Hungry Ang Mo | Food Blogger | Vegan

I recently stumbled upon a few nice little vegetarian stalls at the Redhill area. The stall that rises above the rest as the biggest fan favourite is definitely Ruyi. This stall specialises in white bee hoon, but also sells other dishes on different days. The staff are friendly and hard-working. This is one of those stalls that has a daunting queue on 初一十五, so best to avoid then. The opening times for this stall definitely suits early birds, as it opens even before sunrise. So, let's see how good their famous white bee hoon really is...

Ruyi Yuan Vegetarian
Location: Stall 4, Blk 80 Redhill Lane
Contact: None
Opening Hour: Daily 5.30am-12.00pm. Off on alternate Mondays.

So here we have the famous Ruyi White Been Hoon and Dishes. One thing I think everyone will love about this dish is the sheer variety of ingredients placed on the plate. There is mock char siew, mock duck, different varieties of tofu, cabbage and fried beancurd sheets. All of the ingredients merge perfectly together, and have top notch taste. The bee hoon is firm and flavourful. The enjoyment of this dish will be maximized by having pickled green chilli on the side. One of the better bee hoon and dishes that I've had in Singapore.

Price: $2.50. 8/10

Conclusion - If you're someone on a quest to find awesome vegetarian bee hoon in Singapore, then Ruyi Yuan is definitely a stall you will want to consider paying a visit to. Aside from bee hoon, this stall sells a handful of other dishes that customers can try.

Overall Rating
Food - 7/10
Ambiance- 7/10
Service - 7/10
Value - 8/10

I've gotten to the stage now where hungryangmo.com has reviewed almost every vegetarian restaurant/shop house in Singapore. Every now and then, however, places like Take Vege seemingly spring up from no where, out of the woodwork. Perhaps the reason for Take Vege's stealthy existence is the geographical location. It can be a somewhat tedious (by Singapore standards) journey to get to this eatery, with no MRT nearby. On the plus side, it is near to Bishan Park, which can make for a nice romantic evening walk after dinner.

Take Vege Vegetarian Garden
Location: #01-1881, Blk 332 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1
Contact: 83606038
Opening Hours: Daily 6.00am-10.00pm

Here is a look at the inside of the place. It was completely empty when I visited.

The menu at Take Vege is huge. There are countless pages, with almost every Chinese dish imaginable. Definitely customers will have ample options to choose from.

The pages seemed to be never ending, which really caused me to struggle in terms of what to pick. There is a black and white page, which has more affordable dishes.

I was in a noodle mood on this particular day, so I went for the Chicken Fried Hand Made Noodles. As the noodles were handmade, the quality and texture was excellent. However, I found this dish diferred greatly from what it looked like in the picture. Especially in terms of the mock meat. The picture showed several slices of mock chicken resting on top of the noodles. In reality, the mock meat barely existed at all. Having said that, the portion size is still pretty generous for just four bucks.

Price: $4.00. 7/10

The second dish I sampled was simply named Monkey Head Mushrooms. What this dish lacks for in terms of name originality, it makes up for in presentation and taste. The dish is beautifully presented, causing droplets of drool to almost slide out of the corners of my mouth. The vegetables were fresh and crunchy, and the monkeyhead mushroom was juicy and chewy. The sauce was mild, but matched well with the ingredients. The biggest downside is the price - It is a small portion, and rightfully should be reduced by at least two dollars in price.

Price: $10.00. 6/10

Conclusion - With a menu this size, it is difficult for myself as a food reviewer to get an accurate gague on just how good or bad Take Vege is, as I only sampled two dishes. This is an eatery which would require several visits, in order to get a more accurate opinion. Out of the two dishes I tried, it definitely seems like a promising place.

Overall Rating
Food - 7/10
Ambiance- 6/10
Service - 6/10
Value - 7/10

After receiving a request from one of my readers to head down to Defu Lane 10, I gladly obliged and went down to see what vegetarian stall could be lurking there. Initially when I arrived at block 32 I suspected it might have all been a cruel prank (it has happened before), as it seemed like this industrial block couldn't possibly be hosting any coffee shop or eating house. To my relief, after circumnavigating the block I finally found the place. This eating house is incredibly old fashioned, and it really feels like stepping back in time. Ci Xin has been existing at this address for over 16 years now. The stall serves different daily specials everyday, in addition to rice/bee hoon and dishes.

Ci Xin Vegetarian Food
Location: Blk 32, Defu Lane 10, Soon Soon Lai Eating House
Contact: None
Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 6.00am-1.30pm. Closed Sunday

The daily special for today was Mee Siam, and so that is what I ordered. This was a well cooked mee siam overall, with a nice amount of ingredients inside (I particularly loved the cubes of tofu). I thought that the soup/gravy base could have been a little thicker (it was very watery), but for just $2.50 it would be criminal to complain too much.

Price: $2.50. 7/10

Conclusion - Ci Xin is a stall that has stood the test of time, and has a positive following from the workers and individuals living in the Defu Lane area. This entire coffee shop is worth visiting, as this old design can barely be found in Singapore these days. With Singapore so concerned with making everywhere so brand new and squeaky clean, it is nice to escape that pretentious falseness and head to a place like this, which has heart and identity.

Overall Rating
Food - 6/10
Ambiance- 7/10
Service - 7/10
Value - 7/10

Hi, I’m Yishuai, a vegan for almost 5 years! Morethanveggies is a virtual space to share my food experiments and reviews. In real life I study landscape architecture – working with nature to design enjoyable spaces for all. Really happy to be featured on Hungry Ang Mo, I’m sharing a recipe for soft pretzels!

We all love baked goodies because it’s warm, soft, sweet or savoury. People often ask, ‘What baked foods can vegans eat without the butter, eggs and dairy?’ As a fan of baking I’d say we don’t need those, as there are vegan alternatives available! Here’s a basic soft pretzel recipe using vegan butter and healthier ingredients. The fun part is creating the flavours – sugar crusted, salty or herb-infused.. possibilities are endless!

Vegan soft pretzels– makes 8-10 pieces

Ingredients:

2 ½ cups plain flour (2 cups if you want to use whole wheat flour)
2 ¼ teaspoon yeast
1 ½ tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup water, warmed to 35-40 C
¼ cup melted vegan butter, more for brushing (I used Nuttelex Olive. Same amount of olive oil can be used as healthier alternative)

Instructions:
In a small bowl mix the water with sugar and yeast. Within a few minutes it should start becoming frothy. Leave it aside for now. In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, salt. Add the yeast mixture with melted butter/oil in, mix until it forms a dough. (Picture 1)

Sprinkle a flat surface with flour and knead the dough until it springs back when pressed. Place dough in a large bowl, cover and let it rise for 30 to 90 minutes at room temperature. It will grow to about twice the original size. Now pinch a small handful of dough and shape into a 30-40cm long roll. (Pic 2)

Preheat oven to 210C. Place the ends together, overlap and twist them into a pretzel. Do this till all dough is used. Transfer them to a baking tray with baking paper/mat and brush the tops with butter/oil. Now it’s left with placing various flavours on top - you can get creative! Some flavours I tried here are garlic and mixed herbs, cumin and sea salt, salt and pepper, molasses, coconut and brown sugar. (If you like to make a batch with the same flavour, try kneading it into the dough to save time!) (Pic 3)

Bake at 210C for 10-15 minutes, until golden brown. Let cool on a cooling rack before serving. Leftovers can be stored in fridge for 5-7 days. (pic 4)

Thank you for reading and please visit www.morethanveggies.tumblr.com for more recipes!

