The Food: The focus here is on Malaysian cuisine, which brings together many Asian influences. Through windows you can watch a chef throw dough to make roti canai, an appetizer of crispy Indian-style pancake which is dipped in a curry chicken sauce. There are noodle soups, fried noodles, rice dishes (with vegetables or seafood), and two-dozen varied entrees.

The Scene: The lunch and dinner scenes are dramatically different at this contemporary Asian dining room. Two walls of windows let in natural light by day, and a copper-plated and candle-filled wall sets the mood at night. At lunch. there are plenty of business meetings and families, but after 6 PM, bar hoppers flock in for dinner and drinks and take advantage of the nearby nightlife. There’s seating in the bar and lounge, and in two dining rooms. Penang’s owners also own Tandoori Nights, which opened in Clarendon in 2006.

What’s Nearby: Penang’s downtown location makes it busy at both noon and midnight. Walking-distance bars include Porter’s, Rumors, the Science Club, and martini lounge Ozio. The Dupont Circle Metro stop (red line) is about two blocks north.

Insider Tip: A $9.95 lunch special , available from 11:30 AM to 3 PM, includes an entree, house salad, soup of the day, white rice and a choice of satay chicken, taro shrimp or spring roll. Entrees include pineapple fried rice, curry chicken, mixed vegetables with tofu and mango shrimp.