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Penang Restaurant in Philadelphia
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Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, US
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Phone: +1 215-413-2531
Site: http://www.facebook.com/penangph...
Site: http://www.facebook.com/penangph...
Opening hours
- Monday:11AM–9:30PM
- Tuesday:11AM–9:30PM
- Wednesday:11AM–9:30PM
- Thursday:11AM–9:30PM
- Friday:11AM–11PM
- Saturday:11AM–11PM
- Sunday:11AM–11PM
Comments (199)
Food is okay and service is not that great. Good if youwant to try Malaysian food. Their Roti Canai is must try.
I read some reviews on Yelp and as most of my fellow Yelp recommended Roti Canai, I started my meal with Roti Canai as well. Its an appetizer that includes a small bowl of chicken and potato curry served with Indian style bread made with flour. It was so good. Tear a little bit of bread and then dip it in the curry and add a chunk of chicken and potato in it. The food is delicious, but there is no service because they are too busy and the food needs to wait more than 30 minutes. I will go back, not on weekends.
My husband and I have ordered takeout before, and have never been disappointed. We decided to go in to try the food fresh, and it was such a pleasant experience! Our waiter was extremely friendly and made us feel welcome right away. He gave us some great recommendations. The place was pretty crowded on a Wednesday, which to me was a good sign. We ordered the mixed satay, chicken curry w/ onions, and a beef dish recommended by our waiter. Everything was really delicious. Our only complaint was that our entrees arrived before our appetizers, but we didn’t care too much because it was all so tasty. At the end of our meal the staff was really attentive about providing take out boxes, and as we left, multiple staff members gave us a genuine thank you. Overall, we’ve been converted to regulars! Don’t hesitate to try this place!
Favorite Malaysian food!! Always delicious, just lacking waiters! Can’t wait until they bring back their full menu. I miss my ABC!
Good food and piping hot and fast. I loved the roti sauce but wasn’t a big fan of the bread, I feel I have had better. Really enjoyed my Pad Thai which was also a lot off food. Glad I got a chance to try some food in Chinatown , my husband enjoyed his curry chicken.
I dont know why I overlooked this place! I finally go here and order something and was blown away! I got the Clay Pot Seafood dish with seafood and maaaannnnn was it amazing!!!The 2nd time I went I got the Tom Yum seafood noodle soup. It was the best Tom Yum anything Ive ever had!And the third time I got Green Nasi Lemak which is a seafood rice dish. Again, I wasnt disappointed! Super good!Ill definitely be keeping this place in rotation!
Great food, bad service. Was a busy night and was understanding and patient, but this was ridiculous. Walked in and there was an open table, but still had to wait 10 minutes to be seated. That was fine. No one came to our table for about 15 minutes, and then I asked for two waters that never came. Finally, someone came and he asked us if we were ready to order. We had not even gotten the menu yet. He came back 3 minutes later and asked again, and given the large menu, we were not, and asked for another minute. After about 25 minutes, we had to flag him down, and most people had started to leave the restaurant already. We put in our order and they’re out of a few things, but we were happy with our choices nonetheless. My dish came out, but 10 minutes later my partner’s dish still had not come and I had to flag him down again to ask about it, at which point he came back and brought it out. It was at this point that I realized I had gotten the completely wrong dish, but it was so long since I ordered that I had forgotten. The dish he brought out was mine, and my dish was another table’s. Understandable, as it happens in many restaurants on busy nights. He comes back a few minutes later and says they will have to use a different type of noodle for my partner’s dish. In the meantime, we shared my dish, which was very delicious. Finally, about 15 minutes later, he brings out another dish for my partner, which is chicken instead of the beef that she ordered. Over my partner’s insistence, I flagged him down again and let him know. Since at this point they were almost closing, I said they did not have to remake it, but some sort of compensation, be it a coupon, discount, or her meal being comped on the check (as it was the wrong dish after waiting so long) would be appreciated. He said he would speak to his manager, and when he came back, he said all he could offer was 2 drinks. After all that. My partner ordered a drink, but to have the wrong dish come out TWICE, be rushed through eating because of their own mistakes, and not have any sort of compensation for it was upsetting. Only reason I am giving 2 stars is because of the food. You would be much better off with take-out though, no reason to come here for horrible service.
Food are great. It reminds me of Singapores Hawker Centres.
The char kuay teow was good..though could have added more sambal to it.The nasi lemak sambal was ice cold and sweet..not to my liking,the chicken rendang was tasty,the prata was okay..Overall it was nice.. Would have loved an authentic teh tarik..Malaysian style milk tea..
Good value Malaysian in Philly Chinatown. The mi siam was served piping hot, pleasantly spicy, chewy, and oily. We enjoyed the nasi lemak a bit less - ingredients didn’t seem as fresh, and our eggs were clearly not boiled today. Still, at 25 bucks for a big lunch for two people, we’ll definitely be back.
Very delicious food! Enjoyed every entree ordered! Would definitely come back for more!
I was expecting to feel the Penang (Malaysia) -ish, turned out theres nothing to show that in the restaurant, from the attribute, the staffs even the cooks in the open kitchen. Its just feel like its not in asian(malaysia) restaurant. The dish turned okay, the chow fun smelled fragrant of char, the gravy tasted a bit blunt, put some chilli sauce would be better (which they didnt have except the common sriraca which again so not malaysia-ish). The canai quite okay and the curry too. The pan fried pearl noodle not that tasty from all the dishes, just tasted salty and burnt. For myself i would prefer another malaysia restaurant in the neighborhood which very near. But hey, just try for yourself to know the taste when you miss your hometown!
Always love coming to Penang! The roti chicken canai is all I think about sometimes. My partner and I used to share one as an appetizer but not anymore! We eat get our own and savor the hell out of it from now on 😆🤤😋He got a sizzling beef platter which I cant remember the name of and really enjoyed it. I love their water spinach salad.
I was visiting Philadelphia and looked for Malaysian/Singaporean cuisine and found Penang. Ordered Nasi Lemak and Beef Satay and they were excellent! Staff was pleasant and service-oriented.
LOVE THE FOOD HERE! The staff is great and super welcoming!Perfect levels of spice and authentic food. My personal favorite is curry chicken and Nasi Lemak!!!LOVEEEE HOMEMADE ROTI CANAI!!! Crispy and yummy!
🍽 Crispy Golden Fried Squid 👍🍽 Kang Kung Belacan👍🍽 Sizzling Beef w/Black Pepper👍🍽 Vegetarian Satay Tofu
I was struggling to rate this place a 3 or 4-stars...Im leaving 4 stars because most times I really enjoyed my experience. However, my most recent visit was not the very best...The coconut shrimp was probably the saltiest thing Ive ever had in my life (not an exaggeration)... it almost felt like they spilled a bag of salt on top of the dish. I removed all the coconut flakes (saltiest part) but the shrimp was still too salty. This practically ruined our appetite - yes it was that harsh. I told my concerned to the waitress and she came back saying that it was salted butter... Im hesitant to believe it was only that. She offered another dish but by that time we were done. I was hoping they just take it back and give us a refund because I only took one bite. I ended up taking it home, soaking it in water, drying it, then air frying it the next day. (Didnt want to waste $26...)Otherwise, everything else was good as always. I love the roti canai. Wonton soup and beef noodle dish were also good.Sounds like 3-star or lower experience, but I dont want to use this platform to just complain of one bad experience. Ive enjoyed my time here and will probably come again! Just be cautious on ordering the coconut shrimp dish.
