Penang, Malaysia Food Hunt: The Ultimate Street Food Hunt ~ Updated

*Updated October 19, 2023*

This post has been updated with additional narrative on my fifth visit to Penang.

If there’s one place that could exemplify what street food culture is then that would be the state of Penang in Malaysia. Located at the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Penang’s cuisine mirrors the diverse culture of the country with influences from the Chinese, Nonya, Malay, Indian and Thai into its wide selection of food options; probably a bizarre mix but it works as it wouldn’t be regarded as the Best Street Food in Asia by Time Magazine (2004) for nothing. So let me share with you my recent food trip that would make you drool afterwards.

Penang is one of those places that I love to explore because even if it’s constantly visited by tourists, its tenacity to maintain its origin and culture is so strong that they don’t modify their customs just to suit to the needs and wants of the visitors. Food junkies all over the world, and even in Malaysia, are crazy over hawkers and street food vendors that filled Penang’s alleys. Hawkers and vendors usually start at dawn until midnight or much longer (check here for discounted tours, transportation and activities in Penang).

Penang = Food trip!

Influences from Chinese, Mamak (a term for men with Indian Muslim origins or uncle), Nonya/Nyonya (a term for women of Malay and Chinese origins or aunty), Indian, Malay and Thai cuisines are usually merged to create unique recipes. The marriage of flavors is respected and appreciated by all communities in Penang, thus making Penang a unique culinary experience.

Penang ice ball

During my trips (it’s my third time), I noticed how consistent Penangites were on the quality of the taste in each dish. The richness of flavors and generous amounts of ingredients are some of the many factors that made me yearn for more. I also love the fact that people from all sectors of society converge on a coffee shop or roadside eatery, no social status or whatsoever when it comes to food.

Gotta try the traditional tiffin lunch. Penang is making me fatter each day. Haha #BeachHopAsia2016

A photo posted by blissfulguro (@blissfulguro) on Apr 20, 2016 at 8:28pm PDT

As they say to each his own, selecting the best hawker food actually depends on your taste buds. The best way is to follow your heart and try every dish that your gut feel tells you so.

So here’s a rundown on my latest food trip in Penang on what I consider as the best and most authentic street food during our Beach Hop Asia 2016 summer backpacking trip. Please note that we don't subscribe on guide books or whatnot but just went wherever our feet led us and ordered whatever seemed interesting.

JOOI HOOI CAFE

475 Jalan Penang, Georgetown, Penang

11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Kopi Ais
It kinda lacked that sweetness I was looking for

Asam Laksa
Not really my thing

TOH SOON CAFE

Lebuh Campbell, Georgetown, Penang

8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | Mondays to Saturdays

Legit kopitiam (coffee shop)

Charcoal-grilled toasts

Kaya toast with soft-boiled egg (RM4)
This is sooo good

Kopi Ais (RM1.50)

HAWKER CENTER

Jalan Pasar, Air Itam Penang (near Kek Lok Si Temple)

Char Kway Teow
This is good!

Char Mee
So-so

ULTIMAXX CAFE

Persiaran Bayan Indah, Bayan Lepas, Penang (near Queensbay Mall)

7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Pasembur
This is great when mixed together, as it supposed to be

Tok Tok Mee
Deconstructed noodles-nice concept but I totally forgot how it tasted

Sambal Fried Rice
Fried rice will always be a winner for me

Lorbak in curry

LEBUH KIMBERLEY NIGHT MARKET

Lebuh Kimberley, Georgetown, Penang

6:00 p.m. onwards

Lebuh Kimberley Hawker Food Stalls

Kway Chap (RM8)
Not my kind of soup

Fried lorbak, beancurd, tofu, etc. (RM11 for everything)
I super love the lorbak and beancurd!

GURNEY DRIVE HAWKER CENTER

Solok Gurney, Georgetown, Penang

6:30 p.m. onwards

Satay

The very touristy Gurney Drive Hawker Center

Asam Laksa (RM4)
Still, not my favorite in Penang

Char Kway Teow (RM6)
Yummy!

