Artichoke Cafe, Raja Uda @ Butterworth

My favourite brunch, lunch and dinner (maybe!) cafe in Butterworth to date! After all the hawker food stalls of course.

It is wonderful to know that the cafe scene in Butterworth is expanding and a lot of cafes open up along Jalan Raja Uda and at the heart of Raja Uda where Jalan Ong Yi How is. There is a question of sustainability and often, the restaurant that you've just dined months ago, will be replaced with some other joints already. But, I am glad to know that Artichoke Cafe did really well since its opening last year and I did not regret my visit to this cafe in particular for brunch.

Brunch starts from 930am until 1130am only. After that, they have the lunch menu which I haven't got the chance to try yet. I'll probably do that some other time as I've been having my Saturday brunch with this cafe for the past 2 weeks.

Their crockery are dainty. My friend ordered latte and I had the rose apple tea. Due to its colouring, it wasn't my cup of tea that day. LOL..  

Spinach and mushroom egg benedict. 

Oh, you could also get a bottle of water with as many glasses as you want for free. It is refillable, too.  

This has got to be the best dish ever! Egg Cocotte. 

After having this, I made my own version of it as lunch at work.

The Full Works. 

If you are feeling extremely hungry, this full breakfast is for you!  

Spanish Omelette

Love the chorizo sausage inside! And rocket leaves salad!  

Best of all, you can bring your own card game and play for as long as you want while catching up with your friends. 

Artichoke Cafe
Opening hours: 9am onwards, daily
Facebook page is here.

Marlons+Co. Cafe @ Raja Uda, Butterworth

It reminded me of Jack & Co. The colour choice, the design - all sleek, rustic and modern (with a container door on one wall). The coffee bar is elevated and encourage patrons to have their drinks at the bar. Not all cafes do that these days. It is encouraging consumers to be aware of how their drinks are made and also to chit chat with the barista at the same time. 

Self-service order and you will be given a number. We ordered yogurt cheese cake and pork chorizo sausage. The cafe is relatively new so everything including the service is "new". So, be patient as great things take time. 

 It did hit some of us hard especially during tough times. Thanks for the thought. 

When I asked the barista what is their signature drink, he said there isn't any as their signature is the coffee beans. Rhapsody. It sounded sophisticated and we bought the idea. My mother ordered their toffee nut rhapsody coffee and just the smell of it, captured my senses immediately. It was unlike those in Starbucks and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, this pungent coffee smell was unlike any other. For a non-cafe drinker, I found the smell really good and packed a punch! 

 My chocolate was not bad either. Rich and strong. I wonder if all these chocolate drinks came from the same vendor like all other cafe I've been. 

Don't ask why a spoon for sausage. The boss, Alan Khor, is a good chap and he came to explain to us (via Instagram too). He was nice and friendly, checking on each table to make sure our experience are alright. Sure enough, my mother went back to the cafe again just a couple of days ago, with my sister this time.  

To Alan, I was just pulling your leg and I hope you get your set of knives already from the supplier! All the best to your business! 

My favourite from Marlons+Co is this yogurt cheesecake! 

A nice location, very near to Coffee Venture and plenty of parking as it is located at the new shop office premises at the top of Jalan Raja Uda. So, don't accelerate the moment you enter this road otherwise you'll make a lot of u-turns. 

Facebook page here. 

Huey & Wah @ Belissa Row, Pulau Tikus, Penang

 They have relocated from Straits Quay to Pulau Tikus! Finally, get to check out this popular marshmallow cafe! 

 Go upstairs for the bean bags seating

 You get to buy some homemade handy arts and crafts too. 

 The top floor is actually a mezzanine floor. Ceiling is really high. 

Chocolate marshmallow brownie with vanilla bean ice cream, home made honey lemon drink, green tea and passion fruit and camomile tea! 

Facebook page here. 

Coffee Coffea @ Automall, Karpal Singh Drive, Penang

Coffee coffea is a franchise from South Korea. I've not seen any when I was in Seoul, Busan or even Jeju-do. 

When you are alone and in a cafe, do take some time to ponder upon what is it that you want. What is it that you are searching for and whether whatever that you are doing now makes you happy. Why are you still doing what you are now? Is it worth all your time and attention? 

All these thoughts lingering in my mind as I waited for my friend, JC. We were legal practitioners and we have our own problems to solve. Nonetheless, we shared something in common at this moment that is this cup of hot chocolate and the view outside. It was great catching up with JC again now that she is a mummy to be. Congratulations! 

This hot chocolate gotta be the most expensive I've paid for a franchise. RM14.60 including GST. My two cents less 6% GST. =)

Facebook page here. 

Kaffa Signature @ Autocity, North-South Highway Juru Interchange, Seberang Perai, Penang

Their signature is Salted Caramel Cafe Macchiato and Cafe Fredo. 

