Wild Pink Fish may initially seem like just another sushi bar.
I’ve often been to Gurney Walk, mostly to Subway for my Tuna Salad after my walks or to drink cheap white Subway coffee from a paper cup.
Today, I’m early as usual for a lunch date with our friends Ah Bah (Eng Tau Bah Hokkien for handsome) and Betty Boop, who are visiting from Perth.
John is buying lunch, and Liam asked me to join them.
I wouldn’t miss meeting Joycee and Betty for the world and the men, too.
It was a gathering of old friends and buddies from my 20s.
Wild Pink Fish
I hardly ever noticed the Japanese restaurant on Gurney Walk.
One reason is that I didn’t expect to find one there, and it’s partially hidden behind the escalator.
Wild Pink Fish Japanese Restaurant At Gurney Walk, Penang
However, this might depend on which direction you enter Gurney Walk.
I’m a creature of habit, usually entering from Subway or sometimes from the entrance facing Gurney Drive, running across the promenade and up the steps (secretly getting a bit hot).
Today, we met at Subway, and John pointed out that escalators slightly obscured the restaurant.
The ambiance is casual, with high bar stools and seating reminiscent of a sushi bar.
We walked in, and I eyed the bar stools suspiciously.
“How are the five of us going to eat lunch in a row and still get to speak to each other?”
Liam said, “Don’t worry. We can adjourn for coffee and chat later.”
That sounds sensible.
One notable downside is the singular menu shared among diners, which may feel limiting, especially during a quick weekday lunch rush.
Despite the affordable, delicious, and budget-friendly Japanese cuisine, like Joycee, I still feel entitled to my personal menu.
“Aiyah, share la or ask John for recommendations!”
However, Wild Pink Fish remains a sensible choice for those craving Japanese fare without breaking the bank.
So, we ordered from the limited menu.
And no one of us ordered sushi.
The nice lady who offered to take photos for us ordered sashimi (raw fish).
We had two orders of Japanese beef curry, two bowls of ramen, and another rice dish.
There’s a lot of torched cheese in the food!
All was well when Dory was very excited to see Karaage (Japanese fried chicken) on the menu, known as one of the best fried chickens in the world!
Liam and I loved beef dishes, Assam prawns, and fried chicken, but they were not necessarily in that order.
Needless to say, we immediately placed an order for Karaage.
I saw JapanEat demolish a bowl piled high like a mini Mt. Fuji of Karaage, and it has been on my bucket list ever since.
The Karaage was really hot, crispy, and super juicy.
It became even more delicious when we squeezed lemon over it and dipped it in mayo.
Eating it while still hot made it a meal anyone would enjoy anytime.
I rate it NICE/10, like Japan Eats.
Everyone loved their order.
I decided to go for a mildly spiced Japanese beef curry, easily one of Japan’s most popular home-cooked meals.
It’s rich and comforting. Opting for a pre-cooked item is a wise choice to avoid waiting too long.
It looked like a complete meal with hot rice and dark pink pickles, and no one would suspect a mix-up with our order.
Initially, I had my heart set on Chashu Ramen with jammy yolks and Ajitsuke Tamago eggs, but unfortunately, the chef said that it was sold out.
I couldn’t understand why, especially since it was only around one o’clock, and the other patrons weren’t ordering ramen.
So, I reluctantly settled for the Japanese Beef Curry with Rice.
Wild Pink Fish’s version of the curry was decent, not overly seasoned.
However, I was hoping for a hearty Japanese Beef Curry recipe that is savory and sweet, made from beef, potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, apples, and mild Japanese curry roux.
Again, I was thinking, “Where’s the apple?”
My preoccupation with apples started with my dining experience at TONG Restaurant.
Weirdly, I was on the lookout for apples in my food.
Despite my initial disappointment, the meal was still enjoyable, and the best surprise was when Betty Boop could join us.
Later, we sat at a horseshoe-shaped table at Coffee Bean and formed separate tables for men and women, sipping large latte mugs and reminiscing about our salad days.
One potential coffee drinker refused to grow up in that group and still ordered a flat white.
Lawrence, John, and William.
Just like the good old days. Joycee, Dory, and Betty.
Parking at Wild Pink Fish
Visitors can park their cars in the multi-story parking lot on the ground floor of Gurney Walk, right next to CUEVA.
Or park in the underground parking structure of Ascott Gurney Penang, which has an entrance from the Ascott Gurney Hotel.
Wild Pink Fish @ Gurney Walk (Pork-Free)
Address: Ground Floor, Gurney Walk, No. 18A, Persiaran Gurney, 10250, Georgetown, Penang.
Business Hours: 11 am to 9:30 pm. Opens Daily.
Google Location
Blog Disclosure: This is a NOT sponsored blog post. All opinions are mine. The writer’s friend John paid for their meal.
