Craving nasi lemak and kaya toast? Head to Penang by Crystal Woo, Chennai’s newest Malaysian restaurant

Khader Nawaz Khan Road, with its spanking new paver blocks and neat rows of streetlights is not the only thing to have transformed following a makeover. Crystal Woo Dimsum House, which threw open its doors in 2024, is now Penang, with cheery papered walls, a large, spacious dining area and an open kitchen where you can sneak a peek at flaky roti canai being made. 

“Penang is quite close to my heart; it is a city that promises a one-of-a-kind experience if you are a foodie. You can find anything and everything there,” says Dhasha Sendhil, owner. Growing up in a Malaysian household, Dhasha says meals involved a coming together of three food cultures; Malay, Indian, and Chinese.

 “There would be an Indian curry, or Chinese-style vegetables and a Malaysian curry or sambol on the side as well. I have always been passionate about the food of my roots, and was keen to replicate that experience here,” she adds. When it was time for a rebrand of Crystal Woo, Dhasha says she knew the time was right. 

Penang’s menu is a mix of Malaysian and Chinese dishes, with some Thai staples. We begin with some old favourites from Crystal Woo, the prawn toast which has a crunchy bread exterior coated with sesame and filled with juicy prawn, and a selection of the dimsum. The truffle mushroom dimsum that comes with a creamy emadatshi sauce is a delicious, bite-sized start to the meal. We then sample some satay; and while the chicken and the tofu satay are flavourful and juicy, both could use less salt. While the chilli mushroom starter feels like a familiar comfort Chinese appetiser, the rojak has us more excited. Dhasha says that the recipe Penang has, is from her mother, a chef and restaurateur who runs a Malaysian restaurant in the UK. 

Nasi lemak
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Special Arrangement

The rojak here is served as fried dough balls that are savoury with a sweet and spicy red sauce; flavours come together well. Another Malaysia classic that makes for a perfect bite-sized appetiser is the pai tee, crispy pastry shells filled with a chicken and vegetable mince. 

While loaded trays of Nasi Lemak, steaming hot rice with chicken, vegetables and sambol head to the other tables, we pick from the selection of Malaysian roti and curries. The soft, flaky roti canai with the kari ayam or chicken curry scores high here. While the murtabak or stuffed roti is soft and juicy, it could have done with a little more flavour. 

Penang’s extensive menu has a good balance of quick, comfort options and dishes for more slower, more elaborate meals. There is a maggie goreng, a Pattaya-style nasi goreng, a claypot curry maggie, Thai curries, as well as chicken wings and radish cakes. 

Mee goreng
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

While there are boba teas, iced teas and house special mocktails to pick from, the dessert menu is where the excitement is. “The kaya is made from scratch here and something we are thrilled to have people try,” Dhasha says. While they are already serving a kaya toast, the menu also features a kaya creme brulee, with other Malaysian staples like the apam balik, a sweet pancake stuffed with a sweet, buttery peanut and corn filling. 

Penang by Crystal Woo is located at 9, Oyster building, KNK Road and is open for lunch and dinner. A meal for two costs Rs 1,500.