Penang street food is undoubtedly one of the gems in Malaysia’s culinary heritage. Famous throughout the country and even beyond, the food of the everyday Penangite is without compare.
Yet, there is the occasional foodie who has not savoured everything Penang has to offer. Hence, this list of the best Penang street food will make it easier for said foodie to figure out what they have missed.
Soup & Broths
- Penang Assam Laksa
If you haven’t tasted assam laksa, you haven’t tasted Penang. This sour-spicy noodle soup has wheat noodles in a tamarind broth, accompanied by cucumber, pineapple, mint and shrimp paste. This dish is often attributed to the Penang Peranakan community.
For the best assam laksa, check out Penang Air Itam Laksa.
- Hokkien Mee
Who knew mixing egg and rice noodles could create a piece of heaven? Hokkien Mee in Penang is often served in a prawn-and-pork bone stock, loaded with prawns, sliced pork and chilli sambal. As one might guess, this is a Hokkien dish though adapted to fit local tastes.
For the best Hokkien mee, check out 888 Hokkien Mee.
- White Curry Mee
The best curries need not be bright red, orange or yellow. Unconvinced? Have a go at a bowl of noodles with creamy, coconut-curry broth. Served with chilli oil, tofu puffs, prawns and notably pig’s blood, this is believed to be a Nyonya twist on South Indian curry.
For the best white curry mee, check out Hot Bowl White Curry Mee.
- Char Hor Fun
This is likely the comfort food of a good number of Penangites. Who can resist slurping down flat noodles flavoured by a thick egg-and-starch gravy, prawns, squid and vegetables? It is a different take on the Cantonese “hor fun”, but it is always worth trying.
For the best char hor fun, check out Gou Lou Hong Kee.
Fried Favourites
- Char Kway Teow
A Penang street food list without this noodle dish is heresy! Everyone and their granny loves these stir-fried rice noodles, especially when laden with prawns, cockles, taugeh and egg. Did you know it originated as a labourer’s dish?
For the best char kway teow, check out Siam Road Char Kuey Teow.
- Duck Egg Char Kway Teow
The classic dish is famous enough, but so is this variant with a quacking good twist. Duck eggs apparently make the noodles taste silkier and richer. Indeed, most customers like this take and are willing to fork out more for it.
For the best duck egg char kway teow, check out Presgrave Street Ah Shen Duck Egg Char Koay Teow.
- Oyster Omelette
Oysters are hardly just for the rich, if this Penang street food has anything to say about it. This crispy-edged egg pancake is stuffed silly with oysters and flavoured with chilli sauce. It is said that Teochew and Hokkien people are the folks behind this delicacy.
For the best oyster omelette, check out Seng Thor Coffee Shop.
- Mee Goreng Mamak
A deceptively simple dish, these fried noodles are responsible for keeping a good chunk of the workforce awake. The best sort has yellow noodles tossed with tofu, prawns, bean sprouts and sweet-spicy sauce.
For the best mee goreng mamak, check out Hameed Pata Mee Sotong.
Rice & Speciality Dishes
- Nasi kandar
At this point, stating which is your favourite nasi kandar will elicit any number of responses from Penangites. To be fair, there are many good nasi kandar spots in Penang. Each has its own take on the signature Indian-Muslim curry rice feast.
For the best nasi kandar, check out Deens Maju.
- Kerabu Bee Hoon
This is one Penangite noodle dish that is rarely seen outside its borders. Everyone knows what bee hoon is, but fewer people know that it goes well with lime, coconut, herbs and chilli. It is yet another Peranakan dish, with distinctive sour, sweet and spicy flavours.
For the best kerabu bee hoon, check out Mews Cafe.
Savoury Snacks & Sides
- Popiah
Spring rolls can be found all over Asia, but no one does it better than Penang. Here, the rolls are filled with shredded turnip, lettuce, bean sprouts and sometimes egg. Penang popiah is supposedly influenced by Teochew cuisine.
For the best popiah, check out Shang Wu Hawker Stalls.
- Rojak
Some people love it, some people hate it. Regardless, rojak has long earned a spot on this list. A fruit-and-vegetable salad, it always comes with a pungent prawn-paste dressing and crushed peanuts. Be prepared for sticky fingers.
For the best rojak, check out Hock Seng Rojak.
- Satay
The only thing that can make a dinner perfect is an extra side of satay. These skewers are their best when grilled over charcoal and when served with a spicy peanut sauce. Satay is now a mainstay in Penang’s night markets.
For the best satay, check out DUAN @ George Town.
- Loh Bak
Not to be confused with the Malay word for “carrot”, loh bak typically refers to sliced minced pork rolls. These are always wrapped in a crispy bean curd skin. Afterwards, they are deep-fried and served with chilli and sweet sauces.
For the best loh bak, check out Kheng Pin Cafe.
- Ban Chang Kueh
Typically sold by Chinese hawkers, some people think these pancakes have been around since the 19th century. They are thin or fluffy, but always filled with peanuts, sugar and the optional banana or egg.
For the best ban chang kueh, check out BM Cathay Pancake.
Sweet Treats & Desserts
- Cendol
Who needs fancy, foreign bingsu when we have our own special ice dessert? No colouring needed; just some shaved ice, green jelly, santan and gula melaka. The simpler the cendol looks, the better!
For the best cendol, check out Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul.
- Ice Kacang
A fancier cousin of the cendol, this shaved ice dessert is stereotypically pink. Common toppings include red beans, sweet corn, jelly, grass jelly and syrup. Ice kacang these days is quite different from its earlier, simpler iterations, with just beans and ice.
For the best ice kacang, check out Swatow Lane Ice Kacang.
- Apom Balik
When the day starts to feel like too much, a well-earned sugar boost can turn the mood around. Apom balik is more than capable of doing that, while staying cheap. The fluffy turnover pancake will make you smile with its stuffing of crushed peanuts, sweet corn and sugar.
For the best apom balik, check out Apom Balik Astaka Stadium.
- Phokes
This is one Penang street food some people might not even know of. They are best described as soft, steamed rice flour cakes topped with chocolate, cheese or pandan. Bukit Mertajam is known for these spongy bites.
For the best phokes, check out Sri Rasa Phokes.
- Kuih Talam
This steamed cake is distinctive thanks to its double layers. The bottom is always pandan-scented, whereas the top is creamy coconut milk. Striking to the eye and sweet to the stomach, it is a true guilty pleasure.
For the best kuih talam, check out Moh Teng Pheow Nyonya Koay.
You should also check out: KL’s top 20 street foods to try if you’re a tourist (or if you’ve been living under a PJ rock)