2026 Guide
Malaysia's hawker capital: char kuey teow, assam laksa, nasi kandar and cendol.
Updated October 2026 · 198 spots · 14 cities
⚡ Quick answer
The must-eat spots in Penang are Auntie Gaik Lean's Old School Eatery (Nyonya Food, George Town), Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul (Cendol, George Town) and Penang Road Famous Laksa (Assam Laksa, George Town).
Lebuh Bishop, George Town, Penang
Michelin starreservations essentialair-conditioned
Order: Jiu hu char, gulai tumis, nasi ulam, pie tee
Malaysia's only Michelin-starred Nyonya kitchen, cooking Penang Peranakan recipes without shortcuts. Book well ahead.
Jalan Kedah, George Town, Penang
Michelin Bib Gourmandhome-style
Order: Kapitan chicken curry, jiu hu char, perut ikan
A homely Penang Nyonya kitchen with a Michelin Bib Gourmand every year since the guide arrived. Feels like eating at a bibik's house.
Jalan Sri Bahari, George Town, Penang
Michelin Bib Gourmand
Order: Jiu hu char, loh bak, Nyonya laksa
Bib Gourmand three years running for honest Penang Nyonya classics in a quiet shophouse.
Gat Lebuh Chulia, George Town, Penang
Michelin Bib Gourmand
Order: Pandan nasi lemak, siam bihun, tub tim krob
A Bib Gourmand regular that leans into Penang's Thai-Nyonya side — bright, sour and spicy.
Jalan Cantonment, George Town, Penang
Michelin Bib Gourmand
Order: Otak-otak, Nyonya curries
A Pulau Tikus favourite whose banana-leaf otak-otak helped earn Bib Gourmand status in 2025 and 2026.
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Lebuh Keng Kwee, George Town, Penang
Order: Chendul with red beans, gula Melaka and fresh coconut milk
The cendol by which all others are judged, slurped standing in the alley off Penang Road since 1936. Fine shaved ice, rich santan and dark gula Melaka in perfect balance. It is now a national chain and even went to Taiwan in 2025, but the original stall is the pilgrimage.
Sungai Bakap, Nibong Tebal, Penang
Order: Cendol with homemade green jelly, santan and red beans (add pulut)
Founded in 1977 and now in its second generation, selling 200-plus bowls a day by the main road in Sungai Bakap. South Seberang Perai's cendol pilgrimage.
Jalan Kulim, Bukit Mertajam, Penang
Order: Sweet, rich cendol
A Bukit Mertajam roadside favourite across from St Anne's, leaning on the sweeter side - ask for less sugar if you like. A cooling stop after a BM food crawl.
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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' — 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 — now carried on by the family.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — 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 — 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 — finish with a glass of local nutmeg juice.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — 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.
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George Town, George Town, Penang
world 100 best coffee shopshand driprotating guest roastersheritage setting
Order: Precise hand drip and cold nitro
Spacebar started as a KL pop-up and grew into Penang's most decorated café, landing on The World's 100 Best Coffee Shops list. A quiet heritage-lane room where every cup is dialled in like a competition brew.
Church Street Ghaut, George Town, Penang
in-house roastingbrunchgroup friendly
Order: Small-batch house roasts and creative brunch
A small-batch roaster on the waterfront edge of George Town that helped kick-start Penang's specialty wave. Roomy, good for groups, and the beans are roasted right there.
Stewart Lane, George Town, Penang
pioneer cafépour-overchurrosheritage shophouse
Order: Precision V60 and signature churros
Hiding behind an old Kedai Gaharu signboard since 2013, The Alley is one of George Town's original specialty bars, with Brewers Cup-placing baristas. Tiny, stubborn and still excellent.
Jalan Penang, George Town, Penang
roaster experience storesingle originstea and cocoa
Order: Single-origin filter and house white coffee
A Penang roaster whose beans now turn up in cafés across the country; the Jalan Penang experience store is where to taste them fresh. Clean, minimal and serious about origin.
Beach Street, George Town, Penang
laptop friendlyall-day breakfastsingle origins
Order: Single-origin brews and all-day breakfast
A calm, light-filled Beach Street room that laptop workers swear by. Single-origin coffee done well without fuss.
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Hin Bus Depot, George Town, Penang
1 Michelin starAsia's 50 Best (51–100)tasting menufarm-to-table
Order: Monthly-changing European farm-to-table menu
Penang's top fine-dining room: one Michelin star, a debut on Asia's 50 Best extended list in 2025, and Tatler's 2026 Restaurant of the Year. Produce-driven European cooking inside a converted bus-depot warehouse.
Lebuh Bishop, George Town, Penang
1 Michelin starPeranakanà la cartereservations essential
Order: Heirloom Nyonya dishes — perut ikan, kerabu, curry kapitan
Not a tasting-menu room, but one of only two Michelin-starred restaurants in Penang. Old-school Peranakan home cooking done with real precision; booking ahead is a must.
Gat Lebuh Gereja, George Town, Penang
tasting menuTatler Best 20local produce
Order: Produce-led Malaysian Chinese tasting menu
A Tatler Best 20 regular that builds its menu around regional Malaysian ingredients and Penang memories. One of the reasons George Town is now a fine-dining destination, not just a hawker one.
Jalan Macalister, George Town, Penang
tasting menuheritage mansion
Order: European contemporary tasting menu with Penang produce
A Michelin-listed tasting-menu restaurant inside the Macalister Mansion heritage hotel, cooking modern European with Penang accents.
Lebuh Pantai, George Town, Penang
michelin selectedopen kitchencharcoal grill
Order: Charcoal-grilled wild giant shrimp
A retro-industrial former factory with an open charcoal grill; chef Waymann Cheong won the Michelin Young Chef Award for 2025.
