What’s for Lunch? – Get Porky at Morganfield’s

Morganfield’s was no stranger to Penangites as it had established its business in Gurney Paragon & Queensbay Mall for years. It suddenly appeared on our radar thanks to our gluttonous hunt for reasonable price set lunch at Queensbay. The set lunch started at RM12.90nett and it came with a bottomless soft drinks, soup or salad & a choice of main course. There were varieties of choices in the lunch menu from Sticky Bones to Hotdog.

Set Lunch

Pork & Chicken

Sandwiches & Dogs!

Add on?

The set lunch soup was normally clear soup ranged from minestrone to chicken soup. Some were tasteless whilst some were serviceable. If you opted for the salad, it would be a huge plate of greens with kind of healthy (meaning = tasteless) dressing. =P

Free Flow Drinks

One of the Variations

Minestrone Soup

Clear Chicken Soup

Salad

Anyway, we did like the main course that we’d tried so far – Pork Patties with Mushroom Gravy was just nice with a hint of spiciness in the patties which rested on top of buttery mashed potato (FAT!!!). It was definitely a satisfying meal!

Pork Patties with Mushroom Gravy

A Closer Look

If you were craving for hotdog – you may tried the Chili Dog (RM12.90nett) which was served with coleslaw & fries. The hotdog was huge & fulfilling - small eater might not even be able to finish the fries that came along with it.

Chili Dog

If you were thinking about some Italian – let’s try the Bacon & Egg Aglio Olio (RM14.90nett) which funnily enough tasted better in Gurney Paragon then in Queensbay Mall. LOL!!!

Set Lunch Aglio Olio

Anyway if you were in yearning for something Porky in weekend, there was always ala carte menu! Kids eat for free was applicable in Morganfield’s as well. We had our lunch at Paragon during Pokemon Hunting and tried out their Mushroom Soup, Sticky bones, Bacon & Egg Aglio Olio & free kids meal of chicken finger meal.

Time for Sticky Bones

The mushroom soup was thick albeit a bit salty whereas Bacon & Egg Aglio Olio in full price was served with garlic bread and tasted better than the set lunch version in Queensbay Mall. The chicken finger was nicely breaded & fried. The Sticky Bones spare ribs was full of meat & really flavorful. The only downside was ala carte in Morganfield’s could be quite pricey. *sweat*

Mushroom Soup

Spare Ribs

Aglio Olio

Chicken Finger Set

Morganfield’s are located in Queensbay Mall & Gurney Paragon in Penang, Malaysia.

A Disappointing Afternoon Tea at Golden Sands

There was this suggested Facebook post that showed up in my wall one day – an afternoon tea package for 2 at only RM43nett! How could we resist? Thus we drove all the way to Batu Ferringhi to give it a try on a lazy weekend.

The Facebook Post!

The set was served at Lobby Lounge – an open air area without air condition but thankfully was airy enough. There were hardly anyone there and we were 1^st served with our tea with some biscuits. We were actually quite disappointed when the main tray was served. It just didn’t meet our expectation of an afternoon tea in a 5 star hotel – but then it only cost RM43, I guess you got what you paid for. =P

Tea please?

There were 3 layers with salmon sandwich & cheese croissant on the bottom layer, scones & pastries on 2^nd layer and fruits on the top layer.

Our Afternoon Tea Set

The salmon sandwich was okay but the cheese croissant was just like something I’d get in a common bakery with just normal cheese slice & vegetables inside.

Sandwiches

The scones were equally pathetic from outlook and also its texture whereas other pastries were meagre and as I mentioned before – could be from some low end bakery.

As for the fruit platter on top? Hmm… I’d let you be the judge – does it look appetizing? LOL!!!

Scones & Pastries

Fruit Platter

This would be our 1^st & last time for this afternoon tea at Lobby Lounge in Golden Sands. I’d rather they provided a better quality afternoon tea with higher price than this mess. It totally did not match their 5 stars hotel standard. The only upside from this visit was the good service from the staffs.

Golden Sands Resort is located in Batu Ferringhi Penang, Malaysia.

What’s for Lunch? – Kyochon 1991

The famous Korean fried chicken made famous by Korean TV Drama had finally grace its presence in Penang. The 1^st branch of Kyochon (link) in Penang had its grand opening few months ago at G-Hotel al fresco beside Coffee Bean. The chain boosted its frying method of producing crispy & delicious chicken but with lower calories – definitely my kind of food! =P

Bar & Counter Area

We don't serve fast food!

There were a few flavours – soy garlic, red pepper, honey and Salsal and one could made it a set by adding on rice, salad, soup and drinks. In our 1^st visit, we ordered 8pcs of wings with mixed flavours and 8pcs of salsas strips and add on to be a set for 2pax.

Chicken like you've never had before! I hope so! =P

We ordered the 1 Sparkling Yuza fruit tea & 1 Sparkling Plum Fruit tea from the set. The Yuza fruit tea was nice and refreshing with a bit sourly and sweet taste but the plum fruit tea tasted strangely similar to medicine. The salad was ordinary but I did like the light dressing which tasted sweet. The soup though was tasteless... =P

Yuza & Plum Fruit Tea

Sald & Rice

Soup

Now on to the main event! We were served Salsal Chicken Strips 1^st and it was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. It was served with mustard sauce & plum sauce on the side. One small shortcoming of this chicken strips was it could be quite tasteless to be eaten on its own. Thus the mustard was a savior but unfortunately was given too little. I didn’t like the plum sauce as it’s similar to the drink which tasted like medicine. =.=

Salsal Chicken Strips

We were not disappointed with the Soy garlic & red pepper wings though. Both were flavorful in their own ways and not greasy at all – the red pepper was really spicy and definitely my favourite. However, soy garlic did have its own charm as lil one liked it.

