Ying and Niq’s Niche

Finally had a chance to try Zi Wei Yuan Steamboat at Jalan Raja Uda, Butterworth, Penang. When you enter the restaurant, you will probably pick up 2 scents: One is of burning charcoal, and another is of fish soup. Yes, this is what Zi Wei Yuan is all about: fish soup base steamboat using charcoal fire. We ordered a RM30 set, added beehoon, fish balls, and pig stomach. The RM30 set, already with fish maw, fried fish head and vegetables, makes a sufficient meal for 2 persons. The soup is the best part. It is slightly sourish, creamy and obviously fishy. The sourish taste comes from sour plum, which makes you hungrier with each sip. The creamy texture is from yam. The fishy taste is from the fish maw, fried fish head, and fried preserved sole. The only other dish that I ate with fried preserved sole is “hakka moon zhu nyuk” or stew pork with bracket mushroom. For a more lavish meal, you may add abalone, sea cucumber and premium fish maw. If you are on a steamboat spree, do this one the last. Definitely the best steamboat I have tasted! Remember they close on Wednesdays. Call 012-452 4741 to avoid disappointment.

Below is a map from Penang Island to the restaurant. Click “View Larger Map” for directions.

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Sorry I don’t have any photos to post as we went there straight after work, and didn’t bring along a camera. You can visit YeinJee’s Asian Journal or Lingzie’s Tummy Treats for reviews and photos.

Wed, 25-Feb-09. We explored Raja Uda, Butterworth, looking for Zi Wei Yuan Steamboat. We found the place alright but unfortunately, due to carelessness, we did not check their rest day. So much for steamboat. Venturing further along Jalan Raja Uda, we settled for St Tea Garden (GPS Coordinates: N5 25.148 E100 22.842). They serve Japanese and Chinese. We tried their fried beehoon, fried udon, fried shishamo (smelt) fish, taiwanese sausage and a pot of tea. The food was really good - in terms of taste, serving size, and presentation. It was reasonably priced too. They serve many varieties of tea. For the less experienced, you may ask the staff for recommendations.

Fried Beehoon, St Tea Garden

Fried Udon, St Tea Garden

Sashimo (Smelt), St Tea Garden

Taiwanese Sausages, St Tea Garden

Tea Set, St Tea Garden

St Tea Garden Location Map (N5 25.148 E100 22.842)

Below is to get you from Penang Bridge to Jalan Raja Uda.

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