Article and Photos by HELEN ONG

Food Gallery, located on the first floor of Times Square just off Jalan Dato’ Keramat, is the island’s latest as far as food court eating is concerned. The bright and cheerful 40,000 sq ft dining area, launched last week, is one of the largest around. There are plenty of comfortable, colourful tables and chairs arranged in the air-conditioned eating areas inside, but for smokers and diners who prefer it au naturelle, there is open-air seating outside which overlooks the Chin Ho Plaza.

20 custom-made stalls line the walls of the spacious food court, and everything looks spick and span, but that is only as it should be, bearing in mind that it has just opened.

“Each stall will be serving up some 20+ dishes, which means there will be over 200 types of food from over 15 different countries, as well as our must-have hawker delights, to choose from” said Chua Lye Hooi, Managing Director of the Bali Hai Group who is managing the place on behalf of Ivory Properties.

Popular Penang foods like Char Kuey Teow, Hokkien Mee and Wantan Mee, together with Chinese Yong Tau Fu and Roast Duck, Grilled Seafood, Fishhead Bee Hoon and Economy Rice, are joined by some new stalls which reflect the changing tastes of our younger generation: Western, German and Pasta Fusion.

Hong Kong Dim Sum is served from 7 every morning, and also increasingly popular are Taiwanese, Korean and Japanese cuisines, all available at Food Gallery.

There is also a Nasi Padang Stall run by Adenas who is from Jakarta – try their tasty Chilli Hijau cooked with petai.

Another stall with a difference is Mr Soup, which serves, as its name would imply, home-made soup fresh prepared every day. There are five yummy-sounding names to choose from: Roasted Pumpkin, Tangy Tomato, Chowder, Mushroom Napoleon, Chicken, and eventually, a daily special.

Some are creamy, but all are thick and hearty, designed to fill you up accompanied by just a side dish of salad, wholemeal bun or a piece of their Walnut Cheese Toast.

“We are trying to create a culture here of eating reasonably priced, healthy soups as a meal in itself,” said proprietor Adrian Tan, who first came across the concept when he lived in Singapore.

With ample parking on the ground and fourth floors, Food Gallery@Penang Times Square, open every day, will be another Penang food hub to head for.

Food Gallery

Penang Times Square

Jalan Dato’ Keramat

10150 George Town

Penang

N5° 24.834’

E100° 19.807’