An Insider’s Guide to Penang Hawker Food

Born and raised in Penang, I am practically a living and walking food guide when it comes to eating Penang hawker food or street food. As requested by many readers, I have finally put together this comprehensive “An Insider’s Guide to Penang Hawker Food” to give you the insider’s tips about the where, what, and who of the best of the best in Penang hawker food scene.

Rasa Malaysia runs a private Penang culinary tour where we take you to sample the best of Penang food plus local culture tour: legendary hawker food, street food, local wet markets, fruit and spices orchards and plantations, belacan (prawn paste) manufacturing plant, Nyonya food, home-stay meals, private cooking class, and more! If you are interested, please email me to inquire further. Or, you can read all about it here.

Assam Laksa

Noodles in tangy and sour fish broth served with fresh vegetables such as mint leaves, onions, cucumber, lettuce, pineapple, red chili, and bunga kantan (torch ginger bud). A spoonful of Hae Ko (a dark and thick prawn paste) brings out the essence of this ever popular Nyonya creation.

Rasa Malaysia recommends:

Laksa Air Itam

This is the most famous Laksa stall in Penang. Managed by a father-son team: Ang Kak Seong and Ang Kar Foo, this Laksa is a must try!

Kek Seng Coffee Shop

Hokkien Mee / Prawn Noodles

A popular noodle soup with spicy broth made from prawn shells and heads. Served with slices of hard-boiled eggs, shredded prawns, water convolvulus, pork, crispy fried shallots and a spoonful of chili paste.

Rasa Malaysia recommends:

Hokkien Mee at Kedai Kopi Classic

Coffee Shop at the corner of Macalister Road and Rangoon Road (Morning)

Curry Mee

Yellow noodles and vermicelli infused in rich and spicy coconut curry and with cubes of pig’s blood, cockles, fried tofu puffs, cuttlefish, and shrimps as toppings. Penang Curry Mee is unlike Curry Mee / Curry Laksa served elsewhere in Malaysia; the broth is usually lighter as less coconut milk is used.

Rasa Malaysia recommends:

Lorong Seratus Tahun Curry Mee

Char Koay Teow

Char Koay Teow / Char Kway Teow is basically fried flat rice noodles with prawns, cockles, egg, bean sprouts, Chinese chives, and chili paste. Sometimes, slices of Chinese sausage are added. The best Char Koay Teow is usually fried with pork lard, which gives that extra aroma to the dish.

Rasa Malaysia recommends:

Loh Eng Hoo Coffee Shop

There are two stalls outside of the coffee shop. Go for the one with a lot of customers. Afternoon.
Kedai Kopi Lam Leng

Rojak

Rojak is a Penang-style salad. Ingredients such as cucumber, jicama, pineapples, jambu (water apple), bean curd pieces, and cuttlefish are tossed with Hae Ko (prawn paste), chili, roasted belacan and topped with ground peanuts.

Rasa Malaysia recommends:

Loh Eng Hoo Coffee Shop

Majestic Rojak

Jiu Hu Eng Chai (Cuttlefish Salad with Water Convolvulus)

Another salad where blanched cuttlefish and water convolvulus are tossed with prawn paste, chili, sweet sauce, and topped with sesame seeds and grounded peanuts. This dish is very delightful. A must try.

Rasa Malaysia recommends:

Gurney Drive Hawker Center

New Lane Hawker Juction

Popiah

Filled with jacama (yambean), diced beancurb, and crab meat wrapped in fresh spring roll skin, Popiah is juicy and delicious. The best Popiah can be found at Padang Brown Hawker Center.

Insider tip: order the deluxe Popiah with real crab meat instead of the regular popiah with artificial crab meat.

Rasa Malaysia recommends:

Padang Brown Hawker Center

New Lane Hawker Juction

Grilled Stingray (Ikan Panggang)

One must not miss Grilled Stingray when you are in Malaysia. In Penang, Ikan Panggang / Ikan Bakar can be found at Chinese Kopi Tiam or Malay hawker joints.

Other than Stingrays, there are other fish and seafood to choose from, for example: clams, squids, and other shellfish.

Rasa Malaysia recommends:

New Lane Hawker Juction

Oh Chien (Fried Oyster Omelette)

Originated in the Fujian region in China, Oh Chien is fried omelette with fresh oysters, with starch mixed into the eggs. The key to this dish is Wok Hei (breath of wok) as well as the generous use of fresh and succulent oysters.

Rasa Malaysia recommends:

Seng Thor Coffee Shop

Chicken Rice

Chicken Rice is a very popular dish in Malaysia because it’s filling, delicious, and cheap. Other than steamed and fried / roasted chicken, you can also order barbequed pork, char siew, gizzards, innards, and other side dishes to go with the chicken rice.

Rasa Malaysia recommends:

Goh Thow Chick Famous Hainan Chicken Rice

Otak-Otak

Otak-otak is a Nyonya specialty. Wrapped in a banana leaf, Otak-Otak is basically spicy fish custard made of fresh fish fillets, eggs, and daun kadok (wild pepper leaves). Penang Otak-Otak is usually steamed while in Melaka and southern states, they are grilled. Both are equally delectable and it’s great as a snack.

