gēn

Gen was easily the best meal I had in Penang on this trip. The tasting menu showcases a highly creative and thoughtful use of local Malaysian ingredients, presented with finesse that feels both modern and deeply rooted in place. The clear highlight of the meal was the deconstructed Penang assam laksa, which brilliantly captured the dish’s signature sourness, spice, and aromatic depth while reinterpreting it in an elegant and refined form. It was both nostalgic and exciting, and executed with great confidence. Other courses impressed with their clarity of flavour and balance. Nothing felt gimmicky. Every element had a purpose. Service deserves special mention. Despite a lean service team, the staff were attentive, calm, and knowledgeable, explaining each course clearly without disrupting the flow of the meal. The pacing was well judged, allowing the experience to feel relaxed yet focused. The food was consistently excellent, with strong technique and a clear culinary vision. Gen feels like a restaurant on the brink of greater recognition, and I genuinely hope they receive a Michelin star soon. A memorable and rewarding dining experience in Penang.

Date: September 14, 2025 Time: 8pm This time my food exploration with @genpenang was such an adventure like all I had from Pegasus Penang Hill hike. My server explain and advise before I start having every course from a total of 11 courses meal. Some course should be taken by sequence with the pairings, some not, and some should be taken altogether in one bite.. As my personal rebellious comes in, I would love to go against with every advises given. There goes some adventure with my taste buds. From there, I think I understand more and it awed me from how it blend into such a hormonious taste. My favourite course was the forth dish. Golden Age Cow, Keranji, and Cherry Radish. Love the broth so much. Can I have more please?! 😍 Enjoyed so much with the hospitality from 根and team. Very generous treatment. Washroom is at the outside of restaurant. Clean and decent. Service is excellent. It's my first time to have my server to relocate my course menu. Initially, it was placed beside my cutlery but it's relocated to my left. I guess it's due to my server's concern on my convenience from overall experience. Thank you. The main language used by servers at 根is English. I requested a Chinese version of explanations which wasn't my server's most comfortable language but she made it too. Thanks again for the effort. I appreciated that a lot. Ambience is comfortable with cozy background music. Open concept kitchen allows diners to oversee kitchen crew working diligently on the food prep from dining table. #genpenang #gēnpenang #tatlerdiningmy #penang

Great dining experience with local ingredients fusion creativity, wine pairing is an unexpected one with really unique choices. (adjustments were made for the wine list)

Tucked within the heritage building that houses the Prestige Hotel, gen offers excellent lunch and dinner courses featuring the best of locally sourced ingredients from Penang. Every course was thoughtfully planned out. We were delighted to savour the complex flavours of each course, which were explained to us in detail, as well as being well-paired with drinks - you could opt for an alcoholic drink pairing, mixed pairing or a zero-alcohol pairing. Service was attentive, and courses were timed impeccably. As we were there for lunch, it was a leisurely 2-hour affair (doesn’t feel like it though!). Honorable mention must be given to the duck dish in the current menu - top notch.

We thoroughly enjoyed the meal, with excellent use of local Penang ingredients The wines pairings were thoughtful and complemented the dishes very well. Looking forward to returning!

Had lunch here to celebrate mom's birthday. The dishes are fresh and thoughtful in terms of the usage of local ingredients. As far as fine dining goes, won't say it's exceptional. Price wise it's also mid range for fine dining in Malaysia. Service wise, i think it's a little inconsistent: the more experienced staff were very good but some others probably need a tad more equipping. I enjoyed the tableware, which can skew towards a little bit of kitsch

I recently dined at Gen and had an overall great experience. The staff were attentive and friendly, offering detailed explanations of every dish, which added a lot of value to the meal. The use of local ingredients, like discovering Malaysian caviar, was particularly impressive and showcased their creativity and commitment to highlighting local flavors. While the food was exceptional, I feel the environment could be improved to make the experience even better. The current setup is pleasant, but a touch more coziness and privacy would elevate the ambiance and create a more intimate dining experience. Overall, Gen offers a thoughtful culinary journey with a strong emphasis on local ingredients, and it’s a wonderful place for those looking to try something unique and refined.

gēn restaurant offers an exceptional five-star dining experience that is unmatched in terms of quality and value. Only a few establishments in Penang can achieve what gēn has accomplished. Chef YC's tasting menu is artfully crafted, showcasing a delightful array of flavors presented in a manner that is both palatable and enjoyable. The course menus are meticulously designed and balanced, allowing diners to fully appreciate the chef's culinary vision. The first 3 starters, in particular, were truly remarkable. The mantis prawn and mussel dishes were also exceptional highlights. Pairing the dishes with wine was an inspired choice, as the wines complemented the flavors of the food perfectly! I would like to express my appreciation to Sherrie and her service team. They were incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and accommodating, ensuring that our dining experience was truly memorable.