Looking for delicious dim sum restaurants while traveling in Penang?
We know how trying it can be to find the best of the best when it comes to food hunting in Penang, arguably Malaysia’s hottest food central.
This is why we are calling all dim sum lovers to this list of the 11 best dim sum restaurants in Penang.
1. Canning Dim Sum Express
Hailing from Ipoh, this halal-certified dim sum restaurant is a popular choice among locals and tourists!
Their friendly staff will delight you with their efficiency so you can expect to be waited on diligently. Additionally, they have a multi-language menu with helpful pictures!
The overall ambiance in the store is cozy, clean, and kid-friendly too.
Housed in the D’Piazza Mall, there is plenty of parking, though we do recommend arriving earlier during public holidays and weekends for easier parking and dining.
However, seeing as it is a popular destination, you can expect a crowd during the breakfast rush.
- Address: D’Piazza Mall, 70-1-60, D’Piazza Mall, Jalan Mahsuri, Bandar Bayan Baru, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang.
- Business Hours: 8.00 am to 3.30 pm, 6.00 pm to 9 pm daily, closed on Wednesday.
- Contact: 010-9606180 / 016-5570507
- Links: Facebook, Instagram
- Email: [email protected]
2. RESTORAN ZIM SUM 點心之家
Located at Macalister Road, Restoran Zim Sum is a non-halal dim sum restaurant that is a must-go for breakfast.
Their prices are reasonable with self-service,buffet-style dining. Other menu items such as noodles can be ordered through the waiters.
They do have sauces available, but do note that they will charge you an extra RM5 should you use the bowl instead of the plastic containers provided.
And while they do have plenty of seating, there is a 60 minute dine-in time limit. So again, we do suggest arriving before peak periods if you want to skip the long queues!
Parking can also be tricky, as the roadside parking fills up quickly during peak hours and weekends.
- Address: No 62, Jalan Macalister, George Town, 10400 PULAN PINANAG, Pulau Pinang.
- Business Hours: 6.30am to 2.00 pm; closed on Tuesday.
- Contact: 014-3029177
- Links: Facebook, Instagram
- Email: [email protected]
3. Dim Sum Station 点心栈
Near D’Piazza Mall, Dim Dum Station is a non-halal, air-conditioned restaurant that has plenty of options to choose from:
The ambiance differs from your regular dim sum place, with dim lighting and a modern booth setup that explains the expensive prices!
While the taste of their dishes varies from person to person, it can be said that it isn’t exceptional.
And although the crowds are small, their service can be slow; However, their staff members are quite friendly!
Parking isn’t much of an issue either, as there is plenty of roadside parking In front of the restaurant.
- Address: The Promenade, 5-G, Persiaran Mahsuri 2/3, Bandar Bayan Baru, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang.
- Business Hours: 08.00 am to 3:30 pm, 5.30 pm to 9.30 pm daily.
- Contact: 011-59775299
- Links: Facebook, Instagram
4. Restoran Chaw Choon Dim Sum 超全点心
A popular local haunt in Butterworth, customers of Restaurant Chaw Choon Dim Sum praise the food quality and delicious tastes.
Their prices are on the cheaper side with a large variety of dim sum choices, all on a self-service system!
Queues can get quite long during the breakfast and lunch rush, so be sure to avoid coming at those times!
That said, the restaurant itself is spacious with plenty of seats available, so waiting never takes too long.
Parking can get tricky even though there is ample street parking, so be well aware of that if you’re visiting on a weekend.
- Address: Jalan Ong Yi How, Lucky Park, 13400 Butterworth, Pulau Pinang.
- Business Hours: 7.00 am to 2 pm daily, closed on Wednesday.
- Contact: 04-3330779
5. Restoran Lip Sin Red Tea House
Inside Pan Palace Plaza, you will be able to spot the Lip Sin Red Tea House easily from the display of dim sum on the outside.
The taste of their food is highly raved about, with the restaurant often crowded throughout their opening hours.
Moreover, their prices are adequate as well!
But while the taste and prices are appealing, their service isn’t the best.
Although considering that the restaurant operates mainly on a self-service basis, you will not be interacting with the staff all that much.
Parking can also prove to be a hassle, due to the restaurant’s location next to an apartment complex with open parking.
- Address: Pan Palace Plaza, 56, Lorong Nipah 4, Taman Lip Sin, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang.
- Business Hours: 6.00 am to 2.00 pm daily.
- Contact: 012-4618959
6. Sea Queen Restaurant
Sea Queen Restaurant provides some frills and comfort with its fancy-looking interior.
You can opt to be seated indoors, or go outdoors for the view of the Straits Quay while filling your tummy!
The dim sum is prepared with local seafood, making it all very fresh.
However, despite not being running at max capacity, their service can be slow at times.
Prices are alright given their environment, and they often have package deals that includes the opportunity to host an event on a private yacht!
Note: You can enquire more about chartering a yacht with them at SeaQueen Stephanie Yacht Club.
They also have private rooms fitted with karaoke machines for larger groups, as well as 180 tables for large-scale events.