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Jalan Penang, George Town, Penang
Order: Nasi kandar with fried chicken, mutton curry and kuah campur banjir
The name every Penangite throws out first when you say nasi kandar. Squeezed into a five-foot-way alley off Penang Road, it has fed night owls, office crowds and tourists round the clock for generations, and the queue never really stops.
Lebuh Campbell, George Town, Penang
Order: Nasi kandar with ayam kapitan and mutton kurma; nasi briyani
Recognised by the Malaysian Book of Records as the country's oldest nasi kandar shop, ladling curries on Campbell Street since 1907. The rich, slow-cooked gravies and old-school biryani are a living piece of George Town's Indian-Muslim heritage.
Jalan Gurdwara, George Town, Penang
Order: Spiced fried chicken, squid roe and mixed curries with tomato rice
A no-frills corner shop that pulls one of the longest lunch queues on the island. Locals swear by its crackly fried chicken and the punchy, layered kuah campur, many rate it the best plate in Penang today.
Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, George Town, Penang
Order: Late-night nasi kandar with beef kurma, sambal prawns and fish roe
'Beratur' means queue, and the name is no joke: the line forms beside the Kapitan Keling Mosque before the pots even arrive. It is George Town's classic after-dark nasi kandar run.
Order: Daging masak hitam with fried chicken and sautéed cabbage
Tucked between the flats of Kampung Melayu, this neighbourhood stall has been the Air Itam breakfast-and-lunch ritual since the 1970s. Its dark, sweet-spiced beef is the dish people drive across the island for.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
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Sungai Pinang, Balik Pulau, Penang
farm tourfarm staydurian buffetorganic
Order: Black Thorn, Red Prawn, Hor Lor, Musang King straight off the tree
Balik Pulau's most famous farm: a third-generation organic orchard where you eat tree-fallen durians under the canopy, with farm stays and seasonal buffets.
Lorong Susu, George Town, Penang
30+ varietiescard paymentgloves provided
Order: Penang heirloom durians — Ang Heh (Red Prawn), Black Thorn, Capri, XO
Penang's best-known durian seller, with 30-plus varieties including the island's prized kampung clones. Pricey, but freshness is the point.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
Jalan Anson, George Town, Penang
seatingsells out
Order: Black Thorn, Red Prawn, Hor Lor
Colourful-tarp stall with seating at the back and top-grade fruit; closes when sold out.
Batu Itam, Balik Pulau, Penang
farm toureco-lodgeorganic
Order: Century-old kampung trees, guided tasting
Sixteen organic acres of century-old durian trees with treehouse stays — a slow, immersive take on durian season.
durian buffetcashless
Order: Raja Kunyit, D24, Hor Lor, Black Thorn buffet
Run by a former Raja Durian champion who owns several island plantations — buffets and cashless payment make it an easy stop.
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Jalan Siam, George Town, Penang
Order: Charcoal-fired char koay teow with cockles, lap cheong and prawns
Old-school charcoal wok, one man, one dish, and a queue that forms before he even lights up. Michelin Bib Gourmand three years running, and for many Penangites this is the benchmark plate of smoky, lard-kissed koay teow.
Lorong Selamat, George Town, Penang
Order: Spicy duck-egg char koay teow with jumbo prawns
The famous lady in the red beret has been frying here since the 1970s, making this one of Penang's oldest and most talked-about CKT stalls. Pricier than most and the wait can be long, but the fat prawns and fiery, smoky noodles keep the legend alive.
Jalan Dato Keramat, George Town, Penang
Order: Duck-egg char koay teow loaded with big prawns and cockles
A Penang name that comes up in every serious CKT debate since 1979. Plates come heavy on seafood with fat prawns and cockles, and the duck egg gives the noodles a rich, silky finish.
Jalan Penang, George Town, Penang
Order: Made-to-order CKT with blood cockles and lap cheong, add duck egg
Fried for some four decades at the same busy Penang Road kopitiam, now passed down to the next generation. Michelin Bib Gourmand since 2024, and handy too, since you can chase it with cendol next door.
Tanjung Bungah, George Town, Penang
Order: Wok-hei-packed CKT with optional over-easy egg (or even cheese)
A third-generation family stall out in Tanjung Bungah that earned a fresh Michelin Bib Gourmand for 2026. Every plate is fried one at a time, so expect a wait, and expect it to be worth it.
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Lebuh Campbell, George Town, Penang
back-lane seatingcharcoal toastqueues
Order: Charcoal-toasted bread with kaya, half-boiled eggs, kopi
A back-lane stall where bread is toasted over charcoal in full view and stools spill into the alley. Penang's most famous kopitiam breakfast — queue early.
Jalan Penang, George Town, Penang
heritagepre-war shophouse
Order: Lor bak, Hainanese chicken rice, kopi
A pre-war corner kopitiam on Penang Road whose hawkers — especially the lor bak — are institutions in their own right.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
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Lebuh Presgrave, George Town, Penang
Order: Penang Hokkien mee (prawn mee) in deep red prawn-and-pork broth
Over 30 years of rich, sweet-savoury prawn broth have made this Penang's most famous Hokkien mee (prawn mee) stall, and a Michelin pick. Load up on braised pork ribs and roast pork, and come early before it sells out.
Lebuh Pantai, George Town, Penang
Order: Penang prawn mee with braised pork ribs
A three-generation family stall dating to the 1960s and a Michelin Bib Gourmand every year since the guide arrived. The prawn broth is gentler and sweeter than most, perfect for a morning bowl.
