Bistro Tang @Ren I Tang, Penang

The core zone of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Penang is full of laid-back cafes, local coffee shops and street food stalls that locals and visitors can patronized. One such cafe that we discovered and certainly fits our liking is Bistro Tang.

Housed on the ground floor of Ren I Tang at the junction of Lebuh Penang (Penang Street) and Lebuh China (China Street), the bistro’s interior is softened by the warmth of antique wooden tables and chairs besides artworks.

This little gem serves up a menu with interesting Oriental and Western dishes.

For beverages, you can decide between lemonade, ice-blended calamansi freeze, sodas, smoothies, cold beer and wine. The ice-blended calamansi freeze prepared with grandma’s original homemade calamansi-honey recipe has a nice note of calamansi shining through.

Calamansi Freeze RM10.90

Be sure to try their specialty Bistro TANG Laksa, with rice noodle in an aromatic tangy fish broth with chopped cucumber, pineapple and onions. The dish is perked up with garnishing of bunga kantan (torch ginger flower), daun kesum, mint leaves and thick hae ko (prawn paste).

The savory fish broth combined with bright zingy garnishing and pungent prawn paste makes an irresistible healthy dish.

Bistro Tang Laksa RM15.90

The Yin Oi Tong Herbal Chicken Soup, on the other hand, can be just as satisfying and nourishing. This specialty comes in a piping hot claypot with soup boiled with traditional Chinese herbs and chicken drumstick. Served with a choice of steamed rice or mee sua (wheat flour vermicelli), the beautifully cooked chicken soup dish is only available on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Yin Oi Tong Herbal Chicken Soup with mee sua RM15.90

Larger appetites will be sated with the traditional Asian style Chicken Chop. This meatier option offers deep-fried chicken chop with tangy sweet sour sauce, and heaps of vegetable and fries.

Asian style chicken chop RM22.90 (20 minutes cooking time)

Besides Oriental dishes, the menu also offers Western mains such as chicken schnitzel, vegetarian wrap, smoked salmon rosti, beer batter fish & chips and pull beef open-sandwich.

The salmon rosti with coarsely grated potato cakes fried to a crisp is especially addictive with sour cream. With three pieces of potato cakes, this filling dish is certainly one for sharing.

Smoked Salmon Rosti RM20.90

For those looking to move on to desserts, Bistro Tang offers refreshing fruit meringue, creme brulee and chocolate brownie and waffle served with homemade ice cream.

The airy and bright corner café offers non-airconditioned indoor and courtyard dining too. If you wish to watch the whirl of Little India activity buzzing by, do grab a front table or those by the windows.

Besides housing Bistro Tang, Yin Oi Tong Chinese Medical Hall Museum and the Yin Oi Tong Chinese Medical Hall on the ground floor, Ren I Tang also houses the heritage inn (with 17 rooms) on the first and second floors.

Bistro Tang @Ren I Tang
82-A Lebuh Penang
10200 George Town
Pulau Pinang

Tel: 04 – 2508383

Business Hour: 11.30am till 11pm

Closed on Tuesdays