19 Famous Penang Street Food To Try (The Only List You Need For 2020!)

Famous Penang food like laksa, kuay teow and cendol, have long put Penang on the world map. In fact, some of the best food in Penang is actually, Penang street food.

If you’re looking to try local dishes like Penang Hokkien mee, curry mee or oyster omelet, there are a lot of places that serve these! How would you know which to choose?

In this list, we’ve listed locations in order of how well-known they are and by the dish they serve!

1. Penang Hokkien Mee
2. Curry Mee
3. Mee Goreng
4. Teochew Chendol
5. Penang Assam Laksa
6. Char Koay Teow
7. Fish Head Bee Hoon
8. Penang Rojak
9. Koay Teow Soup
10. Loh Mee
11. Loh Bak
12. Lok Lok
13. Wanton Mee
14. Oyster Omelet
15. Seafood Popiah
16. Roti Canai
17. Nasi Lemak
18. Ikan Bakar
19. Penang Tambun Biscuit

19 Best Food In Penang

Leave your diet aside and get ready to travel by your stomach when you visit Penang!

1. Penang Hokkien Mee – 888 Hokkien Mee

The tried and true 888 Hokkien Mee stall at Lebuh Presgrave (三条路) have been cooking prawn mee in a flavorful spicy thick broth for 3 decades!

888 Hokkien Mee Environment – photo credits to currykhoo (Instagram)

Order sides like meatballs, pork innards and crispy pork if you get there early! And get the ice kacang or cendol next door to end your meal!

Penang Hokkien Mee by 888 Hokkien Mee – photo credits to mantob2 (Instagram)

Remark:

• They have another branch at Jalan Mahsuri.
• It’s tough to find parking here

Other Recommendations:

• CY Choy Road Hokkien Mee
• Ah Koo’s Hokkien Mee @ Classic Café

2. Curry Mee – Hot Bowl White Curry Mee

Somewhere along Rangoon Road is a reputable curry mee shop. Penang curry mee is different from most other curry mee in Malaysia.

Hot Bowl White Curry Mee – photo credits to kennethong (Instagram)

The star ingredient is coagulated pigs blood! Along with some seafood and beancurd. If it’s not spicy enough, you can top up the chili paste!

Other Recommendations:

• Chulia Street Curry Mee
• Ah Wan Curry Mee

3. Mee Goreng – Hameed Pata Mee Sotong

Out of all the other stalls at the open-air Esplanade Park, Hameed Pata Mee Sotong is the most popular!

Customers come to try this version of mee goreng that incorporates squid strips into the sambal.

Hameed Pata Special Mee Sotong – photo credits to liyanarazalli (Instagram)

Have it either dry or with gravy.  The beverage stall just beside happens to serve amazing cendol, coconut shake or ais kacang too!

Other Recommendations:

• Bangkok Lane’s Mee Goreng
• Hussain Mee Goreng And Mee Rebus

4. Teochew Chendol – Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul

This brand may look familiar to you if you’ve been in the Klang Valley long enough! There are outlets in Klang Valley and even in Ipoh!

Long Queue At The Original Stall Of Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul – photo credits to chanin_king (Instagram)

But Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul’s humble beginnings began from this very stall at Penang Road. Try it for yourself!

Cendul From The Original Stall That Started Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul – photo credits to gengen.eataroundtheworld (Instagram)

Other Recommendations:

• Chendol At Joo Hooi Café

5. Penang Assam Laksa – Penang Air Itam Laksa

Arguably one of the best laksa in Penang, Air Itam Laksa has been in operation for over 6 decades! And still going strong!

Penang Air Itam Laksa – photo credits to blisssky (Instagram)

They use mackerel and tamarind as their soup base with toppings of sliced cucumber, chili, mint leaves, bunga kantan onion and a sweet prawn paste, ‘hae ko’. Not too spicy or sour either!

Other Recommendations:

• Penang Road Famous Laksa
• Laksa At Joo Hooi Café

6. Char Koay Teow – New Siam Road Char Koay Teow

Equally as famous as Penang laksa, you must save some room in your stomach to try Penang koay teow!

The elderly man behind the stall at Siam Road still uses the traditional charcoal method to fry the dish!

The Long Serving Iron Cast Wok At New Siam Road Char Koay Teow – photo credits to dennislaw07 (Instagram)

His char koay teow got so famous (world-famous, in fact) that he had to take a break for a few months to rest from the never-ending crowds! Prepare to wait at least an hour and a half to try it yourself!

