Special thanks to Hsinchu Garden for extending this food review invitation.
Update: This business has ceased its operations.
In the densely-populated heartland of Jelutong is Hsinchu Garden Food & Beverages (新竹园餐饮), an eatery serving several types of noodle soup and porridge dishes. Hsinchu Garden shares the same premises as Khidthung Thai Seafood Tomyam Restoran.
At Hsinchu Garden, customers can select from a wide spread of fresh ingredients at the front counter. A basic meal starts from RM4.00. Additional ingredients are charged accordingly.
While the signature dish here is Fish Soup (鱼骨清汤), Tomyam Soup (东炎汤) is also recommended. Noodle choices are thick rice noodle (粗米粉), stick rice noodle (细米粉) and Maggie noodle (金旦面). For something less spicy, Porridge (粥) is also available.
Although it is OK to opt for a pre-designed bowl, why not take charge of your favorite ingredients?
Obviously, the most popular ingredient here at Hsinchu Garden is grouper fillet (石斑鱼肉, RM8.00).
If you want something more exotic, frog (田鸡, RM9.00) is also available. This should go well with Porridge.
Live crabs (螃蟹, RM15.00) are also on the menu should you crave for some.
Another recommended delicacy is fried fish (香炸鱼肉, RM5.00). The fillet are reheated before serving so that they retain their crispy appeal.
Other interesting choices are minced meat (肉碎), pork innards (内脏), shrimp (虾), squid (章鱼), scallop slices (鲍鱼片), meat balls (肉丸), fish balls (鱼丸), mushrooms (菇类) and bean curd (豆腐).
My dinner tonight is a large bowl of Fish Soup (鱼骨清汤) with grouper fillet and thick rice noodle. I like the springy texture of the noodle, and the way it absorbs savory flavor from the soup. While most stalls use pork bones to prepare clear soup, Hsinchu Garden uses a special deep-sea fish recipe from Chaoshan (潮汕), China. At the top of the dish are generous amounts of scallion (spring onion), fried garlic, ground pepper and, of course, grouper fillet!
Speaking of grouper fillet, these little devils are truly addictive since my first bite! The flesh is not overcooked such that it retains its juiciness. Yet, the fish does not carry any more fishy smell. I can simply eat this all day just for the fun of it!
The portion of this bowl of Fish Soup is not something to be trifled with. It is definitely sufficient for a very hungry person!
At Hsinchu Garden, noodle and porridge are available from 3:00pm to 11:30pm. In addition, Curry Rice (咖哩饭) is also served from 10:00am to 4:00pm.
Name: Hsinchu Garden Food & Beverages (新竹园餐饮)
Address: 380A, Jalan Perak, 11600 Jelutong, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-282-3603
Business hours: 10:00am-11:30pm
Website: https://www.facebook.com/hsinchugarden
Coordinates: 5.39487 N, 100.31439 E
Directions: Hsinchu Garden is located along Perak Road (Jalan Perak) between Kang Beef House (江祖传牛肉小镇) and OldTown White Coffee. There are parking spaces along the service road in front of the restaurant.