One of the eateries I've received most feedback urging me to visit over the last few months has definitely been Keat Lim. I have Lixuan, Wuxin and a number of other anonymous readers to thank for this suggestion. Keat Lim is one of those common general names given to vegetarian stalls. Other Keat Lim stalls can be found in Kallang, Whampoa and Bedok - As far as I know they are not connected by the same boss, but I could be wrong.

Keat Lim Vegetarian Food
Location: #01-4206, Blk 728 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6
Contact: 96932138
Opening Hours: Daily 11.00am-9.45pm

First thing one notices about this stall is the sheer size of it. Keat Lim occupies a huge area in this coffee shop. It is so big they even have their own cashier counter. Of course, it is mostly true that bigger is not always better. But the size of their kitchen definitely helps them produce a large and varied menu (around 90 dishes in total). This stall is feverishly popular with Ang Mo Kio residents. If you're planning to visit this stall during the 1st & 15th of the Chinese lunar calendar, then you could realistically be waiting 30-40 minutes for your food to arrive. We were there around 6pm (on a regular day) and waited about 20 minutes.

Here is a look at the front page of the menu. For those opposed to mock meat, you may find that there are not enough pure vegetable dishes on the menu. Keat Lim has a number of signature dishes - Customers rave most highly about their buttered frog legs, beancurd hotplate and claypot nyonya fish.

The reverse side of the menu. All items are void of egg.

First dish to arrive was Keat Lim's famous Claypot Nyonya Mock Fish. Overall it must be said, this is an outstanding dish, and probably the best claypot curry I've eaten in Singapore. The fragrance of the curry sauce is wonderful, particularly elevated by the use of curry leaves. The long beans, ladyfingers and eggplant were fried prior to being added into the curry, which ensured they were cooked well and had extra flavour. The curry arrive bubbling hot, I even burnt my tongue slightly, as I couldn't resist slurping some of the fresh curry sauce. Definitely a 'must order' dish. Note - Subsequently, I found this curry contains milk, vegans do not order.

Price: $8.00. 9/10

We then moved onto another of Keat Lim's signature dishes, the Hotplate Beancurd. Once again, this dish arrives sizzling and bubbling violently, so customers really should wait 5-10 minutes before eating it. Most of the cze char dishes at this eatery come in two sizes - Regular ($8) and large ($12). The tofu in this dish is soft and melts in the mouth, whilst the vegetables (such as corn, peas, capsicum) are still nice and crunchy. The sauce base was good, but nothing exceptional. A good solid dish overall, but not equal to the sensational claypot curry.

Price: $8.00. 7/10

Lastly, we decided to pick one of their lesser known dishes, to get a more balanced opinion. This is their Ee-Fu Noodle. The chef in charge of preparing this job did an excellent job cooking the noodles. They were bouncy and fresh and went well with the mushrooms and leafy vegetables. Unfortunately, this dish falls short in lack of aroma. On the plate it looked amazing, smelt amazing, but ultimately didn't have any smokey aroma whatsoever. The quality of this dish is fair enough for the price, but not one that I would consider ordering again.

Price: $3.00. 6/10

Conclusion - In this humble food bloggers opinion, Ang Mo Kio ranks as one of the best vegetarian districts in Singapore (runner-up only to Bedok and Little India). Keat Lim is a stall that would rank as one of AMK's best vegetarian stalls, with the claypot fish curry especially blowing my mind. It is one of those stalls worth visiting numerous times, to allow yourself to sample more and more of the dishes from this heady menu. Keat Lim has definitely won me over as a regular customer.

Overall Rating
Food - 8/10
Ambiance- 7/10
Service - 7/10
Value - 7/10

I was recently invited to sample the new seasonal spring menu at Ling Zhi's Orchard outlet. We all know as vegetarians in Singapore that some districts are excellent for vegetarian food (Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Little India) and some areas are just plain lousy - Orchard certainly belongs to the latter. However, Ling Zhi at Liat Towers now provides an option for any poor (but not financially poor) vegetarians who happen to find themselves in Orchard.

Ling Zhi Vegetarian
Location: #05-01, 541 Orchard Road (Liat Towers)
Contact: 67343788
Opening Hours: Daily 11.30am-2.30pm & 6.00pm-10.00pm

The Spring Feast menu prides itself on using farm-to-table fresh ingredients, organic whenever possible. The menu was crafted by Chef Martin Foo. Chef Martin's food is void of onions, garlic, animal products (however I later found out he used milk in his coconut ice cream) and also refrains from using mock meat. This exclusive 'Spring Feast' set meal will run from 1st-31st March 2014.

All the food available on this menu is beautifully presented, my photographs really do not do the dishes justice. First plate to arrive contained three different mini-meals. These were the Turnip Roll Marinated with Japanese Rice Vinegar and Pickled Chilli, Seasonal Vegetable Roll topped with Spicy 'Yuzu' Sauce, and finally Potato Croquette with Wild Mushroom. The fresh ingredients really shine in all the food. The croquette was my favourite, the mango and apple salsa used inside contrasted with the potato well.

7/10

The next course was the Double-Boiled Nutritious Soup. The flavour of this soup is strong, yet light and I really loved the red dates (deseeded) and cordeseps, which were used inside to give a sweet undertone. The soup is boiled for 2-3 hours prior to serving, and pure spring water is used. Chef Martin explained that all the ingredients in this soup are carefully selected so that the dish has a harmonious balance between heaty and coolness.

7/10

Course number three was the Stir-fried Zucchini with Truffle Sauce served in Organic Tomato. I loved the enhanced flavour and taste of this deskinned organic tomato. The quality of non-organic tomatoes in Singapore is really the lowest I've seen in the world. So to eat a tomato that actually tastes like a tomato was pleasing. The real star of the dish, however, was the raw zucchini, which was drizzled in olive oil and black vinegar - Sometimes the most simple combinations are the best.

8/10

We then moved on to the 'main course' style dishes, which began with the Braised Assorted Wild Mushrooms and Eggplant with Basil in Premium Black Bean Sauce. The food is wrapped in a special non-toxic plastic, which can withstand temperatures of up to 230 degree Celsius, and therefore is not harmful to the human body. To keep the food warm throughout, special white stones are used, which retain heat and keep the dish warm. Once unwrapped, the mushrooms and other ingredients were quite flavourful - But it was the unique presentation that left a lasting impression with me.

8/10

For many Chinese people, no meal is complete without rice. Here we have the final dish before dessert, which was the Chef's Homemade 'Mapo' Tofu accompanied with Sweet Corn and Wild Black Grain. Wild black grain rice is far healthier than brown and white rice, and tastes great too. This rice was steamed first, and braised afterward. It also had good contrasting sweetness from the corn. At the far side of the plate, the soft and delicate mapo tofu was resting in a thin (almost flower shaped) parcel, which had the texture and taste of spring roll skin.

7/10

Last but not least we have the dessert. This is the Pumpkin Paste with Gingko Nuts topped with Coconut Ice-cream. Presentation wise, once again I was rendered speechless by the beauty of this dish. The flowers scattered around the pumpkin are edible. The pumpkin paste lurking inside was 100% organic and naturally sweet. The carved pumpkin on the outside was not organic, so was ultimately quite bland. The warm pumpkin paste and cold ice cream matched nicely together. Vegans be careful, this coconut ice cream contains milk.

