When you travel abroad You never know if a restaurant is good or not even by reading reviews. One thing that helps me plan my restaurant search is the Michelin Guide. It doesn't have to be a Michelin star. As long as it's a recommended shop I'd be happy to give it a try. This is the first time I have the opportunity to visit Penang. And even luckier at the restaurant I came from. Got 1 Michelin star This place has good booking management. I made a reservation 2 weeks in advance with a deposit of RM100. And it will be deducted from the amount of food we use. This dish can be said to be a cold dish. It is a combination of herbs, rice and dried fish. I like the taste of it. Appropriate to the 1 star you received. The atmosphere and service were very good. And most importantly, the food prices are very reasonable.

Best meal we had in Penang. Lovely room and good service with delicious food. What more do you need? We had a family dinner and everyone enjoyed it. Stylish decor adds some style. Plus there was good air conditioning on a hot day.

When we are in Penang, we want to eat all the delicious foods that she has to offer that we cannot easily get in other parts of Malaysia and in the world. One of the most sought-after cuisines that we like to enjoy is authentic Nyonya / Peranakan food. This restaurant came highly recommended to us and the reviews speak for themselves! The dining space is well-lit and ventilated making for a very enjoyable dining experience. Food is incredibly flavorful and authentic. The owner is also very friendly and spent a lot of time chatting with us and answering all of our culinary questions! COVID-19 protocols and best practices were strictly enforced and adhered to by all. Definitely highly recommended and for sure we will be back next time we are in town!

Very convivial dining atmosphere and the person taking orders were friendly and gave some good recommendation too. Portion is generous and most dishes are tasty. Out of many, the fried chicken was a little dry. We may have ordered too many (cant help it when everyone wanna try everything on the menu) for a family of 8. Read some mixed review here, nevertheless we enjoyed it and had a great time besides the usual street food.

What's w all the high ratings? Besides the eggplant, we were disappointed w all the other dishes recommended by the boss. The chicken was so dry and tough. Comimg from KL, sure feels like we wasted a meal here; couldve had much better food elsewhere. Next!

Wow! One of the best meals I have enjoyed in a very long time. I love the authenticity, taste and ingredients in the nyonya dishes. We ordered curry tumis with okra, egg belanda, baba platter, assam prawns, kiam chay ark soup, sambal eggplant and inche kabin, and really enjoyed all the dishes. Service was so good too (thanks Adrian!). You guys are truly excellent!

Nonya restaurants serve a romantic nostalgia of the times when meals were always cooked at home, where mothers slaved in the kitchen, preparing the ingredients, cooking them meticulously to produce a taste that's unmistakably home. However, not all nonya restaurants are equal, just as each home had its own tweak on the basic recipes. Auntie Gaik Lean's endeavours to bring the best of these home flavours to their dishes, and it works, as can be seen by the glowing reviews here. I have known Auntie Gaik Lean for many years now, even when she was a proprietor of her previous shop in Petaling Jaya - The Long Table. Since then, I was already a fan of her cooking and was disappointed when The Long Table closed its doors for good. Nestled at the junction of Bishop Street and Beach Street, it's housed in what used to be BP DeSilva, a jewellery shop. The shop has taken great pains not to remove the glory of the previous tenants and hints can be seen everywhere. The dining area is a comfortably sized room, and large tables with lazy Susans on top of them. An immediate sense of nostalgia hits you as you enter this room, with the window displays of nostalgic everyday items, including a Honda C50. Parking here can be a bit of a problem during weekdays due to its location in the business district of Penang. Weekends offer a respite to this as parking spaces are aplenty along Bishop Street. The extensive menu offers the typical nonya fare, and then some. Do ask if there are any specials that may be on offer, as these items are not on the menu and are truly special one off dishes that are rarely found anywhere else. From the constant flow of guests in and out, a sense of confidence will pervade that you have made the right choice for sampling their nonya dishes. While some complain about the prices, I have found it to be very reasonable - after all, one can't place a price on going back in time and enjoying the fond memories of savouring the home-cooked goodness from the kitchens in our homes. Definitely a winner - and you won't go wrong picking this place as your go to for really authentic nonya dishes. Bar none.

