Auntie Gaik Lean’s Old School Eatery

Food review: Auntie Gaik Lean's old school eatery, a Michelin Star restaurant.Taste: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Portion: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Service : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ambience : ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Value: ⭐⭐Expectations are high since it's a Michelin star restaurant, so here's my take.It didn't take long for the waiter to come and service my table. I ordered Nasi Ulam and Chicken Rendang to accompany the rice dish and later decided to order the Bee Koe Moy (bubur pulut hitam with longan) for dessert.To my surprise, the waiter served my order within five minutes but then I realised that the food was already pre-cooked and ready to be served. The portion was good for a heavy eater like me and the presentation was up to mark for an establishment such as this award winning restaurant.I particularly enjoyed the nasi ulam as it was as authentic as possible although I'm missing the fish crackers. The sambal belacan (or was it?) was tasteful but mild. There was a healthy dose of herbs mixed into the rice but the rice was served at room temperature. I asked the waiter why and he said it's to preserve the herbs from the heat effect and to keep them fresh. Ok I guess it's a logical explanation for a non-foodie like myself.Moving over to the chicken rendang, while it was flavourful enough, I felt somewhat disappointed as it wasn't like the typical rendang that I'm used to. To sum it up, it tasted mild, lacking some crucial ingredients and more suited to tourists on a business class airline. To me, this was the biggest letdown unfortunately and perhaps other dishes would fare better.On a positive note, I was absolutely blown away by the dessert, Bee Koe Moy and by far it was the most sumptuous and interesting bubur pulut that I've encountered. The creamy texture and delicate taste of the pulut hitam was just awesome! Towards the end I felt the crunchy longan just before emptying the bowl with a satisfying smile.Overall it was an interesting experience for my first visit to any Michelin star restaurant. As to whether I would come again? Well with a two star rating on value for money, I still would but only if someone else is paying!

The food was undoubtedly tasty, and the price was unexpectedly affordable. I also like their bold decoration. However, the service was just passable. They came to take an order of another group before mine although we were the first to let them know that we were ready to order. The server almost crashed to me; luckily, my friend prevented me from standing up (my seat was facing the other way so I couldn’t see). The server noticed that I was ready to leave yet didn’t stop walking although he should have been well aware that the restaurant was packed and had limited space to walk. I’m not sure if this kind of service deserves their Michelin star.

A truly Michelin-starred Nyonya restaurant! The blue storefront is very photogenic. After experiencing Shanghai’s prices, this place feels quite affordable… Even with drinks, the per-person cost was just over 100 RM. Overall, it was decent, but it didn’t quite feel like Michelin-level quality.👍 Highly Recommended: • Pie Tee (Nyonya Mini Golden Cups) – Very unique and delicious, like a spring roll in a different form. • Nasi Ulam (Herbal Fried Rice) – Super fragrant! Made with perilla and a mix of spices. A must-order! • Nutmeg Punch (Nutmeg Slush) – Extremely refreshing.👌 Worth Trying: • Curry Kapitan Chicken and Assam Hae (Tamarind Shrimp) – Both have distinct flavors, but they weren’t particularly amazing.❌ Not Recommended: • Scallop Chap Chye Char (Stir-Fried Vegetables with Scallops) – Honestly bad… It tasted like cafeteria food.

Very nice Michelin level Nyonya Halal food in Penang! Super authentic. The Asam curry style fish is very strong in local spices flavour. The fish is very soft, and no bone. The marinated vegetables sour duck soup is very delicious as well. The sourness is just nice, good for starting up your meal haha. Must try their delicious dessert too! The pulut Hitam is introduced by the boss, he said it is national pride! So I try that. It is actually the sticky black rice with coconut milk. Really delicious!

Auntie Gaik’s Nyonya Restaurant truly lives up to its one-Michelin-star reputation. The restaurant exudes a classy and upscale vibe with its elegant interior, making it perfect for a special dining experience. The food is of exceptional quality, with flavors that are authentic and absolutely delicious. I ordered all the dishes featured in the photos above and enjoyed every single one of them—everything was superb! The owner is warm and welcoming, even graciously posing for a photo with me. Overall, I had a wonderful experience and highly recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting Penang.