8/10

TOTAL COST = $68.00++ per person

Conclusion - After finishing this elaborate six course meal, I definitely felt satisfied by the quality of food, and the jaw-dropping presentational skills that were exhibited by the chef. Yes, cost is the main downside to this set meal, especially as I was not particularly full even at the end of it. But if you're looking for a truly special once in a lifetime meal (which is healthy too), then this is definitely one you should try.

Overall Rating
Food - 8/10
Ambiance- 8/10
Service - 7/10
Value - 6/10

Thanks to one of my beloved readers named WuXin, I am currently on quest to conquer all the vegetarian stalls at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6/8. There are a total of four veggie stalls (block 721, 724, 715 and 728), all within walking distance of one another. For today, I focus on block 721 - Customers who visit Ci Wen in the evening can expect crowds of diners eagerly waiting to indulge in their famous chicken rice and fried oyster.

Ci Wen Vegetarian
Location: #01-2823, Blk 721 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8
Contact: 94780608/65521273
Opening Hours: Daily 8.00am-11.00pm

Here is a closer look at the dishes available at Ci Wen. This stall attains most of its business from selling their signature carrot cake, fried 'oyster' and 'chicken' rice.

Arguably the most popular dish sold at Ci Wen is the Chicken Rice. Most eateries I visit tend to be selling chicken rice only in the morning and lunch time. Ci Wen is different, as you can still order their beloved chicken rice in the evening. Vegan warning, the chef uses Planta margarine to make the rice, which unfortunately has 'traces of milk that might be found' in their product. The mock chicken used is flavourful, but the plate looked awfully bare - Lacking in tomato and dark sauce. The orange chilli (which customers must collect themselves) is very diluted, but overall the flavour is pretty good, with mild spice and nice acidity.

Price: $2.80. 6/10

Next dish was the Hokkien Noodle. The overall flavour of this dish was pretty good, with decent aroma, slight acidity from lime and a quite large portion size. The thing I didn't like about this dish was the greasy bottom layer of this dish. Perhaps you can see in the picture, at the plate surface there is blackened oil. This was the most dirty low quality oil I've ever consumed. Often, we eat something and just instinctively know it is going to cause our body harm - This was how I felt about this dish, therefore I only managed to eat a few bites. Criminally unhealthy and although the flavour is fine, it is not something I would consciously encourage anyone to eat. On a side note, the same evening I had a series of sharp stabbing stomach pains, which I suspect was brought on by the oil used in this dish.

Price: $3.50. 4/10

This next dish was not consumed by myself, due to egg being included, but here we have the Fried Oyster. This dish was a disappointment in terms of lacking that gooey potato starch texture, that a good oyster omelet should have. Instead, the texture is pasty and doughy. Moreover, it was another awfully greasy dish. It was a dish that smelt nice, but ultimately failed when it came to taste and texture.

Price: $3.50. 5/10

Conclusion - This stall arguably ranks as one of the most unhealthy vegetarian stalls I've ever visited. The dishes are heavy on egg, dairy and bad oil. For that reason alone, I wouldn't consider eating at this stall again. The chicken rice was the best dish of the evening, but the other two were quite a let down.

Overall Rating
Food - 5/10
Ambiance- 5/10
Service - 6/10
Value - 6/10

I think every vegetarian in Singapore has heard of the name Angel's Bistro before. This eatery has been running since 2006, firstly under the name Angel's Heart - In 2009 along with a change in ownership, the name also changed to Angel's Bistro. It is an eatery which prides itself on using no MSG and as many organic ingredients as possible (around 50%). The vibe of this eatery is very relaxed and friendly.

Angel's Bistro
Location: 28 Stanley Street
Contact: 62204344
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 7.30am-4.00pm. Closed on weekends.

Angel's Bistro currently gets the majority of its customers from the business workers around the area. Due to the early closing time, and the fact they're closed on weekends - It may be difficult for customers living in other parts of Singapore to visit this eatery. Even for myself, it took a while to find time in my schedule to visit. Having said that, Angel's do occasionally open on the weekends for special functions or gatherings. The eatery is quite large, but can get quite packed during the lunch hour.

The bulk of Angel's menu items are daily specials, which change depending on the day of the week. These specials are typically available from 11am onwards. Additionally, breakfast items, beverages and desserts are also on offer. After a lengthy discussion with the owner, he informed me that he plans for revamp the existing menu in the future. The menu is almost entirely vegan, the exceptions being ravioli and mushroom soup, which have cheese and cream respectively (breakfast items also contain egg and dairy). No onion and garlic in any of the dishes.

First dish to my table was the Healthy Laksa. Instead of using cows milk or coconut milk, this dish is using soy milk. I've never eaten laksa with soy as a thickener before, but overall it worked quite well. Granted, it doesn't have the same richness that coconut milk would achieve, but the flavour and texture still satisfied me. I loved how the laksa paste was obviously made from scratch, the lemongrass in particular had strong pronounced flavour. The owner and chef are also particularly proud of their homemade chilli, which you can see on top of this dish.

Price: $7.50. 7/10

Vegetable Cutlet was the next dish to the table. Presentation wise, this was definitely the most beautiful looking dish. Penne paste, steamed broccoli and carrots, a wedge of pumpkin and the vegetable wrap doused in gravy and topped with coriander. Wow. When it came to taste, everything was pretty delicious and all ingredients worked well together. The vegetable cutlet tasted a bit like a soggy spring roll to me though. With some adjustments in seasoning, I think the wrap could have been even better. A fine tasting dish overall though.

Price: $9.50. 7/10

The last dish was the Claypot Chicken. I loved how this dish didn't rely entirely on the usage of mock meat (just a few pieces were inside). Instead, the chef fills the claypot with a wide variety of ingredients - Capsicum, lotus root, carrot, mushroom, tofu, bok choy, broccoli and black fungus can all be found soaking inside the claypot. The amount of vegetables particularly was commendable, but it was the thick brown gravy which really won my heart. The gravy had a delightful sourness, which reduced me to practically licking the pot clean. Thai organic brown rice and clear soup are served on the side.

Price: $9.50. 8/10

Conclusion - Angel's Bistro provides a wonderful option to office workers around the Raffles Place, Telok Ayer and even Chinatown area. However, assuming you are not working in those aforementioned areas, it will be tough to visit this eatery, due to the early closing time and inactivity on weekends. Food wise, I have little complaints, superb quality overall.

Overall Rating
Food - 8/10
Ambiance- 7/10
Service - 8/10
Value - 6/10

I found myself scrolling through the older posts on my blog recently, and realised that it has been almost five years since I originally reviewed Divine Realm. For those who have scanned through my Top 10 Vegetarian Eateries list, you will know that Divine Realm has been on that list for years. People from near and far come to this eatery, which is nestled away in the Hougang heartland. If you're visiting on weekends (or even worse - 1st & 15th) then be prepared to wait a while before being served.

Divine Realm Vegetarian Restaurant
Location: 501 Hougang Avenue 8, #01-630
Contact: 63872058
Opening Hours: Daily 7:00am-9:30pm

Over the years, the menu has remained much the same. There is an impressive selection of over 100 dishes to choose from - These include ramen, dim sum, Western and more. This establishment has for years been known for their mesmerizing handmade noodle dishes. Unfortunately, due to a change in their staff, the noodles are no longer handmade. But the owners have assured me that they will do their best to bring back their signature handmade noodles in the future. As a consolation, the noodle dishes are still excellent - Even if the noodles are not handmade.