RESTORAN ARATI VILAS

9 Tanjung Bunga Park, Penang

8:00 am to 10:30 pm

Roti Canai
My all-time fave flatbread

Fried Bee Hon
I'm not a fan of rice noodles

Char Mee
It was good

MEE GORENG MAMAK STALL

Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling corner Lebuh Armenian, Georgetown, Penang

2014

Mee Goreng Mamak in 2014 (RM3.50)
Simply delicious!

UPDATE 2016

2016

Mee Goreng Mamak in 2016 (RM4)
Still, our favorite Mee Goreng in Penang!

Little India

Lebuh Pasar, Georgetown, Penang

Kopi Ais-to go (RM1.50)
This will always be our favorite drink in Malaysia

Chicken Samosa (RM1.20)
The best samosa I've had so far

Buurp!

UPDATE 2017: Penang Food Hunt

For this particular food trip in Penang, me and my buddy went back to our old favorites and discovered new ones. And this time around, we were with our moms.

Came back to Toh Soon Cafe, a hawker stall packed between an alley in Penang for this six-ringgit snack of legit brick oven-cooked kaya toast, poached egg, and iced coffee 🍴 #SameSameSummerTrip2017

A post shared by blissfulguro (@blissfulguro) on Apr 19, 2017 at 12:50am PDT

It's crazy how every year, during our annual two-month backpacking trip, we’d stop by at Penang. On this year’s trip, Same Same Summer Trip 2017, we tagged along our moms on the first leg in Malaysia. After exploring Melaka and Kuala Lumpur, we went to Penang for a weeklong historical and gastronomical adventure.

LEBUH KIMBERLY NIGHT MARKET

Lebuh Kimberly, Georgetown, Penang

6:00 pm onwards

And we're back again in Lebuh Kimberley

Soy sauce chicken (RM6)
The chicken itself is bland

Kway Chap (RM8)
Same as last year, I didn't like it. Haha

Fried lorbak, tofu, beancurd, etc (RM15 for everything)
Lorbak and beancurd ftw!

NEW LANE FOOD STALL

Lorong Baru, Georgetown, Penang

4:00 pm to 11:00 pm

Sambal fried rice (RM6)
You'll never go wrong with this dish, especially if you love spicy stuff

Crispy noodles (RM5.50)
This is really good

Ais kacang (RM8.80)
It was just okay. I still love the Philippines' shaved ice dessert (halo-halo)

Char kway teow (RM6)
so-so

TOH SOON CAFE

Lebuh Campbell, Georgetown, Penang

8:00 am to 6:00 pm | Mondays to Saturdays

The cafe can be very busy in the morning

Kaya toast, poached egg and kopi ais (RM5.50)
It's still the best kaya toast for me

RESTORAN SUP HAMEED

48 Jalan Penang, Georgetown, Penang

Open 24 Hours

Mee goreng + telur mata (RM4.30)
It was just okay

MASEHI BURGER SOHO

48A Jalan Penang, Georgetown, Penang

Afternoon til midnight

Burger stall

Beef burger + egg (RM4.70)
My buddy loved it

UPDATE 2023: Penang with our son, Akira

It was this year when we resumed our backpacking trip which was halted because of the pandemic. For the first time as well, we brought our 3-year-old son and went to Malaysia, Singapore, and some islands in the Philippines for 36 days. We aptly called the trip, Backpacking With A Kid 2023. In Malaysia, we went around Langkawi, Kuala Lumpur, and of course, Penang.

Penang is synonymous with good hawker food. It was surprising how we find everything cheaper than in the Philippines given that Malaysian hawker food prices skyrocketed since our last trip in 2017. We were always on the hunt for our comfort food favorites and we feasted every time we had the chance. I guess three meals per day isn't enough when you're in Penang. Our son, Akira, almost always finished his food and he really loved the noodle dishes.

Here's a rundown on what food we had on our trip to Penang in 2023.

NEW LANE HAWKER

48A Jalan Penang, Georgetown, Penang