Special thanks to Go Noodle House for extending this food review invitation.
Go Noodle House (有间面馆), a popular restaurant chain in Klang Valley, has made landfall in Penang with its eighth outlet in Gurney Plaza. This new restaurant is located on Level 7, at the same floor as Golden Screen Cinemas. It occupies the former location of Burger King.
The dining section of Go Noodle House is furnished in the style of a traditional Chinese guesthouse, similar to stereotypical depictions in wuxia movies. Wood is the main theme of furniture, while large wine pots mark the entrance to this restaurant. Meanwhile, the menu is designed to look like a kungfu manual.
The signature recipe at Go Noodle House is Superior Soup (三鲜汤). According to legend, the soup was popularized by Emperor Kangxi (康熙) of Qing Dynasty in China, who liked the recipe so much that he decreed the soup to be an imperial delicacy. According to the staff of Go Noodle House, its soup is stewed from several types of fish bones. The recipe, obviously a trade secret, took several years of painstaking fine-tuning to formulate.
The Superior Soup contains a small amount of huadiao wine (花雕酒), a specialty of Zhejiang (浙江) Province, China. The aromatic nature of this rice wine helps to draw appetite and improve savoriness of the soup. Customers who wish to add more wine can purchase wine bottles from the restaurant. Vintage wines of 3, 5, 10 and 30 years are available. Unfinished bottles of wine can be kept at the restaurant for future visits.
My bowl of Grouper Fish Slice Superior Soup (石斑鱼片三鲜汤, RM16.00) is served with Mi Xian (米线, rice flour). Grouper flesh serves to enhance the flavor of the already-savory soup. I also requested for another specialty: Bursting Meat Balls (浆爆丸, RM3.50). When punctured, the meat balls release their juicy payload that was trapped inside. It is worthwhile to note that most ingredients used at Go Noodle House are produced at its central kitchen, not from third-party suppliers.
As for snacks, the Trio Platter (三品细味, RM15.30) provides three delicacies at a discount price. Pork Gold Coins (金钱肉干) are really addictive thanks to their honey-sweet appeal. Meanwhile, Pork Rolls (五香肉卷) are best eaten while warm, lest them being too salty. Last but not least, Crispy Fu Chok (脆香腐竹) features irresistible crispiness without being too oily.
As for drinks, the Herbal Tea (红枣枸杞茶, RM2.80) here is recommended. Its subtle sweetness is complemented by pleasant bitterness of herbs such as wolfberries (枸杞) and red dates (红枣).
Considering the long queue in front of the restaurant, it is evident that the food here is well-received by shoppers. In particular, I feel that the Superior Soup’s recipe appeals to the mainstream palate. The pricing is considered reasonable when compared to other similar restaurants in Gurney Plaza.
Name: Go Noodle House (有间面馆)
Address: 170-07-02, Plaza Gurney, Persiaran Gurney, 10250 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-373-2343
Business hours: 11:00am-10:00pm (Monday-Friday), 10:30am-10:00pm (Saturday-Sunday)
Website: Click here
Coordinates: 5.43774 N, 100.30951 E
Directions: Go Noodle House is located at Level 7 of Gurney Plaza, next to Golden Screen Cinemas. Gurney Plaza has basement and multi-level parking garages.