Jalan Burma, George Town, Penang
Order: Penang prawn mee, loh mee, or both in one bowl ('mix')
A night-only stall that has been pulling crowds for over 30 years with a deeply savoury red broth. Order the half-prawn mee, half-loh mee mix and pick from a dozen toppings. Michelin Bib Gourmand since the guide's first Penang edition.
Jalan Burma, George Town, Penang
Order: Penang Hokkien mee (prawn mee) in very thick, rich broth
Around sixty years of breakfast service have earned this broth its 'liquid gold' nickname. It's cheap, intense and usually sold out within a few hours, so set the alarm.
Jalan Perak, George Town, Penang
Order: Penang Hokkien mee (prawn mee) with a thick, shrimp-heavy broth
A morning-only cult favourite where the broth is thick and seriously prawny. Expect a half-hour wait, and it's usually gone by late morning.
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Jalan Macalister, George Town, Penang
heritagesouvenir boxes
Order: Tau sar pneah, beh teh saw, sesame oil
Penang's most famous pastry name, baking tau sar pneah since 1856. The flaky green-bean biscuits are the island's default souvenir box.
Jalan Burma, George Town, Penang
heritagesells out
Order: Tau sar pneah, beh teh saw
Since 1948 and, to many Penangites, the tau sar pneah to beat. Short morning-to-lunch hours mean it often sells out.
Lebuh Pantai, George Town, Penang
French pastryheritage shophouse
Order: Butter croissant, fig tart, cranberry scones
Often called the best croissant on the island, from a Le Cordon Bleu-trained pâtissier in a heritage shophouse.
Jalan Penang, George Town, Penang
multiple outletsegg tarts
Order: Egg tarts, kaya puffs, char siew pastries
A Penang pastry chain loved for its old-school egg tarts and kaya puffs. Three outlets, including Lebuh Armenian in the heritage zone.
Gurney Drive, George Town, Penang
sourdoughmultiple outlets
Order: Sourdough loaves, sourdough pizza, sourdough croissant
Penang's sourdough specialist, with naturally fermented loaves across several branches. The Gurney outlet's sourdough pizzas are a hit.
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Jalan Transfer, George Town, Penang
Order: Roti banjir with mixed beef and chicken curry
The roti canai pilgrimage of Penang: an unsigned roadside stall that has been flipping dough for around half a century. Get it torn up and drowned in curry, with a fried egg, and come early before it sells out.
Jalan Gemas, George Town, Penang
Order: Roti canai with egg, cheese, onion and beef curry
Transfer Road's fiercest rival and arguably Penang's busiest roti spot, run by a family of mamak siblings. Order it with egg, cheese and raw onion and go for the beef curry.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
Jalan Phee Choon, George Town, Penang
Order: Roti canai with dhal and sambal; charcoal roti bakar with half-boiled eggs
A roadside breakfast institution famous for charcoal-toasted bread, but the roti canai is equally loved - crisp, flaky and served with terrific dhal. Expect a crowd from dawn.
Jalan Kampung Gajah, Butterworth, Penang
Order: Roti canai with daging cincang (minced beef curry)
Founded in 1954 by Indian-Muslim brothers and once a haunt of Australian airmen from the Butterworth base, now run by the founders' great-grandchildren. Also known as Kedai Pokok Kurma - the mainland's roti canai legend.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
Sungai Ara, Bayan Lepas, Penang
Order: Made-to-order roti canai with curry buffet
Over 50 years of slapping roti to order, served piping hot with a buffet of curries and sides. Handy for an airport-adjacent breakfast.
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Esplanade, George Town, Penang
Order: Mee sotong in sweet-spicy squid sambal
Penang's most-talked-about plate of mamak noodles, topped with Hameed's sticky, sweet-spicy stewed squid. Ranked No. 1 in the New Straits Times' Penang mee goreng list, and the queue by the seafront rarely lets up.
New World Park, George Town, Penang
Order: Classic Penang mee goreng with squid and potato
A family recipe frying since around 1945, now in the hands of Mahboobin Zakaria and his son. The original Penang-style mee goreng, it moved from its old Bangkok Lane coffee shop to New World Park in 2021 and the fans followed.
Gurney Drive, George Town, Penang
Order: Fiery mee goreng with potato, prawn fritters and stewed squid
Started at Padang Brown in the early 1970s and a Gurney Drive fixture since 1991. Noticeably spicier than its Penang rivals, a must for chilli lovers doing the Gurney hawker run.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
Padang Brown, George Town, Penang
Order: Mee goreng mamak special
Frying noodles at Padang Brown since the 1950s and now in the next generation's hands. Generous portions, deep wok flavour and honest prices make it a true neighbourhood legend.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
Order: Mee goreng served on banana leaf
A cult Air Itam afternoon stall in front of En En Coffee Shop, serving red, saucy mee goreng on banana leaf. Locals compare it with every other Air Itam rival and keep coming back.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
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Order: Penang white curry mee with cockles, cuttlefish and pig's blood
Two sisters cooked over charcoal on a stool here for the better part of a lifetime, becoming Penang icons (and a mural). Now run by their granddaughter, it stays in the Michelin Guide — thin, fragrant santan broth you doctor with chilli paste.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
Taman Bukit, Bukit Mertajam, Penang
Order: Mainland Penang curry mee with cockles and pig's blood
Proof that Seberang Perai can rival the island: a Michelin Bib Gourmand every year since 2023. Early birds only — it's a breakfast affair that's done by late morning.
Jalan Rangoon, George Town, Penang
Order: White curry mee with cuttlefish, cockles and tau pok
A small, air-flowing shop off Burmah Road whose white curry mee has held a Michelin Bib Gourmand since 2024. Clean, rich coconut broth you stir red with their house chilli.
