There are days when Penang’s humidity makes a bowl of Vietnamese noodles feel less like lunch and more like medical treatment. Ăn Viet at Gurney Plaza delivers exactly the kind of cool, fragrant escape I want when the weather outside is behaving badly — generous portions, lemongrass-heavy flavours, grilled meats, steaming soups and plenty of air-conditioning.
It’s not the place I’d send you if you’re hunting for a hidden Vietnamese grandmother’s kitchen. It’s a modern mall restaurant, and that’s precisely its appeal. Easy parking, comfortable surroundings and an accessible menu make it a handy Gurney stop for everything from a solo bowl of noodles to a family lunch. The lemongrass chicken and grilled pork chop are where I’d start, with a Vietnamese drink on the side and absolutely no shame about escaping Penang’s afternoon heat.
Continue reading