华仔河鲜楼Hwa Zai BM Restaurant | A Haven for River Fish Lovers in Bukit Mertajam

Overview

Nestled in the heart of Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang, 华仔河鲜楼 Hwa Zai BM Restaurant offers a compelling dining experience for lovers of fresh river seafood and homely Malaysian flavors. Located quietly at 12 & 12a, Lorong Seri Jaya, this unassuming eatery may be easy to overlook, but it promises a memorable culinary journey once discovered.

The restaurant’s specialty lies in its fresh river fish, a less common choice compared to sea varieties, known for its milder taste and firmer texture. Customers rave about the steamed soy sauce fish, where the fresh catch is elevated with a delicate sauce that enhances but never overpowers. The use of river prawns and other inland delights further sets the menu apart from typical coastal seafood offerings.

Beyond seafood, Hwa Zai BM presents a diverse selection of dishes reflecting authentic Malaysian flair. The curry dishes, such as their uniquely prepared curry mutton and curry prawn, delight diners by substituting traditional santan with milk, lightening the flavors while maintaining richness. Special fried rice and golden rice add comforting grains with subtle, well-balanced seasonings, often accompanied by mixed vegetables or standout sides like fried lotus root with long bean and carrot slices.

One cannot miss the intricately crafted egg dishes. The Fuyong egg and tofu with minced meat exhibit a thoughtful blend of textures and flavors, while the egg with otak-otak hides an ingenious surprise within—the firmer texture offering a fresh take on this classic component. Meanwhile, the minced pork eggplant is a crowd favorite, lauded for its tender consistency and satisfying depth.

The ambience at Hwa Zai BM balances casual and cozy, reminiscent of a classic kopitiam but enhanced with air conditioning for comfort. The space invites families, small groups, and solo diners who appreciate hospitality intertwined with genuine care. The lady boss, noted for her friendliness, adds a personalized touch by recommending dishes tailored to your party’s taste, ensuring a pleasant and unrushed meal.

While some reviews suggest slight room for improvement—such as freshness in certain vegetable sides or the thickness of fried ice cream batter—the overall consensus praises the authenticity and quality of the food. The ginseng chicken soup presents a particularly noteworthy surprise, with its light yet flavorful broth and tender chicken, striking a balance between traditional herbal notes and subtlety.

For those seeking a down-to-earth yet flavorful meal in Bukit Mertajam, 华仔河鲜楼 Hwa Zai BM Restaurant stands out as a culinary gem. With its specialization in river fish, homestyle Malaysian cooking, and attentive service in a relaxed setting, it serves both locals and travelers looking for a genuine taste of Penang’s diverse food culture.

Reservations or inquiries can be made via phone at +60 16-493 6456. Whether it’s your first visit or a return expedition, Hwa Zai BM continues to delight with dishes that celebrate local flavors and heartfelt hospitality.

Menu Highlights

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Amenities & Services

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Lunch

Dinner

Solo dining

Offerings

Alcohol

Beer

Small plates

What Customers Say

alice seah

Dec 3,2025

4/5

Nice relaxing place to eat. Probably today not crowded. Fish taste above average . Gave a rating of 4 stars cos the sweet potato leaves too old. Taste of sambal needs ti be improved.

Layar Jaring

Dec 3,2025

5/5

I was informed that this is one of the few places to serve river fish. River fish tend to smell less fishy and the meat taste milder. It's obviously a personal choice but variety is a spice of life. As for the fish, we chose the steamed style of cooking. The fish was fresh, the meat was firm and the steaming sauce complimented the fish well. The ginseng chicken soup was surprisingly light yet delicious without the heavy overbearing herbal aroma. The chicken was also deliciously boiled and not tough to chew. To me the eggplant was the most surprisingly. At first glance it looked like meat. Taste wise, impressive. Soft sweet 'flesh' with a hint of bitterness from the charred surface mixing well with the overall flavour. The veggie and pork rib was tasty but fairly average. The egg with otak otak is another must try dish. It looks deceptively simple till you break it up. The otak otak is wrapped within the egg but I must say it feels a lot firmer and less creamy that the version I am used to. Nonetheless, it's an interesting presentation and you should try it once and make your own assumptions. I had the fried ice cream for dessert and I felt that the skin is a smidgen too thick. In the end, taking all of it together, it was a great meal with great flavours and I would come again for another meal.

Beehoon Goh

Dec 3,2025

5/5

I had a wonderful time at this restaurant. The food was absolutely delicious, especially the minced pork eggplant, which was truly impressive. Not to forget to order the lemongrass lime drinks as well. What made the experience even better was the service. The lady boss was incredibly friendly and went out of her way to suggest dishes that were just right for our small party, not the most expensive ones. It's rare to find that level of genuine care. Highly recommend and I will definitely be returning.

Jesse Chin

Dec 3,2025

4/5

Food is delicious especially the fish宝石鱼. 700+g is about RM70, 1g RM9. The fried rice is special and recommended. I specifically love the curry because it does not add Santan but milk, I'm not a Santan fan. The restaurant is just very corner and if you don't focus on you will miss it.

Daniel JY Ng

Dec 3,2025

5/5

The restaurant is ok like the old kopitiam but is air condition. The service is good as they are friendly and will intro their popular dish and tell you the fish they had. The restaurant is popular with river fish and not the sea type. Even the prawns are also river type not the sea. The food are indeed delicious. I recommend this restaurant.

Jacob TAN

Dec 3,2025

5/5

Brought a group of my friends here for lunch during our visit to Penang. We arrived late for our booking due to bad traffic but owners were very polite and welcoming. We were given a private room. Everyone loved the food here especially the claypot rice and the patin fish. The lemon grass drink here is unique as lime were added in it. Service was quick and efficient.

kk teoh

Dec 3,2025

5/5

We were a bit hesitant to try this place initially as we were concerned that it would be expensive. However, we decided to give it a go and were happy that we did. There were no other customers on a Friday evening when we were there much to our surprise. We ordered a Patin fish Teochew steamed and also a salted egg calamari (sotong). We asked if both dishes were enough for 2 and were told that that should suffice. The dishes took a while to prepare, most likely because the fish needs to be steamed. The steamed patin was much bigger than we had expected. Usually when we order fish for two people, we would be given a smaller fish, but this is a good sized fish. Even the salted egg calamari portion was quite large for a 'small' serving. Hwa Zai is popular for its fresh water fish and the steamed patin did not disappoint. It was tender and fresh. The meat fell off the bones easily. Even though I was not particularly fond of fish, I could appreciate why this fish is so popular with fish lovers. We finished every single bit of the fish and only left the bones (see photos). The calamari was very crispy and meaty. Each bite has the right amount of chew unlike some eateries which coat the calamari with a thick layer of batter. The salted egg sauce did not drown the deep fried calamari, which was also very fresh. The price for the 2 dishes, and one rice came to slightly over RM110, which we thought was very fair. We enjoyed the meal tremendously and are happy to return. The owner told us that their fish came from Pahang and delivered fresh. We can certainly attest to the freshness of the fish. A good satisfying meal. By the way, parking is aplenty in front of the restaurant and convenient. The restaurant is air conditioned and you can opt to eat at some of the private rooms if so desired. We only sat at a table at the common area as there were no other patronns at that time.

Boey

Dec 3,2025

4/5

Came here for the steamed fish, but we were a bit disappointed because it was overcooked and the soy sauce was quite ordinary. However, the green curry mutton and golden rice were recommended and worth trying.