If you’re looking for a fun indoor activity for the family, Wonder Food Museum checks all the right boxes!
To our surprise, the Wonder Food Museum is not only an endless display of 3D cuisine. Interesting facts, interactive displays, and life-size food props make the experience mind-blowing!
Still not convinced? Let’s say that we strolled in around 3pm and came out hungry two hours later!
Table Of Contents:
About Wonder Food Museum
Along Jalan Lebuh Pantai Georgetown, and next to CIMB Bank:
Wonder Food Museum (or as the locals like to refer to it – Penang Wonderfood Museum) opened in June 2016 and has won many awards over the years.
They have the Certificate of Excellence 2017 by Trip Advisor. In the same year, this award-winning attraction received the INPENANG Top Museum Award.
The unique museum features realistic, oversized foods created by owner Sean Lao. Here, you can see his exquisite food replication technique from Japan.
There are three galleries in the museum – the Info Zone, the Wow Zone and the Educational Zone.
The Wow Zone features gargantuan-sized replicas of Malaysian food from various states. While the other two zones present fun facts about everything food related.
Visitors will see all kinds of Penang’s most famous food. Such as Laksa Penang, Nasi Kandar Penang, Char Kuey Teow Penang, Assam Laksa and many more.
Ease Of Parking At Wonder Food Museum
Along Jalan Lebuh Pantai Georgetown, there is street parking, but not much to begin with.
But there is a multi-level car park (Beach Street MPP Complex) 100m away from Wonder Food Museum. The parking rate is RM1 per hour.
Note: If you have your own car, we do recommend that you download the Penang Smart Parking app. This is a convenient way to pay for street parking. You can use the same app for some multi-story car parks in Penang too.
Our Experience At Wonder Food Museum
A narrow entrance serves as a teaser to the historical food gems in the museum. Minimalist styling of the tiny, double-story shop lot puts exhibits in the limelight.
While the oversized replicas of Oh Chien (fried oysters with egg) and Nasi lemak will make you drool:
There is history on the walls to feed your curiosity about their origins. The dioramas on the history of food in Penang are top notch and the attention to detail is worth ogling.
The museum is well curated, and the exhibits flow into one another. Because of this, your fascination won’t wane for a moment.
And when you descend the stairs to exit the museum, look out for the information on the right. There will be hints on where to find the best food in Penang!
Photography Props At Wonder Food Museum
One display that drew our attention is a photo booth with oversized traditional kuih.
You can take photos together with your favorite kuih. Whether it’s an onde-onde, kuih tayap, kuih talam or other delicacies.
Not far from the entrance, there is an area where the staff prompts you to pose with various props.
These include 2 woks with mee goreng in the air and gravity-defying teh tarik. These props have a great dramatic effect and are perfect for a cheeky family portrait!
Interesting Exhibits At Wonder Food Museum
Another exhibit that we liked was the depiction of sugar content in everyday foods. It’s definitely an eye-opener to learn how much sugar we consume daily.
There is also a series of fun facts in the form of question boxes. These are on the wall with answers displayed in each box.
Immersive experiences like these break the monotony of a typical museum. And that’s what the Wonder Food Museum in Penang triumphs at!
Global Perspective On Food At Wonder Food Museum
There is also a room that displays the world’s most expensive foods. Including caviar, truffles, edible gold and more.
And since we Malaysians have a bad habit of piling on more than we can eat:
There is a section in the museum dedicated to world hunger and food waste. It serves as a good reminder to be more aware of our eating habits.
Facilities At Wonder Food Museum
Do note that the toilet on the ground floor is wheelchair accessible. But there is no lift access for the disabled to go up to the higher floor.
Thus, this place isn’t suitable for OKUs and people with walking disabilities.
Ticket Prices At Wonder Food Museum
The entrance fees for Wonder Food Museum vary depending on when you go. We visited during school holidays. And since this is a peak period, we ended up paying more.
Ticket Prices For Those With My Kad:
- Adult: RM20
- Senior / child of 3 – 12 years old / student: RM12
Ticket Prices For Those Without My Kad:
- Adult: RM30
- Senior / child of 3 – 12 years old / student: RM20
One aspect that Wonder Food Museum can improve is to expand the payment options. For now, they accept eWallet or cash payment.
Debit and credit card payments are not accepted. So, this can be a hassle for foreign tourists.
On another note, professional photos taken by the museum staff cost RM25 for a large print out. And RM15 for the smaller ones. If you insist on a digital photo, it costs RM50 for 3 photos.
Conclusion
Entering this world of super-sized food is an unforgettable experience. You can learn more about the history of Malaysian food. While taking fun photos with life-size food replicas at Penang Wonder Food Museum.
Plentiful visuals and hands-on experience make for an interesting outing for adults and kids. See more museums in Penang that are fun for the family.
A fair warning though, you will be thinking of food when you leave this museum. Hence, you may want to check out our trusty list of the best Penang street food here to soothe your cravings!
