Penang

[bilrus]

I was at the Reston Town Center today and saw that there is a new branch of Penang going in there. If it is any good, it will be a genuine source of excitement for me.

So what should I expect?

[bbq4meanytime]

Bill, I assume its going to be the same joint as Penang at 18th & M in DC. If not, disregard my comments.

If so, expect long lines (everything at Town Center has long lines), a good value (esp. at lunch; the lunch plate includes a little salad, soup, appetizer, rice and entree) and pretty-ok food. I note that 95% of my experience is based on lunch though.

The food is styled as Malaysian, but who the heck knows what that is. I would loosely describe it as an Asian variation of thai. The "king pork buff" is a unusual "authentic" bbq pork and is one of the more unusual dishes I've had there. The beef rendang is somewaht a cross between indian and thai (brown coconut korma is how I remember it). Some of the other dishes I've had tended to be a little syrupy sweet, such as the house penang beef or chicken (don't confuse this with the Thai peanut curry type penang, this version doesn't even resemble the thai version) and the mango chicken.

But I still rotate thru there for the value and nice decor. Good place to meet less adventurous people for lunch.

[silentbob]

I doubt that the Reston location will have the same vibe as the downtown one -- which may not necessarily be a bad thing. The only time I've been to Penang was at 11:00 on a Friday night; the place was packed, with a DJ playing some LOUD techno music that we could even hear from the dining area.

The food is decent but nothing spectacular.

[babka]

truth be told, I've never made it the the extra quarter block to Penang...downtown, it's next door to a fantastic, cheap Malaysian restaurant, Malaysia Kopitiam.

[foodgeek]

truth be told, I've never made it the the extra quarter block to Penang...downtown, it's next door to a fantastic, cheap Malaysian restaurant, Malaysia Kopitiam.

Kopitiam is the better of the 2. :)

[bbq4meanytime]

truth be told, I've never made it the the extra quarter block to Penang...downtown, it's next door to a fantastic, cheap Malaysian restaurant, Malaysia Kopitiam.

Kopitiam is the better of the 2. :)

A few people have said the same. I tried lunch at Kopitiam and wasn't impressed, although the dish I ordered was unique (in a good way). Sometimes more authentic doesn't equate to better tasting food, but I'm open to trying it again sometime soon. I didn't like the cheap dungeon decor, but then again I like the Madhatter's burgers and its next door in the basement.

[sregorda]

QUOTE (foodgeek @ Feb 15 2004, 04:11 PM)

QUOTE (babka @ Feb 13 2004, 08:05 PM)

truth be told, I've never made it the the extra quarter block to Penang...downtown, it's next door to a fantastic, cheap Malaysian restaurant, Malaysia Kopitiam. 

Kopitiam is the better of the 2. :) 

A few people have said the same. I tried lunch at Kopitiam and wasn't impressed, although the dish I ordered was unique (in a good way). Sometimes more authentic doesn't equate to better tasting food, but I'm open to trying it again sometime soon. I didn't like the cheap dungeon decor, but then again I like the Madhatter's burgers and its next door in the basement.

Just echoing previous posters's comments: According to colleagues who visit periodically from Malaysia, Penang is a joke and Malaysia Kopitiam is better (the closest to "authentic" Malaysian food in the DC area.)

[foodgeek]

A few people have said the same. I tried lunch at Kopitiam and wasn't impressed, although the dish I ordered was unique (in a good way). Sometimes more authentic doesn't equate to better tasting food, but I'm open to trying it again sometime soon. I didn't like the cheap dungeon decor, but then again I like the Madhatter's burgers and its next door in the basement.

You may want to try Kopitiam for dinner, with a few people, and share dishes. Its the kind of place where you may hit a dish that is simply too authentic or odd for you (assam laksa?)...so if you order more dishes...you'll more chances to find dishes that you like. And, btw, Malaysian appetizers and soups are good too. :)

By lunch...you mean lunch specials? That is often a problem with Asian restaurants...as you don't usually get the better options that way.

I generally prefer the authentic version to any given cuisine over watered down versions....but just because a place is authentic doesn't mean it is good. Kopitiam is actually good.

[PoorLawyer]

Wow, eating food at the MadHatter.....adventerous soul after seeing what that place is like on a Thursday night.

[PoorLawyer]

Oh and I was not impressed with Penang. Could be because I burned my mouth on the first spoonful of some nuclear-hot soup I ordered. Then again the person I was with was not all that impressed either. Shame too because when I lived in NYC I always thought the Penang up there on the Upper East Side looked really cool from the outside but I never tried it.

[bbq4meanytime]

Wow, eating food at the MadHatter.....adventerous soul after seeing what that place is like on a Thursday night.

as long as nobody was putting cigarette butts out in the friday hamburger then I'm ok. I'm afraid to ask otherwise...

[foodgeek]

Oh and I was not impressed with Penang. Could be because I burned my mouth on the first spoonful of some nuclear-hot soup I ordered. Then again the person I was with was not all that impressed either. Shame too because when I lived in NYC I always thought the Penang up there on the Upper East Side looked really cool from the outside but I never tried it.

Well, I've eaten at two of the nyc (Queens) Penangs, and they aren't bad, but there is better Malaysian food there (Taste Good, Pinang (not a typo)) and here (Malaysia Kopitiam.)

I've nuclear soup resistant, btw, except for Sripraphai in NYC (Queens.)