If you're visiting Divine Realm, it is worth taking a peek at the signboards at the front of the eatery. These posters highlight special dishes (which can't be found on the menu).

Here I am posing with the dedicated boss of Divine Realm. Not only is he the owner, but I would regard him as one of the most naturally gifted chefs I've met in Singapore.

Fried rice is one of the most world renowned Chinese food items, yet it is one that takes specially acquired skill to master. The Tom Yam Fried Rice from Divine Realm was certainly decent, with undertones of Thai tom yam flavour, with perfectly cooked rice. I did, however, find it was lacking in that essential wok aroma, which should shimmer throughout any good fried rice. By no means a poor dish though.

Price: $3.50. 7/10

After chatting away with the owner, I found out that sometimes customers request for specific dishes to be made, and usually these wishes are fulfilled. This Sambal Petai with Eggplant is an example of one of those dishes which can't be found anywhere on the menu, but was simply request by a customer one day. Amazingly, this was my favourite dish of the evening. The eggplant, which was deskinned and fried prior, had a sensational slightly crisp outer structure, and a delightful creamy center. The dish is not too spicy, and the textural firmness of the nutritious petai beans match well with the eggplant. Any customer can specifically request for this dish, and I definitely recommend doing so - It is amazing.

Price: $10.00. 9/10

One of my personal favourite dishes, this is the Claypot Vinegar Pig Trotters. Overall, this is one of the better versions of this classic confinement dish that I've tried. I loved the black beans and fungus used, but I was less of a fan of the mock meat used to replicate the actual trotter. The hero of the dish is the sauce though - Without question the best vinegar trotter sauce I've indulged in so far. It was an ideal mixture of zesty sweetness and comforting warmth from the ginger. Another dish I would highly recommend ordering.

Price: $10.00. 8/10

One of the signature dishes of Divine Realm is the Yam Basket. Personally, I'm not a big fan of yam basket, and will never order when eating at Chinese restaurants. But this version did allow me to learn to appreciate this dish a little more. I loved the diversity of ingredients that could be found inside the basket - Carrots, capsicum, cashews, monkey head mushroom and shitake mushroom could all be found inside. The yam was fried delicately, with the yam itself being creamy and slightly sweet.

Price: $15.00. 8/10

Here I am with the lady boss, and all the kind-hearted staff of Divine Realm.

Conclusion - Being a food blogger, it is a prerequisite that I travel around different eateries week in week out. Due to nature of this aforementioned lifestyle, I seldom become a regular customer at any places. Having said that, I have been eating regularly at Divine Realm for almost seven years now and always find myself returning here. I would be willing to make the argument that Divine Realm serves the best Chinese food in Singapore - It is practically flawless. If you haven't tried this place yet, don't deprive yourself of this gem for much longer.

Overall Rating
Food - 9/10
Ambiance- 8/10
Service - 9/10
Value - 8/10

Malaysia ranks as one of my most favourite countries to find high quality vegetarian food in the world, and Penang is one of Malaysia's biggest food gems. Visitors to Penang will usually want to hunt down their signature local specialities, such as assam laksa, char kway teow and cendol. Today, I will be targeting a restaurant which has been known for years for serving the best vegetarian assam/Penang laksa on the island. Will it really be able to live up to the hype? There is only one way to find out...

Luk Yea Yan Vegetarian Restaurant
Location: No.33 Lorong Madras, Georgetown, Penang

Contact: (04)2281148

Opening Hours: Daily 7.30am-3.00pm, 5.30pm-9.30pm. Closed Wednesday.

This restaurant is quite large, and customers can choose whether they want to eat upstairs or downstairs. The latter usually being the most hectic. Luk Yea Yan have currently been residing at 33 Lorong Madras for over a year, but have been in existence in Penang for over 10 years.

Luk Yea Yan have quite an extensive menu, mostly serving typical Chinese dishes. Island wide they are known for serving the best vegetarian laksa - It is even common for non-vegetarians to make the trip to this eatery for the laksa.

Now we come to their signature dish, the Laksa. I've eaten quite a number of Penang laksa's in my time, but I must say this one ranks as the most glorious. This is a fresh, sour, flowery, murky bowl of utter delight. It is difficult to capture all the flavours in this dish, as there are so many things happening at once. I particularly loved the powdery thickness of the soup base. I personally adore sour dishes, so I couldn't stop scooping up the tangy sauce. The noodles are thick, but not too starchy. The fresh mint leaves and ginger flower make the dish not only look visually splendid, but also add a welcome raw textural element. If you're coming to Penang, there is no doubt that this dish needs to be a part of your itinerary.

Price: RM5.50. 10/10

It was always going to be difficult to surpass the mind-blowing laksa, but the Satay we ordered was also pretty decent. There were a total of six pieces of crunchy yet juicy satay sticks. Of course, with any satay the key lies with the peanut sauce. Overall, the sauce was smooth and fine tasting. But I didn't find that it had that typical punch that a usual satay sauce has, it could have also benefited from a higher spice level.

Price: RM7.00. 7/10

Conclusion - If assam laksa is one of your reasons for wanting to visit Penang, then Luk Yea Yan will send you to into a laksa-infused dream like state. Out of the thousands of dishes I've reviewed over the years, it would definitely rank up there as one of the best. Is Luk Yea Yan a one hit laksa wonder? I would have to try more of their dishes before I answer that. Worth going just for the laksa though.

Overall Rating
Food - 8/10
Ambiance- 7/10
Service - 7/10
Value - 8/10

If you're coming to Penang in search of awesome vegetarian Indian food, then most likely you will leave disappointed. Penang is a dream location for vegetarian food, but due to the lack of Indian population and demand in general for Indian food - The quality will be quite lackluster. Georgetown has a handful of vegetarian Indian eateries, but if you're looking for a more authentic local experience, you might want to check out Seelva, who will be the focus for today's food adventure.

Seelva Vegetarian Cafe
Location: No.85 Kompleks Batu Lanchang Food Court, Penang
Contact: (04)016-4536351/(04)016-4516673
Opening Hours: Daily 3.00pm-10.30pm. Closed Wednesday.

The owner of Seelva is a softly-spoken and humble man, who has been selling vegetarian food in Penang for over 10 years now. He always aims to provide customizable food based on what the customer desires. He also caters for buffets, parties and other such events.

Roti Canai (the identical Malaysian version of roti prata) is surprisingly not a particularly common dish in Penang, unlike Johor Bahru or Kuala Lumpur. This roti was specially made for us so that is vegan - Yes that's right, roti prata by default is not vegan (milk is used in the dough). This roti was soft and fluffy, but doesn't have the typical sinful amount of salt and oil, that is traditionally used. Therefore, it more closely resembles romali roti. Not the best roti canai I've eaten (especially as it was served with boring one dimensional daal), but still something that can fill the stomach. If you're looking for the best roti canai - KL and JB should be on your agenda - It is worth checking out JB expert food blogger Johor Kaki for his thoughts on the best roti canai, if you're hopping over from Singapore.

