Special thanks to Granny’s Cottage for extending this food review invitation.
Located on Level 6 of Gurney Plaza, Granny’s Cottage (外婆家) is the sister restaurant of Tummy Yummy. Both restaurants are under the same management and are adjacent to each other.
Granny’s Cottage focuses on Chinese homestyle cooking as well as Peranakan (Nyonya) dishes. The menu revolves around home recipes from the proprietor’s mother. There is a wide range of dishes such as pork, chicken, seafood, tofu, vegetables, soup, fried rice and noodles.
Today’s meal starts with an appetizer: Fried Man Tou With Curry (炸馒头+咖喱, RM7.90). Four pieces of mantou (馒头) are deep-fried to light crispiness, and then served with a bowl of curry of moderate spiciness. Mantou is also available in steamed form.
Kapitan Curry Chicken (甲必丹咖喱鸡, RM15.90) is a popular Nyonya dish. The curry carries citrus fragrance of kaffir lime leaves (青柠叶), making it very appetizing indeed. I also like its creamy consistency, thanks to the presence of coconut milk.
Granny’s Special Pork Trotter (外婆家招牌香辣猪脚, RM16.90) is one of the restaurant’s signature dishes. This stew is similar to Pork Trotter With Vinegar (猪脚醋), but the former also carries a respectable degree of spiciness. Sourness of rice vinegar also helps to draw appetite.
Switching gear to seafood, Nestum Prawns (麦片虾, RM21.90) is a recommended dish in this category. The shrimps are coated with Nestum’s multigrain cereal, delighting the mouth with appealing crispiness. Although the shrimps can be eaten entirely, I still prefer to discard their shells before eating them.
Another dish which deserves special mention is Salted Egg Home Made Tofu (咸蛋招牌豆腐, RM11.90). Fried tofu cubes are dressed in savory paste made from salted egg yolk. Thanks to tantalizing aroma of curry leaves, this dish is simply irresistible to most people.
People who are fond of petai (stink bean) should try the Special Sambal Petai With Prawns (家传参巴臭豆虾仁, RM19.90). This crunchy vegetable is known for its peculiar smell. Tasteless on its own, petai is flavored by sambal (chili paste), large shrimps, dried shrimps and red onions.
Last but not least, Jiu Hu Char (鱿鱼炒, RM14.90) is one of the most iconic Nyonya dishes. The salad is a mixture of dried cuttlefish, shredded jicama (凉薯), carrots and shiitake mushrooms (香菇). Go easy with the accompanying chili sauce because it can catch you off-guard with its sharp spiciness.
Granny’s Cottage serves truly home-cooked food, which is why it appeals to the mainstream palate. The ambience is geared towards casual family dining, while the pricing is tailored to the masses. Besides à la carte dishes, the restaurant also serves rice set meals (which includes rice, soup, fruit and drink) at prices starting from RM9.90.
Name: Granny’s Cottage (外婆家)
Address: 170-06-02, Plaza Gurney, Persiaran Gurney, 10250 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-226-1224
Business hours: 11:00am-9:00pm
Website: https://www.waipojia.my
Coordinates: 5.43738 N, 100.30922 E
Directions: Granny’s Cottage is located at Level 6 of Gurney Plaza, right next to OldTown White Coffee. Gurney Plaza has basement and multi-level parking garages.
