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!
- Penang Hokkien Mee
- Curry Mee
- Mee Goreng
- Teochew Chendol
- Penang Assam Laksa
- Char Koay Teow
- Fish Head Bee Hoon
- Penang Rojak
- Koay Teow Soup
- Loh Mee
- Loh Bak
- Lok Lok
- Wanton Mee
- Oyster Omelet
- Seafood Popiah
- Roti Canai
- Nasi Lemak
- Ikan Bakar
- 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!
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!
Location: 67-A, Lebuh Presgrave, George Town, 10300 George Town, Penang Island
Opening Hours: 4pm to 12am
Closed On: Wednesday and Thursday
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.
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!
Location: 58, Jalan Rangoon, 10400 George Town, Penang Island
Opening Hours: 8am to 3pm
Closed On: Monday
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.
Have it either dry or with gravy. The beverage stall just beside happens to serve amazing cendol, coconut shake or ais kacang too!
Location: 5, Esplanade Park, Lebuh Light, 10300 George Town, Penang Island
Opening Hours: 11:30am to 8pm (They open later on Fridays at 12:15pm)
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!
But Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul’s humble beginnings began from this very stall at Penang Road. Try it for yourself!
Location: Jalan Penang, 27 & 29, Lebuh Keng Kwee, George Town, 10450 George Town, Penang Island
Opening Hours:
- Weekdays from 10:30am to 7pm
- Weekends from 10am to 7:30pm
Other Recommendations:
- Chendol At Joo Hooi Café
Read more: 9 Best Cendol In Penang That You Can Try Today!
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!
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!
Location: Jalan Pasar, Paya Terubong, 11500 George Town, Penang Island
Opening Hours: 10:30am to 7pm
Closed On: Wednesday
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!
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!
Location: 82, Jalan Siam, George Town, 10400 George Town, Penang Island
Opening Hours: 12pm to 5pm
Closed On: Monday and Sunday
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
Read more: 11 Best Char Kuey Teow In Penang
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!
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!
Location: 10300, 37, Pengkalan Weld, George Town, 10300 George Town, Penang Island
Opening Hours: 12pm to 11:30pm
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.
The key to their 40-year success is the thick home-made sauce. Topped with crunchy peanuts and dried shrimp!
Location: Gat Lebuh Cecil, 10300 George Town, Penang Island
Opening Hours: 3pm to 8:30pm
Closed On: Monday and Tuesday
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!
Sliced duck meat pairs well together with the noodles and soup so be sure to order that too!
Location: 13, Jalan Perak, George Town, 10400 George Town, Penang Island
Opening Hours: 7:30am to 11am
Closed On: Thursday
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.
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!
Location: 336, Lintang Slim, Taman Desa Green, 11600 George Town, Penang Island
Opening Hours: 7am to 4pm
Closed On: Thursday
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!
Their crunchy prawn fritters are worth a try too!
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.
Location: 90-A, Pengkalan Weld, George Town, 10300 George Town, Penang Island
Opening Hours: 8am to 6pm
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!
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!
Location: Jalan Burma, Pulau Tikus, 10350 George Town, Penang
Opening Hours: 6pm to 11:30pm (Closes earlier on Sunday at 11pm)
Closed On: Wednesday
Other Recommendations:
- Pantai Lok Lok @ Chai Leng Park
Read more: 11 Best Night Market In Penang – Monday To Sunday (Especially #5)
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!
Fun fact: The physical exertion required to make noodles in this fashion is the reason behind the name “kung fu bamboo noodles”!
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
Location: 37, Campbell Street, 10100 George Town, Penang Island
Opening Hours: 8am to 10pm
Closed On: Wednesday
Remark: Likely to be crowded
Other Recommendations:
- Hong Kee Bamboo Noodle Lebuh Campbell Penang
- Mother And Son Wantan Mee
Read more: 13 Best Things To Do In Georgetown Penang
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 omelets (oh chien) can be crispy or starchy – the one at Bee Hooi is the latter but pleasantly so!
Location: 415, Jalan Burma, Pulau Tikus, 10350 George Town, Penang Island
Opening Hours: 8am to 11:30pm
Closed On: Tuesday
Other Recommendations:
- Kedai Kopi Seng Thor
- New Lane Hawker Centre
- Fried Oyster – Jelutong Post Office
Read more: 17 Best Cafe In Penang With Great Coffee (Includes New Cafes)
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!
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!
Location: Stall 17, Gerai Gerai Padang Brown (Dato Keramat Stalls)
Opening Hours: 2pm to 7pm
Closed On: Monday
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.
Early opening hours makes it a suitable venue for breakfast in Penang!
Sides like chopped onions, cheese, chicken, sunny side up further complement the perfectly flaky roti pastry.
Location: 51, 29, Jalan Gemas, Taman Kampar, 10460 George Town, Penang Island
Opening Hours:
- Tuesday: 7am to 12:30pm, 5:30pm to 9pm
- Wednesday: 7am to 12:30pm, 5:30pm to 9pm
- Thursday: 7am to 12:30pm
- Friday: 7am to 12:30pm, 5:30pm to 9pm
- Saturday: 7am to 12:30pm
- Sunday: 7am to 12:30pm
Closed On: Monday
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!
The side servings like fried fish or fried chicken and other dishes besides!
Location: Sri Weld Food Court, Beach St, George Town, 10300 George Town, Penang Island
Opening Hours:
- Monday: 7am to 3pm
- Tuesday: 7am to 2:15pm
- Wednesday: 7am to 3pm
- Thursday: 7am to 3pm
- Friday: 7am to 3pm
- Saturday: 7am to 2pm
Closed On: Sunday
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.
Their food is halal and thus, it’s very crowded during lunch time making it hard to find parking!
Location: 6735, Jalan Butterworth, Kampung Permatang Manggis, 13200 Kepala Batas, Penang Island
Opening Hours: 11am to 4pm
Closed On: Thursday and Friday
Other Recommendations:
- Adnan Bin Hassan Ikan Bakar
- Abg Jit Ikan Bakar
Read more: 9 Best Places To Eat Durian In Penang
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!
Especially since the pastries are vegetarian-friendly. Sometimes, they can run out of the highly sought-after tao sar piah pastries before noon!
Location: 162A, Jalan Burma, 10050 George Town, Penang Island
Opening Hours: 8:30am to 5pm
Closed On: Sunday
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!
Other posts you will like:
- 13 Best Restaurants In Penang For Lunch & Dinner (With Good Ratings)
- 11 Best Seafood Restaurants In Penang (Recommended By Locals)
- Top 21 Penang Museum To Pop Into (Especially Items 8 & 13)
- Clan Jetties Of Penang: Floating Villages Like Chew Jetty In Georgetown
- 15 Best Hotels In Penang For An Unforgettable Stay
