The best Pulau Tikus food is in the kopitiam near the market for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
For visitors to Penang, one of the enclaves is Pulau Tikus, an upper-class suburb.
Looking for something different?
Skip the usual tourist haunts and head to Pulau Tikus.
This charming neighbourhood in Penang is more than just malls and cafés—it’s a local gem packed with flavour.
You’ll find some of the island’s best hawker food here.
We’re talking noodles that make you swoon and breakfasts that locals queue up for.
Craving char koay teow or a perfect soft-boiled egg with kaya toast?
Pulau Tikus Kopitiam has you covered.
But it’s not just the food.
This area is incredibly livable.
You’ve got everything: schools, temples, banks, pharmacies, even a bustling wet market that comes alive every morning.
It’s a walkable neighbourhood too.
Think of it as Penang’s own little village—with mechanics, florists, bookshops, and even a pawn shop or two tucked between the lanes.
Tourists usually make a beeline for Gurney Plaza or Paragon after visiting the colourful Thai and Burmese temples nearby.
But if you ask the locals?
They’ll point you to Pulau Tikus for real flavour and character.
Go for the breakfast, stay for the vibe.
Where is Pulau Tikus?
Pulau Tikus is one of George Town’s favourite suburbs.
It sits right between the city and Tanjung Tokong, so you’re close to everything but still get a quieter vibe.
The name comes from Pulau Tikus, a small rocky island off Tanjung Bungah.
No one lives there, but somehow it gave this whole area its name.
You’ll find a cool mix of cultures here—Eurasians, Thais, Burmese—all adding their own flavour to the neighbourhood.
It’s mainly a place where people live, but it’s full of life.
There’s greenery everywhere.
Big old trees that have been around longer than most of us, giving the streets some serious character.
And the best part? You can walk to just about everything.
Schools, temples, coffee shops, markets, even the odd pawn shop.
Live here, visit, or just drop in for a good breakfast—Pulau Tikus has something going on.
It’s easy to see why people love it.
When you visit Penang, please remember to download the MBPP parking app. Otherwise, you can use your Touch ‘n Go Card or credit card and park in the shopping malls.
Friendly reminder – Parking in Pulau Tikus can be challenging near the eating stalls, Kopitiam, and restaurants during banking hours and at meal times.
You may need to park a short distance away and walk.
Head to the wet market to start your eating tour of Pulau Tikus food.
That is where the kopitiam is located.
We know you’ll get hungry as you shop or run your errands!
Symbolic guardians! Two golden rat statues stand proudly, marking the Pulau Tikus precinct in Penang.
SmartDory lists the Kopitiam, where you can grab a bite of Penang Hawker Food.
Check out our Top 10 Kopitiam For The Best Pulau Tikus Food.
Top 10 Best Pulau Tikus Food Kopitiam
Don’t be confused by the name.
Some café and restaurants in Penang are coffee shops or Kopitiam.
The eateries in Pulau Tikus are known for their hawker stalls, buzzing with energy every morning.
It’s where market-goers and office workers gather for their breakfast fix before the day kicks off.
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Pulau Tikus Market
The Pulau Tikus morning market is a lively spot where you can grab everything from fresh vegetables to daily essentials—all in one trip.
Tucked inside is a hidden hawker centre, and it’s where smart shoppers go straight after their marketing rounds.
Here you can get a quick, satisfying breakfast.
If your feeling fancy, you can get chopped up Roasted Pork to eat with your breakfast!
Come evening, the scene flips.
The space outside the market transforms into one of the busiest hawker centres in Penang.
It may be just a long, narrow stretch of pavement.
But here it dishes out some of the best local favourites—curry mee, satay, char koay teow, and bubbling pots of lok lok ready to dip.
And here’s a surprise: there’s a stall serving fresh, street-style sushi that’s both tasty and cheap.
You won’t expect it—but you’ll definitely come back for it.
Opens Daily from 4.00 PM – 10.30 PM
Explore the variety of local delicacies at this long, narrow pavement-turned-hawker center, from Curry Mee to Satay, Char Koay Teow, and Lok Lok.
Aside from the pushcart stalls, we start with the kopitiam nearest the Pulau Tikus market.
Many kopitiams surround the Pulau Tikus wet market, full of delicious hawker food.
Next to the Marble Arch at the junction of Jalan Pasar and Solok Moulmein is the Sin Hup Aun Café.
Exploring art and flavors! Smartdory and friends pose in front of a vibrant mural while savoring delicious noodles from Wantan Mee House, renowned as one of the Best Pulau Tikus Food Kopitiams.
Sin Hup Aun Cafe (新合安茶室)
The Kopitiam at the end of Moulmein Close has traditional Koay Teow Th’ng, Char Koay Teow, Curry Mee, Mamak Mee Goreng, Claypot Rice, and a good Economy Rice stall.
This morning, kopitiam opens early to early afternoon, and different hawkers take over at night.
