Penang Lunch Hunt Best Eats For 2024

Penang Lunch, Dinner, and Supper: More Than Just Meals – They’re Experiences!

If you’re visiting George Town for the first time, every meal here is more than just food.

It’s a journey into Penang’s vibrant culture.

Lunch, dinner, and even supper offer a unique culinary adventure!

Local specialities reflects the island’s rich history and multicultural influences.

From humble hawker stalls to heritage restaurants, Penang is a food paradise where every dish tells a story.

Whether it’s a bowl of laksa by the roadside or a Nyonya meal in a restored mansion, dining in Penang is special.

The flavors here are unique.

Meals in Penang aren’t just about filling up.

They’re about tasting the island’s soul.

And believe me, when you’re with local hosts, you’ll start planning your Penang lunch right after a hearty breakfast.

This is how serious Penangites are about eating!

In this Malaysian foodie haven, everything on the island of Penang is simply mouthwatering!

Penang Food Haven

Penang is a food haven that boasts an array of delectable dishes, from hawker food to noodles, rice dishes, and even pasta and pizza.

Simply put, Penang has it all when it comes to delicious food!

Ask a local about their favorite lunch, and you’ll discover the best lunch spots in Penang.

Whether you’re after local Penang lunch favorites or an affordable lunch in George Town, there’s always something nearby to satisfy your cravings.

You can also check out popular cafes in Penang offering unique twists on traditional dishes.

This food guide will satisfy your taste buds, whether you’re seeking a Muslim-friendly option or a vegetarian outlet.

Join SmartDory Media as we dive into the ultimate Penang food hunt, embarking on a culinary adventure that will leave you craving more.

Our go-to is George Town, where the best meals can be enjoyed for just a few dollars.

Let’s kick off your 3D2N holiday in George Town with a Penang Food Guide that shouts, “Jom Makan” (Let’s Eat)!

Pork-Free and Halal Penang Lunch in George Town.

Aside from the Nasi Kandar places, several Halal eateries in George Town have appealing cuisines.

#1 Bee Hwa Café – Best Halal Chinese Hawker Penang Lunch

I’m recommending Bee Hwa because I eat here and love the traditional Hainanese Kopitiam vibes.

The kopitiam is the safest place, smack in the middle of George Town and diagonally across from the Chowrasta Market, Penang Road.

You will see off-duty police officers from the Penang Contingent Police Headquarters having their meals here.

If you want a solid bowl of Penang Curry Mee (minus the blood cubes), Penang Hokkien Mee, and Penang Char Koay Teow – you must come here to satisfy all your hawker food cravings.

If you’re a Roti Bakar, Telur Goyang fan, you can have your Kopitiam fix with Kopi O.

Bee Hwa Café
Address: 10, Lebuh Dickens, 10050 George Town, Penang.

#2 Nasi Padang International – Best Indonesian Penang Lunch

The next eatery is across the road from Roti Canai Transfer Road.

Nasi Padang Minang is where to go if you love Ikan Cencaru Sumbat Sambal (Torpedo Scad Fish Stuffed with Sambal).

The eatery at Kedai Kopi International Hotel serves home-cooked Indonesian Minangkabau cuisine from Padang.

Minangkabau people are Muslims, and the cuisine follows halal dietary law rigorously.

Padang food is famous for using coconut milk and spicy chili; yes, there’s beef on the menu.

It is a popular lunchtime haunt with the locals. The little Kopitiam can get pretty crowded during peak hours.

Pro Tip: Go early if you want your Torpedo Fish and favorite gulai dishes.

Nasi Padang International
Address: 92, Jalan Transfer, 10050 George Town, Penang.

#3 Deens Maju Nasi Kandar (Halal)

A firm favorite with Penangites and visitors to the island, Deens Maju is famous for its Nasi Kandar, which has a vast array of delicious curries, sambal, and meats.

Deens is the Nasi Kandar set apart from the rest, location-wise.

Don’t worry if you see a long queue of hardcore Nasi Kandar fans waiting in line under the hot sun.

Your plate of rice and curry is usually served within seconds, as the service is super-fast!

Deens Maju Nasi Kandar
Address: 170, Jalan Gurdwara, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Hours: Noon  to 9.30 PM

#4 Café Lagenda – Best Halal Malay And Western Penang Lunch

Check out Lagenda House and Café, which are just a stone’s throw from Tek Seng.

The restaurant has traditional Malay recipes with a twist and a Western fusion menu.

