Special thanks to Marshall’s for extending this food review invitation.
Update: This business has ceased its operations.
Marshall’s is among the pioneers which popularized the burger craze in Penang a couple of years ago. Although many stores have come and gone, Marshall’s maintains its presence with four outlets in Penang and will be opening a couple more in Klang Valley soon.
I had the privilege of meeting Mr. Gooi, the proprietor behind this business venture. The store which I visited is the flagship outlet at Burmah Road (Jalan Burma), where the Marshall’s burger franchise all began.
Marshall’s menu is pretty straightforward: burgers with pork patties, beef patties, chicken thigh or fish fillet. There are several variations which differ in number of patties, bacon strips, cheese slices etc. I am amused by the interesting names given to each combination.
The Naked Piglet (RM12.50) consists of a single patty of pork chop (not minced pork) sandwiched between two halves of a sesame bun. For an additional RM5.50, the meal comes with a choice of sides (fries or onion rings) and drink.
The sesame bun itself has a “fresh” scent due to the sesame seeds and the fact that the bun is freshly baked. However, I prefer to see a thicker bun because its fluffy texture causes it to be compressed after several strong grips. When devouring patties of such size, you really need to grip the buns firmly or risk making a sloppy mess.
The pork chop is a genuine, real piece of succulent pork. Nothing fancy, just absolutely juicy. The pork chop is mostly lean meat which has been grilled to perfection, therefore does not appear too oily. The meat is flavored with the house-special barbecue sauce called “Marshall’s Sauce”, giving it a tangy and savory sensation.
Other ingredients in the Naked Piglet are fresh lettuce leaves, grilled onions and a juicy slice of grilled tomato. All ingredients are prepared to my liking. Onions are also available fresh upon request.
As for condiments, chili ketchup is available for the thick-cut fries. Nevertheless, my personal preference is the bottle of Marshall’s Sauce. Not contented with it only on my pork chop, I also helped myself to more on the fries.
In between managing the three outlets on Penang Island and other franchisees, Mr. Gooi also puts a great deal of effort to improve operational efficiency and food quality. New bun “prototypes” are being tested from time to time, but Mr. Gooi wants nothing but originality. As evidence, Marshall’s has outright refused to jump on the charcoal bun backwagon despite the recent surge in popularity (to the extend that it has become cliché today).
Unlike the other outlets at Bayan Baru and Tanjung Bungah, the major issue at the Jalan Burma outlet is lack of parking spaces in front of the store. The best bet is street parking along Nagore Road (Jalan Nagore) and Swatow Lane (Lorong Swatow).
Name: Marshall’s
Address: 124-C, Jalan Burma, 10050 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-229-9124
Business hours: 12:00pm-11:00pm (Tuesday-Thursday), 12:00pm-12:00am (Friday-Sunday), closed on Mondays
Website: https://www.facebook.com/marshallsburger
Coordinates: 5.42084 N, 100.32553 E
Directions: From Jalan Penang (Penang Road), drive along Jalan Burma (Burmah Road). After New World Park on your right, continue on for 200 meters. Marshall’s is also on the right. It is on the row of shops immediately before Penang Plaza. For street parking, turn right to Jalan Nagore (Nagore Road) just before this row of shops. Marshall’s is not yet visible during this turn.