Left: Soy Garlic, Right: Red Pepper

During our 2^nd visit, we ordered 12pcs of mixed flavours wings and topped up 1 of our white rice to Kimchi fried rice with egg. Originally we wanted to order half chicken but were told that they couldn’t do mix for half chicken. The chicken was as scrumptious as our 1^st visit and we were pleasantly surprised by the kimchi fried rice. It was really sour & spicy and was served with seaweed – the combination really was perfect for a heavy taste eater like me. Surprisingly the soup was quite nice this time. =)

Yuza & Free Appetizer (not served during our 1st visit)

Kimchi Fried Rice with Egg

12pcs of Mixed Flavours Wings

Overall Kyochon was a nice place for gathering and lunch as they also served alcohol (quite expensive though). If one just ordered the chicken with add-on set, Kyochon actually could be one of the more economical choices in Gurney. It cost around RM50 on our 2^nd visit and we were beyond stuffed.

Kyochon 1991 is located at al fresco area of G-hotel in Gurney Penang, Malaysia.

What’s for Lunch? – Ssambap Korean Restaurant

Korean restaurant had been blossoming in Penang and Ssambap was one of the recently opened Korean restaurant which were opened in Krystal Point & All Seasons. Ssambap’s menu may not be as extensive as Daorae but it still had its charm.

Lunch Menu - at the top half...

Stew Menu

They offered weekday set lunch to cater for factory workers in Krystal Point – unfortunately the choice was meagre – Spicy BBQ Pork or Grilled BBQ Pork Belly set at RM19.90. The set was quite huge and worth the value thus resulting returning customers.

Appetizer in Krystal Point Branch

Grilled Pork Set

Spicy Pork Set

There were also varieties of ala carte choices such as Bibimbap, spicy stir fired pork rice set, kimchi stew and rice noodle soup & rice with bulgogi. We tried the Bibimbap and rice with Bulgogi in Krystal Point Branch. 

Beef Bulgogi - my Col says this was just okay

Bibimbap - a very vegetarian experience with all the vegetable. Wish the sauce is more..

In Farlim, we tried the spicy stir fired pork rice set, kimchi stew and rice noodle soup. The food was overall not bad and my favourite would be the kimchi stew which was really a treat to eat it during colder weather. They also offered BBQ meal but we hadn’t try that yet.

Appetizer in Farlim Branch

Spicy Pork with Rice - this is HUGE!

Yummy Kimchi Stew

Rice Noodle Soup - this is a bit salty

Ssambap is located at Krystal Point Bayan Lepas & All Seasons Farlim in Penang, Malaysia. 

What’s for Lunch? – Din Tai Fung

Din Tai Fung had opened its door in Gurney Plaza for quite some times – there were always long queue outside during peak hour a few months after its opening. The crowd seemed to reduce after a while due to other new choices in the mall. =P

Interior Deco

We visited the restaurant a few times as lil one had took a liking to their Shrimp Fried Rice. Here are some of the dishes we sampled during our visits.

Children Set

Adult Set! LOL!!!

Condiments on table

Din Tai Fung House Special – a cold appetizer dish with glass noodle, seaweed, beansprout and bean curd strips in spicy dressing. This tasted cold & fresh but just not our cup of tea.

House Special

Hot & Sour Soup – this was a hit with us, the sour & spicy soup with smooth beancurd & shredded pork was simply a killer combination! We ordered this every time we visited.

Hot & Sour Soup

Pork Xiao LongBao (Signature Soup Dumpling) – the soup inside the dumpling was really flavorful and the pork was nice. However, this dish tasted similar to other restaurant which served Xiao LongBao too. Nothing to shout about there…

Pork Xiao LongBao

Crab Roe & Pork Xiao LongBao – the crab roe taste was really overpowering and addicting. I think this was better than the original pork xiao longbao. =P

Crab Roe & Pork Xiao LongBao

Spicy Shrimp & Pork Wonton – the shrimp was really fresh and generously stuffed in the wonton. This dish certainly satisfied our taste buds when combined with the spicy sauce. YUM!

Spicy Shrimp & Pork Wonton

Braised Beef Noodle Soup – this was their signature noodle with savory beef soup. The soup did taste like it was braised for a long time but somehow I preferred the peppery taste of beef noodle soup from another restaurant. *facepalm*

Braised Beef Noodle Soup

Noodle with minced pork in Bean Sauce – this was just okay. Nothing too spectacular.

Noodle with Minced Pork in Bean Sauce

Tan Tan Noodle - this dish was bizarre! The bean sauce tasted a lot like peanut butter!!! We would never ordered this again. =P

Tan Tan Noodle

Noodle with Spicy Sauce – this was simply noodle with their spicy sauce. Simple and nice due to the sauce! Not to mention one of the cheapest dish on the menu. LOL!!

Noodle with Spicy Sauce

Shrimp fried rice – the Lil one's favourite! The rice was fried perfectly with egg and scallion and every single rice tasted scrumptious. The prawns were fresh and complimented with the fried rice. Only complaint was it could be quite oily.

Shrimp Fried Rice

Golden pumpkin with salted egg – you couldn’t go wrong with dishes with salted egg! The pumpkin was sweet and blended well with the salty crust. It could be drenched in oil in some part though.

Golden Pumpkin with Salted Egg

Ma Po Bean Curd – this was an okay dish, a bit similar to hot & sour soup but not as concentrated in taste like the soup.

Ma Po Bean Curd

In conclusion, Din Tai Fung is actually quite overpriced and may not really value for money. Occassional visit is okay but not for frequent ones. =P

Din Tai Fung is located in Lower Ground Floor of Gurney Plaza Penang, Malaysia.