Humble Review: Arang Coffee @ Jalan Mahsuri, Bayan Lepas, Penang

'Charcoal','black' and 'darkness' are what I perceived in my mind when I first came across to Arang Coffee. This is simply because 'arang' in Malay vocabulary means charcoal. Thus, I pictured in my mind that the coffee place to be some kind of brown coloured or dark paintings that comes with some charcoal-related decorative items. I was proven not that exactly correct when I browsed about the cafe online.

Arang coffee has set up its business about 7 months ago at the new commercial site behind Olive Tree Hotel. The location is slightly tricky, I would say.
As at this post published, here's the direction to Arang Coffee: After turning into the main entrance towards hotel, kindly slow down your speed, spot a alley (reachable by vehicles) on your left hand side, there's a one-way route that drive through Olive Tree Hotel (on your right hand side). Spot Olive Tree Residence on your right hand side at the end of the alley then follow the direction to turn left, you will see Arang Coffee is at 50m ahead.
Alternatively, you could also reach Arang Coffee from Sunway Tunas residential area. Remember there's a cross junction with traffic lights in the huge residential and commercial area?  If you are entering from the main entrance of Sunway Tunas residential area, then remain at your lane till you reach to the junction. Keep yourself at the right lane, and right turns on green lights. Heading towards the lane and you will spot Arang Coffee at your left hand side.

Located at the corner side, Arang Coffee is on your sight with black and white coloured signboard. 

You will be welcomed by the warm greetings from the staff upon step in the cafe. The interior of the cafe is black in theme, perhaps a sign to illustrate the name, Arang (charcoal). The table setting is neatly arranged too. The sign for a list of beverages is putting up and a variety of sliced crepe cakes is presenting neatly at the patisserie display. The cafe runs self-service policy in taking order by the way. 

There are about 11 to 12 tables with a combination of a bar dining table that only accommodates 3 diners, tables for 2 to 6 pax are available as well. If you opt for al-fresco dining area or for smoking convenience, there are around 5 tables to be served at the corridor.

Here's the complete food menu for your reference with the servings of only western cuisine. The price is ranged between RM 9 to RM 24.

They do have set meal promotion from 12pm to 3pm.

This is the set meal offered during my visit: RM 29.50 inclusive of either spaghetti carbonara or fish and chips, soup of the day and selected drinks.

Try to spot on the chalkboard placed beside patisserie display that listing their limited-time on-going promotion.

Upon paying for your order, you will be given a wooden cube block with the labeling of the Arang coffee. Personally, I think it's their marketing strategy not only to be Instagram-worthy but also a way to be infused in the local industry, thumbs up for this effort.
Let's move on to the food.

Peppermint Tea (RM 8)

There are couples of non-caffeine beverages like peppermint tea. The aroma of peppermint is quite decongestant and has restorative effect to your head whereas it tastes rather mild which ensures a smooth flow through your throat.

No worries, a glass-bottled of plain water is served if you don't order any

drinks like me. Lemon slices are putting into the bottle as practised

commonly by others, too.

Lunch for two.
Bottom : Fish and Chips
Top: Grilled Chicken and Cheese Sandwich
Both are served on wooden chopper board.
( Details about the food are as followed)

Fish and Chips (RM 18)

A generous portion of deep-fried cornflake crumbed tilapia fish fillet comes together with fries, salad and homemade tartar sauce.

Squeezing some lemon juice on the fish fillet is always a routine for me before starts eating.

The creamy texture of homemade tartar sauce is a highlight. In my two-cents, it is rather thin texture and I'm sated to put on more sauce on the cut fillet, not to forget, it's less sweet compared to that of provided in other places. 

A close-up to the fillet.

To my own liking, it is prepared well with less oil, moist and tender for chewing.

One drawback is on the fries, they are not served warm. (Deduct marks!!!)

Grilled Chicken and Cheese Sandwich (RM17)

Two half-cut sandwiches made up with a compile of chicken slices that paired up with layers of baked cheese  and caramalised onion, together with homemade BBQ sauce. A small bucket of fries and salad are served up along as well.

The tenderness of the meat is the key and the chef has successfully made it out.

The tangy BBQ sauce helps in putting a delectable taste to chew the meat together with the wholesome bread.

I love to see the  blend-up of baked cheese and the chicken slice, it's visibly tantalizing.

