Get ready to hop on a plane if you want to eat Penang Noodles.
Malaysia is a noodle lover’s dream, and Penang?
It’s a noodle paradise like no other.
With endless varieties to keep you slurping for weeks, this island is the ultimate destination for anyone exploring Penang street food.
While spaghetti might first come to mind, the local specialties will win you over and have you saying, “Oodle-vicious!”
Penang noodles offer a vibrant and diverse culinary experience that will make your taste buds dance.
In this UNESCO heritage city, noodles aren’t just food—they’re a way of life.
Penangites are passionate about their noodles, with countless stalls scattered across the island.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a late-night craving—there’s always a dish to satisfy your hunger.
Imagine bustling hawker stalls serving freshly prepared noodles with pork, chicken, seafood, or handmade fish balls!
Each bite and noodle strand packed with flavor, warmth, and a comforting sense of home.
Get ready for a flavorful adventure through famous Penang noodle dishes—you’ll never look at a bowl of noodles the same way again.
Types of Noodles in Penang
Before diving into the mouthwatering dishes, it’s worth exploring the noodles that form the foundation of Penang’s culinary experience.
Bee Hoon: Thin rice vermicelli, perfect for light soups or stir-fries.
Koay Chiap: Broad, semi-translucent rice noodles, often found in herbal duck soup.
Koay Teow: Flat rice noodles, ideal for soaking up sauces in dishes like Char Kuey Teow.
Hor Fun: Wide, flat rice noodles used in soups or stir-fries, especially Cantonese dishes.
Laksa Noodles: Thick white rice noodles featured in Penang’s tangy, spicy Laksa.
Loh Shu Fun: Rice flour noodles shaped like rat tails, great for stir-fries or Laksa.
Mee: Soft yellow egg noodles, served stir-fried or in flavorful broths.
Pan Mee: Handmade flat egg noodles with a chewy texture, perfect for soups or stir-fries.
Mee Suah: Delicate wheat vermicelli, ideal for comforting soups.
Instant Noodles: Upgraded classic instant noodles at some hawker stalls.
Tang Hoon: Glass noodles made from starch, excellent for soups and light stir-fries.
Every noodle has its own texture and personality, making each dish a unique part of your Penang culinary journey.
The Heart of Penang Noodles
Wander through the lively streets of Penang, and you’ll hear the symphony of sizzling woks and clanging spatulas.
The hawker stalls are the beating heart of Penang street food culture.
These serve up fresh dishes right before your eyes.
Sit at a colorful plastic table under a vibrant canopy and watch the magic unfold.
Noodles hit the fiery wok, releasing the mouthwatering aromas of smokey ‘wok hei’.
Each bowl comes with sizzling sauces or savory gravy, topped with BBQ pork, meats, seafood, fish balls, or a perfectly cracked egg.
Every bite is a love letter to your taste buds.
Soulful Penang Noodles
For Penangites, noodles are like a hug from home.
Picture a mother stirring a fragrant broth, preparing birthday noodle soup for her children.
This tradition, passed down through generations, thrives at hawker stalls today.
Some dishes even carry cultural significance. Nyonya Birthday Noodles, for instance, are served during birthday celebrations.
Slurping long noodles is believed to bring good fortune and longevity—making them a must-try for visitors seeking an authentic Penang culinary experience.
Must-Try Noodle Dishes in Penang
No trip to George Town is complete without tasting a bowl of noodles; these are 30 iconic hawker dishes.
Contents
Beef Koay Teow Soup
A savory noodle soup made with tender beef slices, beef balls, and smooth rice noodles (koay teow), served in a flavorful broth with fresh herbs and fried shallots.
Chee Cheong Fun
Soft, silky rice noodle rolls filled with shrimp, pork, or vegetables, served with a sweet soy sauce and topped with sesame seeds, creating a smooth, savory, and satisfying dish.
Char Kuey Teow
Stir-fried flat rice noodles with prawns, Chinese sausage, eggs, and bean sprouts, all infused with a smoky wok hei for a rich, savory flavor.
Char Kway Teow as one of Penang’s signature dishes, it’s a must-try for every foodie.
Duck Koay Chiap
Noodle rolls served in a fragrant herbal soup, paired with tender duck meat, braised eggs, pork, and tofu. It’s a savory, hearty dish with rich, comforting flavors.
Economy Bihun
A budget-friendly stir-fry of rice vermicelli (bihun) with bean sprouts, mustard greens, and served with chili sauce, pickled green chilis, and sweet bean curd sticks.
Quick, tasty, and satisfying.
Fried Bihun with Fried Fish
Stir-fried rice vermicelli (bihun) with crispy fried fish and prawns, creating a savory, satisfying dish with a perfect balance of textures and flavors.
A delightful seafood-infused noodle meal.
Fried Fish Bee Hoon Soup
A comforting rice vermicelli (bee hoon) noodle soup with a light, flavorful broth, crispy fried fish, vegetables, and sometimes milk, creating a hearty, satisfying, creamy dish.
Green Tom Yum Noodles
A zesty noodle dish with a creamy green tom yum soup made with evaporated milk.
