The best Penang souvenirs are food products and snacks that the locals eat daily.
When people know you’re going on holiday to Penang, their eyes light up!
The state is well known as Malaysia’s food haven.
While you can’t pack Char Koay Teow, Nasi Kandar, and Penang Assam Laksa to take home, you can buy other items as gifts.
Penang is synonymous with good food.
Period.
So, it is not surprising that most souvenirs Penangites will recommend are food-related.
If you’re wondering about things to buy in Penang, local snacks are a great choice!
Local items you must buy when you travel to Penang, apart from batik, are food!
Food is always a safe bet if you need to know what to buy for the folks back home.
Popular Penang snacks like prawn crackers and local sauces make fantastic gifts.
However, you should always double-check what items are allowed if you need to bring them back on a flight.
So, here is a compilation of some of the best food products you can buy in Penang—definitely Penang must buys for any foodie!
Best Food List For Penang Souvenirs
- Penang Tau Sar Piah – Tambun Biscuits
- Beh Teh Saw Biscuits
- Pepper Biscuits
- Coconut Tarts
- Cinnamon Rolls
- Traditional Handmade Peanut Candy
- Traditional Peanut Sugar With Popiah Skin
- Nutmeg Products
- Belacan
- MyKuali “Penang White Curry” Instant Noodle
- Pickled Fruits (Jeruk Buah)
- Ghee Hiang Sesame Oil
- Roti Jari
- Rojak Sauce
- Durian Coffee
- Premium Dried Food Stuff
- Sambal Belacan
- Acar Awak
Check out these awesome Penang souvenirs!
You can get all your favorite Penang food products at tourist destinations in multiple outlets.
One quick stop is Chowraster Market on Penang Road.
The stalls here have most of the list items minus a few.
If you are running short of time, you can quickly stop here before you leave.
Pro Tip: Close by are Chendol Stalls, which you can try.
Artisanal goodies from Chinese Bakeries in Penang are not limited to traditional Chinese pastries and mooncakes.
There is a long list of handmade biscuits and pastries made by families from century-old recipe books in Penang.
That explains why visitors always make a beeline for local food products, such as Penang souvenirs, which can be found at old-school Chinese bakeries.
1. Penang Tau Sar Piah
Everyone in Penang has their favorite brand of Tau Sar Piah.
Some no-brand items taste as good as the branded ones, making them a must-buy souvenir in Penang.
2. Beh Teh Saw Biscuits
Beh Teh Saw (马蹄酥) translates as Horseshoe Biscuits due to the unique shape of the pastry.
Ghee Hiang Manufacturing Co. Sdn. Bhd.
Address: 216, Jalan Macalister, 10400 George Town, Penang
Hours: 9.00 AM to 9.00 PM
Him Heang Sdn Bhd
Address: 162A, Jalan Burma, 10050 George Town, Penang
Hours: 9.30 AM to 5.00 PM
Closed on Sundays
3. Pepper Biscuits
Pepper Biscuits, “Ham Chi Soe,” is a traditional handmade spice biscuit from Penang.
4. Coconut Tarts
Coconut Tarts are a flaky pastry filled with fluffy, sticky, sweet coconut filling.
Enjoy the sweet and creamy goodness of homemade coconut tarts.
Leong Chee Kee Pepper Biscuit
Address: C8, Lebuh Cintra, George Town, 10100 George Town, Penang
Hours: 9.00 AM to 4.30 PM
5. Cinnamon Rolls
Penangites head to the Penang Adventist Hospital not only for their medical needs but to get the best-tasting cinnamon rolls, pastries, and loaves of bread from the Adventist Bakery.
Adventist Bakery
Located in Penang Adventist Hospital
Address: 465, Jalan Burma, 10350 George Town, Penang
Hours: 8.00 AM to 5.00 PM or until sold out. Closed Saturdays
6. Traditional Handmade Peanut Candy
Traditional ingredients for Chinese brittle include peanuts and sesame seeds.
Known as Kong Th’ng (in Hokkien), this crumbly candy tastes like peanuts and sugar. One neat way to eat it is to wrap it with Popiah Skin.
Popiah Penang Chowrasta
Address: 5, Jalan Chowrasta, 10200 George Town, Penang
Hours: 8.00 AM to 8.00 PM
Ming Xiang Tai Pastry Penang Road
Address: 475-A, Jln Penang, 10000 George Town, Penang
Hours: 9.30 AM to 6.30 PM
8. Nutmeg from Ghee Hup Nutmeg Factory
In Penang, you can sometimes find fresh nutmeg fruits at the wet markets.
Slices of the fleshy fruit create a range of pickled nutmeg products.
Preserved nutmeg includes quartered nutmegs, sliced nutmegs with skin, halved peeled nutmegs, and shredded sugar-coated nutmeg—all tasting different!
Fresh nutmeg juice served cold, flavored with Chinese sour plums, has a tangy and grassy taste.
The juice makes a much sweeter, brownish-iced drink when boiled to syrup.
