E&O Hotel Buffet Review: Lunch at Sarkies Penang

Lunch at the Eastern & Oriental Hotel sounded like a sensible pause before another long walk through George Town. Then we saw the size of the spread at Sarkies. Assam laksa, rasam, roasted meats, sushi, Peranakan pickles and a formidable dessert counter made the afternoon outside seem much less urgent.

The E&O Hotel buffet combines Malaysian favorites with familiar international dishes in the bright Victory Annexe. Our lunch was generous, easy to navigate and strongest when the kitchen stayed close to local flavors. It also revealed the familiar weakness of a large buffet: food held too long can lose some of its best qualities. Here is our honest Sarkies buffet review, based on what we ate.

The Atmosphere at Sarkies

Sarkies occupies a bright, contemporary dining room in the Victory Annexe. Dark timber carries a trace of the hotel’s colonial identity, while pale chairs, large windows and clean lines keep the room from becoming too formal. It is more modern than the grand public rooms in the Heritage Wing, yet the connection to the E&O remains clear.

The buffet is arranged around a central counter and the open-kitchen area, so moving between stations was straightforward during our lunch. Tables near the kitchen give diners a view of the chefs, while those beside the windows bring in more daylight and a calmer outlook. At peak times, however, voices and movement travel easily through the large room. Anyone sensitive to noise should book an earlier sitting and request a table away from the busiest stations.

What We Ate at the E&O Hotel Buffet

Our midweek buffet lunch covered Malaysian and international comfort food rather than one narrow theme. There were soups, salads, pickles, noodles, sushi, seafood, roasted meats, vegetable dishes and a long dessert counter. The range was broad enough to reward curiosity, yet our best plates came from selecting a few well-made dishes instead of trying to sample everything in sight.

Soups, Noodles and Sushi

The soup section produced some of our favorite tastes of the meal. Assam laksa brought the sour, spicy depth we had hoped to find in Penang. Rasam was lighter and more fragrant, with fresh curry leaves lifting its sweet-and-sour heat. A thick tomato soup offered a milder alternative, tasting properly of ripe tomatoes and working beautifully with crisp croutons and a little cream.

The made-to-order noodle station allowed us to choose the noodles and accompaniments ourselves, including vegetables, tofu and seafood. Close by, tuna and salmon sashimi sat beside several sushi rolls. The sushi was a useful fresh starting point, although it was the local soups that gave this part of the buffet its strongest identity.

Meat, Fish and Hot Dishes

Asian-spiced beef with black pepper sauce was one of the better meat dishes, followed closely by lamb with mushrooms. Chicken tempura attracted a steady stream of diners, which made sense: it was familiar, crisp and particularly popular with families. The selection also included roasted duck with its own sauce, grilled saba, salmon and Japanese long fish.

Large buffet counters inevitably ask some food to wait. The carved meat we tried had lost moisture under the heat, and that was the clearest weakness of the lunch. Asking a chef for a freshly cut or newly prepared portion is worthwhile whenever possible. The service team was attentive, so this is a small request that can make a meaningful difference to the plate.

Pickles, Salads and Vegetarian Options

The Peranakan-style pickles deserved more attention than the standard salad bar. Their sweetness and bright acidity cut through the heavier meat dishes, while fermented young mango and papaya added crunch and a recognizably local accent. Infused oils, sun-dried tomatoes and familiar dressings were available for guests who preferred to assemble their own salad.

Vegetarian choices appeared across several stations, including potato salad, samosas, soups and the ingredients for gado-gado. We especially enjoyed the peanut dressing. The selection during our visit was adequate for a mixed group, though strict vegetarians and vegan diners should still ask the restaurant about the current menu and preparation methods before reserving.

Desserts and Ice Cream

Dessert was the section that encouraged repeat visits. The range covered Western cakes and pies, warm puddings, ice cream and shaved-ice options. Chocolate brownies were unapologetically rich, with warm vanilla sauce available to soften the intensity. A warm fruit crumble was packed with pineapple and peaches, and coconut ice cream made an excellent partner.

Our clear favorite was the nut pie. It had plenty of pecans beneath a sweet caramel topping and was best balanced by unsweetened coffee. The ice cream trolley added a playful old-fashioned note, with coconut and chocolate joined by matcha and durian. A small scoop of durian is enough to discover whether you belong to its devoted fan club.

Is the Sarkies Buffet Worth It?

Based on our lunch, yes. Sarkies delivered the variety expected from a luxury hotel buffet, but its character came from the Malaysian soups, Peranakan pickles and local ice cream flavors. Service was polished, the stations were easy to explore and the dessert selection ended the meal on a high note.

The experience was not flawless. The room became noisy, and some meat had dried while waiting at the counter. Those are common buffet problems, yet they still matter when the price sits above an ordinary Penang lunch. Book early, choose a quieter table, begin with the regional dishes and ask for freshly prepared meat. That approach gives Sarkies its best chance to justify both the appetite and the occasion.

E&O Buffet Review Card

These are our original ratings from the buffet lunch described in this review, including value at the time of our visit. They do not represent a new assessment made in 2026.

• 9/10
  ATMOSPHERE – 9/10
• 9.4/10
  FOOD OFFER – 9.4/10
• 9.1/10
  PRESENTATION – 9.1/10
• 9.5/10
  SERVICE – 9.5/10
• 9.2/10
  FOOD TASTE – 9.2/10
• 9.5/10
  VALUE – 9.5/10

Sarkies Buffet Price, Hours and Practical Details

Sarkies serves breakfast, lunch and dinner at lobby level in the Victory Annexe of the Eastern & Oriental Hotel. The hotel currently confirms daily buffet lunch and dinner hours, while prices can change according to the day, theme and promotion. The amounts from our visit are included only as historical context.

You Might Also Like

E&O Hotel Review

Afternoon Tea at E&O Hotel

History of E&O Hotel