This place had been long around Bishop Street as a Nyonya eatery. But, I’m not really fond of the taste as I am very sure I have been to place which cooks better. Anyway, this is probably one of the least shops which offers halal nyonya food. A 3-star given as their prices are rather steep too. I don’t think I would visit as a local. But if you need to find a decent place for lunch, then you may consider Gaik Lean.

We appreciated the kind gesture from the accommodating manager who gave us a table for early dinner while they are fully booked as we promised to be done beforehand. The restaurant exudes a rather enlivening dining atmosphere. All dishes recommended by the manager are good with some delightful first time surprises ie the Dutch egg being chief amongst them. Nutmeg juice is a must try.

Amazing food, and excellent service. Special compliments to the host for being attentive and made my parents felt very welcomed. Loved everything we ordered. One of the best in town for nyonya food. Reasonable price and lovely ambience. Booking ahead is advisable. Highly recommended ⭐

Great atmosphere, ambience and service. Great presentation on the food. Unfortunately, food is mediocre at best, disappointing for the amount you are required to pay. We ordered: Curry kapitan, otak otak, yee sang, perut ikan, telur belanda, eggplant sambal. Dessert: Bubur cha cha, bee ko moi and tapioca Santan with gula melaka dessert. The desserts were phenomenal. Fragrant creamy, hits the right spot. The rest of the food were really enjoyable. What spoiled the experience was the Ayam kapitan and ikan perut. Both of these dishes presented were an embarrassment to say the least. Bland, no flavour, not aromatic. The Ayam kapitan was watery to say the least. Please remove these dishes from the menu until you can get it right especially since the customer is forced to pay these prices for it. For the amount you pay and the image of the restaurant you portray in the customers, these 2 dishes really ruined the experience. Yee sang also tastes like salad and not an actual yee sang. Waste of RM100. Did you bribe to get the Michelin star?

The nyonya food is not the typical type that I know. The itik tim is salty but if could cook a bit longer will be perfect. The fish is nice I like it, the lobak is chicken one so consider quite ok. Need to advance booking 2 week b4 and pay rm100 for booking fee whc can be utilized when dine in, overall is good just not the familiar taste I used to know

We managed to get reservations for 12 of us for dinner on Sunday. This is one of the best meals we've had. Nearly all the dishes were perfect so we all had our favourites. Adrian and Jenna are fantastic hosts too. Highly recommended but please make reservations to avoid disappointment.

Love their authentic cooking style, foods well cooked & taste yummy especially the otak-otak & curry prawn. The price is a bit higher side & their service is good.

One of the most affordable Michelin Star restaurants! Love the food there. I was very lucky to get a table at 830pm via walk in. Make sure you make your reservation before coming over.

Wow this spot truly deserves it’s michelin star! I have been to many michelin star restaurants around the world and this is truly one of the most authentic, well priced spots for a michelin star! Adrian gave such great recommendations and every single dish was cooked to perfection and not too spicy! I really liked every single dish and the taste of the food all work so well together! I definitely recommend this spot for anyone in Penang! The service is amazing, the food is great! The fish curry was one of the best dishes I gave ever had! It was so tasty and the fish was so soft! 10/10 and really enjoyed my meal and will definitely be back whenever I am in penang!

Excellent food that reminded me of my grand mother home cook dishes. We arrived at 12nn (opening hours) and were shocked that the restaurant was full housed. Lucky we managed to reserve a table an hour later. Restaurant crew was under staffed. We waited about 40 min for food to arrived and the last fish came and other 20 min later. Throughout our lunch, there were constant flow of people seeking for tables. Atmosphere was noisy and distracting. Overall, we loved the food and found the price reasonable.

We visited this establishment a month ago, it was the most authentic Nyonya cuisine to date in Penang. We got there at 12:00pm & was given a table straightaway. We ordered a variety of dishes & it did not take long for the food to be served. Taste was absolutely to die for & our plates was squeaky clean. Only thing which was a bit of a letdown was the penyet. Found the dessert so..so.. Price is not that cheap but you do pay for authentic flavours. Service is quite friendly & swift.