Jalan Burma, George Town, Penang
Order: Curry mee with blood cubes, pork belly and cockles
Bib Gourmand every year since the Penang guide launched, and open into the night — rare for curry mee. The namesake duck blood has given way to pork blood, but the thick, savoury broth still draws the crowds.
Lebuh Chulia, George Town, Penang
Order: Curry mee with cockles, cuttlefish and tofu puffs
A roughly 80-year-old night stall on Chulia Street that closes the moment the pot runs dry - which happens often. Add the sambal.
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Gurney Drive, George Town, Penang
Michelin Selectedlive seafood tankssea viewbanquet
Order: Live-tank seafood; stir-fried abalone with black truffle
Penang's showpiece seafood hall on Gurney Drive, Michelin-selected, with live tanks at the door. Pick your catch and how it's cooked.
Teluk Kumbar, Teluk Kumbar, Penang
seasidefishing villageweekend trip
Order: Fresh catch by the sea, lala and crab
The famous seaside seafood stop on Penang's south coast, where locals drive out for fresh crabs, prawns and clams with sea breeze.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
Tanjung Tokong, Tanjung Tokong, Penang
seasidecharcoal grilltemple-side
Order: Charcoal-grilled crab and prawns; oyster omelette
The 'temple seafood' spot by the old Tua Pek Kong temple, grilling crab and prawns over charcoal by the water. Old-school Penang and well worth finding.
Jalan Cantonment, George Town, Penang
Michelin Bib GourmandNyonya-stylefamily
Order: Asam big prawns
A homely Michelin Bib Gourmand spot whose tangy, sticky asam prawns are among Penang's most-loved seafood dishes.
Jalan Macalister, George Town, Penang
parkingopen-air
Order: Live giant mantis prawn; crab fried rice
A family seafood restaurant with open-air seating and parking right in town. Live mantis prawns are the order. 4.3 stars from 1,700-plus reviews.
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Macalister Lane, George Town, Penang
Order: Penang-style CCF with hae ko prawn paste, sweet sauce and chilli
The Macalister Lane stall has been at it since 1955, still mixing its own batter and sauces in-house. Black, sticky hae ko over plain rolls — Penang-style at its most classic.
Island Glades, George Town, Penang
Order: CCF with hae ko, peanut-rich sweet sauce, chilli paste and sesame
Island Glades' breakfast magnet, often packed by 9am, with a chee cheong fun many bloggers rate Penang's best. The sauce leans heavily on peanut alongside the prawn paste — exactly how locals like it.
Sungai Rambai, Bukit Mertajam, Penang
Order: Hong Kong-style chee cheong fun with baby shrimp
Picked by Penang chef Adrian Tan (Curios-City) for silky HK-style rolls that melt in the mouth, with a well-balanced soy. A mainland dim sum and cheong fun favourite.
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Jalan Penang, George Town, Penang
24 hoursnasi kandartourist favourite
Order: Nasi kandar with fried chicken and mixed curry flood
Penang's most famous after-midnight meal: nasi kandar served round the clock from a narrow lane off Penang Road.
Lebuh Chulia, George Town, Penang
24 hourstandoori
Order: Chicken tandoori, naan and claypot biryani
A 24-hour Indian-Muslim restaurant on Chulia Street, where the tandoor keeps firing all night for backpackers and locals alike.
Lebuh Chulia, George Town, Penang
street foodhawker
Order: Wantan mee, char koay teow, satay
George Town's classic evening hawker strip, with wantan mee and char koay teow stalls popping up along Chulia Street after dark.
Lebuh Kimberley, George Town, Penang
street foodhawker
Order: Koay chiap, char koay kak, char koay teow
A night-time hawker row famed for duck koay chiap and fried radish cake; the late-evening crowd is half the charm.
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Jalan Penang, George Town, Penang
heritage kopitiamdurian
Order: Homemade durian ice cream, ais kacang with durian ice cream
A century-old Penang Road kopitiam whose house-made durian ice cream is a cult classic. Get it in a scoop or crowned on ais kacang for the full old-Penang experience.
Lebuh Victoria, George Town, Penang
open lateheritage zone
Order: Chestnut, hojicha, calamansi sorbetto
A heritage-zone gelateria that shows up on both TheSmartLocal and Newswav Penang lists. Late hours suit a night walk through George Town.
Lebuh Chulia, George Town, Penang
creative flavours
Order: House blend pistachio, sourdough, bergamot honey
Creative small-batch gelato on Chulia Street with oddball flavours like sourdough and frozen tiramisu. Its pistachio has fans across the island.
Jalan Hutton, George Town, Penang
local flavoursgelato cakes
Order: Cempedak, calamansi soursop, coriander lemon
A huge rotating case of gelato with very Penang flavours like cempedak and calamansi soursop. Also makes gelato cakes with Salon Du Pain.
Lebuh Armenian, George Town, Penang
takeawayheritage zone
Order: Milk Himalayan sea salt soft serve
A tiny Armenian Street counter doing premium soft serve with rotating seasonal flavours. 4.6 stars on 1,500-plus reviews, which is a lot of cones.
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Lebuh Pantai, George Town, Penang
Order: Banana-leaf nasi lemak bungkus with fiery dried-chilli sambal
Penang's most famous little pyramid of nasi lemak, wrapped in banana leaf and loaded with a properly hot sambal. Started in 2004, it is MICHELIN Guide-listed yet still costs pocket change, so grab two or three with different lauk.