Excellent food. We were here to celebrate my birthday, and was so worth it. The chicken satay was juicy, the Roti Canai was perfectly flaky and crispy, mango chicken was served in scooped out mangoes. Waiting to revisit!
Service was pretty bad, had 3 people take care of my table and only 1 asked if we wanted anything to drink, and a refill was nonexistent. The food on the other hand was pretty good and flavorful. Would have given it 4 or more stars if the service was better.
The good food is here so good!! I keep on going back non stop!! Though the servers may come off unfriendly. They can definitely improve on their hygiene though!
I ordered Chow Kueh Tiew and Hainanese Chicken.I expected the noodle it should come with spicy and good test. But when I bite it, the taste not spicy at all. So I asked the sever, she said it is spicy and then just asked me do you want hot sauce?. We didnt see any chili in the food. The taste also not taste at all too. The noodle is bad like in the picture.The service from sever is so so
The food was spectacular!!! Service was wonderful and the waiter helped us in choosing items we would like, he was so kind and helpful! I’ve always seen this place packed with people and now I know why! Will definitely start coming here!! The atmosphere is nice and dim, it wasn’t overly crowded and the music wasn’t too much, nice setting and again the food was delicious! I recommend trying this place for my food explorers!
Havent been there since 2020. I ordered my favorite dishes. It was delicious. It was nice to be able to eat indoor there. Cant wait to see the rest of the staffs soon.
Tourists and locals come here- and for good reason. The food is authentic and delicious. Both times I ordered here, the dishes were packed with huge flavor: a bit savory, sweet, tangy, spicy--the definition of U-M-A-M-I. And to top it off, they give you sizable portions, enough for my next days lunch. The interior is unpretentious and appears spacious due to the high ceiling, although can feel claustrophobic at times because the seatings are placed right next to/inches away from each other. Not to mention, the times Ive walk past the restaurant, the place is always packed. Clear to say, this is definitely one of the best spots in CT!
My favorite restaurant in Philly with the best tom yam!
Good food with good service, I always get the Roti Canai and Curry Chicken with rice. Best place in Chinatown
Taste always good especially the shrimp Puffs.
Amazing food and service. The Mee Siam is my go-to dish.
This place has gone downhill the past few years. This time around, the inside of the spring rolls was spoiled, old rotten cabbage. Made me wonder how long they were sitting around to sour before they threw it in the fryer. Then I ordered a dish and asked for extra broccoli. They charged me 2 dollars for it and only gave me 2 tiny pieces of it in the whole dish and the tofu in the dish was so over fried I could not even chew it. I understand inflation but the prices of the dishes have gone way up, which I get, but the quality has gone way down. I will not be eating here anymore. Sad because it was once a great spot to eat.
Last night was my first time at Penang and I’m definitely coming back. Food is very tasty and authentic, and staff are friendly! I loved my experience at this restaurant. Little jam!
Amazing food, service and ambiance. Fair prices too! There just wasnt a bad aspect throughout the entire dining experience.
Food was good. I had char kwe teow and my friend had boneless chicken curry. The wait time to be seated and to order took a while. But food come fast after the order. So kudos to the kitchen crew
Ive been going to Penang for 15 years. Yesterday I walked in, got a table for 2, ordered appetizers and headed to the mens room to wash my hands. As I came out of the bathroom an employee was in the hallway entering the kitchen and licking a beverage off his fingers that had spilled. When I saw that I asked him politely to go into the mens room and wash his hands and said I hope youre not waiting on my table after seeing this. He laughed and said no, I work in the kitchen. I said ok thats even worse and he argued with me that it was not an issue. After I got louder about the situation for a minute of arguing, he reluctantly appeased me and put his drink down and went to the mens room. I proceeded to tell the man at the register what happened in public and told them it was disgusting. I grabbed my other party and we left, both of us disgusted that a kitchen staff acts so blatantly gross with food around him AND with a visibly open kitchen. Not one person working in this restaurant had a mask on today. I will not be back to Penang. I actually should call the health department and L& I to have this addressed. Absolutely gross.
Visited this place last Saturday. Sat at a 2-person high-top in the inside front of the restaurant, by the street, and the windows and windowsills look like they hadnt been washed (inside or out) in at least 3 months--covered with a thin layer of grease, dirt and filth. The chairs were uncomfortable. The wall behind our table looked like someone had scraped off wallpaper 10 years ago and never cared to put fresh paint or wallpaper up. Food is decent enough, staff was friendly, but I think they could clean it a bit and spruce the place up--it feels a bit dark, depressing, dirty and dingy.
I have ordered here a lot (6+ times) and suggested it to friends. The food is so tasty and wholesome. The prices are great and the staff are friendly when you dine in. My favorite dishes are the Nasi Lemuk, chicken peanut satay and the roti canai.
They reduced the menu but its still tasty, nice spot to get lunch
The food was really good and I expected them to small plates because of the prices , once I have the order I was blown away for the price to plate size. Thats a huge plus to all the dishes they serve. The fried tofu was good with a crisp on the out and filled in the inside. The soups were amazing too , the anchovies flavour really touched the soul. Roti canai is my usual first dish in all the Malaysian restaurants. The Penang special jumbo shrimp has a really good flavor to it. The ribs were the best. The rest nasi lemak , dumplings, renedang; they carried out the actual flavours which is really good. The service was good , not the finest. We felt little rushing in the beginning but once we had our orders received it was normal. I believe its because of the amount of the people they visit the restaurant they have to be quick on their side.
I have literally no comments on food because they refused to serve me for more than 45 minutes. They were busy, but basically like a cup of water on the table could not be accomplished in 45 minutes and multiple requests for any attention.
Always crowded, always good. A variety of Malaysian food and everything I have tasted (and my friends) has been excellent. Noisy, crowded, but I have been going there for years now.
Food is alright but nowhere authentic. If you dont go in with that expectation then it will be ok. Service was just meh. Refilling of tell was a pain to ask repeatedly even though there were so many servers sitting around.
Umami flavor is alive here. The satay sauce was a perfect combination of sweet and spicy. Defiantly worth the stop when you’re in Chinatown.
Good food, good mood, good location.China town in Philly is a nice town with variety and this place stands out. Good Malaysian cuisine food to satisfy you with some healthy soups and dumplings to some Fried rice and noodles on the menu.Instrumental music sets the tone for quite an eve. Parking is a bit of a problem. People love the Roti here !
This place blew my mind with service, taste and quality. More of a chat n chew, this lunch was a special treat! Mango shrimp was crazy good. It was supposed to be spicy, but eh. The freshness of the mango (its also served in the mango skin) along with the veggies and shrimp was finger licking. Lol. I dont remember the name of the Beef, but OMG the tenderness was above par. There would have been a better pic of the Roti, but it was sooooo good, its easy gone before we knew it. Please get the coconut rice! Just come, sit, and enjoy. The appetizer (skewers beef n chicken) were too good to be true. An amazing place to eat.
