Helena Restaurant — Restaurant in George Town

An Unexpected Gem Just Minutes from Park Royal – A Must-Visit in Penang

Just a five-minute stroll from the Park Royal Resort lies Helena Restaurant – a true hidden gem that absolutely blew us away. Don’t let the unassuming decor fool you; the culinary experience here rivals some of the finest restaurants I’ve dined at, and I typically frequent high-end establishments.

From the moment our meals arrived, it was clear we were in for something special. I opted for the Nasi Goreng Special, which was incredibly flavorful and perfectly balanced. But the real showstopper was my wife’s Beef Rendang – hands down, one of the most divine dishes we’ve had anywhere in Asia. Rich, tender, and bursting with authentic spices, it was simply unforgettable.

Pro tip: go for the specials. They clearly put a lot of love and expertise into them.

Another pleasant surprise – they serve large Tiger beers at a very reasonable price, which perfectly complemented the meal.

And just when we thought it couldn’t get better, Helena herself came by to greet us and check on our experience. Her warmth and pride in her food made the evening even more memorable.

For a fraction of the cost of a 5-star restaurant, you’ll get world-class flavor and heartfelt hospitality. I can’t recommend Helena Restaurant highly enough. Walk up, give it a try, and tell Helena we sent you – and bring your...

We were wandering around Batu Ferringhi past 9 PM, stomachs growling, only to find most places had called it a night. Just as we were about to give up, we stumbled upon Helena’s Café. It looked quiet…. too quiet especially compared to the lively spot next door. But with no other options (and the restaurant next door turning us away), we figured, why not?

Best. Decision. Ever.

We were greeted by Mr. Vijay, whose warmth instantly made us feel at home. The menu was massive! so much to choose from! He recommended the mutton curry, so we paired that with butter king prawns, kangkung belacan, and rice.

Let me tell you, the food was phenomenal. The prawns were huge and juicy, the kangkung belacan tasted like something Mum used to make, and the mutton curry? Tender, flavorful, and refreshingly not drowning in oil. It had that honest, home-cooked feel.

Turns out, the chef is Mr. Vijay’s aunt… a sweet, humble lady…. and it shows. This is true comfort food, cooked with love by a family who clearly cares.

Sadly, we were way too hungry to take any photos but that’s probably the best kind of review, right?

So, if you’re ever in Batu Ferringhi and everything else is closed or even if it’s not ….Helena’s Cafe is 100% worth a visit. Don’t let the quiet fool you. This...

Difficult to review and score. I thought it was Chinese owned but it seems it might be Indian owned. I can’t tell what their speciality cuisine is. I don’t think locals come here, it’s too expensive and food is not good.

For me it’s 1 star. I don’t like to leave bad reviews but they should know what they’re doing. For Westerners or kids, they might like it and rate it 5 stars so I average it at 3 stars.

For me, the food is bland, no flavour. The kway teow had no flavour (needed chilli padi which was requested twice) and was the most expensive and worst quality noodles I had in Penang.

Roti prata RM4.50, in Malaysia, can you believe it!? Was the worst I ever had. Tiger beer RM26, normally RM20.50 at Long Beach Food Court next door. Kway teow RM12, at Long Beach food court it’s RM7 and that one has good flavour.

During Ramadan almost everything around here is closed during the day, I should have stayed at Bistro around the corner, where all the locals go for RM6 kway...