Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Recommended)
Address: 6549, Jalan Raja Uda, Taman Merbau Jaya, 12300 Butterworth, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/P75d6SkmonwJnCGM8
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)
🥬 V01 Mixed Vege 罗汉斋 (Small) = RM8.50
🥬 T01 Fu Shou Taufu 福寿豆腐 (Small) = RM8.50
🥬 S18 Vege Glutinous Rice Chicken 糯米鸡 = RM6.00
🫚 B24 Ginger Tea 薑母茶 (Hot) = RM5.00
No Rice, No Noodles
No Service Charges
⚠️ For Strict Vegans, you might want to take note that this place serves Eggs. 🥚
Here is the Full Menu of the Eatery/Restaurant.
Prices are Accurate as of the Date of the Post.
Located directly Opposite a Majestic 北海斗母宫 Temple. 🛕 As you can see in my Photos, this Restaurant has a Very Elaborate Ornate Look that leans Very Heavily towards a more Religious Theme. 🪷 Plenty of Religious 古董 Antiques decorating this place. 🏺 Kindda feels like I'm eating right inside a Temple itself. 🪷
One Google Reviewer describe the Theme in this place as "Busy" which sounds about right. 🤔 I reckon this place would probably appeal more for more Religious Devotees from the Opposite Temple across the Road. 🪷
Its Airconditioned and Very Cooling ❄️😌 and there weren't much Customers around on a Wednesday Afternoon at around 3.30pm. One Thing I particularly noticed is a Very Prominent Old Building Stale Smell as I entered. 🤔 Its not Overly Unpleasant, more like a Old Building type of 臭臭 Smell. 🤔 This Smell does have a Lesser Impact the Longer I was here. 
The Young Chap manning the place is Very Soft Spoken and Polite. 👨 He is Friendly and Welcoming and and explains Very Honestly, Clearly and Patiently to my Enquiries about the Dishes in the Menu. 👍
I tested if he was able to serve up ALL the Dishes I ordered at the same time. 🤔 He mentioned he will try his best as the Glutinous Rice 糯米鸡 might take longer. In the end, he was still able to serve up everything within 14 Mins. Very Impressive. 👍
🫚 B24 Ginger Tea 薑母茶 (Hot) = RM5.00
I ordered this one because 薑母茶 is something I enjoyed in the Past when I was in Taiwan last time. 🇹🇼 If you have not drank this before, think of it as a Very Robust and Somewhat Herbly Ginger Tea with a Very Earthy Sweetness. 🫚😋 Abit like a Strong Teh Halia with Herbs is the Closest thing I can describe for this. 😅
The Version here while not as Deep and Robust as the ones I had in Taiwan but was still Acceptable. 👍 The Young Chap was also Very Honest and told me that this is a Pre-Packaged Packet, not Homemade. I appreciate his Honesty and I'm impressed that despite being from a Packet, there are still what looks like Pieces of Ginger and Black Sugar within. 🫚🍵
🥬 V01 Mixed Vege 罗汉斋 (Small) = RM8.50
The Classic 罗汉斋 is of course the Standard Mixed Vegetables that are available in almost every Vegetarian Eatery. 🥬 The Version here consists of Broccoli, Cauliflower, Various Mushrooms, Carrots, Corn and Soft Beancurd Sheets all lum in a Mui Fan looking sort of Thick Zhup. 🍲 Every Vegetable Piece had a Very Soft Feel. Nothing in this has any Crunchy Texture. 🥬🤔 This is Overall a Very Soft Textured Dish which I feel would be Very Suitable for Elderly Folks. 👴👵 In fact I thought it almost tasted like a Vegetable Stew. 🥬🍲
The Zhup as mentioned is Thickened and has a Noticeably Salty Taste. 🍲🧂 It tastes Very Stereotypically Vegetarian because of the Vegetarian Oyster Sauce they use. 🍯🤔 You know that Distinct Unique "Vegetarian Taste" that you get from tasting a Vegetarian Dish? This Version of 罗汉斋 has that Classic Taste. Personally, I'm ok with it, but I don't think this will appeal to a Non-Vegan given how Stereotypically Vegetarian this tastes. 🥬😅
🥬 T01 Fu Shou Taufu 福寿豆腐 (Small) = RM8.50
Oh I LOVE the Gravy Zhup they use in this one! 🍯😋 Unlike their 罗汉斋 which has that Distinct Vegetarian Oyster Sauce sort of Taste, the Zhup here is Very Much More Savoury with a more Conventional Appetizing Oyster Sauce Taste. 😋 Heck I feel this tastes so Conventional, that it would not be out of place if served in a Non-Vegan Zi Char Restoran. 😅 Thick and Rich, its not Overly Salty and the Amount of Gravy Zhup is Perfect to 下饭. 🍯🍚
The Main Block of Taufu has a Firmish Skin although not the Crispy Type but is just Soft Enough to be Enjoyable to Eat. 😋 Also, you know sometimes when you eat a Taufu, parts of it within will taste somewhat Plain with No Flavour? Its not the case with this one. 👍 Every Bite is Very Flavourful thanks to that Lovely Savory Gravy Zhup. 🍯😋
The Bits of Long Bean 🫛 and Carrots 🥕 not only gives Additional Colour to the Dish, they also provide an Extra Crunchy Bite to help combat Flavour Fatigue amidst the Soft Texture of Everything Else. The Soul of this Dish is definitely the Savoury Gravy here. 🍯👍
🥬 S18 Vege Glutinous Rice Chicken 糯米鸡 = RM6.00
This was actually recommended by the Young Chap who say this is One of the Most Popular Dish that Customers usually order. 🤔 This is also my First Time trying a Vegetarian Lor Mai Kai because I'm interested to see how they would approach this. 🤔
When it was served up, there was an Immediately Very Nice Appetizing Saltish Dark Sauce Aroma from this. 🍯😋 The Glutinous Rice has a Nice Soft Texture, Noticeably Softer than the Regular type of Lor Mai Kai that we're used to. 🍚🤔
I liked that there is a Big Fat Piece of Mushroom within that is Juicy and adds to the Savouriness. 🍄😋 Its of course topped with Vegetarian Mock Meat but you can't really taste it because the Superb Dark Sauce that coats it takes over the Entire Taste Profile.
You won't be fooled that this is Real Meat but I feel you probably also won't mind because of the Salty Savoury Taste of that Sauce that really helps mask, cover and maintain the Illusion. 🍯👍 This LMK does taste quite nice that I reckon even Non-Vegan may like this too. Delicious. Totally understand why this is a Popular Dish here. 👍
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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts
At a Total Combined Price of RM28.00 (S$8.40), I feel this is quite worth it to give it a try. 👍 While the 罗汉斋 probably won't win you over due to its Very Stereotypical Vegetarian Taste, the Other 2 Dishes are not bad. 😋 I especially enjoyed their Lor Mai Kai and it surprised me by how close it actually taste to a Regular Meat-Based Lor Mai Kai. I also appreciate how Soft-Spoken and Polite this Young Chap was and how Ornately Beautiful this Whole Place looks. 👍
That said, as mentioned, this place does lean Very Heavily towards a More Religious Theme 🪷 so you do need to take note of this if it is ok for you. 🤔 Also, that Initial Old Building 臭臭 Smell can be also be a Tad Distracting 🤔 and if you are someone who is Very Sensitive to Stale Smells, this place might not be for you. Overall Pretty Well Made Dishes some Thought and Care gone into their Design. 👍 I can recommend to give this place a try if you are able to accept the above issues that I mentioned.
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