Soo Guan Restaurant, Georgetown – Classic Flavor of Hainanese Chicken Chop

From Perlis to Penang – Established in the 1950’s, Soo Guan Restoran is a Colonial Style Hainanese restaurant serving both local and western menu.

Nicely tucked away in the centre of Georgetown, it is one of the very few restaurants in Penang serving classical “Silver Spoon” Hainanese Chicken Chop. The heritage recipes were passed down through generations.

Back in the decades, Soo Guan was a traditional Hainanese coffee shop famous for its Hainanese cuisine in Perlis. Undoubtedly the Hainanese Chicken Chop was one of specialty well preferred by the Royal family and many of the locals.

Wild Mushroom Soup with Garlic Bread – RM10.90, the home cooked wild mushroom served with big slice of garlic bread is a great start for every western meal.

hearty and comforting! The deep rich home-cook wild mushroom soup served with big slice of freshly toasted garlic bread is a great start for every western meal.

Signature Hainanese Chicken Chop – RM17.50, Coated with crunchy batter and deep fried until golden brown, smothered in a rich, savory and tangy tomato gravy, served with a side of greens, hand-cut potato wedges, bun, tomatoes and peas. This is the all-time favorites for many locals.

This is the Silver Spoon version of Hainanese style Chicken chop that we are talking about. Those who had tasted in the olden days will feel nostalgia and it brings back memories.

Grilled Chicken with Classic Brown Sauce – RM18.90, with grilled chicken thigh, sausage, bun, greens and fries/ wedges.

For those who prefer healthier version like grill instead of deep fried, this would be the selection. The brown sauce was nice when served with grilled chicken. There is also additional sausage to fill up your palate if it is not filling enough.

Aglio Olio with Mushroom – RM13, this is the typical aglio olio without any meat. The spaghetti was stir-fried with mushrooms and garlic slices and sprinkled with some chili flakes and herbs.

This is one of the most simple and easy dish prepared by any restaurant to determine the quality of the food of the restaurant. Due to its simple preparation and high acceptance to the dish, you can find Aglio Olio almost everywhere. However, the challenge will be how well the restaurant present this dish in terms of taste. Fortunately, the Aglio Olio here is still up to standard where the saltiness level is good enough and the spiciness is also just nice.

Overall, Soo Guan is one of the few restaurants in Penang that serves classical “Silver Spoon” Hainanese Chicken Chop. The food was good and the price was also reasonable. It would be great if they can expand the menu in the future so that customers can have a wider selection.