In Penang, you can enjoy incredible food on a backpacker’s budget. This island state in Malaysia has deliciously diverse cuisine and many of the country’s best dishes can be tasted at its markets and food courts. Here’s your complete guide to where to find the best street food in Penang and what to eat there.
Introduction to Penang, a street food paradise
Eating is an obsession in Penang and locals will travel across the island in search of the most exquisite version of a certain dish. A common greeting is sudah makan? meaning, ‘have you eaten?’
Thanks to Penang’s geography, political history and strong focus on international trade, the food of Penang has been influenced by countries including China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, the Netherlands, Portugal and the UK. This cultural diversity gives Penang’s dishes complex flavours that make your mouth water.
Discover the fascinating stories and food of George Town, Penang in this dedicated tour.
Where to find the best street food in Penang
In Penang, the best place to find street food is at street markets, night markets and hawker centres.
Hawker centres are specific to Southeast Asia, especially Malaysia and Singapore. The idea was to move street vendors into clean, designated communal dining areas, like food courts. These hawker centres have multiple permanent food stalls selling a variety of affordable dishes. Some are covered, while others are open-air.
On my travels around Malaysia, I discovered so much good food in Penang. Read on to find out about all the best Penang food and where to eat in Penang.
Where to stay in Penang for food lovers
One of the best places to eat in Penang for amazing street food is throughout George Town, Malaysia’s food capital and a UNESCO World Heritage site. So for the ultimate food experience, George Town is where you want to base yourself.
Stay near Love Lane for budget-friendly hostels and guesthouses that put you within walking distance of the best street food. These areas are the heart of the backpacker scene and you’ll be just steps away from incredible hawker food at all hours of the day and night.
Explore the map below to find the best accommodation deals in the heart of George Town’s food scene:
Top hawker centres and street food spots in George Town
In the evenings, head to Chulia Street for an array of temptingly cheap and scrumptious night food in Penang. It’s not far from the popular hostels and guest houses on Love Lane.
In George Town, I also discovered a huge hawker centre and night market named Red Garden Food Paradise, close to the Chocolate and Coffee Museum. Offering an astonishing array of cuisines under one roof, it really is a Malaysia food paradise. I wanted to eat everything!
Other excellent places to eat in Penang include Gurney Drive Hawker Centre and New Lane Hawker Centre. For a more local experience, venture to Cecil Street Market or the Kimberley Street area where you’ll find some of Penang’s most authentic and traditional food.
Why not book a place on a tasty guided tour of Penang’s best hawker centres here.
What to eat in Penang
While exploring Penang’s hawker centres, it’s easy to spend your day sampling dish after dish: noodles with barbecued pork, sweet chili chicken with greens and delicate fish ball soup.
In Penang, you must try the famous char kway teow – stir-fried rice noodles with prawns, Chinese sausage, and bean sprouts cooked over high heat. Don’t miss Hokkien mee (prawn noodle soup), rojak (a tangy fruit and vegetable salad), and lor bak (five-spice meat rolls). For dessert, cool down with cendol – shaved ice with coconut milk, palm sugar, and green rice flour jelly.
One of my favourites was stewed pork with steamed rice, washed down with iced liquid sugar cane (see photo below). The marinated meat was darkly sweet and melted in my mouth. Meanwhile, the liquid sugar cane provided the refreshing sugary hit I needed as a respite from the day’s hot sunshine.
I had these kinds of dishes throughout the day: the locals don’t shy away from eating curry or noodles for breakfast, in fact it’s pretty normal. This is part of the traditional food culture that makes Malaysia’s cuisine so special.
Visit the Penang Wonderfood Museum to discover the history behind the most famous Malaysian dishes.
Laksa: one of the world’s best dishes
One of my favourite dishes was laksa. This spicy noodle soup recipe originated from the families of Chinese migrants who settled in Malaysia.
The Penang laksa (asam laksa) is made with rice vermicelli in a sour fish broth with tamarind, while curry laksa features coconut milk-based curry. Both versions of this sumptuous soup rank among the world’s top dishes.
A traditional comfort food, there are various laksa recipes throughout Malaysia. The Penang version’s soup base is made with mackerel, tamarind, chili, mint and lemongrass, making it incredibly flavoursome and distinctly different from other Malaysian laksas.
Sate (Satay): sensational meat on a stick
Satay – known as sate in Malaysia – has long been one of my favourite Asian restaurant dishes. Originating from the Indonesian island of Java, it is sumptuous grilled meat on skewers with a rich, sweet peanut sauce and sometimes served with cool cucumber.
It’s a popular dish here too: you often see street vendors barbecuing these delicacies, with queues of customers. You’ll find excellent satay at many hawker centres in Penang, particularly along Gurney Drive in the evenings.
What to drink in Penang
In Penang, there’s a bounty of refreshing soft beverages to keep you hydrated in the heat. Try a freshly blended juice from a dazzling list of exotic fruits at one of the markets. Or try a creamy coconut milkshake which is also super refreshing.
My personal favourite was the ‘Iced Milo’. Like hot chocolate on ice, it combines rich cocoa sweetness with warm and cool temperatures on your tongue. Total dreamy liquid pleasure.
Final thoughts on the best street food in Penang
From laksa to satay and much more besides, the street food in Penang is a great reason to visit this incredible island.
Delicious street food awaits you at every corner – from the permanent hawker centres to the humble street-side stalls that have been serving locals for generations.
Why not feast on its tasty delights as you explore the country’s destinations. So get stuck in!
Next up, read about the best way to explore Malaysia, Borneo and Singapore here.
Now you’re starting to sound like Mr Bourdain… 😉 Mx
OH YUM!!!!! I want some!!! xx
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The Malay people also influenced our own cooking in South Africa. Thanks for this, it really makes me hungry!
Isn’t eating the best part of traveling? Too many restaurants, not enough meals!
Nadis