The food is just delicious. Amazing options of Malaysian food, great combination of flavors and tropical ingredients. Affordable prices and spacious area, you can see directly into the kitchen. Service however, is not that great, servers dont seem to be happy of even being there and much less serving you, so be patient.
Having a lot of fun, we ordered and waited for only an hour for the foods 😍😍🥱The foods took to long and we cancel the order. Also the servers there look clueless and so slow.
Penang is very good. Everytime we are hungry in Chinatown this is one of our favorite places to go. The good is always amazing and the menu is very diverse. We usually end up getting the same stuff everytime we come but everyone else around us always has food that looks out of this world. The only small problem with penang is that it can get very busy and packed. But if you manage to let that run by you the food is always worth the wait.
Skeptical that this may be the touristy spot by the look of it. But it’s really good. Smoothest fried rice I’ve ever had. Very reasonable with a full staff. Disclosure: This restaurant may have ruined fried rice for me, I’m not sure I’ll be able to find anything comparable for a long time. And definitely not at this price.
It was recommended by a friend and was very impressed. The food is fresh and delicious. I recommend the roti and beef satay for appetizers and the chicken mango. Good size portions and great price.
It has more wait time. But the quality of food has changed a quite from past year. May be we went during peak hours and due to a lot of crowd it was not that tasty the way they usually do.
Quality of the food is still the same after over a decade of coming here. I always get the Hainanese chicken with chicken rice, Indian pancake, and fried ice cream dessert. The Hainanese chicken is room temperature but the chicken is very tender and comes with good sauces all for less than $10. Highly recommended
I waited over 45 mins for a Beef Rendang, had to follow up twice. Eventually cancelled it, I do know it can be busy sometimes, but waiting for over 45 mins it’s just unacceptable.
Loved this place. The food was delicious and the service was great. Ordered the whole red snapper which came out on a silver platter with fire underneath to keep it hot. We made an early evening reservation on a Tuesday, so got in quickly, but the restaurant filled very quickly.
Food was great. Everything socially distant and the service was great, definitely one of my favorite places to go. Dont forget to wear a mask. 😇🥰😇🙃😉
Packed tables but the elevated stairs lead to nice seating, open kitchen at night is busy cooking and cleaning, good thing I guess but can be distracting. Good pricing and portions. Traditional meals and authentic dessert.
The food was 5 stars, but the service was 2. If your goal is for the food, it is good place to visit. Otherwise......
Had thirteen people group, middle-of-the-week dinner and got a very good service. Food came out promptly and paced, so we had a relaxed and enjoyable dinner and time. Food was tasty, flavorful and plenty. Definitely will return for more.
We arrived at 8:30 on a busy Saturday evening and waited only five minutes to be seated. Spacious with bustling atmosphere. Very attentive wait staff and what I assumed to be management. Food was reasonably priced and delicious. I can never give up an opportunity for roti canai; Penang did not disappoint. Highly recommended
My favorite restaurant in Philadelphia, they have a lot of amazing dishes, but my favorite are Seaweed soup(come with all types of fresh seafood and vegetables) and boneless chicken curry (the best curry dish that I ever tried and the recipe hasnt changed in a decades). Fast service and great prices and big portions, I usually split both of those dishes with one other lucky person thats with me. Enjoy
I visited this restaurant today after sometime. Always a busy place and there customer service is always great. Great food and drinks on the menu. Penang Pad thai is what I ordered today and it was my first time getting this specific item and did not disappoint at all.
Lunch-in accepted with no reservation. Has body temp check for covid fever. Clean room and kitchen can be seen across the room...confiability for me. Not too expensive. Food was good.
The wait was a little long but definitely worth the wait. It was very busy but the staff was nice. Definitely recommend the mango chicken!! Very accommodating so happy we decided to eat here!
This is a favorite restaurant of me and my wife. I apologize for the already touched photo of the Pad Thai, we couldnt get but dig right in because we were so hungry.Both of our favorite dishes here is the Roti Pratha (I hope I spelled that right), which is a buttery, flaky nan like bread that you dip or grab the chicken and potato curry it comes with. A dish that is very similar to a curry and nan dish I had in Singapore. It is so delicious, that my wife and I went to an Asian grocery store right after to buy ingredients to make it at home.We also got meat skewers, a combination of both chicken and beef. I personally prefer the chicken, as it is seems to be more flavorful and not as dry.My wife got the Pad Thai and I got the Singaporean noodles (I think it was the first noodle dish on the menu). One word of caution, for those of you who are expecting the Pad Thai to be the same as the noodle dishes you get at Thai restaurants, it is NOT the same. It is less sweet and a bit spicier. Nevertheless, our entire meal was delicious.To top it off, the manager/owner of the restaurant is a great person and is defini0tely customer-centric, which I wish I could say for some of the employees there.
Very nice and cheap food!!! Most of the foods are malaysia, but you also can find indian, chinese food items. The food is good. My favorite dish is Nasi lemak which contain fish, egg, and chicken. The space is also large. You can find public restroom.
Delicious!!!! Their roti canai and roti telur are famous and most have. If you are a vegetarian, then this place will be a bummer as their vegetarian options contain shrimp/fish sauce. Their nasai lemak was a little disappointing, since we couldnt taste the coconut in the rice.
Very good service! I went saturday it was full and no table but the landy tell us we can give her my number and when is ready se will call us. We went to a walk and in 20 minute she did call us and when we came back the table was ready and the price is good! Not cheap and not expensive and try the chicken Malaysia is good.
I love this place for its amazing delicious food. You can’t go wrong with this pick. The restaurant is large and open in Phillys China town area and has been there for a while. I specially love the roti canni which is my favourite dish. Although it is an appetiser I can have multiples of those as main course. I also love the sizzling dishes which are just heavenly!
Average food but uh the plastic in my friend noodles are a huge turn off. The chef didnt cut carefully when cutting thru the plastic, so Im not sure how much I ate. Deff grossed me out, but food is at a 4 star so yes eat here but just be careful in regards to what you are putting in your mouth.
Best roti cani around. Authentic Malaysian that suites picky eaters to the most adventurous palates.
Great for family gathering! Very busy! Excellent food! Definitely worth the time and great for the stomach!
Longer wait time than wanted. Yer the food was well worth the wait. We started with apps the satay skewers chicken and beef then we went to the roti. The apps were cooked and seasoned to absolute perfection. The Roti was warm and crispy with a great dipping sauce. For the entre we had the chicken simmered in a coconut curry sauce. I just say that was the best dish on the menu. Secondly we had the penang pad Thai which was delicious but wasnt any different from most pad Thai. overall the food was delicious. Its a must go in phillys Chinatown.
This was my 1st try in the restaurant. The place was very noisy, full house.Foods were tasty , price was reasonable, menu has many choices. Specially the Roti Canai and Chow Kuew Teow taste yummy!But the service makes us unsatisfactory. We sit down about 5 minutes, there were 3 servers came and asked for orders drink. After we ordered, asked for order appetizer, again 2 server asked for main dishes. We kept telling them gave us sometimes, coz menu has many choices. But they kept coming back and makes us feel a bit annoying. After we done our dinner, I understand usually they will asked if we want to order any dessert, take out the leftover food and bills. When the bill presents to us was automatically add 18% tips on it, its not giving you an option to pay for the tips depending on their service. After we paid, chatting for a while. One waiter came and asked we have to leave and giving out the table. But there still 2 empty tables standby and no one waiting (at 10PM). 4 of us was feeling everything so rushed for this dinner.However, I enjoyed to having dinner with friends but I disappointed the service of this restaurant.
