The Best Penang Food Restaurants [2023]
Penang is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Penang has mainly two parts Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay Peninsula. Penang is a popular destination in Malaysian known for its multicultural foods, Georgetown UNESCO Historic Site, and island holiday vibe. It is an 8-hour drive from Singapore and a 4-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur.
As a Malaysian, Penang has always been my favorite state to go to for its food, beach, layback island vibe, and to explore around the UNESCO historic sites. I mean, where else in Malaysia can you find a spot that has great local food, historical buildings, a beach, and a mountain within a 15-minute drive from the city?
With that being said, I have compiled a list of what I feel is the Best Food and Restaurant in Penang for your next visit to Penang.
- The Best Penang Food Restaurants [2023]
- The Best Penang Food Restaurants [2023]
- 1. Chulia Street Night Hawker Stalls
- 2. New Cathay Cafe Penang
- 3. Kimberley Street Duck Kway Chap
- 4. Penang Road Famous Laksa
- 5. Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul
- 7. Bao Teck Tea House
- 8. Siam Road Charcoal Char Koay Teow
- 9. 113 Duck Meat Koey Teow Theng
- 10. Penang Air Itam Laksa – Only open weekends
- 11. The Alley, 5 Stewart Lane Cafe
- 12. WHEELER'S Cafe & Bar Penang
- 13. Kassim Mustafa Nasi Dalcha Restaurant
- 14. Teksen Restaurant
- 15. Him Heang
- The Best Penang Food Restaurants [2023]
The Best Penang Food Restaurants [2023]
1. Chulia Street Night Hawker Stalls
If I can only recommend one local street food in Penang, it would be Chulia Street. It is one of the oldest and liveliest streets in George Town. There are more than a dozen hawkers store located just in this one street alone and most of the local food here really showcases the amazing local street food of Penang. My favorite local street foods here are wonton mee, curry mee, satay, fried carrot cake, char keow teow, and Apom.
Address: Chulia St, Georgetown, 10450 George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Opening hours:
Closed on Monday
Tuesday to Sunday – 6:00pm to 12:00am
Google Map
2. New Cathay Cafe Penang
New Cathay Cafe Penang is a Kopitiam along Lorong Kuching right off Burmah Road. It is one of the popular Kopitiam among the locals, serving a wide variety of local delights such as Penang Hokkien Mee, Apom, Curry Mee, Mee Jawa, Wan Tan Mee, and many more! New Cathay opens early and closes early so is best to be there early in the morning to avoid disappointment.
Address: 425, Jalan Burma, George Town, 10350 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening hours:
Closed on Sunday
Monday to Saturday – 7:00am to 12:15pm
Google Map
3. Kimberley Street Duck Kway Chap
Located a few streets away from Chulia Street is Penang’s famous Duck Kway Chap: Restoran Kimberley. This is an all-in-one bowl dish filled with noodles (Kueh), duck, hard-boiled egg, various pig intestines, coagulated blood cubes oak in their special broth. Not many may be a fan of the blood cubes, you can opt out of it as I do. This hawker stall is often crowded, so arrive early to avoid the long queue!
Address: 135, Lebuh Kimberley, George Town, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening hours:
Closed Thursday
Mon,Tue,Wed, Fri,Sat & Sun – 3:00pm to 10:30pm
Google Map
4. Penang Road Famous Laksa
Penang Road Famous Laksa though touristy, I find the broth has some kick to it. Each bowl was individually made by this very old auntie and we all know it, with age, comes tasty food. This is definitely a good alternative to Air Itam Laksa which only opens on weekends and is quite a distance away from town.
Address: 5, Lebuh Keng Kwee, George Town, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening hours:
Closed on Wednesday
Mon, Tue, Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun – 9:00am to 5:30pm
Google Map
5. Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul
Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul is the most famous Chendul store not just in Penang but Malaysia. It is always a super long queue here and the hype is still there after all these years. I find the taste of the sauces good but the ice melts too fast which makes the whole dish very watery. Nevertheless, it is still one of the top spots to go to in Penang.
Address: 27-29, Lebuh Keng Kwee, George Town, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening hours: All Day – 10:30am to 7:00pm
Google Map, Website
7. Bao Teck Tea House
Bao Teck Tea House is a Dim Sum plus a Chinese Tea house combined. The restaurant is in a heritage building that will make you feel as if you stepped into an upscale Peranakan house of the 1920s. If you like Chinese tea, Penang’s heritage site, and Dim Sum this is definitely the place to be. Not just great food but great dining experience as well.
