Are you a foodie looking at Penang Food Tour for your next food adventure?
Penang is renowned for its diverse and flavorful hawker food scene, drawing in foodies from all over the world to sample the local cuisine.
Knowing where to start can be challenging with so many mouth-watering options available.
With a 3D2N Penang food tour, you’ll have enough time to experience the ultimate gastronomic journey through the streets of George Town and discover the best street food!
Your food adventure begins with a visit to some of George Town’s top street food Kopitiam in Penang, handpicked by the local expert, Smartdory.
When enjoying Penang’s famous hawker food, locals and tourists often flock to the island’s numerous hawker centers and food courts.
3D2N Penang Food Tour Best Hawker Stalls
Here are some of the best places where locals eat for your Penang food tour.
Gurney Drive Hawker Center
Located along Gurney Drive, this hawker center is popular with locals and tourists.
The center features dozens of stalls selling Penang’s famous hawker food, including Char Kway Teow, Penang Assam Laksa, Rojak, Pasembur, Sotong Kangkong (Jiuhu Eng Chai), and Sotong Bakar.
New Lane Hawker Center
Located in Georgetown, this hawker center is a favorite among locals for its wide selection of hawker food, including Oyster Omelets, Char Kway Teow, and Curry Mee.
Macallum Street Night Market
Open only in the evenings, this night market is a bustling hub of activity for foodies looking to indulge in some of Penang’s best hawker food.
Visitors can sample dishes like Lor Bak, Pasembur, and Duck Koay Chiap.
Jalan Perak Food Court
Situated in a residential area in Georgetown, this food court is a hidden gem popular among locals.
The food court features a variety of hawker stalls serving everything from Chicken Rice to Dim Sum.
Padang Brown Food Court
Located in the heart of Georgetown, this food court is a go-to spot for locals looking to satisfy their cravings for Penang’s famous hawker food.
Visitors can find halal stalls selling dishes like Penang Hokkien Mee, Popiah, Lok Lok, Pasembur, and Cendol here.
A famous hawker center adjacent to a wet market, this bustling spot is open from breakfast to teatime and features over 40 food stalls. Each stall offers a unique and delicious selection of Penang’s iconic hawker food. Visitors can indulge in a variety of rice and noodle dishes, as well as a few economy rice and porridge stalls serving simple, home-cooked meals.
Notable noodle dishes include Duck Meat Koay Teow Th’ng, Curry Mee, Char Kway Teow, local Nyonya Kueh and Pasembur!
Wherever you go in Penang, mouthwatering hawker food awaits.
From bustling centers to hidden local gems, it’s a foodie’s paradise you must experience at least once!
Contents
11 Hawker Dishes To Enjoy a 3D2N Penang food tour
Here are some must-try breakfast dishes to include in your Penang food adventure.
Penang Char Koay Teow
Char Koay Teow is the most iconic dish in Penang.
It is made with stir-fried flat rice noodles, shrimp, bean sprouts, Chinese sausage, and eggs.
The dish is cooked in a hot wok with soy sauce and chili paste, giving it a smoky, irresistible flavor.
You can find Char Koay Teow at many hawker centers and roadside stalls around Penang.
Penang Char Koay Teow is the most iconic dish in Penang, made with stir-fried flat rice noodles, shrimp, bean sprouts, Chinese sausage, and eggs.
Penang Assam Laksa
Assam Laksa is a spicy noodle soup made with rice noodles, fish, tamarind, and a rich, spicy broth that bursts with flavor.
The soup is typically served with mint leaves, onions, and sliced chili peppers.
It is a must-try for any foodie visiting Penang.
Penang Assam Laksa is a spicy noodle soup made with rice noodles, fish, tamarind, and a rich, spicy broth that bursts with flavor.
Where To Eat Char Koay Teow & Assam Laksa?
Your first stop is Kedai Kopi Sin Hwa, where you’ll try their signature dish, the Char Koay Teow.
Instead of relying on the seafood sweetness from huge prawns, Sin Hwa’s Char Koay Teow is red hot.
It focuses on wok hei and spiciness—the true oomph factor.
