Maple Palace Restaurant in Penang is said to be one of the best Chinese restaurants on the island – specialising in modern Chinese dishes and curated set menus according to one’s budget. The space is a combination of Chinese décor and Victorian elements, and the menu is extensive.
Maple Palace Penang
We had a combination of set menu and ala carte (for our helper and little ones); all enjoyable and I must say, dishes are better than what I’ve eaten at large Chinese restaurants in KL. The Iberico sweet and sour pork (RM58) comes with pomelo on top and the meat is juicy yet crispy on the outside, despite the sweet and sour glaze.
This Iberico sweet and sour pork is in a league of its own
Beancurd with shrimp and crab meat sauce
Our little girls really enjoyed the beancurd with shrimp and crab meat sauce (RM48 per portion). This was flavourful without being salty, and the deep fried enoki mushroom added a nice bite to the tofu.
Fried rice with crab meat and scallops
Fried rice with chicken and salted fish
Maple Palace’s fried rice with crab meat and scallops (RM58) is generous in portion and redolent of wok hei. The rice is fluffy with crispy bits from the wok fire, and there’s a good amount of scallops and crab in each spoonful. Even the fried rice with chicken and salted fish (RM45) is tasty – more savoury from the salted fish and fried silver fish on top.
Salad prawn with pomelo
The salad prawn with pomelo (RM98) is good stuff. King prawns are used for this dish so the flesh is sweet, juicy and comes with a nice bite. I also liked how it’s not “salad dressing” that was used to coat the prawns, but their own sauce, made in-house. I’m still thinking about this dish till today.
BBQ Iberico pork char siew | Teow Chew prawn ball | Steamed egg white crab meat
Maple Palace’s set menu is ideal for those looking for something outside of the regular menu. Plating is presentable and I like the detail to attention – I enjoyed our appetiser of BBQ Iberico pork char siew, teow chew prawn ball and steamed egg white crab meat. It’s rare to see teow chew prawn ball these days as it’s a classic recipe that takes time to prepare.
Double-boiled soup with stuffed chicken wing, fish maw and matsutake mushroom
The double-boiled soup with stuffed chicken wing, fish maw and matsutake mushroom was one of the highlights for me, at Maple Palace. The broth is flavourful yet light, and you get plenty of ingredients inside the bowl. One of the best double-boiled soups I’ve had, so far.
Pan-seared Australian beef tenderloin with foie gras and radish cake
I’m generally not a fan of beef in Chinese restaurant, especially when it’s pan-seared as many places cook the beef till it “turns to rubber”. But Maple Palace executed this beautifully. The beef was tender and cleverly paired with radish cake which was a nice twist. I also like that the foie gras was cooked just right so all in all, a solid dish.
Steamed coral trout with trio chili
Steamed coral trout with trio chili is Maple Palace’s take on “mala” broth. Since it’s a good fish, the chef toned down the Szechuan peppercorn and chillies to allow the sweetness of the fish to still come through.
Braised lobster with ee fu noodles and truffle oil
The braised lobster with ee fu noodles and truffle oil is as delicious as it sounds. Maple Palace gets the ee fu noodles directly from Hong Kong, so the texture is springy and the taste is superior. I feel the truffle oil isn’t needed as the noodles on its own is already delicious. Lobster was succulent and sweet, which adds richness to the noodles overall.
Chilled healthy green with snow lotus and peach resin
It took me a long time to figure out what dessert was – chilled healthy green with snow lotus and peach resin. Turns out, the healthy green was choy sum juice and it was lightly sweet and refreshing. After so much rich food, this was a good way to end our meal.
Overall, I enjoyed Maple Palace Restaurant. The food is delicious and no MSG is used – I didn’t feel thirsty at all after the meal. I haven’t tried many Chinese restaurants in Penang to call it the best, but the food is better than major Chinese restaurants in KL. That’s for sure.
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Ambiance: 7/10
Price: 6.5/10
Food: 7.5/10 (non-halal)
Verdict: Solid cooking. Food is good and ambiance is comfortable. I look forward to returning for more.
Do you have a food recommendation? Tell us!
Maple Palace Penang
Maple Palace Chinese Restaurant
47, Jln Sultan Ahmad Shah,
George Town, 10050 Penang.
Tel: 04-227 9690
Business hours: 12 till 2.30pm, 6 till 10pm