MAS: Kek Lok Si Vegetarian Restaurant

Mostly Chinese dishes, but lovely Indian curry!

My family and I, as well as my friend and his mother, started exploring Penang, Malaysia on the second day after arrival. First things first, we went to Kek Lok Si Temple, which is the largest Buddhist temple complex in Malaysia that was built from 1890 to 1930. We had lunch at a vegetarian restaurant within the complex.

6-7 People Set Meal RM 118.00 (~S$38.45)

As there were six of us, we had the set meal comprising six dishes and rice.

Vegetarian Chicken with Kung Pao Sauce (Set Menu)

Taste: 8/10

I'm not sure about you, but I do enjoy vegetarian food. The fried gluten chunks were enjoyably bouncy and puffy, drenched in rich dark-coloured gravy primarily made of soy sauce, vinegar and dried chilis. I'd love the dish even more if the gravy were thicker and spicier.

Curry Vegetarian Mutton (Set Menu)

Taste: 8/10

My brother, who is a fan of Indian cuisine, gave a thumbs up for the Indian style curry dish. It was indeed rich with a heady aroma of spices. Though there weren't many of the mock mutton chunks, there were enough vegetables, such as cabbages, ladyfingers and long beans.

Sweet and Sour Vegetarian Fish (Set Menu)

Taste: 7.5/10

The typical mock fish fillets with a layer of seaweed each were pretty good. Cooked with adequate amounts of cucumbers, tomatoes and pineapples, the sauce was thick enough for my liking, but it could use more sugar to balance the sourness.

Mapo Beancurd (Set Menu)

Taste: 6/10

The tofu in chili and bean-based sauce wasn't the star of the set meal, simply because the sauce somewhat lacked the distinctiveness of the dish. It was bordering on not being spicy, but the beancurd cubes were velvety alright.

Soup of the Day (Set Menu)

Taste: 7.5/10

Despite it being a simple clear soup with minimal ingredients, I finished it till the last drop. Filled with wintermelon and carrot slices cooked till soft, releasing their natural sweetness. Seasoned with a bit of salt and pepper, it was a nice complement to the mock meat dishes.

Stir-Fried Vegetable (Set Menu)

Taste: 7.5/10

The chye sim (Chinese mustard green) was stir-fried quickly without much oil, retaining much of its juice and crunch as a result. A good respite from the savoury dishes, I must say. It wasn't cooked with garlic for obvious reasons.

Melon's Rating

Taste: 7.5/10

Ambience: 6.5/10

Service: 7/10

Overall: 7/10

The restaurant doesn't do dessert dishes. Pika's advice: If you're alone for lunch, you probably want to go for the very affordable Personal Set Lunch that's priced at RM 8.00 (~S$2.60).

Kek Lok Si Vegetarian Restaurant

Jalan Balik Pulau

Kek Lok Si Temple Complex

Penang

Malaysia

(Daily: 10.00am - 5.00pm)

*Prices quoted are nett prices.

Have a nice meal,

Cliff(y)