- Address: G3 & 3A, Straits Quay, Jalan Seri Tg Pinang, Seri Tanjung Pinang, 10470 Tanjung Tokong, Pulau Pinang.
- Business Hours: 7.30am to 2.30pm, 6.00pm to 10.30pm, daily.
- Contact: 010-4040299 / 013-3060299
- Links: Facebook, Instagram
- Email: [email protected]
7. Chew Chuen Dim Sum
Right across from the Pasar Awam Sri Bandar in Butterworth:
Chew Chuen Dim Sum has a decent selection of dim sum with old-school kopitiam vibes. The environment is pretty chill, with spacious indoor and outdoor seating.
It’s self-service for the dim sum and you can expect a crowd when selecting your food.
While their prices are cheaper than most, the taste of the food is nothing exceptional, although you might find it more suited to your taste buds!
As for parking, it might be difficult to find a vacant slot earlier in the morning or on weekends, due to the market being in full swing too – It’s a convenient place to get breakfast or lunch after going to the morning market!
- Address: Jalan Bagan Baru 1, Taman Bagan Baru, 12100 Butterworth, Pulau Pinang.
- Business Hours: 8.00 am to 12 pm, closed on Tuesday
- Contact: 012-4007973
- Links: Facebook
8. Insa Dunia Food Court 点心城
As the name suggests, this dim sum stall is located inside a food court.
But no worries, it’s easy to spot thanks to their signs and large banners! The food is usually served on a pushcart where you can choose your dishes.
The dim sum is quite popular with the breakfast crowd and is also available for dinner!
That said, the taste is average and the drinks are self-service.
Parking is difficult around the evenings because of the limited spaces provided out front, so it’s advisable to come earlier!
- Address: 836, Jalan Kampung Baru, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang.
- Business Hours: 8.00 am to 8 pm daily.
- Contact: 04-5371479
9. Restaurant Eng Meng 英明茶楼
A long-standing restaurant beloved by the locals for breakfast, Restaurant Eng Meng is located in Bukit Mertajam.
A huge plus for this Penang dim sum restaurant is their impressive variety of dim sum and excellent service, with the staff being helpful and friendly!
Tip: Their steamed fish is worth trying as well.
The taste is good and the prices are cheap, which is why it constantly has a full house on most days.
Plus, they sometimes have promotions on their Facebook page.
Other than that, there’s sufficient parking by means of street parking, so you should be able to find a spot easily!
- Address: Jalan Maju, Taman Sri Maju, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang
- Business Hours: 7.00 am to 12.00 pm daily
- Contact: 016-4829113 / 016-9717532
- Links: Facebook, Instagram
10. Yong Pin Restaurant
Step into a retro Hong Kong-style dim sum restaurant with Yong Pin Restaurant.
Because it resides in the highly visited Georgetown UNESCO Historic Site, there will be inevitable crowds during weekends and public holidays, so be sure to reserve a spot in advance!
Having served dim sum since 1981, the restaurant has been newly renovated to improve its looks for Instagram!
Variety is still lacking but the food is delicious and service is commendable.
Additionally, they’ve recently started operating as a self-service dim sum restaurant so do expect some queuing when getting your food.
- Address: 59A, Lebuh Kimberley, George Town, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang.
- Business Hours: 7.00 am to 2.30 pm, closed on Monday.
- Contact: 04-2611355 / 016-4306789
- Links: Website, Facebook
- Email: [email protected]
11. Tai Tong Restaurant
This Penang dim sum restaurant in a Georgetown corner shop was established in the 1950s and is a go-to breakfast spot for the locals.
The prices are reasonable with a large selection of food, but it’s their dim sum that’s the star of the show.
Tai Tong is mostly a self-service restaurant, so help yourself to the food displayed at the counters.
Popular dishes here would be the char siew pau, loh mai gai, and salted egg buns, so be sure to try them out while you’re here.
And since it’s a bustling establishment, be aware that there’s probably a long queue to beat. It’s admittedly pretty tough to find parking during peak hours.
- Address: 45, Lebuh Cintra, George Town, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang.
- Business Hours: 6.00 am to 12 pm, 6:30 pm to 12 am, closed on Monday.
- Contact: 04-2636625
- Links: Facebook, Instagram
- Email: [email protected]
Conclusion
That wraps up our list of the best dim sum restaurants in Penang, which hopefully adds more meal options during your stay there.
As you can tell, you’ll be facing long queues most of the time, so be sure to plan ahead if you’re keen on going to one!
Of course, Dim Sum isn’t the only thing on offer in Penang:
For more local delights, our list of delicious Penang restaurants, as well as fine dining in Penang, will certainly make it a foodie trip to remember!
Further Reading:
- 11 Local-Recommended Seafood Restaurants In Penang 2022
- 11 Famou Char Kuey Teow In Penang 2022
- 19 Coziest Cafes In Penang 2022
- 13 Breakfast Spots In Penang 2022
- 9 Must-Eat Cendol Places in Penang 2022
- 11 Sizzling Asam Laksa Restaurants in Penang 2022