2026 Guide
Updated October 2026 ยท 7 spots
โก Quick answer
The best Assam Laksa in Penang is Penang Road Famous Laksa (Lebuh Keng Kwee, George Town). Also great: Air Itam Market Laksa, Wan Dao Tou Assam Laksa and Kim Laksa (Nan Guang Kopitiam).
Lebuh Keng Kwee, George Town, Penang
Order: Penang assam laksa with shredded mackerel, pineapple, mint and hae ko
The bowl most people mean when they say 'Penang laksa' โ decades at Joo Hooi before moving next door to Keng Kwee Street, and a Michelin Bib Gourmand every year since the Penang guide began. Sour, fishy, sweet-sticky with prawn paste; pair it with the chendol across the lane.
Order: Classic Air Itam assam laksa, extra hae ko
Started in 1955 and made world-famous by Anthony Bourdain, this roadside stall at the foot of Kek Lok Si is the pilgrimage bowl for assam laksa purists. Punchy, sharply sour broth loaded with flaked fish โ now carried on by the family.
โ ๏ธ Last confirmed before 2025 โ check it is open before you go.
Jalan Gottlieb, George Town, Penang
Order: Assam laksa with spring rolls and Nyonya kuih on the side
Third-generation sisters cooking their grandparents' half-century-old recipe, formerly near the Bagan Jermal roundabout. A Michelin Bib Gourmand every year since 2023 โ balanced, deeply fishy and not overly sour.
Balik Pulau town, Balik Pulau, Penang
Order: Balik Pulau assam laksa with nutmeg juice
Balik Pulau is the island's laksa heartland, and this corner kopitiam stall is the one Penangites drive over the hill for. Thick, intensely fishy broth โ finish with a glass of local nutmeg juice.
โ ๏ธ Last confirmed before 2025 โ check it is open before you go.
Jalan Hutton, George Town, Penang
Order: Assam laksa with prawn crackers; lemak laksa
A cheerful air-conditioned laksa specialist that earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2025 and kept it for 2026. Great for first-timers who want both assam and lemak versions side by side without sweating it out.
Lebuh Cannon, George Town, Penang
Order: Penang asam laksa and Nyonya laksa with vegetable spring rolls
A tiny family-run shop steps from Khoo Kongsi, listed in the Michelin Guide for its tangy red asam laksa crowned with mint and pineapple. A handy heritage-zone stop when the big-name queues are too long.
Kampung Perlis, Balik Pulau, Penang
Order: Malay-style laksa with pisang goreng
Born under a cashew (janggus) tree more than 25 years ago, this kampung stall serves a gentler, Malay-style take on Penang laksa. Go late afternoon and grab some banana fritters too.
โ ๏ธ Last confirmed before 2025 โ check it is open before you go.
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โ Best Assam Laksa across Malaysia ยท All food in Penang โ