So disapointed. Stopped here for the first time in 10 years or more and the food was not very flavorful. There is a Roti appetizer that I would highly recommend, but my Curry dish really lacked flavor depth. Not much else has changed, but it seemed dirtier than I remember. Next time I will only order the app x2 and stay away from anything else. Sorry to have to give this place a negative review but left very unsatisfied. Get the Roti leave the rest.
We tried a couple dishes, the chicken is definitely the best.Was a bit disappointed at the rice. Rice was undercooked....
The food was very tasty. However, they did not offer us water. I had to go to the counter to order a drink. The service was not up to par.
What an awesome experience... Great atmosphere, food, and drinks!Honestly didnt know what to expect as we arrived there by chance. Their window seats were perfect for people watching in Chinatown. Definitely get a Thai Tornado! Its a drink topped with cheese foam and sea salt. And its actually really good when you mix it up.
The most delicious curries but disappointing service. Weren’t acknowledged at all for 15 ish minutes while waiting at the door; then someone else came in and got seated before us because they knew the server. When trying to talk to a server we were met with rude remarks. Moral of the story don’t go when they are busy and stressed. Otherwise, the beef rendang is the best.
Authentic Malaysian and Singapore food at reasonable prices. My go to place for comfort food in Philadelphia.
If you are looking for authentic Malay / Indonesian cuisine look not further. I recommend the Nasi Lemak and Martabak. Absolutely brilliant flavors and quick service. always our go to in Philadelphia!
Delicious food and friendly staff. Highly recommend the Indian Roti (freshly made roti serves with chicken curry).Minus one star because the food took awhile.
I had better Malaysian food in North Carolina. The cendol is tasteless. Roti canai is too thin. Roti telur is soggy. Char kwey tiao not enough fire. Veggie curry just not good.
Food is good. Service is neat. Not every one speak English here. Huge menu. I tried fish and wouldn’t do it again. Soup is good though. Parking can be very tough on the street here.
Curry Roti was delicious! I am surprised to read in other reviews that waitresses didnt come to help. In my case, two waitresses came over to ask constantly if everything was Ok, if I had any question about the menu....even to tell me that the curry roti was meant to be eaten with my hands, and to dont feel shy, because that it was totally fine to do it that way.I ordered another dish, cant remember the name, with chicken and a sauce. It was fine, but I will come back for sure for the Roti.
I love roti canai and most of their dishes. Satay beef, golden fried squid, pan fried noodles are a few among them.
If I could give this place a zero star rating I absolutely would. Extremely long wait times and the worst customer service I’ve ever experienced. My fiancée and I immediately got seated around 6:45p and given hot tea and utensils then the waiter didn’t acknowledge us for 20mins. The menu for this restaurant has absolutely NO DESCRIPTIONS about the food and when my fiancée was asking questions because she has certain dietary restrictions, the waiter was unhelpful and rushed us to get our order in. We then waited for 35 minutes before I got up to ask what the hold up was. No one had come to check on us, offer to refill our drinks, explain the delay or ANYTHING. The waiter claimed that our food was being plated. Ten minutes later I am seeing two tables full of people who got seated after us already paying their bills about to head out. It’s New Years Eve and our anniversary so we had other plans for after 45 minutes of waiting after our order had been placed, we decided to leave without even receiving our entrees. A complete waste of my time. I’ve never had to walk out of a restaurant before. Absolutely horrendous.
Yum - still as delicious as when it first opened
Very good food. My roti kanai was perfect. It was crisp and full of flavor. The curry that came with roti was excellent. In main course, I had chicken curry with rice. The dish was spicy and hot, exactly what one would need on a icy cold day. The waiter was not very knowledgeable, perhapss it was a language issue. However, he was very pleasant as well as helpful.
Ive been to a bunch of restaurants around Chinatown, but this was my first time trying Malaysian cuisine there!Context: Casual dinner with a friend, just for 2 at around 5pm on a weekday, so the restaurant wasnt busy at all, and there were lots of available seating. Generally pretty quiet at the time (there may have been 6-7 other people in the restaurant)Wait time: Food came out very quickly (likely due to the time though); we were probably in and out within 45 minutes.Food: Only ordered an entrée of their house special pork - I didnt actually know that this was going to be pork belly, so that was a bit surprising! I also was expecting there to be more dried vegetables, instead of just a few carrots and cilantro. Overall though, their food was very flavorful, and the portion sizes are quite large/filling. My main complaint was that it was a bit too salted / a tad too greasy for meOverall: 4/5 - would probably go back to try another dish, but its not top priority; decently spacious / good for having conversations to catch up with friends if you go for an earlier dinner in Chinatown
Cant complain, there is an eclectic selection of Malaysian and Thai food to choose from. Easily the highlight of any visit to Penang is the curry roti with potato appetizer. Its delicious, and I look forward to it EVERY SINGLE TIME. The kebab appetizers are also memorable. The ambiance is pretty good, but definitely this place is a bit pricier than other restaurants in the Philly Chinatown area. Would recommend for a date night. The mango chicken was good, but not mind blowing. The Mee Siam noodles were a big hit at my table. Customer service was also fast and no real complaints on my end. I came with a large group and there was a little bit of confusion in the beginning with seating but that was quickly settled. Props.
Heard great things about this place, but was disappointed to see workers cutting produce in dining hall, food was sub par and one dish not at all edible when we sent it back the waiter had the coldest stare imaginable.. one dish was great “roti canal” but rest of the dishes were sub par at bestNot recommended
My chow foon noodles were very good. The older waiter not so, but the Cambodian waiter that came to our rescue was a beautiful caring person. He saved the day.
This was my second visit to this place and probably the last one . The first thing first they changed our order and gave me something else . Our order was taken by a senior lady . My wife ordered for a new chicken item for entree and they gave something else as shown in the pic . We had no idea if that was not our item. After a few moments another senior gentleman man came and showed with a different plate stating that was our order. It would have been fine if they would have just mentioned and accepted this mistake but instead they wanted us to keep both the items in our order and have them. I am not coming to this place again who forces me to buy their item and gives me bad experience on my money spent. I would have never left an restaurant without a obligation tip amount but I choose not to give any here due to obvious reasons. I would choose never to return here again.The place is clean and they greet customers with complementary green tea.
Excellent food. If not on menu they’ll make it. The roti was amazing. Service is good. Friendly staff. Great price. Good choice in China town. One of the best places. Good feel.
This place is amazing! We went two days in a row and were pleased both times. Never felt rushed so we got to actually enjoy our time. The Tom Yum was awesome.
Very bad attention, waiting 15min since I entered and they never attended me. They do not have air conditioning in hot weather, I would not recommend it.
Delicious food at an affordable price. Definitely get the #1 appetizer Roti, which is Malaysian pancake. The entree hainanese chicken keeps me coming back every time.
