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Penang is known as Malaysia’s food paradise. There is a general consensus that they do everything to a higher standard than the rest of the country. They take food seriously on the island, it is literally everywhere you look, almost always at cheap prices. There are many reasons to visit, food being just one of them. I loved Penang, I loved everything about the island. I consider it a must-see for anyone visiting South East Asia. Here is my list of where to eat in Penang,
Currency Converter – 10 Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) = €2.10/£1.90/$2.40
Nasi Kandar Line Clear
Certainly the most famous Nasi Kandar in Penang. This 24-hour shop can be frantic and you may be queuing for quite a while at peak times. You get your choice of steamed or biryani rice and then it is up to you which side dishes and curries you pair it with. Nasi Kandar is such a unique dish. It often looks like a mess, the plate has so many sauces and different foods together but somehow it always works. Nasi Kandar is not hard to find in Penang, people will argue over where is the best but Line Clear is without a doubt, the island’s most iconic and well-known.
Total Price – 12MYR, this included a drink.
Opening Hours – 24 Hours
Address – Besides 161 & 177 Penang Road, George Town, 10000 George Town
Mother and Son Wanton Mee
Wanton Mee is my favourite dish to eat in Malaysia and this small street cart on Lebuh Chulia is fantastic, the best I have tried. The Char Siu was fresh and of good quality, but the best part of the dish was the wantons. A mix of both boiled and deep-fried wantons was an excellent surprise as was the crispy bacon lardons. It feels like this stall goes above and beyond to make its signature dish as good as it can be. It’s not hard to find wanton mee in Malaysia but difficult to find one as good as here.
Total Price – 4.50MYR for a small / 6MYR for a large.
Opening Hours – 17:30 until 23:00
Address – Chulia St, Georgetown, 10450 George Town
Kapitan
Another institution of Penang is Kapitan Restaurant. Kapitan is a 24-hour Indian Restaurant that specializes in Tandoori Sets. The chicken here is so tasty and tender that it almost seems to melt in your mouth. The garlic naan that I got was very fresh with good consistency to it. Other items on the menu didn’t seem to be available but that could have been because I visited during a quiet part of the day.
Total Price – 9.50MYR
Opening Hours – 24 Hours
Address – 93, Chulia St, Georgetown, 10200 George Town
Kimberly Street Duck Kway Chap
Kway Chap, or Guay Jab if you are in Thailand is a South East Asian dish of thick rice noodle rolls in a peppery broth. It is almost always sold with pork but here you will find a delicious version using duck. The duck gives it a completely different flavour but the noodles give it that familiarity that you associate with Kway Chap. Kway Chap is a cheap, but filling, comforting meal and the chance to try it made with duck is a must!
Total Price – 10MYR
Opening Hours – 18:00-23:00 (Closed on Thursday)
Address – 10100, 97-143, Lebuh Kimberley, Georgetown, 10100 George Town
Pasar Air Itam Laksa
Top of my list of where to eat in Penang. Air Itam Laksa lives in my memory as the best bowl of food I have ever had. Laksa is amazing, and here was on another level. Thick vermicelli noodles and a decent portion of red onions, chilies, and herbs flavour the broth. A dollop of prawn paste on top of this delicious broth, combined with delicious shredded mackerel, is complex but an explosion of taste. Air Itam is located quite far from the Georgetown area you will likely be staying in, but a trip here is definitely worth braving the Penang traffic for.
Updating this post (January 2023), I have seen that Air Itam Laksa is only open 3 weekends a month now. Unfortunately, this feels like a sign that it will be closing down soon. I had hoped that one day I can try this dish again but this looks less likely. If you are in Penang on a day this restaurant is open, go. Don’t pass up the opportunity, this is top of my list when people ask where to eat in Penang. Their Facebook page keeps people up to date with opening times, it can be found here.
Total Price – 5MYR
Opening Hours – 11:00 – 17:00, Saturday and Sunday Only
Address – 1, Jalan Pasar, Pekan Ayer Itam, 11500 Ayer Itam
Ravi’s Claypot Apom Manis
This shop sells Apom Manis, a popular Crepe-like breakfast originating from India. They have been in business for over 80 years. It is rare to see anywhere still using cooking Apom Manis the traditional way using Claypots and Charcoal stoves rather than the more modern steel pots. This is because the heat causes the clay pots to crack after just a few months. Mr. Ravi however still prepares these delicious Apom Manis just as his father did before him and the taste is all the better for it.
Price – RM1
Opening Hours – 06:00 – 10:00, Friday to Tuesday
Address – Swee Cong Coffee Shop, 319, Jalan Burma, George Town, 10350 George Town
Roti Canai Gemas Road
Roti Canai is my favorite breakfast in Malaysia. The fresh roti with the curry on the side for dipping makes for a great and very cheap way to start the day. The best I found in Penang was Roti Canai Gemas Road. This place is packed for the few hours they are open each morning and that is all down to their food and Teh Tarik being some of the best around.
Price – Roti Canai costs just RM1
Opening Hours – 07:00 – 12:30
Address – 61, Jalan Gemas, Taman Kampar, 10460 George Town
Sister Yao’s Char Koay Kak
Char Koay Kak is a dish that is not found too often. Koay Kak means Rice Cake, and Char means Fried. There is always egg, some beansprouts, and a dark soy sauce added in the cooking process. The wok hei, the taste of the wok is essential for a delicious Char Koay Kak. Sister Yao has been operating out of a pushcart for over 40 years and has mastered this dish.
Price – RM6
Opening Hours – 07:00 – 12:00, Friday to Tuesday
Address – 96, Lorong Macalister, George Town, 11400 George Town
Sister Curry Mee
Another old-school restaurant in the Air Itam area of Penang. Ran by two elderly sisters who must be in their late eighties, they have been serving Curry Mee to customers for over 70 years. Curry Mee is basically Spicy Noodles in a Curry Soup, it is a very traditional Malay dish. This shop is iconic in the area, the two sisters are known for sitting on their plastic stools with their bubbling pot of curry in front. I have read that the business has been handed down to their grand-niece. Whether the two sisters are still there, I am not so sure but either way, I hope this restaurant stays alive and to the same high quality it has done for decades.
Price – RM9
Opening Hours – 07:30 – 13:00, Closed on Tuesday
Address – Kedai Kopi Cathay, 612-T, Jalan Air Itam, Pekan Ayer Itam, 11500 Air Itam
Enjoyed reading about where to eat in Penang? Read my full travel guide for Malaysia here.
To read my guide to Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, click here!
Enjoyed reading about where to eat in Penang? Why not read about where to eat in Kuala Lumpur? Click here!
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