Penang Road — Restaurant in Melbourne

To sum it up lackluster and unhygienic.

Penang Road undeservingly features on the A-List Southeast Asian food in Melbourne, undeserved not just for hygiene issues but because really the food is mediocre and the quality is appalling. On entering it's a real hole in the wall which is charming but that gives way to the general ambiance that really no one running this restaurant is responsible for how uninviting the rest of the dining experience is. On entering and being seated right after opening at 1700, a very audible, annoying and incessant ring is heard from their meal delivery app urgently demanding and screaming for attention. Another observable issue is that everything is grimy. They have hand sanitizer near the entrance but what is the point if their tattered and grubby menu is a potential disease vector, on going to the back for the washroom, the Japanese 'Noren' cloth divider that is placed at face level and at one stage was white, is heavily soiled and brown with dirt from patrons and kitchen staff entering and using the restrooms. There's no avoiding it as well as it's down two steps making ducking underneath unlikely and awkward so everyone is forced to touch the same dirty cloth that everyone has touched on the way to and back from using the toilets.

So if that is what it's like eating in what about take away/ordering out?

Unapologetically the food follows a similar lack of attention to detail and unconcerned care. Ordered a Nasi Lemak with Chicken Curry, the curry even if prepped before hand was warmed up in a microwave having presented a ring of bubbling and curry sticking to the edge of the bowl, the Nasi while tasting of coconut had been from the night before as it was mushy & broken and probably the easiest to recognize was the fried egg which had a solid yolk and the biggest offense, the accompanying slices of cucumber that had been long ago sliced and exposed to air, in that they looked tired and were bone dry.

So what about the other dishes? I ordered the Mee Goreng, seasoned different then what I'm used to and that isn't inherently bad but its also not Mee Goreng and, while I do have plenty to add my litmus is the Nasi Lemak. Would I go back and try other dishes, in fairness.. No. The restaurant is filthy.

OK so discounting all of the above and objectively looking at the price point of paying paying $14 while sitting in this grimy restaurant or ordering from home. Is it worth it? Absolutely NOT! There are tons of restaurants that actually care and are fighting to survive after not just lock down but the continuing lack of foot traffic, plenty of them are fighting to stay alive and gain patrons, plenty of them offer meals at this price point, plenty care about what they actually serve and serve quality.

Penang Road just doesn't care so why should you care to eat...

I usually don't bother leaving reviews, but this experience was so bad that I had to.

Tried to go here for a nice midweek lunch time meal. Both waitresses were not terribly welcoming. They sat us down with water and gave us our menus. My partner ushers them over to take our order, like you would in any other restaurant. They then decide to tell us at that point we have to order at the counter, even though we are the only ones in the place at this point. I was puzzled as to why we weren't informed of this as we walked in.

My partner has questions about the dishes, as most folks do. A line began to form at the order area from people coming in from the street, and each time he had a question, he was pushed back in the queue! Although the experience wasn't fantastic at this point, we were willing to go ahead and order our meals.

Unfortunately, they committed true cardinal sin of a restaurant: Being out of stock on an ingredient, and it wasn't just any old ingredient. THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY BEEF! There were literally so many items on the menu with beef on them. How can you not have any? I can understand at the end of the dinner shift, but at the start of day? C'mon now! That just shows how disorganised the place is.

Anyway, we promptly up and left at that point. The look on their faces was priceless. I guess they haven't had many stand up to their subpar service before.

In any case, we went to a family run Thai joint down the road near Pizza Hut instead, and the Beef Massaman was to die for. My partner also greatly enjoyed his green curry. Doesn't look like much from the outside, but it was so tasty. So thanks Penang Road, you helped me find a...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Penang Road Restaurant in South Melbourne, and I must say it was an exceptional experience. This restaurant truly captures the essence of Malaysian cuisine, offering a diverse menu that includes tantalizing dishes like laksa, Hainan chicken, and an array of other Malaysian delicacies.

The highlight of my visit was undoubtedly the laksa. Bursting with flavor, the rich and aromatic broth was perfectly balanced with a medley of spices, coconut milk, and fresh ingredients. The noodles were cooked to perfection, and the combination of succulent chicken and plump prawns made for a truly satisfying meal. It was an authentic taste of Malaysia that left me craving for more.

What impressed me just as much as the food was the warm and welcoming atmosphere created by the owner and staff. They greeted me with genuine smiles and were attentive throughout my dining experience. Their knowledge of the menu was commendable, and they were more than happy to offer recommendations based on my preferences.

The owner's passion for Malaysian cuisine was evident in every aspect of the restaurant. From the vibrant decor to the carefully curated menu, it was clear that they had put a lot of thought and effort into creating an authentic dining experience.

Overall, my visit to Penang Road Restaurant was a delightful journey through the flavors of Malaysia. With its friendly and polite staff, delectable dishes, and inviting ambiance, it is undoubtedly a gem in South Melbourne. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone seeking an unforgettable Malaysian...