Food-savvy tourists who love the experience of ‘eating where locals eat’ will enjoy Cecil Street Market Hawker Centre.
‘Chit Tiau Lor Ban San'(7th Street Market) is a Penangite approved destination for authentic Penang street food.
One of the biggest hawker centers combining a wet market and a food court – Cecil Street Market, has the freshest seafood and a roast meats section.
If you want to eat and do some shopping in the afternoon, enjoy discovering the culinary delights of historical George Town with SmartDory Eating List.
Penangites forgo the famous hawker centers at Gurney Drive and Red Garden at Penang Road.
Instead, the locals like the food stalls in the inner city of George Town.
Try Cecil Street Market Hawker Centre for some very local eats from morning to early afternoon.
Presgrave Street Hawker Centre is great for suppers.
Book the best hotels within walking distance
JEN Penang Georgetown by Shangri-La
Contents
Duck Meat Koay Teow Th’ng
The famous Lum Lai Duck Meat Koay Teow Th’ng may have an attitude, but the noodles are great.
The Koay Teow Th’ng version here is the duck-meat version.
The Koay Teow is garnished with slivers of poached duck meat, pork slices, pig intestines, duck blood, fishballs, and fishcakes.
Garnished with chopped scallions and golden-fried garlic oil, these smooth thin noodles are slurp-worthy with a touch of soy sauce.
You can order extra duck drumsticks (if these are available)
Duck Meat Koay Teow Th’ng
Cheh Hu
The Chinese the Malaysian Pasembur with Jelly Fish is called “Cheh Hu” in Hokkien.
The Indian version is Pasembur.
You get julienned cucumbers, jicama, blanched bean sprouts, fried Tofu, various crispy fritters (Cucur & Hare Chee), and Jellyfish.
The sauce is a tasty orangey-colored sweet potato gravy.
Mixed in and tossed like a salad, you get a subtle, sweet, savory flavor that packs a punch when you ask for extra spicy.
Cheh Hu
Charcoal Char Koay Teow
There are a few charcoal Char Koay Teow stalls close to each other.
Cecil Street Market attains a stall using old of the oldest technique, charcoal, to cook his charcoal-flamed duck egg Koay Teow.
Look for the iconic Barefoot Char Kuey Teow Uncle near a drinks stall. His version is the tastiest.
Charcoal Char Koay Teow
Curry Mee
If you love Chulia Street Curry Mee, you can have it in the afternoon.
The richness of the salty-savory santan-scented soup and their signature large fishball is maintained.
The garnish is pig’s blood cubes, shrimps, blood cockles, cuttlefish, and tofu puffs.
Curry Mee
Fried Cakes
There is a stall that sells everything deep-fried pastry that is hot and crispy.
- Fried Char Siu Bao (BBQ Pork Dumplings
- Ham Chim Peng (Chinese Fried Doughnuts)
- Woo Kok (Fried Taro Puff)
- Chai Tow Kway (Fried Radish Cake)
- Eu Char Koay (Chinese Crullers)
Fried Sago
You can find this unique snack anywhere else in Penang.
You won’t find mini sago pearls but rather sticky chewy pieces in irregular form stir-fried.
A little bit of spiciness and some bean sprouts are added to create a biting texture.
Generally, it has a somewhat sticky chewy texture.
It’s worth a try if you haven’t.
Wan Tan Mee
The famous Wan Tan Mee has al-dente noodles. You can order either a dry or soup version.
The Kwan Lo (dry version) has springy noodles dressed with dark soy sauce, sesame oil, and scallions.
Pro Tip: You must order extra Sui Kow and Crispy Wantan.
If you want extra char siew (barbecued pork slices), you can buy freshly roasted meats to eat with your noodles.
Wantan Mee
Hokkien Mee
The Hokkien Mee has a hint of sweetness and is not too spicy.
You can order extra ingredients with various add-ons for more noodles, pig intestines, pork ribs, and extra prawns.
If it’s too mild, heap on a spoonful of the sambal for more heat!
Nyonya Kuih
There are two side-by-side stalls with pretty Nyonya Kuih stalls arranged, ready for your selection.
You can find all your favorites from Karipap, Kueh Talam, Onde-Onde to Kueh Koci.
The kuehs are cheap and tasty, with a soft and spongy texture and a creamy santan taste.
Best drink for your kueh mueh is a cup of hot Kopi O.
Colourful Nyonya Kuih
Cendol
If you’re tired of queuing and standing to eat your Cendol at Keng Kwee Street, then you should head to Cecil Street Market Hawker Centre.
The Red Beans are huge, and strands of Cendol are green with pandan flavor.
You get a massive bowl at a fraction of the price too.
Chendul
Cecil Street Roast Meats
At Cecil Street Market in Penang, you will find one of the most famous roast pork/BBQ pork stalls in George Town.
A row of nameless roast meat stalls sells excellent juicy Sio Bak with crackling skin.
If you don’t know which stall to head to, try the one with the longest queue with locals.
Come and tapao crispy-skinned Roast Pork (Sio Bak), caramelized BBQ Pork (Char Siew), Chinese Sausages (Lup Cheong), Grilled Pork Jerky (Bak Kwa), and Pork Floss (Bak Hu).
There are two types of Pork Floss: the crispy version is excellent with porridge or on its own.
Cecil Street Roast Meats
Cecil Street Market Hawker Food
If you want the authentic taste of Penang street food, head to Cecil Street Market for a cheap and filling feast with your family and friends.
Updated 22 September 2022
Penang’s famous hawker proved too tempting for exiled Thai VVIP siblings Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra.
The Former Prime Minister of Thailand was spotted during lunch at the Cecil Street Market Hawker Centre ordering Koay Teow Th’ng and Cheh Hu (Chinese Pasembur).
Other delicious and cheap Chinese foods are available here, which you may want to check out when you next visit Penang.
Cecil Street Market (Pasar Lebuh Cecil)
Address: 40-48, Lebuh Cecil, 10300 George Town, Penang
Hours: 7.00 AM to 5.00 PM (Daily)
Blog Disclosure: This is a NOT sponsored blog post. All opinions are mine. The writer and friends paid for their meal.
