Buri Sriphu Boutique Hotel @ Hatyai, Thailand.

Frequent travelers would understand the importance of a good hotel, that could provide absolute comfort to the trip as well as a place to recharge after a tiring day out. On our recent road trip to Hatyai, Thailand; we were fortunate to have Buri SriphuBoutique Hotel to host us. The hotel is centrally located at Hatyai yet without the bustling-noise that one would usually associate with; it is the most convenient if you are driving (the hotel has ample parking space for hotel guests) but if you are not, there are plenty of public transportation that you could opt for either. The service provided to us was top-notch but we did not expect less from the land of smiles....

Many Thanks to Buri Sriphu Boutique Hotel for hosting us during our trip.

Buri Sriphu Boutique Hotel is strategically located with only a short 5 minutes drive to Lee Garden Mall and a short 2 minutes drive to Green Way Night Market, best part of all, ASEAN Night Bazaar is only 3 minutes walk away from the hotel (less than a minute by car). A lot of tourist attractions (including Malaysians' favorite- Big C Supermarket) are within half an hour drive away and convenient shop (7-11 for instance) is just across the street or behind the hotel. If you must pay your pilgrimage visit to KFC and McDonald's in Thailand, they are all within the vicinity. If you do not have any transportation in Hatyai, you may of course, opt for Tuk Tuk; the drivers are ever-ready at the hotel main entrance. 

Standard but well-cleaned Bathroom

Basic amenities- Tooth Brush and Tooth Paste, Soap, Shower Cap, Cotton Buds etc

Slippers/ Hangers/ Safety Box

In-Room Entertainment and Free Wifi

The rooms are pretty standard but good enough to recharge the tired shopping legs. Though not as sophisticated as we would have hoped, the hotel had everything (we need) covered; basic amenities like Shampoo and Body Wash were sufficiently provided. The in-room WiFi speed was fast either, ensuring the hotel guests are well-connected to the world. A night at their Superior Room would cost approximately RM 200 (subject to season and availability).

Eco-Green Garden View of the Old Wing

View from the Room

Swimming Pool

Hotel Lobby

Concierge

Buri Sriphu has two buildings, we had a short tour at the main building (where the restaurant and pool located). It adopts the eco-green concept where there are a lot of greens tucked within the building; not exactly a jungle-lounge for hotel guests to relax but creating a sense of nature and channels a calm and soothing vibe to the building. Checking in the hotel was swift and hassle-free, welcoming drinks were served to us while we were waiting for the verification process.

Chicken Herbal Soup

Freshly-made Scrambled Egg

Freshly-made Omelette

Toasts

Bacon and Ham (Pork)

Sunny Side Up

Condiments for Fried Rice

Breakfast menu was simple but satisfying; though not extensive but there were more than sufficient to call it a comforting breakfast. Quintessential breakfast choices like Omelette, Scrambled Egg, Bacon and Sausages were all available but if you have Asian palate, there were Chinese Herbal Soup, Fried Rice for you either. One particular item that managed to wow us was their Chinese Herbal Soup; the temperature was well-kept and was most comforting to kick start the day. 

Tom Yum with Fresh Water Prawns (600 Baht)

Hatyai Deep Fried Chicken (300 Baht)

Good Tom Yum is a dime a dozen in the land of smiles- Thailand but Buri Sriphu's a class higher than others by using fresh Water Prawns... huge ones. It has a balanced medley of sweet, sour and spiciness; the Prawns were most juicy and succulent. There were plenty of roes found in the head, sweat-inducing yet extremely alluring. Another well-received item of the evening was their Deep Fried Chicken; we were glad that the Chicken was expertly cooked with crispy skin and tender meat. It was reasonably seasoned but we'd prefer to have some form of dipping sauce to go with it. It can be a tad dry to go with rice.

Deep Fried Seabass with Sweet and Sour Sauce (600 Baht)

Deep Fried Morning Glory Thai Salad (300 Baht)

Fried Fresh Water Shrimps with Tamarind Sauce (800 Baht)

Deep Fried Morning Glory can be dangerously addictive, a pity that the crunch did not last but the sweet, tangy Chili dip was able to complement the crunchy green and it certainly makes a great appetizer. Prawns with Tamarind Sauce was standard-average but the fact that they were deep fried to perfection makes them tastier than they look. It was not the ordinary Tamarind Sauce we can find here in Penang but it has stronger acidity but with weaker Tamarind flavor. The Seabass was an enjoyable dish, the pristine white flesh suggests its freshness and the size was too huge for the few of us. Sauce was sweet and sour but for that freshness, we'd probably prefer to have it steamed (with a more refreshing zesty Thai sauce).

Additional Information:

Service Charge: Yes 10%

Government Tax/ VAT: Yes 7% 

Halal
Ample Free Parking for Hotel Guests

Wifi-Available

Address: 310, Sriphywanart Road, Songkhla, 90110, Hatyai, Thailand.