Gat Lebuh Chulia, George Town, Penang
Order: Nasi lemak with Nyonya chicken curry
A MICHELIN Bib Gourmand pick that pairs nasi lemak with a rich, spicy Nyonya-style chicken curry. The house sambal belacan is so loved that regulars buy jars to bring home.
Jalan Raja Uda, Butterworth, Penang
Order: Nasi lemak with 10+ dishes and curries
Madam Lee's push-cart is a Raja Uda morning ritual, with more than ten toppings including several curries. It sells out fast - arrive early.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
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Lebuh Chulia, George Town, Penang
late nightoutdoor patiofree parking at back
Order: Mandi and Syrian grills; Ramadan buffet
Penang's runaway favourite for Arab food, in a refurbished shophouse with a patio, open late. A 4.7 average on nearly 10,000 Google reviews is hard to argue with.
Penang Times Square, George Town, Penang
late night
Order: Yemeni chicken mandi and chicken maqluba
Since opening in 2024 it has built a loyal following for Lebanese, Syrian and Yemeni dishes. Many now call it Penang's best Middle Eastern table, and it stays open until 3am.
near USMbudget
Order: Lamb mendy, madbi and haneeth
Started out feeding Arab students near USM and now draws all of Penang for its cheap, generous mendy and madbi (stone-grilled meat). Rated 4.4 from about 450 Google reviews.
lunchgenerous portions
Order: Smoky mandi rice with grilled chicken
A Gelugor favourite for big plates of smoky mandi rice and tender chicken. 4.5 stars over 160 reviews.
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Seri Tanjung Pinang, Tanjung Tokong, Penang
omakasesake pairingtuna cutting events
Order: Bluefin tuna cutting events; omakase with sake pairing
Penang's modern Japanese standard-bearer, known for whole bluefin and buri cutting nights and a solid sake list. On Tatler's 2025 best omakase line-up.
Jalan Pintal Tali, George Town, Penang
kappo counterseasonal menureservation recommended
Order: Kappo omakase; miso wagyu steak
A minimalist kappo room in George Town that cooks with the seasons and slips in Western touches like uni pasta. Named by both Tatler and Zafigo among Penang's best.
Jalan Fettes, Tanjung Tokong, Penang
omakaseset lunchà la carte
Order: Otoro, chutoro and uni omakase
Often credited as the island's first proper omakase, with a veteran chef and fish imported from Japan. Cosy, with à la carte and set lunches if you don't want the full course.
Lebuh Noordin, George Town, Penang
yakitorisakecounter
Order: Yakitori over imported binchotan
About 20 skewers grilled over Japanese charcoal in a lively bar room. 4.7 stars on 1,100-plus reviews.
Pulau Tikus, George Town, Penang
chef-runreservations advised
Order: Chef's sushi and kappo sets
A veteran Japanese chef's small restaurant in Pulau Tikus, loved for precise sushi, bento and donburi lunch sets. Book ahead.
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Lebuh Chulia, George Town, Penang
bakeryheritage zonebudget
Order: Bagel & egg with bacon; homemade yoghurt
A George Town institution for wood-fired bagels and thick homemade yoghurt, attached to Rainforest Bakery. Cheap, cheerful and packed with backpackers and locals alike.
Lorong Love, George Town, Penang
vegan optionsbarheritage zone
Order: Smoked duck Benedict; smoked salmon avocado with poached eggs
A heritage-zone café-bar with a strong eggs menu and vegan options, open from breakfast to midnight. Handy when brunch rolls into drinks.
Lembah Permai, Tanjung Tokong, Penang
american breakfast
Order: Southern biscuits, eggs Benedict and omelettes
American-style breakfasts done properly: biscuits, Benedicts and build-your-own burgers. 4.5 stars over 800 reviews.
Gat Lebuh Gereja, George Town, Penang
specialty coffeeroastery
Order: Brunch plates, pasta and waffles with house-roasted coffee
A micro roastery and brunch café in the old business district, 4.4 stars from 2,500 reviews.
Pengkalan Weld, George Town, Penang
all-day breakfast
Order: All-day brunch: avocado toast, eggs, burgers
An all-day brunch café on the Weld Quay waterfront near Royale Chulan, rated 4.5.
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Lebuh Cintra, George Town, Penang
Order: Trolley dim sum: lor mai kai, char siew bao, siu mai, crispy carrot cake
One of Penang's oldest dim sum halls, still rolling pushcarts through a heritage shophouse dining room in Chinatown. Opens before dawn and runs again at night, so it's the default answer for old-school yum cha on the island.
Lebuh Campbell, George Town, Penang
Order: Breakfast trolley dim sum, then Hainanese chicken rice at lunch
A veteran Cantonese teahouse where the first steamer baskets land shortly after 6am and the regulars have had the same table for decades. Held a Michelin Bib Gourmand from 2023 to 2025 before dropping off the 2026 list.
Lebuh Carnarvon, George Town, Penang
Order: Penang-only dim sum like steamed chicken with cabbage, plus sheng zhen mian
A rustic, almost 60-year-old Cantonese canteen started by an immigrant cook, with a few dim sum items you won't find outside Penang. You order at the kitchen counter instead of from trolleys, and the fried noodle nest is a sleeper hit.
Jalan Macalister, George Town, Penang
Order: Har gao, siu mai and steamed buns made to order
A popular neighbourhood dim sum house that draws long weekend queues for freshly steamed baskets at friendly prices. Locals treat it as the reliable, no-fuss alternative to the heritage teahouses in town.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
Taman Bagan Baru, Butterworth, Penang
Order: Classic Cantonese dim sum breakfast
One of the older dim sum restaurants on the mainland and still packed on weekend mornings. Butterworth families have been doing yum cha here for years before crossing the bridge was ever a consideration.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
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Lebuh Carnarvon, George Town, Penang
Order: Double-roasted pork with chilli padi
Open since 1965 and a Michelin Bib Gourmand, Tek Sen's twice-cooked roast pork - crackling skin wok-tossed in a sticky, spicy glaze - is the dish every table orders. Queue moves fast; come with a group.