It was a Friday niteWe wore a maskFood was good.Customers were 50 % masked
It probably wasnt the best idea to try to get dinner in Chinatown during a convention. We had a large party and, though the restaurant was accommodating, the space was already crowded enough. With the room packed to the gills, neither my friends and I seated at the table nor the server could really hear anyone. Any volume issues aside, the food was quite tasty. My recommendation s would be the spicy thai chicken and the roti. Avoid the Hainanese chicken unless you know what that dish entails.
This was the best meal I ever had in Philadelphia! I had vegetable, mango tofu and Pang Chicken. The flavors were perfectly balanced and superbly complex! Our waiter was extremely kind and helpful! Prayers.
We had this restaurant recommended by a local. It was very good. Good service and great tasting food. There were large queues when we left so judging by its popularity this is a top spot!
Lovely Malaysian food. Must try the Singapore fried rice and roti canai
Food was not the best edible but nothing to return for and price out of hand service was not at all in a public manner only more more more you done next and for the food not going to return
Rice was undercooked, took them forever to serve the nasi lemak
Terrible service. Wish can give them zero star. Waited for more than one hour and the kitchen still didn’t cook our order after they took our order. No one explained or apologized. They didn’t even say anything after we complained. Short of staff may be a reason but other restaurants won’t let customers wait for more than one hour!! When we complained, the waiter had attitude. We went next door and we got our food in 10 mins. Apparently the management is an issue not the manpower.
Wasn’t really amused by food; felt like reviews were kinda overrated. Mee goreng doesn’t have
Their Roti canai was so amazing. I get hungry just thinking about it.
8:10 PM. There was this dark skin asian kid with tattoo. Seemed like he doesnt like the job or maybe it was a long day. Perhaps Penang should pay him more. He stared at us for a hard 30 seconds. It was very awkward. This dude just didnt care to even acknowledge us and continued to lean against the counter. We felt very unwelcome and walked out. He probably doesnt like us from the start so probably better to just leave. Just quit if you dont like your job. Hope he knows he negatively affecting the establishment. Banana Leaf here we are now. Found big difference in service.
At first, they gave us a QR code menu that would not scan after trying on multiple phones (later given paper menu). The roti canai was really good flavor wise, but the chicken in it was mostly bone and very little meat in one order (other order of it had more meat). The penang satay chicken and beef were great flavor wise, but overcooked. Very busy here. Had to get the waiters attention to get a refill of water due to them constantly walking around taking orders and serving food. Table did not look particularly clean and there was food spilled on one of our chairs that wasnt cleaned up before seating us. There did not seem to be air conditioning and was pretty warm inside. I think this place was really good flavor wise, but could be better when it comes to other aspects.
Loved the roti canai. Their beef fried rice was very good. Everytime I am in Chinatown, have to go there.
Food was phenomenal! I will definitely be going back soon!!
Food was pretty authentic. Even the char kuay teow tasted like home. 10/10
The food was amazing, my recommendation is the first appatizer on the menu
Waited 2 hours for food and 1 hour just to see a waitress at our table. I’ll give it that they were busy in the beginning but we were still waiting when the restaurant was half empty at that point. They couldn’t even refill the tea we left at the side of the table. Poor service and poor quality of food. The best part was looking behind me to see other angry customers who waited with us. The worst part was being ignore by the rude waitresses and wondering where the cooks were at. There was one waitress I will commend though as she was extremely nice to us and I just felt bad for her as she was starting out but she was just so good to us despite all that happened.Update: We only got our dumplings and not even our entrees after 3 hours as we been here since 8. We were 1 of 4 tables left.Update 2: we finally got our entrees after 3.5 hours and we only stayed out of spite and the logic that if others got food, ours would come out soon but only regret remained.Update 3: We got our food after 3.5 hours after complaining and they told us that our ticket had fell behind the counter, which was why we had waited. They never came to check up on us and saw we were sitting for a while with just empty glasses of water. We asked for some kind of compensation or discount for the wait, and they said they couldnt give one. I only tipped because the waitress was new and she was also stressed out. Never going again and will happily discourage my friends from going to this enterprise from now on as well.
Would not recommend the spicy Thai chicken
Amazing place ! Been here before and will be back ! Hainanese chicken from my order pictured below !
I love Penang! The food is always exquisite, the prices are right and the service and preparation is swift.
Do try the nasi lemak. It was my first time trying Malaysian food. Loved it.
Always a great meal. Their menu is a little more limited but their roti canai is still good as well as their nasi lemak!
The food is excellent, the service can be slow depending on the waiter! Mango shrimp!!!
Went here years ago and decided to stop back in. The food was delicious as I remembered. The service was a wee bit lackluster, but I’ll attribute that to the number of people there and there lack of help. Definitely will go again sooner rather than later. Only other problem I had was the lack of any alcohol choices. I believe the only thing they had that particular night was red wine
Have been here many times. Roti, curry, noodle and rice. Everything is nice. If you come at lunch and dinner times, you have to wait outside for hours.
My wife and I received the bare minimum service, they seemed to be very understaffed. Poor dining experience.
The roti is their best dish without a doubt. Some misses with the entrees though, prawns were overcooked and crispy fish was OK. I want to give Penang 5 stars because as I mentioned that roti is sooo good and the mango chicken is delicious (think you have to stick to chicken or beef and vegetable dishes). I am sure there are other delicious dishes that we will try again as it was good enough where we will come back. Its just unfortunate as its a restaurant where you need to know what to get otherwise youll leave disappointed (trial and error for our entrees - we wanted to try new dishes out). Hopefully next time theyll also have their ABC dessert as its one of our favorites which was a big decision in a 4 star rating versus 5. Ill update my rating next time I return to 5, assuming all is great!
One of my favorite restaurants! Roti cani, beef satay, and the noodle dishes are some of my must orders each time I go.
Wow wow....the best restaurant in the heart of China Town in Philadelphia. Super service... Highly recommended and I will be back
This place wasnt too bad. I frequent the Boston restaurant, was traveling to Philly and decided to give this location a try. The menu was the same, taste and quality was very close. Staff was attentive and the atmosphere was good. I would recommend this for authentic Malaysian food.
Every Friday night we hit Chinatown for food, we try to venture to New places every time. Tried this place tonight and it was HORRIBLE. chicken was slimy and foul. chicken wings clearly frozen. Service stinks, my friends food was not good. Seems low quality food. Will not return to this place.
Food was really hearty and came on hot and quick. Beef rendang was so good, and my wife got the ginger chicken. Staff was friendly, and the freshly made coconut juice was amazing.
Roti canai was good. Ordered extra and the portion was still small. They charged me for extra but didn’t give it to me. 1 piece of chicken and 1 potato. This is sad 😔Chicken dumplings were ok.Probably won’t order again.
I read the reviews and I know what it’s like to run a small business. The fact that the owner takes the time to answer peoples questions was really impressive. For the moment I came in I was seated fast they were all set up for COVID with periodic seats open and closed and the restaurant was extremely clean. It was very nice to be greeted immediately and taken to my table that was clean and sanitized. Next I was brought hot tea right away and my server took my order and she had great suggestions and a wonderful smile and personality. I am from out of town and will be back here every time I visit Philadelphia
Good place, good food. Their Pad Thai is excellent. I did not much like the mango chicken, but other members of my family did, it was a bit more sour for me than I like. The steamed chicken dumplings did not taste good at all. Overall, I would recommend the restaurant to people.
