Penang Street Food
Penang Street Food is recognized as being among one of the best street food in the world. A mix of influences from Chinese, Malay and Indian communities, Penang Street Food has retained its traditional roots, while also making use of local Malaysia produce and products.
While the same type of dishes are commonly found in almost every food centre, ask locals for the best examples of each dish. Here are the 25 dishes to look out for.
Local Penang Dishes
1. Penang Lok Lok
Penang Lok Lok is a variation on the typical steamboat / hot pot, with the difference being that all the food is served on skewers. The pot used for boiling always contains plain water, not flavoured or seasoned soups like in steamboat / hot pot. Also, dipping sauces are served to accompany the food, normally a mildly spicy peanut sauce and a spicy garlic chili sauce.
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| Penang Lok Lok |
2. Penang 5 Spice Roll
Penang 5 Spice Roll stalls usually sell a mixture of fried items and fritters, with the highlight being the pork rolls and tofu.
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| Penang 5 Spice Roll 01 |
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| Penang 5 Spice Roll 02 |
3. Penang Apong
Penang Apong is a type of folded pancake, and often includes egg and shredded coconut.
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| Penang Apong 01 |
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| Penang Apong 02 |
4. Penang Assam Laksa
Penang Assam Laksa has a tangy, sour and spicy fish based soup / broth, has no coconut milk, and contains thinly sliced vegetables and shredded fish.
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| Penang Assam Laksa 01 |
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| Penang Assam Laksa 02 |
5. Penang BBQ Stingray
Penang BBQ Stingray is grilled simply, and basted with a sweet sauce.
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Penang BBQ Stingray |
6. Penang Char Koay Kak
Penang Char Koay Kak is rice cakes fried in a thick black soy sauce together with eggs, bean sprouts and chili. It is a savoury dish.
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| Penang Char Koay Kak 01 |
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| Penang Char Koay Kak 02 |
7. Penang Char Koay Teow
Penang Char Koay Teow is made with flat rice noodles fried with chinese sausage, bean sprouts, eggs, chives and prawns. This is a famous dish worldwide.
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| Penang Char Koay Teow 01 |
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| Penang Char Koay Teow 02 |
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| Penang Char Koay Teow 03 |
8. Penang Char Tang Hoon
Penang Char Tang Hoon is slightly different than Penang Char Koay Teow, not only because of the noodles, but also because of the addition of sliced pork.
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| Penang Char Tang Hoon |
9. Penang Chee Cheong Fun
Penang Chee Cheong Fun are rice cakes, with a simple dressing of sweet black shrimp paste sauce (Hae Ko).
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| Penang Chee Cheong Fun |
10. Penang Chendol
Penang Chendol or Chendul, a sweet dessert that is very popular, and also a dish synonymous with Penang.
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| Penang Chendol 01 |
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| Penang Chendol 02 |
11. Penang Curry Mee
Penang Curry Mee is unique to Malaysia, and is a spicy noodle soup / broth filled with seafood and chicken.
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| Penang Curry Mee 01 |
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| Penang Curry Mee 02 |
Penang Dessert Fritter
Penang Dessert Fritter are made with various fruits native to the region, which are then deep fried. Common fruits used include jackfruit, banana and sweet potato.
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| Penang Dessert Fritter |
13. Penang Dim Sum Pau Big Pork
Penang Dim Sum Pau Big Pork is larger than usual, and contains soup.
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| Penang Dim Sum Pau Big Pork |
14. Roselle Fruit Juice With Flower
Roselle Fruit Juice With Flower is made from the Roselle flower, which is a type of Hibiscus, and is edible. The flower is sweet and crunchy in texture.
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| Roselle Fruit Juice With Flower |
15. Umbra Juice
Umbra Juice is made from the fruit known as Golden Apple, and is slightly sour.
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| Umbra Juice 01 |
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| Umbra Juice 02 |
16. Penang Fried Sago Cake
Penang Fried Sago Cake, is a unique Malaysian dish, and is both sweet and savoury. It can be eaten as a meal, or as a dessert.
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| Penang Fried Sago Cake |
17. Penang Jawa Mee
Penang Jawa Mee is a dish of Peranakan origins, and is a noodle soup / broth with a tomato base gravy.
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| Penang Jawa Mee |
18. Penang Koay Chap
Penang Koay Chap is a soup / broth that consists mainly of flat rice noodles and duck meat.
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| Penang Koay Chap |
19. Penang Koay Teow Th’ng
Penang Koay Teow Th’ng is yet another Penang dish that is normally eaten when a person is feeling unwell. This dish can either be made with pork, or duck.
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| Penang Koay Teow Th’ng |
20. Penang Lam Mee
Penang Lam Mee is a Peranakan dish, commonly eaten during birthdays, hence it is also known as Birthday Mee.
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| Penang Lam Mee |
21. Penang Pasembur
Penang Pasembur is a type of salad made with various vegetables and fried fritters, covered in a sweet, mildly spicy peanut sauce.
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| Penang Pasembur |
22. Penang Popiah
Penang Popiah comes doused in a seafood gravy, and it quickly becomes soggy.
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| Penang Popiah |
23. Penang Roast Meats
Penang Roast Meats; Penang Char Siew Red Roast Pork Loin and Penang Sio Bak Roast Pork Belly
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| Penang Char Siew Red Roast Pork Loin |
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| Penang Sio Bak Roast Pork Belly |
24. Penang Roti Canai
Penang Roti Canai is a type of Indian breakfast dish, similar to Singapore Roti Prata.
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| Penang Roti Canai |
25. Penang Ak Thui Mee Sua
Penang Ak Thui Mee Sua or Duck Vermicelli Soup, consists of a duck thigh in a herbal-type soup / broth.
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| Penang Ak Thui Mee Sua |
Recommend Places To Eat In Penang, Malaysia
So where do you eat these dishes? Here are some excellent eating places to check out while in Penang Island, Malaysia.
Pusat Penjaja Lebuh Cecil / Cecil Street Hawker Centre & Market
40 Lebuh Cecil / Cecil Street
George Town
Penang Island 10300
Malaysia
Padang Brown Food Court
Tapak No. 9 / Site No. 9
Jalan Johor / Johor Road
George Town, Penang Island 10400, Malaysia
Kafe Joo Hooi
Lebuh Keng Kwee / Keng Kwee Street
George Town, Penang Island 10100, Malaysia
Kafe New Dragon
606-D Jalan Paya Terubong / Terubong Marsh Road
Air Itam / Ayer Itam / Black Water
Penang Island 11500, Malaysia
Restoran Keat Seng
10-J, MK. 16 Jalan Air Putih / Ayer Puteh Road / White Water Road
Air Itam / Ayer Itam / Black Water
Penang Island 11500, Malaysia