Updated 9 March 2026
Ping Hwa Lok Lok – Jalan Pasar, Pulau Tikus, George Town, Penang
Penang Lok Lok is one of Malaysia’s most fun street food experiences.
Instead of ordering from a menu, you grab skewers of meat, seafood, vegetables, and tofu from a bustling stall and cook them in a steaming hotpot at your table.
In 2026, Penang Lok Lok remains a favorite evening stop for locals and visitors.
The meal offers affordable prices, a huge variety of skewers, and a social dining experience perfect for friends and family.
Contents
What Is Penang Lok Lok?
Penang Hokkien calls the skewered food dipped in a pot of boiling water. Lok Lok, which means “dip dip,” is one of the MUST-EATS street foods in night markets in George Town.
When I have visitors, I will take them out for a lovely Penang Lok Lok Meal.
Most visitors enjoy a fun meal, cooking, eating, and laughing.
There is a wide variety of delicious local delights at many cheap affordable places in Penang.
One of the frequent requests I get is, “Take me to a Penang Lok Lok Meal.”
The origin of this type of hot pot or steamboat is unknown.
In the 1970s, I remember going to Padang Brown for a feast with my high school classmates every time we had to Add Maths tuition.
That was the only place we could find by taking the public bus.
Penang Lok Lok is widespread, and it’s easy to find a street stall by the roadside, hawker centers, and near busy road junctions.
Before 2020, eating in a crowded environment was the norm.
You May Also Like This
Zi Wei Yuan Steamboat Buffet Jalan Raja Uda Butterworth
Homestyle Restaurant Affordable Eats – Top 3 Must Order Items
7 Village Noodle House Penang Koay Teow Soup
Penang Lok Lok Food Display – Is it hygienic?
The food is laid in a multi-level rack with rows of skewered food on sticks, all stacked neatly.
There will be two pots of boiling water on both sides of the stall, and in between, there will usually be three dipping sauces; chili sauce, sweet sauce, and spicy peanut sauce.
Don’t worry; the food is cooked through when you immerse the skewers in the rapidly boiling water.
The social hot pot is the rapid boiling pot of water in the center of the table for you to stick in the skewers to cook.
Penang Lok Lok Supper After Office Hours
At night, a famous Lok-Lok roadside stall is parked near Penang Chinese Girls’ High School.
It is one of the easiest and fastest snacks for a late supper.
That explains why Lok-Lok stalls open very late at night. Great for after work when you hang out with colleagues, you eat Lok Lok together.
It makes chilling out FUN.
Look at the variety of Penang Lok Lok skewers available.
Ever Tried Eating Penang Lok Lok Standing By The Roadside Stall?
You stand around the stall to eat. Choose and dip the stick into the hotpot until the food is cooked.
Then dip (only once) into the sauce of your choice.
You eat it straight from the stick without re-dipping or mixing the sauces.
If you’re visiting or trying the first time, watch and learn.
Most Penangites are friendly and will help you explain the more interesting raw ingredients.
Until today, I draw the line at boiled blood clams.
Blood Cockles connoisseurs will laugh as I make a face when they dangle a stick dripping in blood at me.
Er… pass?
This stall is popular with office workers or even supper crowds who ride on motorbikes for a stick or two of their favorite food.
The pot of water is on a rolling boil, so cooking and eating your Penang Lok Lok skewers is safe.
Find A Table For A Fun Penang Lok Lok Meal
At hawker centers, the Penang Lok-Lok served as a roundtable steamboat.
You sit and cook your food.
They place the skewered raw ingredients on plates spread around the table.
They stack the plates one above the other.
There is a large variety of every imaginable bite-size food that ranges from simple
- bean curd
- bacon
- pork liver
- intestines
- fish balls
- meatballs
- squid balls
- sausages
- squids
- shrimps
- vegetable rolls
- mushrooms
Pre-cooked items include stewed pig’s ears and Chinese sausages.
Some stalls have deep-fried wontons and deep-fried bean curd sheets.
There is a hole in the middle of the roundtable with a cylindrical metal pot.
A gas burner keeps each pot of water at a rolling boil.
After cooking, you can dip the food in the sauces before eating.
If you like meats, there’s always a selection that varies from stall to stall.
Dipping Sauces
The sauces are what make Penang Lok Lok truly special.
Most stalls offer 3 to 8 sauces allowing you to customize each bite. Popular choices include
- Chili sauce: Spicy and tangy, a classic favorite
- Sweet sauce: Balances out the heat with a mild, sticky sweetness
- Spicy peanut sauce: Nutty with a kick, perfect for vegetables and tofu
- Satay sauce: Highly recommended, most locals consider it a must-try
- Sambal belacan: A punchy shrimp paste blend for spice lovers
- Special house blends: Unique to each stall, often a secret family recipe
Pro tip: Many locals mix small amounts of different sauces to create a multi-flavored bite. Satay sauce is usually the base, but a touch of chili or sambal can add depth
No matter which sauce you choose, the skewers come to life once dipped.
