Third Culture Dining

Third Culture Dining is a brainchild of Chef Sue Ching, who has trained across multiple continents with world renowned chefs and restaurants and decided to bring her talent back to not just Malaysia, but Penang. She combines French still cooking with local ingredients and the freshness indeed shines through. Imagine having one of the best prawn appetizer and finding out the prawns were freshly caught off the coast of Balik Pulau! As this is a private dining concept, reservations are required for dinner and tend to be booked solid in advance. They have also started walk-ins for lunch to be more open and accessible to all. Menu changes regularly and can be customized to one’s preference with advanced notice. Highly recommended for anyone with a discerning taste or for that special occasion and indulgence. Hope the Penang community will support this up and coming chef as we look forward to greater things from her. They have ample parking on their grounds which is a big plus but the building is unmarked so you have to look out for the address. Disclaimer: the chef and I are related but my review is objective and we truly enjoyed our time here.

Wonderful dining experience. We had our anniversary dinner here. Excellent service and attention to details. The waiter was attentive enough to serve our meals in sharing portions. The aged duck is wonderful, so tender and flavourful. Paired with the duck fat potato strips, it is a must try! The sturgeon belly was so special that it almost tasted like "Siew York". Love it. The 75% dark chocolate tarte was an excellent ending for our meal. Definitely worth a revisit! Maybe I will try thier tasting menu next time. Do make a reservation as seats are very limited here.

The lite lunch was an amazing experience. Each course had its unique touch that combines the styles of Malaysian and French cuisine. I would also recommend the assorted bread, love the tom yam mousse. Thank you Chef Sue Ching!

We had a very lovely dinner here last night. The food is so fresh and naturally flavorful!! I ordered the mushroom 🍄‍🟫 pasta , wow , the dish is simple yet exquisite. The steak is cooked to perfection. The home made sauces and butter are awesome and not overpowering. The team is friendly and the chef, Sue is so passionate that I can feel her love for food and cooking 😋. It’s a gem ! ! ^^

A true hidden gem. From the first course of pumpkin soup and garlic toast, you sense a knowledgeable and deliberate hand behind the dish that exuded subtlety and finesse. The photos of her experience with the world masters only confirm that you are in such masterful hands. The duck had a slightly firm texture that cut easily, paired well with a sweet tangy glaze. The mashed potato was a small portion but the rich flavors made up for it. The watercress salad provided the herbal foil to cleanse the palate after each bite of the rich sweet duck. Not a single morsel was left at the end. The Seabass had a firmer than usual texture due to some aging, according to the chef. My partner could not stop being effusive about his dish especially the crispy skin and lemony butter sauce. Like me, he devoured every drop on his plate. I finished with a scoop of chocolate ice cream that had dark chocolate notes that sang to me. My partner seemed satisfied by his vanilla version. I walked out of the place riding on the lingering sensations from this meal, which a good refined french-inspired one should carry. The chef has a clear vision, and I see this place going far. A small place with only 4 tables, hence, reservation is strongly suggested.

Enjoyed our meal from start to finish, especially the beef as well as the “lam mee”. The chef customized course according to our dietary restrictions 👍👍

We went to Third Culture Dining last week for my birthday dinner. I chose this place after reading Malaysia Airlines’ in-flight booklet, which featured "12 reasons to love Malaysia." Third Culture Dining was listed as one of them. I was especially excited to try it because the chef is a woman who trained in France and the U.S.—and I’m currently from Penang, so I couldn’t wait to experience it for myself. The food and service were absolutely amazing. The staff were incredibly friendly, especially to my children. My kids are very picky eaters, but they finished everything I ordered for them—which has never happened at any other restaurant, not even fine dining. But at Third Culture Dining, they loved it! My husband and I had such a great time chatting with Chef Sue Ching. She personally came to our table and explained each dish to us. It made the whole experience even more special. We will definitely be coming back to enjoy these amazing dishes again!

I brought my husband here for a special birthday treat, and we were blown away by the experience! Chef Sue Ching curated a personalized menu that perfectly accommodated our different dietary requirements, which we really appreciated. The food was absolutely amazing—beautifully crafted with a great balance of flavors. You can truly feel the creativity and heart Chef Sue puts into each dish. The quality of the meal was exceptional, and the price was very reasonable for the level of care and expertise involved. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a unique and thoughtful dining experience!