Breakfast in Penang is a golden opportunity to try Penang food! Don’t just stick to your hotel’s room service!
The best breakfast in Penang doesn’t have to be an authentic local breakfast either!
If you want to switch up flavors, there are an abundance of Penang breakfast cafes that serve western food!
Table Of Contents:
13 Best Breakfast In Penang
Local Breakfast In Penang
Many Malaysians love having nasi lemak or a bowl of noodles for breakfast! Together with teh tarik or kopi-o!
Thus, it’s not uncommon for the local coffee shops (i.e. kopitiams) to open as early as 6:30am!
If you go early, you can have the benefit of a quieter atmosphere and a larger choice of add-ons for your noodles!
1. Lee Huat Cafe 利发茶室
Have authentic hawker-style breakfast at Lee Huat Cafe 利发茶室 with a great selection of local noodles:
There’s good curry mee, prawn mee (Hokkien mee), Jawa mee, wanton mee, koey teow t’ng, lam mee, etc. The toast (roti bakar) is worth a try too! The environment of the cafe is considerably clean as well.
If you’re driving here, the cafe is quite inconspicuous from the busy road. And parking is not the easiest, given that everyone wants to eat here! This is particularly true on weekends.
Don’t forget to pay the parking fee of RM2!
Location: 377-B, Jln Masjid Negeri, Taman Green Lane, 11600 Jelutong, Penang
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 8am–1pm; Closed on Mondays
Contact: –
2. Kong Thai Lai New Coffee Shop
Despite having to move from its original location on Hutton Lane:
Kong Thai Lai continues to serve affordable and excellent local coffee and one of the best roti bakar (i.e. toast) in town! With homemade kaya (i.e. coconut jam)!
And if homemade kaya doesn’t tickle your fancy, they have delicious peanut butter toast instead!
You can also order char kuey teow, nasi lemak and fried rice!
Location: 38, Leith St, Georgetown, 10200 George Town, Penang
Opening Hours: Daily from 7:30am to 3pm (Except Sundays)
Contact: +6011-2344 7832
3. Goh Chew Kopitiam – Fish Meat Hokkien Char
Famous for its upgraded version of fried bee hoon, Goh Chew Kopitiam does justice to many local dishes like Hokkien mee, char kuey teow and chee cheong fun too!
What makes their bee hoon special? Crispy deep fried sea bass, large prawns, sambal with sprinklings of fried pork fat cubes on top!
Locals know all about this place so if you want to try the dish together with the sambal sauce and prawns, come early!
Location: No 45, Lorong Baru, George Town, 10450 George Town, Penang Island
Opening Hours: Daily from 3pm to 9pm (Except Tuesdays)
Contact: +6011-5668 8664
Read more: 11 Best Char Kuey Teow In Penang
4. 113 Duck Meat Koay Teow Soup
This unassuming coffee shop is normally packed with people at lunch time:
Koay Teow soup usually has slices of shredded chicken but this place serves it with duck meat!
There is the option to add homemade fish balls, duck intestines and bean sprouts. Do specify if you don’t want these in!
Go for their flavorful duck meat koay teow th’ng (clear soup) over their duck meat koay chiap (brown soup)!
For those who want something more exciting, you can enjoy their braised duck meat and intestines. This item is one of their must-trys!
Location: 113, Lebuh Melayu, George Town, 10300 George Town, Penang Island
Opening Hours:
- Monday to Saturday: 8am to 2:30pm
- Sunday: 8am to 2pm
5. Ah Wang Café
If you want simple kopitiam fare for brunch, you can try this coffee shop in Tanjung Tokong!
Local residents adore their traditional Hainanese coffee and homemade kaya on toast! Paired with soft-boiled eggs!
Their lime barley beverage is a caffeine-free option if you’ve already had your coffee fix for the day!
Location: J-6, Jalan Tanjung Bungah, Tanjung Tokong, 10470, Penang Island
Opening Hours: Daily from 11:30am to 6pm (Except Sundays)
Contact: +6017-4022011
6. Zim Sum Restaurant
Have a variety of dim sum for breakfast at this busy establishment! Where the prices are reasonable too!
Notable menu items include:
- Siew mai (Pork dumplings)
- Fried yam balls
- Egg tarts
- Turnip fried with bean sprouts
- Glutinous rice
- Har gao (i.e. prawn dumplings)
Location: No. 62, Jalan Macalister, George Town, 10400, Penang Island
Opening Hours: Daily from 6:30am to 2pm; Closed on Tuesdays
Contact: +6014-302 9177
Western Breakfast In Penang
There are almost just as many western breakfast places in Penang as there are local eateries in Georgetown!
Particularly around Love Lane Penang and Chulia Street!
You should definitely include at least 1 Penang cafe during your trip!
7. Big Ben Breakfast & Western
In Malaysia, western food is usually more expensive than local food. But this café keeps the prices lower by maintaining a no-frills ambiance.
You can come here after a run at the Penang Botanic Gardens to sit down to their signature Big Ben breakfast set!
They have sandwiches, pasta, local coffee and toast too!