Remark:

• Not halal
• Peak hours are 12pm to 1:30pm and closer to 5pm
• You need to stand the whole time to queue

Other Recommendations:

• Duck Egg Char Koay Teow 鸭蛋炒粿条
• Ah Soon Char Koay Teow

7. Fish Head Bee Hoon –  Village Fish Head Bee Hoon

Fan of tom yam? Then you will want to have a bowl of fish head noodles at this location! There are many tables but the average wait time is still 30-60 minutes!

Village Fish Head Bee Hoon, Weld Quay – photo credits to lydiaburr (Instagram)

There is a whole selection of add-ons besides fish slices to choose from. Including noodles and two types of soup base – tom yam or clear soup!

Other Recommendations:

• Perak Lane Fish Head Bee Hoon
• Tong Lek 8 Fried Fish Bee Hoon

8. Penang Rojak –  Hock Seng Rojak

After a queue of at least 30 minutes by the roadside, exposed to sunshine and potential bird poop bombs:

You can have a bowl of on-the-spot rojak at Hock Seng Rojak stall.

Rojak From Hock Seng Rojak Stall – photo credits to jamie_patata (Instagram)

The key to their 40-year success is the thick home-made sauce. Topped with crunchy peanuts and dried shrimp!

Other Recommendations:

• Rojak Ho Wei Jeng (101 Rojak)
• Rojak At Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul

9. Koay Teow Soup (粿条汤) – Loh Kei Duck Meat Koay Teow Th’ng

You have to wake up early for this one! Their MSG-free duck, pork and anchovy broth with rice noodles has many fans among the locals!

Loh Kei Duck Meat Koay Teow Th’ng (羅记鸭肉粿条汤) – photo credits to darwislim (Instagram)

Sliced duck meat pairs well together with the noodles and soup so be sure to order that too!

Other Recommendations:

• Pitt Street Koay Teow Th’ng (Eel Fish Ball Noodle)
• Koay Teow Soup Stall Tauge

10. Loh Mee (卤面) – Kim Leng Lor Mee At Restoran Joo Huat (金龙卤面)

Lor mee is not as common as it used to be. However, there is one long-standing stall at Restaurant Joo Huat at Perak Road that serves this savory classic dish that originally hails from Fujian.

Loh Mee At Kim Leng Lor Mee At Restoran Joo Huat 金龙卤面 – photo credits to pd_ren (Instagram)

Penang’s take on this braised noodle dish is thick oily-looking brown soup with herbal egg, bean sprouts, pig skin and intestines and chicken feet! Accompanied by vinegar-garlic sauce and chili, of course!

Other Recommendations:

• 218 Hainan Lor Mee
• Ah Khoon Loh Mee
• Kedai Kopi Seng Thor

11. Loh Bak (卤肉) – Prawn Fritters & Loh Bak @ Tan Jetty

Don’t miss out on the chance to try fresh loh bak at this stall in Tan Jetty! They have been operating their stall for 20 years!

Prawn Fritters & Loh Bak @ Tan Jetty – photo credits to kwan_yean (Instagram)

Their crunchy prawn fritters are worth a try too!

Loh Bak By Tan Jetty (虾煎豆干鹵肉) – photo credits to kwan_yean (Instagram)

Loh bak is a deep-fried snack of Teochew origin. Inside the bean curd roll is minced pork that has been marinated with 5-spice powder.

Other Recommendations:

• Penang Kheng Pin Loh Bak

12. Lok Lok – Ping Hwa Lok Lok (槟华乐乐) At Pulau Tikus

Lok lok can come in all shapes and sizes. Fish balls, jellyfish, vegetables, pork belly slices, cockles, sausages and more! After being boiled on the spot, dip your lok lok into some sauce and have a taste!

Pulau Tikus 槟华乐乐 – photo credits to jillianksy (Instagram)

There’re over 30 types to try at Ping Hwa Lok Lok! And 5 types of home-made sauces like satay peanut sauce to go with them!

Other Recommendations:

• Pantai Lok Lok @ Chai Leng Park

13. Wanton Mee (云吞面) – Hong Kee Wan Thun Mee 鸿记 (廣式) 竹昇云吞面

If you love noodles, make your way to Hong Kee for lunch so you can see how wan thun mee are made traditionally using large bamboo poles!

How Noodles Are Made At Hong Kee Bamboo Noodle 鴻記（廣式）竹昇雲吞面 – photo credits to kelvinhkw (Instagram)

Fun fact: The physical exertion required to make noodles in this fashion is the reason behind the name “kung fu bamboo noodles”!