Absolutely delighted with the culinary experience at this restaurant! The food surpassed our expectations—simply delicious! Everyone in our group couldn't stop raving about the flavors and quality. We're already making plans to return for more mouthwatering moments. Highly recommend this gem for an unforgettable dining experience! 👍

Went during the weekday for dinner at this one-star Michelin restaurant, specialising in Nyonya Penang food. Need to reserve online in advance as very popular. We (me and mom) only ordered four dishes and a dessert (Sago to share). They were all delicious despite not a surprise as the food reminds me of childhood home cooked meals by my grandma. The staff were friendly and helpful. Around RM180 for 2 of us. I would score 7/10

The atmosphere, decoration, staff is very pleasant. The food is phenomenal!!!! This place was recommended by a friend. It's very important to make a reservation before you come because the place fills up fast

We had a very happy dinner here. First meal in Penang, didn’t know what to eat and this place seems very popular. But we called and they are fully booked. Just when we are going to another restaurant, we walked passed this place and had a check with the owner to see if they have availability another day. But there isn’t any before we leave Penang. The owner is super nice, find a way to get us 4 seats in a long sharing table. As we are wondering what to order, the owner has a lot of great suggestions that accomodates our intolerance of spicy food. Later on, we were transferred to a nicer table. We appreciated the great service and hospitality from this restaurant. The cooking is definitely amazing. Bonus was that this is a Michelin one star restaurant…we only found out when we are seated. Lucky us!

Great baba nyonya experience and pretty authentic! Pai tee was crunchy but tad oily (as freshly fried, could probably leave on paper towel to absorb first). Nonetheless, all the food is a really good reflection of proper baba nyonya food! Well deserved Michelin mentioned.

Visited this family-run gem today, and the owner's friendliness made the experience memorable. The Penang cuisine they made exceeded expectations, with every dish showcasing remarkable flavors. This place definitely deserves a Michelin star, especially with the standout Nasi Ulam that shouldn't be missed!

Overall happy with the dishes ordered, they are fresh, flavourful, juicy for my liking. - Baba Delight (kueh pie tie, acar, lokbak, deep fried prawns) - Curry Kapitan ~ curry is very flavorful yet not too thick - Egg Belanda (Michelin's choice) ~ i had never tried egg with sauce, something new n interesting but a little too sweet for my taste. - Sambal Sotong - Curry Tumis ~ taste like assam though its "curry" - Kiam Chye Ark Soup - Sambal Kacang Botol - Nonya Beef Rendang - Assam Hae ~ fresh juicy sweet prawns - Nasi Ulam - Nutmeg juice ~ would recommend to drink it cold as the hot nutmeg juice smell like insect repellent

We got lucky! Didn’t managed to get an online reservation, tried our luck by walking in slightly before restaurant opens. Fully booked! We were disappointed but they told us unless we could order and finish up by 7pm, they will allow us to have a table. No regrets!!! Food was superb, authentic Peranakan cuisine which is so hard to find. Highly recommended but pls remember to make online reservation to avoid disappointment.

Dined in with a group of 8 on a Thursday afternoon. Restaurant was packed but there wasn’t a queue outside. Had a reservation with them hence did not experience any wait. We ordered nyonya chicken curry, fried chicken, sambal kang kong, sambal petai, egg belanda, otak otak, assam prawns, nasi ulam and mixed fried platter/ appetizer. The staff recommended us to get the egg belanda and it was the Michelin award winning dish. However it quite over rated. The group of us felt that the otak otak and assam prawns were really the stand out dishes. Nasi ulam was really fragrant too but it was served luke warm. Not sure if nasi ulam is suppose to enjoy cold or warm though. Overall this place is worth a try if you are around the area. Highly recommended to make reservations.

Recently dined at this one-star Michelin restaurant in Penang, specializing in Peranakan cuisine. The staff’s friendliness created a welcoming atmosphere, and the cuisine, reminiscent of childhood home-cooked meals, left a lasting impression. The restaurant’s Michelin star is a testament to its exceptional quality and culinary creativity. A truly delightful and memorable dining experience.

Flavorful Penang food in hearty portions. Friendly & quick service. Casual and vibrant atmosphere with many camera-worthy spots in the restaurant. Have to order the Curry Kapitan , sambal eggplant & all 3 desserts. Well-deserving a repeat visit. Great place to bring the family & a group of friends. And my bill for 3 was a reasonable RM303 (for all the dishes in the pic but no alcohol)

A casual Peranakan restaurant with a Michelin star. Food is great, even if I’ve had better. Come in a group to order more dishes, and be sure to order the telur belanda, my favourite dish of the night. Ps, reservations are recommended if you don’t want to be turned away. I reserved my table for two, two months in advance.