Topped with fresh prawns, squid, and fish, it’s a flavorful, seafood-packed treat with a tangy kick.
Kerabu Bihun
A zesty rice vermicelli (bihun) dish tossed with tangy lime juice, fresh herbs, chili, and vegetables.
Paired with seafood or chicken, it’s a refreshing, flavorful, salad-style noodle dish.
Hailam Char
Yellow noodles in a creamy, sweet gravy, stir-fried with prawns, pork, eggs, and choy sum.
Finished with crispy fried lard, it’s a rich and satisfying comfort dish.
Koay Teow Th’ng
A light, clear soup with smooth rice noodles (koay teow), often served with chicken, prawns, or fish, topped with crispy fried shallots.
Koay Teow Th’ng is a simple, comforting, and flavorful noodle dish.
Loh See Fun
Also known as silver needle noodles, these short, thick, chewy noodles with tapered ends are slightly translucent.
Often used in stir-fries or served in flavorful clay pot dishes.
Mee Goreng Mamak
Stir-fried yellow noodles with vegetables, eggs, tofu, and your choice of meat, all tossed in a savory, slightly spicy sauce for a flavorful and satisfying meal.
You can try these famous Mee Sotong when you visit Penang.
Mee Rebus
Yellow egg noodles in a rich, sweet potato-based gravy, topped with boiled egg, fried shallots, and a squeeze of lime for a comforting, tangy flavor.
Mee Siam
Rice vermicelli served in a tangy, slightly sweet, and spicy gravy made with tamarind, chili, and shrimp paste, topped with boiled egg, tofu, and fried shallots.
Mee Udang
A flavorful noodle dish with succulent prawns served in a rich, savory broth made from shrimp stock, garlic, and spices, offering a satisfying combination of seafood and noodles.
The best Mee Udang is found in Teluk Kumbar and Teluk Bayu at the southern coast of Penang Island between Bayan Lepas to the east and Gertak Sanggul to the west.
Mee Udang
Oh Mee
A braised yellow Hokkien noodle dish with oysters, shrimp, pork, and pig’s liver, flavored with dark and light soy sauce, minced garlic, and dried flounder for a rich, savory taste.
Oyster Noodles
Penang Assam Laksa
A tangy fish-based soup Assam Laksa with thick rice noodles garnished with fresh herbs and pineapple for a refreshing, flavorful bowl.
Penang Assam Laksa
Penang Hokkien Mee
Hokkien Mee has spicy prawn and pork broth with yellow noodles, rice vermicelli, pork slices, prawns, boiled egg, and crispy shallots. (Contains shellfish)
Penang Hokkien Mee
Hokkien Char Mee
Stir-fried noodles in a savory sauce, served with sambal belacan at hawker centers. (Contains shellfish)
Sar Hor Fun
A Cantonese dish with thick rice noodles, sometimes mixed with bee hoon. It is served in a rich, starchy gravy for a comforting meal. (Contains shellfish)
Tang Hoon Soup
Glass noodles (tang hoon) in a light, savory broth with fish balls, fish cake, and fish dumplings.
A simple and comforting dish.
Teochew Mee Suah
Delicate rice vermicelli (mee suah) in a light, savory broth with pork, chicken, or fish. It is topped with fried shallots and fresh herbs for a comforting meal.
Tom Yum Noodles
A flavorful noodle dish with spicy and tangy tom yum broth, filled with seafood and fresh herbs, making it a zesty, aromatic treat.
White Curry Mee
A spicy coconut white curry soup with yellow noodles and bee hoon, packed with tofu puffs, cockles, blood cubes, and prawns for a rich, flavorful bowl.
Wantan Mee
Wantan Mee egg noodles served dry or in soup, topped with wontons, char siu (BBQ pork), and mustard greens for a savory, satisfying dish.
Yee Fu Mee
Crisp-fried, rehydrated ‘yee fu’ noodles, topped with braised meat and seafood sauce, similar to Sar Hor Fun, offering a unique spongey texture and aromatic scent.
Ngow Nam Meen (Beef Brisket Noodle)
This dish features braised tender beef slices, beef balls, noodles, salted radish, and pickled mustard greens, all simmered in a rich, flavorful broth.
Ark Thui Mee Suah (Duck Leg Vermicelli)
A comforting noodle dish featuring tender duck leg served with fine vermicelli in a savory broth, infused with aromatic herbs and spices, offering rich, flavorful satisfaction.
Mee Bandung
A rich, spicy noodle dish with yellow noodles, served in a savory tomato-based gravy with prawns, eggs, and vegetables.
Maggi Goreng
Instant Maggi noodles stir-fried with eggs, vegetables, and your choice of meat, offering a quick and deliciously satisfying meal.
Photo: foodiebm
Penang Noodles Culture
Every bowl of Penang noodles offers a warm embrace, whether you’re craving comforting street food or exploring bold, vibrant flavors.
Step beyond pasta and immerse yourself in Penang’s rich noodle culture.
Have you tried any noodle dishes in Malaysia?
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Opinions and content are based on personal experiences (when applicable) and thorough research to provide honest, unbiased recommendations.