You can visit the factory if you want to know all about nutmeg.
The owner will explain the details of processing nutmegs from raw fruits to the final product.
Nutmeg products such as oils, creams, and juices are available here.
Ghee Hup Nutmeg Factory
Address: MK 3, 202A, Jalan Tanjung Bungah, Kampung Sungai Pinang, 11000 Balik Pulau, Penang
Hours: 9.00 AM to 5.00 PM
9. Belacan
Belacan combines salt and finely crushed shrimp or krill, fermenting for several weeks and selling in blocks.
Cheong Kim Chuan 钟金泉
Address: 99-B, Lorong Selamat, 10400 George Town, Penang
Hours: 8:30 AM to 5.30 PM
10. MyKuali “Penang White Curry” Instant Noodle
Los Angeles Times food writer Lucas Kwan Peterson nominated MyKuali Penang White Curry Noodles in his comprehensive “Official Instant Ramen Power Rankings,” published in 2019, which took Asia by storm as Asian instant noodles dominated the top spots.
So, if there is ramen you want to buy at home, this product is a crowd-pleaser in the USA.
It is definitely a Penang must buy for anyone looking to bring a taste of Penang back with them.
11. Pickled Fruits (Jeruk Buah)
The Penang Jeruk Buah is the most colorful iconic product of pickled sweet and sour local fruits such as nutmeg, papaya, guava, and mango.
The pickled fruit can keep longer but retains some raw texture and natural flavor.
These sweet-and-sour pickles make for a convenient sweet-and-sour snack in between meals.
The most famous brand is Jeruk Madu Pak Ali (Sweet pickled fruits), known for its distinct aroma and taste and has won numerous awards since 2009.
Today, the company ships its products all over Malaysia, and they are a worthy souvenir of Penang for tourists.
Nothing beats going to a shop to pick your favorite pickles—definitely one of the things to buy in Penang!
Jeruk Madu Pak Ali
Address: 423, Jalan Penang, 10450 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Hours: 8.30 AM to 7.00 PM (Daily)
12. Ghee Hiang Sesame Oil
The Ghee Hiang Baby Brand Sesame Oil, made from sesame seeds, is Penang’s trusted brand for households and commercial uses, from hawkers and restaurants to hotels.
The brand’s specialty product has been around for over 160 years.
Penang snacks and dishes benefit greatly from the rich flavors that sesame oil adds to your meals!
Ghee Hiang Manufacturing Co. Sdn. Bhd.
Address: 216, Jalan Macalister, 10400 George Town, Penang
Hours: 9.00 AM to 9.00 PM
Ghee Hiang Jalan Burma
144-i, Jalan Burma, George Town, 10300 Penang
13. Roti Jari
The older generation loves the Roti Jari, crunchy biscuits often enjoyed by dipping in a hot beverage, making it the perfect teatime snack.
Recently, these breadsticks, which look like mini French bread, have gained popularity in Penang’s kopitiam scene after Kopi Hutan started serving them with coffee.
Locals like to dip this breadstick into their kopi O (local black coffee) to let the bread soak up the coffee taste.
There are two places to get these biscuits: Him Heang on Penang Island and Hup Hoe Biscuit at Simpang Ampat on the mainland.
A bag of Roti Jari biscuits makes a great Penang souvenir to take home.
Hup Hoe Biscuit sells Roti Jari along with many local biscuits, all sold in loose form.
Hup Hoe Biscuit
Location: 1629, Jalan Besar, 14100 Simpang Ampat, Penang Island
Opening Hours: Daily from 8.00 AM to 8.00 PM (Daily)
Him Heang
Address: 162, Jalan Burma, George Town, 10050 George Town, Penang
Hours: 8.30 AM to 5.00 PM
Closed on Sundays
14. Rojak Hitam Putih Paste
Another way to enjoy Penang Rojak (a funky fruit salad) is to bring home a few packets of Rojak Orang Hitam Putih’s rojak sauce.
Penang has many brands, but the unique flavor and taste vary according to the shrimp paste used.
Rojak Orang Hitam Putih operates from a small coffee shop in the heart of Bukit Mertajam, a quaint town on mainland Penang.
The rojak sauce is thick and flavorful, and locals dubbed it one of the top rojak spots in Penang.
Penang Rojak is a delightful mix of various fruits, including pineapples, guava, jicama, cucumbers, umbra, and blanched cuttlefish slices.
It’s a must-try dish and a perfect Penang souvenir to bring home, allowing you to recreate this local delicacy in your kitchen.
A feast of Malaysian flavors with Rojak, Grilled Corn, and Penang Assam Laksa.
Rojak Hitam Putih Paste
Address: Jalan Pasar, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Penang
15. Durian Coffee
If you love the smell of durian and want to share it with your family and friends at home, the best way is to buy Durian Coffee.
This unique Penang snack comes in sealed sachets, ensuring there’s no chance of the smell coming through.
