10 Must Eat Food in Penang

Penang also known as Food Paradise is a place travelers should not miss when visiting Malaysia. Therefore if you are in Penang for a short visit, these must eat food in Penang are the ones you should never miss.

However Penang’s delicious food does not only limit to these. If you would like to explore more of Penang’s best food, feel free to check out Famous Food in Penang.

1. Siam Road Char Koay Teow

Penang Char Koay Teow is the most famous dish in Penang. Definitely not to be miss! It consist of flat rice noodles stir fried with prawns, eggs, bean sprouts chili, cockles, chives and commonly served on a piece of banana leaf on a plate.

Do expect to wait more than 1 hour for their char koay teow.

Address : Jalan Siam ( Off Jalan Anson )

Opening Hours : Monday to Friday – 3pm to 7.30pm

Price : Approx RM5 / USD1.50 / SGD2 per person

2. Air Itam Market Assam Laksa

Penang Assam Laksa is made with mackerel soup and its main distinguishing feature is the asam or tamarind  which gives the soup a sour taste. The fish is poached and then flaked.

Other ingredients that give its distinctive flavour include lemongrass, galangal  (lengkuas) & chilli.

Typical garnishes include mint, pineapple  slices, thinly sliced onion, hε-ko, a thick sweet prawn paste and use of torch ginger flower.

Address : Pasar Road ( Beside Air Itam Market )

Opening Hours : Daily 11am to 7pm. Closed on Wednesday.

Price : Below RM5 / USD1.50 / SGD2 per person

3. Nasi Kandar

Originating from the Indian-Muslim culture, the dish got its name from the way it was peddled decades ago – by balancing pots containing the rice and the curries across the shoulders using a long wooden rod.

It is basically steamed white rice served with a variety of side dishes which include a variety of thick, rich curries and vegetables.

4. Lebuh Presgrave Hokkien Mee

Penang Hokkien Mee is served with yellow noodles & bihun drenched in richly flavoured dark soup stock with prawns, pork slices, fish cake slices, and bean sprouts topped with fried shallots and spring onion.

The stock is made using dried shrimps, plucked heads of prawns, white pepper, garlic and other spices.

Address : Lebuh Presgrave ( 2 houses away from the corner lot coffee shop )

Opening Hours : Daily 5pm to 12.00am

Price : Below RM5 / USD1.50 / SGD2 per person

5. Bangkok Lane Mee Goreng

Fresh yellow egg noodles are stir fried with squid, vegetables, tomato ketchup and spices, giving this fried noodle dish a distinctly unique Indian flavor.

Address : Bangkok Lane

Opening Hours : Daily 11am to 6pm

Price : Below RM5 / USD1.50 / SGD2 per person

6. Kimberly Street Koay Chiap

Koay Chiap is flat sheets of rice noodle served in soup flavored with herbs, spices and soy sauce served together with different parts of the duck and pork.

The noodle or the  koay  itself is semi translucency and is slightly thicker than the koay teow and usually cut into rectangular pieces.

Address : Kimberly Street

Opening Hours : Daily 6.30pm to 11pm

Price : Around RM8 / USD2.50 / SGD3 per person

7. Penang Road Teochew Cendol

Cendol, a dessert with green noodles in coconut milk, brown sugar and shaved ice & is one of the must try dessert in Penang.

Address : Lebuh Keng Kwee, off Penang Road

( Note : There is 2 stalls so don’t mixed up. If turning in from Penang Road, the stall is on your right hand side. )

Opening Hours : Daily 11am to 7pm

Price : Below RM5 / USD1.50 / SGD2 per person

8. Lebuh Presgrave Ice Kacang

Ice Kacang (Shave Ice) is one of the famous dessert in Penang containing a large serving of red beans, attap chee (palm seed), sweet corn, grass jelly , jelly cubes & occasionally ice cream.

A final topping of evaporated milk, condensed milk, or coconut milk is drizzled over the mountain of ice along with red rose syrup and sarsi syrup.

Address : Lebuh Presgrave

( Recommended : Request for 1 or 2 scoop of Peanut Butter Ice Cream on top of the ice kacang or cendol )

Opening Hours : Daily 5pm to 11pm

Price : Below RM5 / USD1.50 / SGD2 per person

9. Tau Sa Piah

Tau Sa Piah also known as Dragon Ball is one of the most popular Chinese pastries in Penang. The words ‘Tau Sa’ mean bean paste and ‘piah’ means pastry.

10. Hon Kei Food Corner 漢記小食店

Hon Kei is famous for its Pork Broth Noodles & Porridge that original serves with pork intestines, brain, kidney, tripe, intestine, liver, heart & meat.

From a mere roadside stall, they now occupy 3 units of heritage shop house serving this hearty & delicious pork broth noodles & porridge.

Recommendation : I always order Thick Bee Hun. For people who prefer not to eat innards, you can order purely mince pork meat.

Address : 45, Kampung Malabar, 10100 Georgetown, Penang

Opening Hours : 9am to 3pm / 5pm to 12am (Closed on Thursday)

Price : Approx RM8 / USD2.50 / SGD3 per person

Check Out by Tommy Ooi

  • Penang Hotels Review ( Coming Soon )

About Tommy Ooi 509 Articles
Luxury Hotel Reviewer & Destination Blogger. Passionate for travel, exploring new culture & indulging divine food, Tommy has traveled to 42 countries & 140+ destinations.

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