Food was pretty good. Worth a visit. Decor is quite nice and it would be good to take a walk around the area after dinner. Quite a charming place.

First time dining at this restaurant and didn't know what to order. So we ordered all the recommendations from the restaurant manager. It turned out to be a good decision because the amount of food was just nice for the 12 of us and at a price lower than we had expected from a Michelin star restaurant. Most of the food was excellent, and we highly recommend the Baba Delight, Sambal Brinjal, Egg Belanda, and especially the Assam Hae. Booking, which requires a RM100 deposit, is recommended. Overall, we enjoyed the meal and the friendly and helpful services.

Given they have a michelin star, what is my review worth? That said, the food here is amazing. The use of spices and herbs was immaculate. The food was thoroughly enjoyable. The gravy in the kapitan chicken and fish was so good you could eat it on its own. You really didn't need to order rice (esp if you are carb conscious). Out of the dishes I ordered, I would say the petai could be given a miss. The fish is good but, unless you come in a group of 4 or more, you might want to give it a miss. Overall a 10/10 experience and would revisit whenever I come back to Penang.

We had the pleasure of meeting Auntie Gaik when we visited this restaurant. She’s super kind and made great recommendations off the menu. I really loved the building / it was a former diamond jeweller so the place is classy and has remnants of its history (a giant safe at the back). The food was too good!

Went for dinner on a Friday night with friends, with reservation that requires a deposit payment of RM100. The environment is cosy and bright. Menu has many choices of different nyonya dishes. We ordered a total of 6 dishes for a party of 6. The taste of the food we ordered are great, price was reasonable and the portion is huge. We highly recommend the curry chicken and starter platter that were among the best we’ve tried. Overall was great, until we realise the ventilation at the place is not. Our clothing and hair smelled greasy with strong petai scent, which usually happens at BBQ or steamboat place. Never expect to ruin our night with smelly clothing. Take caution if you would like to dine here.

Pleasant experience to dine at auntie gaik lean. All dishes were flavourful and nice. However the biggest let down was the lohbak. Otherwise everything was perfect. Will definitely return to try other dishes.

Auntie Gaik Lean offers a traditional touch to the Nyonya cuisine. The menu offers all of the Nyonya favorites from assam prawns to lobak and the best-loved inche cabin. The presentation where old school and flavors were piquant. A well loved nyonya eatery amongst the locals.

By luck i am allowed to have a table, thanks to the owner. Food is authentic and price is reasonable. Service crew are doing their job well. My advise is book in advance, many walk in are told sorry we are full. The owner knows how to take care customer. He is really doing a good job.👍

Remember to book in advance, and arrive on time the resto is quite full every other day. It was my first visit and the food was great, enjoyed every other dish, freshly used ingredients and the taste of authentic peranakan cooking. If you are not sure what to order, just order as much as you can, you can't go wrong.

The staff are very friendly and food is excellent. We arrived late just before they closed their lunch service but the staff was so nice. He said if we place our order right away, the kitchen staff will make it. Was very pleased with his accommodation! We had the fried rice, rendang, Nyonya curry, kangkung belacan and Nyonya fried rice. Everything was very tasty! Highly recommended!

Very decent Nyoya cuisine, decent environment, pricing are okay given the portion.

Home cooked style nyonya dishes. Enjoyed especially the jiu hu char with the balanced flavor & taste of dried squid - will visit again for this dish. Inche kabin was a bit dry but the rest were great. Recommend to try the nasi ulam. Service was fast, the owner takes pride in their food & gave good recommendations for us to experience what nyonya food is about.

Arrived at the restaurant around 6ish and the restaurant is almost full. It would be good to make reservation before going. Dish portion is good for sharing; Atmosphere is good and not too noisy. The shop consists of two shoplots which one side is good for private event.

Probably one of the best

Authentic nasi ulam and tamarind shrimps here. But the price is on the high side. Another interesting spot in the shop is the door which looks like a bank safe before.

Good location, clean restaurant and good food. Recommended. $$$