Special thanks to Hsinchu Garden for extending this food review invitation.
Update: This business has ceased its operations.
Hsinchu Garden Food & Beverages (新竹园餐饮) shares the same premises as Khidthung Thai Seafood Tomyam Restoran. My previous experience with Khidthung is favorable, so I am keen to find out more about this restaurant at Jelutong.
Hsinchu Garden serves curry rice (咖哩饭) and nasi lemak (椰浆饭) between 10:00am and 4:00pm every day. There are around 30 different dishes to choose from. There is a good mixture of meats and vegetables, making this place suitable for a balanced meal.
Perhaps one of the most appealing dishes today is the succulent Stewed Pork Belly (焖猪肉).
Curry Chicken (咖哩鸡) is another signature dish here. The reddish curry penetrates the chicken thoroughly such that the flesh is nicely-flavored throughout all layers.
If you prefer seafood, Curry Fish (咖哩鱼) is also available. This curry is slightly sour due to the use of tamarind (asam).
Meanwhile, Curry Squid (咖哩鱿鱼) is a good choice too.
If the curries so far are too spicy for you, try some Sweet & Sour Pork Meatballs (酸甜猪肉丸) instead.
Meat Rolls (肉卷) are made from pork slices that are rolled in bean curd skin, then deep-fried until golden brown.
Anyone fancy some Braised Clams (蚶)? The clams here are fresh indeed.
Or perhaps a Thai Fried Egg (泰式煎蛋)? This egg dish is covered with julienned mangoes, chopped onions, roasted peanuts, bird’s eye chili (cili padi) and parsley.
I personally enjoy the soggy feeling of eggplant flesh, so it is a pity that I did not take some Sweet & Sour Eggplant (酸甜茄子).
I must say that the Ketchup Chicken (Soy Sauce Chicken) is quite enjoyable, thanks to its savory marinade.
Meanwhile, Green Bean Sprouts (豆苗) provide delightful juiciness throughout my meal.
My meal of four dishes today is charged at RM11.50. I think the price is quite competitive compared to nearly restaurants. This explains the continuous flow of customers through lunch hour.
In the evening starting 3:00pm, Hsinchu Garden sells Fish Soup Noodles (鱼骨米粉), Tomyam (东炎) and Seafood Porridge (海鲜粥).
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.