More and more new dining places have been mushrooming in Penang and one of the latest addition that worth visiting is Shokudo Niban in Hin Bus Depot. Instead of calling Shokudo Niban a restaurant or Cafe, the terminology Japanese inspired bar or canteen fits the description better. There are only 16 seats in the eatery, akin an Izakaya in Japan. Despite the limited seating and small menu, crowd still influx this tiny restaurants due to its quality food. It is best to make a table reservation prior coming to prevent disappointment.
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| Kaisen Chirasi Don |
The restaurant is petite in size to the extent the only two square tables are closely adjacent to each othes, while the rest of patrons are seated on the bar tables. Good thing about this is you can see the chefs in action during the food preparation process.
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| Agedashi Tofu |
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| Okonomi Riceyaki |
Shokudo Niban only offers 4 types of food - small plates aka starters, Yakitori & skewers, Donburi or rice dishes and sweet treats with a total about 20 different kind of dishes to choose from. This somehow ease up the selection process.
For starters, we ordered an Agedashi Tofu (RM 12) and Okonomi Riceyaki (RM 20). The star of the day definitely belong to agedashi tofu. It has crisp crust and soft tofu within, and the warm umami flavoured sauce complemented the tofu well. Reduce the time for photos and Savour this dish immediatelly upon it is served to maximize the relishment.
The Okonomi Riceyaki was deep fried nicely and topped with yaki sauce, mayonnaise and bonito flakes. A classic Japanese dish that we would order almost anytime.
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| Tempura Unagi Chahan rice Burger |
There are several premium dishes in Shokudo Niban such as A3 wagyu, Angus beef, salmon belly, plate of foie gras, ikura, scallops and pickled lobsters that cost more than RM100 for those looking to enjoy these dishes.
However, we went for a more affordable range of food, such as Tempura Unagi Chachan Rice Burger (RM 32) and Kaisen Chirasi Don (RM 45). The Chachan rice burger is a creative representation of Japanese style burger by having rice sandwiched in between fried unagi. Overall texture and flavour is nice for rice burger and it offers a refreshing impression of the conventional burger we had.
On the other hand, the Kaisen Chirasi Don is an ideal selection for those who wants to enjoy fresh cut of the fish without denting your wallet much. There are a variety of fish topping the rich. For those who enjoy a wasabi kick, feel free to whip some of the wasabi provided for a pungent feeling.
There are limited types of sweet treats being offered, namely Tempura Mochi, Uji Matcha Cream Roll and Matcha Shiratama Zenzai Mochi, red bean + homemade Uji Matcha sorbet. We had an Uji Matcha Cream Roll (RM 17) and it was above average but satifsfying.
Overall, it was a nice dining experience in Shokudo Niban and we had a great lunch there. The only downside is the petite environment that makes dining uncomfortable sometimes, and dining hours may be capped too to accomodate new patrons. However it is understandable, considering the places in Hin Bus Depot is pretty limited. The restaurant crews also did their best to accomodate our presence with a toddler.
Shokudo Niban
Operation hours: 12pm - 3pm; 5pm - 9pm (closed on Monday)
Tel: +60178121526
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