PS: This is not crocodile's mouth! LOL

The crepe cakes have attracted us since we stepped in the cafe, hence we got one slice as dessert. 

During our visit, seven different flavours of crepe cakes  (RM 11/slice)and a jar of yogurt oats topped with fruits (RM 13.50/jar) are available to choose.

The flavours of crepe cake include Chocolate Twin ( Combination of chocolate and vanilla ), Blackcurrant yogurt (Slightly sour), Tiramisu, Cocoa Loco (Combination of two types of chocolate), Matcha, Hokkaido Chocolate and Raspberry yogurt.

We were in the blank of choosing for ourselves but the friendly waiter and waitress tried their best in giving their advice on which flavour to choose.

They asked our taste preference and gave suggestions, in the end, we picked Cocoa Loco.

Cocoa Loco ( RM 11)

A sliced crepe cake with the combination of two types of chocolate. I don't know much about chocolate hence I am not able to tell out which kind of chocolate used.

And I suppose that these crepe cakes are outsourced because the waitress is also not sure which kind of chocolate used for this flavour.

If you have a sweet tooth, Cocoa Loco would be your favourite to be indulged. It is slightly sweet if you have a mouthful amount, not to my own liking though.

In overall, the food and cakes we had is decent with its acceptable pricing. The lighting is not as dim as I thought (due to the name of the cafe), natural sunlight from the outside balances the dining environment as the main colour is dark in colour or black inside the cafe.

As observed, the customers are mainly white-collar workers and college students during our visit.

In short, I believe that Arang Coffee is a new chilling place for people in Bayan Lepas, we no longer have to drive to town for a cup of coffee or a short meet-up with friends.

  You are welcomed to save the location for your own convenience.

Summary: (Scaling point: 0- lowest ; 5- highest)
Price: 3/5 ( No additional charge or GST )
Taste: 3/5
Dining Ambience: 2/5 ( Lower temperature of air-cond on demand )
Vehicles Parking: 4/5 ( Less shop lots opened at the moment)
Business Hour: 9am - 12am. Opens daily.
Contact Number: 017-3696202 ( You may call for reservation )
Facebook Page: Arang Coffee

Here to attach a short video of us while having the crepe cake, it's our first attempt of recording short video anyway.


I hope you enjoy reading, thank you.

Five big changes I have (unexpectedly) gained in my campus life.

About a month ago, one of the hot topics being discussed among the society would be the ending speech given by the CEO of Nokia during the press conference for the announcement of the acquisition of Microsoft on Nokia.

Some of my friends had shared this article on Facebook. They also cited some of the words as a lesson to themselves as well to the friends on Facebook. I read about the article too. To me, the most remarkable one would be ' 'Those who refuse to learn and improve, will definitely one day become redundant and not relevant to the industry.' Short and simple, it means no changes in life doesn't promise a sustainable tomorrow.

Believe me, your life keep changing all the time, said by one of my lecturers during a lecture class recently.

Here, I don't promise whether there're definitely good changes or not. But one thing I'm firmly guarantee is, if the same mistakes happen to you, you would realize that what the elders had lectured u once are proved to be absolutely right, especially if you have been through the campus life, like me.

Let's straight to point now.

#1 I'm now proactive in handling my daily livings.

Most of the university students have the opportunity to leave hometown for the studies. This simply means they ought to prepare everything from A to Z by themselves. For instance, handling your own livings. House chores and daily meals are now your own duty. Here, it's no longer done by your mum or helper. Nevertheless, no one would keep nagging u to clean up your messy room. If you keep behaving like how you do at home, aha, there you go, staying at a dirty and messy room.
Good thing is, no matter what, you know some basics of handling your own livings after this hostel life of yours.

Taking my own example, even though I know how but I don't do the cleaning at my home or maybe I do it once it a blue moon whenever I have the mood for it or after being annoyed from mum's nagging either. One more thing, I could easily forget about laundry till I see a mole of clothes of mine is at the laundry bucket.
Staying in hostel is indeed a way to discipline myself. Now, I sweep the floor at least twice a week and do laundry once every 2-3 days, depending on the amount of clothes.
Moreover, I would ensure that my desk is always kept tidy and neat, partly because of peer pressure, I suppose. I would be embarrassed to let my friends and even roommate to see the poor living style of mine.


#2 I'm more responsible in preparing meal.

