Estimated reading time: 13 minutes
You might have checked out our complete guide to Penang on where to stay, what to do, and what to eat. However, true foodies definitely would like to know more on what iconic food from George Town they should check out.
The mix of Malay, Chinese, and Indian cultures is unmissable even in the city’s food scene- take your taste buds on a spin! Don’t miss out on vibrant spices, delectable dishes, and drool-worthy desserts. These are the best places to get your food fix in Penang Island!
Table of contents
1. Char kway teow
This stir-fried rice noodle practically infused with wok hei smokiness is DELICIOUS, and Penang-style char kway teow is world-renowned! You’d be doing yourself a disservice if you don’t try it out in this part of the world. Char kway teow is flat rice noodles stir-fried with dark soy sauce, chinese sausage, eggs, and plenty of seafood.
I perused websites, YouTube, and even TikToks before my visit to find out that the consensus for top 3 char kway teows in Penang are: Siam Rd Charcoal Char Kuey Teow (Jalan Siam), Tiger Char Koay Teow (Lebuh Carnarvon), and Ah Leng Char Koay Teow (Jalan Dato Keramat).
I am terrified of the queue, so I only tried Tiger and a few other CKTs all over town. They were all good- but my favorite place goes to the charcoal char kway teow stall at New Lane Street Foodstalls.
His charcoal stove was burning all afternoon and night, mixing flat rice noodles, bean sprouts, and duck eggs until it’s smoking hot. It was so savory, smoky, greasy, and delicious! Yum, get the char kuey teow with duck eggs for an even richer flavor. Let me know which CKT is your favorite in Penang.
2. Nyonya kuihs
Nyonya kuihs are various sweet and savory traditional snacks made out of local ingredients such as coconut milk, sticky rice, glutinous rice, and mung beans. These are very similar to the jajanan pasar of Indonesia, and I love them all!
Travel tips: Glutinous rice does NOT have gluten in it- it is completely gluten free!
The combination of textures are unbeatable; you’ve got the chewiness of sticky rice, creaminess of kaya, fragrance of pandan leaves, and QQ-ness of tapioca. Most importantly, the sweet ones are not too sweet- the highest compliment Asian parents can give.
My personal favorite kuihs are Pulut Tai Tai, Kuih Talam, and Chai Tau Kuih. You can find them in all the morning markets, but there is one specialty restaurant that has been making them for 1933: Moh Teng Pheow Nyonya Koay.
3. Kopitiam breakfast
Did you even go to Penang if you did not have a kopitiam breakfast?! This breakfast spread includes various types of coffee and tea, toast with kaya jam, and half-boiled eggs to dip your kaya toast into. Don’t even THINK about getting hard-boiled egg with kaya toast- that’d be a travesty!
Brought about by Hainanese migrants, these coffee shops proliferated in Singapore during the Great Depression. What is so different about their coffee is the brewing style. Coffee grounds are placed into cloth strainers and hot water is poured back and forth to extract its flavors.
Kopitiam joints have their own lingo; do you want teh tarik or kopi C kosong? Brush up on your vernacular before ordering 😉 Some of the most famous kopitiam spots in Penang are: Toh Soon Cafe, Seng Thor Coffee Shop, and OO White Coffee.
4. Nasi kandar
Nasi kandar is a dish that originates from Penang. The name comes from the word nasi (rice) and mengandar (shoulder-carried). It was invented by Muslim Tamil migrants who sold spices in the 1930s! To show how their goods can be incorporated into tasty dishes, they started selling rice with curries chock-full of spices in busy spots around George Town. See how big the influence of Indian cuisines is in Pulau Pinang 👀
To order, you simply pick a few dishes that caught your fancy. Some popular ones are fried chicken, onion chicken, curry beef, and okra. Do not forget to ask for kuah campur (mixed gravy) to be poured on top of your rice; this pushes the flavor to another dimension! The oldest seller of nasi kandar in Penang is Hameediyah, but some newer shops like Deen’s Maju, Line Clear Nasi Kandar, and Nasi Kandar Beratur (only available after 10 pm) have been the locals’ favorites.
Hameediyah Google Maps | Line Clear Nasi Kandar Google Maps | Nasi Kandar Beratur Google Maps
5. Nasi lemak
This Malay dish is composed of rice cooked in coconut milk, sambal (chili paste), and various toppings. The most common toppings are boiled eggs, ikan bilis, and fried peanuts. The distinct essence of pandan leaf mixes so well with coconut milk, giving the rice a fragrantly rich mouthfeel. Typically consumed during breakfast, you can find nasi lemak in various morning hawker centers and kopitiams in Penang.
Some of the most famous nasi lemak sellers in Penang is Ali Nasi Lemak in Sri Weld food court.
6. Wantan mee
A combination of curly yellow noodles, dumplings, char siu, and sweet-savory sauce, wantan mee is a staple in Penangite hawker centers. You can add chili paste for an extra kick, as they usually incorporate shrimp paste in this condiment.
There are two versions of this noodle dish: wet (in a soup) or dry (with sauce). Both types definitely hit the spot for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!
The local favorite is in the Mother & Son Wantan Mee at Chulia Street Hawker Center.
7. Oyster omelette 🦪
A play on textures and briny oyster goodness, you should try oyster omelette at least once here! It is a combination of eggs, tapioca batter, and plump oysters- definitely a combination you can only find in Malaysia (and Singapore). This mixture is then blended with a spice concoction unique to each seller. Some are served on a piece of banana leaf, like above, to add a yummy fragrance.