Lebuh Chulia, George Town, Penang
Order: Char siew and siew yoke rice
Penang's 'Sky Hotel char siew' has been roasting under the old Sky Hotel since 1961, started by a Guangzhou-born cook in the 1950s. The char siew is less sweet and more chewy than KL styles, and it sells out early.
Lebuh Carnarvon, George Town, Penang
Order: Char siew, siew yoke and siew ngap, with wantan mee
A KL-trained roaster turning out what some critics call George Town's best char siew, with crackling siew yoke close behind. Order it over noodles or straight up.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
Lebuh Carnarvon, George Town, Penang
Order: Roast duck, siew yoke and char siew rice
Michelin-listed roast meat shop run by a chef who left a big kitchen to go solo. The duck gets the queues, but the roast pork belly and char siew are just as tempting.
Jalan Burma, George Town, Penang
Order: Roast pork and char siew rice
A Burmah Road roast meat stall that keeps getting namedropped by Penang's food forum regulars. Crackling skin, juicy belly and a solid char siew.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
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Lebuh Chulia, George Town, Penang
Order: Hainanese chicken rice with calamansi chilli dip
Penang's oldest family-run Hainanese chicken rice, started in 1950 and now into its fourth generation. The chicken is poached with garlic and scallion, chilled in ice water for that springy skin, and the chilli gets its zing from calamansi rather than vinegar.
Lebuh Cintra, George Town, Penang
Order: Hainanese chicken rice with braised tofu and lor bak
A George Town favourite since 1967 that many Penang regulars rank as the island's tastiest. The chicken is plump and well seasoned, and the side plates of braised egg, tofu and lor bak turn it into a feast.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
Jalan Fettes, Tanjung Bungah, Penang
Order: Hainanese poached chicken rice
Michelin-listed and in its third generation, Fatty Loh is known for springy-skinned, tender poached chicken over fragrant rice. A north-coast lunch staple.
Jalan Sri Bahari, George Town, Penang
Order: Hainan chicken rice, steamed or roasted
Sixty-odd years of the same family recipe, first at the Kheng Pin kopitiam and now in its own shop. Quietly brilliant chicken with fragrant rice; a strong local favourite rather than a tourist stop.
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hill viewafternoon teagarden terrace
Order: Colonial-style afternoon tea and Western mains
Up on Penang Hill with George Town and the strait spread out below. Afternoon tea on the terrace is the classic order; dinner after the crowds leave is quieter.
24th floorsea viewpoolside
Order: Cocktails and bar bites with sea-and-hill views
A poolside rooftop with the sea on one side and the hills on the other. A favourite on Penang rooftop lists, best around sunset.
68th floorPenang Bridge viewKomtar
Order: Steaks and Western mains with island-wide views
The highest dining room in Penang, at the top of Komtar, with views from the Penang Bridge to Penang Hill. Reviews on food are mixed, but nothing else in George Town beats the outlook.
Pengkalan Weld, George Town, Penang
harbour viewcasualfamily friendly
Order: Café plates and local dishes with harbour views
A newer rooftop over Weld Quay looking out over the Penang Strait and the ferry lanes. Casual food and a relaxed alternative to the bar-heavy rooftops.
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Lebuh Kimberley, George Town, Penang
night hawker streetheritage
Order: See ko thng (longan, gingko and white fungus), almond cream
A Teochew-style sweet soup stall that has been at the Kimberley Street night hawker strip for decades. Ladle-warm see ko thng and smooth almond cream after your char koay teow is the George Town way.
Jalan Seang Tek, George Town, Penang
late night
Order: Black glutinous rice; peanut soup
Penang's go-to Cantonese sweet-soup shop, with a long board of hot and cold tong sui from black glutinous rice to creamy peanut paste. 1,800-plus reviews; parking is the only pain.
Lebuh Pantai, George Town, Penang
heritage zoneevenings
Order: Warm and cold traditional tong sui
A sit-down sweet-soup house on Beach Street named in 2026 Penang dessert round-ups, good for a warm bowl after a heritage-zone dinner.
Taman Lip Sin, George Town, Penang
neighbourhood
Order: Hong Kong-style desserts and sweet soups
A neighbourhood dessert house in Lip Sin listed in Penang's homegrown-favourites guides, serving Hong Kong-style sweets and soups.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
neighbourhood
Order: Traditional Cantonese tong sui
A Jelutong tong sui stop that keeps turning up in Penang local-favourites lists.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
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Jalan Magazine, George Town, Penang
~1,000 guestspillar-freeGeorge Townhalal banquet
Order: Chinese and Malay banquet menus in a pillar-free ballroom
Its Grand Ballroom is the largest column-free ballroom inside George Town, fitting around a thousand guests, which makes it the inner-city default for big Penang weddings.
Penang Times Square, George Town, Penang
large banquet hallCantoneseparking in mall
Order: Cantonese banquet — crispy duck, pig trotters, steamed fish
Billed as Penang's biggest Chinese restaurant, and a staple for wedding dinners and big family reunions. Classic Cantonese banquet dishes in a huge hall.