But these two are salted caramel - chocolate macchiato (in glass) and cafe macchiato (in mug).  

I <3 the chocolate macchiato! 

The chicken and avocado sandwich maybe tad too much for one for light lunch. LOL.. 

Come on a weekend at night as there is live band performance from 9pm. Plenty of seatings indoors and outdoors and parking too.

Facebook page here.

Arnold Cycling Cafe / LPMTB @ Jalan Ong Yi How, Butterworth

An ideal afternoon tea with friends or family surrounded by wooden furnitures and 90s music

Watermelon and strawberry cake - innovative! 

Most coffee lovers from Butterworth would agree with me that the coffee here is the best in town. I found their hot chocolate to be comforting and rich. The cafe got uplifted from its dark and bicycle image of LPMTB to now Arnold Cycling Cafe where it is brighter, vibrant and lively. They have an open space area for smokers as well with an access from the back carpark. It is definitely popular and full with people from all ages. 

Arnold Cycling Cafe

20 Lorong Teras Jaya 2,
Kawasan Perindustrian Ringan Teras Jaya,
13400 Butterworth, Malaysia
Opening hours: Mon - Sun: 10:00–00:00

Email: arnoldcyclingcafe@gmail.com 

Facebook page here. 

Gold Choice Barista Cafe @ Raja Uda, Butterworth

This franchise was opened by an acquaintance (though not publicly announced) but with social media, this cafe gained popularity not just because of its coffee but also because of their waffles and puff pastry pizzas. 

A colleague of mine frequented this cafe almost every night on weekdays and sometimes even over the weekends just for their chocolate waffles. It was a shame that the chocolate waffles were sold out the night I visited. So, for an optimum experience and enjoyment of the menu, do drop by on weekdays or nights. Biasness aside, the environment is really warm and the tables were designed for 2 or 4 patrons each. There are few comfortable seatings for bigger groups at the front or the back of the cafe so, timing is really important or perhaps just delegation of attendance. 

Anyway, unlike other cafes I've been in Raja Uda (Arnold Cycling Cafe aside), it is packed. Really. Even though they've opened for some time now since the Chinese New Year yet the response they get is overwhelming even until today. I took my colleague's word for it. So, this is a throwback post as it has been a month ago since I've visited Gold Choice. The same day since I've visited Coffee Venture, too. So, Gold Choice is located near Aroma Hotel and the Library. So, if you are familiar of this location, you should also know that Maoz Cafe, Armor Cafe and Shunka Japanese Restaurant are also near this establishment. Parking could be a pain but if you don't mind walking, you can walk nearer to the karaoke joint or at the empty shoplot units opposite Gold Choice. 

Italian cuisine inspired menu. Their take of pizza or pasteleria is a lighter version of even New York Crust Pizza. You get less crust and more ingredients in a mouthful. Belgian waffles are brilliant as it comes in few flavours - original, chocolate and coffee. 

 The emblem of the barista cafe is of a rosetta, one of the basic latte art in coffees around the world. 

 Many well wishes and congratulatory bouquets at the counter. 

Hawaiian Pasteleria 

  Coffee flavoured Belgian waffles with bananas and chocolate ice cream. 

Awesome comfort food on any day! 

I do understand why my colleague love this place so much, not just because they served waffles but because they have the atmosphere that most cafe don't. It is not as posh as Macallum Connoisseur or Marlons+Co and yet not as shabby as old-school kopitiam so it came right in between these two high and low ends of coffee drinking rendezvous. It is not intimidating and yet you felt welcomed. It fitted the image of Butterworth very well so that's why the place is packed all the time. Warm and welcoming. As a support to this anonymous acquiantance of mine whom I could see almost every morning or any time of day at home, good luck and all the best! 

Gold Choice Barista Cafe  

No. 3, Butterworth Business City Centre,
Jalan Raja Uda,
12300 Butterworth, Penang
Tel: 04-313 7658
Opening hours: 
Monday-Thursday : 10.30am-12am
Friday-Sunday : 10.30am-1am
Homepage 

Coffee Venture @ Jalan Raja Uda, Butterworth

Sleepy town of Raja Uda in Butterworth is getting wake up call from the recent blooming of artisan coffee and cafes especially at the top of Jalan Raja Uda where there is a newly CCC obtained shop offices on the left side (if coming from Jalan Telaga Air or Taman Bagan) of the main road. 

Coffee Venture is a big cafe, occupying two units of the ground floor shop offices and it is visible from the main road. You will not missed it after the Khian Guan biscuit factory heading north towards 7-Village Noodle House or Kwang Hwa Primary School. Parking spaces are plenty as Coffee Venture is the only establishment there. As it is new, so it is crowded especially on weekends during coffee breaks and after-8 at night. 