If you love fiery hot noodles, this dish will ignite your taste buds with bold flavors and exhilarating heat!
And not to mention cheaper too, compared to that selling at a crazy price above RM12 per plate.
Another item to try is the Assam and Lemak Laksa.
Don’t let its unassuming appearance fool you.
This dish is a perfect balance of savory, sour, sweet, and spicy flavors.
It will leave your taste buds wanting more.
Locals love to order deep-fried spring rolls to dip in the Laksa broth.
So, if you want to eat, get a great cuppa Kopi O to go with your food.
Get Char Koay Teow, Assam, and Lemak Laksa and Spring Rolls for the ultimate experience!
新華茶室 Kedai Kopi Sin Hwa
Address: 329, Jalan Burma, 10350 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Hours: 8 am–5 pm (Daily)
Penang Hokkien Mee
Hokkien Mee is a must-try for seafood lovers.
It is made with thick yellow noodles, prawns, squid, and pork in a rich, flavorful broth made from shrimp and pork bones.
The soupy noodles are typically served with a dollop of sambal chili paste.
It gives them a spicy kick that will leave you wanting more.
Penang Hokkien Mee is a must-try for seafood lovers.
Where To Eat Penang Hokkien Mee?
Hokkien Mee can be found in many places in Penang. Some of the best places to try it include
- Swee Kong Coffee Shop (opposite the Pulau Tikus Balai) (morning)
- 888 Hokkien Mee in Lebuh Presgrave (night)
- Dannok Cafe Hokkien Mee (until 2.30pm)
Each spot offers a unique take on the dish, so be sure to try them all!
Penang Rojak
Rojak is a famous Malaysian salad made with fruits and vegetables.
It is topped with a sweet and tangy sauce made from shrimp paste, tamarind, and palm sugar.
- Cucumber
- Pineapple
- Jícama
- Mango
- Water Guava
- Ambarella
- Tofu Puff
- Youtiao (Chinese-style dough fritters)
- Cuttlefish (rehydrated)
You can also choose to have it spicy or non-spicy.
The fruit salad is often served with a sprinkle of crushed peanuts and belacan powder.
This makes it a refreshing, unami, flavored, delicious snack.
Rojak is a famous Malaysian salad
Where To Eat Penang Rojak?
Some great places to try it include
- Gurney Drive Hawker Centre
- New World Park
- Lebuh MacCallum Best Rojak 亞才囉吔 (Ah Chye Rojak)
- Medan Renong (Rojak Ho Wei Jeng -101 Rojak)
Penang Nasi Kandar
Nasi Kandar is a popular Indian-Muslim dish in Penang, made with white rice and various curries, meats, and vegetables.
The dish is typically mixed with ‘kuah banjir’; a mix of various curries is a must-try for those looking for a hearty meal with a spicy kick.
Nasi Kandar is a popular Indian-Muslim dish in Penang, made with white rice and various curries, meats, and vegetables.
Where To Eat Nasi Kandar?
Top recommendations for the Penang Nasi Kandar location include
- Nasi Kandar Line Clear (Jalan Penang)
- Nasi Kandar Beratur (Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling)
- Nasi Kandar Deen Maju (Jalan Gurdwara)
- Hameediyah Restaurant (Lebuh Campbell)
- Restoran Mohamed Raffee Nasi Kandar (Jalan Burma, Pulau Tikus)
Ban Chang Kueh
Ban Chang Kueh, a Chinese pancake filled with peanuts, sweet corn, and sugar, is a popular snack in Penang.
The snack is typically cooked on a hot grill and is perfect for sweet tooth lovers.
Where To Eat Ban Chang Kueh?
Here are some places where you can find the best crispy and delicious Ban Chang Kueh in Penang:
- Prima Tanjung Ban Chang Kuih Stall
Jalan Fettes (11 am–5:30 pm) - Ban Chang Kuih Tan Hou Shen (afternoon)
Solok Moulmein (7:30 am–12 pm) - Best Ban Chang Kuih
on the pavement outside Swee Kong Coffee Shop
Jalan Burma/Solok Moulmein (afternoon)
Penang Curry Mee
Curry Mee or Kari Mee is a spicy noodle soup with a rich, coconut milk-based broth.