Location: 674, Jalan Kebun Bunga, Pulau Tikus, 10350 George Town, Penang Island
Opening Hours: Daily from 8am to 2pm 5 to 10:30pm (Except Mondays)
Contact: +6016-500 2286
8. Penang Yin’s Sourdough Bakery And Café
Craving for some freshly-baked sourdough bread, bagels or pizza?
At Yin’s Sourdough Bakery And Café, you can have sourdough bread with homemade pineapple jam, almond butter, cheese or even grilled banana slices!
For drinks, try their western-style coffee or delightful kefir smoothies with tropical fruit!
On their website you can buy their packaged specialty foods like peanut spread, almond jam and kaya spreads!
Location: 11, Pesara Claimant, George Town, 10100 George Town, Penang Island
Opening Hours: Daily from 8am to 5pm (Except wednesdays & Saturdays)
Contact: +6011-2419 5118
9. Let’s Meat
Let’s Meat is an authentic American restaurant not far from Penang Avatar Secret Garden:
Eggs Benedict, pancakes, American biscuits, and the pulled pork and steak sandwiches are all delicious! And come in generous portions!
To make sure you don’t miss out on their scrumptious breakfast menu, be sure to be there between 8:30 to 11:30 am.
The other highlight is the children’s play area!
Don’t forget to order one of their milkshakes!
Location: 18, Lebuh Lembah Permai 4, Tanjung Tokong, 11200 Tanjung Bungah, Penang Island
Opening Hours: Daily from 8:30am to 7:30pm (Except Sundays)
Contact: +6016-215 4234
10. Urban Daybreak
Next on the list, Urban Daybreak touts Australian-style breakfast, brunch and lunch!
Blue walls and decorative red windows mark the interior of the narrow but cozy space.
Ann’s Big One is their massive breakfast set that comes with salad and their homemade pork sausages!
Besides this, there are savory waffles, French toast, burgers, omelets, bagels, pasta and sandwiches!
Location: 338, Lebuh Pantai, George Town, 10300 George Town, Penang Island
Opening Hours: Daily from 7:30am to 5:30pm (Except Tuesdays)
Contact: +604-262 9693
Read more: Or Try These Western Restaurants In Penang
Halal Breakfast In Penang
All the places we have listed up till now include pork in their menus.
So to be fair to our Muslim readers:
Here are some halal eateries so you don’t have to miss out! The first 2 are already on our Penang food list! So you can tick them off your bucket list!
11. Ali Nasi Lemak Daun Pisang
Right from the moment the shop opens, you can tell from the long line of customers that this is one of the best nasi lemak stalls in Penang!
Add on some fish, squid or prawns if you want! Watch the satisfying way they prepare the nasi lemak in batches!
Location: Sri Weld Food Court, Beach St, George Town, 10300 George Town, Penang Island
Opening Hours:
- Monday to Friday 7:30am to 3pm
- Saturday 7:30am to 2pm
- Closed on Sundays
Contact: +6016-407 0717
Read more: 11 Best Seafood Restaurants In Penang (Recommended By Locals)
12. Gemas Road Roti Canai
Gemas Road Roti Canai serves Indian paratha and parotta (i.e. roti canai) a bit differently:
With a slice of cheese, Sunnyside up eggs and raw onions! To go with any of their 3 available curry flavors – dhal, chicken or beef curry!
The peak time is between 9am and 11:30am!
Location: 51, 29, Jalan Gemas, Taman Kampar, 10460 George Town, Penang
Opening Hours:
- Thursday, Saturday & Sunday: 7am to 12:30pm
- Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday: 7am to 12:30pm 5:30 to 9pm
- Closed on Mondays
Contact: +6016-434 5786 or +6012-435 6616
Read more: Penang Famous Cendol – 9 Best Cendol In Penang That You Can Try Today!
13. Nasi Kandar Kampong Melayu
All the way in Ayer Itam, this reputable nasi kandar stall has a loyal following (of Penangites and locals from other states) for its homemade curries and fresh ingredients! Like squid and beef!
They open really early so you can have yourself a hearty breakfast before checking out Kek Lok Si temple!
Prepare yourself for a long queue on weekends! Or try these other famous nasi kandar in Penang.
Location: A-29, Jalan Kampung Melayu, Kampung Melayu, 11500 Ayer Itam, Penang Island
Opening Hours: Daily from 6:30am to 1:30pm and again from 4:00pm to 10:00pm
Contact: +6019-575 5877
Getting To Penang Breakfast Places
Want to find more hidden food spots? You can trust our local travel guides from RayTheTour to bring you to their favorite breakfast haunts!
More about our private tour service:
- Completely flexible itinerary from morning till evening
- We have tours in Ipoh, Cameron Highlands and in-between too!
- Vans and MPVs are what we use
- Tour includes pick up and drop off from your hotel/ airport
- Chinese-speaking or English-speaking guides
Further reading:
- 4 Best Ways For Getting Around Penang (With All Penang Transport Options)
- How To Get From Penang Airport To Georgetown (4 Easy Ways)
Conclusion
Treat yourself to the best breakfast in Penang with this guide!
Have yummy local Penang food or western food at various breakfast places in and around Georgetown! Even dim sum and steamboat!
You might just find your new favorite breakfast of all time!
PS: We have an awesome Penang travel guide for you.
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