Each sachet delivers a rich, smooth, and milky durian taste inside the coffee, making it a fantastic souvenir from Penang to enjoy a taste of the king of fruits.
A few brands are on the market; you can find these at Chowrasta Market.
16. Premium Dried Food Stuff
Kwong Tuck is Penang’s premiere Asian grocer, renowned for its large urns of liquor, dried seafood, preserved and waxed meat, and a variety of dried foodstuffs such as fruits, beans, and nuts.
The shop boasts an impressive selection of premium dried seafood, including dried fish maw, octopus, oysters, sea cucumber, scallops, mussels, cuttlefish, and sole meat.
This variety makes Kwong Tuck a fantastic destination for discovering unique Penang souvenirs.
Whether you’re looking to savor local flavors or share delicious Penang snacks with family and friends, you’re sure to find something special here.
Kwong Tuck Sundries and Liquors (c. 1836)
Address: 90, Lebuh Campbell, 10100 George Town, Penang
Hours: 8.00 AM to 3.00 PM. Closed Sundays
Dried Salted Fish Meat & Fish Bone
Dried Salted Fish Bones are the main ingredient in Penang Nyonya Gulai Kiam Hu Kut, a famous local dish.
These two companies have Ikan Kurau (Threadfin Salted Fish) and others
Guan & Company (est. 1959)
Address: No. 9, Jalan Chowrasta, 10100 George Town, Penang.
Hours: 8.00 AM to 12.45 PM
Eng & Co. (est. 1960)
Address: No. 3, Jalan Chowrasta, 10100 George Town, Penang.
Hours: 8.00 AM to 12.45 PM
Little India Spices
If you love the scent and fragrances, Little India is the perfect place to pick up sandalwood soaps, joss sticks, and the intense aroma of raw spices.
Meera Sahib Spices (c. 1954) is where you can obtain high-quality Indian spices and herbs, making it a great spot to find unique Penang souvenirs and snacks to enhance your cooking at home.
From aromatic spices to delightful soaps, you’ll discover a range of things to buy in Penang that celebrate the local culture.
Meera Sahib Spices
Address: 116 Penang St, Georgetown, 10200 George Town, Penang
Nyonya Gems
How can you decide between Acar Hu, Chicken Kari Kapitan, Nasi Ulam, Kerabu Bee Hoon, Otak-Otak (steamed fish “custard”), Tau Eu Bak (pork stewed in soy sauce), or any of the numerous stews and braises on offer?
And that’s without mentioning the many jars of freshly made pickles and wonderful preserves like Nyonya Perut Ikan.
If you fancy a nice restaurant meal with Nyonya dishes, you can try Restaurant Nyonya, known for its authentic flavors and extensive menu that showcases the best of Penang’s culinary heritage.
Be sure to save room for dessert.
The restaurant also offers delectable Nyonya Kueh making it a must-visit for anyone looking to explore Penang snacks and sweet afternoon tea treats.
Hainantown @ Yeng Keng Nyonya Restaurant (Pork Free)
Flower Mulan Nyonya Cafe (Non-Halal)
Nyonya Lah by Javu (Non-Halal)
17. Sambal Belacan
Sambal Belacan is a well-known Malaysian must-have table condiment made of pounded red chili, belacan, and lime juice.
We eat it with Ulam Ulam, fried fish, fried rice, or plain hot white rice.
Sambal Belacan is a lovely condiment to cook Sambal Petai, Sambal Udang, and other dishes, making it a staple in many Penang households.
You can buy a jar of hand-pounded Sambal Belacan from the pushcart stall outside the Pulau Tikus Market.
The Nyonya stalls are Penang’s gems and are a great spot to find authentic Penang snacks and souvenirs to take home!
A spicy delight – sambal belacan adds a fiery kick to any dish.
18. Acar Awak
Penang Acar, a delightful pickled vegetable dish with unique sweet, sour, and spicy flavors, is not only delicious but also a great choice for Penang souvenirs that capture the essence of the region’s vibrant food culture.
You can buy these at a Nyonya food stall at Pulau Tikus and Chowrasta Market.
Tangy and flavorful – acar adds a delightful crunch to any meal.
Pulau Tikus Wet Market
Address: 3, Jalan Pasar, Pulau Tikus, 10350 George Town, Penang.
Hours: 6.00 AM to 2.30 PM
Chowrasta Market
Address: Lot 124, Jalan Penang, George Town, 10100 George Town, Penang
Hours: 6:30 AM to 3.00 PM
Conclusion
Food makes the best type of Penang souvenirs for visitors to bring home.
You can pick up these traditional food products as souvenirs to share with family and friends.
If you love to cook, consider buying prepacked curry pastes from some restaurants like Hameediyah or local supermarkets.
Look out for these local Penang snacks and souvenirs, as you can dish up the same great taste when you miss some Penang food back home.
If you’re wondering where to go for the best Penang souvenirs and street food, check out the Penang Food Guide!—40 Street Food To Try!
