Hainan Chicken Chop in Penang

I love a Hainan Chicken Chop meal as much as the next Penangite.

Sometimes called Hailam Chicken Chop, it’s nostalgic comfort food that always hits the spot.

Juicy chicken with savory sauce, crispy fries, and fresh vegetables make it a hearty and familiar meal.

This isn’t just any chicken chop though.

It carries history.

The story goes back to Hainanese cooks in colonial Penang who blended Eastern and Western flavors into one unforgettable dish.

Every bite still brings that warmth, creativity.

It is that nostalgia that keeps it close to our hearts.

The Story Behind Hainan Chicken Chop

Back in the late 1800s, Hainanese cooks came to Penang and found work in British households.

They were clever.

Using local ingredients, they created a dish that suited both East and West.

Think fried crispy chicken coated in egg batter.

Served bathed with onion gravy and potatoes.

Before long, it left the colonial homes and landed in our kopitiam.

The recipe changed slightly from shop to shop, but the soul stayed the same.

Today, you’ll find it everywhere in Penang, from open-air stalls to five-star hotels.

Top 5 Hainan Chicken Chop in Penang

1. Hai Onn Restaurant

(Non  Air-Conditioned)

📍 53-55 Jalan Burma, George Town
🕰 11:30 AM – 5:30 PM (Closed Mondays)
💰 RM14

Serving Hainanese comfort food for over 60 years, Hai Onn’s Chicken Chop is a true Penang classic.

The onion gravy is thickened with cornstarch, not tomato paste, for that pure old-school flavor.

It’s the kind of dish that never shouts but always wins you over.

It’s held my heart for half a century. I try to visit once a month to say hello and soak in the nostalgia.

2. Hainantown @ Yeng Keng

(Air-Conditioned)

📍 366 Chulia Street, George Town
🕰 8 AM – 10:30 AM, 12 PM – 9:30 PM (Daily)
💰 RM23

Hainantown sits inside a charming 1930s boutique hotel, and the setting is as lovely as the food.

Crispy boneless chicken, garlicky onion gravy, and chunky potato wedges — all perfectly done.

It’s saucy yet refined, comforting yet elegant.

A plate made for both nostalgia and your Instagram feed.

3. Hainanese Delights Restaurant

(Air-Conditioned)

📍 42, King Street, 10020 George Town, Pulau Pinang
🕰 11:30 am–2:30 pm, 6–9:30 pm (Tuesdays Closed)
💰 RM21+

Run by the three Wong brothers, Hainanese Delights stays true to tradition.

The chicken is fried golden and served with a light brown sauce and French fries instead of wedges.

The sweet, tangy tomato-based gravy brings back that old-school flavor we grew up with.

If you like your comfort food with air conditioning and a touch of nostalgia, this is your spot.

4. The Boomers Hainanese Western Restaurant

📍 78 Jalan A.S. Mansoor, George Town
🕰 12 PM – 2:30 PM, 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM
💰 RM27

Boomers’ Hainanese Chicken Chop is massive, crispy, and drenched in tangy sauce.

It’s the kind of meal that makes you smile before the first bite.

A nostalgic twist on a classic that hits all the right notes — big portions, bold flavors, and plenty of heart.

5. Sago Restaurant

(Air-Conditioned)

📍 Penang Marriott Hotel, Sago
🕰 6:30 AM – 11 PM
💰 RM30 (Set lunch with soup and dessert — best deal!)

When true-blue Hainanese Executive Chef Lee Keen Suan added his heirloom Chicken Chop to the menu, it became an instant favorite.

The 5-star version is polished yet familiar — juicy chicken, rich gravy, and a side of soup and dessert.

Comfort food dressed up for a hotel table.

Other Great Places for Hainan Chicken Chop in Penang

Here are more local favorites — some open-air kopitiams, others cool and air-conditioned, all worth a visit (and maybe your next craving).

Yaw’s Roast & Grill (Open-Air)

The Yaw family continues the legacy of Tip Top and Top Top Snack Bar with homestyle comfort that tastes like the 70s.

Their Hainanese Chicken Chop carries that familiar Planta aroma. Not drenched in gravy, but full of flavor and heart.

Khoon Pastry House

(Air-Conditioned)
Once a pastry shop in 1975, now a cozy spot for creamy Hainan Chicken Chop with sweet gravy, peas, and tomato.

The chef guards his recipe like family — you can taste that care in every spoonful.

Island Park Kopitiam (Kopitiam)

A local gem with a light Oriental sauce and bold garlic kick. No fuss, just honest food done right.

Will Western Delight (Kopitiam Café)

Big portions, big flavors, small bill. This place proves you don’t need fancy to feel satisfied.

Chef’s Delights (Kopitiam)

Crispy Oriental Chicken Chop with friendly kopitiam energy. Feels like dropping by a friend’s place for dinner.

Mount Erskine Hainan Western Food (Open-Air Kopitiam)

Huge servings and that unmistakable old-school taste.

No pretense, just pure Hainanese goodness.

All Right Western Food (Kopitiam)

A nostalgic favorite for many Penangites.

Hearty portions, simple setup, all-round comfort — it’s “all right” in every sense.

SmartDory Tip:

If you run one of these spots or serve a Hainan Chicken Chop you’re proud of, reach out or tag @SmartDory. I’d love to hear your story — and maybe feature your plate next.

Source: The Secret History of Chicken Chop, Malaysia’s Original ‘Western Food’