In the evening, Chef Delights serves a good selection of fried and grilled Western foods.
Order the Mixed Grills, Chicken Cordon Blue, and butter fried rice.
Opens Daily from 6.00 AM – 10.00 PM, Closed on Tuesdays.
If the Kopitiam is packed, walk a little further to another two at the corner of Moulmein Close and Burma Road. Swee Kong Coffeeshop and Restoran 77 Food Yard are popular breakfast kopitiams in Penang. Check out what the locals eat to know what is popular!
Swee Kong Coffee Shop
The best-known stall at Swee Kong is the Lean Huat Hokkien Mee, affectionately referred to as “the Hokkien Mee opposite the police station.”
In fact, why not drop in early by 7:00 AM, head to the Pulau Tikus Market, and get some Sio Bak to eat with your Hokkien Mee?
If the Hokkien Mee is closed, don’t miss the clay pot Indian Sweet Apom cooked over a charcoal fire.
It is worth trying while hot.
If you like Char Hor Fun for breakfast, a stall makes a tasty version here.
Other favorite stalls have changed or moved.
Opens Daily from 5.30 AM – 1.00 PM, Closed on Thursdays.
Savoring local delights! Enjoy the best Pulau Tikus cuisine at Swee Kong, a beloved food kopitiam.
The friendly Wantan Mee has moved next door to Wan Tan Mee House to run a coffee shop solely offering their specialty noodle mixed with Egg-gravy sauce.
Restoran 77 Food Yard
The kopitiam, jammed packed and spilling over on the pavement, is a favorite for joggers and morning market shoppers.
Getting a seat at peak hours is only possible if you are willing to stand behind those eating.
The kopitiam has the most comprehensive variety of stalls selling more unusual fare like Ark Thooi Mee Suah, Bean Sprout Chicken Hor Fun, Century Egg Porridge, Char Mee Suah, Chee Cheong Fun, Koay Chiap, Char Koay Kak and Yee Foo Mee.
Opens Daily from 7.00 AM – 3.00 PM
If you’re looking for halal Pulau Tikus Food, head next door for Nasi Kandar breakfast.
Restoran Mohammed Raffee Nasi Kandar
Fondly known as Raffee, the Kopitiam-style restaurant serves Indian Muslim food and is one of Penang’s best Nasi Kandar outlets.
There’s Chicken Curry, Honey Chicken curry, Squid Curry, Fish Curry, Salted Egg curry, Brinjal, and more.
By more, I mean you have to order their Fried Chicken, which is moist, juicy, and succulent!
If you want something other than Nasi Kandar, there’s Mee Goreng, Mee Rebus, and Nasi Goreng.
The eatery opens at 7:30 AM, so get hot curries and rice for the best halal breakfast in Penang!
The queue at this cozy restaurant can get long because they have many tasty dishes for you!
You can enjoy your delicious Nasi Kandar indoors during the day or outdoors at night!
Opens Daily from 7.30 AM – 11.59 PM
A taste sensation! Indulge in the moist, juicy, and succulent Raffee Fried Chicken.
You May Also Like: 10 Best Nasi Kandar In Penang
Next to Swee Kong Coffee Shop is the Wan Tan Mee House.
Wantan Mee House (云吞面之家)
Formerly a stall at Swee Kong Coffee Shop, Wantan Mee House now operates its specialty stall selling only its famous noodles.
Consistently delicious wanton mee served over the years.
The noodles are not overcooked, and the texture is still springy.
You can choose a soup, an eggy gravy, or dry noodles with a side soup.
There is a choice of noodles, such as hor fun or thin noodles.
Versatile options! Customize your Wantan Mee experience with soup, dry noodles with eggy gravy, or a side soup.
Opens Daily from 7.00 AM – 4.00 PM. Closed on Thursdays.
If you love Assam Laksa and Char Koay Teow, these two Kopitiam should be on your wishlist. You can learn how the Penangites enjoy their Assam Laksa Soup. They dunk fried spring rolls into the soup to absorb the broth!
Kedai Kopi Sin Hwa 新華茶室
Two items to order at Kedai Kopi Sin Hwa are the Laksa and Char Koay Teow, which are great with a great cuppa, Kopi O.
There are also Assam and Lemak Laksa and Spring Rolls that are must-tries.
The Char Koay Teow stall at Sin Hwa is surprisingly good, with large prawns and sufficient wok hei.
Opens Daily from 8.00 AM – 5.00 PM.
Restaurant Taman Emas
Restaurant Taman Emas is opposite Penang Chinese Girls’ Private High School (Peng Hwa).
The main star dish is also referred to as Peng Hwa Laksa.
The Asam Laksa with a sourish broth is thick and loaded with fish flakes.
The fish and the combination of herbs and spices are extraordinarily fragrant!
The stall also offered Fried Spring Rolls, Chai Kuih, and Kuih Talam.