Wantan Mee At Hong Kee Bamboo Noodle 鴻記（廣式）竹昇雲吞面 – photo credits to kelvinhkw (Instagram)

Other than the wan thun mee, they have other dishes and pastries worth trying:

• Vinegar pig trotters
• Buttered polo bun
• Egg tart
• Stir-fried hor fun with egg
• Ginger duck

Remark: Likely to be crowded

Other Recommendations:

• Hong Kee Bamboo Noodle Lebuh Campbell Penang
• Mother And Son Wantan Mee

14. Oyster Omelet / Oh Chien (蚝煎) – Bee Hooi Restaurant

Fresh plump oysters with a sour-ish chili sauce complete the omelets that draw locals over to Burmah Road at Bee Hooi Restaurant.

Oyster Omelet (Oh Chien) At Bee Hooi Hawker In Penang – photo credits to jackielicouss (Instagram)

Oyster omelets (oh chien) can be crispy or starchy – the one at Bee Hooi is the latter but pleasantly so!

Other Recommendations:

• Kedai Kopi Seng Thor
• New Lane Hawker Centre
• Fried Oyster – Jelutong Post Office

15. Seafood Popiah – Nur Poh Piah At Medan Selera Padang Brown

Popiah is a spring roll of sorts that is either made crispy or soft. Nur Poh Piah’s family recipe drenches theirs in gravy with homemade chili paste to top it off!

Popiah At Padang Brown – photo credits to fabianpoon (Instagram)

Prices are very affordable. Order the ‘keh liao’ version for crab meat in your popiah! The original popiah filling comprises of eggs, fried shallots, shredded turnips and carrots!

16. Roti Canai – Roti Canai Gemas Road

Malaysians can’t live without roti canai!

If you want to try this Indian flatbread with an exceptional and thick curry sauce, go for Roti Canai Gemas Road! Curry flavors include beef, chicken or dhal.

Roti Canai Gemas Road – photo credits to joebundle (Instagram)

Sides like chopped onions, cheese, chicken, sunny side up further complement the perfectly flaky roti pastry.

Other Recommendations:

• Roti Canai Transfer Road
• Roti Canai Jalan Argyll

Read also: Penang National Park (Detailed Guide) – Spend A Delightful Day Hiking In Nature

17. Nasi Lemak – Ali Nasi Lemak Daun Pisang

Nasi lemak is a Malaysian staple and you can find this banana-leaf wrapped breakfast in every state! But this particular stall in Penang does it a bit differently!

Ali Nasi Lemak In Penang – photo credits to oh_yoyon (Instagram)

The side servings like fried fish or fried chicken and other dishes besides!

Remark:

• Rice may run out if you go by 11am or later!
• The sambal is quite spicy!

Other Recommendations:

• Nasi Lemak Liverpool @ matroy Penang
• Uncle Lanz Nasi Lemak

Read also: Froghill Of Gelugor– Hidden Gem Close To Penang

18. Ikan Bakar – Restoran Ikan Bakar Din

Restoran Ikan Bakar Din sells a lot more than their delicious signature dish, grilled fish or ikan bakar. They have an assortment of grilled seafood. Or beef soup.

Restoran Ikan Bakar Din, Kepala Batas, Penang – photo credits to _ayie_smile_keke (Instagram)

Their food is halal and thus, it’s very crowded during lunch time making it hard to find parking!

Other Recommendations:

• Adnan Bin Hassan Ikan Bakar
• Abg Jit Ikan Bakar

19. Penang Tambun Biscuit (Tau Sar Piah) – Him Heang

For freshly-baked local Penang pastries like tao sar piah (also known as tambun biscuit), this is a favorite stop for many visitors to Penang!

Him Heang Signature Traditional Pastry – photo credits to ruff.yen.yong (Instagram)

Especially since the pastries are vegetarian-friendly. Sometimes, they can run out of the highly sought-after tao sar piah pastries before noon!

Other Recommendations:

• Ban Heang
• Tean Ean Tau Sar Piah
• Ghee Hiang
• Soon Hiang Biscuit Shop 順香餅家 (Local Favourite)

Read more: 27 Best Things To Do In Penang

Conclusion

Penang food will satisfy the tummy of any foodie! But the numerous options will baffle a first-timer to Penang. It’s a challenge to try everything in a few days, let alone one day!

So note down the foods that you really want to try from this trustworthy list! Alternatively, you can always head to the neighboring city of Ipoh to try Ipoh food too!