Juniper
During my recent visit to Penang, one thing is for sure – the Tg. Tokong I knew in my childhood is unrecognizable as the whole area is so developed. Precinct 10 is Penang’s hottest F&B spot. No problems getting parking here but that means you have to pay for hourly parking. My friend brought me to Hong Xing No.1 Dim Sum restaurant where the ambiance is nicer than the other dim sum restaurant we visited a few days earlier in Pulau Tikus.
Apparently, on weekends, you would have to join a long queue to get into Hong Xing. We ordered a few items from the menu and it all came beautifully presented. The decor of this restaurant reminds me of China restaurants with the folding screens which give diners a measure of privacy from other tables. They also have seating upstairs for especially crowded days but the day we visited, only downstairs was occupied.
This was an excellent meal as the dim sum is so fat and the prawns within are fresh and big. Service was prompt even if it can sometimes be a bit difficult to get the staff’s attention due to them having to attend to so many tables. I would love to return to Hong Xing the next time I am back in Penang as all the dim sum we ordered exceeded expectations other than the Chicken Glutinous Rice which tasted a tad ordinary, like the version one gets from coffee shops.