Batu Ferringhi, Batu Ferringhi, Penang
beachfrontmin 20 tablesgrand ballroom
Order: Andaman Grand Ballroom banquet packages
A beachfront resort ballroom for big Penang weddings; 2025 packages ran RM2,388–RM2,988 nett per table with a 20-table minimum.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
Bayan Lepas, Bayan Lepas, Penang
hotel ballroomlunch packages
Order: Silver and Gold Chinese dinner packages
A popular south-island hotel ballroom with clearly priced dinner packages, from about RM1,188 per table of 10.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
Jalan Penang, George Town, Penang
up to ~500 guestscity centre
Order: Perdana Ballroom banquet menus
A central George Town hotel whose Perdana Ballroom seats up to about 500 guests, with wedding tables from about RM928 nett.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
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Lebuh Chulia, George Town, Penang
Order: Dry wantan mee with char siew, handmade wantan and crispy lard
The headline act of the Chulia Street night hawker strip, going for close to 50 years and now run by the founder's son. Springy noodles, generous char siew and lard bits - the queue is part of the ritual.
Lebuh Campbell, George Town, Penang
Order: Bamboo-pressed Cantonese wonton noodle soup
Noodle dough is still kneaded with a bamboo pole at the shopfront, Hong Kong old-school style, and Michelin has taken notice. The springy noodles and plump shrimp wontons make this Penang's top wantan mee.
Lebuh Carnarvon, George Town, Penang
Order: Light-sauce wantan mee with char siew and crackling roast pork
A sit-down wantan mee shop famous as much for its roast meats as its noodles - the char siew is rated among the island's best. Busy with old-timers all morning.
Lebuh Carnarvon, George Town, Penang
Order: Kon lou (tossed) wantan mee
A Carnarvon Street name that keeps popping up when Penangites argue about the island's best wantan mee. Classic dark-sauce tossed noodles done right.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
Order: Three-flavour wantan mee
A long-famous Jelutong stall that still pulls a devoted crowd for its three-flavour take on wantan mee. Worth the detour out of the heritage zone.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
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Lebuh Bishop, George Town, Penang
pets welcomebrunchheritage area
Order: Melbourne-style brunch and espresso
A Melbourne-style brunch café in George Town that keeps its doors open to pets. Pancakes, avocado toast and a dog at your feet, what more lah.
Muntri Street, George Town, Penang
pets welcomeall-day hoursheritage shophouse
Order: Curry noodles, fish pie and cakes
A heritage-shophouse café with long all-day hours and a welcoming attitude to pets. Local-leaning dishes make it more than a coffee stop.
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Karpal Singh Drive, George Town, Penang
seasidebuffetoutdoor
Order: All-you-can-eat charcoal BBQ with staff grilling
Penang's most popular Korean BBQ: an outdoor, seaside all-you-can-eat grill where staff cook for you. 4.7 stars from nearly 1,400 reviews; arrive early.
Bayan Point, Bayan Lepas, Penang
charcoal grillgroupsmultiple outlets
Order: Charcoal-grilled galbi and samgyeopsal
The Korean chain Penangites name first for charcoal BBQ, with the Bayan Point branch the most consistently praised. Smokeless grills and a big banchan spread.
Lebuh Carnarvon, George Town, Penang
buffetbudget
Order: BBQ buffet with free-flow kimchi and banchan
A budget BBQ buffet in the heritage zone, around RM36 for lunch, with kimchi soup and sides included. 4.3 stars from 450-plus reviews.
Straits Quay, Tanjung Tokong, Penang
marina viewoutdoor seating
Order: Marinated BBQ meats; kimchi jjigae
Korean BBQ with outdoor tables overlooking the Straits Quay marina, praised for its marinades and banchan. 4.7 stars.
Jalan Tavoy, George Town, Penang
private rooms
Order: Signature BBQ set
A long-standing Korean family restaurant opposite Pantai Hospital whose BBQ set is the most-ordered item; private rooms available.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
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Batu Ferringhi, Batu Ferringhi, Penang
hotelbeachfrontresortfamily
Order: Asian & international beachfront buffet
Penang's classic resort buffet on Batu Ferringhi beach, with a broad Asian spread and a garden-and-sea setting that makes long weekend lunches easy.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
Lebuh Farquhar, George Town, Penang
hotelheritage buildingsea viewseafood station
Order: Heritage-hotel buffet with seafood and Penang classics
Dining in the 1885 E&O, with a seafront view and a buffet that mixes Penang favourites with seafood and carvery. A George Town tradition for family occasions.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
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Jalan Raja Uda, Butterworth, Penang
Order: Claypot herbal bak kut teh with yam rice
The mainland's Michelin-listed BKT, started in 2005 and now run by the founders' three sons, with a newer branch at Food Bayana in Bayan Lepas. Claypots of ribs, trotters and innards in herbal soup, served Penang-style with yam rice and yu char kuih.
Jalan Burma, George Town, Penang
Order: Claypot bak kut teh with yam rice and yau char kwai
A 30-plus-year evening stall at Old Green House serving Penang-style darker, herbal claypot bak kut teh. It's the island's most-cited name for the dish.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
Jalan Perak, George Town, Penang
Order: Dry bak kut teh and Klang-style claypot
Klang-style bak kut teh on Penang island, and locals say it holds its own against the originals. The dry version is the one to order, with crispy taukua on the side.
Kampung Baru, Bukit Mertajam, Penang
Order: Soup and dry claypot bak kut teh
Family-run and packed on weekends, this BM spot does both a herbal soup version and a smoky, wok-hei dry bak kut teh. A mainland favourite.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
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Little India, George Town, Penang
Order: South Indian banana leaf meal with vegetable curries, papadum and raita
Half a century on Penang Street has made Veloo Vilas the reference point for banana leaf in George Town's Little India. Simple, honest South Indian meals at friendly prices.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
Little India, George Town, Penang
Order: Banana leaf rice with chicken curry, chilli-fried fish and bitter gourd fritters
Born in Butterworth and now a Little India mainstay, it is one of Penang's busiest banana leaf spots. The chilli-fried fish steaks and crisp bitter gourd are the must-orders.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
Lebuh Penang, George Town, Penang
Order: Vegetarian banana leaf meals and thali
A Little India veteran often called Penang's best South Indian vegetarian restaurant, with banana leaf sets at lunch. Meat-free but full of flavour.
