Best Asam Laksa In Penang

Even though this unique dish can be found all over Malaysia, it’s the Penang famous assam laksa that has put this iconic Malaysian dish on the global map!

And out of the dozen or so places that we have listed in this post, there are milder or stronger variations of assam laksa. As well as a less common version of the dish known as Nyonya lemak laksa!

See which of these places calls to you!

  1. Penang Road Famous Laksa
  2. Pasar Air Itam Laksa
  3. Sin Hwa Coffee Shop Assam Laksa
  4. Laksalicious
  5. My Own Café
  6. Kuih Nyonya Moh Teng Pheow
  7. Luk Yea Yan Vegetarian Restaurant
  8. Asam Laksa At Restaurant Taman Emas
  9. Kim Laksa Balik Pulau
  10. RELAU 88 妈妈味(古早味)

11 Best Places For Assam Laksa In Penang

1. Penang Road Famous Laksa

You can now find this popular laksa stall on Lebuh Keng Kwee selling laksa together with their equally famous chendul!

Note: The former location of this shop used to be at Joo Hooi Coffee Shop for many decades.

Penang Road Famous Laksa At Lebuh Keng Kwee, Penang
Penang Road Famous Laksa At Lebuh Keng Kwee, Penang – photo credits to ell.mary (Instagram)

Those who prefer assam laksa with a milder taste will like Penang Road Famous Laksa! As a bonus, they have generous slices of sardines and mackerel in their broth!

Assam Laksa At Penang Road Famous Laksa
Assam Laksa At Penang Road Famous Laksa – photo credits to ell.mary (Instagram)

We really adore the chendol here and highly recommend getting a table here, even if it will take considerable waiting time.

  • Location: 5-7, Lebuh Keng Kwee, George Town, 10100 George Town, Penang Island
  • Opening Hours: Daily from 9am to 5:30pm (Closed on Wednesdays)
  • Contact: +6016-446 0453

2. Pasar Air Itam Laksa / Penang Air Itam Laksa

However, if you like your assam laksa strongly flavored, then make your way over to this stall at Ayer Itam! They’ve been in business for more than 65 years!

Busy Atmosphere At Pasar Air Itam Laksa (亞依淡巴剎叻沙)
Busy Atmosphere At Pasar Air Itam Laksa (亞依淡巴剎叻沙) – photo credits to benlim247 (Instagram)

Queues are a regular phenomenon at this market stall that is at the base of Kek Lok Si temple!

Their star ingredient is the hae ko, a thick sweetish prawn paste!

Another Good Food In Penang - Penang Air Itam Laksa
Penang Air Itam Laksa – photo credits to blisssky (Instagram)

Other ingredients like pineapple, turmeric, slices of mackerel, mint, lettuce, cucumber, onions, and ginger complete the appetizing dish!

Note: Now they only open 3 weekends per month. Please check the latest update on their Facebook page to confirm which weekends they are open.

  • Location: 1, Jalan Pasar, Pekan Ayer Itam, 11500 Ayer Itam, Penang Island
  • Opening Hours: Weekends from 11am–6pm
  • Contact: +6012-500 7063

3. Sin Hwa Coffee Shop Assam Laksa

Along Burmah road, is a typical kopitiam with multiple stalls. One of which serves two versions of assam laksa!

Laksa By Kedai Kopi Sin Hwa
Laksa By Kedai Kopi Sin Hwa – photo credits to xxvsu (Instagram)

Both are spicy but the soup-base uses tamarind or rich coconut milk (hence, the term lemak)!

The coconut milk tends to overwhelm the taste of the fish broth so do keep that in mind! Another dish that is a crowd-favorite here is the char kuay teow with seafood ingredients!

So, we think it’s really worth coming to this cramped and stuffy kopitiam if you want to try both dishes!

  • Location: 329, Jalan Burma, George Town, 10350 George Town, Penang Island
  • Opening Hours: Daily from 9am to 4:30pm
  • Contact: +6017-426 0903

4. Laksalicious

Being in the middle of George Town means tourists naturally tend to gravitate to this air-conditioned stylish café that specializes in assam laksa!

Laksalicious
Laksalicious – photo credits to mymalaysiafoodsafari (Instagram)

They serve both the tangy assam laska and lemak laksa (or Nyonya). And offer a vegetarian version of the dish too!

However, if you like your assam laksa strongly flavored, you may not like these! We recommend this one for those who don’t like the soup to be too fishy smelling.

You can order prawn crackers or spring rolls to accompany your laksa. And they have cendol on the menu too.

Note: The Nyonya laksa is only available on weekends.

  • Location: No.117A, Jalan Hutton, George Town, 10050 George Town, Penang Island
  • Opening Hours: Daily from 11:30am to 7pm (Closes at 6:30pm on Mondays)
  • Contact: +604-229 9178

5. My Own Café

Halal with a Peranakan-inspired design:

My Own Café serves a delicious (and affordable) assam laksa that is suitable for people who don’t want their laksa too fishy or thick.

Assam Laksa At My Own Cafe
Assam Laksa At My Own Cafe – photo credits to luvca85 (Instagram)

And if you can’t take spicy food, their laksa is only mildly spicy.

Other highly recommended dishes are their fried chicken with belacan and char koay teow! And we think it’s worth mentioning that their service is excellent!

