-570-1839

Business hours: 10:00am-6:00pm (Tuesday-Friday), 9:00am-6:00pm (Saturday-Sunday), closed on MondaysTastePresentationAmbienceHospitalityValue

Special thanks to TSS Cafe & Restaurant for extending this food review invitation.

Located near Bukit Tambun's highway exit is TSS Cafe & Restaurant. The acronym "TSS" refers to the founder "Teoh Soon San", who has operated a traditional coffee shop here for several decades. Until today, its curry rice (咖哩饭) is popular among locals and highway travelers. The place packed with customers from the morning till late noon.In the afternoon and evening, the indoor air-conditioned section of this building features an Italian restaurant. The menu consists of pasta, pizzas, meats, light snacks, coffee and cakes. Relaxing ambience, cozy couches and light jazz music at the background make this place a great place for a nice cup of coffee too.One of the owners hails from Genoa, Italy. Like all good Italian family-run restaurants, TSS Cafe & Restaurant makes most ingredients from scratch. For example, tomato sauce for pizzas and pasta dishes are made from fresh tomatoes. Bread for burgers and soup is also baked fresh in the kitchen.One of the most popular dishes here is Pizzette With Bacon (RM15.90). The thin crust is topped with freshly made tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and an infusion of Mediterranean herbs. The dough is tossed by hand in the kitchen, which explains its delightful mouthfeel which represents a fine balance between chewy and crispy extremes.The main appeal of this pizza is the unique choice for bacon. Unlike the smoked version often preferred in the name of convenience, TSS Cafe & Restaurant uses freshly grilled pork slices instead. While some people may not like the bold aroma of fresh pork, I find it to be rather delectable. As the pork is made fresh, its tender and juicy sensation works well with the crust. This pizza is most certainly recommended for first-time customers.The next dish is Spaghetti Carbonara (RM17.90). The pasta is cooked al dente as preferred by most Italians. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. The pasta is seasoned with light cream sauce, grated mozzarella cheese and pork bacon. Like the pizza, pork bacon imparts savory goodness to make this dish quite appetizing.Whereas many restaurants tend to use excessive amount of cream sauce for carbonara, TSS Cafe & Restaurant takes a different stance. The amount of sauce is modest as it is only meant to impart flavor, not to make this dish surfeiting. Made from egg whites, the yellowish sauce manifests itself as a yolky emulsion which works well with the spaghetti.For drinks, Caramel Macchiato (RM9.50) scores points off the bat through lovely aroma of caramel. This caffeinated drink has smooth milky consistency, making it quite pleasing to my palate. As fresh milk is used, the drink is naturally sweet. Therefore, it is quite unnecessary to use any sugar.Cakes are sourced from a local home-based bakery. Today's choice is Raspberry Crêpe (RM12.90), which consists of alternating layers of thin pastry sheets and flavored cream. Raspberry jam is used within intermediate layers as well as a thin layer on top.Although curry rice has been reputable here, the Italian aspect of TSS Cafe & Restaurant has been flying under the radar for several months. With creative menu items and insistence of being different from others, this eatery is worthwhile to visit when visiting this part of Bukit Tambun.Name: TSS Cafe & Restaurant

Address: 1574, Jalan Simpang Ampat, 14200 Bukit Tambun, Pulau Pinang

Contact: 012-571-2582

Business hours: 5:00pm-11:00pm (Tuesday-Friday), 1:00pm-11:00pm (Saturday-Sunday), closed on Mondays

Website: https://www.facebook.com/tss.cafe96

Coordinates: 5.27527 N, 100.45841 E

Directions: Traveling southbound along North-South Expressway (Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan), take the exit 158 towards Bukit Tambun. After the toll plaza, TSS Cafe & Restaurant is located on the left side of the next crossroad. Parking is available along the dirt road in front of this shop, or in front of the new block of shops immediately beside this eatery.

Special thanks to Restoran Kim Mah for extending this food review invitation.

Seberang Perai is home to many reputable yet affordable seafood restaurants. Tonight's foodie journey brings me to Restoran Kim Mah (金马海鲜饭店) at Bukit Tambun, within a short distance from the highway exit.Restoran Kim Mah is one of the long-timers in the southern part of Seberang Perai. It is associated to many similar-named seafood restaurants, which is operated by relatives of the proprietor.