Wow!!! They dont have all the same menu items that they used to, but we came on recommendation from a friend and we were so impressed! We got tons of food for such a reasonable price and everything was absolutely amazing!!!Chinatown was cool too!GO HERE!!!
The food was delicious. The staff were unkind, but I understood it because they were busy.
The Hainanese chicken rice I had was great. The rice was cooked with a bit of chicken oil so it was full of flavor and the chicken itself was great considering the dish was only $9. Overall not a bad place for lunch or dinner, although depending on post covid life it may get very busy for dinner. Lunch is relatively ok though in terms of busyness. Very airy and open environment.
We are regular customers till before pandemic so I ordered take out today they told that Im the second customer. They increased the prices and I ordered a shrimp fried rice extra spicy and it was really bland there is not even salt in it no spice and no salt in it they charged 14$ just for bland tasteless rice total waste of money. I also ordered vegetable spring rolls which are good. So much disappointed with this restaurant no sure if Im gonna order here in the future.
The lady who answering the phone were super rude, I called twice told to order a pickup she hanged me up, and second time she’s so impatient ordering my food.I call 20mins ago order roti(appetizer , must order) and wings onlywhen we arrived food still not really we still need to wait for another 30mins to get our food. I guess she doesn’t put our order in system, I do have feeling they she might be doing that. DisgustingIt nice place and nice food they should work with their employees
Was decent food, a little bland for my taste.
I’m honestly really disappointed. The reviews for this place were amazing but the food once delivered was anything but. My spicy Thai chicken was not spicy at all, the chicken was flavorless, and the whole meal was full of bone shards to the point where I was stabbed in the tongue and gums multiple times before I had to give up on eating it. The Curried Chicken although very flavorful had an actually piece of metal in it. I hope that it was just an off day.
Had dinner here recently, and the food was okay. We were expecting more flavorful & spicy dishes, but what we got was more bland. Maybe we just ordered the wrong items off the menu, but nothing we had (and there were 5 of us) jumped out at us as a wonderful, flavorful dish that we just had to come back for. Dont misunderstand - the food was not bad, but Ive had better fresh, flavorful dining experiences that make this one a little of a disappointment. But the service was very good - they took good care of us, and refilled water glasses, as well as wine. If we are in the area again, we might go back to try it again, but more likely, well try another restaurant next time hoping for better results.Response to reply by owner: We tried the seafood combination casserole, pad thai, sauteed spinach, and 2 other main entrees. We started with Roti Canai as an appetizer, which had a wonderful curry chicken & potato sauce and had the most flavorful experience we had all night.
Delicious roti canai. The staff, especially the elder Asian gentleman was very hospitable and welcoming. Calm, clean atmosphere with ample space. A must try!
Our family love, love, love Penang.So many delicious dishes and always fast and friendly staff. Cant wait for them to open again, we miss the full menu dearly!!!Make sure to call ahead for pickup, cuz it takes about an hour to prepare. But so worth the wait🤤 one of our favorite restaurants in Philly.The only thing lately curry sauce that comes with a pancake became a little more spicy and not as thick as before. Maybe due to it sitting for a while before we ate it after pickup, still delicious though.Again... cant wait for it to reopen😭
Not gourmet but very good pan Asian. Lots of noodle dishes. Steamed dumplings excellent. Basic decor.
Ive been here several times over the years and it never fails to impress. I love the classic nasi lemak but you cant go wrong with the chicken satay or roti canai for apps. The beef redang is excellent as well. A Chinatown staple for sure you wont want to miss it.
Been coming here for years.Never disappoints.Favorite meals are Roti Canai (pancakes ) with curry stew, tomyum rice noodle soup, satay beef and chicken.Kids favorite is vegetable lomain.Quick service, good portions and reasonable prices.
We have dinner with this Brand name is Boston, MA.Their favor dish is Hainan Chicken riceAnd Roti curry. We ordered the take out., but the Hainan Chicken rice was not as good as the Boston one.
Roti canai, kangkung belacan and sambal using are really good. Beef rendang and fish curry are okay but not great. Also I did not expect to pay $2 for the first serving of rice. So that was disappointed. Overall, I still go there again in the future when I crave Malaysian food since there is not much options to go.
Friends and I found this restaurant by accident one time a year ago. I was finishing chemotherapy and they took me for lunch as a reward. They have a dish called Mee Siam. It is delicious and they will happily customize it for you ( I dont like tofu but had them add chicken with the shrimp). I only get that fish when I go but all the dishes on the menu sound just as appetizing.
This place has been my fave for years! We love the curry and roti is always great. We had the whole fish, snapper. Delicious.
Roti canai is a must have , generous portion size
The food was absolutely divine. But the service questionable. And I speak of the table service. My family wasnt given the same exact dedicatiand respect as the other customers.
Great food. Roti Canai is too die for.
Real good food great very clean restaurant service was very nice great experience 10 out of 10 would recommend Will definitely be going again
Absolutely amazing food! Roti with curry dip is to die for! The small soup was huge and delicious, seafood tom-yum. We will return for sure!
Found this place after visiting the African American museum and it was great. We werent too sure if we should try it or not but were happy that we did. We went on a Thursday afternoon and the place was fairly empty. The server was an older lady and she was so sweet and accommodating. I had the curry chicken and was spicy but not too spicy. The menu had a great selection of items to choose from.
08/15/21: Drivers of delivery, beware ! This restaurant does not appear to respect its customers time !! Please only accept orders if they exceed $14 as mine did this evening !If your time is worth more than $14 an hour, consider your investment of time at the other fine surrounding proprietors !!!
Absolutely delicious and worth my money. The interior is relaxing and calm with a pleasant staff.
One of my go to in Philly. Food is sooooo good. For appetizer recommend the Roti Kanai. Its a nice mix of Indian and Asian cuisine. This place get PACKED on the weekend so recommend coming earlier or placing reservations
Awesome food! We got in quickly when we went on a Saturday around 7. Highly recommend for delicious, delicious food all around.Only complaint I have is that the waiters took awhile to refill our waters and the waiter we had was kinda weird. Like he wasnt very friendly and made us all feel a bit uncomfortable.Overall, though, we had a great time and would return & recommend many times over!
The nasi lemak and char kway teow are amazing, and very authentic. Did not get to try the Penang laska and curry Mee because of covid related reduced menu. Would not recommend the chicken rice though.
Good food, but maybe not enough servers? Really hard to get waiters attention
This is my favorite restaurant in Chinatown. They have a large menu and everything tastes so fresh and yummy. Its easy to get to and Ive never had anything bad. Highly recommend!
Ive been going to this place for years and never had a complaint. However, yesterday I experienced very low quality service. It seemed they were unprepared. They didnt greet us, some of the food we ordered was cold. They didnt ask us whether we wanted desert or not. They were not checking on us really. For those reasons, I think I will never return there again.
This place is amazing! We got the homemade roti canai, beef satay with peanut sauce, and Hainanese chicken half, and...All were delicous! I advise you to go here if you ever stop by Philly, because believe me, you wont be disappointed.