Lagenda was established in honor of Penang’s beloved musician and actor, P. Ramlee. As you dine, you can listen to nostalgic songs from his movies.

The halal café is Muslim-owned.

Pro Tip:  Try the signature rice sets with side dishes uniquely served in congkak game boards.

For desserts, go for the Banana Bakar and Panna cotta.

Café Lagenda
Address: 2, Lebuh Carnarvon,  10100 George Town, Penang
Hours: Noon to 11.00 PM

#5 The Safe Room – Halal Café Penang Lunch

The Safe Room is a leading Halal Restaurant in Penang serving high-quality Western and international cuisine.

Look out for their liquid nitrogen desserts and tomahawk steaks.

The venue is an excellent destination for romantic dining and dinner parties!

The Safe Room
Address: 183, Lebuh Victoria,  10300 George Town, Penang
Hours: Noon to Midnight (Closed Mondays)

If you like Chinese-style Penang hawkers best, try these old-style Penang Kopitiam and restaurants.

#6 Kheng Pin Café – Best Kopitiam Penang Lunch

If you love Chicken Rice but want appetizers and other goodies, Kheng Pin Café is the go-to Kopitiam.

Start eating at 7.00 AM ahead of the maddening crowds to tuck in your Lorbak, Hare Chee (Prawn Fritter) appetizer before ordering the mains.

Wantan Mee, Chicken Rice, and Nyonya Nasi Lemak are great choices.

Kheng Pin Café
Address: 80, Jln Penang,  10000 George Town, Penang
Hours: 7.00 AM to 1.30 PM Closed Tuesdays

#7 Joo Hooi Café – Best Chendol & Assam Laksa Penang Lunch

Not all of us love rice meals, and some of us want to try everything, including multiple desserts!

Joo Hooi Café, at the corner of Penang Road and Lebuh Keng Kwee, is a Kopitiam where you can eat to your heart’s content.

For the Penang Road famous chendol, there are two Chendol pushcarts on the Lebuh Keng Kwee.

The one with the longest queue is Teochew Chendul (all tourists), and the shorter line is Nyonya Chendol (all locals).

Which Chendol would you go for?

Pro Tip: Smart Dory goes for the Nyonya Chendol.

Joo Hooi Cafe
Address: 475, Jalan Penang, George Town, 10000 George Town, Penang

#8 Gou Lou Hong Kee Chao Sar Hor Fun & Noodles

Many Penangites love noodles for lunch, and Gou Lou is the perfect venue for an air-conditioned, no-frills restaurant with a satisfying selection of simple stir-fried noodles.

Regulars love the strong wok hei taste as the chefs use charcoal fire.

You can add on sides of fried chicken wings and oyster choy sum.

Popular noodle dishes are the charred flavors of Hokkien Char, Char Hor Fun, Fried Glass Noodles, Dried Char Hor Fun, or Wat Tan Hor.

All noodles are drenched with soothing egg gravy.

Other lesser-known specialties include Braised Ee Fu Mee, Tai Loke Mee KL Hokkien Char, and Singapore Fried Beehoon.

Guo Lou Hong Kee is located diagonally across from Tho Yuen Restaurant.

Gou Lou Hong Kee Chao Sar Hor Fun & Noodles
Address: 89, Lebuh Campbell, 10100 George Town, Penang
Hours: 10.00 AM to 7.45 PM (Closed on Sundays)

#9 Tek Sen Restaurant – Best Chinese Food Penang Lunch

Since 1965, Tek Sen Restaurant’s evolution from a small rice stall has been legendary.

The eatery has served various Cantonese, Teochew, Hakka, and Peranakan dishes for over half a century.

The food quality and authentic flavors remained the same, hence its popularity with locals and tourists.

The popularity of Tek Sen Restaurant is from its features in various travel and food blogs (like SmartDory), YouTube channels, and television shows.

You can expect a crowd of people waiting patiently outside the restaurant for a table during the weekends.

The extensive Tek Sen Restaurant Menu is divided into sections for seasonal vegetables, pork, tofu, Chicken, egg, seafood, specials, soups, and rice.

You can order medium (M), large L, or extra-large (XL) portions.

The signature dish is the Home Recipe Double Roasted Pork with Chili Padi with fatty parts that taste better than candied bacon.

Even when the restaurant is packed, the service is efficient with orders via a wireless microphone.

Pro Tip: To avoid long queues, head there for a weekday lunch to enjoy the tasty food.

