Penang, Malaysia Travel Guide – Food

When discussing Penang (or local’s name as “Pulau Pinang”) with anyone, the common response is commonly about its food in mind. Among all the food destinations across Malaysia, Penang undoubtedly stands out as a food gem, everyone would agreed.

One aspect I particularly appreciate about dining in Malaysia, especially at hawker centers, is the affordability (reasonable price!). Unlike in Australia, where dining out often feels like a luxury, Malaysia’s hawker centers provide budget-friendly yet delectable meals. While I can whip up a decent laksa at home, it doesn’t quite match the authentic Malaysian flavour. Dining in Penang had up-level of this culinary delight. You should try them out!

From writing this post, I am thinking whether to structure it around dining destinations or specific dishes. Ultimately, I opted for both. If I over repeating myself, please bear with me – simply skim through until you find the information you seek. Much of the following recommendations are located around George Town, the primary hub for tourists and dining experiences. While there are some noteworthy options in Batu Ferringhi, they primarily cater to resort guests and offer a different ambiance and experiences.

Let’s start on our food exploration of Penang!

Duck Blood Curry Mee

Address : 223B Jalan Burma, George Town, 10050, Malaysia

A small food stall located in a coffee shop, environment here is warm welcoming. Star dish is curry noodle (local called as “mee”) which cooked in white curry soup with coconut milk where you can select or modify topping on your like! Make sure you don’t missed their signature roasted pork to eat with curry noodle, taste exceptional! Adding their homemade chilli sauce into curry noodle, just like how you eating like local – yum!

If curry noodle is not your thing or you are looking for more, pork porridge or boiled chicken is another comfort food for everyone too.

Tip : Bring cash, local food stalls usually operate by senior people who mostly take cash transaction.

Penang Road Asam Laksa

Address : 5 Lebuh Keng Kwee, 10100 George Town

Famous for it’s laksa dish, ingredients to cook are rice noodle with sardine fish broth that make an outstanding flavours with appetisingly sweet and sour kick, complemented by an assortment of condiments and seasonings. You should definitely try it out, no regret! Remember to pair the laksa with a serving of char kway teow that cooked with duck egg is what you should try it on.

Tip : Eat while it’s serving hot, finish whole bowl of noodle – don’t stop until you can see the bottom of bowl. Sweat is all the worth!

Ali Nasi Lemak Daun Pisang

Address : Sri Weld Food Court, 19 Lebuh Pantai, 10300 George Town

Since 2000, this hawker stall opened and currently running by second generation and this also is halal-certified food stall. Located near entrance of Sri Weld Food Court, offering very reasonable price and delicious main and side dishes that everyone enjoying them! Nasi lemak – this fragrant coconut rice dish is wrapped in leaves, generously drizzled with a piquant homemade sambal sauce, and accompanied by a selection of six delectable toppings such as ikan bilis (fried anchovies) and hard-boiled egg.

Tip : Nasi lemak is not only local’s breakfast but also go well with lunch or dinner. Go with your spicy level carefully, as the sambal could be fiery punch for first trial! RM2 per packet, which comes in five types in total.

Misai Mee Jawa

Address : 6794 Jalan Raja Uda, Taman Aman Jaya, Butterworth, 12300 Seberang Perai

Popular in the district for more than 20 years, this shop is now operating by second generation too like most food stall in Penang. Located along bustling Jalan Raja Uda road, a hidden yet popular gem in Butterworth Penang that every local knows.

Mee Jawa, selling in two options: the original and the fried noodle rendition. Trying for the original Mee Jawa is highly recommended, cooking with eggy yellow noodles bathed in a sweet-and-spicy pumpkin broth. The dish is completing with tofu, egg, crushed peanuts, and crispy prawn crackers. For another level of experience, it is suggested to crumble the crackers and dip them with the zingy tang aroma from the calamansi.

Tip : Finish til last drop of broth, be it you are or aren’t pumpkin fan. You will surely like this.

Air Itam Sister Curry Mee

Address : 612 T, Jalan Air Itam Pekan Ayer Itam, 11500 George Town

Located at alley in the bustling Air Itam market, selling affordable Penang-style curry mee and value for money. What making this place so special? Let us tell you more, they are utilising charcoal stove to prepare the noodles. With traditional cooking method to make broth perfect balance between chilli paste, spices and coconut milk. A bowl of curry noodle served together with airy tofu puffs, tender squids to bring simple delicious food to satisfy your stomach.

Tip : Located very near to Kek Lok Si Temple. Best to drop by before noon (by 1pm) as it could be quite pack during lunch time and popular items may gone quickly too.

Oh Chien (Oyster Pancake)

Address : New Lane Hawker Centre Lorong Baru, George Town, 10450 George Town

It’s a popular food in many Asian countries, it’s basically a fried oyster-filled omelette. Common version usually cooked with potato starch to thicken the omelette but the Penang version is made with rice flour batter to give it a lighter, crispier texture.

The oysters were so chewy fresh and juicy! One notable difference with Penang’s version is that it isn’t as gooey or gummy as other versions we’ve tried in shopping mall or like Taiwaness oyster omelette. I will always goes for this one when I am in Penang. Dish is serving with chilli sauce, taste bit sweet and spicy which is perfect to blend with natural brininess of oysters, instant kick into your mouth.

Tip : Stall closed on every Wednesday where its only operates during dinner session. Prepare cash!