Rasa Malaysia recommends:

New World Café (Siin Se Kai)

Loh Bak

Loh Bak or meat rolls are wrapped in beancurd skin and deep fried to perfection. At Loh Bak stalls, you can also order prawn fritters (Heh Chee), fried bean curds, and other side dishes such as octopus, century eggs, etc. Loh Bak are usually served with two dipping sauces in Penang: chili sauce and a starchy sauce flavored with five-spice powder and eggs. Penangites usually order a combo plate of Loh Bak, prawn fritters, and fried beancurb.

Rasa Malaysia recommends:

Café Kheng Pin

Padang Brown Hawker Center

Hawker Center at Batu Lanchang afternoon market

New Lane Hawker Juction

Chee Cheong Fun

Chee Cheong Fun is steamed rice rolls with oil, sweet sauce, and Heh Koe (prawn paste sauce) and topped with toasted sesame seeds, and fried shallots and chili sauce (if desired). Penang Chee Cheong Fun is very different from those served elsewhere in Malaysia. This is one of the must try hawker food in Penang.

Rasa Malaysia recommends:

New Lane Hawker Juction

Loh Eng Hoo Coffee Shop

Cheh Hu

Cheh Hu or Chinese-style rojak is a healthy serving of bean sprouts, julienned cucumber, jicama (yambean), prawn fritters, beancurd, sliced jellyfish in a sweet potato sauce. This is one of my favorite afternoon snacks.

Rasa Malaysia recommends:

Padang Brown Hawker Center

Hawker Center at Batu Lanchang afternoon market

Taman Free School Hawker Center

Muar Chee

Muar Chee is a light snack consists of glutinous rice balls coated with grounded peanuts and sugar. As simple as it might sound to you, these little rice balls are very tasty. I crave for them every so often.

Rasa Malaysia recommends:

Gurney Drive Hawker Center

Lok Lok

Lok Lok or fresh food in skewers with a pot of hot boiling water is fun to eat. There are two kinds of Lok Lok: sit-down Lok Lok where there is a table for patrons and stand-up Lok Lok where there is no seating. I personally like sit-down version because it’s just fun sitting down with a bunch of your friends or family members and have a communal dining experience.

Rasa Malaysia recommends:

Padang Brown Hawker Center

There are two stalls to choose from. Both are great, but with slightly different selections of food.

Pulau Tikus Evening Market

Apong Balik

Apong Balik is a kind of Malaysian pancake filled with sliced bananas. Click on the link above and check out the picture; need I say more?

Rasa Malaysia recommends:

Apong Guan

Roti Canai

Roti Canai is one of the best creations by Mamak (Indian-Muslim). This fluffy, crispy, and flaky bread is cooked on a flat iron skillet with lots of oil. Roti Canai is best when served with curries (choices include but not limited to chicken, beef, lamb, fish, or vegetarian).

Rasa Malaysia recommends:

Roti canai stalls at Chulia Street

If you like your Roti Canai buttery, order Roti Bom or Roti Planta. If you like them with fillings, do try out Murtabak (filled with onions and beef) or Roti Pisang (filled with sliced bananas).

Nasi Kandar

Nasi Kandar is very popular in Penang. Operated by Mamak (Indian-Muslim), Nasi Kandar stalls or restaurants serve meals of steamed rice with a variety of curries, fried food, and other side dishes. I like eating my Nasi Kandar with a side order of Roti Canai, Papadam, and a glass of cold ice Syrup (a drink with pink syrup).

Rasa Malaysia recommends:

Restaurant Tajuddin Hussein in Little India

Line Clear

Cendol

Cendol consists of pandan-flavored noodles, shaved ice, red beans in coconut milk and palm sugar syrup. Cendol is a popular dessert. Some tourists and visitors come to Penang just to try
this out!

Rasa Malaysia recommends:

Joo Hooi Café

Loh Eng Hoo Coffee Shop

Ice Kacang

Shaved ice with red beans, sweet corns, grass jelly, atap chee (the flesh from young seeds of a mangrove plant called Nypa Frutican) and jello. Sweet syrup and evaporated milk are generously drizzled over the shaved ice. This dessert is a great after a hot day in the sun.

Loh Eng Hoo Coffee Shop

Kek Seng Coffee Shop

New World Park

Nyonya Kuih

Nyonya Kuih are little cakes created by the Peranakans. They are colorful, delicate, and full of flavor and are best as a light breakfast or an afternoon snack.

Rasa Malaysia recommends:

Padang Brown Hawker Center

Pulau Tikus Market

Cecil Market

Tee Nya Kuih

Tee Nya Kuih are rice cakes with brown sugar / palm sugar syrup. This Chinese delicacy is getting harder and harder to find these days. A must try. Pandan flavor is also available.

New World Park

Lat Chee (Roasted Chesnuts)

Roasted chesnuts were my childhood favorite. They are sweet and addictive and I would always steal them from my late grandmother (it was her favorite too). Once you start eating them, you just can’t stop.

Chowrasta Market

There are two stalls in front Chowrasta Market. Both are equally good.

INSIDER TIPS:

While you are in Penang, don’t forget to try out fresh fruit juice in Kopi Tiam (coffee shops) or hawker centers. Starfruit juice is my favorite. You can also get fresh coconut juice.

Have fun and eat well in Penang!

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