As most of my friends and family members know, coffee is not my first option and it never will be unless I have no choice or if the cafe is really famous because of its coffee (hint: starbucks or coffee beans or costa coffee). I have a low tolerance for caffeine in coffees that I could not sleep a wink at night as it will make me tense and agitated. Ok, you guys get it right? But, I like teas and I could have them at any time of day and I could still sleep at night, comfortably regardless of how strong it is. Hence, I may not be a coffee connoisseur so do pardon my comments on non-coffee drinks instead. However, I enjoy #cafesurfing and #cafehopping in Penang as there are so many of them. It's like a new cafe open each week in Penang at this rate that the trend is going. 

The internal furnishings of the cafe is geography inspired where you get to know where does coffee beans come from. As you can see from the map, it all came from countries that is below the equator line, notably South America, Africa and some parts of South East Asia. The price in the menu is mid range (between RM8 to RM20).  

It was a quiet Saturday afternoon, where most people will be indoors at home napping but not for us and these guests. 

Free wifi? Do check with the cashier. 

I guess it is commendable of all cafes to offer complimentary water counter such as this. It goes really well with milk based drinks and quench your thirst even more. So, lemon water was really thoughtful for the customers. 

I fell in love with Kaffa's Chocolate Macchiato (with salted caramel laced on top) and when I saw that Coffee Venture has salted caramel milk (top pic, bottom), I ordered it right away. Tasted like popcorn in a mug with milk! Fragrant and smooth to taste. It will do justice to the drink even more to at least drizzle some caramel on top crisscross fashion and laced the drink with sea salt at the rim of the cup. That'll do my good cuppa at any day. 

Croissant with tuna and side salad. 

It is overbaked but nonetheless, smells good of butter. 

Chicken bolognaise

French toast! Good! It's appealing and fluffy. 

As the cafe is big, so it is a good place for big group gatherings over drinks and cakes. Yet to try the cakes for now.

Coffee Venture
23 & 25, Jalan Raja Uda,
Pusat Perniagaan Raja Uda,
12300 Butterworth, Penang
Tel: 013-582 3388
Facebook page 

Kai Curry Bar by Umai Kitchen @ Jalan Phuah Hin Leong, Penang

I got to know about this place through a friend's post in Instagram last month and I thought, hey this is new. We have plenty of Japanese restaurants in Penang but not a curry bar! Before visiting the BBW2015 at Times Square, we decide to have lunch first and off to Kai Curry Bar we go. 

From Jalan Burmah (coming from Penang Plaza / Larut Road direction), Jalan Phuah Hin Leong is on your right just after the Ears-Nose-Throat (ENT) clinic on your right. If you missed the turning to this, you can also reach this place through Jalan Tavoy, Jalan Chow Thye and Jalan Servis. Jalan Phuah Hin Leong is a two-way street, so be careful of oncoming cars when turning in. Then, don't drive too fast otherwise you will miss this curry bar on the left. You may park in front of other people's businesses/houses just few doors down from the curry bar (if lucky). 

 A simple introduction

 It is closed on Sundays to Mondays. Do take note! 

Not sure if they take reservations because they have only limited tables for parties of more than 5. 

 Their mascots are dinosaurs drawn by Kai Oliver Furukawa, the little boy of the owners. 

You get to see his drawings first hand at the cashier's counter. 

If not, all over the place. All too adorable. 

Complimentary side dishes - potato salad and pickled lotus root vegetables and complimentary refillable drink - Roasted Barley Tea (Mugi Cha) to go with your rice and curry. 

 One of their signature curries. 

 The front part of the curry bar. 

 More of Kai's drawings on the ceiling

Their menu, neatly written and nicely decorated and plenty of variety to choose from.
Seafood, poultry, fish or meat. 

Cutlery and napkins will be placed in here depending on how many pax. 

Complimentary side dish - potato salad with wakame and black sesame seeds

Complimentary pickled vegetables

My sister ordered the Pork Hamburg. The meatballs are infused with Italian herbs and goes really well with the pork based curry. 

Whereas I had Pork Katsu (Breadcrumbs) Curry with vegetarian based curry. I liked the vegetarian based curry as it contains chick peas and green peas to compliment the curry sauce and the dish as a whole. 

Overall, we love the place. A nice family run curry bar and we were serenaded with J-Pop while enjoying our meal. We will definitely go back again and this time with the rest of my family. 

Kai Curry Bar by Umai Kitchen

No. 15, Jalan Phuah Hin Leong,
10050 Penang
Tel: 04-226 0322
Opening hours: Tuesdays-Saturdays (11am-3pm & 6-11pm only)
Umai Kitchen's Facebook page