You will quickly understand why the sauces are often considered the star of the meal
The sauces are at a Penang Lok Lok Cart, where you stand, dip, boil, dip, and eat.
Everyone has their favorite skewer. Mine is a cheese-filled Tufo, which tastes delicious smothered in satay sauce!
Lok Lok Price Per Skewer
The street-side version of a steamboat, with partially cooked or uncooked food, is skewered on deep-fried sticks, barbecued, or dipped in hot boiling water.
The variety and price of skewers differ from one stall to another.
Once an item catches your eye, you pick it up and dunk it in boiling water to cook.
There are healthier choices of boiled vegetables and stuffed Tofu.
But the indulgent deep-fried skewers of bacon, sausages, and Tofu filled with ‘cheese’ always look more appealing.
Under RM2 Greens
- Bok Choy
- Broccoli
- Kang Kong
- Brinjal
Each skewer usually wields about four pieces of green, which you can boil.
If you’re vegetarian, there’s a selection of Lok Lok greens and Tofu!
- Lala
- Blood Cockles
This could be a hit or miss, depending on how fresh it is.
Unless you have had Hepatitis shots, I suggest you either miss this or boil it to death first.
RM2-RM4
- Meatballs
- Beef balls
- Fishballs
- Exploding pork balls
Classic Dim Sum items are not meant to be boiled.
After boiling, it’s just a sloppy mess!
- Siew Mai
- Sui Kow
There are deep-fried pre-cooked items that you can dip in water to heat them.
Melted Cheese take food to another level.
- Cheese sausage
- Cheese Tofu
RM4 and above
- Baby octopus
- Bacon
- Bacon and Enoki wraps
All the skewers will have different colors to denote each stick’s price, which can be from RM1 up to RM4.
The colored end of the skewers denotes each stick’s price
Where to Find Penang Lok Lok in Penang 2026
Here are popular Lok Lok stalls to visit in 2026. Stalls are grouped by daytime / lunch and evening / dinner for easier planning.
Daytime / Lunch Lok Lok Stalls
Ah Beng Lok Lok
Jalan Johor, 10400 George Town, Penang
Hours 3 PM – 6 PM (Closed Fridays)
A classic daytime stall at Padang Brown hawker centre offering a wide variety of skewers and sauces.
Lok-Lok Rojak @ Air Itam
9A, Lintang Angsana, Bandar Baru Air Itam, 11500 Ayer Itam, Penang
Hours 12 PM – 7 PM (Closed Thursdays)
Serves both Lok Lok and rojak, ideal for lunch or early afternoon.
Evening / Dinner Lok Lok Stalls
Ping Hwa Lok Lok – Jalan Pasar, Pulau Tikus, George Town, Penang
Chulia Street Lok Lok
313, Chulia Street, George Town, Penang
Hours 5 PM – 11 PM
A lively evening street food stall offering a variety of skewers and sauces.
Chew Jetty Lok Lok
47-46, Pengkalan Weld, George Town, Penang
Hours 5 PM – 11 PM
A favorite among visitors for jetty-style street food including Lok Lok skewers.
Huat Teong Lok Lok
71, Jalan Trengganu, Taman Free School, George Town, Penang
Hours 8 PM – 10 PM (Closed Sundays)
Popular for late-night bites, especially among locals.
Ping Hwa Lok Lok – Jalan Pasar, Pulau Tikus, George Town, Penang
Hours 6 PM – 11:30 PM (Closed Wednesdays)
Known for a wide selection of skewers and dipping sauces in the evening.
Carnarvon Street / Pulau Tikus Night Hawker Areas – Multiple stalls appear nightly
Hours vary 5 PM – 11 PM
Offers a variety of Lok Lok skewers alongside other street food favorites.
FAQ About Penang Lok Lok
Q1 What is Penang Lok LokPenang Lok Lok lets you choose skewered ingredients to cook in boiling water or deep fry. After cooking, dip the food in flavorful sauces and eat straight from the stick.
Q2 How much does a skewer cost in 2026Most skewers range from RM1 to RM4 depending on the ingredient.
Q3 Where are the best Lok Lok stalls in PenangPopular areas include George Town, Pulau Tikus, Gurney Drive, and night markets across Penang.
Q4 What sauces should I trySatay sauce is a must-try along with chili, sweet, and peanut sauces. Many locals mix small amounts to create a multi-flavored bite.
Q5 Can I eat Penang Lok Lok as a groupYes, roundtable steamboats are perfect for friends, families, and office gatherings. Cooking and eating together is part of the social experience.
Q6 Are the skewers hygienicYes, the food is cooked in rapidly boiling water. Stalls are generally clean, and the boiling process ensures the food is safe.
Google Map Location Penang Lok Lok Stall
Penang Lok Lok Map
Have You Ever Had a Penang Lok Lok Dinner Party?
The ultimate food truck at house parties is the Penang Lok Lok.
In KL, Ipoh, and Penang, these food skewer trucks have boiling pots for cooking with a different charcoal grille and deep-frying station.