Check out Wan Dao Tou Assam Laksa – a Bib Gourmand.
For avid Char Koay Teow fans, the version here has Duck Egg, making it extra creamy.
The CKT is as good as it looks, with a good hit of ‘wok hey.’
Opens Daily from 12.00 PM – 5.15 PM.
A culinary gem! Wan Dao Tou Assam Laksa, awarded a Bib Gourmand, stands out in the middle photos.
From Kedai Kopi Sin Hwa, you can cross the road to Seng Lee Café, where a Roti Bakar stall is next to Flower Mulan Café.
Seng Lee Cafe
Seng Lee Cafe at the corner of Bangkok Lane and Burmah Road used to be famous for its Bangkok Lane’s Mee Goreng.
A former worker runs the current Mamak Mee stall, which is as tasty as the original.
Opens Daily from 7.00 AM – 5.00 PM. Closed on Mondays.
After this, you can walk back for more Pulau Tikus Food in the shophouses on Cantonment Road.
Notable eateries are Jin Hoe Cafe Nasi Lemak and Heritage Pies & Pastries.
Turn the corner, and you’re back at the Pulau Tikus Market.
Head back to the traffic light and down Cantonment Road if you want Chinese, vegetarian food.
Evergreen Vegetarian House 長青素食之家 is not a Kopitiam.
The restaurant deserves a special mention for the wide variety of dishes.
You can find vegetarian desserts, Steamed Vegetable Buns, and a delicious Chap Chye stew!
Heng Ong Huat (Chang Sern Kopitiam)
The locals still call it Chang Sean Kopitiam, which looks like a coffee shop outside.
Surprisingly, it sells high-quality Sek西Chan (Western Food), Fukuoka City Ramen, and Economy Rice.
A stall sells Shrimp Roe Wanton Noodles, which are delicious!
Opens Daily from 8.00 AM – 10.00 PM. Closed on Fridays.
The Lhong Tou Dim Sum has relocated into a café-style shop at Jalan Pasar, worth checking out.
Walk past the other shophouses and a Familymart to Restoran Hup Kee, at the corner of Burmah Road and Leandros Lane.
[Updated 8 November 2024 – Marked Temporarily Closed)
Restoran Hup Kee
Restoran Hup Kee is a quiet kopitiam in the morning.
You may see more people at Familymart, a few doors away.
The business only picks up when office workers drop in for lunch.
The popular stalls are Economy Rice and Duck Rice.
If you want to try Lam Mee (Birthday Noodle), a stall sells it here.
Opens Daily from 6.00 AM – 10.00 PM.
Head across the road at the pedestrian crossing near the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Penang, to Kedai Kopi New Cathay.
Kedai Kopi New Cathay
Kedai Kopi New Cathay, at the corner of Lorong Kuching and Burma Road, is one of the oldest hawker centers in Pulau Tikus.
Everything is pretty good here—if you want roti bakar, Eggs, and Kopi O, you don’t have to brave the crowds in George Town for the best Chinese breakfast in Penang.
Famous stalls include the excellent Wantan Mee, Curry Mee, Fried Fish Bee Hoon, Koay Chiap, and Apom.
Opens Daily from 7.00 AM – 12.15 PM. Closed on Sundays.
A feast for the senses! From left to right, indulge in roti bakar, eggs, Chinese pancakes (apom pisang and raisins), duck kway chap, wan tan mee, and apom manis (Indian pancake).
Bee Hooi Resturant
Bee Hooi Restaurant has a few nondescript stalls for breakfast and lunch.
But it comes alive at night and is known as the best for Pulau Tikus food.
The Kopitiam comes alive in the evenings when the dinner and supper crowds drop by.
If you crave a good round of hawker food, many choices exist at night.
Different hawkers run the morning and evening stalls – you may find a difference in the taste.
At Bee Hooi, there’s only one problem – many delicious stalls and difficulty deciding.
You can order Chinese Pssembur, Satay, Popiah, and Loh Bak to share.
Then order your choice of Sar Hor Fun, Hokkien Char Noodles, Char Koay Teow, Penang Hokkien Mee, and Fried Oyster.
Late-night delights! Bee Hooi Restaurant buzzes with activity, offering a perfect spot for a great supper round.
List of 10 Best Pulau Tikus Food Kopitiam on Google Map
That’s the end of our Top 10 Kopitiam For The Best Pulau Tikus Food!
Did we miss any of your favorites? Share them on social media, or let us know your choices in the comments.
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Happy food hunting!
Blog Disclaimer: Images in this blog are sourced from the respective eateries’ Google My Business pages to showcase their unique offerings, support local businesses, and promote tourism.
This blog is written independently. No compensation, such as free meals, monetary payment, or services, has been received from any of the featured establishments.
Opinions and content are based on personal experiences (when applicable) and thorough research to provide honest, unbiased recommendations.