Amazing food. Staff is friendly and helpful in explaining anything and everything.
For average taste... but nice location
Love this place. Been coming here for years and ordered same dishes from time to time. Love the mee Siam and water spinach with dry shrimps dish and pawrn mee noodle soup is good there too.
Food is very good. The serving sizes are pretty big. You could probably get away with eating just an appetizer for a small meal. The waitress warned me that my food would be spicy- I would rate it moderately spicy, so if youre not used to spicy, you should listen to the waitress. The tea is also really good. One teapot was enough for me and my friend for our meal.
Our family has been a frequent visitor of Penang for the past few years and we always loved their food. However over time, the food seemed to not match up to its quality before. The last time we ordered was early September during the pandemic. We were very disappointed. The beef satay was mostly burnt and very hard to bite into. The pad thai was very bland. Most frustrating was the uncooked rice in the nasi lemak. Other than the roti canai which was the only good food and the pad thai, we ended up not eating the rest as it was inedible. The prices doubled too which I understand why, however I dont think we will be coming back anymore.
I have been a customer since they opened. Have taken business clients, my family and my staff to Penang over the years. During visit in October we had terrible customer service! I thought it was a bad night. Returned again with friends and worse customerservice this time. Embarrassed. Food was good and flavorable, but, hostesses was rude for no reason, lukewarm tea, rushed service which made no sense since only 5 tables occupied, dirty silverware and no water refill during a spicy meal. No one ever checked on our table to ask if we needed anything. Sorry to say we will not return. Have to find more good Malaysian options .
This used to be one of my favorite places to eat. I have been coming here with my family for over 10 years. The food is usually great and the staff is quick. HOWEVER, we went last night to celebrate my brothers graduation and ALL of our seafood dishes had rotten shrimp in them. My brother is not very food conscious but even he pointed out that the shrimp had a bad taste. My mom and I tasted the shrimp from all the seafood dishes and had to spit it out. She told the waiter and sent back a few pieces for the chef to try, only for the waiter to come out and say that the chef didnt taste anything wrong with it and the best he could do was take 20% off our bill. We werent looking to get any discounts, we were simply trying to make the staff aware of the rotten shrimp. My mom was mostly concerned about the chefs judgement. She has been in the restaurant industry for decades and was appalled when the chef said he didnt taste what was wrong. Those of us with seafood lost our appetite and left with our plates still full of food. Money and time wasted. Not sure if we will be returning, such a shame considering this was a staple restaurant for us :(
The food is so good, so tasty! I recomend so much.
This has been my favorite restaurant for quiet some time. However everytime I have visited with my boyfriend whos African American the service feels prejudice! On several occasions my boyfriend has ordered chicken satay but was told they were all out and offered beef instead which he gladly went with, however a few minutes later a table right next to us ordered chicken satay and the same waitress was more than happy to take that order. When the table next to us got their appetizers my boyfriend asked why he couldnt have the chicken and he was told because they were out last night so the waitress assumed they didnt have anymore that current day... but he can place another order if he likes. (This happened on two occasions)My boyfriend than continued to order an entree and was told he wouldnt like that particular type of chicken because its steamed and should choose a basil stir fry because he would like it. He asked for it to be spicy however got a plate full of shrimp basil stir fry that tasted like raw fish sauce! This was first time in my life I walked out of a restaurant mid meal because of how surrel it was that we were being discrimination against. I have visited before with friends and family and have had amazing service but it cant be a coincidence that both times I went with my boyfriend we were treated like idiots who didnt deserve to be served the same as others.And lets talk about cdc guidelines there is no social distancing happening in this location! They crowd everyone up rather than spreading people out which is easily doable 12 in the afternoon considering the entire restaurant was empty! Someone needs to check them or sue them for discrimation and cdc guidelines.Response to penang: As I said, this happened twice under the exact same circumstances. Compensate your customers if you instruct them to order a replacement for something you actually have. Its unfortunate that the tables next to us (not with colored patrons) dont experience this problem. I understand why you would disagree with my review. We may not be important but our money will always be important to you. Be fair and honest. Maybe you wont have to defend yourself in the future.
Flavorful and plentiful portions. A definite “must try” for any family visiting Chinatown.
Visited on NYE 2020. I realize its busy that night, but service was really., really bad. Ordered an appetizer, steamed chicken dumplings.. Waited 25 minutes after ordering, b4 telling the staff to cancel. The wait staff would do nothing but refer me to the manager. The manager said it was to late to cancel the appetizer. The app arrived 5 minutes letter. Not even warm. the food was not worth the wait.
Great Malaysian place in Chinatown, easily one of the must visits in Philly. Food is authentic and delicious, and the space is cozy. The service is also very good. I personally love the squid with Chinese watercress, but most of the other items I’ve ordered are really tasty too.
Really poor and slow service, waiters ignored us and brought out our entrees a full 20 minutes a part with stuff missing. We were excited to eat here too, but would never come back
I went here on a Tuesday! Serious was far. I got sat quickly. My first time sitting next to the kitchen was wonderful. On one hand the view of watching those cooks in the kitchen made me stay off my phone and left conscious of the fact I was eating alone. I already knew from the appetizer section that I wanted the Indian Pancake (Roti and potato dipping sauce) because it is to DIE for! I ordered 3 in one sitting but out of the 3 , I got 2 packed up to go! They were $3.95 on the menu but when you go online to the menu.. Its $2.95🤔.Either way this place left a mark on my heart... I will forever be a patron🎀💓💓💓🎀
I had the fried dumpling and beef chow fun. Delicious! Everything was cooked to perfection! Lunch was very busy so it took a while for our food to come out but it was worth the wait. If youre going around lunch, plan for the wait times and youll be golden!
This is my favorite restaurant in Philly hands down! I’ve been to many high end restaurants in the city and they just can’t compare to the food here. The Indian pancake is to die for and the tofu curry in rice is so amazing!!!! I come here at least once a month because I crave it literally everyday .
Really amazing food. We ordered the roti and the satay (chicken and beef) appetizers. Green curry seafood, spare ribs and mango chicken was shared between 4 of us. Thrilled that I have leftovers for tomorrow. I also liked the music they played. Cant wait to go back again!
Awesome food, spice level was just right. Service speed was simply superb and the waitress made some good recommendations, all in all the experience was really good and I wouldnt hesitate to visit again or wouldnt hesitate to recommend to friends/family. The only issue would be parking, my friend got lucky today and secured a street parking while I had to pay $20 in a private lot for 1.5 hours. Better to explore parking before visiting China town.
The food here was fantastic, I have been here a couple of times. It can get crowded so better to come early around 4:30-5:00. It is authentic Malaysian food and they spice it just right.However, it is not a very intimate setting so I would not recommend it for a first date or a romantic dinner. Any other situation it is perfect.
I got take out and dine in here. I liked the nasi lemak but disappointed it didnt have peanut. Also I wasnt happy the menu prices online are different than what they are at the restaurant. Please update your website!!!!
Phenomenal selection of dishes, perfect for all seasons.I recall going there the first time during winter, and the red curry with chicken and veggies was so good for the soul. Felt rather healing, it was unforgettable.However, the super super tight awkward table spacing gives this place an awkward 4 stars.What I recommend:Going there during the week for dinner. Less crowded, but then again if everyone follows this advice...then I dunno what to tell ya. It’s just too good.