Address: 25, Lebuh Melayu, George Town, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening hours:
Monday to Thursday – 8:00am to 2:00pm
Friday to Sunday – 8:00am to 6:00pm
Tel: +6042631100
Google Map
8. Siam Road Charcoal Char Koay Teow
There are so many Char Kueh Teow stores in Penang but for me, the best has got to be Siam Road Charcoal Char Koay Teow. It was worth the hour-long wait to get this piping hot, wok-hey king kueh teow. The portion isn’t that big so I suggest getting two plates or maybe it was so good it felt little LOL.
Address: 82, Jalan Siam, George Town, 10400 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening hours:
Closed on Sunday & Monday
Tuesday to Saturday – 12:00pm to 6:30pm
Google Map
9. 113 Duck Meat Koey Teow Theng
113 Duck Meat Koey Teow Theng is the place to be for breakfast. This is another famous spot for the locals to have some of their comfort food such as their signature dish- Duck Meat Koay Teow Theng. It is a silky smooth Koay Teow topped with slices of tender Duck Meat and some of their homemade Fish Balls. The store also serves other food such as Kueh Chap and Char Kueh Teow.
Address: 111, Lebuh Melayu, George Town, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening hours:
Close on Sunday
Monday to Saturday- 7:00am to 2:30pm
Google Map
10. Penang Air Itam Laksa – Only open weekends
Penang Air Itam Laksa is definitely the most renowned Laksa store in Penang. It has been open for almost 70 years and was recently blasted all over Malaysia that it was forced to close its business. The good news was that with overwhelming support from the public, the store reopened but only on weekends.
This bowl of Assam laksa was filled with thick rice noodles, mint leaves, onions, cucumber, sliced red chilies, shredded mackerel fish, and a shrimp paste. The main difference compared to the Penang Road Famous Laksa was that this soup was thicker and has a more robust flavor with its shredded mackerel fish and shrimp paste.
Address: Jalan Pasar, Paya Terubong, 11500 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening hours: Weekend Only – Saturday to Sunday – 11:00am to 5:00pm
Google Map
11. The Alley, 5 Stewart Lane Cafe
The Alley Cafe serves the best churros and perhaps Coffee too in Penang. The cafe’s space is small and cozy. It’s perfect if you are coming alone or in a small group of 4. The menu here is limited, serving cakes, churros, and coffee. They really practice the less is more concept here, each dish or drink prepared here is perfect the way it is.
Address: 5, Stewart Ln, Georgetown, 10200 George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Opening hours: All day 10:00am to 6:00pm
Tel: +60173734829
Google Map
12. WHEELER’S Cafe & Bar Penang
WHEELER’S is one of the most reviewed cafes/bars in Penang. With a wide range of food and beverages such as pizza, pasta, fish, chicken, sandwiches, your typical cafe breakfast food, and many drinks alcohol and non-alcohol, it is an all-in-one store to try it all. I especially like their drinks here as it’s unique and most importantly, they taste great.
Address: 67, Lorong Love, George Town, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening hours:
Closed Thursday
Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun – 8:00am to 12:00am
Tel: +60195247703
Google Map, Website, Instagram
13. Kassim Mustafa Nasi Dalcha Restaurant
Kassim Mustafa Nasi Dalcha Restaurant is the Mamak to go to for their Nasi Dalcha (Dalcha Rice), It has one of the best Dalcha rice served in Penang. Mixed it together with their chicken, mutton, lamb, and multiple curry sauce, you get yourself a plate bursting with flavors. They also serve your typical Mamak food such as roti canai, roti thosai, tandoori, and naan.
Address: Chulia St, Georgetown, 10200 George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Opening hours: All Day – 6:00am to 12:00am
Tel: +6042634592
Google Map
14. Teksen Restaurant
Tek Sen is one of Penang’s most well-known heritage Chinese restaurants established in 1965, and till today it is still packed out almost every night so do call and make your reservations. My favorite here is their roasted pork with chili, Fried tofu with cutlet in clay pot, and Assam tumis fish. This is a great restaurant to come to in big groups and experience Penang Chinese food.
Address: 18, Lebuh Carnarvon, George Town, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening hours:
Closed Tuesday
Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun – 12:000m to 3:00pm, 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Tel: +60 12-981 5117
Google Map
15. Him Heang
Him Heang biscuit is the most common food to take home with you to your home country. Ever since I was young, Him Heang biscuit is like the food to buy before departing from Penang. Made fresh daily without any preservatives. The biscuit is a combination of sweet and salty best paired with a cup of Chinese tea.
Address: 162A, Jalan Burma, 10050 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening hours:
Closed Sunday
Monday to Saturday – 9:30am to 3:00pm
Tel: +6042286129
Google Map, Website
