We're in Bukit Mertajam to run some errands and decided to try a new makan place. Restaurant 75 came up on Google Maps with some promising reviews so off we went!
Located in a corner lot of a row of shophouses, parking wasn't hard to find in the area. The restaurant was quite full on a Sunday afternoon with several large families waiting for lunch to be served.
Despite the crowd, the owner was very welcoming and thoughtfully recommended some dishes based on our preferences. The wait for the food was a long 45minutes before each dish was served in quick succession.
Let's makan!
Braised Pork Belly & Pork Skin (4.5/5)
One of their signature dishes. The braising liquid might appear quite light but it had a good depth of flavour from hours of slow simmering. The pork belly (with the right fat to meat ratio) was beautifully tender while the pig's skin was QQ without being chewy. A good start to the meal!
Stir-Fried Pork Liver & Intestines (5/5)
I didn't expect to enjoy this dish so much. The thick slices of pork liver were cooked to perfection and the intestines were also addictively crunchy. They somehow managed to create a spectacular sauce with just soy sauce, garlic, ginger and chillies! So simple but delicious.
Fish Curry (4/5)
The Grouper fish was really fresh and cooked just right. Not sure about you, but I really enjoy the collagen-rich skin of huge Groupers so this one was right up my alley. The curry was prepared with some okra, tomato and curry leaves. A bit too heavy on the curry powder flavour for my liking but still good.
Bittergourd with Egg (3.5/5)
I was looking forward to this dish but was slightly let down. While the eggs were skillfully prepared, the bitter gourd was undercooked. It ended up tasting slightly too crunchy and bitter (and do note that I love bitter gourd so this would have been inedible for many others).
Pad Kra Pao (4/5)
I didn't initially plan to order this but most of the staff looked Thai and this came highly recommended by the owner. No regrets at all as it turned out really good. Highly aromatic and flavourful, you could finish a whole bowl of rice with this! Be warned that it's quite spicy from all the cili padi used.
Overall, I really enjoyed my meal. I'd describe it as simple homecooked flavours with restaurant-quality cooking. Except for the long wait, the service was generally friendly and efficient. Prices were also highly reasonable for the quality of ingredients used. Worth a visit!
Sabbylicious Makan Rating
Food : 4/5
Price : 4/5
Environment : 4/5
Service : 4/5 (marked down for long wait)
Must order : Braised Pork Belly & Pork Skin, Stir Fried Pork Liver & Intestines, Pad Kra Pao
Operating Hours Tuesday - Sunday, 12–3pm, 6–9pm
Closed on Monday.
Location
75號饭馆
2, Lebuh Nangka 2, Taman Desa Damai, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang