My Armenian

Special thanks to My Armenian for extending this food review invitation.

Armenian Street (Lebuh Armenian) is a popular tourist spot in George Town. One of the cafés here is My Armenian. Although the official address is at Armenian Street, the back door at Jalan Kampung Kolam is the more prominent entrance. Decorated with potted plants, shop's facade resembles a classic Mediterranean eatery.

My Armenian started off as a durian specialty store. It is the main distributor for D'King in Penang. D'King is renowned for using expensive durian cultivars such as Musang King. Examples of durian products here are Durian Dodol, Durian Chocolate and more.

Adjacent to the shop is My Armenian's restaurant section. To encourage communal dining, there is a long wooden table right at the middle. The walls on both sides are decorated with paintings that are also for sale. The painters are Dr. Kang Bean Chong from Alor Setar and Massimiliano Muratori from Italy.

My Armenian's menu revolves around Western cuisine with substantial elements of local cooking. The dishes use home cooking techniques and focus on using wholesome ingredients. Besides proper meals, My Armenian also serves breakfast, light snacks, desserts and coffee. The food here is entirely pork-free.

Spanish Garlic Prawns (RM12.90) is a new appetizer on the menu. It is known in Spanish as "gambas al ajillo". The shrimps are fried with olive oil and garlic, and then garnished with parsley. Slices of baguette and balsamic vinegar are provided too.

Comby Salad (RM9.90) contains a hearty mix of vegetables like Romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, sweet corn kernels and dried cranberries. Asian-style sesame dressing is used. While grilled chicken and hard-boiled eggs are included, the kitchen can prepare a vegan version too.

Prawn Croissant is another interesting snack. Besides shrimps, the mini croissants also contain cherry tomatoes and green olives. I am also delighted to try the salad combination of Watermelon & Feta Cheese.

Tomato Bruschetta comes in three slices per serving. Each slice of baguette is topped with cherry tomato, onions, fresh tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. The baguette is charred to give a toasty touch.

Shishamo & Fish Skin (RM12.90) combines two popular Japanese snacks. Shishamo is a slender fish which resembles a willow leaf. The fish is prized for the delectable roe in its belly. Meanwhile, the deep-fried salmon skin has a scrumptious crisp, making it the perfect finger food to go with beer.

Seafood Fried Rice (RM18.90) is cooked with squids and shrimps, culminating in a tantalizing aroma that induces appetite. Presented prominently on top are a pair of yabbies and mussels. Also included are honey-glazed chicken wings and fried egg. I cannot recommend this dish highly enough.

Fried Cendol (RM12.90) is a unique dish at My Armenian. This stir-fried dish is inspired by Penang Char Koay Teow. But in lieu of koay teow, My Armenian instead uses green jelly noodle that is often associated with cendol. This results in a springy and "wetter" sensation in the mouth. I think the Fried Cendol is worth trying.

Spaghetti Carbonara (RM16.90) is served with chicken ham, parmesan cheese and a slice of baguette. The large serving size and creamy homemade sauce make the dish quite filling for one person.

As for poultry, Grilled Chicken With Mashed Potato (RM18.90) is a good choice. The boneless chicken thigh is cooked to golden perfection, and then served over mashed potatoes. Also included are cream gravy, brown gravy and garden salad.

The Vegan Patty On Bagel (RM10.90) is unique in its own right. The chickpea patty is sandwiched between two halves of a bagel. I appreciate the delightful sprinkle of poppy seeds on the bagel.

Moving on, BBQ Roasted Beef Wrap (RM16.90) is filled with marinated beef briskets. The beef is seasoned with barbecue sauce and wrapped in toasted wheat tortilla. Upon request, the kitchen can also prepare the wrap using chicken.

The bestselling dessert at My Armenian is Raja Cendol (RM38.00). For the most part, it is the Penang-style cendol with gula melaka (palm sugar) that Malaysians know and love. What sets it apart from regular cendol is the presence of Musang King durian. The heavenly taste of the durian is gratifying to the last morsel.

Other durian desserts are supplied by D'King and can also be found at the specialty store. My personal favorite is D24 Durian Mochi (RM15.00 for 4 pieces, RM32.00 for 10 pieces), which is filled with genuine durian paste. Meanwhile, the D24 Durian Pancake (RM20.00 for 6 pieces) has a more subtle taste as it is wrapped in crêpes. Other notable mentions are Musang King Snowy Mooncake and Durian Egg Pudding.

Moving on to drinks, Passion Fruit Juice (RM8.90) is concocted from genuine passion fruit juice. The top layer is the extract of butterfly-pea flowers. Mixing the drink results in an alluring purplish hue. This chilled drink is an excellent thirst quencher.

Espresso-based coffee is available too. I find the choice of beans to be pretty satisfying. My cup of Cappuccino (RM9.90) comes with a piece of biscotti.

The beverage menu also includes alcoholic drinks like Mojito (RM23.00). Mojito is prepared by mixing lime juice, carbonated water, syrup and mint leaves. The mixture is mashed with a muddler to allow mint leaves to release their aroma more prominently. Mojito usually contains some rum too, but customers who prefer to avoid alcohol can order Virgin Mojito instead.

Based on the dishes that I tried today, it is obvious that the proprietor invested substantial effort in crafting the restaurant's food menu. Fried Cendol and Seafood Fried Rice are definitely recommended, and so are the durian-based desserts. In fact, I think My Armenian will appeal to anyone who loves durians.

Name: My Armenian
Address: 96, Lebuh Armenian, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-262-9698
Business hours: 10:00am-9:00pm, closed on Wednesdays
Website: https://www.facebook.com/myarmeniancafe
Coordinates: 5.41584 N, 100.33668 E
Directions: My Armenian is accessible from Armenian Street (Lebuh Armenian) and Jalan Kampung Kolam. For the former, look out for a large mock durian around the corner. As for the latter, the entrance is just behind a bus stop. Parking is available along both roads.