You can find oyster omelette at street food stalls all over town, but the crowd favorite is the oyster omelette in Seng Thor Coffee Shop.
8. Ice cream
This is a special shoutout to my favorite ice cream shop in George Town: Hema Hema! I love unique flavor combinations and Hema Hema definitely got good ones. I loved the burnt butter and sage flavor- so creamy, yummy, and unique.
The flavors are always on rotation, but if you see the Burnt Butter and Sage flavor please get it and thank me later! It is on the pricey side (RM 9 for single scoop and RM 16 for double scoops), but you won’t regret those ringgits after your first mouthful.
Hema Hema also has a comfy and air-conditioned sitting area inside. It is a nice place for a brief rest exploring the hot and humid George Town.
9. Apam balik
This is my personal favorite snack in the hawker centers. I love the combination of crispy batter, cheese, and peanuts. I got this one at a humble stall in Pasar Lebuh Cecil.
Originally a sweet snack from Fujian, China, it has interesting origins. Apparently it was created for soldiers in the Qing dynasty! Now it has spread to Southeast Asia with Chinese migrants. You can see similar dishes in Singapore (same name; Apam Balik) and Indonesia (martabak tipker).
There are even town lores involving two rivals in the apam balik scene: Apom Chooi and Apong Guan. I can only say that Apom Chooi’s Google review replies can be intense but hilarious. Grab a few and enjoy the drama 😉
10. Chendul
Tired of walking in the heat? Chill for a while with an icy bowl of chendul! A popular dessert in Southeast Asia, you can find variations of this dessert in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore.
This dessert is a combination of gula melaka (palm sugar) flavored coconut milk, shaved ice, red beans, palm sugar syrup, and chendul topping. It is the perfect antidote for the midday sun, and it saves lives! At least it did mine while I was there 😂
If you are around Penang Road, check out the Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul– its long lines speaks for itself.
Travel tips: If you are in this area, check out the Chowrasta Market for souvenirs and a wide variety of street food stalls!
11. Cheong fun
Google Maps
I was strolling in the Chowrasta Market and found this yummy stall selling cheong fun. Cheong fun is steamed rice flour batter wrapped around various fillings.A common dish in dim sum restaurants, some of the different types of fillings are: shrimp, pork, and you tiao (Chinese fried doughnuts). They are all so delicious, but you tiao is definitely my favorite! Imagine the contract between crispy fried dough and the chewy skin… 10/10!
Try out this cheong fun and see if it agrees with your taste buds!
12. Curry Mee
Everyone agrees that the Air Itam Sister Curry Mee is the best! It is always in high demand, and they might close when they are sold out.
If you are lucky enough to get a portion of this Michelin Guide noodle delight, please do. It is located at the Air Itam Market, which is not far from the Kek Lok Si Temple.
The thick noodle is served in a coconut milk based curry soup, with toppings like fried tofu, bean sprouts, blood curd, and seafood.
13. Duck Koay Chap
I was lucky enough to pass by the Kimberley Street Market when it just opened, and I could NOT miss the famous Duck Koay Chap!
It is a ripped noodle dish with duck, pork, blood curd, and hard-boiled egg. The broth is rich and fragrant, with touches of dark soy sauce, five-spice, and cloves. Writing about this noodle delight makes me drool all over again!
14. Roti Canai
A common breakfast dish for Penangites, roti canai is a layered crispy flatbread with Indian cuisines’ influence. The layers are created by oil, much like how croissants are made. It is usually eaten dipped in rich curries. Definitely a dish to try out when you are here!
15. Koay Teow Th’ng
A lighter, brothy cousin of char kway teow, koay teow thn’g is a flat noodle rice soup. It is typically served with slices of pork or chicken, fish balls, meat balls, and fried garlic bits. The clear soup is savory and comforting without being gamey.
One of the most famous Penang restaurants for this dish is Ah Boy Koay Teow Th’ng, which is included in the Michelin Guide.
16. Sweet Bean Curd (Tofu Fa)
This surprisingly was one of the best desserts I had in Pulau Pinang! The bean curd is soft and jelly-like, a refreshing dessert with the brown sugar syrup it is topped with.
With the daytime heat of the island, it is one way to relax and cool down. I tried the store near Lebuh Cecil Market, called Low You Soya Dessert. It was delicious!
17. Durian
As a Southeast Asian, I am ashamed to say that this King of Fruits is not my favorite. My family, though, loves it so much!
It is sweet and creamy with a punch, and what a punchy smell it is. Note that most hotels and public transportations have their own rules and can forbid you from bringing durian into their establishment. It is definitely an acquired taste, but it does not hurt to try, right? The worst case is to find out you don’t like it, and you can avoid it in the future 😉
When we were in Penang, my family stopped several times to taste the local durians. The Rolls Royce of durians is definitely the Musang King from Malaysia. Grab a few when it’s in season (June-August)!
I hope you get to try these yummy dishes in Penang! Please share or comment on this article if you find it useful; I would really appreciate it 😊 Have a great trip 💕
P.S.: If you are planning your trip to South East Asia, why not visit Bali as well? Check out my guide and the travel apps you should download before your visit! Make it as seamless as possible 💖
Watch my Penang diary on TikTok!
@principessadiaries Nasi kandar!! The hype is real at Deen’s Maju 🍛 What do you want to try in Penang? So much food, so little time 😮💨 #everythingiate #whatiearthinaday #penang #traveltok ♬ Vlog ・ Stylish city pop(1275391) – orino
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