This article is part of my Ramadan 2019 compilation.
Special thanks to Berjaya Penang Hotel for extending this food review invitation.
Berjaya Penang Hotel is a 4-star hotel at Pulau Tikus. In the festive spirit of Hari Raya Aidilfitri, the hotel has erected a miniature Malay house at the lobby. The hotel’s all-day dining restaurant, The Cafe, serves Ramadan buffet dinner in the evening.
Starting with ulam-ulaman, ulam raja (king’s salad), kacang panjang (yardlong beans), terung (eggplant) and bendi (okra) are presented a vessel-shaped rattan basket. Condiments that go with the raw vegetables are sambal belacan (spicy shrimp paste), sambal kicap (spicy soy sauce), air asam (tamarind sauce) and cincalok (fermented shrimps). Also prepared are ikan masin (salted fish) and several types of kerabu (Malay salad).
The grilling station produces a steady flow of grilled chicken slices and chicken drumsticks. Although chicken is marinated properly, I think using smaller drumsticks would have been a better choice. As for diners who prefer seafood, grilled ikan kembung (mackerel) is available too.
Chicken Satay is marinated with turmeric, and then grilled on skewers until the chicken becomes slightly charred. Satay is frequently enjoyed with kuah kacang (spicy peanut sauce), nasi impit (pressed rice), shallots and cucumbers too.
Moving to Middle Eastern fare, Chicken Shawarma is cooked on a vertical spit next to a heating element. As the outer layer becomes cooked, chicken is shaved off and stuffed into pita bread. Other ingredients for Chicken Shawarma are mayonnaise, tomatoes, carrots, shallots and lettuce.
Daging Rendang Tok is a special recipe from Perak. Beef slices are slowly cooked with coconut milk and spices for several hours until most liquid has evaporated. The resulting dish is extremely savory. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Ayam Masak Merah is a classic poultry dish in traditional Malay cuisine. Chicken is gently fried till golden brown, and then braised in tomato-based sauce. Despite the devilishly red color, Ayam Masak Merah is not as spicy as it seems. In fact, the sauce has a hint of sweetness!
Next in line is Ikan Bawal Tiga Rasa, where fried pomfret is served in a sauce that seamlessly combines three flavors: sweet, sour and spicy. The dish is garnished with chili peppers, bell peppers, cucumber and shallots for aesthetic appeal.
Still on the subject of seafood, Acari Prawn Masala is cooked with a pungent Indian spice mix. The spicy dish is topped with spring onions and onions.
The dish of Fried Mixed Vegetables serves as counterweight to the other dishes so far. Fried with light oyster sauce are broccoli, cauliflowers, baby corns, carrots and button mushrooms.
Deep-fried food items are Cucur Udang and Lor Bak. Lor Bak is prepared by seasoning chicken with five-spice powder, and then wrapping with tofu skin. The snack is deep-fried such that the skin becomes crispy. Sweet chili sauce is provided, but I generally prefer to enjoy Lor Bak without condiments.
Last but not least, the desserts counter presents a modest variety of Western pastries and jellies. Crème caramel, crème brûlée and Malay kuih are also available. As per tradition in iftar meals, buah kurma (palm dates) are provided too.
The Cafe serves Ramadan buffet dinner every evening from 8 May 2019 to 2 June 2019. Most dishes are rotated daily, so diners can expect something different during each visit. The buffet price is RM60.00 net for adults, RM30.00 net for children, and RM45.00 net for senior citizens. For every 5 paying adults, the next person’s meal is on the house!
Name: The Cafe
Address: Berjaya Penang Hotel, 1-Stop Midlands Park, Jalan Burma, 10350 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-227-7111
Business hours: 6:30am-10:30pm
Website: https://www.berjayahotel.com/penang/dining/caf%C3%A9.html
Coordinates: 5.43289 N, 100.30674 E
Directions: Berjaya Penang Hotel is adjacent to Midlands 1-Stop. The Cafe is located towards the right from the main entrance. There are ample of parking spaces at the basement. Diners at The Cafe can get their parking ticket validated for flat parking rate of RM4.00.
