Top 4 Dinner Restaurants for Special Occasions in Penang, Malaysia
Get ready for an unforgettable gastronomic experience in Penang, without breaking the bank!
Dinner for a special occasion doesn’t always have to be fine dining, most of the time Google would recommend some up-scale restaurant which I can’t afford.
Don’t worry, I’m here to help! These are just some of my favorite non-halal dinner places which I always go back to for special occasions because they have been consistent throughout the years and most importantly are cheaper than the usual fine dining places.
If you still feel like having dessert after dinner, I also wrote about the Top 5 Dessert Places in Penang, Malaysia.
Quick Overview
- Two Frenchies Cafe Bistro (French) — Confit de Canard (Duck Confit), Escargot and Classic French Onion Soup
- Shokudō Niban (Japanese) — Tsukune Minced Chicken Skewers and Chicken Karaage Pao Burger
- Hanjan Eatery & Soju Bar (Korean) — Jogae (Clams) and Buldak (Fire Chicken)
- Soul Cafe (Italian) — Pasta
Let’s Explore Further! 😋
Two Frenchies Cafe Bistro (French)
Socials
What’s Yums
Confit de Canard (Duck Confit), Escargot and Classic French Onion Soup
Address
36, Lebuh Bishop, George Town, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang.
Opening Hours
11.30AM — 10.30PM (Tues to Thurs), 10AM — 10.30PM (Fri to Sun) *Closed on Mon*
My Thoughts
The first time I dined here was during New Year’s Eve, they didn’t have their usual menu then, so we just ordered from their special menu and wow were we impressed. Each time we went after that they were still keeping up their standards, so this place deserves to be in the list!
I highly recommend the Duck Confit, Escargot and Classic French Onion Soup! The Duck Confit is what we always order every time we dine there. The meat literally falls off the bone and blends perfectly with the buttery, smooth and silky mashed potato texture.
It was also my first time eating escargot and I didn’t expect it to taste so good together with the buttery garlic sauce. If you want to give escargot a go, you should try this one here!
Moreover, the Classic French Onion Soup is also one of the dishes you should definitely try when you’re there! It has a layer of baked cheese floating on top of the soup which makes it super flavorful and yummy! If you love cheese and onions, you’ll love this!
A little tip when you dine there is that you can take the complimentary bread served and dip it in the escargot’s sauce, trust me, it will change your world!
Shokudō Niban (Japanese)
Socials
What’s Yums
Tsukune Minced Chicken Skewers and Chicken Karaage Pao Burger
Address
Hin Bus Depot, 31A, Jalan Gurdwara, 10150 George Town, Penang.
Opening Hours
12PM — 9.30PM (Wed to Sat), 11AM — 9.30PM (Sun) *Closed on Mon & Tues*
My Thoughts
A friend of mine recommended this place to me, and we were pleasantly surprised at how unique this place presents itself to be. Let me just flat out say that their entire appetizer menu is amazing.
This place is the closest you’ll get to experience Japan in the local scene. It’s like an izakaya spot where you can hang out with your friends while enjoying some of the best Japanese Tapas food in town.
My personal favorites are the Chicken Skewers and Chicken Burger, but you can also try their Okonomiyaki (Japanese Pancake) and Agedashi Tofu which are equally great.
I highly suggest to go in a group so you can try different varieties of items. I went there in a group of 4 and we ordered the entire appetizer menu and we were all so full later!
Hanjan Eatery & Soju Bar (Korean)
Socials
What’s Yums
Jogae (Clams) and Buldak (Fire Chicken)
Address
56, Lebuh Campbell, George Town, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang.
Opening Hours
12PM — 10PM (Mon to Thurs), 12PM — 12AM (Fri), 4PM — 12AM (Sat), 4PM — 10PM (Sun)
My Thoughts
I came across this place when I was walking around the streets of Georgetown and I was intrigued by the amount of people dining in the restaurant. After finally trying this place on my birthday, I couldn’t stop recommending this place to my friends!
Their Jogae (Clams), Buldak (Fire Chicken), Meat Platter, Kimchi Fried Rice and Ramyun (Noodles) are a few of my favorite items on the menu.
The Jogae (Clams) here were bathed in a soup mixed with some soju and boy, it was good. I was really impressed with how the alcohol sang so harmoniously with the fresh clams.
I also just want to say their Buldak really blew my mind with the right amount of cheese and spice on the chicken that me and my friends had to reorder it a second time on the same night.
Besides, they also serve Korean alcoholic drinks here where you can feel like you’re dining and drinking like a Korean!
The service and hygiene are also great here which are an added advantage.
Soul Cafe (Italian)
Socials
What’s Yums
Carbonara Pasta, Bolognese Pasta and Pesto Pasta
Address
12, Jalan Kek Chuan, 10400 George Town, Pulau Pinang.
Opening Hours
11AM — 9PM (Mon to Sat) *Closed on Sun*
My Thoughts
This place has been around for a very long time and I think I know why. It’s really good value for money because you know what you are paying for is worth every cent based on the quality of the pasta they serve. In summary, they get their pasta right.
I personally enjoy the Carbonara Pasta, Chicken Breast Bolognese Pasta and Pesto Pasta.
Their Carbonara Pasta has a rich & creamy flavor and balances well together with the egg yolk. I’m a big fan of eggs in particular, so I love the egg yolk in the middle.
Other than that, the chicken breast in the Bolognese Pasta was super soft and juicy and the tomato base of the sauce was so good I almost licked the plate.
If you love the taste of basil, this Pesto Pasta certainly lives up to its name. This pasta dish has no meat in it but still packs a punch in flavor. Pesto lovers can check this out!
All their other pastas on the menu are very good too. Feel free to go a few times and try ’em all! They are that good!
Let me know what you think below in the comments if you enjoyed dining at the above places or if you know any other places for special occasions anywhere else! 🍝
Disclaimer: The list above is not according to any ranking and not sponsored. All original content is copyright including all photos unless otherwise stated. Please do not reproduce any content without permission. I’m also not a professional food blogger but I just love to share things I love to eat. Enjoy!