10 Must-eat Food in Penang

Penang Char Koay Teow
 

Penang, named as the food haven of Asia, is well-known for its wide variety of delicious, unique and authentic food. It is almost impossible to eat everything in a short period of time, so here is Janice Kua’s suggestion on the 10 must-eats in Penang.

A number of these famous Penang food are now available worldwide but it is said that one can only have quality and flavour when right here in Penang.

Beef noodle soup

Here is where you can indulge in a bowl of flavoursome beef noodle soup. Rich in flavours and its taste never disappoints, you can pick and choose your desired ingredients such as steak, brisket, beef balls, innards and more.
Address: Lam Ah Coffee Shop
194 Lebuh Pantai (opposite fire brigade station, corner of Lebuh Chulia)
10300 George Town, Penang
GPS coordinates: 5.415495, 100.339550
Opening hours: Mon – Sat 10.30am – 4.30pm
Closed on Sun and public holidays

Bak Moi (Pork porridge)

Famous for its warming and comforting pork porridge, pork bee hoon soup, pork vermicelli and more, Hon Kei Food Corner is a place for all things pork. Its homemade minced-pork balls are a definite must-try.
Address:
Hon Kei Food Corner
45, Kampung Malabar
10100 George Town, Penang
GPS coordinates: 5.419156, 100.332513
Contact: 012-443 5559
Opening hours: Fri – Wed 9am – 3pm, 5pm – 12am

Hokkien Mee

The Penang Hokkien mee is made delicious by its rich prawn and pork soup base. Normally eaten with yellow noodles and rice noodles, occasionally, Penangites opt to have it with instant noodles. Penang Hokkien mee is always garnished with fried shallots and special spicy prawns to finish.
Available in most coffee shops and street food stalls in Penang.

Nasi Kandar

Penang Nasi Kandar

Still hungry after dinner? Nasi Kandar Beratur will please your hunger during odd hours. Ready to serve from 10pm onwards, be ready to join the long queue before getting to the stall to pick your choice of dishes from its diverse variety of flavoursome curry.
Address: 98, Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling
10300 George Town
Opening hours: Mon – Sun 10pm onwards

Char Koay Teow

To find the famous Penang char koay teow, just follow your nose and you’ll soon be indulging in a plate of the famous Penang fried flat rice noodles. Distinctive and unique in its taste, there are no char koay teow that taste like Penang char koay teow other than having it in Penang.
Available in most coffee shops and street food stalls in Penang.

Curry Mee

With the Penang white curry mee getting famous worldwide, try out the original Penang curry mee now that you’re in Penang. With an unforgettable taste like no other, Penang curry mee comes in a light curry soup base, yellow noodles and rice noodles, garnished with dried tofu, beansprouts and more.
Available in most coffee shops and street food stalls in Penang.

Chendol

Don’t worry about not finding the small lane where this Penang famous Teochew chendol stall is located. Spot the long queue off Jalan Penang and you are at the right place. Cool yourself down after a walk round George Town with a bowl of Penang chendol, a local dessert with a coconut milk and gula Melaka (palm sugar) base, topped with red beans, pandan flavoured noodles and shaved ice.
Address: Lebuh Keng Kwee (off Jalan Penang) 10100 George Town
Opening hours: Mon – Sun 10.30am – 7pm

Char Koay Kak

Slightly similar to Penang char koay teow, char koay kak is made from blocks of rice cakes fried with salted turnip, eggs and beansprouts. The dish may sound simple but the taste is definitely not.
Available at:
Pulau Tikus Market (Morning)
GPS coordinates: 5.430307, 100.311919
Batu Lanchang Market (Afternoon)
GPS coordinates: 5.423377, 100.321535
Jalan Burma (Night time)
GPS coordinates: 5.423259, 100.321771

Assam Laksa

Voted as the no.7 most delicious foods by CNNGo, Penang assam laksa is definitely a must-eat when you are in Penang. With a strong fish and tamarind soup base and thick rice noodles, this sour and spicy dish is both light and substantial, and will definitely make you addicted.
Available in most coffee shops and street food stalls in Penang.

Chee Cheong Fun

Done differently from the famous Cantonese chee cheong fun, Penang chee cheong fun is finished with a mixture of prawn paste, sweet sauce, fried shallots and more.
Available in most coffee shops and street food stalls in Penang.

Penang Rojak

Penang rojak can count as a healthy dessert option in Penang. Loaded with more than your 5-a-day fiber needs, Penang rojak is made from a variety of fruits and vegetables topped with our own creation of prawn paste sauce. You can also choose to have it spicy or non-spicy.
Available at the Gurney Drive Hawker Centre.