7 Village Noodle House Belly Lai Mee

One of Butterworth institution is 7 Vilage Noodle House. They started from a humble push cart selling Koey Teow Thng. Since then they have bloomed to many outlets all around Malaysia. I believe there 7 alone in Penang. From Koey Teow Thng their menu have expended to Lai Mee, Rice Dish etc. A success commercial entity.

This is another place (their Flagship Store in Butterworth - 3 shops lots) that I haven't visited for some time. I used to be a regular. A favourite of mine though higher than my usual breakfast, but not since MCO. Though have tapau a few times.

So it was a bit of a shock when I stepped in. What was in my opinion cosy and comfortable after their pre MCO renovation has become impersonal and cold while retaining the same deco. It is a wonder what table placement can do.  They have also switched to a QR ordering system (in the name of efficiency) that requires you to key in your phone number?  (Data Mining?). Notice in English at entrance. Thankfully the staff took our order, which many places would have refused. So 10 point for service.

We had our usual Belly Lai Mee, (Japanese influence Noodles) Pork Belly, Japanese Ramen Eggs, Sea weed, with broth.  Familiar yet different from previously. Hard to put my finger on it. Broth seems sweeter among other things.

Which was brought to us by a sweeky voice robots that sounds under employment age, which this banana (non mandarin speaking Chinese) don't understand. We unloaded the robot, which continues to stand there sweeking away.  I seem to recall we need to touch a button or touch screen. But all wording is in mandarin. So I just randomly press. Which seems to work. It rolled away.

1 minute later the Steam Egg arrived by Human Waiter. I than requested for Extra Chilli (The robot has ignored my request. ) Which immediately arrived.

So what was supposed to be a return to a comfortable & familiar eatery turned into an 'Adventure' in to the unknown like flying to a new country without any knowledge n not understanding the language. We survived, will we be back? That is the question.