Ru Yin Vegetarian - Penang

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