York Hotel White Rose Cafe

We were there for the Annual Penang Hawker's Fare and I was not the least bit impressed. The whole event was held at York Hotel's breakfast cafe styled area with a large spacious seating that at this time is crawling with hungry patrons.

Its a buffet yet its not really so. Just like what you may find at the infamous hawkers, you got to queue and watch them prepare your food collect and go back. So you do see alot of walking, not so much of serving and lotsa cooking. The queue I must say is pretty long on all the stalls which comes up to a mere 10 or so. Menu served is a selection of Penang's most popular and favourite dishes such as Char Kway Teow, Fishball noodles, Prawn Noodles, Asam Laksa, Mian Jian Kway, Hey Chor (aka wu xiang), penang rojak and ice kacang.

The food did not taste exceptionally good and the selection was too simple and by my standards a little too few. Though these dishes represents the Penang culture and what we most likely would love to eat when we visit the place yet the way its being made in terms of taste and food portion is not equivalent. Everything is served in small portions and each patron can only get 2 portions per queue. This I find is a very good system to prevent overcrowding and queue hogging.

The few stuffs I find pretty yummy would be:

1) Asam Laksa - The soup was thick and savoury, aromatic with loads of prawn paste and tangy with controlled spiciness. Its not too spicy and tasted just right for a non-chilli diner like me.

2) Penang Rojak - Its something like a salad with prawn paste and is difficult to get it wrong. Though my taiwanese friends do mention that prawn paste smells like stinky socks yet how could something taste so yummy when mixed with juicy fruits and crispy you tiao?

3) Fish Ball kway teow soup - Fish ball is bouncy and chewy, soup savoury and kway teow soft and springly. This is a pretty light dish with clear soup yet its comfort food for many.

Service was sufficient but not extraordinary. Its busy, the place is crowded yet our water are refilled promptly and used plates cleared quickly. Though the food is alright only, selections few, price is not small. I find it not a good choice for buffet, i mean there are better buffets for that same price yet I'm still puzzled.. the place is crowded to its brim and i do mean a queue forming while the seating area is already pretty huge and overly utilized.

Food: 3.5/5 Selection:2.5/5 Service: 3.5/5 Location: 2.5/5 Price: 2/5

Will I return: Not for the buffet, perhaps for other stuffs

Will i bring my friends: Will not recommend but will let them know that a Penang Fare exists.

This is by far the best Yu Sheng that I have tasted.

The salads and salmons are fresh, the crackers are crispy, the sauces and condiments when mixed tasted just right. Not too sour, not too sweet.

Very appetising. Plus, Jellyfish is also included in which makes it more unique.