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. Fu Er Dai 富二代
From the crowd (even on a weekday) that packs the restaurant, you can already tell that Fu Er Dai is popular and for good reason:
The food is good. They have classic dim sum favorites as well as a few specialties of their own (e.g., bacon roll). Fried noodles are also available on the menu.
And the beverage selection includes different Chinese tea flavors. Additionally, there is iced coffee and other drinks typically available at a local kopitiam.
Besides this, they have their own parking for customers. The dining environment may be open-air but they have plenty of fans and it does not feel hot.
Read more about Fu Er Dai Dim Sum in George Town.
- Address: 7, Jln Sultan Ahmad Shah, George Town, 10050 George Town, Pulau Pinang
- Opening hours: 6:30am to 2pm
- Contact: +604-251 9289
2. 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: 8:30am to 3:30pm (Closed on Wednesdays)
- Contact: 010-9606180
3. 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 1:30 pm; closed on Tuesdays
- Contact: 014-3029177
4. 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: 8.00am to 3:30pm
- Contact: 011-59775299
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: 6:30 am to 2.00 pm
- Contact: 012-4618959
6. 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: 6:30 am to 2:30 pm, closed on Mondays
- Contact: 04-2611355
7. Tai Tong Restaurant
This 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: 6:30am to 1:30pm and again from 6pm to 9pm
- Contact: 04-2636625
8. Maxim Dim Sum Pekaka
Maxim Dim Sum Pekaka has been around for many years. Prices have gone up over the years. Although there are promotions and discounts for members.
Food is consistently delicious and there’s a great variety of dim sum too. Siew mai and egg tarts are must-haves here.
Despite the price increase, the interior still resembles a food court, but it is spacious. The dining environment is comfortable unless it is a very hot day. Because while they have many fans, there is no air-conditioning.
Queue first for a table number, then pick out your dim sum at the counter.
- Address: Bangunan Lip Sin 2 – G – 7 to 12, Lebuh Pekaka 1，Sungai Dua, Taman Pekaka, 11700 Gelugor, Pulau Pinang
- Opening hours: 6:30am to 1:45pm
- Contact: +6016-713 6625
9. Sea Queen Restaurant
Sea Queen Restaurant provides some frills and comfort with its fancy-looking interior.
You can opt for seating indoors 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: 8am to 2:30pm, 6pm to 9:30pm
- Contact: 010-4040299
At Butterworth:
10. 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 aware of that if you’re visiting on a weekend.
- Address: Jalan Ong Yi How, Lucky Park, 13400 Butterworth, Pulau Pinang.
- Business Hours: 6am to 2pm (Closed on Wednesdays)
- Contact: 04-3330779
At Bukit Mertajam:
11. Restaurant Eng Meng 英明茶楼
A long-standing restaurant beloved by the locals for breakfast, Restaurant Eng Meng is 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: 7am to 12:30pm (Closed on Wednesdays)
- Contact: 016-4829113
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:
See more breakfast spots in Penang.
And 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 Famou Char Kuey Teow In Penang
- 9 Must-Eat Cendol Places in Penang
- 11 Sizzling Asam Laksa Restaurants in Penang