Tek Sen Restaurant
Address: 18, Lebuh Carnarvon, 10100 George Town, Penang
Hours: 11.30 AM to 2.30 PM and 5.30 PM to 8.30 PM (Closed Tuesdays)

I know you have got to have a rice meal like Dory.

So let’s eat Hainanese Chicken Rice, a Penang staple lunch on the go.

#10 Hainanese Chicken Rice – Best Chicken  Rice Penang Lunch

Everyone in Penang has their favorite Chicken  Rice stall.

Top of the easy-breezy lunchtime meal, a meal with a bowl of oily rice, a dish of either White “Pek” (poached), Black “Or” (deep-fried) Chicken sets you back for USD2 tops.

Some stalls have roast duck, roast pork, honey BBQ pork, and add on to the menu, and you can order Lorbak, Braised Eggs, Tofu, or Chai Boey (braised sour, spicy soup).

The traditional Hainanese Chicken Rice keeps it simple – just Chicken served on a bed of sliced cucumber and soy sauce, garnished with spring onions and Oil Rice.

Again, you’re the boss of your Chicken Rice.

Head to Chulia Street, and you have three stalls to choose from

Goh Thew Chik Hainan Chicken Rice (Authentic Hainanese)

Address: 340 Lebuh Chulia, 10200 George Town, Penang.
Hours: 10:30 AM to 5.00 PM

Kedai Kopi Pak Hock Famous Chicken Rice
Address: 167, Lebuh Carnarvon, 10100 George Town, Penang.

Wen Chang Hainan Chicken Rice (Lorbak, Braised Eggs)
Address: 63, Lebuh Cintra, 10200 George Town, Penang
Hours:   11.00 AM to 7.00 PM

Tho Yuen Restaurant (Cantonese Chicken Rice)
Address: 92 Campbell Street Georgetown, 10100 Penang.
Hours: 6.00 AM to 3.00 PM

If you have a bit of time to spare, my recommendation is a Chu Char (a Chinese stall that provides a wide selection of everyday and affordable dishes with rice)

#11 Kim Hooi Seafood – Best Seafood Chu Char Penang Lunch

You can order quick-cooked delicious dishes with rice lunch, stir-fried noodles, and snacks like Belacan Fried Chicken.

Kim Hooi is a favorite eatery, with locals ordering dishes in tiffin carriers and family dinners over the weekend.

On weekdays office workers head for their lunch here.

Kim Hooi Seafood
2828 Cafe
56K, Perak Plaza, Jalan Perak, 10460 Penang.

From Kim Hooi Seafood, drive down Jalan Lim Khoon Huat, turn right to Jalan Berek, and make a short left to reach Penang’s Temple of Fine Arts.

#12 Annalakshmi Restaurant Penang – Best Indian Vegetarian Buffet Penang Lunch

Annalakshmi is a local haunt far away from the tourist belt.

The quiet location near Penang General Hospital and Penang Prison makes it a favorite lunch venue for the doctors, nurses, and hospital staff.

Volunteers prepare the food, and it tastes homey and delicious.

Please make reservations and come early if you want a nice quiet lunch from the crowds.

Remember, all the “workers” are volunteers, so please be kind.

Annalakshmi Restaurant Penang (Temple of Fine Arts)
Address: 1, Lebuhraya Babington, 10450 George Town, Penang
Hours: 11.30 AM to 3.00 PM

If you’re thinking, where can I eat an Italian Set Lunch? There’s excellent authentic Italian food for a good lunch.

#13 Via Pre Italian Restaurants

You may think an Italian restaurant in George Town will set you back for a hearty Penang lunch.

Rest assured, head to Via Pre Italian Restaurants.

The Italian-owned restaurant has a lunch menu with a pizza and a beer from RM29.

If you want mains or pasta, there’s something delicious on the menu too.

Via Pre Italian Restaurants
Address: 20e, Lebuh Penang, 10200 George Town, Penang
Hours:  11.30 AM to 11.00 PM

Conclusion

Are you a foodie looking for your next culinary adventure?

Look no further than Penang, where hawker meals, noodles, and rice dishes abound!

Make these fantastic Penang lunch venues your go-to on your next eating trip.

Indulge in the local flavors and immerse yourself in the food culture of this Malaysian paradise.

The options are endless, from the savory to the sweet, and your taste buds will thank you for the experience.

So, what are you waiting for? Book your next trip to Penang and prepare to feast like never before!