The main dining section of the restaurant is open-air. There is sufficient room for 60 large tables with comfortable spacing, making Restoran Kim Mah a viable venue for large events. In addition, there is also an air-conditioned section which can accommodate 150 people. Karaoke entertainment is available for customers.Restoran Kim Mah is famed for its invention of Braised Abalone & Mushrooms (双鲍豆根), an iconic dish which has since been imitated by other restaurants in the area. "Double abalone" refers to the use of actual abalones (鲍鱼) and abalone slices (鲍鱼片). Other delicacies are black mushrooms (香菇) and oyster mushroom (鲍菇), both are essential to impart savory flavors. Ginkgo seeds (白果) provide natural sweetness, while fried bean curd skin (腐竹) presents an appetizing crisp. Savory flavors of this prized dish is balanced by refreshing ones of broccoli and carrots.Another signature dish here is Hot Pot Fish Head With Taro (鱼头芋头火锅). The soup is satisfying indeed, having both savoriness of meat stock and starchy sensation of taro. Chopped scallion and fried onions provide appetizing aroma especially when the dish is served hot.The choice of fish is barramundi (siakap, 尖吻鲈), which I think is a great choice given the type of soup. Fish slices have been fried beforehand such that they do not break up while being cooked in boiling soup.Soft bean curd (滑豆腐) and fried bean curd skin (腐竹) are to be added after the soup has boiled. This is because the former is too delicate and disintegrates quickly, while the latter should not be soaked for too long until it loses its crispiness.Yet another delicacy tonight is Curry Shark (咖哩黑翅). Served with okra (lady's fingers), blacktip reef shark (黑翼鲨) takes the center stage of this savory treat. This cartilaginous fish is named after distinctive black tips on its fins. This shark is usually not targeted by fisheries, but often comes as a bycatch from coastal waters.The flesh of blacktip reef shark is similar that of ray. Tissue layers come in distinctive bundles that tear off easily from the cartilage. While the flesh is not particularly unique, the liver is exquisite indeed. Soft and buttery, the shark's liver has similar texture as foie gras.As for shellfish, Asam Prawns (亚三虾) uses large shrimps with juicy flesh within the thick shell. My personal favorite part of a shrimp is the "brain matter" just under its head, which is yolk-like and very creamy. The shrimps are coated with thick tamarind-based sauce to give pleasant tanginess.Another highlight during tonight's dinner are Sea Snails (刺螺). Although I have enjoyed such shellfish before, it is uncommon to see them in such large sizes. The sea snails have been cooked in boiling water. To enjoy this dish, one uses a toothpick to chisel the tip of the flesh just inside the shell. If done correctly, the entire piece of flesh comes out intact. Although chili sauce is provide, I prefer to enjoy eating sea snails on their own.Meanwhile, Steamed Clams With Lime (酸柑蒸拉拉) is a fiery treat indeed. Clams are braised with chopped garlic and chili, while lime juice is used to provide appetizing acidic taste. Go easy with this dish because the seasoning can be quite pungent and tongue-numbing for the unprepared.Salted Egg Crabs (咸蛋螃蟹) is cooked with savory paste made from salted egg. Personally, I feel that the paste is on the saltier side. It helps to tone down the level of saltiness by using less-salty eggs, or use more crumbs to reduce the concentration of eggs. Although meat under the fat pincers are most enjoyable, I also fancy the yellowish roe within its carapace.Last but not least, a plate of Fried Noodles (炒面条) is meant to fill up any remaining space in our stomach, which I think is nonexistent at this point of time. Eggs, fried onions and scallion are used in this noodles dish.Tonight's meal is meant for 8 to 10 persons, and costs around RM400.00 overall. However, portions of several dishes, such as Salted Egg Crabs, have been deliberately reduced as there are only 6 diners tonight. If you are looking for nice seafood at Bukit Tambun, Restoran Kim Mah is the right place to satisfy your cravings.

Name: Restoran Kim Mah (金马海鲜饭店)

Address: Lot 419, MK 14, Jalan Bukit Tambun, 14110 Simpang Ampat, Pulau Pinang

Contact: 04-588-9506

Business hours: 11:00am-11:00pm

Website: N/A

Coordinates: 5.27145 N, 100.45270 E

Directions: Traveling southbound along North-South Expressway (Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan), take the exit 158 towards Bukit Tambun. After the toll plaza, turn right and drive for approximately 800 meters till you reach a crossroad. Turn left and find Restoran Kim Mah immediately on the left. There are lots of parking spaces at the front and back of the restaurant.