Planning a trip to Penang, Malaysia? Penang is a state in northwest Malaysia comprising mainland Seberang Perai and Penang Island. Penang is known as the Pearl of The Orient and is a home to a  UNESCO World Heritage Site.

There are plenty of tourists attractions and historical places to visit in Penang, but if you’re a foodie, you wouldn’t want to miss out on the food that Penang has to offer. Penang is well known for being a food heaven.

Credit: @Ellie Toh

With so many delicious things to eat in Penang, this list is by no means complete or comprehensive, but I do hope it helps you to go around and enjoy the taste of Penang.

1. Assam Laksa

Credit: @FoodieFC

Assam Laksa is one of Penang’s signature dishes. It’s tamarind-based so it’s sour compared to the coconut-based curry laksas that are popular in Singapore. The main ingredients in a typical bowl of Penang assam laksa are mackerel, lemongrass, galangal, and chili. Assam Laksa are typically garnished with mint, pineapple, onion slices, cuccumber, torched ginger flower and sweet prawn paste. It’s really delicious but the smell is a bit pungeant, so this dish is a bit exotic and requires an acquired taste for it.

This hawker stall by Air Itam market at the foothills of Kek Lok Si Temple is one of the most famous places in Penang that is selling Assam Laksa. It’s a family business and it’s been running for more than 30 years as of writing

Address: Jalan Pasar, Ayer Itam
Operating hour: 10:30AM-7PM

2. Pasembor

Credit: @Ellie Toh

Pasembor is a Malaysian salad consisting of cucumber, potatoes, beancurd, turnip, bean sprouts, prawn fritters, spicy fried crab, fried octopus or other seafoods and served with a sweet and spicy nut sauce. Pasembor is unique in the sense that you can actually pick what you want to include on your plate, but my advice is don’t take any seafood if you are traveling on a shoestring. It can be rather pricey.

Address:
Hussain Pasembur
Padang Kota Lama
Penang
Operating hour: 12PM-12AM

3. Nasi Kandar

Credit: @Mamu Pulau

Nasi kandar is a meal of rice that is served with curries and side dishes. It’s a Malay meal, and it originated in Penang. Nasi Kandar Line Clear is pretty much well known in Penang and offers some of the cheapest nasi kandar in town. You can get a meal of biryani, chicken, egg, vegetables, and a mix of gravies for just RM6.

Address:
Line Clear Nasi Kandar
Address: 177 Penang Road, Penang
Opening Hours: Open 24 hours

4. Char Koay Teow

Credit: @Ellie Toh

Char koay teow is considered by many to be the most iconic street food in Penang. It usually consists of flat rice noodles stir-fried with light and dark soy sauce, chili, fermented shrimp paste, prawns, blood cockles, bean sprouts, chopped Chinese chives, and egg.
Penangites are possessive of this dish so everyone has their opinion on which place serves the best, but I personally recommend the ones at Padang Kota Lama.

Padang Kota Lama
Penang
Operating hour: 12PM-12AM

5. Oh Chien

Credit: @Ellie Toh

This is basically oyster omelette. Other variations usually contain potato starch to thicken the omelette but the Penang version is made with rice flour batter to give it a lighter, crisper texture. Oh Chien is a popular street food in Penang and is available almost everywhere in Penang but we had ours at Padang Kota Lama.

Address:
Padang Kota Lama
Penang
Operating hour: 12PM-12AM

Must try dessert: Cendol

Credit: @Ellie Toh

Indulging yourself with a bowl of Penang famous cendol is a must, especially after enjoying all the heavy and delicious street food. Upon reaching Penang Road, you will spot enthusiastic crowd queuing patiently to taste the legendary teow chew chendol. Trust me, this is the street food you shouldn’t miss if you are visiting Penang.

Address: Jalan Penang, George Town, 10450 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Operating hour: 10AM – 7:30PM

You’ll never go hungry in Penang. Penang is actually a foodie town. There are delicious things to be at all corners of Penang, so do consider to forget about your diet for a little while when you are in Penang.

Penang can easily be accessed internationally, especially via Singapore. Flights from Singapore to Penang is quite frequent, so if you are traveling from Singapore to Penang, you may book Cheap Air Ticket from Traveloka. You won’t regret it, I assure you.