It consists of a mix of yellow and rice noodles.
Two main ingredients that make this dish are pig blood cubes and blood cockles!
The garnish are tofu puffs, shrimp, cuttlefish, and chicken.
The curry noodle dish is often served with a dollop of sambal chili paste.
It is perfect for those looking for a spicy kick.
Penang Curry Mee is a spicy noodle soup made with a rich, coconut milk-based broth with a dollop of sambal chili paste.
Where To Eat Penang Curry Mee?
Here are some places you can find excellent creamy Curry Mee in Penang.
- Tua Pui Curry Mee (kopitiam morning)
- Chulia Street Curry Mee (street stall at night)
- Lorong Seratus Tahun Curry Mee (kopitiam morning)
- Kedai Kopi Malabar (street stall morning)
Chee Cheong Chok
Cantonese style ‘Chee Cheong Chok’ is a thick, flavourful congee.
The porridge is cooked with pig innards and pig blood cubes.
It is topped with crispy, smokey fried pig intestines.
The congee is perfect for a rainy day and is such a delicious comfort food.
‘Chee Cheong Chok’ is a thick, flavourful congee cooked with pig innards and pig blood cubes topped with crispy, smokey fried pig intestines.
Where to Eat Chee Cheong Chok?
Chee Cheong Chok was commonly found in Penang right up until the 90s.
If you are a fan, you can try Chok Kee Porridge Cafe at Lebuh Kimberly!
Popiah
Popiah, a fresh and healthy Malaysian spring roll, is a popular snack in Penang.
The snack consists of a soft, thin crepe wrapper filled with shredded vegetables, bean sprouts, and tofu and topped with fried shallots.
There are two versions in Penang, the Chinese and Malay stalls.
The vegetarian snack is typically served with a sweet and savory sauce, making it a perfect appetizer or snack.
Popiah is a famous Penang snack made with a soft, thin crepe wrapper filled with shredded vegetables, bean sprouts, and tofu.
Where to Eat Popiah in Penang?
- Padang Brown Hawker Center
- Popiah Penang Chowrasta
- Gurney Drive Hawker Center
- Kek Seng Cafe, Penang Road
Mee Sotong
Mee Sotong is a popular fried noodle dish made with yellow noodles, tofu, egg, boiled potatoes, and cuttlefish, all stir-fried in a spicy tomato-based sauce.
Spicy sweet noodles are often served with a squeeze of lime juice, which gives them a tangy kick that balances out the spiciness.
Mee Sotong is a popular fried noodle dish made with yellow noodles, tofu, egg, boiled potatoes, and cuttlefish, all stir-fried in a spicy tomato-based sauce.
Where to Eat Mee Sotong in Penang?
Here are some places to find the best Mee Sotong in Penang.
- Hameed Pata Mee Sotong at Esplanade Park Food Court
- Medan Selera Mutiara Selera (Bayan Lepas)
- Penang Famous Edgecumbe Road Mee Goreng at Kompleks Makanan Persiaran Gurney
Cendol
Cendol is a popular Malaysian dessert made with shaved ice, coconut milk, and palm sugar syrup, topped with green jelly noodles made from pandan leaves.
The sweet, soupy dessert is often served with red beans and droplets of green rice flour jelly, making it a perfect way to cool down on a hot day.
Chendol Pulut Photo: periodic.food_
Where to Eat Cendol in Penang?
There are two pushcart stalls at Lebuh Keng Kwee. The locals prefer the less busy stall.
- Penang Road Nyonya Cendol
- Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul
- Ais Tingkap (Window Sherbet) at Lebuh Tamil, Penang
Conclusion
In conclusion, a 3D2N Penang food tour is incomplete without trying out these must-try hawker foods.
Each dish, available at various hawker centers and roadside stalls, showcases the region’s rich culinary heritage and vibrant flavors.
So, come hungry, bring your appetite, and get ready to indulge in Penang’s mouth-watering hawker food!
You won’t just taste the dishes—you’ll experience the heart and soul of Penang through its incredible street food.
Don’t miss out on this delicious adventure!