Contact Number: +66 74 247 111

Website: https://www.burisriphuhotel.com/index.php

Maga Hokkien Mee Loh Mee

Maga Restaurant (马加茶餐室) is one of the larger hawker centers along Perak Road (Jalan Perak). This eatery contains around 20 different stalls that are mostly open in the evening only.

One of these stalls is Maga Hokkien Mee Loh Mee. The proprietor started vending in night markets before settling down permanently over a year ago. The pricing, RM3.50 and RM4.00 for small and large bowl respectively, is comparable with most stalls around the area.

Hokkien Mee (福建面) is its original signature dish. The broth is made from shrimps, rich and tasty to the very last drop. The level of spiciness is just nice for me, although I prefer to add the spoonful of chili paste into the mix before eating. Outside Penang, this dish is more commonly known as Prawn Mee (虾面).

The bowl comes with pork slices (肉片), shrimps, boiled egg and spinach (空心菜). Fried onion (炸洋葱) serves to improve appealing aroma. Pork rind (猪皮) is also available at no extra cost. On the other hand, pork ribs (排骨) and intestines (猪肠) are optional add-ons to the standard portion.

Loh Mee (卤面) was introduced several months after the stall started, but is very popular nevertheless. It is not uncommon for this dish to be sold out around 8:00pm. Ingredients used in this dish are chicken feet (鸡脚), pork slices, soy egg (卤蛋) and spinach.

Meanwhile, the gravy for Loh Mee is made from corn starch to produce such thick consistency. While not everyone is in favor of garlic vinegar (大蒜醋), I think it is an essential component in the enjoyment of Loh Mee.

Each bowl of Loh Mee includes 2 pieces of chicken feet. Customers can also order them separately for RM3.00 (6 pieces) or RM5.00 (10 pieces).

Name: Maga Hokkien Mee Loh Mee (马加福建面卤面)
Address: 54, Jalan Van Praagh, 11600 Jelutong, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 016-489-8254
Business hours: 4:30pm-10:30pm, closed on alternate Sundays
Website: N/A
Coordinates: 5.39661 N, 100.31457 E
Directions: Maga Restaurant (马加茶餐室) is located at the intersection between Perak Road (Jalan Perak) and Jalan Van Praagh. It is just opposite of CIMB Bank across Jalan Van Praagh. Maga Hokkien Mee Loh Mee is one of the many stalls in this coffee shop. Parking is available in front of Vantage Point or Taman Kheng Tian Business Center.

Hana Cafe

Hana Cafe (하나카페) has changed a lot since my last visit. The premise has now been converted to a guest house with 7 rooms in total. The front porch has also been extended so accommodate a larger indoor dining area.

The indoor section doubles as a café and as common area for guests. Cozy chairs and air-conditioning present relaxing ambience for diners and guests alike.

Outdoor seating is available for those who prefer natural air outside. Al fresco is more viable in the late evening after the sun has set.

In the spirit of year-end holiday season, Hana Cafe's teddy bear mascot has donned a Christmas hat.

In partnership with an ethnic Korean chef, Hana Cafe has recently introduced Korean Fried Chicken (양념치킨) to its menu. South Korea, colloquially known as the most Americanized country in Asia, has seen a surge of popularity with this dish, all thanks to the hit drama "My Love From The Star" (별에서온그대). Korean fried chicken is now a popular finger food in the country. Since this is a must-have snack at parties, there are thousands of shops that deliver this delicacy to homes and offices.

Hana Cafe has two version of the Korean Fried Chicken. The Original Fried recipe uses non-spicy breading with light crisp. Although it appears similar to KFC's fried chicken, ethnic Koreans are able to distinguish the difference because Hana Cafe uses flour that is specially imported from Korea.

The other version is Korean Chili Sauce, which is coated with gochujang (고추장) and is similar in appearance and taste to honey barbecue fried chicken. The key difference is the presence of Korean-style spiciness in addition to sweet-savory flavors. Between the two, this is my preferred version as it presents more exciting flavors to my palate.

Hana Cafe's Korean Fried Chicken is priced at RM28.00 for 6 pieces (half chicken), and RM50.00 for 12 pieces (full chicken). A full chicken feeds 4 to 6 people.

A meaty dish should be balanced with a bowl of Salad (샐러드, RM10.00). Made from red leaf and romaine lettuce, the salad is meant to be eaten on its own. I incorrectly thought that lettuce is used to wrap fried chicken, similar to barbecued meat like gogi (고기) and galbi (갈비).

In response to popular demand, Hana Cafe also serves several types of Korean noodles. As strange as it sounds, many Koreans are willing to pay for noodles prepared from instant noodles, such as Shin Ramyun (신라면, RM10.00) from Nongshim (농심). I think the reason is because Hana Cafe uses the exact products that are sold in Korea, not the modified versions for export.

Shin Ramyun is meant to be spicy, but it should be manageable by Malaysian standards. Korean instant noodles are known for large serving size and ingredients like dried vegetables. Only egg and seaweed are added to the cooked dish.