I had the puff shrimp appetizer, curry red snapper and the coconut rice. One of the best meals I’ve had in a long time. Delicious!!!
Delicious food. EXTREMELY busy and crowded on the Friday night I ate there with a friend. I am under the impression that is normal. About a 15 to 20 minute wait for a table, and we had to stand in the narrow vestibule with several other people while waiting. Will go again because the food was good and that is clearly the reason its so popular!
Im kinda torn here only because Im a light weight when it comes to spices and everything I wanted on the menu was marked spicy. The nasi lemak was different from anything Ive ever eaten. The anchovy side dish was very interesting. Like most reviewers said the roti canai is a must. If I could have just had a bowl of the dipping sauce I would have been satisfied. Id go back but would definitely benefit by going with someone who is familiar with the cuisine. Table service is sporadic. Dont be surprised if you have multiple servers throughout your visit. Ours left for the night without a mention that she was leaving. I waved goodbye and smiled as she buttoned up her coat. Be patient and kind because its a different vibe but worth the experience.
Incredibly rude wait staff. I went to take out. No one wanted to help me. As I looked over the menu a woman repeatedly reached over me without excusing herself. Then the guy that was supposed to take my order walked away for a good 10 minutes before returning. He was very pushy and had a bad attitude. He returned with my food, threw it on the counter with not as much as a here you go, have a nice night or thank you. I will not be returning and will tell every one I know not to give this place business. As for the food.. mediocre.
The vegetable pot curry and chicken skewers were good. I prefer banana leaf more which is right across the street from Penang. Penang food is good but their portion sizes are small and the wait is forever. On the other hand, banana leaf serves excellent and their portion sizes are great.Overall, a pleasant visit to Penang.
The service was a little slow, but besides that the food was good enough to receive a 4 star review. Pineapple juice is fire! Just ask for more ice.
Total reviews rating 4.2
199 Reviews for Penang Restaurant 2023:
Review №1
2022-06-28The food was absolutely phenomenal and the Roti Kani is a must have (they have a vegetarian and non vegetarian options for it). The serving sizes were also very generous and the prices werent too crazy. The service was a little slow but we did go at a super busy time. The staff was also super nice and considerate of dietary restrictions. Definitely a great Malaysian spot to visit.
Review №2
2021-12-20One of my favorite restaurants. I’m actually a regular here. I am here atleast once a month. I sit literally at the same table. The staff is sweet and very kind. Their price ranges are great. For both of these I paid under $30 and still was so full I had to take them home. They have authentic Malaysian cuisine. Super yummy!!
Review №3
2022-03-28My friend and I went to eat there, my friend food came and while I waited for mine I watched several Chinese people come in and get their food while I still waited for mine. My friend finished his plate, and I still had no food, only a bowl of coconut rice. I was told service is usually great here, so please dont go solely on my experience. The waiter was pleasant, but someone dropped the ball on my order.
Review №4
2021-12-19I miss living in Philly just so I could eat here. Its always busy here with people waiting outside in the rain just to get their food. They greet you immediately when you enter, seat you, and bring you hot jasmine tea. Theyre attentive with service, but they give you plenty of space. The restaurant is big as far as Philly restaurants go, but if you cant get a seat takeout is your next best bet. The food comes out hot, fresh, and quick.Do yourself a favor and order your own roti canai because you will not want to share. The chicken is tender and chopped into bite sized pieces with soft potato for flavor and texture. My favorite dish is the noodles with salted fish, but everything here is delicious. This is the best Malaysian food stateside and you should try everything on the menu.
Review №5
2022-06-25One of our favorite restaurent for long time. We have been going there for past 10 years. Their roti canai is one our favorite and we have introduced this restaurent for many of our restaurent. The price per items are very reasonable and taste very good. Staffs are very attentive and friendly. I would have give 5 star but one star reduction is due to restaurent ambience is same as 10 years back , it don’t feel refreshing but only thing pulling inside is food.
Review №6
2022-02-11The tableware didnt seem to be washed clean. There were black stains. The dishes tasted much worse than what I ate in other Malay restaurants
Review №7
2021-09-19The restaurant is clean, spacious, and nice setting. The food was great! We never got a waiter, we just kinda flagged the staff down when we needed anything. Overall I will come back because I enjoyed the meals very much.
Review №8
2021-12-31We wanted to try Malaysian because we really love Thai food and wanted a different experience. The waiter was nice but not very knowledgeable about everything on the menu. We ordered shrimp puffs as an appetizer and after taking a few bites we realized the shrimp was wrapped in bacon and deep fried. No where on the menu does it say the shrimp puffs are wrapped in bacon. We were highly offended because we do not eat pork. When we told the waiter about what happened he acted as if he didn’t know. He resolved the issue by taking it off the bill, however this ruined our whole experience at this restaurant. Moreover the food was just ok, nothing to get excited about.
Review №9
2021-11-13Joined a group of friends for a late night Saturday dinner in Chinatown and tried Penang for the first time. For reference, Penang does accept reservations, is not BYOB as it has its own alcohol options, and is not cash only.It was very busy on the inside and with a reservation we had to stand and wait for a bit. Service was fairly quick once we were seated however. The inside of Penang was spacious and relaxed, with a fun dining area and great energy. The menu options were extremely varied, with tons of options which will likely have an item for anyone with a passing interest in Malaysian food, as well as vegetarian options.We ordered multiple dishes, including the mango shrimp and chicken, roti canai, mee siam, and pad thai. Everything was delicious! I particularly enjoyed the roti canai, the curry was absolutely delightful.If youre looking for a Malaysian option in Chinatown, Id highly recommend stopping by Penang, we will definitely be back.
Review №10
2022-07-03The meal itself was decent. My party of two ordered a Hainanese Chicken, and a Green Nasi Lemak. As many of the reviews claim, the roti kani is a must have since it is quite tasty and well made. Unfortunately that is where the positives end with this restaurant.Upon arrival at 4:30, we waited to be seated (as per the sign by the entrance) but 5 minutes go by before this incredibly understaffed establishment even notices that we were even there. As far as they were concerned, they would much rather partake in small talk/gossip among the other employees. When we did get seated, things didnt get any better. No utensils, beverages, or even a greeting from our waiter. We were sat down with nothing except a QR code [which I assume to be the menu, but it does not scan]. The hand held menus are certainly not any better since there is no context behind what is in each dish, what they look like, or if theres any allergy warnings. The issues do not stop there. The main course that was ordered came before both appetizers. I, myself, think that I am not a slow eater. In fact my mouth is so big that most meals are done in under 30 minutes. So when I tell you that my patience was worn very thin since it took until about 5:40 to get two appetizers and two main courses done and on our table. We were out of there by 6:15.Tl;dr if you value your time, dont dine in. I shouldve thought about that as soon as I noticed how long it took just to seat us. Being busy becaus eof a packed house is one thing, but for the management of the restaurant, there needs to be more waiters for the sake of keeping things going. The only saving grace of the service was a kind, attentive bald fella (I didnt catch his name) who, while not even being our waiter, took care of us.Our party will not be coming back.