Nasi Lemak lover? Here’s Where to go, what to eat, and how early to show up.
If you’re chasing down the best nasi lemak in Penang, you’re in luck.
From pre-dawn banana leaf packets to spicy, late-night Ayam Goreng Berempah, this list covers it all.
Here’s your cheat sheet to 5 Best Nasi Lemak in Penang.
Whether you love fiery Malay version, bold sambal belacan, or rich beef and mutton curry.
Contents
Ali Nasi Lemak Daun Pisang
Address: Sri Weld Food Court, Lebuh Pantai, 10300 George Town
Hours: 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM (Closed Sundays)
Price: RM2.00 – RM3.00
If you only try one nasi lemak in Penang, make it this one.
Ali’s stall at Sri Weld Food Court is legendary.
Nasi Lemak Bungkus perfection wrapped in banana leaf.
It even made the Michelin Guide.
Inside each tidy packet, soft coconut rice, spicy-sweet sambal.
Your get choice of basic parcel of hard boiled egg and sweet sambal anchovies.
Or you can add prawn, squid, or salted fish.
There is no fried chicken here.
All for under RM3.
By 8 AM, trays of nasi lemak line up like an edible army.
It’s a beautiful, chaotic morning scene.
Why go: Michelin-recognised, cheap, and delicious. Perfect intro to Penang-style nasi lemak.
Parking tip: Use the private car park nearby or just walk if you’re staying close.
Pro tip: They open at 7, but it’s usually wiped out by 10 before they replenish by cooking rice. Go early or miss out.
Wakzee Nasi Lemak
Address: 62 Jalan Macalister, 10400 George Town
Hours: 7:00 AM – 2:30 PM (Closed Sundays)
Price: RM2.00 – RM7.00
This little silver stall is easy to miss!
But the flavours aren’t.
Wakzee is where locals go for no-nonsense Malay Nasi Lemak with bold sambal and crispy sides.
Run by a husband-and-wife team, the stall dishes out everything from sambal squid to fried chicken.
Even the plain egg-and-rice combo is a winner.
The Editor found it by accident chasing curry mee.
Stayed for the nasi lemak. Zero regrets.
Why go: Everything tastes home-cooked and honest. No fluff, just flavour.
Parking tip: In Penang, we would suggest you double park and dash along MacAlister Road. Best to take a Grab.
Pro tip: Look for the silver stall beside Travelodge. No sign, just loyal regulars and good smells.
Aunty Hasnah Nasi Lemak Cina Muallaf
Address: Jalan Penaga, Jelutong (Next to Sekolah Rendah Jelutong Barat)
Hours: 7:30 AM – 11:30 AM (Open Daily)
Price: RM4.00 – RM8.00
You’ll smell the sambal before you see the stall.
The Editor’s friend, Elsie brouhgt her here but it sold out early that day.
Octogenarian Aunty Hasnah a Chinese Muallaf serves some of the most soulful halal nasi lemak around.
Her rice is soft and gently fragrant.
The sambal?
Fiery with a touch of sweetness.
But it’s the pots of curries that steal the show.
Think beef, chicken, mutton, cuttlefish.
Richly spiced and melt-in-your-mouth tender.
Locals line up early. They know what’s good.
Why go: This is the taste of real home-style cooking.
Parking tip: Streets are packed. Best to walk or Grab in.
Pro tip: Bring small notes. Aunty moves fast, and the queue does too.
Jin Hoe Cafe Nasi Lemak
Address: 284 Jalan Burma, Pulau Tikus, 10350 George Town
Hours: 7:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Price: RM3.50 – RM6.50
If you love Nyonya nasi lemak, this is the one.
The Editor loves the taste and had it since 1983!
Jin Hoe Café serves creamy, lemak-packed rice with bold sambal and heritage flavours.
Tucked under old flats near Pulau Tikus Market, it’s easy to miss if you drive by fast.
The locals they know the good food.
The sambal is smoky and spicy.
Toppings range from assam prawns and fried chicken to acar and egg.
Everything’s got that layered, complex Nyonya touch.
They even sell their sambal belacan to take home.
Assam Prawns, Fried Fish and sambal belacan!
Why go: A true taste of Penang’s Nyonya roots — in a nasi lemak plate.
Parking tip: Nightmare after 8:30 AM. Walk or Grab it.
Pro tip: The belacan sambal sells out. Ask early.
Nasi Lemak Liverpool Cafe Penang
Address: 6 Jalan Tan Sri Teh Ewe Lim, Jelutong
Hours: 5:30 PM – 11:30 PM
Price: RM8.00 – RM12.00
Most stalls shut by lunch.
Liverpool Café keeps the party going until midnight.
Perfect for late dinners or hungry night owls.
Their Ayam Goreng Berempah is hot, crisp, and full of spice.
The sambal leans towards sweet. It works.
You’ll find fried fish, egg, and rotating lauk too. All solid.
The vibe is casual.
A no-fuss spot under a block of flats.
And yes, they support Liverpool — it’s in the name.
Why go: Rare to find nasi lemak at night this good.
Parking tip: Fairly easy in the evening. No stress.
Pro tip: Great spot to eat after a match or movie.
FAQ
What time is best?
Before 9 AM for morning stalls like Ali’s, Jin Hoe, and Aunty Hasnah. Liverpool opens at 5:30 PM.
Which spots are halal?
Aunty Hasnah (Cina Muallaf), Ali Nasi Lemak, Wakzee and Liverpool Café are Muslim runned eateries.
Any vegetarian toppings available?
Yes. Your best bet is Jin Hoe Café — you can ask for plain coconut rice with egg, sambal, and acar.
Just a heads-up: the sambal usually contains belacan (shrimp paste), so ask to skip it if you want it fully vegetarian.
Is parking really that bad?
Welcome to Penang. Ali and Liverpool are the easiest for tourists.
For others, Grab is your best friend.