Char Koay Teow

Address: Kafe Ping Hooi – No. 179, Lebuh Carnarvon, George Town, 10100 George Town

An iconic street food that should at least try once on your Penang trip. Char koay teow is a stir-fried noodle which containing flat rice noodles stir-fried in pork fat with light and dark soy sauce, chilli optionally (remember to mention when placing food order), prawns, blood cockles (optional too), bean sprouts, chopped Chinese chives, and egg. That’s most one’s comfy food.

This stall is one of our must eat place where it was rich and creamy with that incomparable wok hei flavor. I really enjoyed the springiness of the noodles with crunchy of the bean sprouts and the fluffiness of the egg. And highlight of this dish for me was the prawn, fresh in taste and texture cooked perfectly. We got the standard order which comes with just three pieces but you can pay a little more to get six. Definitely worth it.

Tip : Their version “tiger char koay teow”, the Yeow family has been running this shop and serving this beloved Penang dish for three generations now. Can imagine how fierce is the wok hei flavor!

Teochew Cendol

Address: Jalan Penang, 27 & 29, Lebuh Keng Kwee, George Town

Dessert is a must especially in Penang where is quite a humid island. Cendol is a popular Malaysian dessert made with shaved ice, coconut milk, jelly noodles, and palm sugar. Other ingredients like red beans, glutinous rice, grass jelly, and creamed corn can also be added optionally. Mixture of these ingredient are just perfect food ever, to blend into mouth with palm sugar (aromatic gula melaka) that melt slowly into your throat. Perfect remedy for the blistering heat! This blue bowl was from Penang Road Famous Teochew Cendol.

Tip : It usually has a line extends almost to the end of the street. But it moves fast though so you don’t have to wait too long.

Apong Guan’s

Address : Jalan Burma, 10050 George Town

Apom is a type of Indian-influenced pancake popular in Malaysia. The Chinese version of apom or apom balik, is a sweet Nyonya fold-over pancake made from flour and egg, topped with bananas, sweet corn, and sugar. It has a thin and crispy outside and a soft and fluffy inside. It has a sweet aroma. In general, hawkers cook apom with halal ingredients. 

This stall makes apom fresh to order, with a crispy edge and a soft and fluffy centre. They usually serve it with fillings such as sweet corn, banana, and coconut to enhance the dish. Many locals have grown up with Apong Guan’s – so it is not uncommon to see multi-generational families stopping by to enjoy some apom. Uncle is is known for his cheeky attitude and friendly humor, stall has a nostalgic and charming feel, with its traditional wooden cart and hand-painted sign board.

Pasembur

Address : Pasembur King Hussain Medan Renong, George Town

Popular hawker food in Malaysia. Can be taking as a side dish during lunch and dinner. It is a salad dish famous for its sweet and sour ingredients, all mixed ‘rojak’ style. The dish has shredded cucumber, Chinese turnip, potatoes, beancurd, bean sprouts, prawn fritters, flour-batter fritters and sliced boiled eggs. The cooks then top the dish with a thick peanut sauce.

Both Indian-Muslim hawker and Chinese hawker selling own version. Pasembur King Hussain at Medan Renong food court is famous for serving one of the best street foods in Georgetown. Their peanut sauce is one of the best pasembur sauces where they have more than 25 types of items that you can add to the salad. Furthermore, you can also let them choose the food items according to your budget.

Tip : You can also let them choose the food items according to your budget.

Apom Manis

Address: 294 A, Chulia St, Georgetown, 10200 George Town

Apom Manis is an Indian crepe-like or mini thin slice pancake snack made with sugar, eggs, coconut milk, and flour. The batter is poured into small clay pots or mini-woks to form thin crisp edges around a fluffy, eggy center. It’s a cheap snack that’s not too sweet which could make you easily put away a few in one sitting.

Our favourite apom stall located Chulia night hawker market is near the corner of Chulia Street and Love Lane. Check out this making process, auntie churning out crepe after crepe after crepe non-stop. Watching her lift the lids off the woks to check on the apom manis is just as fast as machinery work, salute!

Tip : Stall only open from 6pm onwards daily, cash term too. Prepare for long queue as each piece is make freshly upon order.

China House

Address: 153, Beach St, Georgetown, 10300 George Town, Penang, Malaysia

ChinaHouse isn’t a street food stall but a hip restaurant / event space that serves cakes. If you a cake or dessert lover, this place could definitely bring you something. You can get all kinds of delicious homemade cakes at ChinaHouse like tiramisu cakes, walnut cakes, and raspberry cakes. ChinaHouse is a long and narrow space occupying three Penang heritage houses. Inside are cafes, restaurants, shops, an art gallery, a music venue, and an outdoor courtyard that all you can experienced. Trendy and fun, it’s the hippest space we visited in Penang and well worth a stop. Food is good and environment is friendly for you and family even kids to hang around.

Tip : Restaurant open daily, from morning breakfast time to 1am! Not many places in island that open til late night to serve hunger or sweet craving. Worth trying!

Travelling to Penang soon? Considering Penang for next holiday destination? Or you are now packing luggage excitedly? Let us help you right away!

Penang, Malaysia Travel Guide

Penang, Malaysia Travel Guide – Food

Penang, Malaysia Travel Guide – Transportation

Do check on our upcoming post if you are clueless to plan your Penang itinerary, stay tune!