We arrived in Penang excited and armed with a long list of must-try dishes we’d collected from YouTube videos and blog posts. As Malaysia’s food capital, with its mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and Peranakan flavors, it felt like street food heaven and we couldn’t wait to hit the hawkers markets.
But as it turns out, navigating Penang’s food scene wasn’t quite as straightforward as we expected. Between Chinese New Year closures, unpredictable stall hours, and being caught up exploring sights like Kek Lok Si and Penang Hill, we ended up eating a much more random selection of foods than planned. We even resorted to McDonald’s one night (oops).
Here’s our honest guide to eating your way through Penang: what we loved, what we skipped, and why a food tour might just save you the trouble we ran into.
See how we fit these delicious stops into our Penang Itinerary.
Why Penang is Famous for Food
- Street vendors here have perfected their craft over decades.
- Malay, Chinese, Indian and Peranakan influences come together in unique ways
- Hawker centres and night markets are full of energy and great food
- UNESCO named Penang a ‘Creative City of Gastronomy’ for its rich food culture.
We talk more about why Penang is so famous for its food and culture in our What Is Penang Famous For post.
Essential Dishes to Try in Penang
Here are the must-try dishes if you are visiting Penang.
🍜 Char Kway Teow
Stir-fried rice noodles with prawns, egg, bean sprouts, and sausage.
🍛 Nasi Kandar
Steamed rice with curries and sides. I wish I’d snapped a pic of one of the stalls – the range of curries is amazing!
🐟 Penang Asam Laksa
Sour, spicy fish soup with tamarind and herbs. We ordered it at a chain café and… not great. Better to try it at a hawker stall.
🫓 Roti Canai & Teh Tarik
Flaky flatbread with curry and Malaysia’s frothy pulled tea.
❄️ Cendol
Shaved ice dessert with pandan jelly, red beans, and coconut milk. Perfect for cooling down in the heat.
🍢 Satay
Grilled, marinated meat skewers with peanut sauce. We had ours at New Lane Hawker Centre, and it was fantastic. Tender, flavourful and fun to watch them cook.
🍤 Hokkien Mee
Prawn noodle soup with a rich, spicy broth.
🥬 Popiah
Fresh spring rolls with vegetables and sometimes meat. Light, fresh, and easy to enjoy on the go.
🦪 Oyster Omelette (Oh Chien)
Crispy egg-and-oyster dish.
🥟 Sheng Jian Bao
Pan-fried pork buns with a crispy base and juicy filling. Our surprise favorite. Our son went back for seconds and thirds! They were called Chinese Pies at this stall in Sri Weld Food Court.
Where We Actually Ate: Hits & Misses
Here’s where we found the best street food in Penang and a few misses.
Ali Nasi Lemak Daun Pisang
This is some of the most famous street food in George Town Penang. These banana-leaf-wrapped packets of rice, sambal, and egg were spicy and delicious. Be wary of the sambal, it was fiery! Have water handy! Very cheap at RM 2.80 (approx $1 AUD).
Sri Weld Food Court
Here we discovered the amazing sheng jian bao (Chinese pie), nasi lemak and dumplings.
New Lane Hawker Centre
One of the best hawker centres in Penang. The satay here was our favourite and worth the chaos of the crowds, though it wasn’t too busy at around 4-5pm when we went.
Fort Cornwallis
Avocado-chocolate smoothie was a new flavour for us! Refreshing and moreish, purchased from a little food truck that has since moved on to a bigger establishment (Kota Bistro). More about Fort Cornwallis and nearby sights in our Penang Itinerary.
Yin’s Sourdough
Western breakfast spot, where we shared eggs hollandaise and avocado french toast. Great coffee here! Pastries looked exceptional too.
Fa-Laugh-Ely on Chulia Street
Not local, but excellent fried falafel. We have tried to replicate this at home a couple of times and just can’t fry it the way they do! Sitting at tables on the road was a novel experience for our son!
Old Town White Coffee (1st Avenue Mall)
Our infamous “cat food laksa,” aptly nicknamed by us for its weird texture. Not recommended.
North Indian Kitchen (Batu Ferringhi)
Some great Indian food here, near the beach though a little close to the road and petrol stations for a good atmosphere! The dahl and butter chicken were great.
Hilton Buffet Breakfast (Batu Ferringhi)
We paid for the breakfast buffet here one morning. It had a fairly standard selection of food, but the ambience was great, overlooking the play in the pool and watching birds stealing food from tables was hilarious!
Tips for Eating in Penang
✅ Book a food tour — the easiest way to find the best spots without stress.
✅ Go where locals queue. Lines mean good food.
✅ Check for closures, especially during festivals.
✅ Bring cash as hawkers rarely accept cards.
✅ Be ready for spice. Dishes can pack heat.
✅ Come early as popular stalls sell out fast.
✅ Bring wipes. Tables can get sticky.
✅ Know hawker rules. Drinks are usually separate, and some tables belong to certain vendors. You usually must buy a drink.
Why You Should Book a Food Tour in Penang
If we could do it again, we’d book a food tour on day one to get the lay of the land and work out what and where the best dishes were to be found.
We spent too much time wandering, unsure which stalls and dishes were good. A guide could have shown us hidden gems and saved us a lot of stress.
Do yourself a favour: book a food tour early. You’ll eat better, see more, and enjoy Penang’s food scene without second-guessing. You can find them on Klook or Get Your Guide.
Final Thoughts
Penang’s food scene was colourful, chaotic, and unforgettable, even when it wasn’t perfect. We relied more heavily on western food than we usually would during this trip, even with a late night Mcdonalds run (though the McDonalds in George Town is a very pretty building!)
Bring an adventurous spirit, an appetite, and a sense of humour. Even if you don’t love every bite, you’ll leave with great memories and plenty of ideas for your trip from our Penang Itinerary and Is Penang Worth Visiting posts.
👉 Planning a trip to Penang? Check family-friendly hotels in George Town here to be close to all the best hawker centres and attractions.
