1. Char Koay Teow

Penang Char Koay Teow is the ultimate of Penang hawker food. Char Koay Teow is traditionally fried on coal stove and uses Chinese sweet sausages, prawn, clams, egg and beansprout.

Only try the best:

Kwei Tiau stall in Bee Hooi – 415, Jalan Burma, George Town, 10350 George Town, Pulau Pinang.

Kwei Tiau stall 71 Anjung Gurney Stall in Gurney Drive

Want more ? Open rice has a great post on Penang’s 6 Best Char Koay Teows

2. Hokkien Prawn Mee

Penang Hokkien Prawn Noodle Soup is famous for its flavoursome prawn stock they use as the base.

3. Asam Laksa

Penang Asam Laksa has been internationally voted as one of the most delicious food. It is thick and slippery rice flour noodle in unique broth made up of lemongrass, chilli, shallots, mint , pineapple ,cucumber and shredded fish. Penang Asam Laksa taste light and refreshing

Only try the best:

Famous Penang Road Laksa available at JooHoei Café at Penang Road for RM5.50 a bowl. Address: 475, Jalan Penang, George Town, 10450 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening hours: 10:30AM to 5PM

Laksa at Pasar Air Itam on the way to Kek Lok Si. Address: Jalan Pasar, Paya Terubong, 11500 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. Opening hours: 11:15 AM 7:30 PM.

Laksa at Balik Pulau (require a day trip) for RM3.50 and RM4 a bowl. Located at Jalan Balik Pulau, Pulau Pinang, Opening hours: 11AM–5PM. (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays)

Want more ? Open rice has a great post on Penang’s 5 Best Asam Laksas

4. Popiah

Popiah is schredded cabage, julienne carrot, rice vermicelli and mince meat filling wrap in a flour sheet. They have deep fried version that is basically like a giant spring roll.

 5. Peranakan Food

Penang is rich in its Peranakan (Chinese immigrant) History. Peranakan or Baba Nyonya food is a fusion of Chinese and Malay food and uses a lot of local herbs and spices that result in sweet and tangy flavour.

Only try the best:

Ivy’s Cuisine at Burma Street
58 Jln Chow Thye | Off Burmah Road, George Town, Penang Island 10250Tue: 6.00Pm – 9.00Pm (Dinner Only) Wed to Sunday : 12.00Pm to 3.00Pm, 6.00Pm to 9.00Pm. Mon : Off Day.

Kebaya
2-16 Stewart Lane, Georgetown, George Town, Penang Island 10200, Malaysia

6. Pastry and Biscuits

Penang is famous for the local pastry and biscuits they have been making for generations. They have long shelf life and make a great souvenir.

Only try the best:

Him Haeng

221, Jalan Burma, George Town, 10050 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Open Mon-Sat: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Ming Xiang Tai

No.26, Lebuh Victoria, George Town, 10200, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Open Mon to Fri: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM Sat and Sun: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Ming Xiang Tai HQ (but smaller) – 133, Jalan Burma, George Town, 10050 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Open everyday 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Ghee Hiang

216, Jalan Macalister, 10400, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Open- 9am-9pm daily

7. Chendol

I never liked this weird slippery green thing with red bean drowned in coconut milk and palm sugar called chendol but the one I tried In Penang has convert me. This is very refreshing dessert.

Only try the best:

Teochew Chendol near Komtar Station at Jalan Penang, 10450 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Chendul at Joohoei Café – 475, Jalan Penang, George Town, 10450 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

8. Ice Kachang

Ice Kacang is another dessert usually also sold by chendol or drink stall. It is a mixed of shaved ice, syrup, red bean, sago, fruit and topped with condensed milk.

9. Durian Puff

Durian Puff is choux puff pastry filled with super smooth custard-like durian filling. It is available in Chew Jetty and Gurney Paragon lower ground floor.

 10. Durian

All hail to the almightily king of fruit, the durian. You either hates it, love it or you are obsessed with it. But the Durian in Malaysia is probably one of the best in the world! Come during durian season for this mouth-watering nature breed creamy custard that is Durian Flesh. Try Musang King Durian for the ultimate durian experience.

Only try the best:

Visit Durian Farm in Balik pulau.