Here, you are neither being woken up with your parents or siblings asking you to get up for lunch or dinner nor your friends. You want eat then go ahead, you don't want then it's simply none of anyone's business. As the location of my campus as well as hostel are located under the rural area, the scarce source and offerings has been greatly impacting on students' livings, mainly food. Book stores and photocopy shops are available in great number that provide convenience to students but not food stall. Come on, it's hard to get people to operate a food stall that aiming student in this rural area! Hence, buying ingredients at supermarket at the nearest town is an alternative to ensure your meal problem is fixed, only if you want to cook for the sake of eating healthier. For your information, it is nearly 20 minutes of journey to the nearest town by shuttled bus.

Cooking is fun but it is somehow prolonged after including dishes washing . I don't cook often in hostel, but whenever I do, I would make sure I eat healthy/eat clean. My top favourite food prepared in hostel is clear soup rice noodles(or glass noodle either) with vegetables. I love eating vegetables so normally I buy greens and tomatoes, the soup base are from seasoning cube to have it a mild aroma. Another easier meal to prepared is congee that paired up with either canned lettuce or pork floss. Apart from take-away food at cafeteria, milo with crackers, oatmeal, bun/bread are also my usual meals over here. To be honest, I live to eat but I eat to survive in hostel. I'm not picky in having my meals here anyway.


#3 I start learning to manage my emotion.

I'm a sentimental person and sometimes be emotional when it comes to things that are harmful or unlogical to me. I often throw tantrum at home, but not at outside anymore. I can just burst into tears in any corners of my house which is visible by my family members. You are going to be rejected or boycotted by people if you continue to behave this way in campus life. Course mates are just course mates or perhaps, friends, in case of going further. They have no obligation see you like that. So I'd got some lectures that I ought to always put on smile on my face whenever I'm out from my room. No matter how bad is my feeling, I must hide it deep down inside and pretend to be everything is alright. Perhaps this is the norm of the society, and university is commonly interpreted as a pre-society that running like a modified working society out there.

I cry whenever I feel very bad. But I do it in my room whenever my roommate is away or hide myself by a pillow to release the tension. I start to expect less from people while doing my best on everything because disappointment and sorrow are mostly derived from high expectation, I would say.  Good thing is, I realize that keeping myself calm is the key to stablelize my emotion, I would have myself a short moment of deep breath and hold on my tears if I feel like shedding tears (yeah, right before the water tap at my eyes are out of control). The same thing applied when it comes to anger and dissatisfaction. To conclude, to have a high degree of emotional intelligence(EI) or emotional quotient(EQ) is absolutely an essential part for one.


#4 I'm more adaptive to do things solo

Before stepping into campus life, I'd always like to get things done with companion whenever it's possible. I love laughter and people to be surrounded. I'm grateful to have it but campus life is also a best time for me to grow up realizing that it's definitely not a permanent situation. Everyone is unique and runs different kind of lifestyle. Staying at hostel simply means everyone has their own schedule to follow and their own stuff to do, no one is obliged to follow your plan all the time. I've always telling myself that I do things for my own good (and of course, for the sake of survival), hence I'd stepped out a big forward to be solo sometimes. Not to mention, I feel that being solo occasionally is not a bad option at all! At least, you would have peace moment for yourself, follow your heart to do and you would feel awesomely good. For example, buying meals at cafeteria and taking bus alone for a meeting. It's a sign of being big girl, I know right.


#5 I'm more appreciative for everything.

To be frank, I look somethings for granted and always thought they should be in the way that I think. This concept is totally vanished after I've involved myself into tertiary studies. Like I mention previously, you are the only one to be responsible for your own. I get into homesick after the few months to stay away from hometown and that initiated my great appreciation towards family. I start to love them more. Moreover, I would keep looking for opportunity to have family times whenever I back to home. We start to have video calls lately but it's never too late to give concern to each other. Besides, I tend to be grateful over the contribution of my coursemates and friends in terms of assistance and giving some times to me. Being appreciative is a token of happiness that leads me towards a positive livings.


This is my third year or sixth semester spending in campus life, I'm thankful that I grew up quite good mentally in these years. I wonder how the real working society would be yet I'm afraid of it at the same time, but involving in campus life has, at least, prepared me at little bit to fit into the working society in near future. In short, campus life is indeed an eye-opener and a great tutor to transform me into a better one.

