Thursday, May 26, 2011

Economy Vegetarian Buffet @ Evergreen Vegetarian House

In conjunction with my Vesak Day post here, I have decided to post on vegetarian food; particularly this vegetarian cafe in Penang which offers economy vegetarian buffet.
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This is one of my favorite vegetarian haunts when I am in Penang, because of their wide variety, reasonable pricing, one-stop (they have from rice to porridge to noodles, desserts, pastries, everything!), and friendly service and these few alone are more than enough to keep me coming back.

Now, the concept of economy buffet is different from the usual buffet you have in restaurants or hotels where you buy a standard price and you get to eat all you want.
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The concept of economy rice here in Malaysia, is that you still get lots of variety of food and you can choose what you want on your plate, which you then bring to the cashier and they charge you based on what you take.
Yes, it's that simple, and before you scream out that the food is going to be overpriced, well, that's where the word economy comes to the rescue.
Unless you really overloaded your plate with a mount of food which resembles a mini Himalaya, usually the price of 2-4 types of dishes will only cost approximately RM3-5 (~USD$1-1.70)
Do I have your attention now? :)

This is an especially convenient concept for office workers during their lunch hours, and even for urban city dwellers who don't cook (like yours truly) where you can have a few types of dishes on your plate with either rice or noodles to call it a meal.

If you choose to dine at home, you can take a paper box stacked on the side to put your food in it (or if you plan to buy the dishes, you can take plastic boxes which they charge for RM0.30-.50 each) Of course, you can use your own container too.
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(spot the box in the background, yeah, that's how you do it)

There are even disposable spoons and chopsticks provided, which usually the cashier will just pack it in your bag after you make your payment.

Note: the following photos will be an overview of the array of food/dishes offered at this cafe and there is no focus on one food in particular, so enjoy the visual feast.
(You can try to guess what they are made of, or what they are, although there will still be descriptions along the way;)

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Mock meat

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From top left: Fried gordon bleu sausages, fried wantons, fried mock fish
Bottom: Assorted curries

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Top row: Fried beehoon (rice vermicelli), fried maggi mee (instant noodles type), fried yellow noodles
Bottom: Deep fried yam rolls, Deep fried spring rolls, deep fried vege rolls wrapped with bean curd sheets

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Curry and potatoes

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Assorted fried noodles

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My favorite stir-fried cauliflowers and broccoli, and jicama and carrots stir-fry

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Vegetables

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Dishes made of bean curd sheets

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More mock meat dishes

Dry food; pastries and biscuits are also on sale here for vegetarian snacks
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This is a very conducive place for meals, and for Buddists, you will find comfort in the Buddhism hymns played softly in the background.
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There are also hot and cold desserts available; from soy bean curd pudding to red bean soup, and even herbal drinks and jelly.
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During major Buddhist festivals, there will be even more varieties of food as
most go on one-day vegetarian diets.
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Of course, even prices will be slightly higher on those days, and they will voluntarily inform and even apologize to you.

If you are drooling over the food, maybe it's time you follow suit to try some delicious vegetarian dishes like these once in a while?
I know I love them!:)

20 comments:

  1. That looks like my kind of buffet! I'd probably slow down the line cause I'd be drooling over each container :) Thanks for sharing and for swinging by Deep Dish!

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  2. I really am drooling....wow!

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  3. vegetarian dishes, i am in then.

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  4. WOW! Never knew there can be so may varieties of vegetarian dish! I am hungry! :)

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  5. Anonymous12:39 PM

    All of this food looks so delicious! Is it lunchtime yet?? :)

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  6. With all those choices I wouldn't even know where to start! I'd be eating there for every meal.

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  7. Wow!! I would be the one that made a mountain of food on my plate! :)

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  8. I know I would like to try everything, because everything just looks so good and so appetizing..Yummm

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  9. Parsley Sage, hahaha...then you'd better go really early or you will be getting dirty looks from some of the impatient customers..LOL:)
    You're welcome and I'm glad I did too:) Thanks for coming by my site too, it's so nice of you;)

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  10. Anna, are you waiting to add those to your cookbooks?:p Alright, you need me to hand you a napkin...LOL:D

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  11. Swathi, yup yup, real vegetarian dishes...no worries, I am a BIG vegetarian fan...with a capital B!:D

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  12. Food Glorious Food, really? Then I guess you seldom go for vegetarian food yea?:p

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  13. Caroline, ermmmm...it's almost dinner time here..hehehe:p

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  14. Reeni, I used to do that too when I take away my food (no one cooks for me:( now, I still miss these, though I am not complaining of homecooked food either:)

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  15. Melissa, wait...is that the *ka-ching, ka-ching* sounds I heard on the cash machine?:p

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  16. Mia Xara, really, I was the same too...SPOILT SPOILT for choices each time I come...I never learn..sighs:p

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  17. Anonymous5:50 AM

    What an AMAZING deal!

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  18. Oh Christy I am so jealous! Growing up back at Taiwan we also had an economy buffet set up not too far from the house. But the vegetarian one you showcased here looks so much better with such variety of food, the price is amazing. I would definitely be one of those customers who pile on the food like a mountain...

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  19. Anonymous10:37 AM

    Wow, I would just have to spend all weekend in there trying everything! I'm so jealous!! :D

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  20. Wow, a vegetarian spread, who would imagine the vegetarian food to be so delicious. I won't mind eat it everyday. :)

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