Price: RM1.00 (per pc). 5/10

Seelva Vegetarian adds an interesting twist to Nasi Lemak, by making it economic rice 'style' nasi lemak. What this means is customers can select the nasi lemak food items themselves (self service) and also the quantity. After which, the staff will calculate the cost. I selected vegetables, tofu, peanut and mock fish. The fish was hard and rigid, but still tasted good. I particularly loved the cubed tofu in a rich tomato sauce. The sauce was surprisingly mild and really took this dish to the next level. Even just the rice and tofu alone would make for an excellent meal, but the crunch of the peanuts made it even better.

Price: RM3.00. 8/10

For those wanting to experience true Indian-Malay fusion food, you should definitely try Pasembur. This dish looks almost like mee rebus or mee java, but is unique in its own right. There are no noodles in the dish, and it consists mainly of beansprouts, cucumber, potatoes and tofu. The sauce is sweet and spicy, with a mild nutty flavour. This is a dish that is always associated with Penang, but it can be found in other parts of Malaysia under the name rojak mamak.

Price: RM3.50. 7/10

Conclusion - Seelva has been one of the more popular vegetarian Penang hawkers over the years. But many people remember him from his old location (also in the Batu Lanchang area), and were not aware that he moved to this new food court. Definitely this stall is worth visiting for an experience of local Penang Indian food - Their nasi lemak is a must order.

Overall Rating
Food - 7/10
Ambiance- 6/10
Service - 9/10
Value - 7/10

Whenever I think of my years of wonderful memories of Gokul, one word springs to my mind - Evolution. Gokul is a brand that is constantly striving to change for the better. Recently, Gokul began the next stage in their expansion by introducing their new delivery system. This system offers island wise coverage and requests a minimum order of just $30. With vegetarian delivery in Singapore few and far between, I was certainly feverishly excited to find out that Gokul was entering into this market. So let's find out how it went...

Gokul Vegetarian Restaurant
Location: 19 Upper Dickson Road
Contact: 63967769
Opening Hours: Daily 8.00am-10.30pm.

As I mentioned, Gokul will deliver to anywhere in Singapore. The delivery charge varies depending on your location. If you're living close to their Little India headquarters, then you could potentially pay as little as $4 for delivery. If you're staying further away, then you could pay anywhere up to $10. For those that have visited Gokul, you will know they have a mind-blowing array of over 500 dishes to choose from. The delivery menu doesn't have as many options (mainly due to some dishes being difficult to packet). But there is a healthy selection to choose from. You can see a list of their items on their website here. Take note, delivery is daily, but only during the timings 5pm-10pm.

As I've emphasised many times on my blog, Gokul is not only about Indian food. In fact, the owner (and creator of most dishes) Mdm S.Rajeswary of Gokul is a Singaporean born and raised - Therefore local specialities like this Char Kway Teow are of sublime quality. Last year I had the honour of hosting two well-known bloggers Sg Food on Foot and Rubbish Eat Rubbish Grow at Gokul. They remarked to me that this rendition of char kway teow was as good as the real thing - Coming from two seasoned bloggers that is quite a compliment. Better eaten fresh, but packeted it is decent enough.

Price: $9.50. 8/10

If you're entering into Indian restaurants, you may come across '65' dishes, like this Chicken 65. The reason for using the term '65' has many different stories, and it is difficult to pinpoint which is true. I particularly like the story of it being created by an electronic engineer, who then subsequently named the dish after the atomic number of terbium. Other more simpler stories are that Northern Indian workers visiting Chennai couldn't read the tamil menu, but always ordered dish number '65'. Overall this dish was too dry and the mock meat was a little tough. The flavour is pretty mild, with sweet tomato being the most dominant flavour.

Price: $11.00. 6/10

We then moved onto my favourite aspect of any Gokul meal - Curries. Starting things off with the Ayam Mesak Merah. This is a dish I've eaten before at the headquarters and utterly adored it. As a takeaway option it works pretty well - Peas, potato and mock meat make up the main components to this dish. Unfortunately the mock meat is derived from gluten, which is not a particularly healthy choice. The flavour of the curry is great though, and the gluten mock meat does provide quite an uncanny resemblance to real chicken.

Price: $11.00. 8/10

Next for a more traditional Indian curry, Aloo Gobi. The name of this dish may sound a little perplexing to some, but it simply means potato (aloo) cauliflower (gobi) curry. This dish is quite versatile, and can be served mild or spicy, wet or dry etc. This particular version was wet and reasonably mild. The potato and cauliflower were fresh, I love how they were not hopelessly overcooked, yet still seemed to absorb all the wonderful curry flavour. One of the best aloo gobi renditions that I've tried so far.

Price: $10.00. 9/10

Last dish we ordered was another wet curry named Mutton Rendang. All curries from Gokul have tremendous unique flavour, all the more remarkable considering no onions or garlic are used in any of the cooking. I loved the zesty lemongrass, which leaped out of this dish. Due to the intensity of the spices, it is quite easy to trick non-vegetarians into thinking this is real meat that they are consuming. I recall bringing many dead animals fanatics to Gokul, and seeing their look of disbelief when I tell them this is merely mock meat. This curry was my personal favourite of the evening.

Price: $11.00. 9/10

Conclusion - I realised recently that Gokul food not only has an unmistakable taste, but a one-of-a-kind smell too. When the food arrived at my doorstep, my senses transported me to their Little India outlet, and it reminded me of all the great times I have had their. The delivery system may not be perfect now, but I find the pricing is fair, the punctuality good and most importantly it has that glorious Gokul flavour. Of course, eating it fresh from the kitchen at Upper Dickson road is still my number one choice, but the delivery system provides a great second option.

Overall Rating
Food - 9/10
Ambiance- N.A/10
Service - 8/10
Value - 8/10

I've recently been embarking on a seemingly never ending quest to unearth the many vegetarian treasures that lurk in Malaysia. Ipoh may not have the abundance or quality of the vegetarian food in places like KL or Penang - But there are still some pretty awesome veggie places in this town. One of the most famous vegetarian eateries is Shi Fang Zai. This restaurant is close by One Curve and Emas Food Court, and you can access it from the Ipoh Lumut Highway.

Shi Fang Zai Vegetarian
Location: 6-8 Jalan Mas, Taman Mas, 30100 Falim, Perak
Contact: 016-4229 389/016-5519 389
Opening Hours: Daily 10.30am-3.00pm & 5.30pm-10.00pm

The ambiance of Shi Fang Zai is that of a typical traditional Chinese restaurant. Nothing else worth mentioning about it.

I never really understood the point of ordering vegetable dishes in these restaurants, as I seldom find they are worth the advertised price. Nevertheless, here we have the Braised Mushroom with Vegetables. I liked the variety of mushrooms that could be found on the plate - King oyster, needle and shitake were all floating around. Overall though, I found that the dish was quite bland and easily forgettable, especially when matched with the other two dishes that we had on the table.

Price: RM12.00. 6/10

One of the signature dishes of this restaurant is the Bean Curd in Pumpkin Gravy. Overall this was my favourite dish of the meal. The beancurd is soft and delicate and literally melts in the mouth when eaten. It reminded me of how the beancurd at Yi Xin (Singapore) is, and immediately put a smile on my face. This outstanding beancurd is matched well with the pumpking gravy, which is mild and not too sweet. Really outstanding dish.

Price: RM8.00. 9/10

Last dish ordered was Rendang Mutton. Rendang is one of those dishes that really everyone can enjoy - It is a relatively mild dry sticky curry, with incredible lemongrass flavour. This was a wonderful rendition of this trademark dish, with mock mutton, potato and mushroom inside. The curry sauce was quite sensational, and would act as a wonderful introduction to rendang for those unfamiliar with the dish. This dish varies in price depending on the size you get. I got the small - But medium (RM16) and large (RM24) versions are also available.

Price: RM12.00. 8/10

Conclusion - From the inside this place may just look like a typical run of the mill traditional Chinese vegetarian place - But as soon as I scanned through the menu, it changed that perception. This restaurant has a large menu full of incredibly interesting and unique items. I loved the three dishes I sampled from Shi Fang Zai, but the beancurd pumpkin was particularly delicious. Definitely a place I would visit again.

Overall Rating
Food - 8/10
Ambiance- 7/10
Service - 6/10
Value - 8/10

Many of you will remember my review of Jiv Jago, back in November 2013. Back then, I reviewed this new Western vegetarian restaurant on their very first day. Understandably, the first day is tough for any business - So I decided to do another review of Jiv Jago, now that a few months have passed and they have had a chance to settle down. Jiv Jago is run by husband and wife duo Yuga and Vaishnavi.

Jiv Jago Vegetarian Cafe
Location: 17 Bali Lane
Contact: 96796722
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-10pm, Sat 12pm-11pm. Sunday Closed.

The menu has more or less stayed the same, since my last visit. Although a few extra dishes have been added. The dishes are all entirely Western, and yes, many of their dishes do include mock meat and dairy. If you're someone opposed to the idea of consuming mock meat, then avoid Jiv Jago. If you're a vegan, most dishes can quite easily be adjusted to be made vegan. Just make sure to state you are vegan, upon ordering.

Here is Jiv Jago's most loyal customer.

First dish of the day that we selected was the Garlic Bread. Vegans like myself are usually very cautious of ordering garlic bread outside, due to the fact that it is usually made using butter or non-vegan margarine. I was delighted to find out that there is no dairy used in this garlic bread. Moreover, the taste of the garlic paste used was really outstanding. A nice way to begin the meal.

Price: $3.50. 7/10

Another side dish available at Jiv Jago is the Chicken Nuggets. Obviously these nuggets are not made from scratch, so there is not really any chef skill involved in this dish. But, if you love mock meat, then these nuggets will appeal to you. Having said that, I've eaten better chicken nuggets. This particular version didn't have the dense juiciness that I've experienced from others.

Price: $4.00. 6/10

The dish that I loved most from my first visit of Jiv Jago was the spaghetti. Therefore, this time around I experimented with another pasta dish named Spicy Chicken Spaghetti. The key reason as to why Jiv Jago pasta dishes are so delicious is the sauces. The tomato sauce is fresh and made from scratch by chef Vaishnavi and has a wonderful flavour, which is packed full of tomato punch. This awesome sauce is coupled with well cooked spaghetti. Those that are vegan must make sure to request for this dish to be made without cheese.

Price: $8.90. 9/10

Next dish was a new item on their menu, the Beef Burger. Overall this is quite a run-of-the-mill burger, but I was particular impressed by the authenticity of the mock meat used as the burger patty. It really had quite an impressive resemblance to a real beef burger. This burger comes with a generous side serving of crinkle cut fries, drizzled in tomato ketchup. If you're looking for a decent Western burger, than this is definitely one you should consider ordering.

Price: $8.50. 8/10

Next dish to the table was the Mutton Pizza. Jiv Jago have quite a sizable variety of pizzas to choose from. However, these pizzas will inevitably come with cheese by default. Therefore, for this visit, I decided to experiment with ordering the pizza without cheese. To me (being a recovering pizza addict), pizza will never be the same without that glorious gooey stringy cheese on top. But having that, I still found myself enjoying this cheeseless version. The mutton is a little bit dry though, but the tomato sauce used on the base made up for it. This pizza was made vegan upon request, if you want it to be made without cheese, be sure to specify when ordering.

Price: $8.90. 7/10

To finish the meal off we indulged in the vegan Lime Sorbet. Jiv Jago has a number of vegan and non-vegan ice creams to choose from. This particular sorbet was zesty and refreshing, a great way to end our wonderful meal at Jiv Jago.

Price: $3.00 (1 scoop). 7/10

Conclusion - Jiv Jago are improving day by day. I believe it is important that vegetarian food in Singapore comes in many different shapes and sizes. If you're looking for healthy vegan/vegetarian food, you're probably going to want to stay away from Jiv Jago. But if you're looking for a fantastic venue, that has welcoming hosts and delicious Western food - Then Jiv Jago is one of the best in Singapore. The spaghetti dishes are a particular must order.

Overall Rating
Food - 7/10
Ambiance- 9/10
Service - 9/10
Value - 7/10

Vegetarian food in Penang is growing exponentially. If you wander around the streets of Georgetown, you will see many new veggie places popping up on its iconic side streets. The Leaf prides itself on serving fresh (I mean really fresh) ingredients, many of which are picked from the garden at the rear of the restaurant. For more information, you can check out their Facebook page here.

The Leaf Healthy House
Location: No.5 Penang Street, Georgetown, Penang
Contact: 016-4239453
Opening Hours: Daily 11.30am-3.00pm & 5.30pm-9.00pm. Closed Sunday.

The signature dishes are advertised on the outside of the eatery. A mix of Western and local dishes are served here.

The interior look of The Leaf is serene and peaceful, but can get feverishly busy during the popular eating hours. If you want a more relaxing experience, it is best to visit during odd hours.

Here is a list of ingredients that are included and excluded from the cooking at The Leaf.

We kicked our meal off with the Coral Grass (Sweet and Spicy). This dish is basically an Asian influenced fresh salad. The sauce does indeed capture good sweet and spicy flavours, like the name would imply. Overall though, I found that this particular leafy vegetable didn't work too well with this combination. Moreover, the transparent 'coral' jelly piece didn't add anything to the dish.

Price: RM5.90. 7/10

Next dish was the Spaghetti Basil Leaf and Pine Nuts Sauce. I loved the fresh aromatic flavour of the blended basil leaves, which were picked fresh from the garden at the back of the restaurant. The spaghetti was cooked well, as were the fresh vegetables. I loved the sprinkling of pine nuts on top, which gave a nice additional crunchy texture. Portion wise, I found it to be good value for the price. Definitely a dish that I would order upon returning to The Leaf again.

Price: RM8.90. 8/10

Here is a look at the back of the restaurant. As mentioned, a lot of the ingredients that are used in the cooking at The Leaf are plucked from this very garden.

Along the side of the restaurant there are also fresh herbs, like the basil which was used in the spaghetti dish.

Conclusion - When I heard the name 'The Leaf', the first colour which popped into my mind is obviously green. I must say, overall the food at this eatery does live up to its name. The ingredients are fresh, green and healthy. If you're looking for good tasting and health concious food, then The Leaf is definitely somewhere to add to your list, if you're food hunting around Georgetown

Overall Rating
Food - 7/10
Ambiance- 7/10
Service - 7/10
Value - 7/10

We often point our finger at certain locations in Malaysia, which are known to have outstanding vegetarian food. Locations such as Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru etc. But truth be told, almost all of Western Malaysia has great veggie options. Pulau Penang is still the king of vegetarian, but mainland Penang also has countless vegetarian places, which are worth seeking out. For today, we look at Aik Choong Vegetarian. Let me just stress once more, this restaurant is not on Penang island - It is on the mainland.