懒人料理小厨娘： 这些快餐，保证美味又健康！(1)

我，超级爱吃，爱吃的程度远超一般人吧。要不是自己还在意美貌和体重，否则我将会是无时无刻把食物忘嘴里塞的一位大肥婆。
我也爱烹饪，对我而言，从煮食到上菜一系列的过程有我参与以及精心投入，那将是一大开心事呢。

这篇贴文就是来分享我近来的快餐作品。快餐在这指的是短时间就能上菜的食物，烹饪时间顶多只有30分钟！

懒人健康快餐现在开始。

# 1 蔬菜清汤配冬粉/米粉

偶尔厌倦了外头的煎炸爆炒，这清汤餐肯定让你的舌尖休息片刻，也好给你的胃舒暖一些。我超爱吃蔬菜，能够自己煮食的时候，我都偏清淡些，比较少肉，所以这里我放了两种，分别为两个茄子（西红柿）以及高丽菜。

这里看到的是老弟还有我的分量。

材料有： 特选火锅配料 （超市里有的卖，一包可分三，四次使用）

西红柿 （分量依个人喜好）

高丽菜 （分量依个人喜好）

 米粉（视个人喜爱分量，你放冬粉为代替）

把蔬菜浸洗干净后，切至小片，方便下锅，而且小片比较容易煮熟。

西红柿的切法也是依据个人喜爱的，像我就喜欢吃这样的切片大小。

有些人习惯把高丽菜切丝，但我认为丝状比较适合清炒。

像我这样的切法（或许可以更小片些）就有如一般火锅店里的切片大小。

不论是冬粉还是米粉，别忘了一开始还没切菜时就要把它们浸水软化了。

在切蔬菜的同时，我就煮一锅的开水也放入了调味精块作为调味。

先调开大火滚这一锅水，水温大概温热时就可以加入调味精块了。

照片中看到的就是调味精块已经渗入那一锅水，成了汤头。

这里我用的是鸡肉精块。当然，市场上也有售卖其他的口味如江鱼仔和牛肉。

倘若你有时常到邻国游玩，不妨买猪肉的。上一次我买的8块猪肉调味精块，20泰铢。

想吃些酸辣口味的则可以选择东炎味的。

顺道一提，通常我用了调味精块后就不再添加任何调味料了，比如酱油还是盐。

当然，如果你想要吃些肉也绝对可以放入一同煮。碰巧这次肉类已经用完了。

我试过放肉燥还有切片的腰肉，这样汤头就会来些荤味。

 由于高丽菜的质感有点硬，当汤头形成后，再关盖待它滚一次，我就把菜放入。

一来可以让蔬菜的甜味渗入汤里，高温度也能够把他们煮软。

我在这时就开个小口避免汤煮开了而溢出。
少许的火锅料理也等待放入。

 约10分钟后，汤头再次滚开后，我就放入火锅料理。

这时候，如上图显示，蔬菜已经软了。

尝了汤头，果然入味了。

在这里我用中火做最后一次的滚烫。

最后，我就放入米粉烫一两分钟。

这样就完成啦。超大一锅的马上吃得到。

汤头有了蔬菜的入味加上鸡肉味调味精块的协调，也有一些火锅料理助阵。

猪肉丸的出现让你在享受这一餐也能够尝到些肉类呢。

这样的一个煮法也有如迷你火锅，让不太爱吃太多火锅料理的你吃得健康又开心。

总费用也不算大啊其实，加上少许的时间就能够享用，不妨试试吧。

顺便一提，我在宿舍最爱煮这一款，只不过是少了那些火锅料理。

用饭锅煮，挺容易，烹饪新手也肯定办得到。

但愿下一个懒人料理能够尽快分享出。

Humble Review: T&K Seafood @ Chinatown, Bangkok

Disappointment.

Here's a disclaimer before I further develop this blog entry, this is solely regarding to the dining experience of my family in our recent visit.

Let me begin to share with you our way to reach Chinatown by public transport. The public transport in Bangkok city is various including motorcyclist ferry service, tuk tuk (three-wheeled taxi that commonly seen in Bangkok), buses, boat shuttle service and cab.

As usual, we headed to Chinatown (Yaowarat) by public transport. You can either take bus no. 73 or 73ก at Pratunam bus stop, opposite Indra Square.


