Special thanks to Wok City for extending this food review invitation.
Update: This business has ceased its operations.
At the heart of Pusat Perniagaan Maju Utama of Bukit Mertajam, Restoran Wok City BBQ (锅富城) is the only steamboat restaurant in the immediate vicinity. Open for 10 years now, the name of this restaurant is a parody of popular Hong Kong artist Aaron Kwok (郭富城).
Wok City offers steamboat in an all-you-can-eat buffet setting. On each table is a built-in gas stove with boiling and grilling capabilities. Pertaining the former, the pot is partitioned in halves to allow for 2 different types of soup.
There are several types of meat to choose from. For grilling, sliced pork belly (刷刷肉) is among the most popular choices. There are also bakkwa (肉干), Thai chicken sausage (泰国鸡香肠), Taiwanese sausage (台湾香肠) and ham (火腿).
As for marinated meat, customers can enjoy a decent range of different flavors of fish, chicken and pork. The marinades used include black pepper, curry and New Orleans sauce.
In the seafood section, there are flower crabs (花蟹) served on ice.
Meanwhile, the vibrant color of tiger prawns (虎虾) is also visually appealing.
Other seafood choices are mussels (青口), clams (蛤蜊), bamboo clams (竹蚶) and squids (乌贼).
As for vegetables, there are a handful of choices that include yau mak (油麦), cabbage (包菜) and napa cabbage (大白菜).
All sauces at Wok City are prepared in-house. Of particular mention is five spices sauce (五味酱), which is a special blend of chili, garlic, bulb onion, Welsh onion and parsley. Meanwhile, Thai chili sauce (泰式辣椒酱) provides sharp spiciness which some people find essential while enjoying steamboat.
While waiting for food to be cooked, customers can also help themselves to a number of cooked dishes which vary from time to time. Today, we have abalone slices (鲍鱼片) that are flavored with mayonnaise.
Also included are also assorted sushi (寿司), fried chicken and spaghetti bolognese. Drinks and ice cream are provided too.
A standard meal costs RM29.90 per person (not inclusive of GST). The meal includes chicken soup (鸡汤) as well as tom yam soup (东炎汤). Herbal soup (药材汤) is available for additional RM10.00. Buffet price for children is charged according to height.
While the standard meal provides access to the buffet counter, the VIP price (RM39.90) allows unlimited orders of raw oysters, scallops and Pacific white shrimp. Given the premium quality of such seafood, the additional RM10.00 is worth every penny.
Raw oysters (生蚝) come in quite large pieces. If you are used to eating raw oysters, it is highly recommended that you try some at Wok City. Lime and Tabasco sauce are provided.
Should you prefer cooked shellfish instead, scallops (扇贝) are probably the better choice. Cooked with garlic sauce, the scallops present rich, appetizing flavors that tantalize the taste buds. Some scallops also contain roe which I find to be quite delectable.
Pacific white shrimps (白虾) can be grilled or boiled in tom yam soup. Alternatively, the à la carte menu offers Thai Chili Prawns which I think is a must-try for shrimp-lovers. Stir-fried with Thai chili sauce and Shaoxing wine (绍兴酒), the succulent fresh shrimps are very gratifying indeed.
Name: Restoran Wok City BBQ (锅富城)
Address: 3212, Ground Floor, Jalan Kampung Baru, Pusat Perniagaan Maju Utama, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 012-488-3995
Business hours: 5:30pm-1:30am
Website: https://www.facebook.com/limlimwengkhui
Coordinates: 5.35161 N, 100.47273 E
Directions: Wok City is located at the commercial area of Pusat Perniagaan Maju Utama in Bukit Mertajam. The restaurant is on the right when driving along the one-way Jalan Kampung Baru. There are plenty of street parking spaces in the commercial area.
