Kari Kepala Ikan Set & Mee Udang @ Hotel Royal, Penang

While Hotel Royal in Georgetown Penang might be low profile among the hospitality market in Penang, it is a gem in terms of their dining offers. Recently, we were invited to try out their newly minted menu - Kari Kepala Ikan Set, Mee Udang, Set Nasi Bawal & Set Ayam Goreng, and these dishes are unexpectedly amazing in taste and reasonable priced! On top of that, the hotel management is planning to offer diners here a complimentary free of charge parking for an hour, solving the difficulty in finding a parking during peak hours in Georgetown area.

The best dining offer at Hotel Royal ought to be their Kari Kepala Ikan set, priced at RM 65 nett and can serve up to 2 to 3 pax. The whole set is inclusive of rice, stir fried chicken kunyit, telur dadar, stir-fried vegetables, ulam-ulaman, sambal belacan and hot beverage. 

We just love the curry and it is addictive - rich, decently creamy and spicy. Its quality easily surpass the normal fish head curry you get elsewhere. We even told the Executive Sous Chef, Rozairy Roslan that we hoped there are more curry so we could drench the plate of white rice with it.

This Kari Kepala Ikan Set is definitely worth the value. If you divide by 3, that is about RM 20+ per pax, yet it comes with additional 3 dishes and drinks. However, kindly take note it is only available every Friday, Saturday and Sunday (lunch or dinner) and has to be pre-order 24 hours ahead.

If you plan to pop up at Hotel Royal here for a quick lunch fix, get their Set Nasi Bawal or Set Ayam Goreng for just RM 13.90 nett/set. If you dine in here, the set will come with a cup of coffee or tea complimentary. Chef Rozairy has done an excellent job in both dishes - nice fluffy fish flesh and tender chicken that best paired with the chili provided. 

Hotel Royal Mee Udang (RM 18 nett) is a hit too. Its gravy is diligently cooked and simmered with sweet potatoes, resulting a balanced taste of spicy and sweet that is surprisingly addictive. On top of that, it is served along with 4 big fresh prawns that well justified its values. Chef Rozairy also used unique yellow noodles that yield a better texture and mouth feeling. Personally, we felt the Mee Udang here easily outmatch many Mee Udang offered elsewhere in Penang.

Delivery is available within 10km radius of Hotel Royal Penang too. Call or Whatsapp (019-556 6015) for delivery arrangement.

Overall, Hotel Royal serves delicious local Malay dishes that deserve a return trip.