The red pointer is exactly where we wait for bus for about 30 minutes as it was around 4pm, heavy traffic flow occur along the road.

You are welcomed to click here to read my previous visit to Chinatown as well.



This is the interior of the bus. Clean and cool ( air conditioning system working pretty efficient) though it's rather an old bus.

A ticketing assistant approached us shortly after we got our own seats. 13 Baht each passenger of a single journey from Pratunam to Yaowarat. 
 It was about 4.48pm and apparently it's one of the peak hours where heavy traffic flow occur on the road. Thanks God that the flow is smooth though it's slow as compared to my previous visit in the morning.

Despite this is my second visit to Chinatown, I have no clue which station I should get down. No worries, the ticketing assistant is so much helpful that she signaled us when it's about to reach Yaowarat, of course, we did request her to inform us earlier on.

A closer view of the interior.

这真的是水泄不通，车水马龙！

Snapshot of bustling street in Chinatown. We reached Yaowarat about 30 minutes later.

Kindly take extra precautions on your belongings to avoid pickpocketing or any injuries whenever you are there. As you could see the vehicles pass by right beside the hawkers or even just the people flow. Super bustling and crowded!

 This is it, T & K Seafood. Spot this green house (green colour painted building and also green colour t shirt) surrounded with lots of foreign visitors as early as nearly 5.30pm. The restaurant operates at 6pm.  The two ropes here are the delivery way for the upstairs to get order as well as ingredients. 
I watched by myself that the staff hanged a pack of chicken meat and it was delivered up to second floor by manual pull-up. 

This cooking section that set up at outside, right in front of the main door of T&K Seafood would be spotted as well. Alright, forget about hygiene, I would say.

Have no clue where to spot the restaurant? Maybe the following photos of nearby shop lots (landmarks) might help you just in case you are unable to google search for the location.

This is taken from our table at the al fresco area of T&K Seafood Restaurant. As you see, T&K provides dining area at the compound of shop lots which are not operating starts from evening time.

Another near landmark would be KrungThai Bank Chinatown outlet. It is just opposite at the right hand side of the junction of T&K.

Below are the menu I managed to take photo for your reference.

The actual serving is like that

Seafood tom yum soup (150 baht) and fish maw with crab meat soup (200 baht)

Tomyum soup is densed with the milk. It would be perfectly addictive for people who prefer on more spicy taste of Tomyum instead of sourish. The ingredients inside including fish slices, squids, prawns and button mushrooms.

For both soup, first taste, damn, it's not serving hot, just a bit of warm with the help of the charcoal burning at the bottom. Apparently, it's not an ideal serving. The bean sprout still taste raw even though we have throw it into the fish maw soup, it must be due to the temperature of the soup.

Steamed White Snapper in Soya Bean Sauce (300 Baht)

This is little bit better with the soya bean sauce is 'boiling' with the assistance of the candle burning at the bottom. According to my parents who have more dining experience, they said the fish is already steamed earlier on, like few hours ago and they only take it out and place it with the soya bean sauce to be served up. So, it's kind of 'reheat' servings up on the table. *Face palm*

To make it a more balanced meal, we ordered stir fried water mimosa (80 Baht). What the heck, the hardest stem of vege I've taste ever in my life.菜都老了也敢敢上桌。

The rice comes in a pot with only 40 Baht charged whereas 10 baht for each individual plate. I would advise to go for pot size if you have large dining pax and/or able to take in big amount of rice. Cashed out a total of 840 Baht with four dishes and a big bottle of Coke with a small bucket of ice cubes for five pax.

It's not hard to spot T&K with long queue along the street if you happen to be in Chinatown starts from 6.30pm at the local time. You could see the staff in green t-shirt busily taking order from customers who are queuing up and waiting for table at the same time.

Here's a couple of evening view of China Town

Grand China Hotel is also another landmark in China Town. It was where we got down from bus in our first visit.

It may be a wonderful dining experience for people out there with the servings of big seafood like crab and prawn but not 煮炒 like what we had.  I wonder if the cook can do well in preparing those seafood then why not these rather simple dishes? I guess it's just our bad luck.

You could save it for your convenience.

T&K Seafood at Chinatown (Thailand, Bangkok)

49-51 Soi Phadung Dao, Yaowarat Road

Chinatown, Bangkok 10100, Thailand

Tel: +66 2 223 4519

Opening Hours: Daily 6pm to 2am