Craving The Best Chicken Rice In Penang?
This list will save you serious time.
No squawks, just honest love for chicken rice.
I’m a once-a-week chicken rice junkie. Over the years, I’ve probably polished off more than 300 plates.
Yep, that’s a lot of chicken.
These five stalls?
They’re my lifelong favorites.
The ones I’ve been visiting since I was knee-high to a grasshopper.
I’m listing them in the order I discovered them as a kid.
It’s like tracing my own personal chicken rice timeline.
Back then, I was all about the “black” roasted chicken — crispy, deep-fried skin you just couldn’t stop biting into.
Later, I fell for the “white” poached version — silky, tender, and completely addictive.
These places serve chicken rice so good, you won’t even need to drown it in chili sauce.
Penang’s got a plate waiting with your name on it.
Most of these stalls are old-school.
You’ll see familiar faces who’ve been coming for decades.
One time, I chatted with a grandfather who’s been bringing his grandkids for three generations — just like my family.
The vibe? Vintage Penang kopitiam.
And the flavors?
Still true to their roots.
No gimmicks.
No frills.
Just pure chicken rice magic, every single time.
Here’s the List of The Best Chicken Rice In Penang.
Contents
Goh Thew Chik Hainan Chicken Rice
So Deserving of the Michelin Pick
Address: 338A–338B Lebuh Chulia, George Town
Hours: 10:30 AM–5 PM (Closed Wednesday)
This is the one place where folks have seen me since high school. I still swing by at least once a month.
Ask anyone in George Town for the best Hainanese chicken rice, and Goh Thew Chik usually tops the list.
It’s been around forever — and for good reason.
Roasted or poached, the chicken is juicy and tender.
The rice is fragrant without being greasy.
And that garlicky chili sauce?
Legendary.
The Best Chicken Rice In Penang.
Don’t skip the clear cabbage soup — it’s the perfect sidekick.
Wen Chang Hainan Chicken Rice
Address: 63 Lebuh Cintra, George Town
Hours: 10:30 AM–3 PM (Closed Monday)
Wen Chang is a old-school favorite I’ve been eating since my 20s.
This quiet spot on Lebuh Cintra flies under the radar.
No flashy signs, no shouting.
Just honest, old-fashioned chicken rice that fed families for generations.
The poached chicken is soft, lightly seasoned, and clean-tasting.
Pro tip: ask for the ginger-scallion dip. It’s sharp, aromatic, and incredibly addictive.
The savory rice and preserved vegetable soup make it feel like a warm hug on a plate.
They also serve chicken lor bak, braised eggs, and tofu — comfort food at its best.
Sin Nam Huat Chicken Rice
Address: No. 388, Wayton Court Apartment, Jalan Burma
Hours: 7:40 AM–4 PM daily
One of the earliest chicken rice stalls in Penang — and yes, you can have it for breakfast!
This Roast Meat Heaven on Jalan Burma is your go to place!
If you love crispy-skinned chicken with a slight char, this is your place.
Sin Nam Huat also serves roast duck, pork, and BBQ pork — more roast meat options than most stalls.
It gets packed at lunch, and the queues are real. People wait because it’s worth it.
Don’t miss the Chai Boey (Mustard Greens Stew)
It’s tangy and sour, perfect for cutting through the richness.
Pro tip: You can pre-order their roast meats for Chinese New Year.
Siam Chicken Rice at Kek Seng
Address: 382 & 384 Jalan Penang, George Town
Hours: 10:30 AM–4:30 PM daily
This is the only Thai-style chicken rice in town, now inside Kek Seng Coffee Shop.
The stall used to be at a corner kopitiam on Bertam Lane for years.
The chicken is roasted with a slight char and served with a dark, sweet soy sauce called or ewe (Hokkien).
The chili sauce leans Thai — bright, spicy, and slightly sweet. A little kick to wake up your taste buds.
If you want something a little different but still crave chicken rice, this is it.
Kokokay Authentic Chicken Rice
Located in: Kompleks Penjaja Desiran Tanjung
Address: 3 Jalan Seri Tanjung Pinang 1, Seri Tanjung Tokong
Hours: 10:30 AM–1:30 PM (Monday to Friday)
This one flies under the radar but deserves to be on every Penang food list.
Tanjung Tokong locals know Kokokay serves one of the most balanced plates around.
The poached chicken is juicy. The rice is subtly infused with chicken stock.
And that tangy chili sauce?
It has a loyal following.
It’s a small stall and sells out fast.
I usually head there by 11 AM or risk missing out.
The Best Chicken Rice in Penang
Penangites don’t mess around with chicken rice.
Whether you’re team roast or team poached, Hainanese chicken rice delivers — every bite full of pure flavor.
Each stall offers something special.
But all of them serve chicken rice that’s 100% worth the calories.
Planning your own Penang food adventure?
Start right here.
Your taste buds will thank you.
Trail Tips
Go early.
Aim to start at Goh Thew Chik around 11 AM (right after breakfast) before lunch crowds form.
Pace yourself.
Skip a meal and snack instead if the portions get too big.
Navigate smartly.
Walk the George Town trio of restaurants starting at Chulia Street → Cintra Street → Penang Road.
Then Grab a ride to Burma Road and another to Tanjung Tokong.
Stay hydrated.
Bring a bottle or pick up coconut water as the Penang heat is real.
Blog Disclosure: This blog is written independently. No compensation, such as free meals, monetary payment, or services, has been received from featured establishments. These are some of the old places that the editor who loves Chicken Rice visited while exploring Penang.
