Ivy's Nyonya Cuisine, Penang

Ivy's is a Bib Gourmand Peranakan restaurant run by Mr Tan and Ms Ivy on Jalan Kedah. The set meals are outstanding value: RM55 for two people gets you a full spread of classic Nyonya dishes. The kapitan chicken curry was rich and coconutty, and the jiu hu char (stir-fried jicama with cuttlefish) was fragrant and well-balanced. Home-cooked Peranakan food at its most genuine.

Our group unanimously voted Ivy's as the favourite meal of our Penang trip. Every dish showed flavour complexity and delicate balance. The assam fish was tangy and perfectly cooked, and the sambal udang had a wonderful depth of spice. The cosy interior has Peranakan furniture, vintage cabinets, and traditional outfits on the walls. Set meal for four to five people at RM96 is a bargain.

Simple dining room, no-frills service, exceptional Nyonya food. The restaurant moved to a bigger location on Jalan Kedah and the new space is comfortable with Peranakan decor. The set menu removes the guesswork: you get a good variety of dishes for a fixed price. Kapitan chicken and the assam prawns were highlights. Closed Monday. Non-halal.

This husband-and-wife operation delivers some of the best Peranakan food in Penang. The Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition is well deserved. We had the set for three at RM72 and every dish was carefully prepared. The achar (pickled vegetables) was a perfect palate cleanser between the richer curries. The wooden and marble dining furniture adds a traditional Straits Chinese feel to the room.

Went for a weekday lunch and was seated immediately. The set meal system makes ordering easy. Portions were generous and the spice levels were authentic without being overwhelming. The nasi lemak accompaniment was fragrant and the curry laksa on the side menu was thick and coconutty. RM15 to RM35 per person depending on what you add. Closed Monday, open Tuesday for dinner only.