5 Senses Noodle Bar Sharing Plates — Restaurant in George Town

✨ A Hidden Gem for Unique and Flavorful Bites ✨

I recently visited this charming spot and was blown away by the creativity and balance of flavors in their dishes. Here's what I tried:

Savory Ice Cream with Sweet Potato Chips At first glance, I wasn’t sure what to expect — ice cream in a starter? But this dish was a delightful surprise. The ice cream had a rich, umami flavor (maybe cheese or truffle?), paired with crispy sweet potato chips that added the perfect crunch. Underneath was a bed of crumbs that brought everything together with a nutty finish. Unconventional, but it works. Totally something to talk about!

Cold Black Fungus Salad This was hands down one of the freshest cold appetizers I’ve had in a while. The wood ear mushrooms were perfectly marinated — slightly tangy, savory, and super refreshing. Topped with sesame seeds and green onions for that extra aromatic punch. It's the kind of dish that keeps your palate awake and ready for more.

Century Egg with Chili Oil If you're a fan of century eggs, you must try this version. Served over a generous bed of fragrant chili oil and crunchy chili flakes, every bite had the creamy silkiness of the egg balanced with spicy, smoky flavors. The green onions and sesame seeds added just the right finish. A bold dish, but incredibly well done.

💬 Overall: Each dish had its own personality, and you can tell the chef isn’t afraid to experiment while still respecting traditional flavors. Definitely coming back — and...

Our group of more than 10 people dined here and ordered a wide variety of dishes, including 7 bowls of noodles and 3 bowls of ham yue fah lam poh rice. Overall, the food was enjoyable, the flavors were tasty, and the noodles had an excellent texture.

One point to highlight is the chili serving policy. The noodles do not come with chili oil by default, chili is only provided with the ham yue fah lam poh rice. In our case, we received only 3 small portions of chili (served in small plastic sauce ) to accompany the 3 rice dishes. Each portion was quite minimal, with just a thin layer of chili. When several diners requested additional chili, we were informed that no extra portions could be given. As a result, those who ordered noodles found it difficult to enjoy their meals to the fullest, especially since chili is an important condiment for many noodle dishes.

We have no complaint regarding the pricing, as it reflects the positioning of the restaurant. However, in the F&B industry, it is generally understood that accommodating customer requests for extra chili or condiments is a normal practice. Even casual street food vendors often provide chili on the side or allow self-service, ensuring customers can adjust flavors to their liking.

In summary, while the food quality is good, the strict limitation on chili portions may affect the overall dining experience for guests who enjoy spicy condiments. It may be worth considering bringing your own chili if you plan...

The restaurant offers free on-site parking for around 15–20 cars, which is convenient. The dining space is air-conditioned, spacious, and not overly crowded, providing a comfortable environment.

However, the overall experience falls short of expectations. Service can be improved, as basic essentials like cutlery were not prepared despite a 10% service charge.

Food quality is inconsistent. The noodles—considered the shop’s main highlight—were already sold out during lunch, which was disappointing. Other dishes lacked balance and refinement:

Mapo Tofu used a creamy-style tofu with unseasoned minced pork, resulting in a bland dish. Carbonara carried an overpowering egg yolk smell and lacked creaminess. Rice with Pork Lard had an unpleasant oily odor. Dry Noodles were overly salty, with no balance to offset the heaviness of the soy-based seasoning. Glazed Chicken was the exception, prepared well with good tenderness and flavor.

The restaurant also restricts chili sauce to very small portions, claiming it is homemade and limited, but the taste itself does not justify such rationing.

Hygiene is another concern, as cups for plain water had a noticeable odor, suggesting poor cleaning or sterilization.

With average dish prices above RM30, the standard of food, service, and hygiene does not align with the cost. While the ambience and parking are positives, significant improvements are needed in food execution, service attentiveness, and...