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Jalan Pintal Tali, George Town, Penang
heritage zonebeef
Order: Specialty Australian-beef burgers
A quirky heritage-zone café with a short menu of serious beef burgers. 4.7 stars from 760-plus reviews makes it George Town's top-rated burger room.
Jalan Timah, George Town, Penang
smash burger
Order: Smash Moo burger tower
Penang's most talked-about Muslim-friendly burger, with made-to-order smash patties and real-ingredient sauces in George Town's COEX creative enclave.
Jalan Nagor, George Town, Penang
cafe
Order: Soft-shell crab burger
A cosy burger café off Burma Road with a broad menu including soft-shell crab. 1,000-plus reviews.
Gurney Paragon, George Town, Penang
mallpork
Order: Signature Flip burger with creative toppings
Generous, affordable pork-friendly burgers in a spacious mall outlet. 4.3 stars over 500 reviews.
Jalan Sungai Kelian, Tanjung Bungah, Penang
roadside stallramly-style
Order: Onion, egg and cheese burger with caramelised onions
A roadside stall run by an elderly couple for over two decades. The Ramly-style burger with sticky caramelised onions is pure Penang nostalgia.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
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Teluk Kumbar, Teluk Kumbar, Penang
Order: Mee udang goreng or rebus loaded with fresh prawns
Also known as Mee Udang Cantik, it's the pick of Teluk Kumbar - Penang's mee udang heartland. Sweet, tangy gravy and big local prawns; cleaner and more organised than most.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
Kampung Nelayan, Teluk Kumbar, Penang
Order: Malay-style mee udang with just-landed prawns
A fishing-village stall where the prawns come straight off nearby boats. One of the classic Teluk Kumbar stops for prawn noodles by the sea.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
Sungai Batu, Bayan Lepas, Penang
Order: Beachside mee udang
A seaside mee udang stall on the island's southwest coast, long recommended alongside the Teluk Kumbar names. Noodles with a sea breeze.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
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Taman Aman Jaya, Butterworth, Penang
Order: Mee jawa (Penang-style mee rebus)
Set up in 1996 and Michelin Selected, now run by two of the founder's daughters. Thick, sweet-savoury sweet potato gravy over yellow noodles, and there's usually a queue.
Taman Sentosa, Bukit Mertajam, Penang
Order: Mee jawa in sweet potato, tomato and prawn gravy
A Bukit Mertajam mee jawa name that mainlanders rate highly. Rich, slightly sweet gravy with prawn depth.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
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Bintang Jaya, Bukit Mertajam, Penang
JAKIM halal (brand)chain
Order: Ayam gepuk set with sambal and peanut bumbu
The brand that kicked off Malaysia's ayam gepuk craze after landing in Gombak in 2017, now with close to a hundred outlets and JAKIM-certified kitchens. On the mainland side of Penang, where specialist gepuk shops are still thin on the ground, this is the reliable pick.
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Jalan Burma, George Town, Penang
Order: Claypot chicken rice
A lunchtime claypot shop on busy Jalan Burma. It's one of the few island spots that cooks claypot chicken rice as its main dish.
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Jalan Perak, George Town, Penang
Order: Chicken and beef satay with peanut sauce
A pork-free satay stall that has held on to old-school RM1-a-stick pricing. Charcoal-grilled and well marinated, a solid island pick.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
Sungai Nibong, Bayan Lepas, Penang
Order: Chicken and beef satay
Cheap, tasty and pork-free, this Sungai Nibong stall is a go-to for southern island satay cravings.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
Order: Pork satay and multi-meat sticks
A Chinese-style satay stall known for its wide range of meats, including pork, at the Farlim night market. A rare non-halal satay pick on the island.
⚠️ Last confirmed before 2025 — check it is open before you go.
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Malaysia's hawker capital: char kuey teow, assam laksa, nasi kandar and cendol. Our guide lists 198 top spots in Penang across 40 dishes: Nyonya Food, Cendol, Assam Laksa, Specialty Coffee, Fine Dining, Nasi Kandar, Durian, Char Kuey Teow, Kopitiam Breakfast, Hokkien Mee, Bakery & Pastry, Roti Canai, Mee Goreng Mamak, Curry Laksa, Seafood Restaurant, Chee Cheong Fun, Late-Night Supper, Ice Cream & Gelato, Nasi Lemak, Nasi Arab & Mandy, Japanese & Omakase, Brunch Café, Dim Sum, Roast Pork & Char Siew, Chicken Rice, Rooftop & View Dining, Tong Sui (Chinese Dessert), Wedding Banquet Venue, Wantan Mee, Pet-Friendly Café, Korean BBQ, Buffet, Bak Kut Teh, Banana Leaf Rice, Burger, Mee Udang, Mee Rebus, Ayam Gepuk & Penyet, Claypot Chicken Rice and Satay.
Start with Auntie Gaik Lean's Old School Eatery in George Town for Nyonya Food — rated Legend.
Top halal picks in Penang: Nasi Kandar Line Clear (Nasi Kandar), Hameediyah Restaurant (Nasi Kandar), Roti Canai Transfer Road (Roti Canai) and Hameed Pata Mee Sotong (Mee Goreng Mamak).