Aik Choong Vegetarian Restaurant
Location: 6549 Jalan Raja Uda, Taman Sena, Butterworth, Penang
Contact: 016-4445721
Opening Hours: Unknown (any customer please help me to confirm)

Aik Choong actually have two eateries that are right next to each other. The older more traditional eatery has been around for countless years. A few months ago, Aik Choong opened a brand new more upscale restaurant, right next to the original shop. The interior design is quite fancy, but the colour and lighting can be a little too bright and glaring after being in the restaurant for a while.

Aik Choong has evolved into a mother and daughter business over the recent years. The new glamorous restaurant is being run by the daughter (pictured, left), while the original outlet is still maintained by the mother (pictured, right).

The menu at Aik Choong is almost entirely Western, which is an entirely different concept when compared with the original outlet, which focuses more on traditional Chinese cuisine.

We started our meal off with the Tu Ping Zhen Soup. It must be said, in a menu consisting of almost entirely Western food, this traditional Chinese herbal broth does seem a little out of place. Nevertheless, this herbal drink was absolutely amazing. The flavour is magnified due to it being cooked on charcoal for eight hours. I have recently found out just what a big difference cooking with charcoal makes to the flavour of food, it is really like night and day. This herbal soup is at its best when boiling hot, upon consuming I felt a comforting warm glowing sensation flow through my body. Not really something that goes well with hotdogs and burgers, but still undeniably delicious.

Price: RM12.90 (pot). 8/10

Let's begin the Western bonanza with the Chicken Chop. Unfortunately, Aik Choong is another one of those restaurant which presents a battlefield of dairy for vegan customers. The tomato in this dish was sadly filled with cheese. The chicken chop was decent enough, but the tomato mushroom sauce was a little too unimaginative for my liking. The broccoli, thank god, added at least one thing nutritious onto the plate.

Price: RM8.80. 6/10

Probably the most disappointing dish of the evening was the Hotdog meal. Presentation wise, I did like how the chef tried to add some green onto the place - Tomatoes, cucumber and lettuce could all be found. The mock sausages I found a little tough in texture and the hotdog on a whole was not very practical to eat. I've still not managed to find a perfect vegetarian/vegan hotdog in Asia - Hotdogs should (when done right) be the ultimate street food snack, packed with a harmonious balance of sour, tart, and salty flavours. My search will go on for that perfect hotdog...

Price: RM6.80. 5/10

The last Western dish of the evening was the Spaghetti Bolognese. The fundamentals of this dish were done very well - The pasta was cooked well and the sauce texture was superb. Flavour wise, the only thing I found that was missing was a lack of seasoning in the sauce. Presentation wise, it does look a little bare - Some cashew nut 'cheese' powder would make the world of difference to the look and taste. Criticisms aside, this was a pretty decent dish, definitely the best of the Western dishes I tried.

Price: RM8.80. 7/10

Conclusion - Vegetarian Western food is something that is seldom perfected when it comes to Chinese operated restaurants. The Western food at Aik Choong can be improved further, once a greater knowledge of Western flavours has been achieved. The signature herbal soup was delicious, and if/when I return next, that is the item I will be ordering, rather than the Western options.

Overall Rating
Food - 6/10
Ambiance- 7/10
Service - 7/10
Value - 7/10

If you want really cheap food, go to Raffles Place - That may sound crazy, but it's true. Amid the high priced shopping centres and food courts of Raffles Place, Golden Shoe Food Centre stands out as being a superb place to find dirt cheap food. This is not merely cheap by CBD standards, it is cheap compared to the whole of Singapore. Shu Vegetarian is one of three vegetarian eateries that operate at this aforementioned eating house. Many may remember my post on healthy living vegan stall My Vegetarian Way, which is also at the same location. Shu Vegetarian is small and unassuming stall, just the kind that I like to visit. Big things often come in small packages in Singapore, so lets find out how this place fares...

Shu Vegetarian
Location: #03-17, 50 Market Street, Golden Shoe Food Centre
Contact: Unknown
Opening Hours: Mon- Fri 6.30am-3.00pm. Closed on weekends.

Here is a look at the menu. Let me warn you in advance, Golden Shoe becomes absolute anarchy during the office lunch hours (11.30-1.30pm). Anarchy to the point where there is practically a riot taking place. Unless you take some kind of sick enjoyment out of being assaulted by a whirlwind of utter madness, then you will want to avoid Golden Shoe during those timings.

Shu Vegetarian have an incredibly simple menu, but they excel in two aspects. Firstly, they have a team of hard-working and friendly staff, who always take great pride in their job. Secondly, Shu Vegetarian serves extremely good quality economic rice dishes, which are also served at a wonderfully low price.

I went for the Economic Rice (Brown Rice) with braised tofu, crispy sweet and sour mock meat and mushroom. The portion size is quite large and it comes accompanied with the typical clear Chinese soup. The quality of the rice and dishes is indeed high. I absolutely adored the crunchy sweet and sour mock meat, it vaguely reminded me of the same dish at Loke Woh Yuen (for those who can still remember that classic restaurant). Superb value for money, and exceptional quality - I couldn't ask for anything more.

Price: $3.20. 8/10

If you're not in the mood for rice, then Shu occasionally offers Char Kway Teow as another option to have with the dishes (they also sometimes have fried rice, too). If you're feeling like eating purely char kway teow, they staff will also oblige. This dish is simple, without any mock meats or vegetables. It is just simply beansprouts and kway. It would be much more delicious eaten with the wide variety of dishes available at Shu - But by itself it is still quite alright.

Price: $1.20. 7/10

Conclusion - I still find myself occasionally dreaming about the sweet and sour mock meat from this stall. We loved it so much that we ended up packeting another $2 worth of it back home with us. Vegetarian stalls/restaurants often over-complicate things with too many dishes and subsequent inferior quality. Stalls still only selling rice and dishes can still win my heart, and Shu Vegetarian is certainly one of those.

Overall Rating
Food - 8/10
Ambiance- 6/10
Service - 8/10
Value - 9/10

Back to Ipoh for more vegetarian food adventures. For this post, I feature Fu Tien Vegetarian, which is one of the more established vegetarian eateries in the area. One thing that any tourist must consider when visiting Ipoh (or anywhere in Malaysia, for that matter) - If you don't have your own car, then travelling around is going to be an extremely frustrating (and expensive) experience. Public transport in cities like Ipoh is practically non-existent, and distances between locations are too far to walk. That means you either need a car or you're at the mercy of the remorseless money extorting taxi drivers of Malaysia - Personally, I would rather burn my money, than give it to those glorified criminals. Okay, onto the review...

Fu Tien Vegetarian
Location: 34 Jalan Medan 1B, Medan Ipoh Bistari,Perak Darul Ridzuan
Contact: 05-549 9098
Opening Hours: Daily 11.30am-2.45pm & 6.00pm-9.45pm. Monday Closed.

We kicked our meal off with the Seaweed Salad. This was a nice fresh way to start the meal - I love how this type of shredded seaweed always has such good texture, and it went well with the sesame seeds on top. The biggest disappointment to this dish was the later of chopped lettuce on the bottom. The lettuce was quite withered and unappealing. I would have much rather the entire dish consist of seaweed.

