Categories: Malaysia

25 Must Try Penang Street Food Only Found In Penang

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. 

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. 

Penang 5 Spice Roll 01
Penang 5 Spice Roll 02

3. Penang Apong

Penang Apong is a type of folded pancake, and often includes egg and shredded coconut. 

Penang Apong 01

 

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. 

Penang Assam Laksa 01

 

Penang Assam Laksa 02

5. Penang BBQ Stingray

Penang BBQ Stingray is grilled simply, and basted with a sweet sauce. 

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. 

Penang Char Koay Kak 01

 

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. 

Penang Char Koay Teow 01

 

Penang Char Koay Teow 02

 

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. 

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). 

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. 

Penang Chendol 01

 

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. 

Penang Curry Mee 01

 

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. 

Penang Dessert Fritter

13. Penang Dim Sum Pau Big Pork

Penang Dim Sum Pau Big Pork is larger than usual, and contains soup. 

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. 

Roselle Fruit Juice With Flower

15. Umbra Juice

Umbra Juice is made from the fruit known as Golden Apple, and is slightly sour. 

Umbra Juice 01

 

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. 

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. 

 

Penang Jawa Mee

18. Penang Koay Chap

Penang Koay Chap is a soup / broth that consists mainly of flat rice noodles and duck meat. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

Penang Pasembur

22. Penang Popiah

Penang Popiah comes doused in a seafood gravy, and it quickly becomes soggy. 

Penang Popiah

23. Penang Roast Meats

Penang Roast Meats; Penang Char Siew Red Roast Pork Loin and Penang Sio Bak Roast Pork Belly 

Penang Char Siew Red Roast Pork Loin

 

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.

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. 

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

Ivan Teh

I'm a workaholic, a multi-tasker... and also hyperactive. =)

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