The weekend prior to Hari Raya, we went up to Penang for a little staycation getaway at Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa. The trip was quite a special one for me for reason that may be different from most. Close to two decades ago, I worked at the very same hotel as a casual worker and used to think “what if I was a guest there one day…”, and that day came true.

The Spice Market Cafe at Rasa Sayang, Penang
The Spice Market Cafe at Rasa Sayang, Penang

I will write about the hotel and our experience staying there next, but today let’s talk about their huge dinner buffet at Spice Market Cafe located at the Garden Wing (the “right” side).

seafood on ice, baked salmon
seafood on ice, baked salmon

Dinner starts at 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm every evening and it’s the all you can eat affair. Priced at RM 185 nett for adults, it is also the buffet that offers one of the biggest selections of dishes on the island.

You have a choice of indoor seating that requires fewer steps to get to all those dishes, or alfresco dining area right next to the unique free-form swimming pool surrounded by their huge garden complete with giant rain tree by the beach.

Indian & Malay cuisines, selections of salad
Indian & Malay cuisines, selection of salad

The dishes include authentic ethnic cuisines from diverse cultures – including Chinese (with chef from China doing freshly made “knife slice noodle”), Indian, Nyonya, Japanese, Thai, Malay, and Western.

freshly made noodle, slipper lobster, local dishes, juices
freshly made noodle, slipper lobster, local dishes, juices

Some of the must-tries are the slipper lobsters either as-is, or covered in sauce, sashimi, roast beef, and snow crab. We also really enjoyed their selection of cheese, but the number one favorite for all three of us for the night though, was their deep fried soft-shell crab, it had just the right amount of seasoning that reminds me of some of the best banana leaf side dishes I’ve had the pleasure to taste.

desserts, ice cream, fruits, and even roast beef
desserts, ice cream, fruits, and even roast beef

If you just try a spoonful from each dish, you’ll probably need at least several visits to sample everything, the selection is huge. Unlike most buffet places that only serves water, there are also a selection of juice to go about.

mom, Haze, KY & Kit the F&B guy at Rasa Sayang
mom, Haze, KY & Kit the F&B guy at Rasa Sayang

If your wife or girlfriend can’t decide what to eat, this is not a best place to be. There bound to be something that’ll tickle her senses. I know my mom was more than satisfied.

map to rasa sayang

Address:
Spice Market Cafe
Rasa Sayang
Batu Ferringhi Main Road,
Kampung Tanjung Huma,
11100 Batu Feringgi, Pulau Pinang
GPS: 5.478865, 100.254181
Tel: +604-888 8888

KY eats – Buffet at Spice Market Cafe, Rasa Sayang Penang
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20 thoughts on “KY eats – Buffet at Spice Market Cafe, Rasa Sayang Penang

  • July 13, 2016 at 3:41 am
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    KY, so you worked there as causal worker. Remind me of mom as teenager in luaus in fancy hotels by the swiming pools. Being young she has served guests very near the pools. If someone turned around mom could fall into pool with food. Now visited hotels as guest more enjoyble.

    Reply
    • July 13, 2016 at 10:50 am
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      Vickie: haha yah, being a guest is of course much better, and you do appreciate it more after having been a worker there as well, knowing the amount of work needed to provide that sort of services.

      Reply
  • July 13, 2016 at 9:53 am
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    Hi KY, Thank you for the lovely review on Spice Market Cafe. On the second line, Syang is spelled as Sayang.

    Thanks again for staying with us.

    Regards,
    Suleiman

    Reply
    • July 13, 2016 at 10:51 am
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      Suleiman: thank you for having us, was a fantastic stay, and let me fix that typo!

      Reply
  • July 13, 2016 at 1:52 pm
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    the nyonya part of the buffet would tickle my senses! 😀 p.s. did you recognise any ex-colleagues still working here? 🙂

    Reply
    • July 14, 2016 at 12:37 pm
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      Sean: ex colleagues were all high school kids who are now in different industries 😀

      Reply
  • July 13, 2016 at 4:12 pm
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    Rasa Sayang! It has been around like forever, was already there when I first went to Penang in 1973! More recent visits, I hardly venture to that beach side of the island – taxi fare was over RM100 one way, dunno now.

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    • July 14, 2016 at 12:37 pm
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      suituapui: 1973? I was not even conceived yet!

      Reply
  • July 13, 2016 at 7:26 pm
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    What a wonderful experience to have been on both sides – it gives you a better understanding of both the customer’s needs and the realities of the going ons of a big hotel.

    Reply
  • July 14, 2016 at 7:11 am
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    enlarge pic link is error

    Reply
    • July 14, 2016 at 12:37 pm
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      immature: OK will fix that, gahhh.

      Reply
      • July 18, 2016 at 7:13 am
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        TQ for the fix, now after i enlarge pics, i noticed the buffet supervisor is like three times wider than you…
        heheheheheheheheheheheheh

        i think he makan all the buffett leftovers at the end of the day…

        Reply
  • July 14, 2016 at 10:21 am
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    I never have enough space at buffets.. but I hear it takes a lot of training! hahaha

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    • July 14, 2016 at 12:38 pm
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      ccfoodtravel: you and me both.

      Reply
      • July 18, 2016 at 6:58 am
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        when i grow up, i want my full time job to be holiday…
        heheheheheheheheheheeh

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        • July 18, 2016 at 9:36 am
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          immature: good luck! haha.

          Reply
  • July 14, 2016 at 6:39 pm
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    At that price, I’d be pissed if they served me water only….haha! 😀 Almost all buffets serve juices these days (only a question of chilled or fresh, kekeke)…but not slipper lobsters though, I want those! 😉

    Reply
    • July 15, 2016 at 9:38 am
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      eatwhateatwhere: hahaha, true also.

      Reply
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