Ting Siang Hock Trading’s Eat-All-You-Can Durian Buffet

Open Hours: 11 AM – 11 PM Monday-Saturday
Address: No.74, Jalan Dr Lim Chwee Leong, Georgetown Penang
Prices: 30 RM buffet without Musang King and Black Thorn, 60 RM Buffet with.

How to get there: If you are staying on Chulia Street, the buffet is an easy 10 minute walk. From Chulia Street,merely walk down Jalan Carnavaran and hang a left.  It’s located across the street from Prangin Mall. – See more

 11. Pasembur

Pasembur Is a salad of various deep fried fish cakes, soyabean, boiled egg and julliene veges smothered in peanut sauce.

12. Nasi Kandar

Nasi kandar is pick-yourself and pay combination rice with cooked dish in a buffet selection.

Only Try the best

Hameediyah

Address: 164, Lebuh Campbell, George Town. Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 10:30 PM

Line Clear

177 Jalan Penang, Lebuh Campbell | 10000, George Town

13. Nasi Biryani

Indian food is widely available in Penang. Some of the best Indian food are the smokey tandoori chicken and the flavourful biryani rice.

14. Rojak

Rojak is fruit salad smothered with thick peanut sauce that has sweet and tangy flavour.

15. Coconut Juice

We wash down most of our dish with refreshing coconut that cost RM 5. Coconut water is naturally high in potassium, electrolytes and is a natural isotonic drink.

16. Wantan Mee

Thin egg noodle smothered with black soy sauce gravy and topped with prawn dumpling.

17. Kweh Ciap

Kweh Ciap is thick black soup served with flat rice flour pieces and pork’s parts stew. The broth is very rich in flavour and also calories I think.

18. Lo Mie

Rice flour noodle in thick and slimy black gravy, often served with boiled egg and other toppings.

19. Lok lok

LOKLOK is varieties of things in bamboo skewers. It is similar to steamboat but on skewers. the food offered are mostly frozen surimis like fishball, fishcake, sausages as well as fresh meat and veges. You dip to cook the skewers in the boiling broth or oil. The different colour on the bamboo skewer handle is the price code for each items.

20. Cooling drinks and desserts

You can find a lot of stalls selling herbal drinks on the street side. They have cooling benefits and also refreshing.

21. Yam Rice

Rice mixed with yam pieces and garlic.

22. Fried Porridge

This is basically porridge that has been ‘fried’ on wok with seasoning like how they would fry Koay Teow. Delicious but you have to go out of the way to get to the place. Location: 47, Jalan Fettes, Tanjung Tokong, 11200 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Phone:+60 16-428 9113

 23. Murtabak

Murtabak is egg mixture incorporated with onion, spring onion and meat wrapped in thinly stretch roti sheet and deep fried.

24. Apom Manis

Apom manis is very similar to pancake, often with added egg and is often enjoyed with coffee/ tea tarik.

25. Lor Bak

Lor Bak is simply a mix of various deep fried bites. Often you get a selection of beancurd, fish cakes of different size, shape and flavour and seafood loaf. They will cut them up to bitesized pieces when ordered. Lor Bak is a popular side dish to accompany any meal.

 26. Curry Mee

Curry mee or the white curry mee is Malaysian special dish. It combines egg noodle with rice vermicelli in a light broth with coconut milk. They provide sambal belacan on the side that upon mixing gives the curry colour we all are familiar with.

27. Oh A Jien

Oh A Jien is an oyster Omelette typically consume as side dish. The omelette is fluffy and flavoursome. Oh a Jien is available at most hawker centre.

28. Serabi Cake

Originated from india, serabi is made up of rice flour, coconut milk and pandan batter released from multi tipped pipping and steamed. It is served with sugar and desiccated coconut. This is my personal favourite, so good enjoyed with local coffee.

Is there any food I miss or I should try? Let me know in the comment section.

If you like this article, you may enjoy other articles I’ve written on Penang series.

• Top 16 Things to do in Penang

• 28 Food to try in Penang

• 9 Streets to Explore in Georgetown

• 7 Museums to Visit in Georgetown

• 25 Cafes to Try in Penang

• 25 Place to Eat in Penang

• 12 Any-Budget Accommodation in Penang

• 8 Things I found Interesting in Penang