Penang Open fire grill Barely 3 months old
Sometimes the best discoveries happen by accident. While
deciding where to take our lunch gang for a dinner gathering, I stumbled upon
this hidden gem tucked along one of the narrowest streets on Penang island.
Skeptical at first — the restaurant is barely three months old and reviews have
been mixed — I decided to take the leap and convinced the group to give it a
shot.
Lazy Ember is an open kitchen concept, and that's a
double-edged experience. On one hand, watching the chefs work over an open fire
is mesmerising. On the other, the ventilation could use some attention — the
suction needs a real upgrade. Worth noting: both chefs come with impressive
pedigrees, having worked at Communal Table by Gēn 根 and Bakar in KL.
By the time I arrived, the rest of the group had already
ordered most of the Over Fire section. Here's how it all went down.
RM 68
Bearded chicken, banana leaves, fermented corn hot sauce
A crowd favourite — a few of us really loved this one.
RM 58
Garlic chip, aromatic tomato sauce
The standout of the night. Fresh prawns, cooked just
right — juicy, not overdone.
RM 92
Kicap seaweed, fermented bean curd sauce
Nice on its own — skip the coconut pairing if it's not
your thing.
RM 78
Market fish, fish jus emulsion
Looks stunning on camera, but the taste didn't quite live
up to the visuals. Proceed with caution.
Burnt Lala
RM 42
White clam, green peppercorns, burnt lemon sauce
The sauce is the real star here — bright, punchy, and
worth mopping up to the last drop.
Baby Eight Legs
RM 48
Baby octopus, kedondong pesto, pumpkin seed mole
Surprisingly good — don't let the description intimidate
you. A pleasant discovery.
Claypot
I added these two to the order when I arrived, and I'm glad
I did.
XO Pork Ribs Rice
RM 48
Belacan soy sauce, pickled mango ginger, Lazy XO
Decent and solid — some of the gang loved it. For me, the
Kampung Fish Rice edges it out, but it's still a safe order.
RM 42
Salted fish, cured duck egg yolk, aromatic tomato sauce
My personal pick — tangy, fragrant with basil, and deeply
satisfying.
Starter
RM 22
Chicken fat butter, aromatic tomato powder
The butter leans salty, but the overall combination is
genuinely interesting.
Overall, Lazy Ember is full of little surprises — the kind
of place that makes you glad you took the chance. A few rough edges, but the
food speaks for itself. Worth the visit.
6, Lorong Toh Aka, George Town, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Tel: +6019-987 8164
Reservation is required.