A small serving of kimchi (김치) is also provided on the side.

Bingsu (빙수) is a type of Korean dessert made from shaved ice. Interestingly, Hana Cafe uses a true snow flake machine to produce ice, as opposed to mechanical ice shavers as preferred by local Caffé Bene outlets.

As a result, Hana Cafe is able to produce ice crystals that are significantly finer. This results in a unique texture that can be loosely described as "mushy" rather than "slushy". According to the proprietor of Hana Cafe, this is how bingsu is supposed to be prepared - at least in Korea itself.

In terms of toppings for Bingsu, there are four types to choose from: Classic (RM9.00), Kiwi (RM12.00), Oreo (RM12.00) and Honey Nuts (RM12.00). The latter contains generous amount of cashew nuts, walnuts, peanuts and almonds. Honey serves to provide some sweetness to this dessert.

The presence of unique dishes at Hana Cafe and the restaurant's serene setting make it a great place to enjoy a meal at Tanjung Bungah. I highly recommend the Korean Fried Chicken above all. Try it out and decide for yourselves whether you like this Korean delicacy.

Name: Hana Cafe (하나카페)
Address: 11, Jalan Tanjung Bungah, 11200 Tanjung Bungah, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-890-8810
Business hours: 1:00pm-11:00pm, closed on Sundays
Website: https://www.facebook.com/HanaCafePenang
Coordinates: 5.46582 N, 100.28963 E
Directions: Traveling westbound on Jalan Tanjung Bungah, Hana Cafe is located on the left, just opposite of Dalat International School. There are some parking spaces in front of the shop and more at the back. The latter can be reached from the next traffic light junction.

Thai Baiyok

During my previous visit to Thai Baiyok (ไทยใบหยก), the dining experience has been largely favorable. Today, I am here to check out the set lunch dishes that this Thai restaurant has to offer.

One thing that I like about this restaurant is the spacious dining space. Consequently, the ambience remains pleasant even when the restaurant is fully occupied.

Besides à la carte orders, Thai Baiyok also serves set lunch from 12:00pm to 5:00pm every day. The choices include fried rice, chicken or fish with rice, noodles and local delights. Each meal is priced at RM8.90 and includes a drink and a small serving of fruits.

The bestseller from the set lunch menu is Belacan Fried Rice. At the center is a heap of nicely-prepared fried rice. Fragrant to the nose and pleasant to the palate, the rice is topped with scrambled eggs. Soup is provided on the side.

Similar to miang kham (เมี่ยงคำ), other ingredients are plated on the side and are meant to be mixed with fried rice. This presentation allows each diner to control the degree of spiciness according to personal preference. The ingredients include unripe mangoes, cucumber, shallots, long beans and bird's eye chili. The main highlight, though, is barbecued chicken. Flavorful beyond measure, I just cannot have enough of this masterfully-seasoned chicken. This dish is certainly highly recommended.

Another popular choice for set lunch is Deep-Fried Chicken With Choo Chii Sauce. Curry chicken is served alongside fried egg, rice, vegetables and a bowl of soup.

Choo chii (ฉู่ฉี่) is a type of semi-dry red curry that is popular in Thai cooking of several regions. Despite the curry's fiery appearance, its spiciness is not as extreme as one aspects. This curry is compatible with chicken cutlets.

If you prefer something sweet and tangy, try the Deep-Fried Fish With Assam Sauce. Its strong flavor may be overpowering for some people. Fortunately, the taste is reasonably milder when consumed with rice. Other ingredients are similar to the previous dish.

Key to its appeal is the use of tamarind sauce to enhance the flavor of fish. Fried shallots are used to provide aroma and as garnish. Although I am not a particular fan of tamarind, I think this dish is quite delectable too.

Among all dishes in the set lunch menu, Tanghoon Fish Head Yam Soup gives the best value for money. The choice of fish is barramundi (siakap). Although fish head does not contain much flesh, the bones do a great job in enhancing the taste of gravy, and subsequently glass noodles (วุ้นเส้น).

As for drinks, the choices are iced lemon tea or iced peach tea. Watermelon is served as dessert.

Like my previous visit, I am quite satisfied with these set lunch dishes. Although the price is affordable, Thai Baiyok does not cut corners in quality. Furthermore, the availability of set lunch till 5:00pm and on weekends makes it very convenient for many customers.

Name: Thai Baiyok (ไทยใบหยก)
Address: 105-G, Lorong Selamat, 10400 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-227-8308
Business hours: 11:00am-11:00pm, closed on Tuesdays
Website: https://www.facebook.com/restoranthaibaiyok
Coordinates: 5.41668 N, 100.32480 E
Directions: From Macalister Road (Jalan Macalister), turn to Lorong Selamat. Thai Baiyok is approximately 100 meters down this one-way road, on the right. There are private parking spaces in front of the restaurant.