Famous dishes like laksa, kuay teow and cendol, have long put Penang on the world map.
If you’re looking to try certain dishes like Penang Hokkien mee, curry mee or oyster omelet, there are a lot of places that serve these! But 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. Duck Kway Chap At Kimberley Street
A word of caution if this will be your first time trying this dish – it doesn’t appeal to everyone and takes some getting used to. Personally, I don’t like it, but my partner and our friends did.
The dining environment is not attractive, clean, or comfortable. Because this is a hawker stall at the edge of a busy road.
Tip: You can choose to sit at the opposite dessert shop if you get drinks from them.
However, if you are a fan of kway chap or just have a curious appetite, the broth is thick and flavorful. The dish has duck meat, braised eggs, and various pig parts according to preference (e.g., pork intestines or pig ears).
Other food that we recommended here are char koay teow, loh bak and fried oysters with egg (oh chien).
- Location: 135, Lebuh Kimberley, George Town, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang
- Opening Hours: 2pm–10pm
- Closed On: Thursday
2. Nasi Kandar – Hameediyah Restaurant
Officially the oldest nasi kandar restaurant in Malaysia as awarded by the Malaysia Book of Records, you will not be disappointed with the food here.
The restaurant is clean and air-conditioned although the queue frequently extends beyond the shop onto the street outside.
However, once you reach your turn, you will be delighted by the wide selection of dishes available. Ayam kapitan, mutton kurma, and beef rendang are among the must-try dishes!
See what we ordered at Hameediyah Restaurant.
- Location: 164, Lebuh Campbell, George Town, 10100 George Town, Penang Island
- Opening Hours: 10am to 10pm (except Friday), 10am to 12.30pm, 3pm to 10pm (Friday)
3. 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!
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!
This is our go-to spot for Hokkien mee in Penang though there are a lot of options if this one is not open on the day you plan to visit.
- Location: 67-A, Lebuh Presgrave, George Town, 10300 George Town, Penang Island
- Opening Hours: 5pm to 8pm
- Closed On: Monday & Thursday
Remark:
- They have another branch at Jalan Mahsuri, Bayan Baru
- It’s tough to find parking here
Other Recommendations:
- Ah Koo’s Hokkien Mee @ Classic Café
4. 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.
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!
Hot Bowl White Curry Mee’s namesake dish does come with the curry looking white – odd in our opinion. But it gets red fast (and a lot spicier) with the sambal you add. It was a lot more delicious than we expected!
See what else you can order at Hot Bowl White Curry Mee.
- Location: 58, Jalan Rangoon, 10400 George Town, Penang Island
- Opening Hours: 8am to 2:30pm
- Closed On: Monday
Other Recommendations:
- Chulia Street Curry Mee
- Lorong Seratus Tahun Curry Mee
5. Teochew Chendol – Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul
This brand may look familiar to you if you’ve been in the Klang Valley long enough! Because there are outlets in Klang Valley (and in Ipoh).
But Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul’s humble beginnings began from this very stall at Penang Road. Try it for yourself!
We think this is one of the best versions of cendol we’ve ever had in Malaysia. It’s full of flavor with a bit of saltiness.
- Location: Jalan Penang, 27 & 29, Lebuh Keng Kwee, George Town, 10450 George Town, Penang Island
- Opening Hours: 10am to 6:30pm
Read more for other places where you can get nice cendol.
6. Penang Assam Laksa – Penang Road Famous Laksa
Arguably one of the most famous laksa, and having spent a few decades in Joo Hooi Café, Penang Road Famous Laksa moved to their new location at Lebuh Keng Kwee in 2016.
Penang Road Famous Laksa stands out from other stalls because of their fish broth! Instead of using mackerel, their fish broth is prepared daily using sardine and big-eye kingfish.
Their bowl of laksa comes with a spoonful of shrimp paste. It’s up to your preference whether to add it in.
But fans say that the shrimp paste stimulates the taste buds and makes the laksa more delicious!
- Opening Hours: 9am to 5.30pm
- Closed On: Wednesday
Other Recommendations:
- Penang Air Itam Laksa (3 weekends each month)
- Asam Laksa At Restaurant Taman Emas, Gottlieb Road
7. Char Koay Teow – Heng Kee Presgrave Street Char Koay Teow Stall
We chanced upon this stall thinking it was the more popular Ah Shen Presgrave Street Famous Duck Egg Char Koay Teow.
But the duck egg char koay teow at Heng Kee Presgrave Street Char Koay Teow Stall turned out to be really tasty.
It’s full of flavor without being very oily, burnt or overly salty. The duck egg flavor is noticeable, and we recommend getting this version instead of the default – chicken egg.
- Opening Hours: 4pm to 9:30pm
- Closed On: Mondays
Other Recommendations:
- New Siam Road Char Koay Teow – World-famous stall using the traditional charcoal method
- Hillside Ah Soon Cafe (Ah Soon Char Koay Teow)
Read more for other places you can get delicious char kuay teow.
8. Fish Head Bee Hoon – Ka Bee Café
We highly recommend this air-conditioned eatery close to the Penang Clan Jetties. It’s clean and the food is tasty albeit more expensive than what you would get at a traditional coffee shop.
There’s a lot of different sides like fried fish you can get with your noodles. They have either tom yam or clear soup. We always order the clear soup.
Read more about our experience at Ka Bee Café.
Other Recommendations:
- Perak Lane Fish Head Bee Hoon
- Tong lek 8 Café (Tong Lek 8 Fried Fish Bee Hoon)
- Village Fish Head Bee Hoon
9. 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!
You can choose packets according to what toppings you like. They have squid, fried fish or fried chicken and other dishes besides!
Take note that the sambal is very spicy. And from what we have tried in the past, the flavors are all slightly different from each other.
- Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 7am–2pm; Saturday, 7am–1pm
- Closed On: Sunday
Remark:
- Rice may run out if you go by 11am or later!
- The sambal is quite spicy!
Other nasi lemak recommendations that we have not tried before:
- Nasi Lemak Liverpool Cafe
- Uncle Lanz Nasi Lemak
Conclusion
Penang food will satisfy the tummy of any foodie! But the numerous options will baffle a first timer. 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!
Other food we have yet to try but plan to in the future:
- Roti Canai at Roti Canai Gemas Road
- Duck meat koay teow th’ng at Loh Kei Duck Meat Koay Teow Th’ng
- Rojak at Hock Seng Rojak
- Popiah at Nur Poh Piah At Medan Selera Padang Brown
- Oyster Omelet / Oh Chien (蚝煎) at Bee Hooi Coffee Shop
- Wanton Mee (云吞面) at Tok Tok Mee Bamboo Noodle
- Ping Hwa Lok Lok (槟华乐乐) at Pulau Tikus
- Loh Bak (卤肉) at Prawn Fritters & Loh Bak @ Tan Jetty
- Kheng Pin Café (Penang Kheng Pin Loh Bak)
- Loh Mee (卤面) at Kim Leng Lor Mee (Restoran Joo Huat)
- Char koay teow at New Siam Road Char Koay Teow
- Penang assam laksa at Penang Road Famous Laksa
- Mee goreng at Hameed Pata Mee Sotong
- Fish head bee hoon at Village Fish Head Bee Hoon
- Sister Yao’s Char Koay Kak
Which Penang dish are you most interested to try? Let us know in the comments below!
Breakfast In Penang
If you want to follow the locals, then breakfast is the best time to enjoy the local cuisine. In fact, this is usually when you have the most options (before everything is sold out!). We’ve also got suggestions on where to get Western style breakfast in Penang if that’s your jam!
