6 Station Road, Otahuhu, Auckland (09) 2700668
This little gem, beloved by Simon Gault is located deep in Otahuhu, is small, clean and with a decor that brings to mind New Flavour. None of that matters once you have tried the food.
Penang Cafe & Restaurant offers unbelievably good Malaysian. Lip smackingly incredible. You will daydream about it forever. Try the chicken curry with roti, the chicken rice, the poached chicken. Fight over the coffee pork, the tropical fish, the beans. Oh, and the coconut prawns. You better get those too.
Overview
| Price Range | Cheap & cheerful |
|---|---|
| Ambience | Relaxed atmosphere |
| Noise level | Serene |
| Licence | This venue has BYO |
| Food Options | Vegetarian |
Products and specialities
Malaysian restaurant
Reviews
Penang has quite a reputation, given that celebrity chef Simon Gault rates it as his favourite Malaysian place in Auckland. It's interesting that quite a lot of people make the trip out to Otahuhu for it and after not getting around to it for ages, I finally made the effort and found it well worth the drive. Funny how sometimes it's the unremarkable looking places that have food that's sensational, this little restaurant makes authentic Malaysian food that is inexpensive and the portion sizes are particularly generous. Make sure you try their chicken dishes as the flavours are superb.
It is fair to say, the only reason I have to go to Otahuhu is when I need a new car (once every 5 years or so). On the recommendation on my local friends made the trip to Penang. Penang Café s well known for their chicken rice but be warned you have to order this a day in advance. It is easy to see why people rave (and travel out of their way)- perfect chicken flavoured beautifully with ginger and soy and that's just the start. Do something different, get out of your usual routine and try this place. Cheap and fantastic.
When Simon Gault let slip to New Zealand that the coffee pork is "Auckland's best-kept culinary secret" Auckland's foodie crowd deigned to notice Penang Cafe & Restaurant in Otahuhu. The owner says that there was a period where BMWs would circle nervously, unsure whether this neighbourhood and this basic establishment could be the new 'it' spot Our family consider this the perfect place for a meal out with the extended family. The food is really very cheap here, but like New Flavour, it's best to bring the crew. We ordered the chicken curry with roti, the tropical fish, the poached chicken, the sambal beans, the beef rendang - and of course the coffee pork. It was an incredibly delicious meal and one that was hard to stop eating.
