Penang Restaurant
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Phone: (919) 933-2288
- Hours:
- Mon-Thurs 11am-10:30pm, Fri-Sun 11am-11:30pm
Editorial Review for Penang Restaurant – by Alex Leviton
The Scene
Housed in the former Pyewacket building, Penang is the place to see and be seen in Chapel Hill. Brilliant reds and stylish Asian accents compliment a large, busy space that pulsates with energy. High ceilings promote a constant noise level.
The Food
If you don't like something on this menu--Thai, Malaysian, sushi, coconut milk, mango--consider yourself a seriously picky eater. The yong chow fried rice brims with goodies. The roti canai appetizer is a delicate, chewy bread with a rich curry chicken dipping sauce. Adventurous diners might try Thai chili fish, which is served head to tail in a chunky, spicy sauce. Rendang chicken is another good choice, but it suffers from a watered-down sauce. For dessert, try the Malaysian version of a Snoopy Snowcone: Ice Kacang, or the crepe-like but not-too-sweet Peanut Pancake.
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Insider Tips
Where to SitIf you have a large party or want a more intimate atmosphere, ask for a table in the restaurant's back room.
Know Before You GoFor sports fans: Penang has several tables in the bar. You can order off the full menu while watching the game.
User Reviews for Penang Restaurant
10/18/2008 Posted by RubiK
We were very exited to find a Penang Restaurant in the area. Happily ordered the famous Penang "Fried Koay Teow" - Oh NO! The look is no where closed, not to mention about the taste! Two years later, we went back again. This trip, we avoid the entire stir fried menu and tried the curry and nasi lemak. Nothing great but at least we are not as disappointed as the first time.
08/03/2008 Posted by ncca
The atmosphere inside the restaurant is terrible - I think they tried to make it look modern, but instead it's cold. Sitting outside is nice though. I recently went here and ordered the Mango Chicken. When I noticed the sticker was still on the mango, I told the waiter, as it was clear the mango had not been washed. He said "ok" and clearly didn't think it was odd or a problem. My friend and I also ordered an appetizer - the Roti something - that I've had before and loved. This time, it had no flavor or spice - normally it's almost too spicy to handle, and we love it. When we told them, they said "ok" and didn't offer to add spice or remove it from our bill. Then tonight I ordered take-out from Penang - the Penang Curry Chicken. It didn't have any Kafir leaves like described, and instead was full of large pieces of green pepper, which I hate and is not supposed to be in the dish. If I wanted green peppers, I would have ordered something with that in the description. Basically, this restaurant can be good - if you sit outside, and there happens to be a cook working that night that knows what they're doing. It's a gamble.
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