Price: RM6.40. 6/10

Marmite with Lotus Root was the next dish. At home, we have made lotus root chips (a healthier alternative to using potato) a few times, with positive results. This dish was surprisingly sweet, with a sticky glue-like sauce binding together the pieces of fried lotus root. I love eating fried lotus root, so overall I quite enjoyed this dish - But I think it would have been better with a more complex multi-layered sauce.

Price: RM10.00. 7/10

Lastly we decided to pick out the Fu Tien Special Fish. Once again, this was another surprisingly sweet dish, with the slices of mock dish soaking in a sweet (and slightly tart) orange sauce. The flavour of the sauce did go pretty well with the mock fish. However, the mock fish itself was tough and rubbery. With better quality mock meat, this dish could have been elevated to a much higher level.

Price: RM10.00. 7/10

Conclusion - Overall the dishes are mild and sweet, and with some minor improvements they could reach an even higher level. Fu Tien is one of those restaurant in Ipoh which is not the best, but it is decent enough to be worthy of visiting.

Overall Rating
Food - 7/10
Ambiance- 7/10
Service - 6/10
Value - 6/10

Upon visiting Penang, tourists will usually either flock to Georgetown or Batu Ferringhi. I've always loved the architecture and vibe of Georgetown, while I've always found Batu Ferringhi more of a over-commercialised tourist trap. If you're looking for good vegetarian food though, it may be worthwhile visiting off the beaten path of Penang. Although Georgetown should always acts as your hub if you wish to ensure yourself of finding an abundance of vegetarian eateries. Ru Yin Vegetarian is one of those eateries that can be a little troublesome to get to, so let's see if it's worth the journey...

Ru Yin Vegetarian
Location: Blk 5-G-8, Jalan Van Praagh, Desa Green, Penang
Contact: 011-19197979
Opening Hours: Daily 7.00am-3.00pm & 6.00pm-9.00pm. Sunday Closed.

Here is the Ru Yin staff cooking the noodles for our dishes.

One of the signature dishes of Penang, that you will see served almost everywhere is Curry Mee. When ordering this dish, you will note the vibrant colours from the orange gravy and fresh green mint leaves. Looks can sometimes be deceiving though. Penang curry mee is basically a flavourless Singapore laksa. It is literally like removing all spices and flavouring except for chili paste and coconut milk. An utterly bland and flat dish. Unfortunately wherever you go in Penang, the curry mee will taste like this (the best curry mee I have tried has been in Ipoh). As someone who prefers stronger flavours, this is not a dish I can appreciate.

Price: RM3.50. 5/10

Next dish was the Kway Teow Soup, this dish is the same price as the curry mee (both of which are tremendous value). I was reliably informed that this eatery has been known for their high quality kway teow soup for many years. However, recently they have undergone a change in management. Overall, this dish followed a similar sort of theme to the curry mee. The soup was bland and forgettable, with there being no ingredients or flavour that would allow any real enjoyment to be had from this dish. I did like the price and freshness, but the flavour is below par for me.

Price: RM3.50. 5/10

Conclusion - Penang has a lot of vegetarian eateries, but few stand out as being outstanding. Ru Yin Vegetarian is a great place to go if you're looking for an economical meal - But if quality is important factor to you, then you will probably want to avoid this place.

Overall Rating
Food - 5/10
Ambiance- 6/10
Service - 6/10
Value - 8/10

Secret Recipe is a brand that many of us are very familiar. I remember back in my non-vegan days, I took particular pleasure in gorging on their many varieties of cakes. Although most people know Secret Recipe, what you might not know is that in Malaysia they are known for something entirely different. In addition to selling cakes, Secret Recipe also have a franchise of 13 vegetarian restaurants, all of which go by the name 'Beyond Veggie'. From what I was told, the husband and wife owner of Secret Recipe are both Buddhist vegetarians, and therefore opened these restaurants to promote vegetarianism. Today, I will featuring their Ipoh branch. Their other locations can be found at KSL City Mall (JB), AEON Mall (Kulaijaya), Sunway Pyramid, 1 Utama, The Curve Shopping Mall, Oasis Square (Ara Damansara), Sunway Giza, Taipan USJ 10, Mid Valley Megamal, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Publika and Tropicana City Mall.

Beyond Veggie by Secret Recipe
Location: No.18, Tingkat Taman Ipoh 6, Taman Ipoh Selatan, Perak Darul Ridzuan
Contact: 05-546 8298
Opening Hours: Daily 10.00am-10.00pm

One thing which may alarm you when gazing upon the menu is the pricing. The prices are pretty much Singapore standard, which was an instant turn off for me. This Original Fruit Tea is an example of the inflated prices that can expect. Having said my piece about the pricing, I must admit this drink was pretty delicious. It was a perfect blend of sweet and sour fruity flavours, with a smooth texture. This 'tea' consists of three simple ingredients - Pineapple, apple and lemon. Yes the taste is really good, but considering that this tea consists of only three ingredeints (non-organic) it did leave me confused as to why it had such a high price tag.

Price: RM16.90. 6/10

We started our meal off with a snack item called Veggie Roll. There were a total of six well crafted pieces of vegetables wrap, and two additional dipping sauces. The wraps are fresh and crunchy, I particularly enjoyed the shredded purple cabbage and carrots. The two dipping sauces were quite mild overall, the grey coloured mushroom based sauce being my favourite. No complaints on the quality of these wraps, but I wish the price could be a little more affordable.

Price: RM9.90. 7/10

After ordering the Assam Laksa, I was quite stunned when a gigantic bowl arrived to our table. The portion size for this laksa is really too big - Even for me. I can't help but think portion sizes like this will lead to a lot of food wastage. Overall this was far from the best assam laksa I've had. The gravy was too watery and lacked the depth in flavour that an excellent laksa should have. I would recommend eating the assam laksa at Luk Yea Yan (Penang) - Much better quality, and one third the price.

Price: RM15.90. 6/10

Conclusion - The obvious downside to this restaurant is the price. I simply didn't find the service, ambiance or food quality worthy of the prices that are listed. Malaysia is a country where you can go around and enjoyed excellent food for little money - So it begs the question, why would I go to Beyond Veggie and pay these prices? If you are visiting though, the original tea and veggie roll were pretty decent.

Overall Rating
Food - 6/10
Ambiance- 6/10
Service - 6/10
Value - 3/10

Ruyi Yuan Vegetarian - Redhill

Take Vege Vegetarian Garden - Ang Mo Kio

Ci Xin Vegetarian Food - Kovan

Guest Recipe - Vegan Soft Pretzels

Keat Lim Vegetarian Food - Ang Mo Kio

Ling Zhi Vegetarian - Orchard

Ci Wen Vegetarian - Ang Mo Kio

Angel's Bistro - Raffles Place

Divine Realm Vegetarian Restaurant - Hougang

Luk Yea Yan Vegetarian Restaurant - Penang

Seelva Pure Vegetarian Cafe - Penang

Gokul Vegetarian Restaurant (Delivery) - Little India

Shi Fang Zai Vegetarian - Ipoh

Jiv Jago Vegetarian Cafe - Bugis

The Leaf Healthy House - Penang

Aik Choong Vegetarian Restaurant - Penang

Shu Vegetarian - Raffles Place

Fu Tien Vegetarian Restaurant - Ipoh

Ru Yin Vegetarian - Penang

Beyond Veggie by Secret Recipe - Ipoh