  • Location: 2, Cannon Street, George Town, 10200 George Town, Penang Island
  • Opening Hours: 10am to 4pm (Closed on Wednesdays)
  • Contact: +6016-485 1050

6. Kuih Nyonya Moh Teng Pheow

Moh Teng Pheow Nyonya Kuih may be a Nyonya kuih specialty shop. But they do serve some savory dishes as well. A well-balanced and not overly spicy assam laksa being one of them!

Assam Laksa At Kuih Nyonya Moh Teng Pheow
Assam Laksa At Kuih Nyonya Moh Teng Pheow – photo credits to aishahsj (Instagram)

It’s a 90-year-old traditional pastry shop so don’t expect too much for ambiance! Visitors can enter through the unassuming kitchen in the front, to the back where the tables are!

  • Location: Lebuh Chulia, Jalan Masjid, 10200 George Town, Penang Island
  • Opening Hours: 10am to 5pm
  • Contact: +6012-4152677

7. Luk Yea Yan Vegetarian Restaurant

For a vegetarian lunch, head over to Luk Yea Yan Vegetarian Restaurant! They have affordable mixed rice (economy rice) options with mock meat adaptations of satay or meat balls!

Vegan-friendly Laksa At Luk Yea Yan Vegetarian Restaurant
Vegan-friendly Laksa At Luk Yea Yan Vegetarian Restaurant – photo credits to philly_malenoir (Instagram)

As well as a good selection of local favorites like bak kut teh, pasembur and assam laksa but vegetarian! Try and find a seat inside if you want air-conditioning!

  • Location: 33, Lorong Madras, 10400 George Town, Penang Island
  • Opening Hours: Daily from 8am–3pm, 5:30pm–9pm (Closed on Wednesdays)

Read more: 13 Best Breakfast In Penang – With Local, Western Cafe & Halal Options

8. Asam Laksa At Restaurant Taman Emas, Gottlieb Road

Locals are aware of the assam laksa at Taman Emas (or Peng Hua Laksa) opposite the Chinese girls’ school! It’s a corner shop at Jalan Gottlieb!

Asam Laksa At Restaurant Taman Emas
Asam Laksa At Restaurant Taman Emas – photo credits to mcutiebun (Instagram)

This is classic assam laksa albeit less sour, with generous portions of mackerel, pineapple, onions and of course, the prawn paste!

Ask for extra chili if you like yours spicy!

PS: The char kuay teow here is delicious, especially the duck egg version.

  • Location: 1, Jalan Gottlieb, George Town, 10350 George Town, Penang Island
  • Opening Hours: Daily from 11pm to 5:15pm (Closed on Mondays)
  • Contact: +6016-480 6558

Read more: 13 Best Penang Souvenirs – What To Buy In Penang

9. Kim Laksa Balik Pulau

We think the signature dish here is well worth having to dine in the small dingy eatery. There are not many tables inside.

Laksa Stall At Kim Laksa Balik Pulau, Penang
Laksa Stall At Kim Laksa Balik Pulau, Penang

Aside from the laksa, we recommend ordering the homemade nutmeg juice with ice!

Bowls Of Assam Laksa At Kim Laksa Balik Pulau, Penang
Bowls Of Assam Laksa At Kim Laksa Balik Pulau, Penang

There’s a roasted pork (siew yok) stall close by too and it goes well with the tasty and slightly sour assam laksa.

Roasted Pork (Siew Yok) At Kim Laksa Balik Pulau, Penang
Roasted Pork (Siew Yok) At Kim Laksa Balik Pulau, Penang

And if it’s the right season, there may also be a small durian stall right outside this eatery.

Side Of Kim Laksa Balik Pulau, Penang
Side Of Kim Laksa Balik Pulau, Penang
  • Location: Nan guang kopitiam, 67 main road, 11000 Balik Pulau, Pulau Pinang
  • Opening Hours: Daily from 9:30am to 5pm (Closed on Mondays & Tuesdays)
  • Contact: +6017-4464959

Related: Where To Eat Durian In Penang

10. RELAU 88 妈妈味(古早味)

It’s easy to miss this hidden spot in Bayan Lepas! The simple façade is further covered with greenery which shields the interior from passersby!

RELAU 88 妈妈味 (古早味)
RELAU 88 妈妈味 (古早味) – photo credits to elisehing90 (Instagram)

See, the eatery shares the premise with a garden supplies shop.

Inside the open-air shack is a mix of tables and chairs. And an incredible assam laksa that isn’t too sweet or too sour!

Laksa From RELAU 88 妈妈味 (古早味)
Laksa From RELAU 88 妈妈味 (古早味) – photo credits to peiching_111 (Instagram)

Try the cendol with homemade palm sugar while you’re here! This is in fact, one of the best places to have cendol in Penang!

Irresitable Cendol At RELAU 88
Irresitable Cendol At RELAU 88 – photo credits to theyummytheory (Instagram)
  • Location: Persiaran Paya Terubong 2, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang Island
  • Opening Hours: 11:30am to 6pm (Closed on Mondays & Tuesdays)
  • Contact: +6012-444 4227

Further reading:

Finding Good Laksa In Penang

Want to have a local show you their favorite place to have laksa?

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Penang Tour - RayTheTour & Travelswithsun

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Read more: 15 Best Hotels In Penang For An Unforgettable Stay

Conclusion

Which Penang assam laksa should you try? Some of these places are in George Town while others are a bit further. But are worth seeking out anyways!

Laksa is synonymous with Penang famous food! And is always included in every list of best food in Penang!

Read more: 11 Best Night Market In Penang – Monday To Sunday (Especially #5)

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