阿吉 • Restoran Ah Keat — Restaurant in Penang

Visited the restaurant a few years ago, and back then, it provided a good dining experience. However, the restaurant fell short of expectations during today's visit.

Steamed Grouper: The fish was fresh, and the steaming method allowed its natural flavors to shine through. The flesh was tender and succulent, making each bite a delight.

One Pork Rib: The pork rib dish was prepared differently than expected. Instead of being baked, it was cooked with sauce. This deviation from the desired baking process resulted in the dish lacking the anticipated crispiness and depth of flavor typically associated with a perfectly baked pork rib.

Steamed Frog with Chicken Essence: Unfortunately, the dish was disappointing. It lacked taste and failed to deliver the expected flavors. Despite the addition of chicken essence, the flavors did not come together as expected.

Steamed Lala with Lime: It featured a refreshing and sour sauce. The tanginess of the lime complemented the flavors of the lala well, creating a pleasant contrast. However, the lala was overcooked, which affected its texture and made it slightly chewy.

Thai Pork Knuckle: Mediocre taste. The pork knuckle appeared to be cooked first and then fried, rather than being fried directly. So the dish lacked sufficient crispiness and flavor.

Signature Fried Tofu: The tofu was well-cooked, with a crispy exterior and a soft interior. The flavors were well-balanced, and the dish had a satisfying texture.

Fried Choy Tam: The vegetables were cooked well, retaining their vibrant green color...

A 3.5 star rating in my book. Ordered takeaway on a Saturday evening, arrived within the estimated time. Obviously can’t speak to the environment of the restaurant itself.

I enjoyed the food. Nothing was amazing, but all pretty well cooked and flavourful. My favourite was probably the salted egg sotong - not quite as crispy as I’d like, but to be expect after sitting in a takeaway box for 10-15 minutes. The crab meat fried rice was fairly standard fried rice though I’m not sure the crab meat really brought anything to the dish. I’ve never had “Thai style jelly” so wasn’t sure what to expect, but found it quite refreshing.

Overall, an enjoyable meal at a reasonable price. I’d certainly eat there again (perhaps in person next time), though I wouldn’t waste my money on the crab meat fried rice and order a different one instead.

Return visit: Ate at the restaurant in the early evening. Fast service. Decent quality food - definitely better fresh than takeaway of course. The highlight for me was probably the Thai style...

Will not come back for seafood. 10 of us were there, we were able to see the aquariums with fishes and crabs are pretty dirty and unhealthy (some were dead and not taken out from the tank). We ordered fish, crabs, prawns, lala, squids, and vegetables. The fish was well-cooked and delicious, but other than that the rest were either overcooked or overspiced. Some seafood, especially the lala and crab, we can only tasted the sauce, but not the seafood. They recommended us to try their seafood porridge. It was quite bad, non of us can finish our bowl...